Used 2012 Ford Focus Consumer Reviews
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Major repairs
Linda, 04/09/2018
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Steering went out while driving down the road when the car was 3 years old...$2,000 to fix. Transmission goes out 2 years later for $2,800, Never missed oil change and well-maintained. Never buying a Ford again.
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Junk
Jerry, 03/14/2020
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
This car was a pain in the butt. In and out of the Dealership to have the transmission problems looked at. Constantly stalling when driving and unable to get about 15-20mph, making you late and also putting you at risk. Dealt with problem for six years, Ford never made it right or compensated me for troubles or time, which is more valuable. Can’t trust them. Will never never never again own a Ford. Worst purchase ever.
2012 Ford Focus for sale near you
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- SEL SedanMSRP: $5,29152 mi away
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Fun drive at a fair price
joejh, 02/15/2012
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
I love its look, handling, and lux interior. The My Ford Touch, when it works, is very good. The upcoming software update should make it great. I will admit that it lacks horsepower. I'm still getting used to losing 90hp from my previous car, but the Focus accelerates okay - just not heart pounding. It makes up for it by having great handling. This car came loaded with oodles of options and features and still came in at the low 20's. Could easily spend several thousands more.
Good looking but the quality is not there
Patric Pederson, 09/22/2016
updated 03/22/2017
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
So I am just going to say this outright (and this is coming from someone that had owned 6 Fords in 13 years) this car has turned me away from Ford Motor Company. When I bought it, I traded a perfectly good 2010 Focus SE. I really wish I hadn't done that. Sure, the car is pretty fun to drive and it gets pretty great gas mileage but the transmission just puts a dark cloud over all of that. I have had it in the shop 5 times for transmission issues. Fortunately, they have all been covered repairs. One of these episodes left us on the side of the road during our Memorial Day 2015 weekend trip. Its a good thing the breakdown happened just outside of our hometown and our dealership is awesome (always gave me a free loaner). I am having issues with the transmission again and this time I am out of the extended warranty for the vehicle. According to my service advisor, the cost of repair is somewhere in the neighborhood of $1600. Along with those issues, there is a really annoying clunky sounding rattle coming from the rear door. I cannot figure out what it is. Also since almost the beginning of its life, there have been multiple rattles (seems to come from around the headliner). I am trying to get into another vehicle but the value pretty sad and I will have to roll negative equity into a new loan.
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UPDATE!
fordjunk1, 01/25/2013
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
6 of 10 people found this review helpful
This is an up-dat, this car keeps developing new funky problems that Ford just can't seem to find. Now the driver's side window binds and a Ford dealer said, "jus push on it." Can you believe this, just push on it, a brand new car!!! AND the car now has trouble starting in the cold!! Ford Focus = JUNK!!
Ford has a winner!
jonkit99, 05/02/2011
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
15 of 28 people found this review helpful
Took delivery 3 days ago and so far I am completely satisfied with this vehicle. Previous auto was 2008 Escape and while this model is one of Fords best sellers it was not my bag. While I have need of some cargo space the Focus Hatch has plenty and I did not need an auto as large as the Escape. This Focus has style, it is one sharp looking vehicle. The new manual transmission that you cannot shift manually (yeah I was confused too) is as smooth as silk w/six speed to boot. My old Focus Hatch was no slouch at the green light and this new guy is even better. I left aToyota Matrix in the dust. Not something I normally do but I couldn't resist just once. Smooth & quiet ride. It's a winner!
Going back for service for the 6th time.
rdj84, 11/30/2011
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
16 of 30 people found this review helpful
Ford Focus 2012 was sold to me as the new and improved version of the Ford compact cars. The car has a fair handling and an overall fair driving experience. After 3K miles, I'm still waiting for the 28mpg - 31mpg promise. I only get 24mpg on a good day. And then there is the My Ford Touch, powered by Microsoft. That should have been my first clue that I was getting set up for disaster. Nothing really works, when it comes to multitasking. I can't make a call without freezing the system. If I play the ipod (when it works) the bluetooth goes off. I have 19 separate video clips of all the malfunctions this car has.
