2012 Ford Focus
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 3,801 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 19 Focus model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 108 involved a crash and 15 involved a fire. 88 people were injured and 5 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, evaporative emissions, canisterJun 9, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
Campaign 26V369000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchJun 8, 2020
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
Campaign 20V331000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storageJul 5, 2019
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 and 2017 Focus vehicles equipped with 2.0L GDI gasoline engines and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles equipped with 2.0L GTDI engines, previously recalled under 18V-735. The affected vehicles did not have the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) updated as intended. Therefore, the Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor management system.
The excessive vacuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began July 29, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S22.
Campaign 19V515000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storageOct 22, 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.
Campaign 18V735000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchSep 6, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
Campaign 16V643000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingAug 1, 2013
Ford is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus BEV vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, manufactured September 15, 2011, through May 6, 2013; and model year 2013 Focus ST vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, manufactured February 16, 2012, through May 7, 2013. Due to a wiring incompatability, the front side marker lamps may not function. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Without the proper illumination of the side maker lamps, the vehicle may be less visible in night time conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the headlamp assembly wiring, free of charge. The recall began on August 16, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C04.
Campaign 13V335000 on NHTSA.gov
EquipmentOct 2, 2012
This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Yakima Products, Inc. for use on model year 2012 and 2013 Ford Focus vehicles. This recall is being conducted by Yakima, not by Ford. Certain combined Q-Tower and Q128 Clip rooftop rack systems, part numbers 8000124 and 8000728, do not fully contact the door frame.
Without proper contact of the rooftop rack clip to the door frame, there is insufficient clamping pressure and friction. The system may slide off the vehicle when loaded with accessories, possibly becoming a road hazard to other vehicles or causing injury to pedestrians.
Yakima will notify owners, and Yakima or a Yakima dealer will refund the purchase of the Q-Tower and Q-128 Clip system. There is no replacement system available for the 2012-2013 model year Ford Focus. The safety recall began on October 15, 2012. Only vehicles equipped with the vehicle rack system are affected. This recall is being conducted by Yakima, not Ford. Owners may contact Yakima at 1-888-925-4621.
Campaign 12E035000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, windshield wiper/washer, switch/wiringApr 5, 2012
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 FOCUS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1, 2010, THROUGH OCTOBER 18, 2011. A SEAL IN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER MOTOR MAY BE MISSING.
WATER OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS MAY ACCUMULATE IN THE CONNECTOR, RESULTING IN AN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER MOTOR, REDUCING VISIBILITY AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND AS NECESSARY, CLEAN AND PROPERLY SEAL THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER MOTOR CONNECTOR. ANY INOPERATIVE WIPER MOTORS WILL BE REPLACED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
