2012 Ford Focus: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Jul 25, 2026 · Acceleration, Steering · AR

The TCU/TCM has been going in and out of control. Sometimes it will work then others it will shut off. Speedometer won’t work, power steering won’t work, cruise control won’t work, etc. and when you do the transmission reset for it, it won’t work at all.

Filed Sep 1, 2023 · Steering, Transmission · IL · crash · 2 injuries

It was a fateful day on June 16th, 2020 when our lives took an unexpected turn. Engaged in a peaceful drive, cruising at a steady 60mph with the assistance of the trusty cruise control, we were abruptly jolted towards the left, instantly relinquishing any grasp of control we had over our vehicle causing us to loose control and wreck our car in a corn field. Reason for mechanical failure unknown

Filed Jun 14, 2021 · Transmission · WA

Several times, now, I have started the car and the none of the readouts were working (odometer, fuel level, etc.); the cruise control would not engage. After driving a few minutes they all came on. Today (6-14-2021) I backed out of the driveway and put it in drive. The transmission wouldn't engage. I shut it off and let it sit a couple of minutes and started it and it engage, this time, still no dash readouts. Two miles down the road the readouts came on. I went into town to do my business and when I went to come home, it did the same thing.

Filed Jun 21, 2017 · Acceleration, Transmission · 51,691 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving at unknown speeds with the cruise control activated, the rpms accelerated. Additionally, the clutch was slipping without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (ford of clermont located at 1101 e highway 50 clermont, fl 34711 800‑313‑9787) where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module, electronic control module, and clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer opened case number: cas12559345 and referred the contact to the dealer. The failure mileage was 51,691.

Filed Mar 17, 2016 · Electrical, Transmission · OH

My car has transmission problems. Every single time I start and stop the car shudders and hesitates. The car is unsafe to drive. Also the car's cruise control broke within 3 months of owning the car, it was fixed and then broke again a month later. And hasn't worked in 2 years. This car is junk. I have taken it to three different ford dealerships and they refused to fix the problem. They would tell me there was nothing wrong with the transmission it was the way I drive. Every time I took it in for the cruise control ford would tell me that they were unable to fix the problem because the cruise was working that day, when it never worked for me. They refused to fix the problems and I finally ran out of a warranty and gave up. I don't have the money to pay to have this car fixed when I bought a brand new car I college to not have to worry about getting work done to a car. This has been the biggest disappointment and I just want them to be recalled. Ford owes it to all the customers that are currently stuck with this car and paying big money for a car that doesn't work. I don't not feel safe allowing my family in the car because it is too dangerous to drive. It stresses me out on a daily basis having to drive this car and never knowing when it's going to stop working. I have been having there problems since I bought the car in july of 2012.

Filed Mar 9, 2016 · 45,000 miles · TN

Cruise control won't engage. Sometimes it will work but most the times it doesn't

Filed Mar 2, 2016 · Steering, Transmission · AL

On 2/25/16, after a severe rainstorm, I went to turn on my car and tried to turn on the wiper blades, but they would not come on. The next morning they did turn on. That afternoon, when starting my car, the wiper blades turned on without the control being activated. The blades continued to run even when the car was turned off and no keys were in the ignition. The only way to stop the blades was to disconnect the fuse from the box. This has happened twice when I was not aware of this and my car battery was dead when I went to start the car. I cannot use the wiper blades at this time as they will not turn off. According to ford motor co., this is not covered under the recall on the wiper blades since my car is out of warranty. I have had my car in the dealership to repair the defective clutch and it is still not repaired due to ford motor co not sending out the necessary parts in a timely manner. My car is shuddering and jerking when accelerating and changing gears on all types of roads. I have had this issue since I bought the car brand new. The cruise control on my car works intermittently. When the battery is disconnected and then reconnected, the cruise will work for a few days. Ford technicians could not diagnose the problem. This has been a problem for as long as I have had the car.

Filed Oct 21, 2015 · Electrical · 66,000 miles · CT

I have a problem with the clock spring, connects power to the steering wheel controls, cruise control, sync, and more importantly the air bag. I have already had the clock spring replaced 2 times, I need it replaced again. Driving down the highway the cruise control will just shut off at times, I can be in the middle of a lot of traffic. My biggest concern is that the airbag may not work if I am in a crash. Ford says they don't have a clock spring problem, but again I need it replaced for the third time. I have problems with cruise control many times per day.