Do want to be a beta tester?
tmod700, 09/07/2011
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
10 of 19 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car about 3 weeks ago and after a few days the transmission would shudder when leaving from a stop, I took it back to the dealer and they confirmed what I was feeling was indeed a shudder. The dealer called Ford and Ford stated it was normal. How many potential purchasers would want a vehicle that shudders on takeoff? Anyway so I got a call from Ford Customer Service today if you want to call it that and the only reply I would get from the agent was it was normal. I was told it was a isolated incident that affected some vehicle's. Ok so it is a isolated incident only affecting some vehicles how can it be classified as normal?
Looks great and stylish, but build quality is poor
John, 11/24/2015
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 7 people found this review helpful
This vehicle is all about looks and style with the only exception the great gas mileage. The suspension is sub par with problems keeping the wheels in alignment. The interior build quality is poor - the headliner is poorly constructed and is noisy. There are dash board rattles at all moderate speeds. The sound system is poor at best. You get what you pay for - as the old adage goes.
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Fun to drive great gas mileage
John C., 03/21/2018
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
Do not expect the automatic duel cluth transmission to act like a traditional automatic transmission. This is where Ford failed with this car. Ford should have informed buyers with the duel cluth transmission that it's a computer controlled, servo motor engaged manual transmission and only automatic in the since the driver didn't have to shift the gears. I had my 2012 focus from new till 170k miles. I did have the clutch packs and seals replaced under warranty at 68k miles because it was starting to shutter on take off. I had no further issue with the transmission. I did have to replace something with the EGR system at 150k miles it was 60 bucks from the dealer and I replaced it my self. I performed all my own maintenance fluids and brakes. Replaced the factory installed brakes around 80k miles and the second set just before I sold it. These vehicles do come with in cabin air filters that have to be replaced regularly. The performance of the vehicle was pretty slick. It was quick and nimble. My gas mileage on long trips was anywhere from 58mpg at 55MPH to 38 to 42 at 75 depending on the hills and mountains. In West Virginia around slatyfork and snow shoe if I drove like a local My mileage would drop to below 20 MPG. These folks drove like Indy car divers. My focus Never left me stranded and was fun to drive. Always Started on the first turn off the key regardless if it was below 0° or 100+ degrees. By the way I bought a 2017 focus hatchback. It's just as fun as my 2012 was.
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130k No Problems with reliability
Terry, 02/20/2016
updated 02/22/2019
2012 Ford Focus S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
Owned for 6yrs and 130k miles. Drive 70 miles a day on main hwys to work. No major issues. 36 - 38 mpg. Last 6 months troubles with radio squealing popping even when off so had to remove fuse. Reviews indicate poor ground so replace with upgraded radio. Also drivers side headlight low beam failed 5x's bulb. Drivers rubber molding comes loose.
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Very Surprising!
chart63, 05/03/2011
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
17 of 37 people found this review helpful
From the moment I stepped into the 2012 Focus, I was hooked. I test drove a Civic, a Mazda 3, an Elantra, and a Cruze. All of them were good cars, but the Focus really stood out from those. It feels like it should cost a lot more than it does. I know what type of car I was looking for...I wanted a comfortable, good mileage, "fun to drive" car and the 2012 Focus fit the bill. Aside from the great enhancements to the exterior, the interior has a major upgrade from years past, and the technology available is truly amazing. The 6 speed double clutch transmission can take some getting used to, but is responsive. Fun, good MPG, solid build quality, and technology make this a great entry!
Not everything is roses with this new model.
bwj3278, 05/28/2011
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
15 of 33 people found this review helpful
It was about 3 weeks ago I decided to trade in my gas guzzling F150 for a new Focus. With two jobs and one of them being real estate, I really needed something fuel efficient. Lets start with what I do like...most of the styling...the only part I don't like is the unpainted rocker panel plastic...it looks cheap. The car rides and drives well and the Candy Blue paint is awesome and gets lots of compliments. However, it is not all well... I am currently waiting for a new dash, because mine split. My driver side air vent plastic is chipped, a door is misalligned, and a rattle has already developed. This is my 12th Ford, and my last until Ford can get it together.