Campaign 12V149000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
1,459 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Feb 20, 2014
STOPPED AT STOPLIGHT ON HILL IN COLUMBIA SC. WENT TO MOVE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD, WAS IN DRIVE. TURNED OFF TO SEE IF THAT WOULD WORK, THEN IT WOULDN'T START. THIS WAS ON BUSY ROAD AT NIGHT. DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE SAME COMPLAINTS ALREADY LISTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE WITH TRANSMISSION STUTTERS AND LOSS OF POWER ON ACCELERATION. TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAD SHORTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC VERSION HAS ALREADY RECALLED THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ALSO. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 19, 2014
SHUTTERING AND STALLING UPON ACCELERATION.CAR TENDS TO ROLL BACKWARDS FOR NO APPARENT REASON ON SLIGHT INCLINE. SPEED ACCELERATION AND SPEED DECELERATION AT RANDOM TIMES. CAR HESITATES BADLY WHEN ACCELERATING ON TO ON RAMP TO MERGE WITH INTERSTATE TRAFFIC OR TO PASS A VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT'S LUCK OF THE DAY IF YOU ACCELERATE AND ACTUALLY LIVE OR GET HIT WHEN CAR SHUTTERS AND HESITATES. GOOD LUCK FOCUS OWNERS. *TR
Power train, Engine, Feb 16, 2014
THE TRANSMISSION "SKIPS, FLUTTERS OR JUST NOT KICK IN" WHEN MOVING FROM A STOPPED POSITION TO AN ACCELERATED SPEED. SEEMS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION STALLS OUT AND THEN GRABS. IT DOES IT QUITE OFTEN AND I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SO FAR BY THIS HICK-UP IN THE TRANSMISSION. I AM GOING TO TAKE IT BACK TO BAXTER FORD IN OMAHA AND SEE IF THE PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED OR NOT. THEY MAY GET THE CAR BACK. *TR
Power train, Engine, Feb 8, 2014
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON MARCH 21, 2012 AND FIRST TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP APRIL 4, 2012 BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION BOGGS FOR THE STARTUP 0 TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THIS CREATED A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN PULLING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD NO POWER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IN A STOPPED POSITION. PASSING VEHICLES WAS UNSAFE IF YOU WERE IN THE LOWER GEARS OF THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO LACK OF POWER. ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD IS THAT THE VEHICLE DRIFTS BACKWARDS WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL, AS IF IT WAS A STANDARD SHIFT TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS ON A HILL OR A GRADE . THIS VEHICLE ALSO DRIFTS BACKWARDS WHEN YOU PUT YOUR VEHICLE IN PARK AND RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSING DANGER TO PEDESTRIAN OR VEHICLES BEHIND YOU. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE BACK NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT FOR THE SAME TYPES OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION (NOW AT VARIOUS SPEEDS) AND DRIFTING BACKWARDS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS MADE NUMEROUS ADJUSTMENTS AND CHANGES TO THE TRANSMISSION, BUT TO DATE THIS VEHICLE BASICALLY REMAINS, IN MY OPINION, A SAFETY HAZARD. TO DATE, FORD COMPANY STATES THAT ALL OF THE ABOVE HAS A REASON AND STATES THAT IT IS "NORMAL" FOR THIS NEW TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. IN MY OPINION, THIS TRANSMISSION EVOLVED TO SAVE GAS, NOT LIVES. *TR
Power train, Engine, Feb 6, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS SE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WOULD VIOLENTLY SHUDDER AND SHAKE, A GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND IT STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND A NEW SEAL WAS INSTALLED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE DEFECT; HOWEVER, A DAY AFTER PICKING UP HER VEHICLE THE FAILURES PERSISTED. WHILE DRIVING SHE ALSO HEARD A "CLUCKING" NOISE IN THE SAME PLACE SHE PREVIOUSLY HEARD THE GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AGAIN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECTS SHE "JUST HAVE TO GET USE TO HER VEHICLE". WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME THE TRANSMISSION OVER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 MILES. UPDATED 04/17/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE SHUDDER CONTINUED. UPDATED 05/20/14
