2012 Ford Focus
The Verdict
The 2012 Ford Focus has 3,782 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (1,562 complaints) and transmission (1,200 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 5/100, it earns a "Total Klunk" rating. If you're shopping for a Ford Focus, consider the 2011 model year which has 97% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2011 has 97% fewer complaints
View the 2011 Ford Focus dashboard →
Klunk Score: Total Klunk
Among the most complained-about vehicle years on record. Strongly consider alternatives.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 4
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engin...
Risk
An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-86...
Reported Sep 6, 2026
Ford is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus BEV vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, manufactured September 15, 2011, through May 6, 2013; and model year 2013 ...
Risk
Without the proper illumination of the side maker lamps, the vehicle may be less visible in night time conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the headlamp assembly wiring, free of charge. The recall began on August 16, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-86...
Reported Jan 8, 2013
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 FOCUS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1, 2010, THROUGH OCTOBER 18, 2011. A SEAL IN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER MOTOR MAY BE...
Risk
WATER OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS MAY ACCUMULATE IN THE CONNECTOR, RESULTING IN AN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER MOTOR, REDUCING VISIBILITY AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND AS NECESSARY, CLEAN AND PROPERLY SEAL THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER MOTOR CONNECTOR. ANY INOPERATIVE WIPER MOTORS WILL BE REPLACED. THIS SERVICE W...
Reported May 4, 2012
This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Yakima Products, Inc. for use on model year 2012 and 2013 Ford Focus vehicles. This recall is being conducted by Yakima, not by Ford. Certain combi...
Risk
Without proper contact of the rooftop rack clip to the door frame, there is insufficient clamping pressure and friction. The system may slide off the vehicle when loaded with accessories, possibly ...
Remedy
Yakima will notify owners, and Yakima or a Yakima dealer will refund the purchase of the Q-Tower and Q-128 Clip system. There is no replacement system available for the 2012-2013 model year Ford F...
Reported Feb 10, 2012
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1029 | 336 | 1419 | 853 | 174 |
| 2001 | 429 | 165 | 589 | 550 | 68 |
| 2002 | 362 | 66 | 330 | 191 | 66 |
| 2003 | 254 | 54 | 561 | 97 | 49 |
| 2004 | 94 | 34 | 200 | 47 | 12 |
| 2005 | 172 | 28 | 146 | 51 | 43 |
| 2006 | 75 | 13 | 80 | 24 | 12 |
| 2007 | 119 | 17 | 181 | 33 | 40 |
| 2008 | 119 | 12 | 75 | 25 | 19 |
| 2009 | 102 | 8 | 56 | 37 | 26 |
| 2010 | 131 | 5 | 49 | 71 | 31 |
| 2011 | 56 | 4 | 27 | 7 | 19 |
| 2012 | 1562 | 31 | 238 | 751 | 1200 |
| 2013 | 517 | 16 | 122 | 556 | 891 |
| 2014 | 441 | 17 | 131 | 735 | 1314 |
| 2015 | 200 | 3 | 44 | 302 | 469 |
| 2016 | 124 | 2 | 47 | 444 | 568 |
| 2017 | 81 | 4 | 24 | 413 | 363 |
| 2018 | 76 | 5 | 17 | 465 | 244 |
Investigations 10
NHTSA defect investigations for this vehicle.
Fuel smell and loss of motive power
Opened Mar 30, 2026
FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions
Opened Mar 18, 2026
All wheel drive allegation
Opened Mar 6, 2026
Redundant wheel fastener locking mechanism
Opened Mar 4, 2026
Loss of Power Steering Assist
Opened Mar 2, 2026
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Opened Jan 30, 2026
Waymo AV striking a child in the area of a school.
Opened Jan 29, 2026
Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedy
Opened Jan 26, 2026
Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
Opened Jan 16, 2026
Emergency egress controls are not readily accessible and clearly identifiable.
Opened Dec 23, 2025
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
Days after changing the purge valve on my car, because it had failed. I was driving on the freeway confident because my screen said 15 m left before running out of gas, then the engine stalled and lose power. The lights were on but the engine stopped running while driving on the freeway. Turned out I had runned out of gas but the computer was misreading it.
Group 1 Ford of South Austin, TX refused to perform door latch recall unless we purchased additional parts and service out of pocket. The door will not latch and flies open even at slow speeds.
I just recently got my fuel pump fixed and a new radiator fixed that was the knot problem wrong with my car now all of a sudden I get my car back from the shop with NO OIL I put oil even though I already just had a oil changed and my engine light is now blinking but when I bought the car it was just on [XXX] to Tallahassee and I live in eestpalm beach with no problem now my car smokes so much and auto shop Firestone says it’s my engine . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While driving back window spontaneously imploded
Vehicle stalls while driving at low speeds and during acceleration. The engine loses power unexpectedly in traffic and may shut off completely while in motion. RPMs increase without corresponding acceleration and the vehicle fails to shift or respond normally. Check engine light is on with fuel/emissions-related codes. Fuel gauge is inaccurate and vehicle has unexpectedly run out of fuel even when gauge showed remaining fuel. The vehicle also hesitates, jerks, and feels unstable when stopping or turning. These issues have been present since shortly after purchase and have continued for approximately one year. Vehicle is unsafe to operate due to risk of stalling in traffic.
For months in early 2025, I was unable to fill gas tank without gas pump stopping ( so gas dispensers work to prevent gas from leaking?) Got progressively worse so less fuel could be put in gas tank. I took car into dealership to diagnose and fixed on April 25, 2025. I was at risk because the car can’t be filled and then unable to operate. Fuel filler neck was broken. I meant to report earlier and hopefully others can avoid the fix. No recall listed.
For months in 2025 the car fan would continue to run for several minutes after the engine was turned off. I took the car in a two times to diagnose and couldn’t replicate . I sent video of the fan running even after short trips and in cold weather. Finally after catastrophic cooling system failure was the faulty fan module diagnosed. It was a safety issue because cooling failure causes car to stop operating properly. I was returning from the airport so the engine was cold. After a massive bill did the cooling fan module get diagnosed and replaced on May 16. There were not any safety recalls for faulty fan module. Hopefully this is reimbursable and others can have a safety recall.
While driving on the highway the sunroof suddenly blew off. The sunroof had not been opened prior. The frame bent upwards from the front, and the glass completely flew out onto the highway.
Electric power steering failed at 65,000 miles. No power assist in the steering. Trying to steer the car with no power assist is very difficult and not safe.
Beginning in approximately May 2025, the vehicle began displaying diagnostic trouble codes identified by independent auto parts retailers and service providers. These codes indicated potential issues within the engine, electrical, and powertrain systems. The vehicle was subsequently brought to a dealership for diagnostic evaluation and remained there from approximately May 15 through May 19, 2025. During this time, the dealership reported that no diagnostic codes were present and did not resolve the reported issue. However, the vehicle had recently exhibited repeatable symptoms, including entering “limp mode” and triggering diagnostic trouble codes, prior to being delivered to the dealership. Similar codes and issues were again identified after the dealership visit. The vehicle has experienced multiple incidents of entering “limp mode,” resulting in sudden loss of power and reduced drivability while in operation. This condition occurred without reliable warning and created unsafe driving situations, including the inability to maintain normal traffic flow. Due to safety concerns, the vehicle has not been driven under normal conditions since approximately May 2025 and has been limited to short, local movements only. The issue poses a safety risk to the driver, passengers, and surrounding traffic due to unexpected loss of power and inconsistent system diagnostics. The problem appears to be ongoing and unresolved. Independent diagnostic records and service visit documentation are available upon request.
The Powershift for the transmission is the issue. Got two notices about a software update and followed through with updates. When done my Ford dealership said they couldn’t do anything else and that I was just going to be like it was. I never received any more recalls or even a Class Action letter! I recently called Ford motor headquarters and they found my information and could not confirm any additional recalls to me or the class action letter that was sent to me and said that they would NOT DO anything for me! No goodwill — Thisissue from this area continues and I very concerned for my safety! Need help.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn while driving. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 128,604.
I filled up my gas tank and a couple minutes later experienced shuddering while parked so I decided to turn the vehicle off and turn it back on but it struggles to turn back on. I then drove back home and as I was driving the acceleration was going up and down and then to 0. As i stopped on a red light the car completely shut down while the light then turned green and the check engine light, battery, and oil light came on. I then turned the vehicle off and in order to start it I had to step on the gas. I made it home but have not driven it since. I noticed there was a 19S22 recall but I spoke with ford and they said my vehicle didn’t get it but it is experiencing the same issues that the recall mentioned. There is a one time replacement for the CPV but it doesn’t cover half of what the 19S22 does and it seems to be the same problem.
The transmission begin to stall and would not shift. The motor would get to high RPMS and then shift hard into the next gear. I was able to pull over and the TCM error code popped up on the dash. I was able to get the car to the dealer. I was notified that the TCM failed and Ford would no longer cover this failed part. The car is a 2012 Focus with only 69,000 miles. Dealership is wanting $2,116.00 to fix.
After receiving program #24N07 on 12/04/2024, my 2012 ford focus was stalling out while downshifting to stops and after refueling, this happened around the 1st week of December of 2025 about a year after getting it repaired by the Ford dealership in my area. Replaced it myself this time, but sort of crazy to have to replace yet another purge valve just a year after.
Steering system failure light came on and the Rack and pinion failed with no warning while I was driving on the highway at 75mph and the steering wheel locked up almost causing a potential fatal accident.
I am the owner of a 2012 Ford Focus SE with approximately 54,000 miles. Beginning around 44,000 miles, the vehicle exhibited transmission shuddering, harsh engagement, and improper downshifting consistent with known DPS6 Transmission Control Module (TCM) defects. Prior to the expiration of Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 14M02 on June 30, 2025, I confirmed coverage through Ford’s recall website and presented the vehicle to an authorized Ford dealership on May 27, 2025 (documented in Carfax). The dealership declined repair, stating no diagnostic trouble codes or warning indicators were present and incorrectly advised that customer satisfaction programs do not expire. On December 18, 2025, while driving at highway speed, the vehicle experienced sudden loss of drivability. Traction control was disabled, hill assist became unavailable, engine RPM increased abnormally, and the vehicle stalled in traffic. The instrument cluster displayed “Transmission Malfunction – Service Now.” The vehicle would not restart and required towing from the roadway, creating a hazardous traffic situation. The dealership later diagnosed a complete TCM failure and provided a repair estimate of approximately $1,800. Ford Motor Company has publicly acknowledged widespread TCM defects in 2012–2016 Ford Focus vehicles and issued multiple recalls and customer satisfaction programs, including later supplements authorizing TCM replacement rather than software reprogramming. Despite my documented attempt to obtain service before the program deadline, Ford denied coverage solely due to expiration. Ford corporate denied goodwill assistance, refused supervisor escalation, and asserted that a TCM software reprogramming performed in 2016 at approximately 19,000 miles resolved the issue. Software reprogramming does not correct the underlying hardware defect and only delays failure. This vehicle has experienced repeated transmission-related failures under 54,000 miles and remains disabled at the dealers
the car runs without power when shifted to drive gear. It is sluggish trying to speed up. Took to Ford Dealers on a recall with that is suppose to take care of it..nothing seems to have changed. I am not sure anything was done. trans makes a rough sound starting..
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the rear driver’s side door failed to open as intended. The contact used force to attempt to open the door and failed. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that when the vehicle was purchased, she was informed that the vehicle had an open recall related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). When the contact retrieved the vehicle, the contact was informed that the recall had been repaired; however, there was no proof that the vehicle was under recall or that the recall repair was performed. The contact stated that several weeks later, mold was found in the driver’s seat and on the driver’s side seat belt. The contact stated that after a snowstorm, the moonroof was misty, and there was a water ring found above the interior roof. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, after starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal hissing sound coming from the vehicle underneath the driver’s side of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the post office. After returning to the vehicle and starting the vehicle, the abnormal hissing sound persisted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to Manufacturer Recall Number: 18S32. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and would not confirm if the VIN was or was not under recall. The failure mileage was 129,354.
I was driving to drop my fiancé off at work when the "Steering fault, Service now" warning came on. Went home, parked the car. Start it up to go pick him up later, the wheel locked and "Steering loss, stop safely" warning came on. I just recently had my car inspected and had two new lower ball joints replaced. The one employee said my cars steering was working fine, and it was driving okay with no issues until today. Same thing just happened. You can't turn the wheel.
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