NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Ford Focus. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that once the fuel level was less than a quarter tank full, the vehicle would begin to hesitate upon the depression of the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact discovered and linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.
Sometimes when I start the car it shifts into next gear slowly. It may begin with a vibrating or jerky motion.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and ran out of fuel on several occasions. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who performed a diagnostic test and informed the contact to return the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the purge valve and fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 169,000.
Was told my lug nuts are swollen and need to be replaced.
Took vehicle to Ford dealership after being seen at transmission shop. Previous transmission shop said TCM was bad as well as clutch. Took car to Ford for TCM recall, they said it wasn't broken and refused to replace it. The did say clutch is broken and needs replacement which Ford is not willing to help with on cost.
I had just came home after driving on the interstate to and from a family event. I wasn’t home but approximately 15 minutes and got an emergency call about a death in my immediate family. I started my car and the steering wheel wouldn’t move! It still didn’t move if you put it in gear! It was totally disabled and I was thankful that this didn’t happen while driving. Especially on the interstate. I had several children with me on that trip, whom along with myself, could have been severely injured or killed! I later found out that Ford recalled the 2012 Ford Fusion, but not the 2012 Ford Focus for the exact same steering loss issue. This should be against the law and Ford needs to be held accountable for this issue for the Ford Focus as well!
The door ajar light illuminates on the dash even though the door is shut, the door ajar shows it is the driver side back door. With that warning I'm unable to lock the doors while inside the vehicle and the doors do not lock when putting the vehicle in drive from park or unlock when putting the vehicle in park from drive. I'm also unable to use the door handle lock and unlock sensor on the outside of the driver door.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle shuddered and hesitated to respond upon depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch was slipping. The dealer determined that the clutch and the levers needed to be replaced, as per Ford TSB Number: 16-0109. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was shifting erratically. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission clutch and shift motor had failed. Additionally, the clutch fork was stuck. The contact was informed that the transmission clutch, shift motor, and clutch fork needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 109,301.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that there was fuel leaking underneath the vehicle with a fuel odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired in 2021 under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was informed there would be a fee to diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.
Transmition control module on my 2012 ford focus sel Broke on a road trip leaving me with 1,3,5 gear only , and online it says this is a common issue considering you NEED a transmission to drive I feel this should be something that gets a recall
My vehicle is under a cyber attack! I went to Ford dealership to have my horn fixed and explained the same thing I am about to tell you. They check and stated that there were some issue with the Sync system but all is well. If I further issues to see them again. Well, I have the same issues. My horn is not working when I know I just had it fixed! I was driving when suddenly my vehicle engine felt as though it was going to be disabled. The check tire pressure comes on and I have fairly new tires on my vehicle not to mention I had them checked prior the circuit board tells me. Folks know about the lighting of the vehicle that transmit looking for a signal when you open the trunk or open the doors. There was nothing wrong with this care when purchased used. I also believe due to the bluetooth signal, folks can hear my conversation and I DON'T HAVE A PHONE OPERATING WITH THE VEHICLE. When using phones in the car though, it automatically somehow enable the bluetooth on when I have it set to off. Another vehicle can ride behind me with his lights blurred onto my vehicle and go to the app of his phone and disable something in my car. Once my radio was changed and i did nothing to it. Sometimes it is set to a different radio genre station that I don't listen to. A truck road behind me and literally cut my radio on and could not turn it off until I pulled over and shut the car off! I have reported this to the police but folks think I am out of my mind. My life has been a living hell because I work for the state and folks there are doing the same thing to my car as a stranger would do when driving behind me. Also the car can pick up bank information if you are using the drive thru. They can track your account. I believe folks at work and neighbors of mind are using an app to do so. Because the car can connect to a garage , it can pick up a signal that can transfer to another vehicle if they have their car on. Again, the lights are the signal transmitter picking up information
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The contact depressed the horn however, the horn was inoperable. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.
Not even a month ago my car started jerking when taking off like hard enough to practically put you through the windshield. It almost stalled on me at a stop sign. I have the customer satisfaction program 14mo2 letter from Ford about my TCM replacement. But I believe it is the power shift dual clutch in transmission that’s having the issue.. I called Ford today because the dealership I want to take my car to wants to charge me $4000 if it’s not the TCM. Apparently there have been issues with the powershift clutch transmission and that the coverage that they had to fix that issue has expired years ago. I cannot drive it out of my small town for fear of it breaking down on me. I found out the TCM had been replaced in 2016 and I’ve only had this car six months to seven months tops and it only has 75,000 miles on it. It revs up real high and does not shift gears properly. I am afraid to take it out on a highway or anything afraid it might cause an accident and Ford told me they will not fix it unless I pay for it if it’s the powershift dual clutch. I thought ford was supposed to fix any transmission issues whether under warranty or not. These safety issues could get someone killed!
