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, Oct 24, 2011
AT BETWEEN 8000 - 9000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, CAR STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, CAR WOULD REACH APPROX. 8 MPH AND INSTEAD OF SHIFTING UP TO NEXT GEAR, WENT INTO NEUTRAL FOR 3-5 SECONDS, THEN PROCEEDED TO UPSHIFT AND TAKE OFF AT A LURCH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I STOPPED, THE REVERSE GEAR WAS ALSO LIKE BEING IN NEUTRAL. NOW IT IS SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE CAR HAS HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY FORD ( HAS SPENT NEARLY 10 WEEKS AT FORD SERVICE). SINCE THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION, THE CAR DOESN'T "FALL OUT OF GEAR", BUT NOW WHEN STOPPING AND STARTING THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL OUT. THIS BEHAVIOR IS DISCONCERTING GIVEN THE HISTORY OF "FALLING OUT OF GEAR" WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND MERGE IN TO TRAFFIC. I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Steering, Power train, Oct 21, 2011
I PURCHASED A 2012 FORD FOCUS HATCH. AS SOON AS WE DROVE THE CAR WE NOTICED THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE SALES MAN SAID HE DIDN'T FEEL IT AND THAT THE CAR HAD TO LEARN OUR DRIVING HABITS. DON'T THINK A CAR LEARNS 2 DIFFERENT DRIVING HABITS AS THERE ARE 2 OF US DRIVING IT. BUT AT LOW SPEEDS EITHER ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING THE CAR SHUTTERS AND SHIMMIES WAY TOO MUCH FOR OUR COMFORT. IT SEEMS THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM BUT WE THOUGHT WE'D BRING IT IN TO HAVE A TRAINED TECH LOOK AT IT. THE FIRST ATTEMPT WAS A NEW MODULE AND THAT SHOULD FIX IT.... IT DIDN'T... SO IN A SECOND TIME FOR A REMAPPING OF THE COMPUTER...DIDN'T HELP. ....IN FOR A THIRD TIME AND THE TECH SAYS FORD IS NOT ALLOWING ANY FIXES ON THIS CAR... WE HAVE TO WAIT! REALLY? WAIT? I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW $21,000 CAR...... AN AUTOMATIC CAR! I BEEN TOLD IT HAS TO LEARN HOW I DRIVE... I'VE BEEN TOLD IT NEEDS BROKE IN...IT HAS 5000 MILES ON IT NOW HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BREAK IN? I'M TOLD THAT IT'S AS IF I AM DRIVING A MANUAL AND THIS IS NORMAL.........HELLO!!!!! NOT A MANUAL. I'M TOLD THIS IS JUST HOW THIS TRANSMISSION REACTS... AND ALONG WITH THE SHUTTERING IS THE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATING THAT COULD COST ME MY LIFE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY............... THE REMOTE KEY LOCK HAS CONFUSION ISSUES. IT DOESN'T ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THE SIGNAL AND IT HAS TO BE OPENED OR LOCKED MANUALLY. ALL I WANT IS A FIX AND IF THERE IS NO FIX I WANT TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE LEMON LAW ON THIS CAR........ I EXPECTED MORE FROM FORD FOR MY 30 PLUS YEARS OF LOYALTY. AFTER ALL ISN'T THAT WHAT HAS KEPT FORD GOING? ALL OF US LOYAL CUSTOMERS THAT STAYED WITH THEM THRU THE HARD TIMES? MY FAMILY HAS BOUGHT OVER $100,000 IN NEW FORD CARS AND TRUCKS AND PLENTY OF USED ONES AS WELL. I REALLY AM SAD THAT FORD HASN'T STEPPED UP ON THIS ONE AND I AM SO SURE I AM NOT ALONE. LISTEN FORD EXECS..... WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION!!! THANK YOU! *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Oct 15, 2011
AFTER A WEEK OF PURCHASING OUR BRAND NEW FOCUS STARTED NOTICING THE AUTOMATIC TRANNY SURGES AND SLIPS. LIKE ITS BUCKING FEELING. SOMETIMES IT SURGES ALMOST HARD ENOUGH TO PUT YOU ON THE DASH. KINDA SCARY IN TRAFFIC. CAR HAS ONLY 4500 MILES ON IT AND NOW HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN DASH AND UPON GOING DOWN THE ROAD YOU WILL VIBRATIONS LIKE A BENT AXEL OR WORN BEARING. ITS A NEW CAR!!!!!!! *TR
Power train, Sep 29, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE JERKED BACKWARD. THERE WAS ALSO A GRINDING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE NORMAL AND WOULD STOP OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20.
