Used 2012 Ford Focus Hatchback Consumer Reviews
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3rd PCM Failure within 10K miles, under 100K
John, 12/17/2016
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
41 of 42 people found this review helpful
Okay let me begin with this: I have written a previous review, but I lost my login, so I am back with a vengeance this time. As the title states, since my original post titled "I'm losing my job and livelihood over this thing!!!" it has had 2 more PCM failures. The first time, I DID lose my job. The boss was clear. "If you can't come to work I'll just have to replace you." Well at least he was cordial about it and gave me a good reference to a similar company. So two weeks after the initial failure, I was back to work. Just somewhere else doing the same thing. There was the 2nd PCM failure about 4 months afterwards. Same conditions: Car won't start. Either the PCM doesn't believe the transmission is in neutral and therefore safe to start the engine, or it cannot get the transmission into neutral. Had it towed to dealership. Only payed towing fee. Ford covered the repair. Now, only 2 months from that failure, the car is in my driveway with its 3rd PCM failure. SAME. CONDITIONS. People, this is multiple failure of a critical part of the car that has failed on me 3 times in less than 10,000 miles. I'm doing everything I can on my end to keep its maintenance up. I drive it reasonably, take good care of it, and it fails on me. Fails... fails... fails... There is no other explanation besides it is a flawed design, and Ford's response and actions are futile. See all of these good reviews on here? I can't explain them. There are millions of unhappy, stranded and possibly unemployed people all because they bought this car with a horrible transmission. I can't blame them or berate them in any way. I mean, it's a nice car, but it has this one MAJOR FLAW that can be a serious inconvenience at best, and life-threatening at worst. Google it. Spend a couple of hours researching every review you can find. Find a way to contact authors of positive reviews and ask them is their transmission still operating properly. For the third time in one year, my car is literally being described with an old Ford-bashing acronym, and I don't think I need to say which one. Please for love of whatever... DO NOT buy one of these things, used or new. Ford's Powershift transmission is prone to random failures despite operating reliably up to the point of said failure. UPDATE: Okay, so let me update everyone on the 3rd PCM failure. First let me start with having to pay out of pocket for a rental. My insurance company would not cover it, but that was my mistake. Ford, however, straight up declined any suggestion of transportation assistance. I had to take an Uber (google it) to a rental car place and spend, say, $480 to rent a car for a week. I made arrangements to have the car towed down to the nearest Ford dealer, which thankfully my insurance covered the cost of the tow. SO... I get a call at work... my mother was at home when the tow truck came to get my car. She informs me that the tow driver 'jumped it off, started it, and drove it onto the tow truck' Read that again. 'JUMPED IT OFF. STARTED IT. AND DROVE IT ONTO THE TOW TRUCK' You've gotta be bleeping kidding me. I called the towing company, spoke to the driver. He confirmed that he jumped off the battery and started the car, and simply drove it onto the truck. First of all... whatever happened to it not starting? And since when did the battery die? So I took off work, drove my $480 rental car down to Ford, and asked to see the car. I got in it, and it started right up. And then I kinda lost control of myself and flung my arms about, cursing the car as if it were playing a sick, expensive game with me right in front of the mechanic. This is not funny. It's good I guess because I have my car back and it seems to be working fine. My speculation is that when the battery went completely dead... overnight... with the car sitting there doing absolutely nothing... that it must have caused some sort of hard system reset or something. I don't know. FINAL UPDATE: Driving home from work tonight it's been falling out of gear, which is indicated by going to idle at highway speed (engine is temporarily disconnected from drive wheels), jerking, slipping, picking the incorrect gear (I mean the VERY incorrect gear, like, 5th at 20mph or 2nd at 50mph). I can't stand it any longer. It will cost me dearly and put me in another financial pit to trade it in and attempt to finance another car, but I have no choice.
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Piece of crap
Melissa, 08/22/2015
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
25 of 26 people found this review helpful
Beyond what is considered normal grinding noises and hesitation to accelerate by ford, my 2012 focus decided to just stop in the middle of the road while driving. I commute and this could have been a serious safety concern if I would of been on a major highway. Other problems was the interior plastic was shaking and not put together well, coming apart only after a few months. In the winter my drivers side window does not open. And it is the worst car I have ever driven in the snow!!!!! Dont waste your $$$ buying this overpriced POS.
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Buyer Beware, sold the car a piece of junk!
