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
3,801 reports, newest first.
Power train, Oct 30, 2021
Slow acceleration rough shifting in transmission E8 and E9 Code's detected on my OBD reader at auto zone
Other or unspecified, Oct 29, 2021
We have had many issues with our Ford Focus since purchasing it the summer of 2020. First in October 2020 it needed new clutches & throw out bearing. Which cost over $1,400. Second we have had to have both left & right wheel bearings replaced. In August of 2021, we started having transmission problems. The Ford dealership reprogrammed it. It did not fix the problem. We contacted Ford & was told it is the transmission control module which is under warranty. We were told it is taking 3-6 months for the parts to get in. Our Ford dealership ordered one over 6 months ago & still has not got it in. We need our car for transportation but haven’t been able to drive it for two months. Ford needs to step up & offer a solution. We are very discouraged, disappointed & unsatisfied with Ford right now.
Power train, Oct 27, 2021
I need to change my transmission control module
Other or unspecified, Oct 26, 2021
Was driving on interstate when transmission suddenly quit working. The gears would not engage and then I got a "transmission overheating" message and the dashboard lit up in red warning lights. As I was pulling off to the side on the interstate trying to dodge must faster traffic, the engine quit. I waited for about 30 minutes then cranked it again. I got almost a mile down the road when the whole sequence started over again. I drained and changed the transmission fluid thinking that might be the problem but this had no effect. The transmission overheating warning would come on before I even made it a mile down the road. I have not taken to dealership yet because I am not sure I shouldn't just junk it. Ford is never going to recall these bad transmissions and I am sure I will have to pay between $3,000 to $5,000 for a new transmission and do not want it anyway if Ford is just going to put in another transmission that, like this one, their own technicians found faulty. You can inspect this vehicle any time you want.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 26, 2021
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after refueling and starting the vehicle, the vehicle was shifted into drive and drove several feet before losing motive power. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was restarted and then driven to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the canister purge valve had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that there was a recall for similar vehicles however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was provided the cost for diagnostic testing but declined to have the vehicle diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Steering, Oct 25, 2021
I bought my car from a Ford dealership about 2 years ago and on 2 occassions now i have had problems with my power steering. First time i started my car after work and a steering assist fault message illuminated on the dash and the power steering was near impossible to turn. I was not able to drive the vehicle and had it towed to my mechanic who also found the power steering difficult to turn the next morning and it ran a code for him of steering malfunction. He said he thought the rack and pinion needed replacing and stated that only Ford could do it as it would need to be reprogramed by them as it is electric. So i had the car towed to Ford and they were unable. To diagnose it. A week later upon starting my car to head to work the sane steering assist fault message came on my dash so I turned off my car and started it again after reading online how common this problem is with this make of car and how that remedies it in the beginning. Car was able to start but i had it taken again to Ford as i am scared of it going out while driving or getting stranded agaun somewhere without power steering and so far Ford can still not diagnose it. This is really frustrating as it is a huge safety issue. I no longer feel safe driving my car. I get anxiety about being in an accident or getting stranded again late at night with my car. And i read it costs almost 3000 tp fix. This should ne recalled. I only have had this car about 2 years and i will never buy feom ford again. If i could afford a new car i would get rid of it because it is not a safe car. So upsetting Ford will not do a recall. It is way to hard for a woman to try to drive this car with power steering loss. Someone will be injured before Ford cares.
Power train, Oct 24, 2021
Loss of power on major highway. Could have been hit in the back because car just stopped moving. Dash board had lights flashing, no up hill movement, transmission check immediately, no shift, check engine it was lite up like a Christmas tree. I was scared I was going to get killed. transmission- yes, towed to Steet-Ponte Ford dealer, nothing wrong, no reps called, lights first appeared at that moment, took car home worked for one day and repeated the same problem. Took it back to the dealer and they replaced a part in the clutch and said if that didn't work a fork would have to be replaced for $1,500 also I had to pay for the first repair $300. Took it home worked for 3 days and is still sitting in drive way
Power train, Other or unspecified, Oct 23, 2021
I've already lost count of how many times I changed the transmission of this car and now I have to change it again. So I don’t know what to do now Thank you
Other or unspecified, Oct 20, 2021
Vehicle would shake and completely shut down whenever I would stop at a red light or stop sign. It put myself and others drivers at risk because the vehicle would shut down on extremely busy roads, this happened on multiple occasions. There was an inspection by a service center but at the time I didn't have the funds to pay for it.
