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.
Engine · Power Train
My car (2012 ford focus) has problems shifting and makes a shutter noise while taking off i have taken it to the dealer multiple times and they told me nothing is wrong with the car. *tr
ODI 10610903
Power Train
The transmission vibrates in 1st and 2nd gear and sometimes doesn't get into proper gear. When shutting vehicle off sometimes lurches . When stopped on a hill, in gear, if you take foot off the brake the vehicle will roll back like it's in neutral have returned 3 times to dealership still not fixed needs to be recalled. *tr
ODI 10596191
Power Train
Vehicle shudders/jerks when accelerating from stop at slow to moderate speed. This occurred multiple times. It continues to occur after multiple repairs. *tr
ODI 10653857
Power Train
I had just exited the freeway and was driving up the street when my car shuddered and jolted furiously and sort of stopped but i was able to continue driving for a short while and while making a left hand turn it suddenly once again jolted more furiously and completely stopped and no gears were able to engage and the vehicle shut off completely. Thank god i was able to backup into a parking lot off the very busy…
ODI 10512563
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while making turns at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the transmission overheated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 38,000.
ODI 10597221
Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
When turning to make a right turn the front of the car makes a metal on metal scraping sound (intermittingly) also the transmission doesn't seem to always kick in when after coming to a complete stop the car shakes as the gas pedal is pushed. I've brought it to the dealership where i bought it and they keep telling me nothing is wrong with it, it is just how the car operates. *tr
ODI 10627619
Engine · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
Shuttering and stalling upon acceleration.car tends to roll backwards for no apparent reason on slight incline. Speed acceleration and speed deceleration at random times. Car hesitates badly when accelerating on to on ramp to merge with interstate traffic or to pass a vehicle on the highway. It's luck of the day if you accelerate and actually live or get hit when car shutters and hesitates. Good luck focus owners.…
ODI 10564897
Fuel/Propulsion System · Power Train
While leaving the parking lot of a store to enter highway, my focus started sputtering and then shut completely down leaving me and my two children stranded in the road. We got help to push it out of the way when attempted tries to start didn't work. A tow truck came when called and took it to our ford dealership here who just called (24 hours later) to tell me they "think" there's a problem with the fuel pump. I…
ODI 10508279
Power Train
Automatic transmission shudder, clutch problems, irregular shifting, hesitation while merging in traffic, ro# 87416, at delivery, ro 80261 1/13/15 , ro103422 8/212/14 ro 131575 8/21/15 hill brake malfunction, continual re-programing of pcm and tcm
ODI 10761991
Engine · Power Train
The transmission doesn't function properly -- delaying on acceleration, then 'catching' and accelerating in a burst. I've had it 'fixed' once and am trying to get it fixed again. It isn't safe, particularly in hilly traffic-heavy seattle. Ford really needs to be accountable for the problematic transmission that they have running around the streets. I am in my mid-twenties and this is my first car. It's been very…
ODI 10704670
Power Train
2012 ford focus, automatic trans. The clutches disengaged during acceleration, this time while making a left turn in front of oncoming traffic. Check engine light came on. Then the car has erratic shifting, clutches engaging and disengaging while driving, high rpms. This time taken to dealer for same issue .dealer reprogrammed the control module again. There are many complaints about the trans on focusfanatics.com.…
ODI 10507514
Power Train
The transmission in the car has been reprogrammed for once for jerking and slipping gears than told parts are on back order for up to three weeks for clutch replacement. The car shifts rough , shutters, told by driver its the way i drive. The transmission is getting worst. *tr
ODI 10508631
Power Train
Sometimes upon cranking the car and trying to put the car in gear it comes up "transmission not ready" and will not engage. Upon takeoff, it jerks and shudders every time. Going up any kind of incline, it grinds and shakes or shudders. It never takes off smoothly and i am afraid that i am going to get stranded any time due to this. However, technicians tell me all this is normal - it is not!!!!! I am told this is…
