2012 Ford Focus Power Train Problems
- 1,052
- 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 1052 stored complaint records:
- 27 indicate a crash
- 11 indicate injury
- 3 indicate fire
What owners report
- Automatic Transmission · 4 records
- Clutch Assembly · 3 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 330 |
| 60–100k mi | 243 |
| 30–60k mi | 239 |
| 100–150k mi | 96 |
| 150–400k mi | 20 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Power Train
Since we purchased the car new in 2012 it has not operated properly. I understand it is a hybrid transmission and feels different from other automatic transmissions. That is not the problem. The problem is that the car shudders and jerks forward when you step on the accelerator. We have taken the car in for this problem and have been told there is no problem. Yet there have been about three recall or transmission…
ODI 10861694
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While traveling at 65 mph, the vehicle lost power and would not accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact stated that a grinding noise could be heard while the vehicle was shifting gears. After the vehicle was shut off and restarted, the contact was able to drive the vehicle home and the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a…
ODI 10924874
Power Train
Transmission is faulty. While driving, the car will slow down, shake, and shudder and will not accelerate. The rpms will increase to 5000-6000. This happens in city driving and highway driving. On the highway the car will slow from 65mph to 40mph without warning and will not accelerate. Very unsafe!!!! The car has been back to ford dealership several times. Each time they say the car is fixed only to be back with in…
ODI 10891803
Power Train
Car hesitates when at low speed; terrible grinding noise when going uphill especially when stop start on a hill. Gears slip while driving; i have owned and driven manual transmissions as well as automatic transmissions that can switch to manual but never experienced anything like this. Today my car would not start: all the interior lights came on just fine- definitely not the battery. Error message on the dash said…
ODI 10853330
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact bought the vehicle brand new and the transmission clutch was replaced twice under warranty since it was purchased. During the most recent failure, the vehicle hesitated to move. Hagerstown ford ([redacted], hagerstown, md 21740, [redacted]) confirmed that the transmission clutch failed again for the third time in three years. For this failure, the contact stated…
ODI 11296853
Power Train
I bought the car used in july of 2014 with about 23,000 miles. Shortly after buying the vehicle, i experienced the transmission making grinding sounds and shuddering during acceleration. Generally after the vehicle is warmed up and been on a drive. A reprogram was done and i went back to the dealership for the same problem a few weeks later. At this point, with about 30,000 miles, a new clutch and plates were…
ODI 10851913
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving low speeds and accelerating from the stop position, the contact heard loud noises. The vehicle jerked each time the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle also roll backwards when in park and when the contact was exiting the vehicle. The contact also stated that the transmission was slipping out of gear and made a grinding clunking noise. The vehicle was…
ODI 10923824
Power Train
Since the introduction of dual clutch technology, beginning with 2012 ford focus models, there have been numerous documented cases of transmission problems. At least two recalls were to address the sluggish shifting. In my case the transmission has never functioned adequately, however i never experienced total failure. On march 15th, in heavy interstate traffic, the transmission experienced a failure. The engine…
ODI 10851335
Power Train
Got in my car on a saturday morning to go to work. Noticed the transmission was shifting very roughly. As the day progressed, i noticed that when it shifted into 3rd, the rpm's would jump from 3500 and take a while to go back down into 2000rpms. In the afternoon, cranked my car up and now my check engine light is on. The shifting has gotten progressively worse. What makes this even worse is i have already had my…
ODI 10850780
Power Train
The transmission on this car is horrendous! I frequently experience severe grinding and shuddering when accelerating and have experienced complete stall outs when turning/merging onto roads and lanes. It is absolutely unsafe and have brought this up to the regional manager of ford during my current complaint with them. Their response? That it's my fault for how i am driving the car. I am waiting my 3rd clutch…
ODI 10850835
Power Train
1st time - car died on the highway and wouldn't drive. I took it to the closest dealership which was joe cooper ford. Said that they couldn't cover a rental and reprogrammed the control module and said it was fixed. 2nd time - car died again so took back into joe cooper because they said they fixed it the first time. Checked in by adam (rude) and went and got rental again. Dealership covered this time. Car was there…
ODI 10850360
Power Train
Vehicle failed to move after transmission malfunctioned at 69,359mi after a few minutes the vehicle was operational enough to move off the highway to park it for the night.