Bill Smith, 10/19/2016
updated 04/20/2018
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
72 of 78 people found this review helpful
Bought car new and have had nothing but troubles with transmission. This car should be on recall as it is a safety issue when driving at highway speeds and car decides to buck and jump. Just traded it on a new Camry will never buy another Ford car. Real disappointment and the dealer could only make excuses. This car could get you killed when driving at highway speeds. Read the internet it is full of horror stories regarding the transmission. Purchased this car with the hopes it would be a dependable vehicle and then had to trade it in to get something dependable. Ford is terrible to deal with, don't buy this car if it is your primary driver as it will let you down and Ford will only make excuses for an inferior product. The Focus rates there with the flaming Ford Pinto death trap. Will never purchase another Ford, would rather ride a horse or bicycle.
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Horrible
Kylie, 05/09/2016
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
91 of 99 people found this review helpful
DO NOT BUY. The transmission is absolutely horrible and ford will do NOTHING to fix it. I have broken down 2 times, my car will not accelerate and the RPMS just go crazy. I have had it in the shop 3 times within the past 2 months and they refuse to do anything for it.
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Dont Buy
penny, 12/04/2015
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
21 of 22 people found this review helpful
Please don't buy this car.....clutch problems fro day one!
Ford Focus 2012 Titanium : Nightmare
gillesm, 05/28/2013
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
The ford Focus 2012 Titanium Last september 2011, i have bought a Ford Focus 2012 Titanium. That day was the day when i did my worst error ever . Just one week later  not one year, but one week  i was driving in Montreal city when strange noises were coming out from transmission. At low speed and especially during a stop and go situation, some strong vibrations and stalling occured regularly. Since september 2011, i visited Ford dealer more often than the last 10 years driving Honda and Toyota. Despite - so far - four computer update trying to resolve that transmission nigthmare, the situation got worse.
The only one
duke2012, 11/17/2014
updated 05/20/2019
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
19 of 20 people found this review helpful
We have a 2012 Focus and it has been a great little car. We are averaging 33.5 mpg on a trip from GA to TX & back, interstate and stop & go driving. At 20,000 miles we started having transmission shudder, I called service at our dealer. Decided it carry it in with it was time for an oil change, in a week got a notice from Ford stating to carry it in for service on the transmission. We carried it in the first of September and got it back the same day, no more shudder. We now have a 7 year - 100,000 warranty on the transmission. Dealership and Ford did everything to make us happy. Not sure about the other post but we are happy. "Update"; Had a recall on the door latches and they checked the transmission. They called me and told me the clutch pack was out of specifications; the clutch pack, seals, door latches were replaced at no cost. We still like the car. 11/17/2017 update; no problems transmission is shifting okay and no shudder. We still like the car 05/17/2019.
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HATED THE CAR!!
Mark Clemson, 10/28/2015
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
24 of 26 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2012 Ford Focus in October 2014. I should have done the research, but I didn't. I test drove the car and noticed a little shutter and how it went backwards on the hill, but didn't think anything of it. I should have!!! Within two weeks of having the car, my breaks started squeaking. I thought I needed to changed my brake pads. They said they were fine and couldn't duplicate the problem. Then two weeks later, it start stuttering to the point the car would shake every time I hit the gas to get the car moving. Took the car back and thankfully the warranty covered that. The brakes continued to squeak and I just had my mechanic change the brake pads anyway and the squeaking stopped. The car worked fine for a while then all of a sudden the stuttering came back and also when I would drive in the city and hit a even a small bump it felt like the back of my car would fall apart. I took the car in and was told I needed new shocks in the back. $450 dollars later I had new shocks and a realignment and that noise was still there!!! The stuttering would happen EVERYTIME I hit the brake and then the gas. Finally after dealing with this for over 6 months, the car violently shook on a hill while trying to accelerate. I couldn't take it anymore and traded it in the next day. I didn't get very much for the car and had to take money out of my Savings account to get my new Nissan Altima. Didn't want to, shouldn't have had to, but it was a great decision. I had my 2012 Ford Focus for a year and dumped almost $1000 of my own money on repairs and only put on 13,000 miles on the car. This was a complete POS and the biggest waste of money ever!! DON'T BUY THIS CAR, YOU WILL REGRET IT!
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Great little car
william ahrens, 06/19/2018
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful
After Owning this car for five years and over 90,000 miles, I can say that this is a great little car. For the most part, I’ve only ever done regular servicing. Th one problem I had was with the transmission seals. They were replaced under warranty and that’s about it. My only complaint is the cloth trim on the doors comes loose after a few years and the only way to fix it is to either replace the door panel or pay a custom upholstery shop to fix it. The bulk of people that buy this car thinking it’s an automatic don’t understand it’s actually an automated manual and because it has a clutch and drives like a stick, you have to learn to control the throttle like you’re driving a stick. Once you figure this out the car is completely smooth with no jerking or hesitation.