Steering, Power train, Feb 5, 2014
I PURCHASED FORD FOCUS USED- ONE YEAR OLD- WITH 16500 MILES. THREE TIMES IT STOPPED AS I WAS TURNING LEFT IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ONE TIME I BACKED UP AND IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. OTHER TIMES IT WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS ON HILLS OR ON RAMPS TWO TIMES ON MY STEEP DRIVEWAY IT CAME OUT OF GEAR. BROUGHT TO SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES - TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG REPEATEDLY. I GOT RID OF CAR AFTER 13 MONTHS AND TOOK A FINANCIAL HIT BUT NOW I AM DRIVING A SAFE CAR. THE DIFFERENCE IS AMAZING AND I AM SIMPLY DRIVING A CHEVY CRUZE SO NOT AN EXPENSIVE CAR IN COMPARISON. FOCUS IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE! *TR
Power train, Feb 5, 2014
THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT AND THE RPM RACED TO 6500RPM WITH OUT INCREASE IN SPEED. *TR
Power train, Jan 24, 2014
FULL CHARGE, ENTERED READY TO DRIVE MODE, SELECTED REVERSE AND CAR SHUT DOWN. READY TO DRIVE INDICATOR OFF. PLACED BACK IN PARK, PRESSED STOP BUTTON, DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, PRESSED START BUTTON AND CAR INDICATED READY TO DRIVE AGAIN. SELECTED REVERSE AND IT WORKED NORMALLY. SEPARATE INCIDENT, ONE WEEK PRIOR. 5 MILES OF RANGE REMAINING WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY UP A HILL. PRESSED ACCELERATOR AND LEFT DISPLAY SHOWED STOP SAFELY NOW, AND POWER WAS REMOVED. CAR STALLED ON HILL, READY TO DRIVE INDICATOR OFF. PLACED BACK IN PARK, SET HAND BRAKE, SHUT OFF CAR. DEPRESSED BRAKE, PRESSED START BUTTON, AND READY TO DRIVE INDICATOR FAILED TO TURN ON. TURN CAR BACK OFF AND WALKED INSIDE. CAME BACK AFTER DINNER (30 MINUTES) AND EVERYTHING POWERED UP LIKE NORMAL. PULLED INTO GARAGE AND STARTED LEVEL 1 CHARGING. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jan 21, 2014
MY CAR HAS ALMOST GOTTEN ME IN 3 ACCIDENTS AND IT ROLLS BACK ON HILLS I WAS PULLING INTO A DRIVE WAY AND IT STARTED TO ROLL BACK THEN IT SLOWED DOWN AND THERE WAS A LOAD NOISE AND WE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS IT WAS JUST A DRIVE WAY. THE CAR HAS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER AT ALL IT STUTTERS AND WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING IN BUSY PLACES AND YOUR CAR WONT PICK UP ENOUGH TON ENTER ON THE HIGHWAY OR FREEWAY ITS SCARY AND ITS UNSAFE IT WILL SHAKE THE WHOLE CAR WHEN IT PULLS BACK AND STUTTERS. IT IS AWFUL AND I WENT ON A 3 HOUR DRIVE TO GO ON VACATION I ACTUALLY RENTED A CAR INSTEAD OF TAKING MY BRAND NEW CAR THAT I GOT TO LAST ME YEARS FRO NOW WAS THE PLAN IF IT MAKES IT ANOTHER 1 YEAR I WILL BE SURPRISED VERY DANGEROUS FORD. *TR
Power train, Traction control system, Engine, Jan 18, 2014
AFTER ABOUT 30-45 MINS OF DRIVING THE CAR WILL BEGIN TO SHUDDER GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. IT OCCURS MOST NOTICEABLY DRIVING FROM A STOP. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR IN NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE BEEN TOLD NUMEROUS EXCUSES. AT THIS TIME IT IS GETTING ANNOYING, HOWEVER IT BECOMES A CONCERN WHEN TURNING ONTO ROADS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT PRODUCE ANY POWER DURING THIS TIME. ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A ACCIDENT OCCURS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 2012 FORD FOCUS. UPDATED 03/25/14*LJ ALSO, AN OIL LEAK WAS FOUND, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDER IN REVERSE AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS ENGAGING. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jan 4, 2014
