My wife traded in her 2009 taurus for a new 2012 focus sedan back in april 2012 at green ford. A month or so after getting the focus, it had a transmission fluid leak. Green ford fixed the problem. In mid-2015 we started to notice transmission issues like erratically shifting in second and third gear, very sluggish shift between low gears and that the upshift bags down like the vehicle might stall, bucking, kicking, jerking, harsh engagement, delayed acceleration and lurching forward into intersections at red lights due to the failure of their braking efforts to stop the car. We took it to green ford on 9/18/2015. They stating that it was working as designed. However, for a precaution, they said they reprogrammed the powertrain control module (PCM) and the transmission control module (TCM). However, it was a recall issue for that stated problem/s. In the official service history for the ford owner's records, there is no mention of the safety recall done on my focus, just the routine maintenance and a mileage of over 96,000 miles on the focus at the time. Jump forward to a year later, on friday, sept. 9, 2016, at 2pm, my wife was traveling in a 45 MPH speed zone when the car's check engine light came. Seconds later, the ford started to stall and have power issues, causing her to find the next side road to pull over. The car completed stalled and could not turn over. After 2 towing events, from the breakdown location to thomas tire, thomas to stearns ford, and sitting over the weekend, on sept. 9, we found out it was the recall TCM that broke. The TCM was in back order until october 28, 2016. Stearns ford sent me to enterprise where they paid for a ford rental. The only ford on the rental lot was the transit 250 or 350 van (very low mpg). I had to pay for the liability insurance coverage daily. After the 3rd day, I borrowed a family member's car.
2012 Ford Focus engine complaints
Page 11 of 18: complaints 281 to 310 of 501, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Driving on freeway at 65mph engine shut down without warning. No power steering and no power brakes. Was able to coast to the shoulder. When tried to restart violent shaking. Towed to ford dealer for repair. Not diagnosed yet after 2 days. This car is a lemon. Had transmission clutches replaced twice. Had transmission control module replaced when it failed. Have continuous wheel bearing noise that was brought into dealer under warranty and they never solved the problem.
My daughter was driving the car at a very high speed, the vehicle died suddenly, and she was forced to "glide" into the median. Took vehicle into dealership, and was told the trans module is on a "replacement program", and that the module is on back order. I was told that I could rent a car because there is nothing I could do. Most importantly, when I reminded the gentleman this was a safety issue, I was told that its really not a concern.
Ford has a transmission with dry clutches. This transmission has stranded many people in very unsafe situations. The transmission just stops working while driving. Many complaints have people left in the traffic lanes and the cars simply will not move. Fortunately for me I was not on the freeway, but on the feeder to the freeway, and the car just stopped moving. The engine RPM's dropped like it was running out of gas. Then the engine rpms picked up but it wouldn't move. Tried putting it in reverse and still wouldn't move. The tow truck driver had towed this very same car to the dealer 8 months ago. The problem is that the transmission is of such poor quality that the vehicles are in the shop on a regular basis, costing us huge amounts of money to fix. I bought the car 7 months ago with an extended warranty. The car has shuttered and the transmission has slipped pretty much from the time I got the car. Reading many complaints about the car, some from brand new owners in 2012. Really need to research this transmission and engine for that matter.
