2012 Ford Focus Electrical System Problems
- 276
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 276 stored complaint records:
- 7 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 3 indicate fire
What owners report
- Horn · 3 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 87 |
| 30–60k mi | 72 |
| 1–30k mi | 56 |
| 100–150k mi | 30 |
| 150–400k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System · Power Train · Service Brakes
I have 2012 ford focus with about 85,000 miles. Since 2014, i've had my tcm reprogrammed several times and then replaced in dec 2015 under the extended warranty after it completely stopped working. I brought my car to ford again in july 2017 because my steering locked up while i was attempting to back up in a parking lot. I was told it was the epas system, and it would cost about $1,800 to replace since it's not…
ODI 11023403
Electrical System · Power Train
Shudder when taking off, seems to be from 1st to 2nd....or 2nd to third. I dont really know. Automatic gearbox. As well, my radio will crackle and pop then "freeze" no sound or control other than a very loud and distracting static and popping from the speakers. This has gotten much worse.
ODI 11022838
Electrical System
AT 48,000 MILES MY HORN STOPPED WORKING
ODI 11022829
Electrical System · Visibility/Wiper
As i was driving approximately 60-65mph on the garden state parkway my windshield wipers came on without me telling them to. They cycled through fast, normal, intermittent, off for 60-90 seconds per cycle. After the second cycle i decided to exit the highway and find a place to park and shut the car off. I then hear a thud as i come to a light, 30 seconds later i see smoke. I pull into the parking lot and see lots…
Fire reported
ODI 11019506
Electrical System · Engine · Exterior Lighting
Started with horn and tail light intermittently not working. Then intermittently as you are driving the car shuts off with no warning. This is a major safety issue! Everything locks up and you attempt to make it safely to the side of the road. All dash lights work but car won't start. Found same complaints on internet and youtube but no recall. Took to local ford dealer and they cannot find the issue. The diagnostic…
ODI 11004651
Electrical System
I had my car towed to my mechanic because of it has been not starting/hesitating to start when in park. I also tried switching to neutral and attempted to start and got nothing. My mechanic ran a diagnostic test and its coming up with a security code issue stating my key does not read but will start several minutes after attempt. This has just randomly started happening and i have read multiple complaints in ford…
ODI 11003231
Electrical System · Steering
The steering wheel locks up and won't turn this has happened while driving and when i just start the car. I can put my key in the ignition and all the lights, radio, and chime works, but the car won't start. I had it checked when i got it started and the battery was fine and the altenator was fine and so was my starter. I have been having problems with my car for the past 4 years please help.
ODI 10995438
Electrical System
With less than 21k miles on the car and the alternator, it seized up, tore the pulley off, and shredded the belt and left my car dead. I was driving on the freeway and heard a metallic grinding and jingling sound. Had i not been able to exit when i did, i might not have been able to safely navigate my car to a stop. Ford is refusing to admit that it was their manufacturing that was responsible for this. They did not…
ODI 10994396
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Engine
Car was running fine then turned it off and 10 minutes later would not crank. Car will not start.you can jump start it and it starts. Now cut it off want crank
ODI 10994040
Electrical System · Steering
The electrical power steering malfunction light will illuminate, when this happens this is a sudden complete loss of power steering making it impossible to steer vehicle. This occurred when the vehicle was in park stationary and also while in drive moving. It occasionally would happen. After the third or fourth time, the malfunction light remained illuminated and power steering loss remained despite try to restart…
ODI 11022751
Electrical System
Car will sporadically and intermittently not turn over when key is in ignition. Battery is not faulty. Alternator is not faulty. Wiring is not faulty. All have been tested. From what i have experienced this happens when the car's internal software (or more specifically transmission control module) does not recognize is in park thereby preventing the vehicle from starting. This sometimes prevents the vehicle from…
ODI 10985866
Electrical System · Power Train · Unknown Or Other
Our family took part in the recall campaign that was due to defective transmissions ford sold previously. (this campaign was not easy to discover). The car would stop in the middle of traffic randomly, and still does after the dealership applied the fixes ford suggested. My mother experienced total power loss twice and was almost in two accidents because of that. (the problem still persists). There are only 54,000…
ODI 10983463
Electrical System · Power Train
My first issue with the vehicle is a malfunctioning horn and front passenger side window. Then the transmission failed on me while i was driving. I had to have the vehicle towed to the dealership for service. Ford replaced the transmission after having the car for about a month. The dealership said they also fixed the horn. But that is not the case. The horn is still not working. I don't use the horn much, but i…
ODI 10969892
Electrical System · Steering
Notice came up on dash monitor "steering assist malfunction-needs attention". After re-starting the car you could steer it, and took it to a ford dealer and was told it needed a "steering rack" at a cost of $1600.00, not covered on the "drive train" warranty, even though i was told by the sales man from a different dealer where i bought the car, that a new steering rack had been installed at just over 3000 miles.…
ODI 10967167
Electrical System · Service Brakes · Steering
Driver assist fault again. This is the 4th instance that is happened in 3 weeks - where my car suddenly powers off while i am behind the wheel. The last three times it happened while my car was in reverse motion. Today, it happened while i was in drive but stopped at a red light in downtown charlotte, nc. Someone had to help me push my car out of the middle of the road. Occurred on my way to work around 3:30 pm est.
