The 2012 Ford Focus Electric has 3 safety recalls and 33 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (15 complaints).
Problem: 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, FM58-10B706-AD, FM58-10B706-AE and FM58-10B706-AF were manufactured without thermistors, and during vehicle charging, increased resistance in the house's outlet or wiring can cause the cord to overheat and melt.
Risk: An overheated cord can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current cord with a new 120V convenience cord with a thermistor, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S24.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
NHTSA recall 13V523000 · Oct 30, 2013 · 2,456 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: 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.
Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the power control module, free of charge. The recall beganon November 22, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S09. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
Equipment › Electrical › Anti-theft devices
NHTSA recall 13V475000 · Oct 17, 2013 · 23,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: 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. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: Without an audible door chime, a vehicle owner may open the door and exit the vehicle without being reminded that the vehicle is still operational, leaving the vehicle susceptible to theft.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the door chime, free of charge. The recall began on October 30, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C07.
Components: Equipment › Electrical › Anti-theft devices; Electrical system › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Range & efficiency
Focus Electric EV
76mi range
Efficiency
32 kWh/100 mi
MPGe city / hwy / comb
110 / 99 / 105
Charge time (240 V)
4 h
Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $700/year to charge
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Electrical system 12v/24v/48v battery; Hand heater › Wiring harness
15
0
0
0
17,160 mi
Power train Clutch assembly
14
0
0
0
13,464 mi
Steering
6
0
0
0
80,000 mi
Vehicle speed control
4
0
0
0
37,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
3
0
0
0
8,664 mi
Electronic stability control (esc)
3
0
0
0
—
Engine
2
0
0
0
—
Service brakes
2
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling
1
0
0
0
—
Air bags
1
1
0
0
—
Unknown or other
1
0
0
0
—
Suspension
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Aug 15, 2021 · 92,000 milesElectrical 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…
Mar 4, 2020 · 150,000 milesPower train MY SHOCKS AND MY TRANSMISSION I BELIEVE
Jun 25, 2019 · 26,000 milesPower 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.
Jun 15, 2019 · 83,000 milesElectrical 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.
May 27, 2019Unknown 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
Apr 18, 2019 · 48,122 milesElectrical 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.
Oct 26, 2018Steering 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,.
Sep 20, 2018 · 130,000 milesElectrical 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.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
DP22005 · opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000Pedestrian alert sounds NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review…
RQ19005 · opened Dec 19, 2019 · closed Feb 7, 2022 · led to recall 20V177000Door 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 which involved fracture of the latch pawl spring tab due to thermally induced cyclic fatigue. Other VOQs alleged a similar failure in vehicles not previously recalled. A latch with a fractured pawl spring tab typically results in a ?door will not close? condition, however in certain somewhat rare circumstances, may result in the door coming open while driving. In response to ODI?s investigation, Ford has announced three field actions, as discussed below.On March 23, 2020, Ford submitted Safety…
PE16001 · opened Jan 16, 2016 · closed Oct 29, 2016 · led to recall 16V643000Door 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 motion.One consumer alleged an injury that occurred while driving when a door inadvertently opened and then closed on a child's arm.Another alleged that a door that inadvertently opened struck a parked vehicle.In response to ODI's information request, Ford Motor Company (Ford) provided 500 unique reports related to the alleged problem on the subject vehicles.Ford reported no injury or accident claims.Ford also submitted 1,513 warranty claims related to door latch failures.Many customers indicated…
PE13031 · opened Sep 6, 2013 · closed Nov 15, 2013 · led to recall 13V523000Electric powertrain propulsion failure In an October 28, 2013 letter to NHTSA, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a recall notice identifying a defect in the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software in approximately 2,456 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 Ford Focus Electric vehicles manufactured from September 15, 2011 through August 23, 2013 (Recall No. 13V-523).According to Ford, PCM software faults may cause a complete loss of powertrain torque.When this condition occurs, drivers receive a red triangle indicator and the message Stop Safely Now in the instrument cluster.In addition, vehicle brake and steering systems will continue to operate normally and the vehicle can be restarted after going through a shutdown process.Ford and its supplier, Magna Powertrain, upgraded the PCM software to address powertrain shutdown conditions and issued a technical service bulletin on September 23, 2013 instructing dealers to reprogram…