2012 Ford Focus: multiple warning lights

Filed Jan 7, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · NY

I’ve been to several Fords for the Transmission control module TCM, the engine lagging or stalling all lights on my car going on now my whole right side of my car doesn’t work after telling Ford about these problems. They denied to fix my car even though there was a customer care warranty through Ford

Filed Oct 24, 2021 · Transmission · NY

Loss of power on major highway. Could have been hit in the back because car just stopped moving. Dash board had lights flashing, no up hill movement, transmission check immediately, no shift, check engine it was lite up like a Christmas tree. I was scared I was going to get killed. transmission- yes, towed to Steet-Ponte Ford dealer, nothing wrong, no reps called, lights first appeared at that moment, took car home worked for one day and repeated the same problem. Took it back to the dealer and they replaced a part in the clutch and said if that didn't work a fork would have to be replaced for $1,500 also I had to pay for the first repair $300. Took it home worked for 3 days and is still sitting in drive way

Filed Jan 11, 2020 · Electrical, Steering · 106,750 miles · SC

While driving at approximately 50mph on a country road the vehicle suddenly became unresponsive and numerous warning lights illuminated. A transmission failure warning appeared and the car immediately stopped accelerating. The electric steering became inoperative and steered the vehicle into oncoming traffic. Avoidance and stopping on the side of the road required an estimated 60-80lbs of force to regain minimal steering and bring the car to a stop. Once stopped numerous electrical systems on the car including lights, wipers, and other electrical components began to activate and deactivate in a seemingly random fashion. This car is absolutely unsafe!

Filed Oct 3, 2019 · Fuel system · 57,400 miles · CA

I was driving on the freeway, at freeways speeds (approximately 65mph), my car's engine spontaneously stalled and shifted into neutral, all of the warning lights went on, and both the engine and brakes stopped working. While still moving at freeway speeds, I could not get the car engine to turn back on or get the transmission to re-engage out of neutral, and the brakes continued to not work. The brake pedal felt jammed, as if there was a power failure in the brake system; I could not get the pedal to move. I was able to coast without power to an off-ramp (I was still traveling >45 MPH on the off-ramp), and then use the emergency brake to stop once on a surface street. After letting the car sit for a few minutes, I turned it back on, and the problem did not return. I drove the rest of the way home on surface streets. Following up on this, the check engine light was on; an auto shop replaced the evap purge valve assembly and oxygen sensor (see attached repair invoice) and that solved the problem. Based on this experience, it seems like the car stopped due to an issue with the fuel system, making the fuel/air ratio in the engine too lean. I do not know why the brakes also stopped working. I feel very fortunate that this occurred at night when there was no traffic on the freeway. If there were other cars on the road, this would have certainly caused an accident as I could not safely accelerate or brake. The engine stalling was not preceded by any significant acceleration or braking.

Filed Jan 18, 2018 · Electrical, Steering · 82,000 miles · OH

Driving on a city street when it just would not go after a red light. When I did get it to move off of the city street to a parking lot it was hard to steer. All the lights started flashing. I could not lock the doors with my remote, would not start. I had to have it towed to my house. The next morning I put my code reader on the vehicle and found about 13 fault codes which I reset since then I have had multiple instances of my vehicle shutting down, hard steering and transmission not shifting or going into gear. Displays transmission overheating, transmission malfunction service now. Wont,t go into gear. Horn stopped working and withut doing anything it suddenly started working.

Filed Nov 27, 2017 · Acceleration, Electrical · 85,000 miles · TX

Twice in the last month this car has stopped running, all the dash lights come on and it will not accelerate. The most recent time, my daughter was driving back to school in lubbock, tx going 80 MPH when it shutdown. She tried to pull over but almost wrecked due to the fact she had no power brakes. I have seen many reports on the internet and youtube videos documenting the same thing she had happen to her. When she took it into the ford dealership they of course could not find an issue and they would not give her a loaner or rental car during the time it took them to look at it. This is obviously a safety issue with ford not having a fix. At this point, if I wasn't upside down on the car, I would trade it in on something different and it wouldn't be a ford. I digress.

