2012 Ford Focus Electric Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus BEV. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that an unknown warning light was illuminated and remained illuminated for several days. The failure recurred several times. On one occasion, the contact was unable to start the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed failure with an electrical wiring harness kit and that the battery was drained. The dealer was able to replace the wiring harness however, the battery was not replaced due to the cost of a new battery. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

NHTSA ID

11434038

Incident

Aug 15, 2021

Mileage

92,000 mi

MY SHOCKS AND MY TRANSMISSION I BELIEVE

NHTSA ID

11405962

Incident

Mar 4, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO SWITCH GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO MAHWAH FORD (55 FRANKLIN TPK, MAHWAH, NJ 07430) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA ID

11222637

Incident

Jun 25, 2019

Mileage

26,000 mi

MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A STOP SAFELY NOW MESSAGE WHILE DRIVING. POWER WERE CUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE STALLED IN MOVING TRAFFIC. MY VEHICLE HAD DONE A RECALL ON THE POWER HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE STOP SAFELY NOW ISSUE BUT I DON'T THINK THE RECALL FIXED IT COMPLETELY.

NHTSA ID

11220907

Incident

Jun 15, 2019

Mileage

83,000 mi

JERKING DURING TAKE OFF AND GEAR SHIFTING. WHILE DRIVING CAR WILL JERK AT LOW SPEED BUT RISE TO 4 SPEED. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP THEY SAY IT'S TRANSMISSION CLUTCH SHUDDER, MY THIRD REPLACEMENT AND IT'S A ISSUE THT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. $1400.00 REPAIR

NHTSA ID

11210740

Incident

May 27, 2019

JUST TURNED IN AN ORIGINAL CHARGING CORD UNDER RECALL (THE CORDS PLUG WOULD TEND TO OVERHEAT AND WAS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD) AND GOT A BRAND NEW CORD FROM KEN GRODY FORD, CARLSBAD, CA. MY FIRST THOUGHT WHEN LOOKING AT THE NEW CORD WAS THAT THE ELECTRICAL CORD (19' LONG PART) LOOKED UNUSUALLY THIN. WITH THE NEW CORD, THE APPROX 19' PART OF THE CORD GETS WARM, ALL 19 FEET! THEY OBVIOUSLY USED TOO SMALL OF A WIRE GAUGE IN THE NEW CORD, AND THIS IN ITSELF IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN MY OPINION. I SPECIALIZE IN SELLING ELECTRIC CARS, AND I'M ALWAYS CHARGING VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS IN MY GARAGE ON A 15AMP/110V DEDICATED CIRCUIT, AND HAVE NO ISSUES WITH OTHER CHARGING CORDS.

NHTSA ID

11202554

Incident

Apr 18, 2019

Mileage

48,122 mi

THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY CAR IS STARTING TO LOCK UP WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE STEERLING WHEEL GETS STUCK AND ITS HARD TO CONTROL THE CAR,.

NHTSA ID

11144237

Incident

Oct 26, 2018

THE BATTERY WHICH IS FUNCTIONAL DISCHARGES EVEN AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN RECENTLY AND THE CAR WILL NOT START UNTIL THE BATTERY IS JUMPED. WHICH PRESENTS A PROBLEM IN THAT YOU CANNOT SURE IF YOU GET BACK FROM WHERE YOU HAVE GONE. THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR ARE FUNCTIONING.

NHTSA ID

11139497

Incident

Sep 20, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

TWICE SINCE WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED. MY WIFE SAYS THERE IS A MESSAGE ON THE DASH DISPLAY ABOUT THE STEERING. BOTH TIMES SHE SHOWED ME THE STEERING BEING LOCKED UP IN THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR HOME. I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND RESTARTING. SHE TOLD ME THIS MORNING IT HAS HAPPENED TO HER WHILE DRIVING ONCE ON A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH . SHE WAS ABLE TO STRONG ARM THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE SHOULDER. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I STILL OWE A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS CAR AND I CAN'T EVEN GIVE IT AWAY WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11113528

Incident

Jul 25, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC HAS TWO "DRIVE" MODES: "D" AND "L". THE LATTER IS MORE AGGRESSIVE IN REGENERATIVE BRAKING. WHEN I APPROACH A RIGHT TURN INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE IS A SHORT SEGMENT OF CEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO ASPHALT ROADS. I BELIEVE THE TRACTION/STEERING CONTROL GETS CONFUSED, AND THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING DISENGAGES, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AND LURCH FORWARD, EVEN IF I AM BRAKING/DECELERATING. STEERING BEHAVIOR ALSO SEEMS AFFECTED. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS VERY DISCONCERTING AS I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT THE CROSS-STREET I WAS TURNING ONTO. I CAN REPRODUCE THIS CONSISTENTLY.

NHTSA ID

11100088

Incident

Jun 5, 2018

Mileage

13,000 mi

TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS.... GENERAL RECALL INQUIRY -- ELECTRIC STEERING LOCKED UP IN DRIVEWAY BEFORE LEAVING HOUSE TWICE WITHIN THE LAST WEEK... CONTACT CALLED DEALERSHIP AND DEALERSHIP STATED ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CLUTCH WAS REPLACED TWICE ALREADY. 0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN CB

NHTSA ID

11053997

Incident

Dec 8, 2017

I STARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING MALFUNCTION ASSIST LIGHT WAS ON AND THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY OUT.

NHTSA ID

11045565

Incident

Nov 10, 2017

Mileage

166,160 mi

I STARTED THE CAR THIS MORNING AND THE STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. I CAME INSIDE THE HOUSE, LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ON LINE AND FOUND A TERRIFIC AMOUNT OF HITS. I ALSO SAW THAT WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING CAN STOP ALL TOGETHER CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I ALSO SAW THAT SOMETIMES YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE VEHICLE AND START IT UP AGAIN AND THE STEERING PROBLEM MAY GO AWAY. THIS IS VERY ALARMING. WHAT IF I AM DRIVING AND THE STEERING GOES OUT? THIS, OF COURSE, CAN LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH TO THE DRIVER OR TO OTHERS INVOLVED IN A CRASH.

NHTSA ID

11001230

Incident

Jun 25, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND AN ABNORMAL BURNING OF THE OUTLET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CHARGE CABLE AND CHARGE RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,160. UPDATED 01/04/17*LJ

NHTSA ID

10927381

Incident

Nov 4, 2016

Mileage

17,160 mi

WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON THE STEERING SYSTEM FAULT MESSAGE CAME ON THE DASH AND CAUSED MY STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. I COULDN'T TURN IT AT ALL. ALL I WAS ABLE TO DO WAS DRIVE STRAIGHT BUT I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT SO I HAD TO TURN. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AFTER A COUPLE OF TRIES IT EVENTUALLY UNLOCKED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. HOWEVER THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. I DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN WHILE I'M IN THE CAR WITH MY TWO CHILDREN. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT HAPPENS IS WHEN I PUMP GAS IN THE CAR IT SEEMS TO STALLS ONCE I DRIVE LIKE IT WANTS TO SHUT OFF BUT IT DOESN'T.

NHTSA ID

10881400

Incident

Jun 28, 2016

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 THE EXISTING WIRING ISSUE AT THE MICHIGAN PLANT (HTTP://WWW.CLICKONDETROIT.COM/CONSUMER/RECALLS/FORD-RECALLS-160000-FOCUS-ESCAPE-MODELS-FOR-WIRING-PROBLEM). MAY BE RELATED TO REPORTS OF SUDDEN POWER LOSS IN FOCUS ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

10817262

Incident

Dec 22, 2015

Mileage

37,000 mi

WHILE RUNNING ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 55MPH, I DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR A TURNING VEHICLE AHEAD. A YELLOW WRENCH LIGHT & STOP SAFELY NOW MESSAGE APPEARED IN DASH. A WARNING BELL ALARMED. VEHICLE BEGAN FREE WHEELING TOWARDS OTHER VEHICLE WITHOUT EXPECTED REGENERATION BRAKING. HAD TO HIT BRAKES HARD. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. CAR HAD NO MOTIVE POWER. TURNED CAR OFF. WAITED FOR ALL LIGHTS IN DASH TO GO OUT, THEN RESTARTED CAR NORMALLY. CAR APPEARED TO HAVE NO PROBLEMS. THIS HAPPENED 5 MORE TIMES IN THE NEXT 2 DAYS. NO PROBLEMS NOTED. THE DEALER WAS TO BUSY ON FRIDAY TO LOOK FOR ANY CODES IN VEHICLE COMPUTER. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN EXCEPT WHEN THE MOTOR IS SHORTED OR GROUNDED OUT HARD ENOUGH TO BURN IT AND BLOW A FUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712996

Incident

Apr 22, 2015

Mileage

39,750 mi

FOR THE PAST MONTH MY 2012 FORD FOCUS HAD BEEN JERKING WHEN INCREASING TO SPEEDS OF 55MPH AND HIGHER. I GOT THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE, CHANGED THE TIRES, THINKING IT WOULD HELP. ON APRIL 16TH AT 5PM I WAS DRIVING FROM SCHOOL WHEN I WAS PASSING A BURGER KING ON A MAIN ROAD BY THR INTERSTATE, MY CAR JUST LOST ALL POWER AND STOPPED. I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON, NOTHING. I ENDED UP PUSHING IT INTO BURGER KINGS PARKING LOT. TRIED TO JUMP IT. NO GO. TOOK BATTERY TO GET TESTED, COMPLETELY DEAD. OK, SO ALL IT NEEDS IS A BATTERY? WRONG! BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY. STILL NOTHING. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO PEP BOYS WHERE I AM INFORMED THAT ITS THE PCM/TCM AND ONLY FORD CAN FIX IT BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAMMED. OK, CALLED FORD IN TAMPA FL, AFTER DOING RESEARCH ABOUT RECALLS ON THIS SITE. ACCORDING TO THEM THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL. THEY ASKED ME IF I CALLED A WEEK AGO BECAUSE SOMEONE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM NO. I SEARCH THIS SYSTEM WITH MY VIN, NO REPORTS.... HOW COULD THIS BE WHEN I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN THESE YEARS. I AM HOPEFUL THAT THIS IS AN OVERSIGHT AND THAT FORD DIDN'T REALIZE THE EXTENT OF THIS PROBLEM. ITS DANGEROUS. MEANWHILE MY CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD WITH 52K....PCM/TCM SHOULDN'T BE A FACTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10706405

Incident

Apr 16, 2015

Mileage

52,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED THE DIVIDING ROAD LINES CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR NOT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,403.

NHTSA ID

10693986

Incident

Mar 11, 2015

Mileage

19,403 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATE AND THE SPEED WOULD INCREASE TO 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID

10693954

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

65,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH, A WARNING APPEARED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER "STOP SAFELY NOW'. I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. I TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF A NUMBER OF TIMES AND THE WARNING REMAINED; THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER CYCLING THE ON/OFF FUNCTION THE WARNING LIGHT DISAPPEARED AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE BACK TO NORMAL. THIS IS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME ON DEC 15, 2014 WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 11000 MILES. IT WAS A REPEAT OF THE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664432

Incident

Sep 16, 2013

Mileage

5,000 mi

ON THE FREEWAY ACCELERATING SLIGHTLY WHILE MERGING INTO THE LEFTMOST LANE. POWER SUDDENLY WAS LOST WITH A "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE ON THE DASH. AS IT WAS RUSH HOUR, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MERGE 6 LANES TO THE RIGHT TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. BRAKES AND STEERING WERE WORKING AND I STOPPED SAFELY. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10619266

Incident

Aug 6, 2014

Mileage

16,552 mi

JUST ENTERED FREEWAY ON-RAMP AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WHEN POWER INSTANTLY CEASED AND CAR COASTED. DASHBOARD INDICATED "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND I PULLED TO THE SIDE. STEERING AND BRAKES WERE STILL FUNCTIONING BUT NO RESPONSE AT ALL FROM THE ACCELERATOR. CAR DID NOT RESPOND AT FIRST TO A RESTART. HAD TO TURN CAR OFF, OPEN DOOR, CLOSE DOOR, WAIT FOR DASHBOARD TO GO BLANK AND THEN RESTART TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT GO AGAIN. THIS WAS THE SAME SYMPTOM THAT OCCURRED IN NOVEMBER OF 2013 (AND REPORTED HERE) THAT FORD SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THROUGH RE-CALL. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, THERE IS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM. CAR HAD A STATE OF CHARGE OF 36% AT TIME OF FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609481