One big LEMON!
psugrad15, 08/13/2014
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
30 of 33 people found this review helpful
What a lemon and huge disappointment the car has been. I guess I am even more disappointed in Ford for not standing behind their vehicle. I have had nothing but issues with this car from the day I got it. It was all quickly pushed under the rug as normal break-in time. Well, the car is dangerous and should be recalled! The transmission revs are highway speeds and you lose all ability to accelerate. I have had it happen now four times and when I take it to the dealer, they cannot dublicate the issue. So it am sent on my way again. Well, not before I give them a laundry list of all the other items that need to be repaired. Including that crap Ford touch system. What a joke! RUN!
Go for it if you enjoy mental torment...
Ty, 07/08/2015
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
... at every turn. I bought this car in the winter of 2013. I enjoyed it for its lovely ride and handling. It was very good in the icy twist backs of Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains. However, this is where it ends. First problem was the transmission, it shuddered very roughly in reverse and driving forward off the line. I've taken it in about 4 times at this point. I took it to billings, Montana and it stalled, leaving me stranded for 3 days while no one could find the problem. One clutch pack replacement later at 45k it's been decent, however now at 82k it's shuddering again(thank god for the extended warranty). It threw a tie rod at 72k nearly flipping the car. Then the sync module dies. And now the starter/ignition has left me stranded 2 times only to have it towed into the shop where it is now day 6 and no one can figure out the problem. Also a minor nitpick, Ford needs to change their fuel economy numbers for this car as I only return 22mpg in mixed driving. Keep in mind I've had this car for one year Ford certainly has made an excellent torture device. College student or anyone looking for that constant anguish and embarrassment, look no further.
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Bought it and 3 days later.. new transmission
JR Gillespie, 12/16/2015
updated 06/21/2018
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
20 of 22 people found this review helpful
Final Update: BY FAR THE WORST CAR I EVER OWNED. As a final insult, after paying over $10000 in payments, I traded it in and was $6000 upside down. The car both sucks and has NO value. Update: 2 Clutch Packs, 1 TCU, 1 power window motor, 1 sunroof motor, 1 Sync head unit, 1 transmission, 1 brake booster 52,000 miles in 1 year... so all within 8000 miles . I have had to seek a attorney to try and resolve the matter I went to the local Ford Dealer in Dallas, GA last weekend to look at cars. I found a 2012 SE Hatchback that seemed nice enough, Ford Certified used car, great condition, 40,000miles with 100,000 powertrain and extended 36,000 mile bumper to bumper It seemed a bit funny on the test drive, all flat terrain but was assured that was normal. Then I took it to work the first time.. on my way home it was mostly uphill and it slipped at every time I tried to start up from a stop, rolled back at every stop and at speed would lose power and slip out like into neutral The second day it was even worse so I called the dealer who referred me to service who said it was a easy fix and they had to reprogram the transmission with the new software released this week dropped the car off this morning and a hour later was told it would require a whole new transmission and they have to order parts which are in short availability and could take weeks before I have my 3 day old car back.. at least they loaned me a fusion.. DO NOT BUY THIS!!!
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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
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Wish I still had my ACURA RSX
sy1219, 08/03/2011
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
18 of 20 people found this review helpful
This car has a real nice interior and the exterior is really good looking but that is it, the car has pits in the roof from the plant where it was manufactured, at 1350 miles the screen for the MY FORD TOUCH went black which means I don't have a radio, navigation, etc., there is also a rattle in the door panel, and the fan for the heat an ac goes up and down in speeds which is really annoying all this in a month of ownership and a $28,000 price tag, honestly don't buy this car unless you get a deal of a lifetime. I WISH I HAD MY 2002 ACURA RSX and not this piece of junk.
Very Nice, Not Quite Perfect
facelessdrone, 01/09/2012
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
18 of 20 people found this review helpful
Not like any Focus I've ever been in before. Outstanding quality of materials throughout. Looks and feels equivalent to a Mercedes -- no joke. Feels "big", solid, and quiet while you drive, but has speedy performance when you want it.
Worst mistake I’ve ever made
Mindy Morgan , 07/04/2019
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Bought this car in 2015 used with low miles. Beautiful car but now I know why the first owner sold it. Nothing but issues since day one! 3 transmission replacements in 2 years. Ball joints, axle, sway bars, and motor mounts replaced at least 2 per year since I bought it and the struts are garbage now. The absolute worst car in history.
