Power steering assist failed while pulling out of driveway. Ford is aware of this issue and has failed to issue a recall on this model, but has on other models with same issue. There are many other complaints of this problem you can find online, even news articles about this happening with this model. Even the service technicians at the ford dealer knew of the problem.
2012 Ford Focus steering complaints
Page 22 of 32: complaints 611 to 640 of 927, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Car had been parked overnight. Went to start up and the "faulty steering assist" warning light came on. I called the dealer and they said to check the battery. Took it to a mechanic and he had to replace the electronic steering gear and rack and pinion. Total cost $2500.
When the car is turned on and stationary, it will display "steering assist fault," and the power steering will not turn on, greatly reducing the capacity to steer. Upon turning the car off and back on, the power steering re-engages. It has been doing this for about one year now.
A few days before incident the car developed a rubbing noise in the steering column and my fiance stated that the car was difficult to steer. Thinking it was a power steering issue - a service appointment was scheduled and I drove the car to the dealer after hours. The distance is approximately 13 miles. After about 10 miles the dash display indicated a yellow display stating "service steering system soon". I continued to dealership and arrived just before 7:00 pm. When I turned the car into a parking space near service the steering column locked and became immovable and car display stated a red warning box " total steering failure - stop safely" this is the condition the service manager found the next morning. The cause is a total failure of the electronic steering control module. The cost to replace this part is $2000 after which time the dealer can diagnose "any of the other three common causes of steering loss."
I would like to report my steering malfunction on my focus has gone out...I have seen many complaints on the exact same model and year on this and it's a problem that needs to be recalled. My recent experience with this problem occurred while I was on the freeway with my children and it was very scary the steering wheel locked up and was so hard to steer it. This is an urgent matter that need to be recalled.
Making a right hand turn in silver lake, ca when the power steering assist failure light came on. The steering wheel seemed to freeze. I was able to pull over but was definitely shaken as I almost hit several cars. I know that if my younger sister was driving she would not have known what to do. I turned the car off and restarted and was able to get home. After research and realizing this is a common problem with the 2012 focus not sure what to do and do not have the estimated $2,000 to repair.
Auburn, me - while reversing out of my driveway the "auto steering assist failure" message appeared and I lost power steering in the vehicle, steering wheel was almost impossible to turn. Left car for the evening and started the car again in the morning. Warning message did not appear and power steering seemed to have returned. I had the car towed to the local ford dealership. Mechanics were unable to find an issue or reproduce it after having the vehicle for three days. Sited that they had not heard of or seen any issues with power steering failures with other ford focus vehicles. The vehicle has 130k (aprx) miles.
The vehicle was in motion when a sudden loss in power steering occurred. A "steering assist failure" message appeared on the display. The vehicle had previously been checked at a factory dealership for this issue which appeared intermittently and no apparent problem was found. The epas system is now disabled full time and the vehicle has only 26k miles. It is my understanding that ford is aware of faulty components/engineering regarding this problem but refuses to recall. A sudden loss of power steering could result in catastrophic consequences and loss of life. Costly repairs would not solve the inherent problems with this system as it would be prone to fail again. Please take action
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While idling at a stop sign, the power steering failed. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 99,050.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving 35 MPH, the power steering failed to operate as intended. When the vehicle was turned off and restarted, the steering assist service fault warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 81,000.
Steering warning light came on so I turned the car off and when I turned it back on it was gone. I then backed out of my spot and put it into drive. The car lost all power steering and was unable to move. I turned the car off and back on and this fixed the problem (no warning lights). This happened many times over the next few weeks but without the warning light going off. Now I have no power steering at all in forward or reverse and it does not get fixed when turning the car off and back on. Took it to the dealer and they said the steering module had failed and would need to be replace. I have done research on line and many other people have had this same problem. Why has this not been a safety recall is beyond me. Very disappointed with ford and the federal safety agency for not already acting on this!
Steering assist goes out leaving me with no power steering.
Electronic power steering suddenly failed while turning into a parking area. The wheel became so stiff that it was nearly impossible to turn it. This event occurred in a parking lot at low speeds but some reports show that this has happened to other 2012 focus cars while driving at highway speeds.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While starting the vehicle, the "faulty steering assist" warning indicator illuminated and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic steering gear failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,480.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving, the power steering locked up and the contact was unable to control the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not able to be driven and was towed to a ford dealer, but was not repaired. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.
