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.
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving at various speeds and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. All of the warning indicators on the instrument panel illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine had a leak and needed to be repaired and the brake line and circuit board failed. The vehicle was…
ODI 10717039
Power Train
I just recently purchased this car on saturday february 7, used from a carmax dealership. I was told there were no recalls on the car and that everything was fine. Test driving i noticed a little hesitation but not much. On sunday as i was sitting with my foot on the brake at a traffic light i felt a shudder vibration and the car slid backwards. To my surprise after researching online i noticed that this car is…
ODI 10682966
Power Train
When trying to enter a 50 mph intersection from a side road the 6 speed automatic transmission chatters, jerks,slips and hesitates before moving the car which makes entry into intersection frightening. This is not safe. One does not know what to expect from this erratic power train. Ford admits that it cannot be fixed. *tr
ODI 10682113
Power Train · Steering
Tl*the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse out a residential driveway, the power steering seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission shift needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 118,000.
ODI 10682337
Power Train
Transmission shaking and grinding noises; vehicles hesitating and vibrating; transmission noises and the transmission not shifting properly. All of which affect the ability to drive the vehicles and had raise safety concerns. *tr
ODI 10680752
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle suddenly failed to accelerate. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission module needed to be updated. The software was updated, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the module needed replacement…
ODI 10929398
Power Train
Our 2012 ford focus, like so very many others, has succumbed to the transmission problems delineated in the ford owner field service action number 14m01. The car is currently at a local dealership's service department awaiting a replacement part (5 weeks and counting). I have been reading more and more complaints that, even after the work is done to correct this problem, the same or worse issues are occurring. I am…
ODI 10691178
Power Train
Was driving down the freeway, when the car lost all power. The transmission stopped working. Warned the hill start assist was not available, and then the traction control light came on. The car wouldn't move. The car has repeated done this during driving, after restarting the car. *tr
ODI 10678810
Power Train
This is an update to report filed 1-4-15 (nhtsa id #10669989). On 1-6-15 we had our 2012 focus serviced at a dealership for a serious transmission failure described on previous report. That dealership performed "adaptive learning strategy and cleared all the codes". Verbal summary of the problem from the service advisor was that the computer had been confused by a change in transmission demands. We had taken a day…
ODI 10693072
Power Train
We responded to fords notice 14m01 which is in reference to the problems of the transmission, experienced by 1000s of focus and fiesta owners years 2011-2013. The 1st dealership we contacted was key scales leesburg fl. After 7 weeks of hassles trying to schedule, the repairs were made 1-7&1-8. As we tried to start the vehicle at key scales, there was a long delay from the time i turned key until it actually started.…
ODI 10682326
Power Train
Shuddering while accelerating. Grinding noise while the automatic transmission is shifting gears. Vehicle has been into dealer multiple times for shuddering and shifting issues. The last time, at 49k miles, it was over an 8 week wait to get the car into the dealer - the transmission guys were backed up months at all surrounding dealers. Ford's repair has been to reprogram the transmission. We purchased the car new…
ODI 10676474
Power Train
I purchased a 2012 ford focus sel last year. I have had continuous problems with the transmission since purchasing this vehicle. When taking off (shifting from 1st to 2nd gear), the transmission makes a shuddering noise, the vehicle fails to accelerate, and the car bounces as it struggles to shift gears. I believe this problem is well known to ford since numerous consumer websites have customers with similar…
ODI 10818732
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that unknown noises were emitting from the front of the vehicle and the vehicle slightly shook while driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 44,000. Updated 03/30/15*lj updated 9/19/2017*cn
ODI 10678267
Power Train
Vehicle lost throttle and eventually died and would not crank. This happened going down the highway. Hillside assist warning light came on. Vehicle would shutter in acceleration at times. Tcm had been reprogrammed before this happened but did not really fix the problem of transmission shutter. Fmc completely changed out the tcm and this helped for three months and then we had complete transmission failure going down…
ODI 10713041
Engine · Power Train
I was driving in a residential neighborhood and approaching a four way stop so not going fast. My car stopped accelerating and then jerked forward causing me to have to turn off the road to avoid going through the stop sign. I instead hit the stop sign. The car has transmission issues that have not yet been resolved. *tr
Crash reported
ODI 10676856
Power Train
This is an ongoing issue with the dual clutch powershift transmission that has started shortly after purchasing the car in november 2014. When i take off the car shutters and grinds and sometime looses power. On multiple cases i have gone to pull out into traffic and the car randomly hesitates causing a risk to my safety. On feb 13th 2015 i was on the free way and the car locked in to neutral leaving me stranded on…
ODI 10693038
Power Train
Starting this past winter, my ford focus's transmission shakes, shudders, and slips, etc consistently when starting from a dead stop. The first time it happened, the vehicle actually wouldn't accelerate. I've had it in to ford and they made the problem a little better but the vehicle still noticeably shakes when accelerating. It can also be very hesitant to accelerate when at higher speeds as well. Ford has checked…
ODI 10732491
Power Train
Constant trans problems with 2012 ford focus. Your agency is well aware of the problems individuals are having across the us concerning this car and others that include other years. Yesterday i nearly missed being in an critical accident due to total failure of the trans in the focus and having it totally lock up on me. The shift would not come out of park and all power was lost. I have had trans issues over three…
ODI 10671032
Electrical System · Power Train
*ongoing *please see original complaints # 10473215 and #10670375* long history of transmission repairs since purchase. Latest repair on 1/5/2014 was to replace malfunctioning tcm. When getting car back from service, odd noise and hesitation upon starting. Service manager attempted to start. Symptoms of tcm malfunction again, and then complete loss of power. Service states that chafed wiring was found under driver…
ODI 10670834
Power Train
*ongoing *please see original complaint # 10473215 *clutch replaced twice and trans reprogrammed 4/5 times (within 35, 000) *now car not starting- 4 times in 2 months. Symptoms on 1/3/2015- 4th time: dash lights up, radio and heater work, headlights- no, but other lights- yes, no crank when trying to start *car usually starts next day, *car restarted afternoon 1/4/2015 and taken for emergency service 1/5/2015. *no…
ODI 10670375
Power Train
Engine light came on exiting a parking garage on a busy evening in hilly san francisco. Seconds later, the car lost momentum and wouldn't get into gear, even though the gear shift was in drive. Alarming, for a 3-year old car with merely 43300 miles that has been cared for dutifully since it's purchase new in nov. 2011. My wife and i, with our kid and his friend in the backseat, decided to head home, foregoing plans…
ODI 10669989
Power Train
Vehicle suffers from transmission shudder issues. There was a recall for it but the ford technicians stated the shudder was not enough for a full repair and instead performed a minor fix which has done nothing to eliminate the issue. This issue exists on a wide range for ford vehicles with a common transmission. The shudder happens when accelerating from a stop, typically when shifting from first to second gear and…
ODI 10916718
Power Train
The car has serious problems with trying to shift correctly. The car hesitates and lurches when accelerating and downshifting. At higher speeds on the freeway the engine is incredibly loud as if it's stuck in the wrong gear. Now the dealer discovered a transmission fluid leak as a result of this transmission problem. I see on-line hundreds if not thousands of complaints on this vehicle for the same issue. This car…
ODI 10716023
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · Power Train
When taking off tranny stutters and slips in know about to dry clutch you guys should recall before some gets hurt then al least ford would fix problem. *tr
ODI 10702271
Power Train
Transmission clutch slips and car shutters and jerks. It is dangerous because the engine revs fast and then lurches forward. Parts are on back order due to so many cars having this problem been waiting 2 months! *tr
ODI 10694978