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 15, 2021
I previously had the 18S32 recall done. They said everything was fine even though ever since I had the tank, purge valve and computer retooling done it never drove right. It didn’t have accurate miles to empty and never seemed like it used to before all this was done. 2 months ago the car stalled while driving below 30mph. I pulled the car over and turned it off. I tried turning it back on multiple times and it didn’t work until finally I got it back on but it had a check engine light. It wouldn’t shift right and check engine light kept coming back on. We got it checked out and the Ford service center claimed it was the transmission and engine. We didn’t have it fixed then and we took it back home the check engine light never came back on. This last week 10/11/21 the car started smelling like fuel outside the car and wouldn’t accelerate well. Took it into the Ford Service center at a different location and they confirmed it was the fuel canister leaking and the fuel line to the fuel insert point was messed up. I noticed they had performed recall 18S32 on it before but it never fixed the issue and they did a 2nd recall on some vehicles because of it called 19S22. The Ford service center and customer care both said they can’t perform 19S22 recall because it doesn’t show up on my VIN number as needing done even though clearly I’m still having issues with the fuel system that was recalled in the first place. I’m now going to have to pay out of pocket for an issue Ford should be covering under recall work.
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 14, 2021
I was given engine codes P144A and P1450. Whenever I fill up my gas tank completely I have to turn the key multiple times to actually get the car to start. The lower the tank is before the fill up, the more times I have to turn the key to eventually get it to start. Everytime I turn and it stalls I pray that it doesn't blow up. It will make the quick triplet sound and then won't "vroom." The component to be complained about is the Engine/Fuel system, and it is available for inspection upon request. Well for 1 I wasn't sure if this stalling would occur while actually driving, and based off of online research it could happen, and 2 as I said previously I was genuinely worried whether or not the car would blow up, let alone start. I have seen a recall regarding this issue to other cars with the exact same make, model, and engine type dating back to 2019, but for some reason the recall isn't covered under my vehicle's specific VIN. The component has not been inspected yet because I am hoping to find a way to have the recall cover my vehicle so I don't have to pay as much for it. There hasn't been an exact "failure" more of a problem with unknown consequences. The light first appeared probably about 6 months ago, but the initial engine codes I got (I have since gotten them twice more, the most recent being about a month and a half ago) indicated that the only problem I MAY experience was incorrect display of gas on the dash. I didn't notice it at all, so I figured it wasn't that serious nor a safety concern.
Power train, Oct 12, 2021
Before taking a cross country trip in July 2020 the vehicle was taken to a local Ford dealership and asked if there were any outstanding issues to do with the transmission or otherwise. The car was acting up some with shifting. They stated there was nothing and no issues. Of course they did not document this on the service ticket. On September 23, 2021 when pulling into a parking lot, a loud noise happened and warning lights (check engine and transmission reset) came on and then barely made it out of the path of the main road. Once in the parking lot, the car would not reverse. We managed to get the car pushed out of the way. Once the ignition was shut off, it took multiple attempts to restart, finally restarting in Neutral. The vehicle was towed to a different Ford dealership where we are told it's throwing codes related to the PCM Module for the transmission. After calling Ford Motor Company, we discovered the car was originally purchased in July 2011, so we are just outside of the 10 year extended warranty on this issues by a little over two months. We are the second owner and it only has about 90,100 miles, which is under the extended warranty mileage of 150,000. Ford Motor Company Customer Service has stated multiple times that I will get a call by a supervisor in one business day after I've asked to speak to a supervisor. I have yet to get a call back after a week and a half of trying. We have not had the car repaired as of yet since they won't call me back or escalate me to anyone.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 11, 2021
Ok when I start the car and turn the key to on but I have to wait a second and during that second inside the engine it's like it sounds like when u change disc song on a jukebox and then when it does that then I could start the car but as of now nothing works or drives and barley bought it not even month ago from personal owner,but some advice and help please thank you.