I bought my car in january 2012 - the car ran great for the first 8 months, it was a smooth ride and the acceleration was quick. That year I drove almost 30k miles up and down the california coast. Towards the end of that year I started to notice my car wasn't running the same, the acceleration lagged and when I would accelerate from 0mph to 20mph it would shake - felt like the transmission wasn't switching gears properly so I brought it into ford where I originally bought it in seaside ca in monterey county. They ran some tests and said it was fine and that what I was feeling was from the new engine ford had created to help their cars run efficiently and not use as much gas. I also brought it into ford santa monica in los angeles ca several times with the same issue - this went on for years and they always said the same thing. In august of 2015 santa monica ford finally discovered that my car indeed had a recall and needed a new clutch, but it was back ordered. On january 18th of 2016 my girlfriend and I were driving on the 405 south headed to orange county. My girlfriend was driving about 65 in the carpool lane - all of a sudden the gas pedal stopped working and the rpms were flooring, but the engine couldn't catch - we had to get over 5 lanes before we ran out of gas and were almost killed by a huge semi/18 wheeler that was driving over 70mph. I had my car towed first thing tuesday morning because monday was a holiday. Santa monica ford said it was fine, that friday the same thing happened so I brought it to ford star lincoln in glendale. I've had over 4 cases with ford corporate about my clutch and transmission issue and every couple months they change the regional manager I was dealing with and every single case has mysteriously been closed for no reason. When I call ford to ask why they are closed when they haven't been resolved and they say they don't know.
Vehicle in motion driving about 60-65mph on the highway, the check engine light turned on the dashboard. Vehicle could not accelerate felt as if on neutral. I began to lose speed and had the fortune no incoming vehicles were behind me. I shut the car off once on the side of the road. Vehicle after being off for 15 minutes was able to drive but reverse gear was none functional.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving at any speed, the vehicle lost power and stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 41,000.
The car has 70,000 miles on it. It has had 3 oil leaks (1 oil pan & 2 head gasket); I have also had to have the clutch replaced twice. The first time was due to shuddering and the second time was due to a transmission malfunction code. The two clutches were replaced 10,000 miles apart.
While driving back on the freeway, the vehicle started to smoke. Pulled to the side of the freeway and the vehicle caught on fire.
I have had transmission problems from day one. The car studded and stop from time to time. I almost got into an accident with my daughter when the car suddenly stopped on me because of faulty transmission. The radiator also went out. The steering gear locked up on me while I was driving and I almost had an accident with my kids in the car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. When the vehicle was started, there was an abnormal vibration. While driving, there was a hesitation when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the motor mounts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate, the check engine light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was serviced under a manufacturer recall; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000. Updated 05/20/16*lj
My ford focus is one of the many cars that have a transmission issue where the car shows a stutter and sometime stall while in motion. Ford is aware of this but won't respond to taking the car back. This recently became a safety hazard while driving on free way. They have attempted to fix this problem about 3 times and have failed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the failure could not be determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
2012 ford focus. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle engine light illuminated on several occasions. *smd each time the consumer went to the dealer, the light would eventually illuminate again.
Shuddering of engine between gear. Lose of power when accelerating. Red lines when trying to accelerate between first and second gear.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle jerked and the battery and tire pressure warning lights illuminated continuously. In addition, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the diagnosis was unknown. The technician stated that there was a recall on the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired according to the unknown manufacturer recall; however, the failure recurred a week later. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
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 warning. The contact had to coast the vehicle over to a fuel station and, after several attempts, the vehicle restarted, shook violently, and stalled. The vehicle was not able to be driven and was towed to the dealer for inspection. The contact waited longer than a week for the diagnostic results. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The federal safety agency campaign number was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. When placing the clutch in reverse, the vehicle failed to move. The failure recurred twice. The engine warning light illuminated. In addition, while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate and stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 25,300.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that the vehicle began to decelerate unexpectedly while driving on the interstate at 65 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was safe to drive. Days after the failure, the key was inserted in the ignition and the transmission malfunction and check engine warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not returned to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000. Updated 04/20/16*lj
While driving my 2012 ford focus hatchback, the check engine light came on and the vehicle idled rough and the engine stopped working. Restarted and took vehicle to dealer. Dealer stated that the emissions control system had pulled a vacuum on the fuel tank causing raw fuel to enter the emissions control system and the engine causing the issues. The tank had to be replaced due to collapse and the evap tank, tubing, control valve and fuel pump. Per ford tsb 11-09-03. Shouldn't this be a recall?
