2012 Ford Focus engine problems

Owners reported engine problems in 501 complaints for the 2012 Ford Focus, 10% of the complaints on file. It is the 3rd most reported problem area for this model year.

Complaints: 501 10% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage: 60,000 miles 398 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires: 10 and 5
Injuries and deaths: 5 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Based on 398 complaints that include mileage. 49% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.

View the numbers

Mileage	Complaints
0k to 20k miles	79
20k to 40k miles	61
40k to 60k miles	57
60k to 80k miles	53
80k to 100k miles	53
100k to 120k miles	39
120k to 140k miles	26
140k to 160k miles	21
160k to 180k miles	6
180k to 200k miles	2
200k+ miles	1

What the data shows

Of the 398 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 60,000 miles, and 49% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 10 crashes, 5 fires, 5 injuries.

What owners wrote

While driving back on the freeway, the vehicle started to smoke. Pulled to the side of the freeway and the vehicle caught on fire.

February 2016 FireInjury

My focus has had numerous transmission problems over the past few years. My car would randomly not be able to shift into second gear and would leave stranded. While driving my car would randomly not shift gears, allowing me to go a max of 10 MPH with my children in my car. Many times my car would not start at all. Sometimes when it did start, I could not even turn my wheel. I had the computer chip reset and within 4 months my car became inoperable.

Reported at 60,000 miles, March 2019

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Ford models