Incident

Jul 9, 2014

Mileage

16,029 mi

THE REGENERATIVE BRAKES ON MY 2012 FORD FOCUS EV DO NOT APPEAR TO BE WORKING PROPERLY AND I AM GROWING CONCERNED THAT THEY MAY BE UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. OTHER FORD FOCUS EV'S THAT I'VE TESTED BRAKE DIFFERENTLY WITH MUCH MORE CONTROL. THE BRAKES ON MY VEHICLE ARE EITHER "ON" OR "OFF"; THERE IS NO IN-BETWEEN, NO GRADUAL STOPPING BECAUSE, WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL THE PEDAL TRAVELS ABOUT HALFWAY, THEN THE BRAKES CEASE AND THE CAR LITERALLY JOLTS TO A STOP. TWO FORD MECHANICS AT TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS AND 1 FORD SERVICE MANAGER HAVE TOLD ME THAT MY BRAKES DO NOT APPEAR TO BE WORKING PROPERLY AND THAT THEY MAY BE UNSAFE; HOWEVER, AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO FORD CORPORATE GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER 2013, FORD CLAIMS THAT "EVERYTHING IS NORMAL," IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT TWO OF THEIR OWN TECHNICIANS AND A FORD SERVICE MANAGER STATE OTHERWISE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593983

Incident

Oct 12, 2013

Mileage

19,000 mi

THE PRODUCT IS BOSCH POWER XPRESS 240 VOLT CHARGER COUPLED TO MY 2012 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC. IT IS SET TO 30 AMPS FOR MY VEHICLE....UPDATED 12/17/14 *BF THIS CHARGER WAS PUT IN SERVICE ON 7/22/2013. I NOTICED IN FEBRUARY THAT THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE ELECTRICAL SMELL OF MELTED PLASTIC AFTER CHARGING THE CAR, BUT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. I FIGURED THAT WITH THE VERY COLD AIR IN MY GARAGE THAT MY SENSE OF SMELL MAY BE OFF. I CHARGE AT HOME AND AT WORK. THE WORK CHARGER IS MADE BY PEP. I HAVE ALSO OCCASIONALLY USED CHARGEPOINT CHARGERS. DURING THE WINTER I ALSO PRE-CONDITION THE VEHICLE TO 85 DEGREES. ON 3/27/14 I NOTICED FIRSTHAND THE ISSUE WHILE GETTING IN THE CAR IN THE MORNING. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL PRE-CONDITIONING WHEN I UNPLUGGED IT. THE CHARGER WAS MELTED AT THE CHARGING STATION COUPLER END AND THE VEHICLE CHARGE INLET PORT WAS ALSO MELTED. I TOUCHED THE CHARGING STATION COUPLER AFTER UNPLUGGING IT FROM MAIN POWER AND THE TIPS OF THE CONTACTS WERE BASICALLY MOLTEN PLASTIC THAT BURNT THE TIP OF MY FINGER. I DECIDED TO SCHEDULE A WARRANTY REPAIR WITH FORD. ON 3/28/2014 I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR WARRANTY SERVICE WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY REPLACED THE CHARGE PORT UNDER WARRANTY. ON 4/8/2014 I CALLED BOSCH ABOUT THE CHARGER AND THEY OPENED A CASE TO REPLACE THE CHARGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CLAIM WAS ACCEPTED AND PROCESSED ON 4/11/2014. MY CONCERN IS OF POSSIBLE FIRE OR INJURY FROM AN OVERHEATED AND/OR IMPROPERLY INSULATED CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CHARGING STATION AND THE VEHICLE. *TR UPDATED 9/29/2015*JS

NHTSA ID

10586711

Incident

Mar 27, 2014

Mileage

10,000 mi