2012 Ford Focus Problems and Recalls (3,792 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2012 Ford Focus is Transmission / driveline (31% of 3,792 owner reports). There are 11 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-15 3,792 complaints · 11 recalls

What problems show up on the 2012 Ford Focus?

1,171 of 3,792 filings named Transmission / driveline (31% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Steering (875 reports).

There are 11 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras, Electrical, Transmission / driveline, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2011 has 111 reports on file; this year has 3,792. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2012 Ford Focus

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 11 campaigns on file below.
  2. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  3. Steering. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight.
  4. Body / frame. Look for rust, collision repair and body gaps that do not match a clean truck.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Transmission / driveline. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Transmission / driveline 1,171 complaints · 30.9% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 107
  • Fires 15
  • Injuries 87
  • Deaths 5
All Ford Focus years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) appears in 1,171 of 3,792 owner complaints (30.9%) in this vehicle snapshot. Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 1,171 complaints, 30.9% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 14 crash reports 2 fire reports 1,171 · 30.9% Steering (STEERING): 875 complaints, 23.1% of reports Steering (STEERING) 22 crash reports 1 fire reports 875 · 23.1% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 285 complaints, 7.5% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 2 crash reports 285 · 7.5% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 243 complaints, 6.4% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 243 · 6.4% Engine (ENGINE): 223 complaints, 5.9% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 4 crash reports 2 fire reports 223 · 5.9% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 168 complaints, 4.4% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 5 crash reports 2 fire reports 168 · 4.4% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 119 complaints, 3.1% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 10 crash reports 119 · 3.1% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 63 complaints, 1.7% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 1 fire reports 63 · 1.7% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 34 complaints, 0.9% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 28 crash reports 1 fire reports 34 · 0.9% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 908 complaints, 24.0% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 17 crash reports 4 fire reports 908 · 24.0% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1,171 30.9% 14 crashes · 2 fires
Steering (STEERING) 875 23.1% 22 crashes · 1 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 285 7.5% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 243 6.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 223 5.9% 4 crashes · 2 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 168 4.4% 5 crashes · 2 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 119 3.1% 10 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 63 1.7% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 34 0.9% 28 crashes · 1 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 908 24.0% 17 crashes · 4 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Apr 2011; the first recall shown was reported in Apr 2012. 2011-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 2011-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2012-Q1: 19 owner reports 19 2012-Q2: 24 owner reports 24 2012-Q3: 45 owner reports 45 2012-Q4: 30 owner reports 30 2013-Q1: 27 owner reports 27 2013-Q2: 28 owner reports 28 2013-Q3: 64 owner reports 64 2013-Q4: 43 owner reports 43 2014-Q1: 40 owner reports 40 2014-Q2: 96 owner reports 96 2014-Q3: 119 owner reports 119 2014-Q4: 89 owner reports 89 2015-Q1: 76 owner reports 76 2015-Q2: 92 owner reports 92 2015-Q3: 155 owner reports 155 2015-Q4: 116 owner reports 116 2016-Q1: 126 owner reports 126 2016-Q2: 152 owner reports 152 2016-Q3: 320 owner reports 320 2016-Q4: 152 owner reports 152 2017-Q1: 83 owner reports 83 2017-Q2: 87 owner reports 87 2017-Q3: 99 owner reports 99 2017-Q4: 73 owner reports 73 2018-Q1: 59 owner reports 59 2018-Q2: 61 owner reports 61 2018-Q3: 77 owner reports 77 2018-Q4: 88 owner reports 88 2019-Q1: 104 owner reports 104 2019-Q2: 100 owner reports 100 2019-Q3: 234 owner reports 234 2019-Q4: 142 owner reports 142 2020-Q1: 80 owner reports 80 2020-Q2: 43 owner reports 43 2020-Q3: 58 owner reports 58 2020-Q4: 43 owner reports 43 2021-Q1: 29 owner