Steering, Oct 10, 2021
Power steering assist fault code pops up everytime I turn on my car, my steering wheel is completely locked, only have had car for 6 months dont have the money to replace rack and pinion which costs so much there should be a recall on this considering so many people have complained about this exact steering issue. My car was parked and running when I lost my power steering
Steering, Oct 7, 2021
The power steering assist failure warning came on and then went away after turning the vehicle off. The same issue came back the day after, with it being completely unsafe to drive the vehicle on the road. Turning the wheel is very difficult, and this problem has been commonly reported by others with the 2012 Ford Focus, yet no recalls have been issued. The car has not been inspected as of today, but others have reported up to $2600 of repair costs for this issue. Previous to this incident, the car did not have any other warning lights or other symptoms of dysfunction.
Steering, Oct 3, 2021
On engine startup the power steering doesn't function and there is a power steering assist warning. The fault is rectified by turning the engine off and on. I'm concerned that the problem may occur while driving.
Power train, Oct 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as it was losing power. The contact stated that it felt like the vehicle was unable to shift gears. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated an issue with the transmission and recall with the fuel tank. The contact stated that the PCM was updated to the latest calibration. The vehicle was serviced for NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V643000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The failure recurred a year later after the recall service. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who stated that the clutch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and no assistance was offered as the extended warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
Steering, Sep 30, 2021
Electronic power steering failed. My daughter almost lost control of the vehicle. If she had been driving on the highway, an accident would have killed her! The loss of power steering is a reoccurring problem with this vehicle. A simple internet search reveals the problem is common. Issue a recall before more people are hurt.
Electrical system, Sep 23, 2021
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus BEV. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that an unknown warning light was illuminated and remained illuminated for several days. The failure recurred several times. On one occasion, the contact was unable to start the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed failure with an electrical wiring harness kit and that the battery was drained. The dealer was able to replace the wiring harness however, the battery was not replaced due to the cost of a new battery. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 21, 2021
I took my car to the dealership to repair the recall associated with the purge control valve (Buckeye Ford) the said it was fine. I have had my car towed twice due to it stalling on the road the mechanic at Meyers garage in ft Loramie Ohio has reset the low fuel code twice even thought I have had a full tank of gas.
Engine, Sep 20, 2021
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the contact continued driving to work with no further issues. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who connected to the vehicle to diagnostic machine which diagnosed the failure as a malfunction of the canister purge valve. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,300.
Electrical system, Sep 19, 2021
Backup camera works intermittently. More often than not it does not work at all. Sometimes it works for a few seconds and then stops working. A message appears on the screen to take the car in to the dealer. But the warning beep sound still works.
Power train, Sep 16, 2021
My car has been shuddering but nothing ever pops to sensor there’s a problem. My car only has 109k miles on it. Serviced pretty regularly I think the transmission is going out and I have only had the car since November of 2019. If I would’ve did my home work I would’ve went with a Honda. Now my car won’t reverse or go any faster than 15 mph
Engine, Sep 15, 2021
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 - 40 MPH, the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the fuel gauge was not working properly, moving from full to empty. The vehicle lost motive power. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the failure with code P1450, and the fuel pump and canister valve were replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN that was related to the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.
Steering, Sep 15, 2021
Car has 122k miles. At the end of August 2021, the electronic power steering failed while my son was driving home from work, making the car difficult to steer while driving. The car displayed a notification of power steering failure. The dealer has had the car for two weeks, they confirmed a complete failure in the electronic power steering module. The dealer said they have to replace the entire steering rack at a cost up to $2500. I see this similar failure has led to a recall on the same year Ford Fusion, but not on the Ford Focus. Clearly this has to be a manufacturer defect. 900 complaints in NHTSA for this issue and no recall issued.