I drive a 2012 ford focus. I bought the car used in january 2015. In the fall of 2015 my car began jolting every time I put pressure on the gas, this was alarming. When it became worse, I bought the car to a ford dealership, and came to find that the transmission was recalled. To fix this ford had a strict protocol to fix the transmission in a 3 step process. The mechanics are only told to do step 1, and then if the problem persists months after the repair, continue with step 2 and so on. The transmission started jolting again a few months later, this time worse. I have been waiting a month for the ford dealership to get that part that will "fix" my problem, while I was assured the problem would not get worse. In that time a piece in the exhaust has also been recalled, neither one of my windows in the front two seats will go down, and the jolting has become incredibly unsafe. There have been two occasions where my car has just come to a completely alarming stop while driving up to 20 MPH, on a busy two lane street. I take this street everyday to and from work. There is no other option. I avoid the highway completely now. I feel completely unsafe and on guard at all times while I am driving this vehicle. Because of my experience wth this car in only a year I will never purchase a ford vehicle ever again. I regret ever driving it off of the lot. I am only 25 years old, and can't afford to trade this in right now, and that is all I want to do. It is not a nice feeling to have a pit in your stomach every time you buckle your seatbelt.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving at approximately 40 MPH, the engine stalled when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle was able to restart. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 87,000. Updated 02/26/16*lj the consumer took the vehicle to another dealer, where they replaced the vacuum cylinder. However, she continued to experience problems. Updated 02/29/16.
My issues with this car started the day I drove it off the lot and have not stopped. There was an issue with the fan that made my engine sound like it was chewing rocks whenever the air/heat was on - this has been fixed. I bought the car brand new and from day one it has been grinding, shuddering and not shifting smoothly. I've had issues with the RPM's skyrocketing when I'm slowing down and the RPM's skyrocketing when I'm trying to accelerate but the car isn't moving. I've had the car feel like it's completely lost power while in stop and go traffic then "wake up" and lurch forward...my transmission has been replaced once, my clutch replaced twice. Once I've been told it's a figment of my imagination and once I was told that I need to learn how to drive the car. The clutch I have now is the same one being used in the 2015 focus's, and though it's "better", it's still off...it's just off so sporadically that I can't bring it in because I don't want to be told it's all in my head again. This car is not safe. It is not a car that I'm comfortable passing on to my child when she starts driving next year and it's not a car that I would drive day to day if I had to drive rush hour traffic. It's too bad, too, because the design of the car is wonderful - it's comfortable, it's got the right set up, but the most important part of the vehicle is dangerous and doesn't operate properly.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that while making a left or right turn, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that purge valve not opening properly. As a result, the fuel pump, purge valve, purge tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v605000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 47,000.
I am currently on my 2nd clutch on my 2012 ford focus. I am still experiencing shuddering and miss shifting when driving. This causes lurching when taking off and have almost been in a few crashes. Speaking with ford corporate there is currently no fix for this issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that the engine stalled without warning on two separate occasions. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer. The dealer had not diagnosed the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was no repaired. The failure mileage was 107,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the transmission overheated, the warning light illuminated, and the engine stalled. The failure recurred seven times. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,500.
Owned car for 2 years, in shop 5 times so far for dct issues. Car is completely unpredictable and going to cause me to get in an accident! Sometimes I hit the acceleration and it lurches forward unexpectedly causing me almost to rear end someone. Other times I hit the gas expecting it to go and I get a really sluggish response to the point where I'm scared another vehicle will hit me, so I will floor it trying to get it to move, this will result in the back wheels locking up and fish tailing! I have had at least six moments in this week where the car responded unexpectedly and made me think I was going to get in an accident. Tonight in rush hour I was maintaining a speed of about 20 MPH, the car decided to downshift and send more forward a few yards. I want so badly to get rid of this car as I have a baby, but I'm very upside down on it. I have various warranties but have been warned by ford that they are a "one time get out of jail free card" and if the car comes in for the same repair it previously had it will no longer be under warranty! This is horrible, my car is constantly in the shop for the same transmission issue!
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