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
When acclerating from a stop or a slow speed car shutters and vibrates. Was returned to ford for reprogramming. That did help rollback on hills but not transmission shutter. *tr
ODI 10549321
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle shuddered and hesistated to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on numerous occasions for diagnostic testing. Components in the transmission were replaced and the software was updated, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was…
ODI 10935416
Power Train
Whenever accelerating from a stop there is a shudder in the power train as if the car is going to stall. After shifting into second gear the cars moves and shifts smoother. Possibly dangerous especially when pulling into high speed traffic from a stop. *tt
ODI 10427899
Fuel System, Gasoline · Power Train
I have been having problems with my car not being able to get the key out of the ignition, not going into park, and shuddering and sputtering when starting from a complete stop pretty much since i have had my car. This week, i couldnt get it out of park at all and then went to drive home from work my shifter would move but the car would not go into gear. *tr
ODI 10611183
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle would not properly accelerate and sputter. The power train clutch had to be replaced. The vehicle was unsafe to drive due to a faulty transmisson. On several occasions the gear could could not be switch and message "service transmission" had displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer heiser…
ODI 11308954
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled backward whenever he removed his foot from the brake pedal while stopped on an incline. The failure occurred while the vehicle was shifted in drive. The contact also stated that the vehicle once rolled backward as much as fifty feet. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and an unknown recall repair was performed that…
ODI 10467002
Electrical System · Engine And Engine Cooling · Power Train
After a week of purchasing our brand new focus started noticing the automatic tranny surges and slips. Like its bucking feeling. Sometimes it surges almost hard enough to put you on the dash. Kinda scary in traffic. Car has only 4500 miles on it and now has electrical problems in dash and upon going down the road you will vibrations like a bent axel or worn bearing. Its a new car!!!!!!! *tr
ODI 10430337
Automatic Transmission · Power Train
We purchased this car on 08/19/2011 and the next day while taking off from a stop sign the car would shudder, i do not have this issue when the transmission is cold but in stop and go driving and normal city driving after it has warmed up. Also when you depress the accelerator from a stop the vehicle will go for a second then have a nice sized flat spot so even the people in the car will go forward as if the brakes…
ODI 10426262
Engine · Power Train
2012 ford focus. Consumer writes in regards to ongoing transmission issues. *smd the consumer stated each time visited the dealer, she was informed it was only a programming adjustment. The consumer has been to the dealer 10 times, for the same problem. The consumer stated the transmission was unpredictable. Not only did the clutch slip between first and second gears, the vehicle intermittently hesitated when taking…
ODI 10575609
Power Train
My car has been having issues with the transmission that ford installed in the 2012 ford focus. The car shudders and hesitates on take off to the point of it stalling. The car has been in the dealership six times now. At this point ford is installing new clutches and i will have to wait another 1,000 miles until these new clutches brakes in to see if the issue persists. I have read in forums and articles that im not…
ODI 10457254
Power Train
While driving my car stopped while i was stepping on the pedal - i was told it was my gears so they were changed and my car was repaired for over 3 weeks and when i went to pick it up - it still had the same problem - my transmission isn't shifting with my gears so it is still in the shop i had to take it back after only driving 6 blocks away from the ford dealer. It is still being repaired. *tr
ODI 10626983
Power Train
We bought our focus earlier this year and immediatley noticed stumbling on acceleration and rough idling. The car feels like it's going to stall when it taking off from a stop or when making hard accelerations. We took the car to the dealer the first week of ownership to have this looked at, but ford told us it needed to break in and that there were no error codes when they ran a diagnositc. The probelm has never…
ODI 10426991
Power Train · Seat Belts
I bought this car ford focus se 2012 in july 2011 and the day after that i felt and heard weird noises and vibration when automatic transmission changed gears. I went to the dealer and i was told that the car was operating within ford specification so it was normal and after a few miles it will desapear. It continue getting worse. At 2500 miles i went to the dealer again but they said again that the car was…
ODI 10446685
Power Train
At between 8000 - 9000 miles on the odometer, car started having transmission problems. When accelerating from a stop, car would reach approx. 8 mph and instead of shifting up to next gear, went into neutral for 3-5 seconds, then proceeded to upshift and take off at a lurch. The check engine light came on and when i stopped, the reverse gear was also like being in neutral. Now it is several months later, the car has…
ODI 10432654
Power Train · Steering
I purchased a 2012 ford focus hatch. As soon as we drove the car we noticed the difference in the transmission. The sales man said he didn't feel it and that the car had to learn our driving habits. Don't think a car learns 2 different driving habits as there are 2 of us driving it. But at low speeds either accelerating or decelerating the car shutters and shimmies way too much for our comfort. It seems this is an…
ODI 10432411
Power Train
This car has had the problem with rough shifting and roll back on hill almost immediately after purchased in may . I reported incident to ford motor company and they did not do anything but later in may 2012 received the service notice for reprogramming. It helped it but did not fix it and this problem returned and actually got worse. We just took it to our dealer for service on 6/21/13 and they said there was a…
ODI 10523162
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that pressure was applied to the accelerator pedal and the vehicle lost power and began jerking abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times for the failure. The dealer reprogrammed the electronic computer for the transmission but the failure was not corrected. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but the vehicle was not further…
ODI 10441740
Electrical System · Power Train
April 2011 -- issues began within a week of purchasing the vehicle. Complete electrical system shutdown (causing air/radio/sync system to be of no use). Brought vehicle in because i was scheduled to go on road trip to mass. (sync system shut down in route to mass.). Soon thereafter, the jerking and shaking of the vehicle. Each time i called or brought the vehicle in, i was told "we cannot replicate the problem".…
ODI 10594141
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that the transmission slipped into neutral without warning while driving various speeds. The failure also occurred when placing the vehicle into park. In addition, the vehicle continued to roll while in park and jerked when applying pressure to the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to crest ford ([redacted], flat rock, mi 48134, [redacted]) where it…
ODI 11235097
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that while parked, he attempted to shift from park to drive and the vehicle jerked backward. There was also a grinding noise while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics, where the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The technician also stated that the failures were normal and would stop over time. The…
ODI 10427934
Power Train
While in drive, the auto transmission allowed the car to roll backward and hit the car behind me then lunged forward and hit the car in front of me. The hill was fairly steep as it was an off ramp from freeway at stop light. Car has been to dealer 4 times for this problem but i am told it is a normal condition. *js
Crash reported
ODI 10457145
Power Train
I bought the 2012 ford focus sel on may 5th 2012. The car has had both front struts replaced, at 69 miles!! The car jerks and refuses to go when you give it gas after being completely stopped, i was almost hit pulling out onto a busy road because the care would not go!!!! The transmission needs to be replaced in this car, however grey daniels ford in brandon mississippi will not do that, so i have driven this…
ODI 10463448
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While stopped at a stop sign, the vehicle was hesitant to accelerate as the contact depressed the accelerator pedal. As the vehicle finally accelerated, it jerked forward violently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer approximately five times for diagnostic testing. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. There was a manufacturer's recall for an update to the…
ODI 10461718
Power Train
This vehicle has some scary and sometimes dangerous transmission issues. It's not like a normal automatic with a torque converter, so some roughness is expected. But, this car often grinds gears, slips, grabs and lunges, and also rolls back on inclines. I have nearly been in several accidents when i have tried to accelerate into an intersection and the vehicle doesn't respond to the accelerator being depressed…
ODI 10426714
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that while driving at 60 mph and accelerating, the vehicle jerked violently and lost power. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be driven more and the computer needed to be adjusted to the driver. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the…
ODI 10779763