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Fun to Drive
skimike4, 07/21/2011
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
19 of 22 people found this review helpful
I've been driving the Focus long enough now where I can give an objective review. Overall, the car has a premium feel to it. I have the base model hatchback and it's still got a really upscale feel to it. This is not anything like the super cheap Focus Ford was making not so many years ago. Two big cons that I see: 1) The automatic transmission needs help. Personally, I don't shift my car into the next gear when it's below 2000 rpm, but my Focus thinks that's a good idea. You know that sound a car makes when you shift up too soon? My car makes that sound everytime I accelerate gently. I'm hoping Ford fixes this for 2013. 2) The inside door handles are super cheap feeling.
Lemon
richard4872, 06/17/2013
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
Let me start by saying, I have the SE Sport with the Tuxedo Package. Black on Black. Gorgeous car. The first 25,000 miles in the car were awesome. It handled like a dream. My edition came with the wrap around Recaro seats. I even averaged 33 mpg at 80 mph. Here's the bad. At 25,000 miles, Ford rebuilt my first transmission and differential. At 32,000 they rebuilt my transmission again. Now it is at 40,000 miles and needs another. Here's the catch. The automatics aren't true traditional automatics. They are manuals, but, the computer has a solenoid that pushes the clutch for you. Yes, I said clutch. Even worse, the clutch plates are cast and not forged. Thank god for the Lemon Law
So far so good
Sharina, 10/26/2015
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I've had this car a little over a year and it's been great. I've had 2 recalls since getting it and I just brought my car in and it was fixed and I was done. I don't mind the recalls. As long as it's fixed for free. My car has never stalled, but it did do that weird thing where you're speeding up and it hesitates a little, but it doesn't happen too often. I got my car with a lot of miles...like 64000 when I bought it for 15 thousand. They could have given me better price because I still owe 10 thousand and the car is worthe like 6 thousand now... I've had no issues. My car works wonderfully! I mean sometimes it takes a second for the air to turn on, but I love my car and I know I'll have it for a while. I'll probably end up getting a Ford again after this...
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Captivating commuter car
Mercedes Flores, 07/25/2018
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
This car is amazing. It’s a perfect car for city commute and is amazing for a first car as well. It had all the features I needed as well as comfort for me and my husband. Any more than two people in the car can make it very tight, but as I mentioned it’s great for commuting back-and-forth to work or school. It’s done it’s job and is extremely cost effective with repairs, maintenance and fuel. It was worth the price I pairs for it used. The resale value is not the best, by is worth it to me in the long run
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Car looks nice, but garbage build quality
Lee, 07/15/2017
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Let's start inside: The fake brushed aluminum plastic parts on the interior trim look decent at first glance but after about a year the finish started peeling off. Around the steering wheel controls this cut my hand badly as I bled all over trying to drive to work. On a dealer visit for this and numerous other issues, the dealer cut away the metallic frayed section so it wouldn't cut me any longer but now I have a chunk missing from the trim. The infotainment system isn't as horrible as people make it sound. You just have to realize it has it's own personality and kind of does what it wants. Roughly 50% of the time it'll get a voice command in the general ballpark and phone calls while connected to bluetooth may be taken by the system, or just on your phone leaving you fumbling while driving to see where the caller can hear you. The transmission is complete garbage clunking and grinding loudly. It's embarrassing to drive on quiet side streets and people think you're breaking down in front of their houses. Gas mileage is decent. With mostly highway driving (80+%) I average almost 30MPG, just slightly better than a 5.0 Mustang I had from 1990 got (28MPG with similar routes). Recently now my TCM went out leaving me stranded figuring out how to get to work to preserve my job. The dealer fixed it in a day once I was able to get the car up there under the TSB but nothing was done to fix the transmission once again. Overall avoid this car like the plague, but a competitor and skips the horrible and insulting dealers and unreliable car.
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transmission troubles
reedleo, 11/15/2011
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I have >9,000 miles on my 2012 Focus with the dual-clutch automatic. I am not bothered by the backward roll on hill starts or the pulsing from dead stop, but it does have some real issues. 4 times now, driving in the S mode, when rolling through a low speed right turn then hitting the gas, all I get are revs and no power. I have to drive in S mode at low speed, because the shift points of the D mode are too low rpm (for max fuel economy no doubt) and the car shudders before it downshifts when given the gas. Also the tranny makes a lot of clatter noise in the 1-2 and 3-4 transitions, while being smooth as silk in all others.