WE TOOK OUR CAR IN YESTERDAY BECAUSE THE ENGINE KEPT LURCHING AND STALLING. THEY SAID IT WAS THE POWER TRAIN, AND THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER. THE BERGE FORD DEALERSHIP REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, AND TODAY WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR THE RADIO WAS ON. I JUST UNLOCKED IT AND OPENED THE DOOR, AND THE RADIO CAME ON. THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE CAR AT ALL, AND THE ONLY THING I DID WAS UNLOCK IT WITH THE REMOTE AND OPEN THE DOOR. I DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM PRIOR TO THEM "REPROGRAMMING" IT TO FIX THE POWER TRAIN/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THEN WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE IT THE ENGINE SEEMED SLUGGISH AND IT SEEMED TO BE LURCHING AGAIN, BUT NOT STOPPING FOR AN INSTANT LIKE BEFORE. SO I WENT FROM HAVING TRANSMISSION/POWER TRAIN PROBLEMS, AND A SEAT BELT PROBLEM TO HAVING THEM BOTH WITH A COMPUTER PROBLEM ADDED IN... I'M NOT A COMPUTER ENGINEER, BUT WHEN A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT HAS HARDWARE PROBLEMS IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO REPLACE OR FIX THE HARDWARE INSTEAD OF REPROGRAMMING THE SOFTWARE. I'LL BE TAKING IT BACK IN, AND WHILE THE COMPUTER IS OUT OF WARRANTY I THINK I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THEM TO LOOK AT IT AND FIX IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME BECAUSE THEY CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Jan 2, 2014
I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO PULL INTO A FREEWAY ON RAMP TURN LANE, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED. IT KEPT DOING THIS OVER THE COURSE OF 3 MONTHS ON AND OFF WHEN WE WOULD DRIVE AT SLOWER SPEEDS. WE TOOK IT INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A COMPUTER REPROGRAMMING ISSUE. THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER TODAY, BUT I'M EXTREMELY DOUBTFUL THAT IT'S GOING TO FIX THIS BASED OFF OF WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE STATED HAPPENED TO THEM. THEY JERKED AROUND WITH US AND TOLD US THAT IT WAS IN WARRANTY FOR THE POWER TRAIN, BUT IF IT WAS ANYTHING ELSE WE WOULD OWE $110 FOR THEM TO JUST LOOK. WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN SEPTEMBER 2013, AND HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT STARTING IN OCTOBER 2013. IT HAD 43,000 MILES ON IT WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, AND HAS ABOUT 47,000 NOW. MY LAST CAR WAS A 2004 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, AND IT HAD VERY FEW PROBLEMS FOR THE 9 YEARS I HAD IT. I ONLY STOPPED DRIVING IT BECAUSE OF A SEMI-TRUCK DRIVER'S ILLEGAL ACTIONS THAT TOTALED IT. I REGRET WASTING MY MONEY ON THIS PIECE OF JUNK. *TR
Power train, Structure, Dec 26, 2013
TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS CAUSING WHOLE CAR TO SHAKE. ACTS AS IF THE FLY WHEEL IS GLAZED OVER AND CLUTCH CAN NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY, THIS IS TURN CAUSED A BODY VIBRATION MAKING A LOUD VIBRATION NOISE. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS YET TO HAVE A RECALL TO MAKE A PERMANENT FIX. FORD REPLACED A CLUTCH PACK IN MY CAR BUT THE DESIGN IS FLAWED - THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND AT MY EXPENSE. FORD AGREED TO EXTEND MY WARRANTY MILEAGE BUT NOT THE TIME IN WHICH USE SAID MILEAGE. THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY WAS 60K OR FIVE YRS. NOW ITS 100K OR FIVE YRS, TWO OF WHICH ARE GONE. INCREASING THE MILEAGE DOES NOTHING FOR ME THE WARRANTY STILL EXPIRES AT THE SAME TIME. FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN THE FIESTA AND FOCUS MODELS. I'M A PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC FOR OVER 25 YRS. I'VE TALKED WITH SEVERAL FORD SHOPS AND THEY ARE VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. I SPOKE WITH THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND HE EVEN STATED THAT WAS THE NO.1 TOPIC AT A FORD CONVENTION IN VEGAS THIS YR. THIS IS SIMPLY A POOR DESIGN AND FORD WANTS THE CUSTOMER TO PAY FOR IT. MY CAR STARED THIS PROBLEM AROUND 13K AND FORD HAS BEEN YANKING ME AROUND FOR ANOTHER 13K BEFORE PUTTING IN THE REPLACEMENT PARTS THAT ARE NO DOUBT GOING TO FAIL AGAIN. MY GAS MILEAGE IN TOWN WENT FROM 33.5 TO 24.5 AND THIS WAS ALSO ACCEPTABLE TO FORD - NOT ME. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED RIGHT AWAY BEFORE A TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE KILLS SOMEONE. *TR