reports 29 2021-Q2: 32 owner reports 32 2021-Q3: 41 owner reports 41 2021-Q4: 28 owner reports 28 2022-Q1: 20 owner reports 20 2022-Q2: 31 owner reports 31 2022-Q3: 70 owner reports 70 2022-Q4: 19 owner reports 19 2023-Q1: 30 owner reports 30 2023-Q2: 31 owner reports 31 2023-Q3: 32 owner reports 32 2023-Q4: 16 owner reports 16 2024-Q1: 22 owner reports 22 2024-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2024-Q3: 17 owner reports 17 2024-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2025-Q1: 17 owner reports 17 2025-Q2: 15 owner reports 15 2025-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 2025-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2026-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2026-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2026-Q3: 15 owner reports 15 Owner reports Apr 2011 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 12V149000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V149000 Recall campaign 12E035000 ◆ Recall campaign 12E035000 Recall campaign 13V335000 ◆ Recall campaign 13V335000 Recall campaign 13V475000 ◆ Recall campaign 13V475000 Recall campaign 13V523000 ◆ Recall campaign 13V523000 Recall campaign 16V643000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V643000 Recall campaign 18V592000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V592000 Recall campaign 18V735000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V735000 Recall campaign 19V515000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V515000 Recall campaign 20V331000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V331000 Recall campaign 26V369000 ◆ Recall campaign 26V369000 Investigation PE13031 ● Investigation PE13031 Investigation PE16001 ● Investigation PE16001 Investigation PE16001 ● Investigation PE16001 Investigation RQ19005 ● Investigation RQ19005 Investigation RQ19005 ● Investigation RQ19005 Investigation DP22005 ● Investigation DP22005 Investigation RQ23006 ● Investigation RQ23006
  • Campaign 12V149000 was reported 50 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 13V475000 was reported 733 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 13V523000 was reported 816 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 16V643000 was reported 1,938 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V592000 was reported 2,672 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V735000 was reported 2,589 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 19V515000 was reported 2,845 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 20V331000 was reported 3,309 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 26V369000 was reported 5,376 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2011-Q2 Owner reports 1
2011-Q3 Owner reports 13
2011-Q4 Owner reports 14
2012-Q1 Owner reports 19
2012-Q2 Owner reports 24
2012-Q3 Owner reports 45
2012-Q4 Owner reports 30
2013-Q1 Owner reports 27
2013-Q2 Owner reports 28
2013-Q3 Owner reports 64
2013-Q4 Owner reports 43
2014-Q1 Owner reports 40
2014-Q2 Owner reports 96
2014-Q3 Owner reports 119
2014-Q4 Owner reports 89
2015-Q1 Owner reports 76
2015-Q2 Owner reports 92
2015-Q3 Owner reports 155
2015-Q4 Owner reports 116
2016-Q1 Owner reports 126
2016-Q2 Owner reports 152
2016-Q3 Owner reports 320
2016-Q4 Owner reports 152
2017-Q1 Owner reports 83
2017-Q2 Owner reports 87
2017-Q3 Owner reports 99
2017-Q4 Owner reports 73
2018-Q1 Owner reports 59
2018-Q2 Owner reports 61
2018-Q3 Owner reports 77
2018-Q4 Owner reports 88
2019-Q1 Owner reports 104
2019-Q2 Owner reports 100
2019-Q3 Owner reports 234
2019-Q4 Owner reports 142
2020-Q1 Owner reports 80
2020-Q2 Owner reports 43
2020-Q3 Owner reports 58
2020-Q4 Owner reports 43
2021-Q1 Owner reports 29
2021-Q2 Owner reports 32
2021-Q3 Owner reports 41
2021-Q4 Owner reports 28
2022-Q1 Owner reports 20
2022-Q2 Owner reports 31
2022-Q3 Owner reports 70
2022-Q4 Owner reports 19
2023-Q1 Owner reports 30
2023-Q2 Owner reports 31
2023-Q3 Owner reports 32
2023-Q4 Owner reports 16
2024-Q1 Owner reports 22
2024-Q2 Owner reports 10
2024-Q3 Owner reports 17
2024-Q4 Owner reports 11
2025-Q1 Owner reports 17
2025-Q2 Owner reports 15
2025-Q3 Owner reports 14
2025-Q4 Owner reports 4
2026-Q1 Owner reports 6
2026-Q2 Owner reports 10
2026-Q3 Owner reports 15
Recall campaign 1 12V149000
Recall campaign 1 12E035000
Recall campaign 1 13V335000
Recall campaign 1 13V475000
Recall campaign 1 13V523000
Recall campaign 1 16V643000
Recall campaign 1 18V592000
Recall campaign 1 18V735000
Recall campaign 1 19V515000
Recall campaign 1 20V331000
Recall campaign 1 26V369000
Defect investigation 1 PE13031
Defect investigation 1 PE16001
Defect investigation 1 PE16001
Defect investigation 1 RQ19005
Defect investigation 1 RQ19005
Defect investigation 1 DP22005
Defect investigation 1 RQ23006
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Safety Recalls (11)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras, Electrical, Transmission / driveline, and Fuel system.