DO NOT BUY...
spill100, 09/18/2012
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
5 of 10 people found this review helpful
Multiple issues: 1.Presets on MyTouch screen disappear, the Sat Radio stations are still prgrammed just do not show up on screen, i see empty boxes, this has happened five seperate times. 2.While backing out of a parking space the Focus shuddered heavily and then stoped moving (as in vehicle would not continue to move), the vehicle had to be turned off and back on to correct issue, this happened twice. 3. From a standstill like a stoplight or stop sign, the vehicle lightly shudders when accelerating, this happens constantly. 4.Numerous lights inside the vehicle have malfunctioned but have been switched out as per warranty. 5. Vehicle also "stalled" out in traffic nearly causing an accident!
Satisfied Customer
jisla, 12/18/2014
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
4 of 8 people found this review helpful
My 2012 Ford Focus Hatchback is great. No problems at all. In the beginning I noticed a little jerk with the transmission, but it is no longer an issue. I just trained my right foot on how to accelerate and it accelerates real smoothly now. I love the way it handles and is great on gas. I love the exterior and interior design and the no gas cap feature makes putting gas in this car a snap. I just love driving it!
Bought Brand New no problems except for recall
Rob, 03/04/2016
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 13 people found this review helpful
I bought this car in 2012 brand new. SE Sports & Winter Package. Great, reliable car. Only problem has been the transmission recall that my local dealership took care of (even though it took 3 visits). Has never stalled on me and starts great every time.
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I will NEVER buy another Ford
Karen Ross, 04/01/2015
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
In 2011 I bought a Ford Fiesta - within a few weeks after it started jerking and shuddering on acceleration. Long story short - after 3 repairs I was going to have it declared a lemon. The dealership wanted to put me in a Ford Focus and give me a good "deal" after all my headaches. I bought the 2012 Focus and started having the same issues - shaking, jerking and shuddering. The transmission control was replaced last year and now having the same issues. Took the car in and they said they need to replace the transmission control unit again but it will be 12-16 weeks before the part comes in because there is a huge waiting list - duh. Fix it right the first time. I am done with Ford.
UPDATED report at 5 years and 155k miles
chris_in_nh, 03/19/2014
updated 09/21/2016
2012 Ford Focus S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Update as of Sept 2016...still trouble free at 155K miles. Still fun to drive and averaging 37-40 mpg. Original review... I am also a bit aggravated by the very negative comments here about Focus reliability and thought I'd chime in. I have driven my Focus S 5 speed manual for almost 3 years and more than 70K miles. After dealing early on with two glitchy things (a bad window motor and a bad engine sensor) that were fixed under warranty the car has been absolutely bulletproof. The 2012 was the first year of the new Focus and I put down the two early fixes as teething problems. Again, zero troubles since. The car is truly a joy to drive on twisty roads. If you buy one keep it simple. Get it with the 5-speed stick and without the Synch bells and whistles. You will find you have a poor-man's BMW.
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Re-flash
capte, 09/05/2012
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Your Ford dealers can "re-flash" or update your computer program that controls shift points, pressure settings, etc. to correct the issues you might be having. I dropped mine off at the dealer this morning so I will let you know how it works after I drive it a few days with the updated tranny program.
Great little car
Cora, 09/21/2018
updated 10/01/2020
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Transmission had a recall and was then fixed I have owned this car for 8 years It’s zippy, super on gas,great in snow ( with snow tires) super reliable after tranny repair And it looks cool paint has stayed sharp looking Leather seat stitching not great back seat seams poor... but overall love it!!! 2019 update The stitching on the leather seats eventually failed splitting apart in several areas in back base seat I had to replace it Still one of the cutest little cars I’ve owned It’s 2020 now and this car is still great The keyless entry buttons on door ( forgot to mention) stopped working year 2 of ownership Everything works The gas gauge recall is awesome as it now accurately can tell how much gas until empty No complaints
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Ford gets it right!
brian1986, 08/22/2012
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Ford Way to go, Ford! I love driving this car. We bought for our son. I liked the 2012 restyle. After driving it, I was sold. While some may not enjoy the double clutch automatic, I like it since it reminds me of a manual but I don't have to shift it like a manual! It cruises along through the 6 gears flawlessly. It rides like a much larger car. It is very quiet and rides well. I now find myself thinking of how I can get my own Focus without upsetting the bank account. Unfortunately, it will be a long wait because we also bought an Escape for my wife :-).