Transmission Silliness
backindasaddle, 07/02/2011
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
17 of 20 people found this review helpful
Just got a 2012 Focus Hatchback SE. Company car, no choice in the matter. No options except for the 6 speed automatic tranny. I like the car and think build quality is very good. I've now got about 2 weeks driving and 1300 miles or so on it. There is one thing that I really don't like. The 6 speed auto transmission. It's not that it's bad. It actually shifts nice and firm and I like the idea of 6 gears. The problem is the shift point programing. It just shifts to higher gears so quickly and won't drop a gear to accelerate unless you mash the gas pedal. The programers set it up to maximize gas mileage but ridiculously at the expense of drivability. Absolute foolishness.
Don't Buy It. Don't Be another Statistic
Mark, 11/09/2015
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
13 of 15 people found this review helpful
Don't buy this car. It's not worth taking the chance with the transmission. I bought this car thinking that the transmission problems would get fixed. Bought the car at 28,000. In my first months of having the car, I went to the dealership for shuddering and gear grinding noises.. oh and how the car completely shut down; engine light on and wouldn't go faster than 20 mph. THAT was scary on the freeway. Supposedly it's a safety mechanism. Talked with at Susan with my car at 50,000 at corporate and there's nothing that she can do. My car doesn't count to be a lemon. It would be a great car if it wasn't for the transmission. Everything else is there but the fundamentals are all shot. And to my surprise, they are still implementing the same faulty transmission even in their new 2016 cars.
Early Report - 500 miles -So Far So Good
novavroom, 06/18/2011
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
13 of 15 people found this review helpful
I was looking for a safe, fun and economical replacement for our BMW 328i. Bought an SEL Hatchback with leather, rain sensor, back-up warning, 17"wheels, cold weather package,automatic, Sterling Grey Metallic. The test drive impressed my wife and me - I am 6'3" tall and find the front power seat very comfortable. The car seems to be built to high quality standards. Paint and overall fit and finish are top notch. The car performs quite well - it is quiet, well balanced and just seems to be well built. The BMW is a great car but I do not feel I have given up much with this Focus. It may be a compact but it is a very nice car! If you find one you like - buy it - seems like a hot seller!
Solid, fun little car
dan397, 01/04/2012
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
16 of 19 people found this review helpful
I recently took a new job involving a long commute, and decided to look at the Focus and VW Golf TDI as commuter cars. Coming from a BMW 335i, I have high standards and the Focus (so far) has lived up to them. It's no BMW, but it's a fun car to drive and has enough bells and whistles that it doesn't feel like a penalty box even when compared to a far more expensive vehicle. The engine, chassis, and tranny aren't quite as refined as the Golf, but the car is still very solid and fun to drive with a good trade-off between handling and comfort. The Focus blows the Golf away in feature content, and both have very nice interiors for the price.
I'm Still Happy
Jim, 07/20/2015
updated 07/20/2018
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
16 of 19 people found this review helpful
First off, let me say that this car has a dual-clutch PowerShift Transmission. It's not an automatic transmission where you have a torque convertor and you simply step on the gas and go. You have to learn to drive this car with your right foot. It's not rocket science, and keeping the car in the right RPM range for the task at hand is pretty simple. I can't help but think that a lot of the folks who have problems with the way it drives have 2 skills: Stomp on the gas or stomp on the brakes. After 42,000 miles the car drives just fine, and with a little right foot control can be a lot of fun to drive. I'm getting 30 MPG in mixed driving, and other than oil changes and keeping the tires inflated to the proper pressure ( the original tires are still in good shape at this juncture) have had zero problems with the car. I like the interior, I like the way the car looks, and I like the way it drives. Guess I'm just lucky. Update: 6 years, 75,000 miles. Daily driver, 30+ mpg, Still Happy.
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I Love This Car!
Joseph, 11/07/2015
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
16 of 19 people found this review helpful
I read the reviews about the 2012 Focus before I bought it and I admit that some of the reviews about the auto tranny with the dual clutch had me worried. But when I drive this car, that dual-clutch transmission is what makes the car so peppy. For does a nice job converting the 160 horsepower into an incredibly amount of acceleration for a 4 banger. When I need to move out into traffic, I shift the auto into SPORT mode and give it gas and I am *never disappointed with how quickly this car accelerates, even at highway speeds. I'm not leaving any Mustangs or Corvettes in my dust, but I am making the Hyundai Elantra owners wonder if they made the right choice as they view the beautiful styling of my focus from behind in traffic as I pull away. And if you are worried about the transmission issues that *some people have reported (a minority of owners, not all), then take comfort in the fact that Ford's drive train warranty is 5 years and 60 thousand miles and that warranty transfers with the car. So if you buy it used, you have the warranty. Also, Ford extended the warranty on the part of the transmission that has been troublesome to 100,000 miles. If you like the car, buy it. Don't listen to the naysayers. This is my third Ford and I have enjoyed each one and had good experiences with them all.
