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.
Electronic Stability Control · Engine · Power Train · Traction Control System
The traction control in the vehicle operates in an unsafe manner in snowy road conditions. When climbing a slight grade in snow, the traction control continually reduces engine power to the point that the vehicle will no longer move forward. As the vehicle slows to a stop while modulating the accelerator, the engine will not rev above 1500rpm without the traction control cutting off power. Controlled and sustained…
ODI 10692332
Engine · Power Train
Transmission shutters, feels like its skipping a gear, rolls backward down hill in drive. The vehicle's transmission, in the middle of an intersection, stalled and would not shift into a gear. This incident almost caused a wreck. *tr the vehicle has been at 3 different ford dealerships 7 different times for transmission issues. Ford refuses to admit that there is a serious issue with the transmission and is making…
ODI 10701816
Electrical System · Engine
There was a loss of power in february when i was driving so i took my car to ford and apparently there was a problem with the transmission. However, two days ago (july 27th), my car stopped working completely while i was driving. I was really scared since all power was off. Then i have to try several times to turn on my car again. There was a loss of all changes, reverse position did not work. Took the car to the…
ODI 10744553
Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
My granddaughter and i were returning home from out of town where we had been on tollways throughout the day. Fortunately, we were only a mile from home and out of the big city and off the tollways, when the car began to shudder and shake and completely stalled in the roadway as i was slowing to approach an intersection. It just seemed to lock up and shook violently and lights flashed and i immediately looked at the…
ODI 10701851
Body · Engine · Unknown Or Other
Car lost power and engine light came on while traveling southbound on i-95. Underneath parts and lower body panels caught fire and melted. Vehicle was towed to the paul clark ford dealership in yulee, fl. Where it was discovered the engine had experienced a catastrophic engine failure. There was a hole a little smaller than a basketball blown out of the bottom of the crankcase with the oil pump and pieces of the…
Fire reported
ODI 10692736
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
Engine
When excelling from a stopped position the car jerks as if the clutch is not catching. I have taken my car to the ford dealership 4 times in one year. They have replaced the clutch plates and they said i had a transmission leak. A car that is still under full warranty should not be having these issues. The car still jerks although they have replaced multiple things on the car.
ODI 10765268
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System · Seat Belts
On january 27th.. My car (2012 ford focus se 4door 5 speed) my car had 33,342 miles on it once it came into the service bay at asheville ford in asheville nc. I was advised that the car would have to stay for the day and look into the situation. Car would die at random, lights would come on like a christmas tree (oil pressure light, battery light, traction light, esc light, information light, check engine light) and…
ODI 10681032
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
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System · Suspension
My 2012 ford focus sel has turned off completely while driving multiple times on the highway and freeway, i have been stranded multiple times during the day and night due to it shutting off randomly. I have been stranded in parking lots multiple times due to the car not allowing me to go in reverse. I have replaced the car battery multiple times! My gas cap has popped off while putting in gas, i have faulty…
ODI 11142902
Engine · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
I am filing a complaint against a 2012 ford focus se. The car has been making transmission noises that cannot be resolved for quite some time now and while driving on the 101 freeway, all of the instrument panel lights came on and the entire car completely shut off and no controls were working at all almost causing an intense pile up that could have killed my mother and i instantly. We were left in the middle of the…
ODI 10669229
Engine
I have a 2012 ford focus. I was in the middle of the road when it decided to stop accelerating. The engine light came on and it did not move. I turned it off and on again, which gave me another shot at getting off the road before it shut down again. It was pretty unnerving not knowing if i was going to cause a wreck or be rear ended.. This is just one of the hundreds, if not, thousands of the same complaint out…
ODI 10667439
Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
At first i reported issues with dealership regarding car moving backwards at time when i release brakes to go forward and my car is automatic. Also informed them after a red light i press the gas but car would not move immediately they said it was normal due to dual transmission. Car was not put in service. I had same incident and a month later i received an alert regarding a clutch recall and took it in for service…
ODI 10661548
Engine
In october 2014 there was a recall regarding transmission clutch shudder. I made an appointment to have the transmission looked at on 11.19.14. On the day prior to said appointment, roy o'brien ford canceled my appointment stating there were no parts available. I have now been calling both the dealership and ford motor company for eight months attempting to have my vehicle inspected. I also filed a case number with…
ODI 10724951
Engine · Power Train
To whom it may concern, i am a very unhappy customer with a car that i had purchased from your company. The car is not reliable what so ever and i can't trust it with anything! I have always wanted the newer model focus and when i finally have the money to afford one i am extremely disappointed. I have never had this many issues with a car and this is one of the newest cars i have yet bought. I have missed 8 days of…
ODI 10658928
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning and the check engine indicator illuminated prior to the stalling. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the purge valve needed to be replaced, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000.
ODI 10925970
Electrical System · Engine
2012 ford focus dangerously stall while driving as well as merging into traffic or on an incline *cw the consumer has since traded the vehicle. *jb
ODI 10653274
Engine · Power Train
Transmission shakes and grinds. Car rolls backwards on hills. Ford says this is normal behavior but having a car roll backwards on hills with an automatic transmission is a safety concern. *tr
ODI 10650382
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact had not experienced any failures prior to taking the vehicle to the dealer to receive a manufacturer's recall remedy. After the repair, the failure progressed randomly for longer than a year. Upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle was slow to respond and the rear tires locked when accelerating. The contact later experienced the vehicle stalling without…
ODI 10837727
Engine
My 2012 ford focus sel dies when a 'engine malfunction service now' message appears. This has happened on two different occasions. Both times, the message appeared, and about 30 second later, the engine completely dies. The second time this occurred it happened as i was pulling out into traffic from an intersection. On both occurrences this has fortunately happened at low speeds however i am concerned it will happen…
ODI 10659106
Body · Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
Was parking car when suddenly it lunged forward at a fast speed, i lost control and hit car in front of me plus 3 other cars then crashed into cement wall. I hit my head and left side of body on the door, i bruised my rib cage front & back plus my left leg very bruised. I was very lucky i didn't get killed. *tr
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10648492
Engine · Power Train
For several months i noticed significant shuttering of the transmission when accelerating from a stop into low gears. Took the car to dealership for repair, per warranty extension provided by ford (field service action number 14m01). Several days after that completed service, the engine light turned on -- and was on and off over a period of approximately one week. The car also periodically jerked forward…
ODI 10641645
Engine
I purchased my ford focus 2012 five months ago and it has now had to go to the shop 4 times. First, the car felt like it was driving over a rumble strip and was slipping between first and second gears. Second, i was stopped at a light and the car would not move then bolted ahead and the check engine light came on. Third, the car went into limp home mode and lost all power when accelerating. Lastly, and the straw…
ODI 10643731
Engine · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
The car was driving fine and all of a sudden the power train quit working despite the fact that the engine was operating correctly. Because of the loss of power, i was endanger of getting hit by other cars. The sudden loss of power is a hazard. The manufacturer said the resulting loss of power train was due to a transmission control module. This particular model has been plagued by transmission problems throughout…
ODI 10694953
Engine · Power Train · Steering
At a stop light car in drive brakes lock, shift gear locks. Message appears transmission not in park. Car takes at least 5 to 10 minutes to turn back over to start up. Car stalls to go into different speeds, accelerates when turning a corner. *tr
ODI 10637793