2012 Focus SEL Sedan
ronnyt, 06/10/2011
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
5 of 11 people found this review helpful
We ordered our Focus so we could get it exactly like we wanted it. We have had the car for one week now and LOVE it. We moved down from an '08 Taurus Limited for the gas mileage. I was a little concerned about the size but although the Focus is quite a bit smaller it is very comfortable and I love the handling. We took the Focus on a 200 mile trip the second day we had it and averaged 37/mpg. Filled it up yesterday and even driving back and forth to work and in city traffic averaged almost 30. We have had a lot of positive comments about about the looks of the car, especially the Red Candy Clearcoat Metallic paint. I only buy Fords and they have definitely got it right with the new Focus.
The Horror Story
daisy83, 05/25/2012
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
Shortly after purchasing our 2012 Ford Focus, we noticed a shuddering noise, coming from the front end. Had it checked several over and over. We were told it would stop approx. after 1000miles.Surprise, Surprise...4000 miles now and STILL making noise.. Spoke to FORD CORP, several times.. We were told it is within standards and is normal... How can a car that draws attention when shifting, be normal??? FORD has a problem!! I guess they don't know how to fix it.. THANK YOU FORD!!! for making our life totally stressed and exhausted.. we are at our wits end and are ready to surrender the vehicle. O by the way, noise in the gas tank area as well.. grandkids wonder what the noise is!!!
Great Car! (GET THE MANUAL VERSION)
Jerraldough, 11/16/2016
updated 06/08/2017
2012 Ford Focus S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
I've seen so many complaints about transmission reliability when I was looking to buy; but seemed to only be the automatic versions having that issue. So I bough the manual version and its FANTASTIC. The clutch is light and the shifting feels great. Learn to row your own gears and avoid the auto headache!
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Great first 2 months
red_racer, 04/14/2012
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
I have made it to 2 months and 2,000 miles. I have been very happy with my purchase. I had a Jeep Liberty which I liked but needed better fuel economy and I got it I drove to a job 48 miles away one way for 4 days and averaged 35.2 mpg it was city and highway. It has been living up to the rating. I got a full loaded model with everything but the parking pkg. An amazing amount of stuff in what is a compact. Way more than my Liberty Sport. The transmission seemed a little buggy especially the first few blocks that seems to be mostly gone. Only dilemma was the Navigation would not work. So had to have it fixed. But after a reboot and and upgrade in service no problems.
Big nnnnnmpiece of crap. Do not buy
Tom M, 11/15/2018
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
Had nothing but problems with this piece of absolute crap. One thing after another after another after another. Having it towed and donating it just to get it off my property. Worst Ford product ever. Absolute money pit. Couldnt even have it stolen.
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Great car
Oscar Argueta, 11/08/2016
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 9 people found this review helpful
I've heard really bad reviews of the Ford Focus saying that its not reliable that it will not work at all. So I started investigating a little and the reason why people are saying that the Ford Focus se 2012 its not reliable or does not work its because apparently the automatic transmission does not work at all! All of the reviews and videos that I've involves a Focus with an automatic transmission, so myself I decided to try the manual transmission model and it has been great! no issues with the transmission or even the engine I've always do the maintenance on time and its not expensive. So if you are going to buy this car try the manual transmission.
