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
We bought our car with only 7 miles on it. Shortly after the car started rolling backwards when sitting on a hill or stop light. Called the dealership and they stated to bring it in. Well it was explained to us that the car had a standard transmission and that this was normal. So we left. Then i was sitting in the driveway and our grandchild got out of the car when i put the car into park and it rolled backwards…
ODI 10538339
Power Train
My husband and i purchased our 2012 ford focus back in june 2012. When we got the car there was 28,000 miles on it. The next day it was in their shop due to the transmission. It felt like it was not trying to switch gears causing our rpms to go real high. The mechanics said nothings wrong because no lights were on. So months pass it was right back in for the same thing. Well they said they put a fuel throttle box on…
ODI 10575746
Power Train
New car ...... This has happened 3 times since date of purchase 5/31/12 .......... From a stopped position and accelerating to go forward the car would jerk forward, hesitate as if stalling ....... Last time it stopped dead in the middle of the intersection .............. Told by ford tech this is do to the transmission being controlled by computer chips ............ Car is going in for service today. *tr
ODI 10462942
Power Train
After three months of the purchase of the vehicle i started experiencing some shuttering/noise/stalling of the transmission. I took it into my dealership and they "reflashed". It was fine for a few months, then it started again. Took it in again and it got "reflashed" again. The third time they did something with the module box. After the fourth time, they replaced the clutch on the transmission. Now i had to take…
ODI 10614732
Power Train · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Steering
The vehicle was parked. I started it up and backed out of the parking space. I shifted into drive and began moving forward. After going approximately 20 feet the "i" sign illuminated on the instrument panel and the message "steering malfunction, needs service" came on, along with the alarm jingle. I tried to steer the car out of the middle of the drive lane and managed to get it over to the side, but the steering…
ODI 10462989
Power Train
Jerky transmission, car bucking not wanting to shift, slips into neutral and just revs, no start problems, service engine soon lights up, transmission overheat warning , transmission malfunction warning..tcm reprogrammed several times, transmission supposedly rebuilt (took appox. 6 weeks to get car back), control module replaced a couple of times.. After having a few days after repairs, service engine soon comes…
ODI 10765260
Power Train
I in june 2012 i took the car in to complain that it was stalling, jerking and shuddering. It appeared that the problem was fixed until several months later when it began to stall, jerk and shudder again. I have since taken the car in 2013 and 2014 complaining that the car continued to act the same way. I received a letter from ford in may 2012 advising that we may experience rough or jerky automatic transmission…
ODI 10653859
Power Train
On-going problems with the transmission. The first incident occurred approximately one month after purchase. I took it to the dealer and they told me that the shuddering/shifting problems that i was experiencing were "normal" and that the vehicle needed an adjustment period. I was told that it would smooth out once it got used to my driving pattern. The problem continued until it got so bad that i took it back in…
ODI 10596976
Power Train · Steering
The rolling back problem came first. When you are stopped on any incline, between taking your foot off of the brake and placing it on the accelerator, the car rolls back quite quickly, and i have almost hit the car behind me. The steering problems came a little later. The steering requires both hands at all times, and even then it is quite shaky. I feel car sick when i am the passenger because there is so much side…
ODI 10475047
Power Train
Have had issues with this car since after purchasing it new on 12/31/11. 06/08/12, 7148k mi, car shifting at incorrect times, car would jerk when shifting, and roll back at times on flat surfaces and at traffic stops. Also car would shutter. Service repair, open recall pcm for incorrect shift/jerking. 10/16/12-10/17/12, 10437k mi, car would make a grinding noise, noticed mostly when turning, but not always only when…
ODI 10532333
Power Train
From the day purchased, transmission shudders while driving, going up a hill or taking off. Took to dealer and they said that's normal.
ODI 10883761
Power Train
The transmission does not always provide power when it's needed. It lurches, lags, shakes, rattles and (usually) rolls. This car is simply unsafe.
ODI 10787036
Power Train
The transmission shudders when shifting at low speeds. Also shudders when starting from a dead stop. Reported to the dealer several times but the problem persists. Dealer said that the transmission learns your driving habits. They disconnected the battery for a period of time and that seemed to correct the problem temporarily then it returns to the shuddering.
