Overview & Reviews

The Ford Focus has been completely redesigned for 2012. An all-electric-drive version of the Focus is also new.

• Nimble handling
• Refined and quiet ride
• Abundant list of upscale and high-tech options.
• Stylish and well-made interior
• Lively engine

• Quirky automatic transmission response.
• Infotainment controls are finicky to learn and use
• Backseat is a little short on legroom

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 267.00

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  Poor reliability and performance - 2012 Ford Focus
  By samc - December 22 - 8:16 am

  2012 Focus spent $22K new, has 37,000 miles and the transmission needs to be rebuilt, Ford is covering the repair. Passenger window motor is gone and needs to be replaced. the Passenger front seat adjustment mechanism is broke. I would not by a Ford their reliability is terrible . Big mistake on my part.

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  Looks great and stylish, but build quality is poor - 2012 Ford Focus
  By John - November 24 - 1:46 pm

  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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  Big disappointment! - 2012 Ford Focus
  By T - November 23 - 8:02 pm

  I was completely in love with this car when I first bought it back in aug. 2014. I was upgrading from a falling apart suzuki forenza. Honestly, even though my forenza was falling apart, it drove smoother and was a lot more quiet. My focus shutters, hesitates, sticks in gear, has loss of power, sometimes I can barely get it to move which is scary when I am turning at a traffic light....It is also very loud! The entire interior rattles like a tin can, the dash, the door panels and the headliner and its super loud. The engine does this really annoying ticking sound that nobody at the dealership seems to care about. I have brought this car in over 5 times now and to 2 different dealerships and I keep getting the "its normal" for that transmission to drive wacky. But seriously, I pay good money to have a car that drives rough and sounds like a rattling tin can and you cant fix it or even attempt to because it wont give the "proper" readings for them to be allowed to order the parts? This is my first and last Ford and I gotta say it sucks. I am bummed out because I really do love the car but I hate the things that are wrong with it even more.

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  Do not recommend - 2012 Ford Focus
  By Lis - August 12 - 10:24 am

  Bought this car brand new back in 2011, I have had issues ever since. Taken to the dealership several times to be fixed and they never get fixed. Mainly transmission and the my ford touch technology. Just terrible.

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  Dont bother - 2012 Ford Focus
  By km09 - May 20 - 3:33 pm

  Ive had nothing but trouble since the first month Ive purchased this vehicle. The clutch has been replaced 5 times.. yes, the clutch in an automatic transmission. The car shudders, and shakes and doesnt properly drive and hasnt since I purchased it brand new with only 7 miles on it. Please view other options before Ford gives you the run around too. Oh and the seats- the "mesh" option is terrible. Water will stain them and Ford will charge close to $100 to clean them, nothing can really clean them.

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  Poor choice!!! - 2012 Ford Focus
  By ericarras_81 - May 3 - 1:03 am

  I bought a used focus hatchback and at first thought it was a fun ride, that is until it began to give me problems after 2 months of driving it. First, the keys wouldnt lock my car, then the car would jerk when I would come to a stop or switch gears. Afterwards, I would put the key into the ignition but it wouldnt start and after $750 and a week later, the dealership fixed some wires "causing the problem". I only had it a week and its at the dealership again because the car died at an intersection and even though it was in drive and on it would not kick into gear. They are "ordering the part" to fix it but Im ready to trade in. Buying a ford was a huge mistake!! Never again!!

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  I will NEVER buy another Ford - 2012 Ford Focus
  By Karen Ross - April 1 - 10:07 am

  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.

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  Dont buy - 2012 Ford Focus
  By mike1992 - February 6 - 6:01 pm

  We bought the car, it looked great. Soon the transmission started giving us problems, couldnt find a gear, shook like a motor mount had broken off, loud noises, etc... Had it to the dealer many times. They fixed it somewhat, not completely. It seems every 5-10k miles we bring it back. Were in a lawsuit now with ford. Im trying to get them to take the car back. We have an appointment next week to bring the car in for the same repair. Dont buy this car.

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  Epic Fail, Ford - 2012 Ford Focus
  By herman15fusion - December 7 - 4:04 pm

  I purchased the 2012 Focus SE Sedan in February, 2012. Horrible Mistake! Initial satisfaction was quickly replaced with the realization that I had paid way too much for something so poorly built. The engine is extremely weak, and the transmission shaked and shuttered with only ~5,000 miles on the vehicle. I had the transmission serviced three times. Each time, I was told "thats just the way this transmission is..." and then provided a computer update (the 3rd one I paid $150). I received a letter from Ford Corporate in mid-2014 stating they had extended the warranty on the transmission. The only positive to this was that I was refunded my $150 for the last software update.

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  More Dual Clutch Transmission Problems - 2012 Ford Focus
  By thomasln - November 20 - 8:53 am

  An update to my previous post. The TCM ground fault is clearly not the problem as the car continues to slip out of gear. I took it back to the dealer, they kept it for 6 days, then called to say that it "needs a new transmission" that will cost over $5200. Others have posted that they have paid for a new transmission only to have the same problem. Do not buy one of these cars for any reason. I am now stuck with a car that moves only when it wants to, that I cant allow my kids to drive, that my wife refuses to drive, and that I cannot sell because my conscience wont allow it.