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.
Engine · Steering · Vehicle Speed Control
On march 13th, i was driving at approximately 55 miles per hour. All of the sudden i lost complete power in my car. The rpms revved up extremely high and i gained no power when pushing on the accelerator. I lost all speed in a matter of seconds and was forced to pull over. I was almost hit by another car as i was attempting to get out of the way. Steering became hard and it took more effort to break and slow the…
ODI 10576427
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that while reversing, the steering wheel failed without warning and became hard to turn. The power steering warning light illuminated after the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to have a diagnostic performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current…
ODI 10565556
Steering
While turning the steering wheel, my left hand middle finger was sliced open by a silver trim piece around the horn/radio control area. Specifically, the silver piece is like a foil type covering with a raised edge which is sharp like a razor blade. Once i was cut, i pulled over to see what had cut me and i realized it was the silver trim. Upon further inspection, i was able to peel the silver piece back since it is…
1 injury
ODI 10554096
Power Train · Steering · Suspension
I purchased the car used with 25,000 miles, shortly after the car began shuddering very badly and did not accelerate correctly. The problem progressed to a loud metal grinding noise, the clutch was deemed to be bad and replaced. Six months after the clutch failed again and was replaced and now a year later the clutch needs to be replaced again, making it the fourth clutch for a car with under 70,000 miles. Ford has…
ODI 10763295
Steering
The aluminum trim on the steering wheel where the driver can rest hands is splintering off. It is sharp and jagged metal. It cut three of my fingers deeply. Ford will not warranty this even though many many owners are complaining of the defect. *tr
1 injury
ODI 10559644
Steering
Power steering: sometimes when i start my car an error message will say "power steering failure", and the power steering will not work. If i turn the car off, and then restart it within a few minutes it goes away. It started doing this within a month of when we bought it, and because the error isn't present when we take it to the dealership they tell me they can't do anything. I have complained multiple times to…
ODI 11180660
Steering
Started up car and put transmission into reverse. Steering was very difficult. I was able to pull back into driveway. Error message indicated steering assist failure and that service was required. I shut off the car, restarted it, and the steering seemed back to normal.
ODI 10542377
Steering
Chrome steering wheel trim began to peel off. Cut my finger a few different times to where i was bleeding. *tr
1 injury
ODI 10544466
Steering
Power steering assit pops up the day after purchasing and restarted car. Issue went away until after used car lot warranty runs out. Issue seemed to only happen in the warmer months of the year. Has happened approximately 40-50 times. Finally completely went out on june 10th 800 miles away from home while my wife and kids we on a tripped to see her parents. Had taken car to dealership numerous times over issue since…
ODI 10733434
Steering
While driving power steering assist warning came on and lost ability to steer vehicle while driving. Took car to dealership and they seem to have no explanation. Vehicle is still not steerable at this time with no resolution. *tr
ODI 10537395
Steering · Suspension · Wheels
When driving home i heard a loud pop noise, the steering became hard to control and when i made a slow right hand turn the right front tire fell off the car. Apple ford is trying to tell me i hit something. I would know if i hit something and for me to hit something that large i would have seen it, if there was a large pot hole i would have seen it... There is no body damage to the front end bumper of my car.. I…
ODI 10535852
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving approximately 15 mph, the steering wheel seized and the steering assist service flashed across the instrument panel. The failure recurred several times intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that the electronic power steering gear failed and the power steering needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not…
ODI 10726900
Steering · Vehicle Speed Control
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that when starting the vehicle or when in the idle position, the power steering would disengage independently. The steering and power steering warning lights would illuminate after the failure. Additionally, when the contact was attempting to accelerate from a complete stop, there was a hesitation before the vehicle would respond followed by a brief rapid…
ODI 10662419
Steering · Structure
The chrome metallic trim on the steering wheel began peeling off around the edge. Pieces of sharp metal cut into my fingertips on a number of occasions. *tr
1 injury
ODI 10526054
Steering · Structure
The chrome metallic trim on the steering wheel peeling off around the edge. Sharp metal has caused numerous cuts to the driver's hands. *tr
1 injury
ODI 10552682
Power Train · Steering
My first incident was driving out of a parking lot, the power steering message appeared with a strange beeping noise followed by an extremely difficult to move steering wheel. When i turned off my car and got it back on, the power steering was back to its normal levels. Later the next day, the car was in movement over 30mph while driving through the highway and the power steering message came on again making my car…
ODI 10523209
Steering
This happened twice within one hour. I pulled our of my company parking lot onto a busy highway and my power steering went completely out.on dash it read, "steering malfunction. Service needed." it was very difficult but i managed to pull over to the side. I turned the car off and sat for a few minutes. Hoping it was a fluke, i started the car up again and pulled onto the highway. I made it about two blocks before…
ODI 10516134
Steering · Underbody Shields
When driver entered vehicle, started it, and began to steer, the silver finish on the right side, top of the steering wheel crossbeam had split and curled up, which caused lacerations across two fingers. The car had been fine on previous use, and had been unused for several days prior to the incident. This appears to be a defect in the finish itself. *tr
1 injury
ODI 10515133
Steering · Structure
Metallic steering wheel trim is peeling at the top left side of steering wheel. Peeling material is very sharp and can easily cut skin, as it did to me and many others as seen online after doing a simple search for "ford focus peeling steering wheel trim". I'm also concerned that in rare circumstances the airbag itself could be cut by the sharp trim when deploying. *tr
1 injury
ODI 10508577
Steering
I was on the freeway and had my hand on the steering wheel . I moved my hand and the chrome on my steering wheel cut and took off a chuck of my pinky finger . My skin was struck on the chrome on my steering wheel , i had to put pressure on my finger to stop it from bleeding all over the driver seat . I pulled over to get my first aid kits to get a gauges on it. *tr
1 injury
ODI 10504502
Air Bags · Steering · Structure
The chrome trim on my steering wheel has begun to crack and flake off. I did not notice at first and had my finger run along it. The trim is cracked medal and is very sharp. I have not yet cut myself enough to draw blood but have stuck, stabbed, and caught my finger on it embedding a piece of chrome trim in my finger like a sliver. This is a widespread issue documented on multiple focus forums, and by other 2012+…
1 injury
ODI 10503993
Steering
I was driving on one of our first trips (400 miles) in the winter of 2012 in south dakota interstate 90. There was snow and ice patches on the highway and the steering was easy to slightly turn one direction, but harder to slightly turn the other direction. Trucks and or wind always makes a car move and a person's steering makes a correction for this. This car's steering was easy one way and not as easy the other…
ODI 10630916
Steering · Structure
Chrome peeling away from plastic leaving sharp edges where fingers are on steering wheel peeling is bi lateral on the top part of the area where the controls are for the sync and vehicle data controls. Running hand across this section of the steering wheel can result in jerking the hand away because of the sharp edge. *tr
ODI 10503918
Electronic Stability Control · Steering · Unknown Or Other
My transmission shutters very badly i have had it at the dealer in los lunas new mexico. It is still not fixed. My streering assist light came on and ihaveno power steering. After the last oil change to change oil light will not go off even after the reset procedures have been followed. The lighter does not work. O and to top it off i just got a recall letter something to do with electrical failure . But had nothing…
Crash reported
ODI 10914816
Power Train · Steering
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…
ODI 10563169