2012 Ford Focus problems and recalls

Owner complaints on the 2012 Ford Focus include 5 fatality reports, 108 crashes and 15 fires across 3,800 filings.

3,800
Complaints
8
Recalls
108
Crash reports
15
Fire reports
88
Injuries
38.1
Severity index

Severity index 38.1 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 38.1p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 122 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 6% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Power TrainPower Train: 1,459 complaints (38.4%)1,459 38%SteeringSteering: 933 complaints (24.6%)933 25%EngineEngine: 477 complaints (12.6%)477 13%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 366 complaints (9.6%)366 10%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 359 complaints (9.4%)359 9%StructureStructure: 332 complaints (8.7%)332 9%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 287 complaints (7.6%)287 8%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 170 complaints (4.5%)170 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN1,45938.4%
STEERING93324.6%
ENGINE47712.6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3669.6%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3599.4%
STRUCTURE3328.7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2877.6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1704.5%

Complaints filed per year

03807602011: 282012: 1202013: 1632014: 3452015: 4432016: 7512017: 3422018: 2852019: 5802020: 2242021: 1312022: 1402023: 1092024: 602025: 502026: 29 (partial year)11121314151675117181920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
201128
2012120
2013163
2014345
2015443
2016751
2017342
2018285
2019580
2020224
2021131
2022140
2023109
202460
202550
2026 (year to date)29
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (219 against 495).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V73500022/10/2018FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGEFord 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.
19V51500005/07/2019FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGEFord 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 Modul
16V64300006/09/2016LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHFord 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
12E03500002/10/2012EQUIPMENTThis recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Yakima Products, Inc. for use on model year 2012 and 2013 Ford Focus vehicles. This recall is being conducted by Yakima, not by Ford. Certain combined Q-Tower and Q128 Clip rooftop rack systems, part numbers 8000124 and 8000728, d
12V14900005/04/2012VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRINGFORD 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.
13V33500001/08/2013EXTERIOR LIGHTINGFord 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, manufact
20V33100008/06/2020LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHFord 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 recal
26V36900009/06/2026FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTERFord 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.

Other Ford Focus model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 7 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-07. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.