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that when her grandparent started the vehicle and attempted to shift into reverse, the gear shifter was inoperable. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with failure of the clutch and transmission. The contact was informed that the clutch and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
UNKNOWN. I am aware of at least 2 recalls on my vehicle and took it to Long McArthur in Salina to have the recalls fixed in late summer 2023. As of this date, Long McArthur has not notified me the parts have come in to fix the recalls properly and I am still driving unsafely with many check engine lights on constantly and my vehicle making odd sounds. In summer 2023, Long McArthur said the parts were hard to come by and on back order and told me to highly consider buying a new vehicle.
TCM and clutch system. I originally purchased this vehicle in 2014, and from the moment I purchased this vehicle until now, I have taken this vehicle to Ford dealership numerous times for the same two reasons, the TCM and clutch system. The vehicle is currently at 79K miles. When at a complete stop and I go to accelerate the whole system shutters and vibrates violently and now the most recent, the transmission stays stuck on 2nd gear and when trying to shift the next gear, it shifts violently hard to 3rd gear or just skips 3rd gear altogether, and there's moments where it just won't go past 2nd gear. I accelerate slowly and all of a sudden the car will just take off on me. I had a new clutch system installed in February of 2022 and I already need a new clutch system in August of 2023. In this time frame I have only put in 6,000 miles. The repairs in February of 2022 were not covered under warranty and so this work cost me $3,000. Here I am 1 year and 5 months later and I'm being told I need this whole new system again and it will be a $4,000 job with Ford dealership. How does Ford even allow this to happen? We have another vehicle in the household that is a 2007 Toyota Corolla with 140,000 MI and runs brand new. The work with my Ford Focus is never ending! I also think it is unfair knowing that people still own these vehicles and they know these issues and how dangerous they are and they are doing nothing to help the consumer. The fact that I would have to dish out another $4,000 to keep this car for a repair I just did 1 year and 5 months ago is selfish and insane! I don't know who else to reach out to about this as I have already reached out to Ford and nothing can be done.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated following repair work on the transmission, the contact was advised by the dealer to pick up the vehicle. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was not test driven because of extreme rust to the sub frame, and that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact determined that the cost of replacing the sub frame would exceed the value of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to several reported instances of severe corrosion for several years, makes, and models of the vehicle. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle started shaking, and the gear shifter failed to shift into reverse(R). The service engine light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the TCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
August 3, 2023, vehicle bucking from 1RPM to 2 RPM. No engine lights came on. At every stop and go vehicle hesitated. I was driving a relative to a post operation doctor visit. Went to dealer following day. They could not inspect the car. Gave appointment for 5 days later. Recall letter I received is for the TCM/PCM-Transmission/Power Control Module. Dealer says they have vehicles waiting 2 and 3 years for this part. If this is my issue they cannot provide me with a time frame for getting the issue corrected. When I drove to the dealer the engine light did come on and it continues to be on. Car can leave me stranded or vehicle may jerk forward even with the brake applied are some of the different issues that can happen.
Manufacturer installed radio first just started cutting out with a loud pop that would scare the driver. Now the radio does not work. Only static and popping at top volume the entire time you're driving. Even does it with the car turned off and key out of ignition. I barely avoided an accident during one of these incidents. My car is one of thousands with the same complaint. Dealer does not know how to fix the problem.
The transmission shakes and shutters went to dealer and asked about the issue and they stated it was known issue and I should just accelerate very quickly which would clean the clutches. It did work temporarily. in August 2023 while driving the car it refused to down shift while climbing a hill. AFter stopping by the side of the road, the car would not start on the first try. After trying again car did start however it would not go into reverse. It would move forward however driving in heavy traffic the car would not shift out of second causing very high rpms. Limped it into the dealership where they stated it was the clutch and shifting forks. One month later I got the car back and on the way home it once again would not shift while climbing a hill and the check engine light came on. The next morning when I went out to start it once again it would not start. Once it did I could not shift it into revers and once again only second gear was available.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission experienced a loss of motive power, causing the vehicle to decelerate and the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. During the failure the message "Transmission Malfunction, Service Now" was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Advance Auto to be diagnosed and the mechanic retrieved unknown codes. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for an unknown transmission recall repair. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle downshifted abruptly and decelerated to 25 MPH. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. The messages "Pull over" and "Transmission Hot" were displayed. The contact stated that he was able to veer to the side of the road; however, the vehicle failed to shift into park (P). The contact turned the vehicle off and waited 30 minutes. The contact stated that he was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The contact drove the vehicle to the dealer, who diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, however, the failure persisted. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission had seized between park (P) and reverse (R). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle with the vehicle idling, the “Transmission Overheated – Pull Over” message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the clutch actuator inside the TCM had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the vehicle remained. The contact was then informed that the vehicle failed to start, and the battery was replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to call the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 169,654.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle failed to shift gear as designed. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission control module (TCM), resulting in damage to the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 119,000.