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way to go Ford
aenigmatic, 06/02/2011
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
I have recently purchased my first domestic auto (other than my mom's buick I had in HS) in this new Focus and I am really impressed. There are so many features it is easier to ask what it doesn't have than what it does have. More importantly, these features work well, all the way down to the rain-sensing wipers (!). The steering is responsive, the engine sounds great, and the fuel efficiency is best of breed. I have owned VW, Honda, Acura, Toyota, Nissan, Saab, BMW and Buick. I can truthfully say that this is the nicest car I have ever had, and no one will ever accuse me of being a snob for driving it.
Luxury/Performance in a Small Package
cpogordon, 07/15/2011
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Finally a small car with excellent gas mileage that has both style and a quality interior. The 6-speed automatic manual transmission has been smooth and flawless and I especially like the Sport mode. The My Ford Touch (MFT) has also performed without error for me. The soft touch material, upscale materials in the Titanium, excellent supportive leather seating, along with driving performance have made the Ford Focus Titanium an successful alternative to pricier semi-luxury vehicles along with improved gas mileage. The hatch, while 7 inches shorter than the Sedan, provides the same interior room and much more versatility when it comes to storage space. I found everything I wanted option wise without having to give up gas mileage to get it and at a substantially lower price. I was initially worried that this car wouldnt have enough power, but Ive found the performance of the 160 horsepower engine to me more than adequate when it comes to power. Im very pleased with my purchase.
Skip the Automatic and buy the Manual!
kevinmillerphx, 06/28/2012
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I bought the SE with the Manual Transmission and the Sport package - and I'm sure glad I did! I have SYNC with none of the MyTouch issues. I have a great transmission with none of the Automatic issues. This car is fantastic! I traded in a 2002 Subaru WRX, so I like power and handling. The 2012 Ford Focus hasn't let me down - it seems much more nimble than my WRX was. The power isn't as great, but I'm sure a few mods will help that department. I considered a Titanium, but decided it wasn't worth it for all the extra hassle. I can install a better sound system than the Sony and really didn't want any of the other challenges. I'm glad I went with the SE!
DO NOT BUY THIS CAR
kc, 05/09/2017
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
First of all the transmission is terrible. my 2012 hatchback has had me stranded many times. On top of that the whole fuel system malfunctioned an had to be replaced. Ford should take these cars off the streets an give the people who have them something else something SAFE to drive.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
AWESOME
howard45, 05/13/2012
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
We traded my wifes Escape, which she dearly loved, for the Focus Titanium. She wanted more fuel mileage and a more sporty vehicle and she definitely got it with the Focus. We took our first trip and got 37.4 MPG driving the speed limits on the Interstates. Ride and handling are superb. This is a winner. Our local Ford dealer was one reason we bought. We had recieved excellent service on the Escape since moving here.
Stalling and Gear Issues
jenn74really, 03/13/2014
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Purchased the 2012 Ford Focus in 11-2011. It was slow initially in responding to the gas. The reaction time is delayed and losing power. Over the past year, I am stalled approx. 50 times. Recently, the gears don't seem to be lined up properly. When the vehicle is in park, it has rolled. When the vehicle is in reverse, then drive, the car is still in reverse. I nearly hit a parked car backing out of a parking lot. Right after that happened the vehicle stalled and quit completely. Engine light was on for a short period. After several attempts to start the vehicle again, I was forced to have a tow truck retrieve the vehicle. Non-operable and unsafe. Ford does not see a problem.
Horrible Transmission
Matt, 08/09/2017
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I purchased my 2012 Ford Focus in February 2013 as Ford Certified Pre-Owned with 8,500 miles on it. I originally was test-driving a 2013 Fiesta S model and wish I hadn't fallen for all the electronics in the Focus. I have had the stuttering transmission/rollback on hills issue for a few years now. I paid it off in two years, before the issue really became drastic, and now I have no point to trade it in because it holds zero value thanks to this issue. I will drive it until it blows up or Ford stops fixing the transmission for free. I have had it reprogrammed multiple times, and what generally happens is that it will work fine for about a week and then begin to stutter all over again. I have stopped reprogramming it just because it is such an inconvenience just for it to happen again. It also caused my check engine light to come on a few weeks ago and was cutting my acceleration in and out. I will drive this until it blows up and will never purchase a Ford again, which is sad because my wife has a 2009 Focus that we bought at 71K miles and are at 116K miles without any major issues at any point at all.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Really safe and good but needs a few improvements.
