2012 Ford Focus Steering Problems
- 791
- 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 791 stored complaint records:
- 20 indicate a crash
- 21 indicate injury
- 2 indicate fire
- 3 indicate a death
What owners report
- power steering · 103 records
- steering wheel · 44 records
- steering assist · 43 records
- assist fault · 15 records
- steering failed · 13 records
- failure mileage · 12 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 339 |
| 30–60k mi | 165 |
| 100–150k mi | 138 |
| 1–30k mi | 76 |
| 150–400k mi | 19 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Steering
I was driving on the freeway when the power steering system failed. The dash light came on with power steering assist fault. The car is very difficult to steer and created a safety issue failing on the freeway.
ODI 10806482
Electrical System · Steering
For the past few weeks i occasionally get the "steering assist fault" message while driving and power steering stops working. Usually, when i restart the car it resets and works again. Today i got the message while at a stop light, restarted the cars a few times and it did not reset. I have contacted my dealer and they said they've never heard of this, despite my reporting it to them last fall as well. Update…
ODI 10745193
Steering
In less than a week, the power steering on my 2012 ford focus has failed three times. The first time occurred on tuesday, july 28, 2015, at 7:45 a.m. I had been driving for about two minutes when the following error message appeared on my instrument cluster: "steering assist fault/service required." i was just about to take the ramp onto the highway, but my gut told me to pull over to the right of the road (i had a…
ODI 10746124
Steering
The ford focus 2012 se hatchback, sport suspension. The chrome surface on the steering wheel began to peel off and flake soon after purchase. The shards are metallic and sharp, and have cut my finger while driving. The problem is a major irritant since this problem is located on surfaces that have buttons and are used to control various features. I attempted to make a warranty claim on the issue but ourisman ford,…
1 injury
ODI 10743584
Steering
Chrome surface of steering wheel trim begins to peel without contact and is exceedingly sharp when it does so. I have now caught my finger on it twice, drawing blood on a highway traveling 70mph.
ODI 10735931
Electrical System · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving at approximately 45 mph, all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel and the steering seized. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
ODI 10734738
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving approximately 30 mph, the warning chime sounded and the power steering warning light illuminated. The steering wheel was difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was restarted and functioned normally. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was unable to be duplicated. The failure recurred numerous times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The…
ODI 10745238
Steering
While driving the vehichle the steering locks up and is very hard to steer to even get it off the road. The indicator in the car came on and warned of steering malfunction. Lost all power steering in the middle of driving down the road multiple times. Had to turn vehicle off to see if it would help, did momentarily but continues to malfunction after driving it. I can no longer drive my vehicle because it is not safe…
ODI 10735882
Steering
Lost steering control, warning light came on to bring vehicle in for service. Steering became very stiff. Was passing an accident on the highway when this happened, scared me, was not sure what was happening. Brought it in for service, found out i needed to replace my steering rack and pinnon, electronic components, will cost me 3,400.00 (cdn). Warranty ran out one month prior. One month earlier my transmission seal…
ODI 10734720
Steering
While driving the car experienced sudden failure of the power steering. I had to pull over and turn the vehicle off for several minutes and restart the car to get moving again with normal steering.
ODI 10733077
Steering
I drove to the library with my baby, and parked. When i came out i started the car, and the steering wheel seemed to be stuck and difficult to turn. I was able with great effort to drive home, and i am going to be taking it in to the ford dealership tomorrow. I have already had problems with the transmission stalling at lower gears, and also problems with the radio not recognizing usb drives. The siding along the…
ODI 10731638
Steering
The steering light had come on before then went off because the steering wheel ended up being able to move. This happened acouple other times and everything was fine. Then when it finally quit working was when i, the owner, had parked it to go inside somewhere, then came out to leave and the light came on and the steering wheel wouldn't turn. I had to have it towed to the dealership and pay $1,245.00 to have it…
ODI 10761983
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving approximately 65 mph, the steering wheel seized and excessive force was required. The steering assist fault service required warning light illuminated. The contact managed to merge the vehicle to the emergency lane and shut off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted, but the failure recurred multiple times on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to the…
ODI 10733227
Steering
Driving 2012 ford focus on highway july 29,2015. Mileage 41,100. Warranty just expired. While driving 55mph, steering wheel locked, almost impossible to steer car over to roadside. Dash message read steering assist fault, service required. Once stopped turned car off, then started car again; steering returned to normal. After first occurrence of faulty steering, others began 3 days later: july 2, 2015; steering…
ODI 10733215
Steering
Electronic power-assisted steering (epas) failure due to rack-and-pinion steering defect. Required to replace the entire rack-and-pinion module, which cost $1,700, due to the fact that this widely known and dangerous defect has not been acknowledged or recalled by ford and my vehicle is no longer under warranty.