Power train, Dec 10, 2013
I WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR THE FIRST FEW WEEKS I HAD IT. IT ROLLS BACK WHEN ON AN INCLINE. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS NORMAL BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS LIKE THAT OF A STANDARD TO TAP THE BRAKE AND IT SHOULD STOP ROLLING. IT STILL DOES IT ON INCLINES AM STILL NOT CONVINCED THAT ITS "NORMAL" FOR AN AUTOMATIC TO DO THAT, BUT IF NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST OTHER READERS WILL BE INFORMED. *TR
Power train, Dec 6, 2013
THE VEHICLE "POPPED" OUT OF GEAR AND BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO THROTTLE. IT TOOK THE VEHICLE ABOUT 20 SECONDS TO RECOVER. THIS IS THE 4TH OCCURRENCE IN 6 WEEKS. *TR
Suspension, Power train, Engine, Dec 1, 2013
THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM!!!! MY VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP. IT HESITATES AND DOES NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE AND IT APPEARS TO NOT WANT TO SHIFT GEARS. DOES THE SAME THING AT LOW SPEEDS AS WELL.WHEN PULLING OF FROM A STOP POSITION SOUNDS LIKE A RATTLING OR SOMETHING MAKING A CRANKING NOISE. ALSO CAR STALLS AT TIMES. TAKING OFF FROM STOP SIGN CAR STALLS WHEN GAS IS PRESSED. MY CAR ROLLS BACK WHEN TAKING OFF FROM AN INCLINE AND A FLAT SURFACE. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Nov 23, 2013
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE ABOUT 6 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. CAR SHIFTS HARD, WHEN DRIVING, SPUTTERS, AND EVEN ONCE STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A INTERSECTION. I HAD THESE ISSUES FROM DAY ONE WITH THE VEHICLE BUT WAS TOLD THE CARS COMPUTER HAS TO "LEARN" HOW YOU DRIVE. ELECTRICAL, THE LOCKS SOMETIMES WORKS, OR THE DOORS LOCK WHEN THEY AREN'T SUPPOSED TO. KEY FOB DOESN'T WORK SOMETIMES. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS RIDICULOUS AND FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. MY CAR HAS 27500 MILES ON IT AND RUNS LIKE IT IS 15 YEARS OLD! MY WARRANTY IS UP AT 36000, SO THEN ALL THESE ISSUES BECOME THE CONSUMER PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH FORD IS AWARE THIS IS AN ISSUE THEY ARE HAVING AND WON'T RECALL UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *TR
Power train, Nov 22, 2013
DRIVING HOME ON INTERSTATE 73MPH TRANS SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL HAD TO GET OFF INTERSTATE BEFORE GETTING RAN OVER WITH MY SPEED DECREASING. TURNED CAR OFF CRANKED BACK UP TRANS WORKED AGAIN TOOK TO DEALER IN JACKSON, TN GOLDEN CIRCLE FORD THEY SAID TRANS PCM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED AND WAS FIXED DROVE HOME TODAY 11-22-2013 DID EXACT SAME THING NOT GOOD AND NOT SAFE WHEN YOU LOSE TRANS POWER AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS CAR NOW BACK AT DEALER WAITING TO SEE WHAT THEY COME UP WITH THIS TIME. I AM A ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND WORK ON VEHICLES FOR A LIVING THIS ONE STILL UNDER 100,000 MILE WARRANTY BUT HAS SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE PLEASE HELP I APPARENTLY AM NOT ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE APPARENTLY THIS TRANS IS JUNK AND NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO FIX IT SO SHOULD BE CHANGED TO SOMETHING THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX I DRIVE 145 MILES PER DAY TO AND FROM WORK ALL INTERSTATE THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A PROVEN DEPENDABLE VEHICLE THAT IS WHY I PURCHASED IT ALSO FOR THE GAS MILEAGE WHICH IS GOOD BUT NOW NOT FEELING SO SAFE DRIVING IT. *TR
Power train, Engine, Nov 19, 2013
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE PRESSING THE GAS AND HESITATION WHEN POWER FINALLY RETURNED. *TR
Power train, Nov 18, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS SE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARD WHENEVER STOPPED ON AN INCLINE AND WOULD BEGIN SHAKING, CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Power train, Nov 5, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY, BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY, THEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300.