Filed Jul 11, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 92,000 miles · VA

Started with horn and tail light intermittently not working. Then intermittently as you are driving the car shuts off with no warning. This is a major safety issue! Everything locks up and you attempt to make it safely to the side of the road. All dash lights work but car won't start. Found same complaints on internet and youtube but no recall. Took to local ford dealer and they cannot find the issue. The diagnostic machine did not issue a code. I explained in detail the issue and asked for documentation of the issue. The paper they gave me said runs rough when AC is on. I said that is not the issue. They said don't worry the ticket is still open in the system. I asked if they could put a reader on the car while driven to catch the diagnostic code and they said no. So I am in same situation as other owners where my safety and others are at stake each time this car shuts off. Also dealer said they h horn with a screwdriver to make it work for now. So no horn, tail light and car shutting off intermittently are serious safety issues. Ford needs to recall this problem and fix it!

Filed Jul 6, 2017 · Electrical · 96,000 miles · PA

I had my car towed to my mechanic because of it has been not starting/hesitating to start when in park. I also tried switching to neutral and attempted to start and got nothing. My mechanic ran a diagnostic test and its coming up with a security code issue stating my key does not read but will start several minutes after attempt. This has just randomly started happening and I have read multiple complaints in ford forums stating the same situation. All lights on dash and radio come on but car has no noise and refuses to start. I thought it was my battery or starter and my mechanic has confirmed that it was neither. I tried contacting the ford dealership where I bought this car and they refuse to fix it or even acknowledge the issue. This make has had more issues than I have ever had with any vehicle I have ever owned. Ford needs to step up because this is ridiculous. My husband has the same vehicle and his transmission is also on nationwide recall backorder for the same make and model. They should have had a warning for consumers that this was a terrible production year.

Filed Jun 15, 2017 · Electrical, Steering · NC

The steering wheel locks up and won't turn this has happened while driving and when I just start the car. I can put my key in the ignition and all the lights, radio, and chime works, but the car won't start. I had it checked when I got it started and the battery was fine and the altenator was fine and so was my starter. I have been having problems with my car for the past 4 years please help.

Filed Jan 15, 2017 · Acceleration, Electrical · 100 miles · FL

Purchased 2012 ford focus used, 04-14-15. I test drove the car it jerked a little. The rep stated it was normal. The next 4 months it continued to jerk, skip, hesitate and just not move when you accelerated. In 08-2015 I rec'd a letter from ford, my car needed a TCM-software update. 09-09-15 I took the vehicle back to the dealership it took an hour to re-program the TCM. The dealership handed a printed copy of the TCM characteristics. I continued to drive the car with the same issues hoping it would go away. 10-19-15 went back to the dealer to have the TCM re-programmed again. I called ford to complain 10-19-15 and a case file was issued #[xxx]. I did not want to go back to the same dealership. 10-23-15 the car went to the 2nd dealership. Discovered the TCM had failed and had to be replaced., explaining to drive the car for a number of miles to correct itself. The drive had improved, but then started failing again. 03-16-16 I went back to the 2nd dealership, the TCM was replaced. Again the drive had slightly improved and had again failed. This time when the TCM failed, while driving on the highway the wipers came on without turning them on,even when the car was off. The next day the car wouldn't come on so I replaced the battery. Drove the car about 300 miles made a stop and it would not come back on. The car had to be towed and the local mechanic was able to get the car started again. Driving back home about 150 miles on highway all lights came on the dash, battery, fuel, trans, etc.. Wipers came on, power steering was lost and engine shut off. Rolled to side of road. Sat 5 min, then started as if nothing happened!? We made it home. Car not starting. 12-06-16 towed to ford. Tcm module crashed the computer operating system, replaced TCM and re-programmed system. 01-10-17 wipers still come on with engine off. W/return to ford 01-17-17. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Oct 21, 2015 · Electrical, Steering · 75,000 miles · DC

Car jumps from 2000 RPM to 7000 RPM immediately when wanting to go from 35 MPH to 45 MPH after being sluggish and almost hit another vehicle. At highway speed of 65, the car's power becomes so low it only goes 40 MPH and had to put hazard lights on and get off highway. Automatic transmission but have to put foot on brake and other foot on gas in city traffic on hill or it slides back to almost hit vehicle behind me. Steering got so tight multiple times at 45 MPH and all lights on panel came on and car stalled in middle of a major intersection and had to call police to ensure nobody hit my vehicle and direct other traffic. Car shudders and vibrates and nothing wrong with tires, rims, brakes and alignment.

Filed Feb 3, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · 33,342 miles · NC

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 a message would appear (engine malfunction service now). Asheville ford was also notified of a sun visor popping, seat belts not releasing and creaking noises in the b pillars on both sides, and the AC was blowing hot air again (this was repaired on the 23rd before and already blowing hot air).