2012 Ford Focus: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 4953 complaints
4953
Total Complaints
65,000mi
Median Mileage
Power Train
Top Issue
179
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
35,000
25th Percentile
65,000
Median Mileage
95,200
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Power Train
1382
Steering
922
Engine
470
Unknown Or Other
351
Electrical System
342
Body
292
Fuel/Propulsion System
280
Vehicle Speed Control
163
Latch
90
Service Brakes
54
Severity Assessment
179
Crashes
28
Fires
125
Injuries
7
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT COVER THE PILLARS ON THE SIDE OF THE WI..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE WHEN HE NOTICED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL WERE LOCATED VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. T..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO CONTINUE STEERING STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHIC..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Power Train
1382 complaints
25th: 23,892 mi
Median: 55,000 mi
75th: 89,000 mi
Steering
922 complaints
25th: 54,475 mi
Median: 78,000 mi
75th: 100,000 mi
Engine
470 complaints
25th: 29,675 mi
Median: 61,500 mi
75th: 97,818 mi
Unknown Or Other
351 complaints
25th: 49,000 mi
Median: 70,000 mi
75th: 98,000 mi
Electrical System
342 complaints
25th: 36,250 mi
Median: 64,500 mi
75th: 94,000 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 564
TX: 478
FL: 384
PA: 243
MI: 209
GA: 190
VA: 188
OH: 186
AZ: 184
NC: 170
Who Files Complaints?
1.3%
Original Owners
98.7%
Second+ Owners
Ford Focus — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (7)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Storage
Campaign 18V735000 | 22/10/2018
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.
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
Storage
Campaign 19V515000 | 05/07/2019
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.
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
Latch
Campaign 16V643000 | 06/09/2016
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
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.
Equipment
Campaign 12E035000 | 02/10/2012
Without proper contact of the rooftop rack clip to the door frame, there is insufficient clamping pressure and friction. The system may slide off the vehicle when loaded with accessories, possibly becoming a road hazard to other vehicles or causing injury to pedestrians.
Yakima will notify owners, and Yakima or a Yakima dealer will refund the purchase of the Q-Tower and Q-128 Clip system. There is no replacement system available for the 2012-2013 model year Ford Focus. The safety recall began on October 15, 2012. Only vehicles equipped with the vehicle rack syste
Switch/Wiring
Campaign 12V149000 | 05/04/2012
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.
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
Exterior Lighting
Campaign 13V335000 | 01/08/2013
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.
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.
Latch
Campaign 20V331000 | 08/06/2020
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
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
Extend Your Transmission Life
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Change transmission fluid at manufacturer intervals — not 'lifetime' fluid
- Come to a full stop before shifting from reverse to drive
- Don't ride the brakes on hills — use a lower gear
- Check transmission fluid level and color monthly — dark fluid needs changing
- Address slipping, hard shifts, or delayed engagement immediately
Vehicle Rankings
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28