2012 Ford Focus problems
The 2012 Ford Focus has 4,988 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (28%) concerns drivetrain & axles. After that come steering (19%) and engine (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 4,988 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Drivetrain & axles 28% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 179 and 28
- Injuries and deaths
- 125 and 7
- Typical mileage
- 65,000 miles 4,054 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 631 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 505 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 651 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 738 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 611 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 401 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 258 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 145 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 71 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 20 |
| 200k+ miles | 23 |
What the data shows
Among the 4,054 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 65,000 miles. For drivetrain & axles specifically, the median reported mileage is about 55,000 miles (1,141 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 179 complaints mention a crash; 28 complaints mention a fire; 125 injuries reported; 7 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2012 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 19 model years of the Ford Focus with enough data (3,069 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 7 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 ford focus. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle independently veered to the left over the double lines without warning. As a result, the driver crashed into an oncoming vehicle. The air bags deployed. The driver sustained fatal injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.
Driver's side rear door failed to latch. Took veh to dealer. They advised rear door latch failure removed door panel and replaced door latch. I asked if this was a recall and was told no I would have to pay for it, that this vehicle was not on the recall issued by NHTSA 16v643000 2012-1015 ford focus. If this is correct maybe you need to extend the recall. See attachment with bill for repairs.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle was shuddering and jerking. The transmission was shifting in and out of neutral(N). The transmission malfunction service now and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 165,618.