STARTED CAR UP ,STEERING LOCKED UP,TURN CAR OFF,RESTART STEERING WORKED,CAR WAS STATIONARY
2012 ford Focus steering problems
critical 931 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
931
Recalls
0
Crashes
23
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
WHILE DRIVING STEERING FAULT SERVICE IMMEDIATELY AND AN EXCLAMATION MARK APPEARED ON THE DASHBORAD. AT THE SAME TIME THE CAR WOULD BARELY STEER AND I HAD A VERY HARD TIME GETTING IT OFF THE ROAD. I CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. *KB
I HAD PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY INTO THE STREET, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A BUSY STREET OR HIGHWAY, OR WHILE TURNING A CORNER, A LOSS OF CONTROL WOULD HAVE BEEN ENTIRELY POSSIBLE.
MY PROBLEM FIRST STARTED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP UPON START OF VEHICLE AT RANDOM TIMES. I COULD PUT THE VEHICLE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE AND DRIVE BUT THE WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN. I WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON TO GET THE WHEEL TO FINALLY START TURNING. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF THAT, I STARTED NOTICING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AT HIGH SPEEDS. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY I WAS HAVING TROUB…
the car runs without power when shifted to drive gear. It is sluggish trying to speed up. Took to Ford Dealers on a recall with that is suppose to take care of it..nothing seems to have changed. I am not sure anything was done. trans makes a rough sound starting..
I HAVE TWICE RECEIVED AN ERROR WHEN STARTING THE CAR: "STEERING ASSIST FAULT - SERVICE REQUIRED" AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING WHATSOEVER. THE ERROR WAS RESOLVED BOTH TIMES BY RESTARTING THE CAR, BUT I AM VERY NERVOUS THAT THE FAULT WILL OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND WILL CAUSE A CRASH. I'VE BEEN SEEING THAT THIS IS A RELATIVELY COMMON ERROR IN A RANGE OF FORD VEHICLES AROUND THIS MODEL Y…
2012 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING CONTROL MODULE RECALL REPAIR ISSUES, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND WINDSHIELD MOTOR MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 12, 2016, A SAFETY WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH. WHEN HE TRIED DRIVING ABOUT 12 MILES HOME, HE HAD NO POWER STEERING. THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN. ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2016 THE CONSUMER …
LOST POWER STEERING TO VEHICLE, UNABLE TO DRIVE DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN DRIVEN OR WHEN GASING FROM A STOP.
I JUST STARTED TO HAVE AND ISSUE WITH A POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION ON MY 2012 CAR THE WHEEL LOCKED MAKING DIFFICULT TO MOVE IT OR MAKE IT TURN VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR THE PUBLICS SAFETY FORD NEED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS MANUFACTURE DEFECT
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2012 ford Focus?
It's a serious issue. 931 complaints have been filed, including 23 reports involving a crash and 5 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the steering 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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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