ODI 10955324
Electrical System · Service Brakes · Steering
I started my car this morning, put it in reverse and began to back out of my driveway when the car locked up and lost power. I could not steer or brake and the car continued rolling backwards until it hit my garage and stopped. The lights came on my dash read "(i) steering assist fault". I turned the car off and on several times before the lights went out, the steering wheel unlocked and i was able to depress the…
Crash reported
ODI 10948117
Electrical System · Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While the vehicle was parked at a grocery store, the engine would not turn off. The contact pulled the fuel fuse to discontinue the flow of fuel and shut the engine off; however, the vehicle lighting remained illuminated. The battery had to be disconnected to turn off the lights. The failure recurred three times. The contact called roy o'brien ford at [redacted] (located at…
ODI 11209048
Electrical System · Vehicle Speed Control
I was driving to get on the freeway and as i tried to accelerate it would not go any higher in speed of 25mph and then it speeds up drastically. I parked it and later that day car would not start after 15 minutes car turned on without problems then i drove it home and parked it and doesn't turn on at all. Put in new battery but car still would not turn on on computer screen says to contact manufacture.
ODI 10958569
Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System · Power Train
My car constantly smells like gas when i start it up after filling the gas tank up, the car dies when driving down road i have to pull over to start it because it dies while i am on the road so i have to pull over since last year the fuel reader stopped working causing me to die on side of road because of running out of gas. The car still has transmission issues it jerks from time to time and the half shaft bearing…
ODI 11073559
Electrical System · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While backing out of a parking space, the steering wheel stiffened and failed. Also, the instrument panel lighting remained illuminated. The issue recurred multiple times. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was unknown. The…
ODI 10936550
Electrical System · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving various speeds, a green and red light flashed on the instrument panel. The vehicle's downhill indicator illuminated without being activated. The vehicle revved and shifted into neutral. The contact stated that the vehicle eventually returned to normal. Other times, the contact would have to turn off the vehicle and restart it a few times until it returned to…
ODI 10968333
Air Bags · Electrical System
Connector for airbags keep coming undone. We took in after seeing notification on dash showing airbag issue. Paid 170 for them to put a new connector in. Less than a year later it is loose again. We cannot keep paying $170 for them to fix this. The switch just hangs under the driver's seat and we have made a point of not putting anything under there in case this was the problem. I have seen online where airbags are…
ODI 11066953
Electrical System
'my two sons were driving east on i-10, near schulenburg, tx, at the posted speed limit of 75 mph, when the vehicle engine and related components shutdown (no power steering, no engine, no nothing), without any prior notice. It is by the grace of god that they were not injured or killed by the 18 wheeler truck behind them when the vehicle engine failed. The vehicle was towed to a local ford dealership, tommie vaughn…
ODI 10928990
Electrical System · Engine · Unknown Or Other
Takata recall. The car will die in the middle of driving. Doesn't matter the speed you are going the lights on the dashboard will light up and you cant accelerate or decelerate the car will just die.
ODI 10925110
Electrical System · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact noticed a strong hesitation and delay upon applying the accelerator pedal. The contact had to apply force to the accelerator pedal to increase speed. A mechanic inspected the vehicle, but was unable to replicate or diagnose the failure. The mechanic recommended that the vehicle be taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the…
ODI 10924817