Power train, Nov 5, 2013
CAR SHUTTERS AND HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. VERY CONCERNING WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF THE CAR WILL MAKE THE TURN. I HAVE READ MANY POSTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON THE FORD FOCUS. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Suspension, Power train, Nov 4, 2013
SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION RATTLES, SHAKES, LOUD BANG, STUTTERS. I TOOK IT TO BUENA PARK FORD WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM, THEY SAID IT'S ADAPTIVE LEARNING AND WILL BE OK AFTER 2000MI. STILL HAD ISSUES TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL CERRITOS FORD DEALER, THEY COULD NOT FAULT A DEFECT. TOOK IT BACK TO CERRITOS FORD, THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, WAS A LITTLE BETTER BUT GOT WORSE AFTER DRIVING A FEW THOUSAND MI. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY CONFIRMED DEFECT AND DID RESETS OF THE TRANSMISSION AND STATED GOOD FOR NOW. AGAIN A LITTLE BETTER BUT SLOWLY NOW WORSE THAN EVER. I TOOK IT BACK TO CERRITOS FORD TODAY, THE SERVICE REP WOULD NOT EVEN LISTEN TO ME, JUST KEPT SAYING IT'S NORMAL, HE DID NOT EVEN WANT TO CHECK AND CONFIRM MY COMPLAINT, JUST KEPT SAYING THEY ARE EDUCATING THEIR CUSTOMERS ON THE FOCUS AND FIESTA'S TRANSMISSION. I TOLD HIM IT'S NOT NORMAL AND SAFE, TO JUST AT LEAST LOOK INTO MY COMPLAINT PUT IT IN WRITING IF YOU THING IT'S NORMAL. EACH OF THE LAST FOUR TIMES THEY DID CONFIRMED AND TRIED TO FIX THE DEFECT. I AM WORRIED AS THE CAR WAS FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO WILL BE DRIVING IN A FEW MONTHS. I FIND IT VERY UNSAFE AS IT STUTTERS JERKS AND DOES DIFFERENT THINGS AND YOU CAN'T DETERMINE WHAT IT WILL DO NEXT. THEY REPLACED THE LEFT STRUT WAS OK FOR A FEW WEEKS, THEN I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT. I TOLD THE REP IT'S REALLY LOUD NOW ENOUGH FOR HIM TO CLEARLY HEAR IT. HE TRIED TO TELL ME THE NOISE IS PART OF THE TRANSMISSION AND IT'S NORMAL. I EXPLAINED TO HIM IT'S OVER BUMPS AND TO AT LEAST TEST DRIVE IT. HE SAID HE IS TRYING TO HELP ME AND DOES NOT WANT ME TO HAVE THE CAR NOT AVAILABLE TO ME FOR USE. I TOLD HIM I DON'T CARE HOW LONG IT TAKES I JUST NEED THE CAR FIXED. TODAY IS MON WHICH I DID MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR, HE SAID HE WILL CALL ME ON FRI. I THINK I AM JUST BEING PLAYED AROUND AND THE CAR IS A LEMON. PLEASE HELP. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 2, 2013
VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELARATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP. HESITATES AND DOES NOT WANT TO ACCELARATE. APPEARS TO NOT WANT TO SHIFT GEARS. DOES THE SAME THING AT LOW SPEEDS AS WELL. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Oct 31, 2013
WHEN PULLING OF FROM A STOP POSITION SOUNDS LIKE A RATTLING OR SOMETHING MAKING A CRANKING NOISE. ALSO CAR STALLS AT TIMES. TAKING OFF FROM STOP SIGN CAR STALLS WHEN GAS IS PRESSED, THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR