2012 Ford Focus: ABS light or ABS activating

Filed Mar 3, 2024 · Brakes, Driver assistance · IA

Intermittent loss of brake pressure. ABS would activate and leave the brake pedal feeling soft and having low brake pressure. This problem would randomly fix itself and then randomly happen again while braking normally or after the ABS would engage. Sometime the problem would last for weeks until suddenly the brake pedal would be firm and have strong brake pressure.

Filed Jun 4, 2023 · Brakes · MA

[Two incidents involving the same ABS control module. Early January 2023 and Late May 2023] ABS control module failed while going downhill (valve stuck open). Resulted in the brake pedal going to the floor. Had to stop by downshifting and the using hand brake. Whenever brake pedal is pressed after this, it goes a random distance to the floor with no pressure before applying some brake. Ford quoted me a 1 year lead time on replacing the part (and mentioned this is part of a pending recall. This recall will come out after they redesign a new module). They refused my request for a rental/loaner vehicle until it is fixed. I brought it to an independent garage to get the unit replaced. After that, my brake pedal worked as expected for a few months. Last week, the pedal went to the floor again. I brought it to a Ford dealership, and they confirmed that the new module already experienced the same failure as the original one. It is currently at the dealership, who will not have a part to repair my car again until August. I was refused a loaner vehicle by both the dealership and corporate Ford over this PENDING SAFETY RECALL, where they are unable to fix my car. I was told by they dealership that they won't stop me from driving my car in the mean time if I feel safe doing so. It is not safe, so I am leaving the car at the dealership. I do not have a date for when a new revision module will be made, along with official recall. Ford is refusing to reimburse me for my initial repair until they get around to officially announcing the recall. I also found out from them that they reprogrammed the ABS control module back in March 2013 while they reprogrammed a different module (I only new about the TCM reprogram). This means they knew the ABS module had issues 10 years ago, a month after I bought the car. They did nothing for 10 years despite the Fusions having the exact same issue. This is a blatant disregard for the safety of their customers' safety.

Filed Jun 4, 2023 · Brakes · MA

See incident 11525260 for details, as it describes both incidences where the ABS Control module failed. I am logging a second complaint so that the second module failure is recorded. Short version: The ABS control module failed again, leaving me with no brakes. The valve gets stuck open inside the module, making the brake pedal unpredictable and sometimes with no stopping power. Ford is unable to fix my car in a timely manner, and is refusing to provide a vehicle to drive until they fix it 2-3 months from now.

Filed Nov 23, 2022 · Brakes, Tires · 101,000 miles · IL · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed but the brakes failed to stop the vehicle. The failure caused the vehicle to rear-end another vehicle. The contact sustained back injuries and scratches from the seat belt; however, medical attention was not yet received. A police report was filed. The contact then parked the vehicle in a parking lot, where it remained. The vehicle was not deemed totaled by the insurance company due to a lapse in insurance coverage. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the vehicle lost motive power with the ABS, TPMS, and brake warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure, and the ABS, TPMS, and brake sensors were faulty, causing the battery to drain rapidly. The dealer replaced the transmission and the sensors for the ABS, TPMS, and brakes; however, the failure recurred. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.

Filed Sep 2, 2022 · Brakes · TX

Brakes go to the floor due to a faulty abs module valve constantly bleeding off.

Filed Jun 2, 2022 · Brakes, Transmission · 83,000 miles · IN

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the transmission module service now message displayed on the instrument cluster and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated to 20 mph and the transmission shifted independently into neutral. The contact stated the ABS and traction control activated independently with the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to exit to a nearby gas station at 5 mph and the hill ascent assist not available message was displayed on the instrument cluster. The contact depressed the brake pedal and parked the vehicle on the hill. The contact waited 5 minutes before restarting the vehicle and stated that the ABS and traction control warning lights were off. The contact continued to drive and while approaching her residence the vehicle began to decelerate again. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The dealer had no appointment availability until 2023. The contact called another local dealer, Ray Skillman Ford (1250 US-31, Greenwood, IN 46143, (317)885-9800) and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

Filed Jul 20, 2021 · Brakes · PA

This cars braking system is inconsistent enough to cause major damage or death. The ABS module sticks the same as in Fords previous recall "fsa 19s54" for 2006-2010 models Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln MKZ. They recalled a part causing ABS braking issues on those models and the EXACT same issue is happening in my 2012 Focus and will cost upwards of $2000 to fix, essentially making the car a lemon and not worth fixing. When the ABS fires as you brake over rough surfaces or bumps or rain, the brake pedal goes very deep and almost loses all braking ability. I had to swerve into another lane to avoid someone and was lucky enough that no oncoming traffic was there. Thankfully I'm a good enough driver not to have crashed. They can't stop making a car in an effort to avoid past carelessness. They must issue a recall or reimburse people for the part itself "ABS module" which is now 1.5 months backordered. Thank you.

Filed May 5, 2021 · Acceleration, Electrical · 143,000 miles · AZ

I had just purchased ford focus used. The dealership told me, that my cause recall does not stand. Because it exceeded over 100,000 miles. They said it out of warranty. They told me to pay $3,400 estimation to fix the car. I told them recall don't expire. Also that ford manufactures tell me up to 2012-2017 have recalls on transmissions issues. I'm just upset they don't hold up to there standards with ford and I love ford motors. They car stalls and won't go into gear. It has difficulty responding to gears. I bought it used ABS notice the problems. So I hauled it in to the ford dealership.

Filed Aug 3, 2020 · Transmission · 65,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission malfunction and transmission not in park messages displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer and an unknown dealer were notified of the failures. Additionally, the instrument panel displayed warning lights including the seat belt, tire air pressure and ABS warning lights. The cause of the failures were not determined. The failure mileage was 65,000.

Filed Jan 21, 2020 · Brakes · 120,000 miles · ME

We have a 2012 ford focus sfe, the high economy model. This car exhibits the same symptoms described in the 'soft brake pedal recall' issued recently. The brake pedal can be applied directly to the floor, not reliably stopping the car. Sometime it can be pumped up, sometimes not. In october the master cylinder was replaced at a cost of $445.36 to no avail. Then the ABS-anti skid controller box was replaced, again to no avail. Then the rear calipers were replaced. Once more no cure. The dealer then applied the entire recall fix. So far it has cost an additional $1200+. This issue has dragged on for three months with no end in sight. Most of the time the car has been at the dealer. My wife and I both afraid to drive or be a passenger in this car. It's far too dangerous. Step on the brakes and sometimes they work well, sometimes they work with your foot pressed to the floor slowing the car but not reliably stopping it. Frankly, the dealer has tried to solve the problem with continuous messages to ford corporate with no satisfactory response. At the same time ford corporate was identifying the issue and preparing a recall. What would you do? .

Filed Sep 9, 2019 · Driver assistance · 139,500 miles · MO

The brake pedal will go to the floor. Based on my research ford has a problem with the ABS brake pump which causes the brakes to go soft. The pedal has a long travel is very sluggish to respond. In my opinion this is a extreme safety issue. I believe ford should be made to recall and fix the problem.

Filed Sep 3, 2019 · Electrical, Fuel system · 155,000 miles · MN

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving 65 MPH, the instrument panel lighting turned off and the battery saving warning message illuminated. Shortly after, the check engine and ABS warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle seized in the middle of the street and was unable to be driven. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v735000 (fuel system, gasoline), but the part was not available. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified. The failure mileage was 155,000. Parts distribution disconnect.