ODI 10854526
Power Train
The vehicle has a nasty shudder when you first accelerate. I took the car to ford and they replaced the clutch and some seals in the trans. Now, at 44,000 miles the shudder is back. *tr
ODI 10547872
Power Train
Metalic grinding noise is heard when accelerating at slow speeds. Transmission shifts at approximately 1500 rpm and between 10-25 mph, griding noise is heard for a few seconds, then stops. As car proceeds into next gear, if rpm drops to 1500 and speed again between 10-25 mph, grinding noise is heard. I have taken the car to seraphin ford in vernon, they claim to have driven the car without hearing the noise. A…
ODI 10544268
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System · Power Train
Since purchasing this vehicle i have had consistent problems where i will pull out into traffic and the vehicle loses power. At some points, where the vehicle is stopped, the car shakes a lot! There seems to be an acceleration problem and it is getting much worse! I was almost rear-ended yesterday! *tr
ODI 10512216
Power Train
I noticed the transmission wasn't shifting correctly and it was hesitating. This happened often and finally i was stuck in the middle of an intersection twice on the same day and the car would not shift into second gear and began shaking and making a knocking noise. This could have caused a huge accident. I don't understand why ford has not done a recall on this car. I was told my transmission has extensive damage…
ODI 10503436
Engine · Power Train · Unknown Or Other
Bought 11/9/2012 six months later rec'd emission recall, 1yr later would not start, dead in grocery parking, dealer said emission again, 2nd yr radio went out, 3rd yr catalylict converter need to be changed, 5/16/2017 was charged $1805.72, said not emission but it was doing the same thing as before, dead had to be towed again to dealer, dealer said, "codes po420, po7a3 tested, found converter stopped up, shift…
ODI 11190424
Engine · Power Train · Service Brakes
The car is equipped with a 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. While under heavy braking the car began to stall. The result was the brake pedal losing power assist from the engine. Then because the engine was trying to recover from the near stall, i was unable accelerate to avoid an oncoming car. The engine did recover, but it took several seconds (and a lot of bucking and sputtering) before i was able to…
ODI 10501224
Power Train
Transmission vibration, shuttering, jumping in and out of gear , clunking into gear , can't find gear ,rolling back, slipping, flaring .
ODI 10788304
Power Train
This vehicle shudders when attempting to accelerate. It feels as though the transmission is slipping. Ford has said that this is a computer programming issue. They have reprogrammed the car, but there still has not been any fix. The car continues to shudder upon acceleration. This is truly concerning and i am worried that this will continue to cause issues in the future. *tr
ODI 10578290
Engine And Engine Cooling · Mechanical · Power Train
1. My 2012 ford focus is stalling out and revving up at high rpms then stalling out for the last 4 months. 2. This is the fourth occurrence for the same issue in the last 4 months. 3 times in the last three weeks. 3. The first two times, ford could not find the problem and related to driving at high rpms or spinning on gravel which never occurred. I advised that the vehicle would rev at high rpms but not go anywhere…
ODI 10524311
Power Train
I purchased this vehicle new in may 2012. From the start the tranmissions shifted rough and jerky. I was told that it was normal for this type. Conditioned worsened and it was taken to dealership in november 2014. I was told that it was within "limits" and was reprogrammed. A few months later, i was at a red light and went to accelerate. Tranmission shuttered and car did not respond, i was rear ended causing 2,000…
Crash reported
ODI 10749834
Power Train
I have reported to the dealership several times about the jerking and stalling when i take off and attempt to accelerate. They reprogrammed the transmission module, but it still does it. *tr
ODI 10499880
Engine · Power Train
Just like everyone else, the car stutters and hesitates to accelerate at slow speeds. The transmission feels as though it is going to fall out of the car. I have taken it to the dealership, and the "reprogrammed" the transmission. They said it could take up to 2 weeks for the car to relearn my driving habits. It has been 2 months, and the car continues to stutter and shake. *tr
ODI 10498318