2012 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Ford FOCUS ELECTRIC has 53 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: driving about 30 miles per hour, the car chimed a warning and flashed "stop safely now" on the dashboard. the car lost speed and i coasted to a stop at the side of the road. i was not able to restart my car. the "stop safely now" warning with chime repeated each time i tried to restart. i called a t.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

15 complaints

28%

• DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR CHIMED A WARNING AND FLASHED "STOP SAFELY NOW" ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR LOST SPEED AND I COASTED TO A STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART MY CAR. THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING WITH CHIME REPEATED EACH TIME I TRIED TO RESTART. I CALLED A T
• WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY BRIDGE, THE FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC STALLED. THE DASHBOARD SHOWS A SIGN "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THEN A PICTURE OF A YELLOW WRENCH. I HAD TO STOP AT THE HIGHWAY'S SHOULDER. VERY VERY DANGEROUS. VERY UNSAFE. I TRIED TO START THE CAR. IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER 45 MINUTES, WHEN ALL
• "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE APPEARED WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH AND SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOPLIGHT. CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHILE MESSAGE WAS LIT. THE CAR HAD 88% CHARGE, AND WAS CHARGING 5MIN PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR WAS UNSUCCESSFULLY AT FIRST, BUT I TURNED THE CAR OFF, OPENED A DO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR CHIMED A WARNING AND FLASHED "STOP SAFELY NOW" ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR LOST SPEED AND I COASTED TO A STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART MY CAR. THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING WITH CHIME REPEATED EACH TIME I TRIED TO RESTART. I CALLED A T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

14 complaints

26%

• DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR CHIMED A WARNING AND FLASHED "STOP SAFELY NOW" ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR LOST SPEED AND I COASTED TO A STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART MY CAR. THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING WITH CHIME REPEATED EACH TIME I TRIED TO RESTART. I CALLED A T
• WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY BRIDGE, THE FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC STALLED. THE DASHBOARD SHOWS A SIGN "STOP SAFELY NOW" AND THEN A PICTURE OF A YELLOW WRENCH. I HAD TO STOP AT THE HIGHWAY'S SHOULDER. VERY VERY DANGEROUS. VERY UNSAFE. I TRIED TO START THE CAR. IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER 45 MINUTES, WHEN ALL
• STARTING UP FROM WAITING AT A SIGNAL LIGHT THE SYSTEM FLASHED "STOP SAFELY NOW". (I HAD JUST TOUCHED THE DISPLAY SCREEN TO VIEW THE BATTERY STATE OF CHARGE - NORMAL.) PROCEEDING THROUGH A LEFT TURN AND WHEN GETTING TO THE CURB THE SYSTEM SHUT DOWN PROVIDING NO MOTIVE POWER. AT THAT POINT A COMPLETE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

6 complaints

11%

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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 EVENTUALL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

4 complaints

• 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. T
• 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
• 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 TW

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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. T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

3 complaints

• STARTING UP FROM WAITING AT A SIGNAL LIGHT THE SYSTEM FLASHED "STOP SAFELY NOW". (I HAD JUST TOUCHED THE DISPLAY SCREEN TO VIEW THE BATTERY STATE OF CHARGE - NORMAL.) PROCEEDING THROUGH A LEFT TURN AND WHEN GETTING TO THE CURB THE SYSTEM SHUT DOWN PROVIDING NO MOTIVE POWER. AT THAT POINT A COMPLETE
• WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I SUDDENLY RECEIVED A "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT, SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND SOMETIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN MOTION. IN ADDITION, THE STATED AVAILABLE CAPACITY OF THE BATTERY (23KWH) IS IN FACT NO
• 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 CHAR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“STARTING UP FROM WAITING AT A SIGNAL LIGHT THE SYSTEM FLASHED "STOP SAFELY NOW". (I HAD JUST TOUCHED THE DISPLAY SCREEN TO VIEW THE BATTERY STATE OF CHARGE - NORMAL.) PROCEEDING THROUGH A LEFT TURN AND WHEN GETTING TO THE CURB THE SYSTEM SHUT DOWN PROVIDING NO MOTIVE POWER. AT THAT POINT A COMPLETE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 53 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR CHIMED A WARNING AND FLASHED "STOP SAFELY NOW" ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR LOST SPEED AND I COASTED TO A STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART MY CAR. THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING WITH CHIME REPEATED EACH TIME I TRIED TO RESTART. I CALLED A T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR CHIMED A WARNING AND FLASHED "STOP SAFELY NOW" ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR LOST SPEED AND I COASTED TO A STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART MY CAR. THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" WARNING WITH CHIME REPEATED EACH TIME I TRIED TO RESTART. I CALLED A T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: 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 EVENTUALL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: 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. T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)