WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND USING CRUISE CONTROL VEHICLE FAILS TO MAINTAIN SPEED. THE CRUISE CONTROL ABRUPTLY SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND DRIVER HAS TO TAKE OVER. THE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE LIGHT TURNS ON/OFF PERIODICALLY. DEALER HAS INVESTIGATED AND DIAGNOSED THIS AS THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT SHORT CIRCUITING AND CAUSING POWER ISSUES. I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE RELATED TO…
2012 ford Focus powertrain problems
moderate 1,347 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
1,347
Recalls
0
Crashes
27
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
I AM FILING A COMPLAINT AGAINST A 2012 FORD FOCUS SE. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAKING TRANSMISSION NOISES THAT CANNOT BE RESOLVED FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE 101 FREEWAY, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ENTIRE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND NO CONTROLS WERE WORKING AT ALL ALMOST CAUSING AN INTENSE PILE UP THAT COULD HAVE KILLED MY MOTHER AND I INSTANTLY. WE WERE LEFT I…
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND IT STARTED TO SHIFT INCORRECTLY AND LUCKILY I WAS CLOSER TO HOME. BY THE TIME I HAD TO TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY IT QUIT SHIFTING ALL TOGETHER. MY DOOR LOCKS DO NOT LOCK, I'VE HAD TO BUNGEE THE REAR DOORS TOGETHER. MY MIRRORS DO NOT WORK. ALSO THE FUEL GAUGE DOESN'T READ CORRECTLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE CLUTCH SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BOB FERRANDO FORD LINCOLN (8868 W RIDGE RD, GIRARD, PA 16417), BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND BEGAN JERKING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRONIC COMPUTER FOR THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICL…
TCM transmission malfunction light came on. We just bought the car two months ago. Have had it in the shop more than it has been driven. We have and extended warranty but they said it would cost us out of pocket and we haven’t even driven this a long distance and has two year warranty or 24,000 miles.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2012 ford Focus?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 1347 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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