Model year

2012 Ford Focus

NHTSA lists 7 recalls and 3,770 complaints for the 2012 Ford Focus (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 3 recalls and 33 complaints under FOCUS ELECTRIC. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are POWER TRAIN (1,390), STEERING (924), ENGINE (475). NHTSA lists 3 investigations. NHTSA rated 2 variants 4 stars overall. EPA rates it 29–32 mpg combined and 105 MPGe combined and 32 kWh/100 mi depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $700–$2,300, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.

ABOUT THIS DATA

Recalls

26V369000 · Jun 9, 2026

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTER

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.

20V331000 · Jun 8, 2020

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under…

19V515000 · Jul 5, 2019

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTER; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 and 2017 Focus vehicles equipped with 2.0L GDI gasoline engines and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles equipped with 2.0L GTDI engines, previously recalled under 18V-735. The affected vehicles did not have the Powertrain Control…

18V735000 · Oct 22, 2018

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTER; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.

16V643000 · Sep 6, 2016

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from…

13V335000 · Aug 1, 2013

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Ford is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus BEV vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, manufactured September 15, 2011, through May 6, 2013; and model year 2013 Focus ST vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights,…

12V149000 · Apr 5, 2012

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 FOCUS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1, 2010, THROUGH OCTOBER 18, 2011. A SEAL IN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER MOTOR MAY BE MISSING.

Complaints

3,770 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 107, fire flag on 15, injury field 88, deaths field 5. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.

POWER TRAIN1,390
STEERING924
ENGINE475
UNKNOWN OR OTHER358
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM344
STRUCTURE:BODY295
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM284
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL164
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH90
AIR BAGS54

Other NHTSA names

These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.

Other matched NHTSA names
Name	Recalls	Complaints
FOCUS ELECTRIC	3	33

Investigations

Investigations in the NHTSA file (3). "No close date" means the file has no close date. It is not a statement that the investigation is still active.
Action	Subject	Opened	Closed
PE16001	Door Latch Failure · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH; LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	Jan 16, 2016	Oct 29, 2016
RQ19005	Door Latch Failures · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH; LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES; STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR; STRUCTURE:BODY	Dec 19, 2019	Feb 7, 2022
RQ23006	Loss of Motive Power · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS:CANISTER	Sep 15, 2023	Dec 20, 2024

Safety ratings

NHTSA 5-star variants matched to this model year (2). Rollover possibility is the API's published figure, shown as recorded.
Variant	Overall	Front	Side	Pole	Rollover	Photo
4 DR FWD	4	4	5	5	4 · possibility 0.117	NHTSA photo
5 DR FWD	4	4	5	5	4 · possibility 0.117	—

Fuel economy

EPA configurations. Electric rows show MPGe in the combined column and kWh/100 mi separately. Annual fuel cost is EPA's published fuelCost08 figure.
Configuration	Fuel	City	Hwy	Comb	kWh/100 mi	Range	Annual fuel cost
Focus FWD · 2L · Automatic (AM6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	27	37	31	—	—	$2,150
Focus FWD · 2L · Automatic (AM-S6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	27	36	30	—	—	$2,250
Focus FWD · 2L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	26	35	29	—	—	$2,300
Focus SFE FWD · 2L · Automatic (AM6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	28	39	32	—	—	$2,100
Focus Electric · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Front-Wheel Drive	Electricity · EV	110	99	105	32.0	76	$700
Focus FWD FFV · 2L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline · FFV	26	35	29	—	—	$2,300
Focus FWD FFV · 2L · Automatic (AM6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline · FFV	27	37	31	—	—	$2,150
Focus SFE FWD FFV · 2L · Automatic (AM6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline · FFV	28	39	32	—	—	$2,100
Focus FWD FFV · 2L · Automatic (AM-S6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline · FFV	27	36	31	—	—	$2,150

Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.

Check a vehicle

This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2012 Ford Focus at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.

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