beeryan78, 04/01/2012
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I purchased my Focus back in May of 2011. Recently in Nov of 2011, the vehicle was t-boned at an angle by a Toyota Highlander. To my surprise, the Focus performed great! Only a little airbag burn on my arm and that is it. Very impressed. Unfortunately the dealer had the vehicle for 70 days and there were just too many post repair issues, so I traded it in. Now let me not let you think its perfect, because it had some issues. My dashboard was replaced due to a crack(early model issue), the vehicle developed some rattles(none of my Fords 97-04 rattled), the tranny had shifts issues, MyFordTouch had its issues and the engine flipped out once and revved high(fluke?). Enjoyed the car, miss it.
Why this transmission, Ford?
06/13/2012
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
There's a lot to like about this car: cool styling, good fuel economy, comfortable, and handles well. My only gripe, and it's a biggy, is the "automated transmission." It is very disconcerting driving this car. If test-driving this car, make it a point to do a left or right turn from a dead stop. The car searches for a gear and lurches when it finds one. Not pleasant.
Beats competition, sexy design, room for improvement
humblepatience, 10/07/2011
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I have an SE titanium almost fully loaded, parking package and premium package.
Good Luck if you buy it.
salmark, 09/11/2014
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I have a Ford Focus 2012 that I bought used. I just got out of the dealership. Why? Engine light turned on while I was driving and suddenly my entire car is lunging back and forth and gears are going nuts. Worse of all, I can't even put it in reverse. If you're going to get a Focus, good luck. I looked at reviews before and said, "meh, it won't happen to me." It did. Transmission might have to be replaced. Bluntly put, let's just say I'm not going to go Ford for a good time. Oh, and highway MPG is amazing. City... totally sucks. 18-23 and I don't drive rough at all. Might as well be driving a Jeep with that mileage. Thanks Ford.
Great economical sport hatch
grizpin, 02/21/2012
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I searched for months to trade in my Dodge Nitro (19mpg) for a more family friendly economical/sporty car. Nothing I found compared value wise (space + economy) until I found the Ford Focus Hatchback (32mpg). I enjoy driving again with the Focus's German designed handling. I am able to maneuver swiftly through traffic so I not only save money on gas but I save time from my commute. I also still have enough cargo space to take my kids on weekend road trips when we want to get away. The dual clutch transmission takes about 2k miles to break in but once it does she runs as smooth as a standard automatic so drive it like you stole it for a while ;) Great car!
After almost 30000 miles
con2er, 09/18/2012
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I'm 81 years of age and my wife is 76 years of youth, and we have been married for 53+ years. Our 2012 Ford Focus SE Hatchback, which we bought in August of 2011 is almost what we hoped for, except for tire wear and poor radio reception. 40+ mpg on trips of 400+ miles, and overall mpg for 29827 miles is an amazing 37.9 mpg. After owning Mustangs, Torinos and a Pantera, which is still in the family, speed has gotten out of my system. Excellent handling is still required and present in this car, so I now drive for max mpg. A new radio module will be replaced in 2013, which leaves me with one problem, that being cupping of all 4 tires, now being remedied, with a tighter realignment & new tire
New Focus
krunr4, 08/18/2011
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
Just purchased a 2012 Focus with the Titanium package. Candy Blue. About all I did not get was the sun/moon roof and nav. I figured I'd buy a Garmin for much less $$ and be just as happy. It's nice to have a smaller car that fits in the garage with more space, gets better mileage...so far 27.2 with around 450 miles on it, it looks good, and has a great stereo. Transmission is sometimes sluggish when initially taking off from a stop and yesterday, some gas dripped on the pavement from somewhere under the car when I topped it off. I'll have to look to see about that.
Best car I've ever owned
rs1981, 06/04/2012
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
We traded in our Camry for a new Focus, because a big sedan isn't practical for living in a city, and we haven't regretted the decision one bit. We drive a lot, so the fuel savings are adding up quickly. On top of that, it's actually fun to drive. The turning radius is tighter, it's easier to parallel-park, the acceleration is much quicker, and you actually feel the road. Plus it's adorable. Legroom would be an issue if we weren't both short, so tall folks might want to keep that in mind. Also, the automatic transmission is different from what you're probably used to; this is a good thing. Welcome change. It's gonna get you better fuel economy.