Power train, Sep 29, 2011
WHENEVER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THERE IS A SHUDDER IN THE POWER TRAIN AS IF THE CAR IS GOING TO STALL. AFTER SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR THE CARS MOVES AND SHIFTS SMOOTHER. POSSIBLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC FROM A STOP. *TT
Power train, Sep 23, 2011
WE BOUGHT OUR FOCUS EARLIER THIS YEAR AND IMMEDIATLEY NOTICED STUMBLING ON ACCELERATION AND ROUGH IDLING. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO STALL WHEN IT TAKING OFF FROM A STOP OR WHEN MAKING HARD ACCELERATIONS. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT, BUT FORD TOLD US IT NEEDED TO BREAK IN AND THAT THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES WHEN THEY RAN A DIAGNOSITC. THE PROBELM HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED ALTHOUGH THE SYMPTOMS WERE CONFIRMED BY THE SHOP FOREMAN. THE SECOND TIME WE TOOK THE CAR IN AS THE SHUDDERING WAS WORSE, THE DEALER HAD IT FOR OVER 30 DAYS AND PUT 700 MILES ON THE CAR TO NO AVAIL. WE HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK DOCUMENTING THEIR TESTING AND THE DATES THEY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE. A REP FROM FORD CAME OUT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CAR AS WELL DURING THIS TIME, AND ONCE AGAIN TOLD THEM THIS WAS NORMAL AND WOULD GO AWAY. WE NOW HAVE ABOUT 2300 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. WE HAVE FILED A CLAIM THROUGH FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR A BUY BACK ON THE CAR DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS BUT WE WERE DENIED AS OF TODAY, AND ALSO TOLD THAT THE CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY AS A LEMON IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THEY HAVE SET US UP FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER AND SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO. BEFORE FILING ANY COMPLAINTS, WE DID RESEARCH TO SEE IF OTHERS WERE HAVING A SIMIALR ISSUE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE FORUMS OF PEOPLE HAVING THESE SAME ISSUES (THE BEST SITE TO VISIT IS FOCUSFANATICS.COM). UPON READING ABOUT EVERYONE ELSES TROUBLES, NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN A RESOLUTION AND WE FEEL THAT THIS NEXT APPOINTMENT WE HAVE SET IS REALLY A WASTE OF TIME. SEEMS THAT FORD IS SWEEPING THE PROBLEM UNDER THE RUG AND HAS NO SOLUTION FOR THIS ISSUE. IN CONCLUSION, WE DO LOVE THE WAY THE CAR LOOKS, RIDES, AND ALL THE GREAT AMENITIES FORD HAS PUT IN IT'S VEHICLES BUT THIS IS A DEFINETE SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED AT ALL BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TR
Power train, Sep 22, 2011
THIS VEHICLE HAS SOME SCARY AND SOMETIMES DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION ISSUES. IT'S NOT LIKE A NORMAL AUTOMATIC WITH A TORQUE CONVERTER, SO SOME ROUGHNESS IS EXPECTED. BUT, THIS CAR OFTEN GRINDS GEARS, SLIPS, GRABS AND LUNGES, AND ALSO ROLLS BACK ON INCLINES. I HAVE NEARLY BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WHEN I HAVE TRIED TO ACCELERATE INTO AN INTERSECTION AND THE VEHICLE DOESN'T RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR BEING DEPRESSED COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. IT SOMETIMES ACTS AS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO START FROM A STOP IN 3RD OR 4TH GEAR. FORD MOTORS HAS CONTINUALLY SAID THESE PROBLEMS ARE NORMAL AND THE VEHICLE NEEDS SOME BREAK-IN TIME. WELL, THIS VEHICLE NOW HAS OVER 6,000 MILES. I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GET BETTER. IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS, THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS TO HANDLE WITH FORD. I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE IN THESE PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN ON FORUMS WITH MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. *TR
Power train, Sep 19, 2011
WE PURCHASED THIS CAR ON 08/19/2011 AND THE NEXT DAY WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A STOP SIGN THE CAR WOULD SHUDDER, I DO NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS COLD BUT IN STOP AND GO DRIVING AND NORMAL CITY DRIVING AFTER IT HAS WARMED UP. ALSO WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE WILL GO FOR A SECOND THEN HAVE A NICE SIZED FLAT SPOT SO EVEN THE PEOPLE IN THE CAR WILL GO FORWARD AS IF THE BRAKES WERE COMING ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE TECH DROVE IT AND VERIFIED THAT IT DID HAVE THIS ISSUE. THEY CONTACTED FORD AND FORD STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL AND TOLD THEM TO DO NOTHING. I COMPLAINED TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ALL THE LADY HAD TO SAY WAS THAT IT IS NORMAL. ALSO FORD HAD STATED THAT THESE ARE ISOLATED INCIDENTS, IF THEY ARE INDEED ISOLATED THEN THEY CANNOT BE CONSIDERED NORMAL BUT RATHER A DEFECT THAT FORD DOES NOT WANT TO ADDRESS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CLUTCHES REQUIRE A BREAK-IN BUT FORD DOES NOT STATE ANY BREAK-IN PROCEDURE THAT PERTAINS JUST TO THE CLUTCHES OTHER THEN THE NORMAL 1000 MILE BREAK-IN FOR THE VEHICLE IN GENERAL. I AND OTHERS I HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH ALL HAVE THESE ISSUES AFTER THE 1000 MILE BREAK-IN AND FEEL IT IS BOTH A SAFETY ISSUE AND A MECHANICAL DEFECT FROM FORD THAT WOULD COST TO MUCH TO REPAIR SO THEY CLAIM IT IS NORMAL. *KB
Power train, Aug 6, 2011
I WAS DRIVING AND STUCK IN TRAFFIC. GOING SLOW, 5-10MPH, THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING REALLY STRANGE, NOT MOVING WHEN INITIALLY ACCELERATING AND THEN JERKING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. MY DESTINATION WAS 3 BLOCKS AHEAD OF ME SO I STAYED ON ROUTE AND PARKED WHEN I ARRIVED. AS I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR IT WOULDN'T START. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO START AFTER "MESSING" WITH THE AUTO SHIFTER AND LEAVING THE CAR IN NUETRAL. ONCE STARTED THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR, OR MOVE WHEN PLACED INTO D, R OR L. I SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN AFTER THAT. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) IS WHAT TH EDEALER TOLD ME HAD FAILED. IT TOOK A SOLID 7 DAYS TO GET MY CAR BACK. THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS WERE SPENT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WENT WRONG. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS SHIFTED STRANGE AND CONTINUES TO SHIFT STRANGE TO THIS DAY. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BUT I THINK IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT FAILS AGAIN. *TT