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
While at a dead stop my car failed to respond to the accelerator, two times. The engine would rev and nothing would happen except that the "p-r-n-d-l" indicator on the dash would flash. Eventually the engine stalled and couldn't be restarted for 10 minutes. This is a sign of of a faulty tcm (transmission control module). 2011 & 2102 ford fiestas and 2012 focus are prone to this type of failure. Ford replaced the tcm…
ODI 10748899
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System · Power Train
Purchased a 2012 ford focus in december of 2014. The transmission has had shifting issues almost the entire time that i have had the vehicle. In may, the transmission began stuttering at low speeds. When reaching speed on an interstate on-ramp, the vehicle showed the message "vehicle not in park" and shut off as i was pulling into traffic. A day later when driving it, it stuttered again and the check engine light…
ODI 10747268
Power Train
Car loses power when in drive at 20mph on street. Pulled over, turned engine off. Restarted normally. No prior notification on dashboard. The next day while in rush hour traffic on the freeway car loses power. It resumes acceleration after stalling for approx 10 secs. Check engine sign appears after resuming acceleration. I exit the freeway and make my way back home. Transmission fails twice while en route on…
ODI 10749836
Power Train
2012 ford focus. Consumer writes in regards to transmission control module problems. Consumer has previous complaint on another vehicle in artemis. *smd the consumer experienced an intermittent loss of power. While driving, it seemed the engine was no longer connected to the transmission. The consumer stated the transmission control module was replaced. However, it was replaced with the same part number as the…
ODI 10745331
Power Train
I have brought my vehicle into ford service center multiple times regarding the recall and replacement of my clutch because of stalling and faulty acceleration which has almost caused accidents on 2 occasions merging into oncoming traffic and also increasing an injury to my back problems by the jumpy acceleration. Ford dealer claims that the replacements are on such a high back order that they informed me to try…
1 injury
ODI 10837886
Power Train · Seat Belts
After having the car repaired from a recall, the 6th time for repair; the car broke down and had to be towed to the dealership. The transmission control module is out now and it is in the shop for the 7th time related to the same issue. I consider this car dangerous and will ultimately cause an accident or death. Why are you not doing anything about this issue. It is for all 2012 ford focus vehicles.
ODI 10744946
Engine · Power Train · Unknown Or Other
The vehicle would not turn over. There was no clicking of the vehicle trying to start. After 4 tries to start the car it was left to sit for 30 min before we tried again. The car then was tried to start again did not start until the 4th try. Then the car started. It seems to be skipping a gear while driving will go from 6k rpm to all of the sudden jumping down to 2k rmp. There is something wrong with the clutch/…
ODI 10743833
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that the vehicle stuttered without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch failed. The vehicle was repaired under warranty. Seven months later, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was serviced for the same failure. In addition, the vehicle was unable to shift gears and the…
ODI 10903226
Power Train
I was driving, and the transmission stopped delivering power to the wheels. The engine was running, and revving when i pushed the gas pedal, but no acceleration. The transmission was in drive. I changed to l, and no power. I pulled over and put the gear into park, back to d, and no power. I had to restart the engine twice, before the transmission engaged.
ODI 10743693
Power Train
Bought the car used in may. It drove fine for the first month and now the check engine light comes on with a code for the transmission. The car hesitates and shutters when you start from a stop and when you get going it feels like it shifts into neutral, rpm goes real high and then shifts hard. The code that pops up is p2862, p2831, p2832, p2837, and p285f. For 2 of them the code is shift fork a and b position…
ODI 10736140
Engine · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving at 25 mph, the engine vibrated and the contact could heard a metal to metal grinding noise. In addition, the vehicle would roll back and lose power when stopped. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that there was a transmission failure. The technician cleaned the engine and replaced the clutch and rings, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was…
ODI 10759995
Engine · Power Train
Accelerating up a shallow hill the transmission began to stutter and jerk and grind as it changed gears. In the middle of the jerking the car shifted into neutral and revved up. Complete loss of power at speed. Pulled over to the side of the road (on a hill) put the car in park and shut the car off. When i released the brake the car rolled backwards down the hill - clearly the car was not engaged in park. I applied…
ODI 10735239
Engine · Power Train
While driving in open country, vehicle suddenly shut off. After approximately 15 minutes the vehicle could be restarted. Drove the vehicle approximately 10 additional miles after restart and then the vehicle suddenly coasted as if in 'neutral" even though gear shift was in "drive" position. This time the gear indicator light flashed and the engine continued to run with the vehicle in "drive." shut off vehicle. Shut…
ODI 10744665
Power Train
2012 ford focus, purchased used in 2015 with 6k miles, has been jolting and failing to accelerate while driving on streets/highways and has been in for assessment and repair 2 times; currently under repair for a 3rd time as of today (11/11/15).