  1. Recall campaign 12E035000

    Safety recall 12E035000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    Without proper contact of the rooftop rack clip to the door frame, there is insufficient clamping pressure and friction. The system may slide off the vehicle when loaded with accessories, possibly becoming a road hazard to other vehicles or causing injury to pedestrians.
    Remedy:
    Yakima will notify owners, and Yakima or a Yakima dealer will refund the purchase of the Q-Tower and Q-128 Clip system. There is no replacement system available for the 2012-2013 model year Ford Focus. The safety recall began on October 15, 2012. Only vehicles equipped with the vehicle rack system are affected. This recall is being conducted by Yakima, not Ford. Owners may contact Yakima at 1-888-925-4621.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 12V149000

    Glass / wipers / cameras

    Report date
    Component:
    Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
    Consequence:
    WATER OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS MAY ACCUMULATE IN THE CONNECTOR, RESULTING IN AN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER MOTOR, REDUCING VISIBILITY AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND AS NECESSARY, CLEAN AND PROPERLY SEAL THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER MOTOR CONNECTOR. ANY INOPERATIVE WIPER MOTORS WILL BE REPLACED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 13V335000

    Safety recall 13V335000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    Without the proper illumination of the side maker lamps, the vehicle may be less visible in night time conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the headlamp assembly wiring, free of charge. The recall began on August 16, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C04.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 13V475000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    Without an audible door chime, a vehicle owner may open the door and exit the vehicle without being reminded that the vehicle is still operational, leaving the vehicle susceptible to theft.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the door chime, free of charge. The recall began on October 30, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C07.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 13V523000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    An unexpected loss of power while driving increases the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the power control module, free of charge. The recall beganon November 22, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S09. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 16V643000

    Safety recall 16V643000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Recall campaign 18V592000

    Safety recall 18V592000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    An overheated cord can increase the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current cord with a new 120V convenience cord with a thermistor, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S24.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Recall campaign 18V735000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Recall campaign 19V515000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    The excessive vacuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began July 29, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S22.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Recall campaign 20V331000

    Safety recall 20V331000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Recall campaign 26V369000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-14
Safety incident filters
Showing 5 of 3,792 complaints · page 1 of 152
2026-09-29Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11767932
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Transmission overheating warning light Transmission clutch stuck open recommended to change out “actuator A” but did not solve. Clutch fork needs replacement
2026-09-04Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11762199
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages); however, the part to do the recall repair was denied. The contact stated that upon further inspection, the front driver’s side door failed to remain closed. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where the contact was advised that the vehicle could not be repaired due to the passenger’s side door having cosmetic issues. The vehicle remained at the local dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 171,500.
2026-09-03Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11761917
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Rowe ford came stated he checked to see it the software was there also stated there were codes and said he was done. He never fixed the software cause i have u codes that state pcm and has locked my car into limp mode which means my car is immobilized due to the bad software. They closed Out the recall on there end with out the proper Fix. It was their mobile service. I know For a fact the pcm is causing this communication issue in my car. Inlost my job due to this very issue cause it Left Me With no transportation. My car is now a brick just sitting here cause of there negligence to do the job correctly and also the mobile technician was Only here 10 minutes and that also told me he did not reflash my pcm software as the letter states for the remedy. They seemed to think i want a free Transmission fix and My transmission is fine its the pcm software Causing this lockout and a mechanic has stated it as the issue to my lockout issue. Also all i was Getting was a run around to get this resolved. Don’t like being treated like an idiot. This is the original recall safety recall 26S40/ NHTSA 26V369. It was falsely complered.
2026-09-01Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11761402
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I am submitting this complaint because Ford dealers do not appear to be following Ford Motor Company's published procedure for Customer Satisfaction Program 24N07. I visited two Ford service departments in [XXX] and [XXX]. Both told me they must first perform their own diagnostic evaluation before replacing the canister purge valve (CPV) under 24N07, and that I may be responsible for a diagnostic fee if they do not confirm the issue. Both dealers justified this requirement by stating that it was mandated by Ford corporate. This appears inconsistent with Ford's XXX communication to all U.S. Ford and Lincoln dealers. The 24N07 Technical Instructions already provide a decision process: Step 1 directs technicians to check for specified DTCs, including P0443, OR determine whether the customer reports hesitation, rough idle, or loss of power. Step 2 asks whether any Step 1 condition is present. If yes, Step 3 directs the technician to replace the CPV. (PAGE 16) Nowhere in this procedure does Ford require a separate comprehensive EVAP diagnosis before replacement. Ford's labor operation also includes checking for DTCs as part of the 24N07 service. (PAGE 16) This is especially concerning because CPV-related symptoms can be intermittent. A vehicle may have rough idle, hesitation, loss of power, or a qualifying DTC, but operate normally during the dealer's diagnostic session. Under the dealers' approach, the owner may then be charged a diagnostic fee and still be denied the 24N07 repair. Similar experiences have been reported by other Focus owners online, including diagnostic-fee warnings of approximately $199, $210, $225, and $400. I ask NHTSA to review whether Ford dealers are properly implementing 24N07 and whether dealers are adding diagnostic requirements not contained in Ford's December 4, 2024 instructions. Ford 24N07: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2026-08-26Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11759734
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated and stalled. The vehicle was able to restart but failed to move. The message "Transmission Failure" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the residence and was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under the Customer Satisfaction Program: 14M02 (Transmission Control Module Extended Warranty Coverage). The failure mileage was approximately 112,200.

Ford Focus Powershift: What NHTSA Complaints Show

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2012 Ford Focus?

Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 1,171 of 3,792 reports (31%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2012 Ford Focus?

NHTSA lists 11 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras, Electrical, Transmission / driveline, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2012 Ford Focus?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-14. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources