FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC · model year

2012 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC

53 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2012FORDFOCUS ELECTRIC carries 53 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2012 FOCUS ELECTRIC is power train with 13 filings, followed by electrical system (13) and steering (6). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2012 FOCUS ELECTRIC. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

53
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

53 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13
STEERING6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)3
ENGINE2
SERVICE BRAKES2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
AIR BAGS1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY1
SUSPENSION1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HAND HEATER:WIRING HARNESS1

Recalls (3)

13V52300030/10/2013

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Focus Electric vehicles manufactured September 15, 2011, through August 23, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a powertrain control module software problem may result in a stall-like condition.

13V47500017/10/2013

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus Electric vehicles and 2013 C-Max vehicles equipped with the Intelligent Access Push Button Start System. In the affected vehicles, there is no audible chime when the vehicle is operational and the driver's door is opened. Th

18V59200010/09/2018

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 120V Convenience charge cords that were supplied with and sold for use with 2013-2015 Ford C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi vehicles and 2012-2015 Ford Focus Electric vehicles. Cords with part numbers FM58-10B706-AA, FM58-10B706-AB, FM58-10B706-AC, FM58-

Recent Complaints

20210923ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

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.

Mileage: 92,000

20210923ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HAND HEATER:WIRING HARNESS

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.

Mileage: 92,000

20210401POWER TRAIN

MY SHOCKS AND MY TRANSMISSION I BELIEVE

Mileage: 150,000

20210401SUSPENSION

MY SHOCKS AND MY TRANSMISSION I BELIEVE

Mileage: 150,000

20190626POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

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.

Mileage: 26,000

20190618ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 83,000

20190529UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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

20190419ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 48,122

20181030STEERING

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,.

20181010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 130,000

20180725STEERING

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.

Mileage: 80,000

20180605SERVICE BRAKES

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.

Mileage: 13,000

20180605ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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.

Mileage: 13,000

20180605VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

Mileage: 13,000

20171211ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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

20171211VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

20171211STEERING

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

20171113STEERING

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

Mileage: 166,160

20170625STEERING

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.

Mileage: 70,000

20161122ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 17,160

Compare 2012FORDFOCUS ELECTRIC to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2012 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC have?
The 2012 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC has 53 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2012 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC?
Yes, the 2012 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM). Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC?
The most-complained component for the 2012 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC is POWER TRAIN with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and STEERING.
Is the 2012 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.