The Used Car Index

2012 Ford Focus problems

NHTSA lists 3,769 complaints for the 2012 Ford Focus, 107 of them mention a crash and 15 mention a fire. 72 complaints mention an injury, with 88 injuries and 5 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as FORD FOCUS.

At a glance

Complaints
3,769
With crash
107
With fire
15
With injury (complaints)
72
Injuries
88
Deaths
5
Recalls
7
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
2,147,323
Investigations
3
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
127

Complaints per 100k sold: 1,399.7. Units sold: 269,272; sales year: 2012; basis: calendar_year_us_sales_proxy_for_model_year. goodcarbadcar.net.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
POWER TRAIN1,44638.4%
STEERING92724.6%
ENGINE47512.6%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3589.5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3529.3%
STRUCTURE3328.8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2847.5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1664.4%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES1343.6%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE561.5%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
STRUCTUREBODY317
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGESDOORS90
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION54
POWER TRAINCLUTCH ASSEMBLY13
VISIBILITYPOWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMHORN5
VISIBILITYSUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY5
WHEELSLUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINESTORAGE4
VISIBILITYWINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER4

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
loss of control1,37441.6%0.80
mechanical failure1,07732.6%0.76
electrical electronic45413.8%0.75
structural or corrosion1454.4%0.71
restraint or airbag702.1%0.91
noise or comfort551.7%0.72
unclear351.1%0.73
visibility or lighting351.1%0.88
fluid or fuel leak280.8%0.77
fire or overheating260.8%0.79
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate2,60078.8%0.85
low51115.5%0.67
high1805.5%0.84
critical60.2%0.75
none20.1%0.59

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 3,299 tagged complaints of 3,769 complaints (87.5%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

7 recalls.

26V369000

Date: 2026-06-09. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.

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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

20V331000

Date: 2020-06-08. Systems: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES.

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door la (excerpt)

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. (excerpt)

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. Ow (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

19V515000

Date: 2019-07-05. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 and 2017 Focus vehicles equipped with 2.0L GDI gasoline engines and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles equipped with 2.0L GTDI engines, previously recalled under 18V-735. The affected vehicles did not have the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) updated as intended. Therefore, the Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacu (excerpt)

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. (excerpt)

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 (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

18V735000

Date: 2018-10-22. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system. (excerpt)

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. (excerpt)

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 th (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

16V643000

Date: 2016-09-06. Systems: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES.

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

13V335000

Date: 2013-08-01. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Defect: Ford is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus BEV vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, manufactured September 15, 2011, through May 6, 2013; and model year 2013 Focus ST vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, manufactured February 16, 2012, through May 7, 2013. Due to a wiring incompatability, the front side marker lamps may not functi (excerpt)

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. (excerpt)

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. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

12V149000

Date: 2012-04-05. Systems: VISIBILITY.

Defect: FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 FOCUS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1, 2010, THROUGH OCTOBER 18, 2011. A SEAL IN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER MOTOR MAY BE MISSING.

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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

3 investigations; 0 open.

RQ23006

Opened: 2023-09-15. Closed: 2024-12-20.

Loss of Motive Power

On September 15, 2023, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ) after receiving 98 consumer complaints alleging loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles. The RQ focused on the effectiveness of the remedies of Recall 18V-735 and 19V-515. In October 2018, Ford issued Recall 18V-735, which updated Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software in M

Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

RQ19005

Opened: 2019-12-19. Closed: 2022-02-07.

Door Latch Failures

In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, and 2013-2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ. Some VOQs reported the failure occurred after the latch had been remedied under a prior recall whi

Systems: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE.

Linked campaign numbers: 20V177000, 20V331000.

PE16001

Opened: 2016-01-16. Closed: 2016-10-29.

Door Latch Failure

In January, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation based on consumers' allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2012-2013 Ford Focus vehicles (subject vehicles).ODI has received 464 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with over 200 claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in mo

Systems: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES.

Linked campaign numbers: 16V643000.

Manufacturer communications

127 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
POWER TRAIN49
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM36
EQUIPMENT24
ENGINE15
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY4
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER3
STEERING3

11031792

Date: 2026-04-29. Type: Other. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Harvest Program 25H05 a Supplement #1 Certain 2011-2021 Model Year Vehicles Software Verification Harvest Program

11029052

Date: 2026-02-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the

11026013

Date: 2025-11-19. Type: Other. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This is a proactive investigation program by Ford Motor Company to inspect a limited number of affected vehicles that are customer-owned. Ford is voluntarily conducting this program to evaluate the software currently installed on one or more electronic modules in the affected vehicles.

11012235

Date: 2024-12-04. Type: Other. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Certain 2012 a 2018 Model Year Focus Vehicle Line One-Time Canister Purge Valve Replacement

11008948

Date: 2024-10-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.

10254138

Date: 2024-04-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. If the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicle s owner during initial delivery. Unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad,

10237441

Date: 2023-05-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Certain 2011 through 2015 Model Year Fiesta and 2012 through 2016 Model Year Focus Vehicles Equipped with a DPS6 Automatic Transmission Transmission Control Module Extended Warranty Coverage REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT A A A A?A A A A A A A A? Due to ongoing limited part availability, program term

10235153

Date: 2023-04-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a different vehicle. Most modules on these affe

10226944

Date: 2022-11-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, POWER TRAIN.

Certain 2011 through 2015 Model Year Fiesta and 2012 through 2016 Model Year Focus Vehicles Equipped with a DPS6 Automatic Transmission; Transmission Control Module Extended Warranty Coverage REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT Non-Ford Part Usage: A A?A A A A? Vehicles that are still covered by the 8

10203850

Date: 2021-11-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: COMMUNICATION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Various 2012-2015 vehicles equipped with a 3G modem may experience a lack of 3G modem performance. This may be due to the 3G cellular service functionality being decommissioned starting August 2021 and through March 2022. As the 3G cellular service is decommissioned, vehicles equipped with the 3G te

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
FOCUS3,769

Same model, other years

All model years | All Ford models

Other Ford models, 2012

Sources

Get this record as JSON

The free rate-limited demo needs no key.

curl "https://api.theusedcarindex.com/v1/demo/vehicle_risk?make=Ford&model=Focus&year=2012"

Paid endpoint: https://api.theusedcarindex.com/v1/vehicle_risk. MCP endpoint: https://api.theusedcarindex.com/mcp.