My wife was driving on a city street and when she made a left turn the power steering failed , and almost hit another car . She was able to get the car to a parking lot . I did some research and I am not the only one with this issue . Ford needs to warranty all affected cars and fix it.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse the vehicle, the steering wheel seized without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering assist had failed and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000. Updated 12/21/16*lj the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired on october 14, 2016. Updated 12/27/16.
Power steer assist system went out completely. I was driving and took a turn and the electric motor failed and cant steer the car at all. Sitting in driveway undrivable.
Steering assist malfuntion ,my stering is hard ,and my dealer no cant fix that problem,my car have 73513 and have guaranty ,and the dealer said ,I need paid for fix that problem
Driving down the highway and my power steering in my 2012 ford focus went out completely almost cause me to crash was going 70 MPH and bearly was able to get to the side of the road safely.
The steering assist fault happened a few times after I purchased the vehicle at 60,000 miles april of 2015 . Turning on and off the car fixed it those at least 10 times it happened. Now october 2016 at 102,000 miles my car failed me in traffic at a stop light. I pushed the gas and it wouldn't drive, the steering wheel locked. After being off for 10 min it was movable. Made an appointment with ford for the b12 update thinking that would fix it. The day of the appointment I couldn't get my car out of my driveway. I started the car multiple times and the steering assist fault symbol came up and I could turn the wheel. I had the car towed to ford. They did the b12 update and the wheel is still locked . They said they don't know what it could be and I told them I see online so many cars like mine with the same issue. They said they can do a diagnostics for $109. Now I see how much it's gonna cost and ford won't help me with a solution because there is no recall and the car has high mileage with no warranty. They ask said I could complete the other recall I saw online because I'm out of warranty?? I don't know what to do I can't pay $2000 to fix it when it's a problem with the make of the car. The only option he gave me was to trade it in and buy a new one with a goodwill credit. I don't have money for that either I owe $12,000 on the car. Case # with ford cas-10809286
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering. The contact stated that the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power rack assembly and power steering motor were defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,749.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford focus. While driving various speeds, the steering seized and the steering malfunction warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over, restarted the vehicle, and the failure went away. The contact stated that it was the first instance of the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing, but the details of the diagnosis could not be provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000.
Had the steering assist fault error come on again for the third time in a month-second time in less than a week. I was coming to a stop, driving less than 5mph when it happened.
A message of "steering assist malfunction" appears. Lose power steering ..hard to drive. When you turn off the car and turn it back on it "fixes" itself and you can drive. Otherwise, very difficult to drive. Very hard to turn when driving.
While driving the electrical power steering assist failed (dashboard indicator and loss of power steering). This has happened about eight (8) times. When this occurs the vehicle becomes almost impossible to navigate, on two occasions almost leading to accidents. In this condition the vehicle poses a serious personal and public safety risk. I took the vehicle to my local ford dealer (metro ford of madison, wi) who kept it for four (4) days. They stated from the very beginning that they know nothing about the steering problem, tested the car for four days and charged me $150.00 for test that produced no results. Within two (2) hours to picking up the vehicle the electric power steering system failed multiple times. Ford needs to issue a recall and replace the electric power steering system immediately at no cost to the owner. Or just buy the vehicle back from the owner. I believe this vehicle poses a great public danger.
My transmission shutters very badly I have had it at the dealer in los lunas new mexico. It is still not fixed. My streering assist light came on and ihaveno power steering. After the last oil change to change oil light will not go off even after the reset procedures have been followed. The lighter does not work. O and to top it off I just got a recall letter something to do with electrical failure . But had nothing to do with the above problems. This is way many for a car of its age I am sure I have a lemon. What can be done?
When the car is put into drive or reverse the steering locks and you cannot control the steering. I almost hit car next to me at a grocery store parking lot and my garage wall while backing out. It happens in my driveway, store parking lots, where ever I go and the mechanic experienced it at the dealer. The dealer found it to be the electronic power steering system has failed and it needs a new one costing $2,141.34.
The power steering on my 2012 ford focus goes out intermittently, once when I was driving, but then it came back on before I had a chance to stop. Usually it goes out as I begin to move my car away from its parking place. I have to shut the car off, restart it and hope the problem goes away. One time the problem didn't go away in spite of my stopping and restarting the car, and I had to drive it the rest of the way home without power steering. No fun.
My 19 year old daughter drives this car and is in college away from home. She got in her car in the parking garage at her apartment, cranked it, and the "steering assist default" message lit and she was unable to steer the car. Thankfully, she wasn't driving anywhere when this occurred or it could have been very bad. We had to have the car towed to a ford dealership, and they tell us that it's going to cost $2,000 to repair!!!!! Not acceptable!!!!!
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