Used 2012 Ford Focus Consumer Reviews
Used Focus for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Absolute Underachiever
Nick, 11/06/2016
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
14 of 15 people found this review helpful
The 2012 Ford Focus is the Detroit Lions of cars. Unreliable, ugly, underachieving, and sad. Funnily enough, they're both from Detroit and the two most stressful and irritating parts of my life. Most of the Ford Focus' issues stem from the problematic Automatic-Manual Dual-Clutch transmission. The purpose of this transmission was to increase MPG, which it does, but at a ver large cost. The transmission causes the car to constantly jerk, shudder, and roll backwards on hills. Personally, this isn't even close t the worst part about my Focus. My Focus decides when to start. Yep, you heard that right, it decides. Sometimes it takes me 10-12 turns of the key to start the damn thing. This is caused by the TCM (Transmission Control Module) which is the little computer inside the car that controls the gears. This little computer will often not register that my car is in park, and won't let me turn it on. Not only is this very problematic, but will probably end up with shelling out handfuls of cash to the dealership. Another cool driving "feature" is that the car will occasionally get stuck at 4000-6000 rpm and won't let you accelerate past 25 mph. this is incredibly terrifying when it happens, but I guess is part of the 2012 Ford Focus experience (tm). The Focus also has the most poorly designed interior that I have seen in my entire life. The cloth that the seats are made out of stains when touched by water. You know, just that substance that covers over 70% of the Earth and falls from the gosh darn sky. Another issue is that the auxiliary port makes its home in the glovebox. This leaves you with two options. Drive around with the glovebox open like a goober, or subject your aux cord to heavy strain and eventual breakage. While we are on the topic of phone related things, there is nowhere to put your phone in the car. This car was made in 2012, everyone and their mother's own phones. Overall, the interior feels incredibly cheap and uncomfortable. Honestly, all you really need is a car that takes you from point A to point B, and this thing can't even do that. At least being a Lions fan doesn't cost 8,000+ dollars.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Another story of a transmission problem
Cynthia Beard, 11/18/2015
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
14 of 15 people found this review helpful
I was rolling along in traffic on a main interstate highway and 2012 Ford Focus suddenly would not accelerate and then stalled. This was followed by all sorts of things lighting up on my dash, and the car would not re- start, wouldn't turn over, nothing. I was lucky to be able to get over to the shoulder of the highway, although it was on the left side of the road, which was super dangerous. Long story short, I was denied roadside assistance (which I thought I was covered under) because my car was no longer under warranty. I had 76,000 and change. My warranty apparently ran out at 60,000. However, this well known transmission problem that exists with this vehicle, is covered under an "extended warranty" up to 150,000 miles (but there's a $100 deductible!!!). So, because there's a faulty issue with this vehicle, a documented, known fault in the manufacturing; my money, time and convenience are not a matter of concern. My car had been properly maintained, in fact had been inspected not a week before this happened, and there was no indication of this happening. This is extremely dangerous and frankly I find it unacceptable that FORD didn't do more to prevent this from happening. There is one Service Advisor at the dealership who was helpful. He has agreed to submit my towing bills for reimbursement. No one was really apologetic or concerned with my satisfaction as a Ford customer. If I was knowingly selling dangerous, faulty vehicles, I would be falling all over myself to make sure I could make the customer happy, if that were possible. Basically the attitude is one of indifference. I thought I was doing a good thing by buying an American car, but I would never buy another Ford again, and will try to trade this vehicle in ASAP. I will buy a Subaru if I can afford it. In short, buyer beware ... transmission problem, Ford not too concerned with customer satisfaction.
- Performance
- Reliability
2012 Ford Focus for sale near you
Showing 3 of 43 listings
- SE SedanMSRP: $2,79526 mi away
- SE SedanMSRP: N/A23 mi away
- SE 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $4,99552 mi away
See all 43 listings
Regretted it days after purchase
ChrisMichael, 06/04/2020
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I had more issues with this car than a 2001 Honda Civic i had before it. At 100,000 miles the transmission was going out, the “clutch” (why is it there in an automatic transmission?), window motors went out, catalytic converter needed replacing, oh my gosh it was endless. By the time it was totaled from an accident, i had spent well over its market value in repairs that kept it barely running. Not reliable, hard to drive in rain (Easy skidding) and had total failure of power steering column that was astonishingly expensive to fix since steering column is controlled in the computer. It was almost a relief for a hit and run to end its life. Don’t buy unless you just enjoy spending time with your mechanic every 2 months and have a ton of money to sink in to it. Also the sheer number of factory recalls and the thousands of NHTSA complaints about it should be enough for Ford to recall the whole thing and issue money back. Not a fan of ford anymore. Will never buy Ford again
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Most un-reliable car on 4 wheels
2012 Ford Focus, 07/14/2016
updated 01/18/2018
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
Update: lawsuit filed against Ford go to www.Fordtransmissionsettlement.com or call 18445406011.its about time. Ford blew it with this car. Due to my wife's job we buy a car ever other year. This car has left us stranded 4 times with only 70k miles. There stupid dual clutch design transmission in this car has been nothing but problems. Car slips out of gear, sometimes wont even back up, makes chattering shifting noise while sitting in park. Took it to 2 Ford dealerships. AutoNation Ford technician in Katy said the best thing for me to do is run from this car and sell it. (This is after the third transmission reprogram). Finally took to Joe Meyers Ford they ripped me off and said faulty shift solenoid Charged $500 (after I told them I don't believe this is the problem because car runs fine for about a week after re-program), while still in shop then they said "Oh faulty transmission computer". Ford replaced computer under warranty. Now 1 month later car has a roaring noise coming from inside the transmission ( no its no the hub bearings). If Ford would have left the hydraulic style transmission in this car it would be a great car everything else is nice. New transmission is $3,101.02 screw that. THANKS FORD FOR MAKING JUNK!!!!!! YOU MUST BE SO PROUD. Go on Craigslist and look at how many 2012-2014 Ford Focus there are. Save yourself a headache and do not buy. I guess its true Foreign cars are better then Ford cars. RUN! RUN! RUN! RUN!/ UPDATED as requested 01/14/07 I SOLD THIS PIECE OF JUNK AT A LOSS and bought a Hyundai Elantra a good solid reliable car, wish I could have bought American and felt good about it. 01/17/2018 Car is a joke, just checked CL again. It amazes me at how many of these year model Focus's are for sale with low miles.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
[non-permissible content removed]
maniac4, 05/15/2013
updated 04/30/2014
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
The automated transmissionn says it all. For those of you who love the car be patient, It wont be long before the tranny goes ka-putt. I really liked this car till it started messing up. Gas mileage is hard to get a number. /you would have to ask the dealer or FOMOCO cause they have it more than me. What a let down.Sad. But thats normal after all. the grinding, normal,the slipping clutches normal. the screwings we got normal. the I dont knows. normal. Screw me once shame on you. screw me twice shame on me.DO NOT PURCHASE THIS CAR.