Filed Mar 25, 2015 · Transmission · 65,000 miles · MD

Driving on I-97 south at speed with cruise control engaged, the car suddenly "raced" and slowed down and accelerator did not respond to more power with cars and truck approaching from behind. I managed to pull over, compose ,myself shut down. Car then restarted and I continued on and then it happened again. I proceeded to dave's auto service in annapolis my mechanic who diagnosed that I need to go to ford dealer to re-set computer module or something tho that effect. Tomorrow I go to bob bell ford in glen burnie. Md to see what is the problem and get repaired. I was terrified at the sudden loss of power with approaching vehicles form behind at a high rate of speed.

Filed Oct 30, 2014 · Electrical, Transmission · 5,000 miles · TX

In may of 2012 my car had the transmission completely replaced after being in the shop for 6 weeks. The cruise control would stick on and not shut off. The power windows and air conditioner both decided not work at the same time. I have had the struts replaces before 10,000 miles. The gas mileage goes from 14 mpg to 33mpg randomly. The car likes to roll back and not go into gear when driving. I replace tires every 6 months because the car eats my tires up. My favorite problem is loosing power when driving. I have kept all papers regarding the car in the shop. My first year of owning the focus ford paid for my rental car to be driven 17,000 miles due to my car being in the shop. I have asked for help with this car for 2 years with ford to be told I need to learn to drive. I am driving a car know that completely looses power all the time and the transmission sticks. I have had to wait 3 weeks for an appointment on nov 3 to get these issues looked at. My car is far from safe and I have expressed to ford I feel this car is going to kill me. I spent 30,000 miles driving this car when in fact I shouldn't had. The dealership can never find a problem on my car. The gas also can only put 10 cents of gas at a time in or gas likes to pour out from the bottom. Sometimes the gas knozzle can't fit in the gas tank because it closes up. Once again ford couldn't find a problem. I call the dealership and ford customer care each time there is a problem.

Filed Aug 10, 2014 · Electrical, Transmission · 120,200 miles · CA

Driving up light incline on paved highway when traction control light flashes indicating a loss of traction. Seconds later car loses response to gas pedal, flashes "transmission system failure. Service immediately." after pulling over away from traffic and powering off then 30 second wait and on warning is gone and functions are restored. A week later problem comes up again, this time on interstate going 70mph. Cruise control is shut off automatically, no power to gas pedal, traction warning comes on, and same transmission warning flashes. Goes away in a second or two. Pull over as safely as I can while cutting off a semi-truck, power car off and on, all systems normal. Four days later pull out of parking spot with a hesitation of vehicle to start, then a vibrating in reverse. Drive around lot to exit, pull onto main road and same warnings/problems as usual happen. Now blocking traffic perpendicular to flow. Check engine light comes on, put car into park, turn off, and back on. Try to shift into drive. Won't budge. Turn off and on again. Try to shift again. No luck. One more time, wait a few seconds, then again. Car powers on drives to another location with check engine light on and then to dealer with no further issues. Dealer inspects, finds faulty TCM. Directly attributes this to manufacture defect and not to user error.

Filed Sep 18, 2013 · Transmission · 7,000 miles · CT

Metalic grinding noise is heard when accelerating at slow speeds. Transmission shifts at approximately 1500 RPM and between 10-25 MPH, griding noise is heard for a few seconds, then stops. As car proceeds into next gear, if RPM drops to 1500 and speed again between 10-25 MPH, grinding noise is heard. I have taken the car to seraphin ford in vernon, they claim to have driven the car without hearing the noise. A separate date, I took the car to seraphin ford, drove a mechanic in the car, but the noise was faint and mechanic could not hear it. Sometimes the sound is faint, other times sound is loud. No rhyme or reason. I have read much on the internet about this exact issue with 2012-2013 focus power trains. I am convinced there is a problem that ford is not addressing. Also, power train lags and flutters often. I have learned to drive very "gently" to prevent lag/shutter/surge when driving. I have noticed when using cruise control at highway speeds, if I attempt to adjust the speed using the steering wheel controls (to advance speed), the engine takes off, RPM climbs very high and the engine roars. I have to completely shut down cruise control and start over again. It can be scary at highway speeds to have the engine race like that.