Hello, This is what happened to my 2012 Ford Focus SE. First I noticed that after putting gas the car doesn't start I have to try it 1 or 2 times more. Second when the vehicle stops on the traffic light sometimes it gets difficult to get out because is not taking the change correctly, so I have to press the clutch so hard. Because of the car doesn't show up any lights or signal that told me that the car is having a problem I took it to the dealership, and they did diagnostic, and the issues are confirmed.
Power steering went out after a repair to the transmission control module.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while her son was driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the vehicle shut off. The contact stated that the brakes locked up. The driver was able to coast to the side of the road and apply the parking brake. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel tank was deformed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The contact stated the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V515000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle seemed to shift into neutral and failed to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and the service engine message was displayed. The contact pulled over to allow the engine to cool down. The vehicle was restarted and taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission control module needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the transmission failure caused the clutch to fail. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
My check engine light went on and off for a while, and every time I filled up with gas my car would not start. I would have to turn it off and then on again in order to get it to run. I have attached details of the repair, which were a specific 2012 Ford Focus recall that my car had not been included in. Since this repair, my car’s fuel tank still does not function properly. My fuel gauge is faulty, which is dangerous because I could run out of gas at any moment even if it appears to be half full. My fuel tank is not pressurized enough to push enough gas into the tank to run as it should (I may have worded that wrong, but I am repeating what [XXX] has told me). This car should have been on the fuel pump recall list. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Driving down the road and all of a sudden the transmission starts jumping out of gear and back in gear, then light comes on stating transmission is overheating. Shut car off to cool transmission and car will not start back, after around an hour car cranks back up, but continues to jumping in and out of gear and light stating transmission is overheating stop for 5 minutes and relays clicking under the hood around the motor/ transmission.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that she received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V523000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The contact was then informed that the recall was completed and retained the vehicle however, the contact stated that while driving approximately 10 minutes away from the dealer at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound while on an incline. The contact then stated that she allowed the vehicle to drift back into the street while shifted into drive(D). The contact stated that she depressed the brake pedal and shifted into reverse(R) and the “Pull Over - Transmission Overheated” message was displayed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the TCM (Transmission Control Module) failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was currently at the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,511.
My car was hesitant to accelerate when both stopped and while cruising. When stopped, I would release the brake and the car would shudder and not accelerate. It would sit for a few seconds before going forward. When stopped on a hill, my car would roll backwards when I would release from the brake. When accelerating up a hill, my car would shudder and stop accelerating for a few seconds. Once, while on the Highway, I went to pass a car, getting into the left lane and pressing on the gas. The car did not go any faster but my RPM went all the way up. It was such a danger to drive. The service engine light would go on and off, but never be consistently on. When it turned on, it only stayed on for a day and then went back off. It almost caused a few accidents. When I took it to my local Ford dealership thinking it was the TCM, they told me the car needed a new clutch, levers, and slave cylinder.
It wont go in reverse and comes out of gear transmission?
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started and the gear shifter was in reverse, the vehicle would not reverse(R). In addition, the check engine warning light had been illuminated before and remained illuminated after the transmission replacement in June 2023. The contact stated that the transmission had been replaced by the previous owner also. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed transmission clutch and actuator and the transmission clutch and actuator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clutch and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered an Extended Warranty on the TCM but offered no assistance with repairing the transmission. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.
The truck opens by itself while I’m driving.
See incident 11525260 for details, as it describes both incidences where the ABS Control module failed. I am logging a second complaint so that the second module failure is recorded. Short version: The ABS control module failed again, leaving me with no brakes. The valve gets stuck open inside the module, making the brake pedal unpredictable and sometimes with no stopping power. Ford is unable to fix my car in a timely manner, and is refusing to provide a vehicle to drive until they fix it 2-3 months from now.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated the front passenger’s side door latch opened independently while the vehicle was parked in a parking lot. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
The problem is with the transmission and dual clutch and electrical. My car shakes when still, doesn't want to go when I put on the gas, doesn't want to change gears. The electrical keeps going on and off and the fan goes on and stays on after I shut car off and get out and stays on. I took it to schicker ford on south kingshighway to get programmed and I got my car back it was worse.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The message that the transmission had overheated was displayed. The contact was able to push the vehicle off the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the part was on backorder. The parts arrived and the transmission control module was replaced, but the failure recurred. The dealer informed the contact that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact about an Extended Warranty coverage. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.
Causing vehicle to shutter or jerk making the driver lose control for a minute or two when driving. Happens only, when accelerating at from a stop or turn.