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It's no BMW, but worth the money
johnfsteph, 05/13/2011
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
14 of 37 people found this review helpful
This new 2012 Ford Focus has a lot of similarities to my 2009 BMW 335i. There is a lot of German/European influence on this new redesigned car. For about $24k you can have all if not more options than a Mercedes/BMW for half the price. If you are looking for a well rounded commute car for not a lot of money, look into the Ford Focus Titanium. You will be very impressed with it. I have the 5-door Focus Titanium in Tuxedo Black (very cool color!!!) and I am very happy with it. The best part is I get close to 38 miles per gallon!!!
Completely Bi-polar car
daddy7, 09/19/2011
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
16 of 44 people found this review helpful
Just received my SEL Hatchback, I opted for the 301A, Nav, Winter Package, and Remote Start. This car is driving me crazy. So many pros and then a few super annoying cons that have completely ruined this new car experience and have me wishing I had gone elsewhere.
5 YEARS LATER
cscam56, 12/11/2017
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
I still love this car. On the highway I've gotten 40 MPG while staying with traffic in the fast lane. My wife loves the comfort of the optional black and red leather seats and interior. We always have the back seats down and pack luggage, a traveling coffee bistro, and a bar with room to spare and everything is easy to get to. Even at 60 YOA, I get the boy-racer feeling whenever I get behind the wheel. The alloy wheels just add to that feeling...now if I could just learn to drift it through the corners. I've never had any problems with the transmission although I believe there's at least one recall on it. I use the "manual" gearbox through windy roads and hills. Just too much fun. Fast? Not especially but when you move from your wife's SUV to the Focus, it feels quick and planted. We took it to Germany for our tour there and it was perfect. Thank goodness we didn't take the SUV. Based on my experiences with the car as a daily driver, a long haul tripper, and competing with the German on their own turf, I've been more than happy with the car - and my other car is a Mini-Cooper.
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So many bad reviews, someone should stick up for Focus
cajunman90, 08/11/2014
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
Let me start off by saying I love my Focus! I have 55,000 miles on mine, with 80 mile a day commutes in Houston traffic, which is pretty bad, and I have not had trouble with my Focus. The transmission is an Auto-Manual, it is supposed to feel how it does, one cannot drive it like a traditional automatic transmission and expect it to perform the same. It simply is not the same thing. Considering my Focus is self shifting a manual transmission, it does pretty dang well. Plus I have had no problems with it either. Stop and go traffic is not bad at all. As for those with size problems, you purchased a compact car. Compact meaning Small! This is a wonderful car that I will gladly buy again.
Electronics
rvandry, 01/22/2013
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
Way too much electronics. Where are the buttons to change the preset radio stations or the "seek" button to find a non-preset station while traveling? I have to take my eyes off the road and look at the display when changing stations, not very safe. Also, what happened to the map reading lights and the 60/40 split rear seat? I had them in my 2009 Focus but there aren't any in my 2012. Not very handy. But the worst is that this 2012 Focus with only 3200 Kms won't start in very cold temperatures. My dealer tells me it's an electronics problem that, despite 3 visit to the dealership on the back of a tow truck, has yet to be identified. Electronics are a good thing but too much isn't.
Ford Hit A Home Run
cbnchba, 05/07/2011
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
31 of 91 people found this review helpful
I purchased my 2012 Focus HB SE, 6speed Auto, on 4/22/11. I absolutely love this car. The fun factor is outrageous and addicting. Everything about this car is amazing. The car build is solid, no vibrations or squeeks. the doors close solid and the front and rear seats are very supportive and hold you in. My main reason too purchase this vehicle was for its good fuel mileage, so far i'm getting 39 mpg, in mixed driving
pass on this car!!!!!!!!! going back to chevys.
mingo5, 01/09/2014
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
at 11k had broken left strut.at 16k had ser.eng light gas tank sensor bad 6 days to order and repair.3 days later light on again took back kept car 11 days said was overfilling gas tank.when took in both times had 1/4 tank of gas!whata joke.now at 24,700 have broken left bearing and broken strut again 4days in shop AGAIN! but now on speed bumps clucking sound on driverside front not taking back to them will trade for a chevy cruz or malibu.not to mention tranny spuddering on takeoffs.they now tell me will not cover rental car anymore even becouse i have extended warranty!i've had it with with FORD.....