ODI 10743758
Electrical System · Power Train
I have had numerous issues with transmission and electrical problems with my vehicle. I have had it in for service about 6 times in the past year. Car shifts hard, when driving, sputters, and even once stalled out in the middle of a intersection. I had these issues from day one with the vehicle but was told the cars computer has to "learn" how you drive. Electrical, the locks sometimes works, or the doors lock when…
ODI 10553507
Power Train
I recently purchased a 2012 ford focus in may. I took the vehicle back to the ford dealership, to report a problem. However, the first thing the repair person did was give me a print out of what the car does. This car has no power, it shakes, and will not go,. I feel that car is trying to stall out. It is worst than my old 1998 ford contour. It rides better than this car and it is 14 years old. I am very concern…
ODI 10484061
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
When accelerating, whether from a dead stop or coasting, 1st, 2nd (& now starting to do it in 3rd) gears audibly rattle and clunk. Very slow response time when accelerating after car is "warmed up." the more it is driven in stop and go and/or city traffic, the worse the acceleration (and rattling when shifting) becomes. So much so that when trying to pull out into traffic on 09/04/12 i thought the car would be hit.…
ODI 10474010
Power Train
I bought the car brand new (12 miles on it) and from the beginning it would make weird noises when i would take off or accelerate. I took it back to the dealership and they drove it and also heard the noise but said they could not find the cause and not to worry about it unless it got worse. I took the car back when it got worse and left it for an entire day but they did not have time to look at him. The car then…
ODI 10487839
Power Train · Steering · Suspension
Having problems with steering assist.it locks up staring will.and turn off vehicle sensor warning goes away dry for a while sensor warning comes back locks up staring will. I have not droving on the highway . It will lock up still can't find a recall one this problem it comes up when i drive
ODI 11111367
Fuel/Propulsion System · Power Train
I just bought a brand new 2012 ford focus and i noticed shudder or vibration when starting to drive. I looked at the internet and found a this a common complaint among ford focus owners. Please help us in compeling ford to do something about this. *tr
ODI 10459921
Power Train
On may 25, 2012, computer in car was reprogrammed per recall 12b37b.6 and repaired per recall 12s29c.6. I had noticed that the transmission was not as smooth as it was when i first purchased the car the year before. After this, things really began to go downhill. Now the transmission is a total train wreck. The car rolls back on inclines. The first time this happened i almost hit the car behind me. The transmission…
ODI 10483268
Power Train
7/28/15 while on highway and driving in fast lane, car loses ability to accelerate creating very dangerous situation. Can not accelerate in order to move into safer lane. Manages to get off roda and drive slowly to repair shop. Car shudders and nearly stalls. Check engine light on but not blinking. Repair shop gets transmission code p090c. Car is towed following morning and repair shop checks again and finds same…
ODI 10744984
Engine · Power Train
I bought the 2012 focus around february of 2012. At first i was estatic and the car ran great. However, just a few months after i bought it the car started griding at low speeds had a lot of trouble going up a hill to the point it wants to stall. At one point i did get up the hill, but the car didn't seem to recover and about 2 minutes later the car did stall driving about 30 mph and we had to glide it through…
ODI 10627383
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that when he applied the accelerator from a stopped position, the vehicle stalled and nearly caused crashes while in traffic. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 4,800.
ODI 10465457
Power Train
I am an owner of 2012 ford focus. My car rolls back every time i took my foot off the brake on a hill. It rolls so fast! It's really unsafe and scary; especially i have my 4 year old daughter riding at the back seat. I went to the dealership last month but the issue was never solved. The service man told me that it is normal for the car with automatic transmission to roll back when you're up the hill. I never had…
ODI 10468277
Fuel/Propulsion System · Power Train · Steering
Car is shuddering, vibrating, rolling backwards on inclines, stuttering bad gas mileage at low speeds between 0 and 20 miles per hour. The car has been in 4 times to the dealer beginning on 5/3/12 through 11/14/13 it has been reprogrammed 3 times and a new transmission replaced it which has solved the problem temporarily but starts happening again. When driving in or pulling out into traffic because the car either…
ODI 10659409