Used 2012 Ford Focus Sedan Consumer Reviews
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Taking a Bath
Ford Free, 12/31/2017
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I owned my 2012 Ford Focus SEL with the Select Shift transmission from new to 89982 miles. MPG was just over 40 for trips at 65mph and drops to 37.5 at 75mph. All around mpg highway and city mix was 34.8. MPG exceeded my expectations. Unlike my previous 2006 manual transmission Focus, the 2012's front brake pads lasted 88,500 miles whereas the 2006's lasted roughly 30,000 before both pads and rotors needed replacement. Brake durability exceeded my expectations as lasting longer than 70,000 miles is exceptional in my eyes. The motor worked great. I never had a problem with starting in Minnesota even at -25F. I did my own maitenance such as changing the oil and such so I see under the car. I noticed at the first oil change the plastic fasteners holding the front end and plastic bumper falling off and loose. They kept falling off until I traded this car in. Now for the transmission. It's unrefined and not smoothe. 5000 miles after the clutch pack and seal for the dry clutch area are replaced, it's not broken in and it doesn't get better, it's on its way out. At anytime, it's at best as smoothe as the VW dsg transmission not maintained properly at 120,000 miles. Herky jerky at best during virtually every stop and go but just fine before 5000 miles after a clutch pack and seal replacement. It shifts when it wants too and sometimes stays in a gear where turning off the the car and starting again is the only way to get it working again. Under warranty, the seal and clutch pack for the dry clutch were replaced at 18Kmi, 58Kmi, and 88Kmi. The transmission was reprogrammed at 31Kmi. The warranty ends at 100Kmi. Needless to say, I took a bath on my 20012 Ford Focus SEL as I could only trade in to a dealer. Dealers already know about the 2012 and on automatic transmission Ford Focus. I could not sell to a private party as I cannot keep secrets or lie. Mine is not an isolated case for my friend had a 2012 SEL but traded it away after the second clutch pack and seal replacement under warranty. Plus, there is a class action law suit against Ford for the poor performance, cost of maintenance, and resale value for 2012-2016 Ford Focus equipped with the Select Shift transmission. Allowing the Substandard Select Shift Transmission into production comes from the top of Ford. Maybe Ford executives expected an inexpensive engineering solution in time for the Select Shift's shortcomings to minimize warranty expenses. I will never by a new or used Ford again.
- Performance
Great Car, EXCEPT the transmission is horrible.
John, 11/06/2017
updated 11/16/2020
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Transmission went at 69K miles, dealer put in new trans which Ford paid for. Two months later my A/C pipe is broken, dealer broke it but denied it. $800 for A/C repair. Transmission is acting up again and the Ford dealers are useless. Trade in value is extremely low.
- Performance
- Reliability
Will spend huge amount of money on repairs.
FrustratedFordDude, 02/08/2017
2012 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought this car at 100,000 from a used car dealership. Everything checked out fine, only 4 years old. My car started shuddering at acceleration, the dealership told me nothing was wrong. Had it for 6 months and my car eventually stopped shifting gears all together. Took it to Ford, they wouldn't cover it. The clutch had failed and the warranty I purchased wouldn't cover it. Costed me $1,800 to fix! Once they took the car apart they found more and more problems totaling another $1,000! It's been 2 months and this car is still being fixed. Ford won't even give me a loaner car. Once fixed, I plan to sell it and buy a non-ford car. Do not buy this car!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
my 2012 FORD FOCUS "SFE EDITION"
badfocus, 01/14/2013
2012 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I purchased my 2012 Ford Focus feburary 27,2012, at 5600 miles I get a RECALL letter on the "programing of the transmission" from then it was down hill for my little car. I took it back around 10,000 miles and i was adv nothing was wrong with the trans that this is the way it is to shift, the car was shifting like someone just learned how to drive a stick shift!!!!!, this went on for a month, i was so upset oneday i almost got hit by another car because of the way the car was shifting out, i put my big boy pants on and demanded they look at the car. well, what do you supose they found???? they found there was a problem!!!! it was the clutches, they replaced them, i drove the car 2 weeks and
Deceiving Car!
g_squared, 09/17/2013
2012 Ford Focus Titanium 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Be warned! This car may look sleek and great but don't be fooled. This car has horrible build quality. I've had my '12 Focus Titanium Sedan for a year and a half and it has 16,650 miles. Since I bought the car I've had it in the shop so much it's a list: 1.Headliner disconnected (twice and is held on with Velcro) 2.Various interior rattles and squeaks (three times) 3.MyFord Touch and Bluetooth crashes (twice) 4.Transmission jerks and shutters (multiple) 5. Engine power loss (twice) 6. Electrical failure on the right side 7. Horn died 8. Driver door creaks unmercifully 9. Rear deck trim piece partially fell apart (behind the rear seats). Traded to an Edge. Don't buy the Focus!