ODI 10789766
Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
After driving for about a half hour in rush hour traffic in the southern california area, my car slipped from active gears (i believe 2nd gear) and right into neutral. I couldn't accelate and drive with trafffic, while travelling up hill my car decellerated quickly. In trying to get to the shoulder, i narrowly avoided an accident. After finally reaching the shoulder i was able to put the car in park (it started to…
ODI 10745492
Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that the vehicle was engaged into the drive gear and it suddenly accelerated independently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was informed that the vehicle was operating as designed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000. The vin was not available.
ODI 10732938
Power Train
While accelerating and merging onto the interstate, the car surged forward briefly, made a banging sound and shifted by itself into neutral with the check engine light illuminating. After coasting to a stop on the shoulder, i placed the vehicle into park and shut off the engine, after a minute or so, i restarted the engine an placed it into drive. The car accelerated to about 20 mph and again went into neutral.…
ODI 10731800
Power Train
Tcm recall, i have had to take my car to the shop going on 3 times now for the same issue. My car is loosing power, hesitating to go into gear, and shuddering while driving. My radio is also turning off while driving and does not fix until i turn the car on and off. My transmission feels like its driving. I don't feel safe driving this vehicle and i have started the steps to file a complaint with ford. I want to…
ODI 10887420
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
Letter from senator isakson on behalf of constituent re 2012 ford focus issues. (attn: hanna yu). *smd the consumer stated the vehicle had four major repairs and 6-8 minor repairs done to the transmission. The vehicle would jerk. Also, while in the middle of a making a turn, the vehicle suddenly stopped. *jb
ODI 10744264
Power Train
7/1/15 car had sudden loss of power. The double clutch transmission was in d but acted as if in neutral. Pulled into a business driveway. Parked car. Put selector in p, car dash said car was not in p and would not allow key to be removed. Called a ford dealer, had car towed to dealer. Waiting on them to work on car. (they said they did not have available time in shop until 7/9/15)
ODI 10731862
Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
It's like it doesn't want to shift and then that hesitation you feel and it'll kick in,? Driving down the street transmission will stop working. There is never any warning signs. Very dangerous. Does not matter if you are going up an hill or driving flat road and speed has no factor either. Then the car will turn off on its own. There are a lot of complaints with transmission problem with ford focus. Every complaint…
ODI 10731917
Power Train
The transmission shudders and slips on acceleration from stops. The transmission malfunction light is on and it will not shift. Vehicle jerks when shifting.
ODI 11254244
Engine · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
First incident traveling approximately 45 mph, as automatic transmission shifts gears, the transmission slips out of gear. Shifting to neutral and back into gear does not work. Pulled vehicle onto the shoulder, put into park, turn off the engine. Engine will not start, no crank. Let vehicle sit for a minute, retry starting, vehicle runs normally. Next incident around 2 weeks later. Similar experience, but travelling…
ODI 10735009
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle lost acceleration. The contact had to shift into park in order to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the transmission control module failed. As a result, the vehicle transmission control module needed to be reprogrammed. The failure recurred once. The manufacturer was notified…
ODI 10725948
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving at 45 mph, the vehicle started to decelerate. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and shut the engine off. Once restarted, the gear shifter failed to shift into drive. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but the failure could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of…
ODI 10732555