Excellent commuter car
bencheerios, 02/21/2013
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Good looks coupled with plenty of power for passing and fun, and enough comfort and build quality to keep you from thinking that you're driving a compact car. The hatchback looks better than the sedan, but the blind spots are more cumbersome. I drove the car for last 4 months of winter 2012/2013, averaging 2900 miles a month. The car averaged 35MPG with a best of 41.6 MPG. If the weather stayed warm, the fuel economy would pick up a couple of points.
Car has been a real disappointment
kjs1961, 12/22/2012
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought a very well equipped SEL back in May 2012. The transmission is rough, the mileage is a disappointment and the Sync Info-tainment system flakes out at least 3-5 time a week. I have had it to two different Ford dealers with only a slight improvement with the transmission, and took a small hit in mileage to improve the shifting. It has been almost 20 years since I bought a Ford, and it will be another 20 before I buy another one.
Great car! No Transmission issues at all
happybuyers, 12/28/2012
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Not sure what the fuss is all about, my transmission is fine? Just got mine as a Certified Pre-Owned at a great price. (only 33,000) on it. I love the handling! this car hugs the turns. im getting 33 MPG in mostly city traffic. I do feel a little shutter on start up but now I know its just the dual clutch and nothing to worry about im fine with it. I love the smooth shifting and the fast acceleration. I have alot of fun driving this car, im asking my wife when we can next make the 7 hour trip to see my in-law because im looking forward to the trip lol.
2012 Focus SEL
adamb1, 06/21/2012
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have almost 3,000 miles on my '12 Focus SEL purchased 03/31/12. Two areas that concerned me at time of purchase have been addressed by FoMoCo. I have upgraded MyFordTouch and the system is faster, has not crashed, and integrates well with my IPhone 4s. I've also had the transmission recalibrated under the recent service program. The drive is now smoother, lugs less at low speeds, does not lurch at low speeds, and downshifts quicker. I have no complaints about the recalibrated transmission only that this is how it should have been from the beginning. I am not getting the advertised MPG's but mileage has been improving with break in. Overall, it's a great small car.
Great Car
cjames15, 07/03/2014
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought a 2012 ford focus SEL with 18,xxx miles on it and I only have problems with shifting every once in awhile. The MPG is wonderful. In city ill drive for power and acceleration and I still get 25 mpg. on Highway here in Alaska ill put on cruise at 74 mph and I got 43 mpg. LOVED THAT. Handles amazing on corners too. plus its all stock
Disappointing
crash308, 07/12/2013
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Ordered my Focus SEL in July '11 with My Ford Touch, moon roof, and premium stereo. MFT module failed within a few weeks. The dealer replaced the computer and its been mostly reliable since. (Ford increased the warranty to 5 years on the module because of ongoing problems). DON"T BUY MFT - its a waste of money. Its a pain to remember all of the voice commands and everything that SYNC is capable of doing can be done in 10 times faster by adjusting a knob. The transmission is TERRIBLE. Unusual hesitations, bad shift intervals, and unpredictable acceleration are common. The recall improved performance, but didn't solve the problems.
I just Don't know
zhuber07, 02/11/2013
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2012 Ford Focus around thanksgiving in 2011. Bought it brand new and was happy with it while test driving. For the first 6 months, it ran fine. But after that 6month point, started having problems. If I stop at a light, I have stalled(this is an automatic), where I have to change to Park or neutral, then put it back into drive. Each gear shift creates very large shudder noises as if my transmission is about to die. My radio has not turned on before or just got stuck and not turn off. Handling is great, and when it does go, it can getup and go for the kind of car it is. I drive decently, but never hit the MPG mark they have advertise
Typical baseline Ford!
Frank Furter, 07/04/2016
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Basic gas saver with no frills......poor quality interior with mostly plastic components! Stock Radio is absolutely awful! Good gas saver on the road.
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It's Still Junk!!!
fordjunk1, 05/04/2013
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is a 22,000 mile up-date. The trans shutter, hesitation and noise are even worse. City driving in this car is awful, terrible and irritating. We've given up dealing with Ford and their dealerships. They can't fix the piece of junk they designed and built. We'll just pay it down and get rid of it! AND we will NEVER purchase another Ford product ever! This has been a terrible experience. Stay away from Ford and their dual-clutch junk!!!!!
Fuel efficient, attractive, great driving car
sobhall, 11/10/2012
2012 Ford Focus S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Have had my 2012 Ford Focus S w/automatic for 6 months and just under 9000 miles. Great driving car. Relatively quiet and smooth riding for a compact. Terrific handling. Interior is well laid out. Nice seats that are fairly comfortable. Inside and out, the car is a looker. So far, averaging 42.8 mpg. Can't wait to see what kind of mileage I get on the freeway. So far, quite satisfied. Very nice car.
Fantastic Focus
330zhp, 04/01/2012
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Traded in an Audi Q5 for better gas mileage and lower payment. Expected to feel like I was 'downgrading', but the Focus was quite surprising. Interior is comfortable and well laid out. Quiet inside with solid ride. Sound system is not quite up to Bang & Olufsen system in Audi, but not bad at all. I actually like the My Ford Touch interface better than Audi's MMI. Lots of nice touches in this car that even Audi does not offer (e.g., LED interior lighting and a sunglasses holder that actually holds an adult pair of sunglasses). Test drove Elantra and Focus was much, much better. Car is brand new so averaging only about 28mpg. I hope this number improves as the car is broken in.
Avoid this unreliable car
wrenthamma, 10/19/2013
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
In addition to transmission-related grinding, shuddering and halting described by every other reviewer, I have experienced the following problems: At 5,500 miles, the "body control module" failed, resulting in loss of instruments, headlamps, tail lights, turn signals, etc. while driving. The car was, of course, not road worthy, and required 3 days of repairs. At 9,000 miles, the "audio control module" failed, requiring two days of repairs. The vehicle's electrical system is still not quite right. Recently (26,000 mi) a bearing required replacing (2 days of repairs). Finally, the clutch needs replacing (2-3 days estimated repairs). Bottom line: This car is not reliable and should be avoided.
This car is a trap
Zach, 09/27/2019
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
It borders on criminal that Ford dealerships continue selling this car. Whoever wrote the review for this website is a fool. Owning the car for less than 4 years it has needed repairs 4 times for transmission and suspension issues on one occasion requiring a previous repair to be fixed. This vehicle has been a nightmare. The worst of it for me is the total lack responsibility taken on Ford's part. This company does not stand behind their product. Never again will they get a dime from me.
2012 Ford Focus S Nightmare in Texas.
Texas Focus Nightmare., 03/01/2019
updated 03/05/2021
2012 Ford Focus S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
My older Sister purchase the vehicle brand new before retiring and it turn out to be a maintenance nightmare. Transmission drop the first year, Brake pads and rotors replace, Transmission failed a second time. all of this under 30217 miles. Ford engineers should ask for a refund on their college education or rename Ford to Fiat. We are so disappointed.. UPDATE: 5 March 2021 Thigs are still breaking under 45,000 miles. We will bever but a Ford again, dealership service is awful. total ripoff.....
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Love my Focus!
Ann Davis, 09/17/2018
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have had no problems with this car except for a transmission recall that was promptly fixed by the dealership. I have had it for 7 years.
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Great ride. Bad Transmission
Jacob M., 03/10/2018
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
If you are looking to get a great ride at a good price. The Ford Focus is definitely a car for you. This car has almost never let me down. It ride so comfortable. Has wonderful gas mileage. Plus you can maneuver just about anywhere as well as park. This car has awesome technology to: great sound system, sync voice activated command system, and stylish interior lighting. Just be careful because some of these cars have bad transmissions. Mine failed on me. That the worst part about this car. But Ford does have recalls on the bad parts. So as long as you are cool with taking it in to get fixed if anything breaks then this car is a good choice.
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