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
Steering assist malfunction-service required keeps coming on. When is a recall coming. Scared this is going to cause an accident. I have to turm the car off and on then wait til it decides it wants to move. Afraid the steering will lock while driving. So far it has only happened while stationary but has caused problems when driving in reverse to get out of a parking space.
ODI 11141358
Power Train · Steering
In early 2017 i started experiencing issues with the electronic power steering. I would turn my car on some days and it would say power steering malfunction and there was no power steering making it impossible to turn the wheel and drive. Turning it off and back on (sometimes several times) would get rid of the error code and i would be able to drive it like normal. A month ago at 129,000 miles the power steering…
ODI 11152057
Steering
When starting the car, before driving, "steering assist malfunction" comes on the screen and the steering wheel will not turn. This happens a couple of times a day and i fear this will impair the ability to turn during driving or when starting my commute. I found restarting the car a few times eliminated this error.
ODI 11142565
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was coasted into a parking lot and the engine was powered off. The vehicle was restarted and the failure recurred. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence without power steering. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for…
ODI 11173333
Service Brakes · Steering
On 3 occasions while driving down a side street with a speed limit of 35mph, a power steering assist fault notification appeared. On one occasion it prevented my brake pedal from engaging the brakes. The parking brake still worked. The vehicle has a 3rd party warranty through the dealer i bought it from, when taken to their mechanics it was stated that they could find no trace or cause of the issue and could not…
ODI 11141415
Steering
For the past 6 months, every time i start up the car the steering column is almost locked. I start backing out and it loosens up. This morning i started my car up and it was locked again, but i got the message on the dash steering assist malfunction, and it never loosened up. I was a little nervous driving it ot work, but i had to get there. I have seen a lot of people with the same issue. This needs to get fixed.
ODI 11139147
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph, the steering assist warning light illuminated and the vehicle became difficult to steer. Blake ford located ([redacted], franklin, va 23851, [redacted]) was contacted and an appointment was made to have the vehicle diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was…
ODI 11143616
Steering
Takata recall well i went to turn on my car and i put it in reverse and when i was back in up i notice the screen say steering malfunction service requiere and the steering wheel dindt want to move
ODI 11133424
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While starting the vehicle, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer (gosch ford escondido, [redacted], escondido, ca 92029, [redacted]) where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the…
ODI 11161981
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. After starting the engine, the message "steering assist malfunction" displayed on the instrument panel and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 101,000.
ODI 11140385
Steering
Power steering is disabled upon starting vehicle. I thought this was just a random error because i would turn vehicle off then on and then it was fine. Now the error will not turn off and i do not have power steering at all.
ODI 11139584
Steering
Received "steering assist malfunction" error on dashboard at start up. Power steering is not working and very hard to turn car. Took to dealership and they claim electronic steering mechanism and rack need to be replaced at a cost of $2300. Seems like a widespread and dangerous issue that is very common with this model, wonder why there isn't a recall?
ODI 11132909
Steering
On 9/25/18, after driving two hours and then making a brief stop, when i turned the car on i received the following warning: "steering assist fault. Service required." when i started backing out of the parking space, i discovered the car had lost power steering. I turned the car off and then back on but received the same warning and still had no power steering. I was able to drive the two hours home very carefully…
ODI 11142803
Steering
Power steering would fail unexpectedly. At times while driving. Only remedy was to replace.
ODI 11142530
Steering
My focus when being turned on the steering wheel locks in place and does not want to turn in any direccion. This has happend multiple occasions for about 3 months. The problem used to be resolved by turnig the car off and then back on but is not the case anymore. This last time that it happend i was in motion coming to a stop sign and it seized on me. Luckyly i was already stopping or i could have wrecked. It took…
ODI 11131567
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving at a low speed, the steering column seized without warning. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 67,000.
ODI 11131133
Steering
Power steering has been going "in and out" for about a year. Resolved temporarily typically by restarting engine. However, power steering permanently failed 9/24/18. T called customer care stating ford knew about the issue (2017 dismissed lawsuit). The vehicle was stationary in a parking lot. Mileage @88,000. Ford needs to take responsibility for their issues they have with their vehicles. Cost to replace the rack…
ODI 11131523
Engine · Service Brakes · Steering
This car has had problems since purchasing it as a certified used vehicle for my daughter. The stereo went out completely and had to be replaced. The transmission has been having issues but ford says the problem is not bad enough when hooked up to the computer for it to be replaced under their extended warranty which ford has put in place an extended warranty up to 100,000 miles and 7 years. Lastly twice while my…
ODI 11130990
Steering
My 16 year old was driving and the steering assist fault made the steering go out for her. This part is extremely pricey i feel that as many complaints there are about this plus the high cost this should have a recall on this. Very dangerous
ODI 11130923
Steering
Over the course of a year, an indicator warning message kept coming on about the power steering manual assist, which turns out to be a defect in the steering column. Turning the car on and off solved the issue at the beginning. But then while i was on the road in september of 2018, the light came on again and wouldn't go off. I had to have the car towed to a dealership and have the entire steering column replaced…
ODI 11154925
Steering
Power steering assist fault has happened at least 4 times where the steering freezes and the vehicle has to stop, be restarted for the problem to be rectified. The vehicle was in motion reversing or just started. It is now going into a ford dealer for inspection and repair. This is unacceptable.
ODI 11145269
Electrical System · Steering
Power steering has been going "in and out" for about 1-2 years. Resolved temporarily typically by restarting engine. However, power steering permanently failed 9/9/18. Took my car in multiple times prior to this with no resolution. Looking at a $2100 bill to replace whole steering gear. Multiple electrical issues with cars computer. Called customer care stating ford knew about the issue (2017 dismissed lawsuit)--…
ODI 11128410
Steering
The power steering has gone out. Research shows this to be a common problem with this car. The car was stationary at the time, but mid-trip. My son was driving and had difficulty getting home.
ODI 11130468
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving 5 mph, the steering wheel seized and the steering service default warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to norris ford ([redacted], baltimore, md 21222, [redacted]) where the contact was informed that the steering rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure…
ODI 11128043
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving 65 mph, the steering wheel seized and the steering warning indicator illuminated. The contact immediately slammed on the brakes and exited the freeway. The contact stated that the steering wheel never unlocked and the vehicle was not driveable. Paul cerame ford (11400 new halls ferry road, florissant, mo 63033, [redacted]) was contacted, but the vehicle was not…
ODI 11122976