No more Hondas
no_more_hondas, 09/30/2012
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
This 40-year Honda owner had to rent a car and got an '12 Focus 4-dr. Wow! I went to the dealer and saw a h'back. I drove it with the man/auto 6-spd and was sold. Ordered mine (SE with Sport pkg. and 203A) and have 7K on it in 3 months. NEVER before have I felt like a car was custom built for me. Seat is like a glove, it's fast with smooth acceleration (the initial minor tranny stumble goes away by 1K) and solid as a rock (sorry Chevy). 31 mpg city and 41 hwy for an average since new of 35.4 mpg! It'll blow the doors off most V-6's and the Sync system, while confusing, offers great sound quality. My wife is ditching her '12 Civic for a red '13 H'back to 'one-up' my black '12.
2012 Focus has Transmission issues
psheldon, 09/15/2011
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
11 of 13 people found this review helpful
Been reading reviews. Yes, I know it's an automated dual clutch and am familiar with the technology. It's a good design. However, the computer setting is dubious and our dealer covered up. Shifting was jerky and we were told it was "normal" or due to being an early model. Then recently it revved to 4000 and more in shifting - sounded a mess and engine light came on. Normal -- or who's lying? Heard it was adjusting itself and a computer upgrade was needed. Have been told it was "Normal" "Battery problem" "Get the regular computer update," How insulting can your service department be? Asked for computer printout -- "Delayed shift" Fully fine now (for now?) with new computer setting.
Focus Hatch Titanium
docdsc, 06/09/2011
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
11 of 13 people found this review helpful
I purchased my Focus after driving many other compact cars. The Focus exceeded all my expectations. I don't think I would have ever considered the Focus, until I started reading the reviews about it. Ford really has done an amazing job building and designing this car. The car feels extremely solid, drives exceptionally well, is very comfortable, and economical. The engine is very smooth, and the auto clutch tranny shifts crisply, especially in the "s" mode. The manual shifting option is on the gear selector, I would prefer a steering wheel mounted paddle.
Loving it so far
timothyp7, 10/09/2011
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
14 of 17 people found this review helpful
I bought a Loaded SE Manual, and am coming from a Nissan Pathfinder, so am having a little bit of culture shock. Lets go through a few Negatives first: 1) It would have been great if the back seats folded flat, it would have made for a larger cargo area. 2) The drivers area is designed for someone with longer legs than mine. I have a 29' inseam and feel like I am a little to far forward to be able to use the arm rest on either side, and shifting is a little to far forward with my short legs... I will grow use to that after awhile. 3) The rear wings do take up a lot of the rear window, so creates a big blind spot. I use to be a truck driver I will also get use to that pretty quick.
Ford's best Focus EVER!
cedartree84, 03/13/2012
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
16 of 20 people found this review helpful
This car is beyond awesome! I previously had a 2010 Focus and this beats it in several major ways. The first is I am getting about 3-4 better MPG in this car than I did in the 2010. This is amazing considering I get about 20 more HP than the outgoing model. Next the interior quality is spectacular for a car in this class. I feel like there is a ton of room and the controls are very driver-centric. Speaking of driving, it is a dream to drive. It handles really well and taking it on a windy country road is a lot of fun. There a few minor things that Ford needs to address (which I will detail below) but all-in-all I would call this a home run.
Back from Honda
lvstyle, 12/04/2011
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
13 of 16 people found this review helpful
Now that I've had my focus for a few weeks I can truly say what a remarkable car the new focus is.Lets start with the transmission. My tranny seemed to be doing some weird things in the beginning but it has smoothed out as it was just setting its shift points. Some find the shifting a bit un-nerving but my car is getting 31.4 miles on average. I have zero issue's with the tranny. If I wanted a car that gets lower gas mileage and has muscle I would have bought the mustang.The focus is fun to drive and suprisingly has a lot of pep under the hood. I traded an 06 civic and I'm not looking back. I had a lot of minor issues with the civic and the new civics dont have the value that focus has.
Mechanically Unreliable, Ford Service in Denial
cdubaz, 07/14/2014
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
13 of 16 people found this review helpful
I bought the car new off the showroom floor. My first Ford since my 1965 Mustang. The very first day I drove the car to work, it had under 20 miles on it and the transmission refused to shift into gear. Ford towed it in but the dash light had gone off and they couldn't find the problem. They blamed Microsoft... It continued to drag while shifting for two years and I mentioned it every time. I got the same story--that it was normal for this car. It again began refusing to shift and began stalling. I took it back in and was told it was the "transmission module" and because it was now over 36k, I would have to pay. The also said my wheel bearings were going and had to replace those!
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