ODI 10726681
Steering
My son was driving his 2012 ford focus se, when the steering assist service light came on and he lost steering. He pulled off the road with no incident. The dealership said that it is a bad steering rack, $1500.00
ODI 10726075
Steering · Unknown Or Other · Vehicle Speed Control
This is the second time in 2 months that i've had problems with this car's transmission. Not only does it stutter when shifting and take time to accelerate, but now the transmission is not working. In april, the car completely stopped accelerating, almost resulting in a crash on the highway. The dealership diagnosed it as a transmission censor and cost was paid out of pocket. This time, the car began jerking and the…
ODI 10725713
Steering
The first time, the power steering failed on my daughter's 2012 focus while traveling 70 mph down the interstate. I had to have the steering rack replaced at my expense since it was out of warranty and ford claimed there was no known issue with this. Less than 10,000 miles later it has failed again, luckily this time the car was moving slowly on city streets, still ford claims there is not a problem with this. Even…
ODI 10809867
Steering · Unknown Or Other
In 2015 after i started my car the power steering went out when coming out of the driveway at home. It use to come back on but comes off when car is parked then driven again . Now there is no power steering. On march 28, 2016, my car started honking twice when i push the lock button while the car is running on park and driving on the city street.
ODI 10852075
Steering
I have a 2012 ford focus sel, which i purchased used, from a ford dealership in october 2013. Approximately 1 month ago (early may 2015), upon turning on my vehicle, my steering wheel would not move and would say something like "power assist steering fault." i would have to turn of my car and turn it back on in order for the steering to begin working. This became more and more frequent as the month went on…
ODI 10722524
Steering
After 2 weeks of intermittent electric power steering engagement at start-up, the eps system failed completely, with just over 40k miles on this vehicle, a 2012 ford focus, i was surprised at this failure. With 50 years of driving experience, i am unimpressed with this new system. Unless a fan belt failed, i have never had a hydraulic power steering system failure. Although i had no accident or injury, someone with…
ODI 10723461
Air Bags · Steering
An alert comes up on the dash board claiming that steering assist fault service required. It is very difficult to drive although the faster i go the easier it is to steer' bit turns remain difficult this started happening in 2015, powering off the car would temporarily fix it. The issue was intermittent but is now very consistent and happening every time i drive the car.
ODI 10885284
Steering
While driving the power steering went out and i briefly lost control of the vehicle. Regained control and made it to my destination. This has happened before and when i turned the car off and back on it fixed itself. This time i've turned the car off and back on 5 times within the past 5 hrs and it still isn't working. I have an appointment with ford in the morning but not sure how i'm going to make it the 30 miles…
ODI 10714672
Steering
A few weeks ago my son started experiencing intermittent failure of the electric power steering (eps) on his 2012 ford focus sel, which he'd owned for less than a year. If he had no power steering when he turned on the car, he could just turn off the car, take the key out of the ignition, replace the key in the ignition, turn the car back on, and occasionally the power steering would work again. That only lasted a…
ODI 10721983
Steering
Started vehicle and pulling out of street parking when the wheel locked suddenly and there was a steering wheel assist warning light that came on dash. Turned car off and back on and it cleared. Another vehicle had to maneuver around me by the time i had turned the car off and on. Luckily it was not too dark or else it may have caused an accident. *tr
ODI 10713259