I was driving about 45mph when the car tried to downshift then upshift and it stalled in the middle of the road. The transmission light came on right as it stalled along with the traction control light. Which the traction control light it made me swerve into oncoming traffic almost causing an accident. So I got it to the opposite side of the road and went to put it in park and it lunged forward while crooked at the same time almost hitting a passing car. Over a year ago I had called a dealership about the TCM because every great while the car would shudder but nothing severe and was told the 10 yr 150000 mile recal didn't fit my car even though it was still within the 10 yr part but had 180000 on it. I ended up having the car towed to my mechanic since once I restarted it after a half hour wait before it would turn over tellingmy.no key was detected I turned the car around and went about a quarter of a mile down the road and it stalled on me and wouldn't go into park and I rolled down a hill towards kids getting dropped off by the bus after school let out. I ended up being able to turn it without power steering working into an abandoned house driveway. About 100 feet from a kid. Ford wants 400 to even diagnose it if I can get it towed there. The car should have been fixed under warranty last year but ford always finds a way out of fixing their vehicles. I have a 2012 ford focus se.
The automatic dual clutch is shaking my steering wheel and whole car.
I received a recall dated June 2023 about my transmission. It is the first one I have ever received. I had it towed to Stanley Ford McGregor and service said that there wasn't anything wrong. I was told I need to pay them $165 for a recall review???? I don't feel safe driving it as it slips, bucks, jerks, shudders, delay when shifting as well as having difficulty in changing gears causing many "almost accidents." I just found out Ford settled on 2020 judgement and a 2022 judgement. I had no idea. It is plagued with numerous problems and safety concerns. I have written a letter to the General Manager, Mike F at Stanley Ford McGregor as well as sent copies to Jim Farley, CEO of Ford and FMC Customer Relationship Center. I asked them to get back with me as I will NOT pay that $165 and drive an unsafe car that I don't want to put my 1 yr old grandson at risk as well.
On April 29, 2023 our 2012 Ford Focus SE with a 5 speed manual transmission indicated a dashboard warning stating the power steering assist was inoperable. Steering was still able to be done manually, but with much greater input required, especially at low speeds. Being a manual transmission, this is especially problematic as steering regularly has to be performed one handed. Fortunately this incident did not occur while driving, but reviewing many other similar complaints on the NHSTA website, as well as seaching '2012 Ford Focus steering issues' online, it is evident that this loss of assist CAN and HAS occurred to others when the vehicle was in motion. This poses a serious safety risk to not only the driver, but others on the road as well. This is an issue known to Ford Motor Company as they issued a recall (15S18) for similar problems on other Ford vehicles, but not the Focus. I am requesting the NHTSA investigate this situation and take action to compel Ford to fix the Focus as well under a recall to prevent similar situations from causing potential injury or death. I encourage one of your investigators to try driving one of these vehicles without the power assist to see just how dangerous it is, especially in low speed maneuvers. This car is primarily used by my son for his commuting to and from college. He is the one that first saw the warning. I am very thankful this did not happen while he was in motion. I will be contacting my dealer on Monday May 1, 2023 to start the diagnosis/repair process.
While stopped and preparing to turn left at yield light, my check engine light suddenly came on followed by several alerts and dings. Not understanding what was occurring in that exact moment, I had an opportunity to safely make the left turn, and intended to address the issue once off the main road. Within moments of releasing the brake my car began violently revving and jolted forward into the intersection, in response I quickly threw on my hazard lights while trying to maintain control of the situation. Following this moment, my car suddenly had zero acceleration or vehicle control- just loud revving and bells and whistles. This left me briefly stranded in the middle of the intersection with oncoming traffic approaching quickly. I threw the car into park, and then back into drive- it never stopped revving, but it finally gave me enough control to lurch the vehicle out of intersection and barely into the entrance of a subdivision. It was utterly terrifying, and as result caused me to have a massive panic attack. Mind you, This car is barely over 100k in miles, and I just purchased it last summer from a used car dealership- so I took to the internet to search the issue while waiting for AAA to arrive. To my unknowing amazement, this car was slated with 2 major safety recalls- one being related to the transmission. I do not understand how this vehicle was allowed to be sold to me with such issues, or without disclosure about the possible recalls. With that aside, I was utterly distraught when my research concluded that Ford KNEW about these issues before they hit the market- they’re also allowed to keep them on the road with sorry assed “band-aid” repairs for the faulty equipment- still knowing full and well that this issue is Guaranteed to happen again! So now, I knowingly have to continue payments on a death trap- that I currently cannot drive. I am losing income I couldn’t afford to lose, and I’m terrified of my car. This is not ok…I’m not ok.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V523000 (Power Train) however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shuddering with the check engine warning light illuminated. The dealer and Gordie Boucher Ford of Thiensville (121 N Main St, Thiensville, WI 53092) were made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under warranty, and she was responsible to pay out of pocket for the diagnostic test and repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 93,490.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026