ODI 10850126
Power Train
Transmission shuttering driving up an incline or from a stop. Began as a shutter which then evolved into grinding and violent shutter before replacing faulty clutch. Vehicle was taken to dealer a total of 4 times in the last calendar year for the same repair without it being resolved. Vehicle will slip and shutter consistently from stop, incline, or highway driving with engine rpm around 1200 - 1800 rpm.
ODI 11010808
Power Train
Even after reprogramming the transmission control module, the car continues to present bucking, kicking, jerking, harsh engagement, and delayed acceleration, as well as lurching. Today, the transmission control module completely failed to start the vehicle, although all other electrical works.
ODI 10845719
Power Train
I have taken my car into two separate ford dealerships (elder ford and bill currie ford, both located in tampa, fl) for service due to the transmission audibly grinding and the car literally shaking on take off. It sounds like the car is going to die at any moment. Each time i have taken it in, i was told it just needed to be "re-programmed". They would do that then send me on my way only for me to return a month or…
ODI 10860364
Power Train
Ford focus recall for dual clutch assembly: we have had the dual clutch assembly replaced 3 times and continue to have problems with the car not shifting into the correct gear, dragging, and shuttering.
ODI 10926415
Power Train · Unknown Or Other
The first time was going down 93 in boston area with my family the car went into transmission failure why i was in far left lane the car wouldnt go over 20 and i had to cross over to the far left lane to treach the breakdown lane. Luckily my family was not in accident because it could've have been far worse. It did the same thing a second time when i was going down 293 area going to a doctor appointment. This may…
ODI 10839021
Power Train · Steering · Visibility/Wiper
On 2/25/16, after a severe rainstorm, i went to turn on my car and tried to turn on the wiper blades, but they would not come on. The next morning they did turn on. That afternoon, when starting my car, the wiper blades turned on without the control being activated. The blades continued to run even when the car was turned off and no keys were in the ignition. The only way to stop the blades was to disconnect the…
ODI 10839402
Exterior Lighting · Power Train
I've already had problems with the transmission (recall issue) that causes the grinding and jerking of the vehicle...and still have to address these. But just this week my blinkers started coming on (when i turned off my motor), and some alarm started sounding until i started up the car. Really, really concerned at this point! Not a safe vehicle. My second ford focus (my 2003 was a dream!)...wondering what went…
ODI 10838145
Engine · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
Shuddering of engine between gear. Lose of power when accelerating. Red lines when trying to accelerate between first and second gear.
ODI 10839616
Electrical System · Power Train · Suspension
My vehicle lost all power in regards to acceleration and deceleration on the freeway at the speed of around 40-45 mph. I had to coast over two lanes and almost got rear-ended. The rpm would rev up but no power. Restarted car and problem went away. Next day had tcm flashed as part of recall. Two days later had the same issue only going 60-65 on freeway. Transmission went haywire and had to coast over and almost got…
ODI 10837347
Fuel/Propulsion System · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
Car dies on highway while driving. Fuel system and sensors seems to be failing or fell apart inside the vehicle it will not show appropriate fuel levels. It stuttering after filling up to full tank. Vehicle is very dangerous to drive on a highway to work when fuel system is failing. Many complainst have been filed on other automitive websites and forums about this exact fuel system issue. Collapsed fuel system /…
ODI 10838745
Power Train
When you drive the vehicle, the transmission shutters, shakes, skips gears, and sometimes comes to an abrupt halt making it feel as if i have been rear-ended. It happens when the engine is cold or warmed up, at all outside temperatures and conditions and is a general safety issue waiting to happen. I have had mechanics that specialize in transmissions warn against driving it as it could potentially be a very severe…
ODI 10837056
Power Train · Steering
Transmission shutters and slips and the power steering just shuts down at times, this is very dangerous. My wife was merging onto the interstate and the steering shuts down the engine still running. She has to shut the car off and start it again to get the power steering to work. This has happened around 10 times.
ODI 10837076
Power Train
Clutch was recall and it was replaced by local dealership installed nov 2015, gillette wy, and now transmission gave out, dealership stated that it needs an overhaul.
ODI 10825649