2012 Ford Focus Engine Problems
- 349
- 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 349 stored complaint records:
- 7 indicate a crash
- 4 indicate injury
- 4 indicate fire
What owners report
- check engine · 24 records
- engine light · 16 records
- indicator illuminated · 12 records
- takata recall · 10 records
- engine indicator · 9 records
- failure mileage · 9 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 94 |
| 60–100k mi | 78 |
| 30–60k mi | 76 |
| 100–150k mi | 43 |
| 150–400k mi | 10 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System · Power Train
Takata recall so i was told after having multiple problems with my vehicle after bob lowth ford selling me it that some parts are on recall and i have small children i don't want to put in risk if anything happens during the winter weather here in mn for insistence my engine light came on and it started feeling like it wanted to die out on us early morning around 7:30 am central time so i always try to make sure…
ODI 10944059
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact had to physically push the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vin was included in a previous recall for the power train, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.…
ODI 10943844
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that the vacuum line malfunctioned when the vehicle reached half a tank of fuel. The failure resulted in the vehicle being unable to start. In addition, the check engine indicator illuminated as the vehicle failed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.…
ODI 11093703
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
Car at stop engine revs from low to high, if you press on the accelerator the engine will die even when you are in motion. Sometimes the engine will just die when you press on the accelerator. In traffic on highways this is extremely dangerous. The cost to repair this default in design was $889.18 at the ford dealership where the car was purchased new. That is an egregious charge for a common complaint about this…
ODI 10937983
Engine
I received a recall letter in december 2018 stating a recall on the canister purge valve would be available the first quarter of 2019. My car has stalled, has issues with this affected part and cannot rely on my vehicle. The recall has not been fulfilled and it is now may29, 2019. I have an engine malfunction light that comes on every time the car is driven. It's unreliable and i don't feel safe with the lack of…
ODI 11210754
Engine · Power Train
My car is in the fourth time for transmission related issues. Also this time the check engine light came on. Bill brown ford in livonia mi diagnosed the problem as a failing catalytic converter. This is a known problem with the focus, but ford hasn't done anything about it. I've researched the issue on line and there are many complaints about the catalytic converter. I also have a friend who is a mechanic at a ford…
ODI 10933814
Electrical System · Engine · Unknown Or Other
Takata recall. The car will die in the middle of driving. Doesn't matter the speed you are going the lights on the dashboard will light up and you cant accelerate or decelerate the car will just die.
ODI 10925110
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While stopped, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 158,000.
ODI 10926671
Air Bags · Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving 30 mph, the vehicle jerked, stalled, and the air bags inadvertently deployed without impact. The contact sustained head injuries that required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 61,000.
1 injury
ODI 10918977
Engine · Steering
Power steer assist system went out completely. I was driving and took a turn and the electric motor failed and cant steer the car at all. Sitting in driveway undrivable. *tr
ODI 10916320
Engine
When accelerating the vehicle is extremely hesitant to drive on a flat road. This issue gets worst when on a upward hill. Once the vehicle gets going, it shakes and shudders until it picks up enough speed to go. There sounds like there is something scraping or rattling inside the engine. This is a hazard when making any type of turns in the vehicle or even driving.
ODI 10954785
Engine · Power Train
My wife traded in her 2009 taurus for a new 2012 focus sedan back in april 2012 at green ford. A month or so after getting the focus, it had a transmission fluid leak. Green ford fixed the problem. In mid-2015 we started to notice transmission issues like erratically shifting in second and third gear, very sluggish shift between low gears and that the upshift bags down like the vehicle might stall, bucking, kicking,…
ODI 10907322
Engine
Driving on freeway at 65mph engine shut down without warning. No power steering and no power brakes. Was able to coast to the shoulder. When tried to restart violent shaking. Towed to ford dealer for repair. Not diagnosed yet after 2 days. This car is a lemon. Had transmission clutches replaced twice. Had transmission control module replaced when it failed. Have continuous wheel bearing noise that was brought into…
ODI 10903465
Engine · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
My daughter was driving the car at a very high speed, the vehicle died suddenly, and she was forced to "glide" into the median. Took vehicle into dealership, and was told the trans module is on a "replacement program", and that the module is on back order. I was told that i could rent a car because there is nothing i could do. Most importantly, when i reminded the gentleman this was a safety issue, i was told that…
ODI 10899582
Engine
My transmission is going out and my car drivers really different from when i got it
ODI 10908041
Engine · Power Train
Ford has a transmission with dry clutches. This transmission has stranded many people in very unsafe situations. The transmission just stops working while driving. Many complaints have people left in the traffic lanes and the cars simply will not move. Fortunately for me i was not on the freeway, but on the feeder to the freeway, and the car just stopped moving. The engine rpm's dropped like it was running out of…
ODI 10897025
Electronic Stability Control · Engine · Unknown Or Other
Vehicle in motion driving about 60-65mph on the highway, the check engine light turned on the dashboard. Vehicle could not accelerate felt as if on neutral. I began to lose speed and had the fortune no incoming vehicles were behind me. I shut the car off once on the side of the road. Vehicle after being off for 15 minutes was able to drive but reverse gear was none functional.
ODI 10895804
Engine · Power Train · Service Brakes
Recalled vehicle for computer system. Defect causes breaks to wear early, shuddering in transmission, and eventual transmission failure while the car is running. Is a known problem as i see from many other internet complaints.
ODI 10920068
Engine · Power Train
The car has 70,000 miles on it. It has had 3 oil leaks (1 oil pan & 2 head gasket); i have also had to have the clutch replaced twice. The first time was due to shuddering and the second time was due to a transmission malfunction code. The two clutches were replaced 10,000 miles apart.
ODI 10870629
Engine · Power Train
Transmission shudders, especially on acceleration. The vehicle stopped on me recently; it took me about 10 tries before it finally let me move it out of reverse and put it into drive
ODI 11254284
Engine · Unknown Or Other · Vehicle Speed Control
I purchased this vehicle from ford of kirkland in washington state in 2016, and noticed driving issues the day i drove it off the lot. This vehicle has a dps6 transmission and it constantly jerks, shudders and slips out of gear while driving at any speed. It often fails to accelerate or accelerates suddenly and out of control, especially when going uphill. It also frequently overheats, especially when idling,…
ODI 11233621
Engine · Steering · Unknown Or Other
I have had transmission problems from day one. The car studded and stop from time to time. I almost got into an accident with my daughter when the car suddenly stopped on me because of faulty transmission. The radiator also went out. The steering gear locked up on me while i was driving and i almost had an accident with my kids in the car.
1 injury
ODI 10862323
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the failure could not be determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
ODI 10852044
Engine
My ford focus is one of the many cars that have a transmission issue where the car shows a stutter and sometime stall while in motion. Ford is aware of this but won't respond to taking the car back. This recently became a safety hazard while driving on free way. They have attempted to fix this problem about 3 times and have failed.
ODI 10854118
Engine
While driving back on the freeway, the vehicle started to smoke. Pulled to the side of the freeway and the vehicle caught on fire.
Fire reported · 2 injuries
ODI 10865445