2012 Ford Focus Electric Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
60/100
#3 most-complained of 6 Focus Electric years
The 2012 Ford Focus Electric has a Complaint Index of 60, ranking 3rd worst out of 6 model years, with a Caution verdict. It has 33 complaints, 3 recalls, and no fires or deaths, with electrical and powertrain issues being most common.
- Complaints
- 33
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 105
- 110 city / 99 hwy
Top 2012 Ford Focus Electric problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System14 (42%)
- Transmission & Powertrain14 (42%)
- Engine7 (21%)
- Steering6 (18%)
- Brakes4 (12%)
- Fuel System3 (9%)
- Airbags1 (3%)
- Other1 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (3%)
What owners report
- Vehicle displays a "stop safely now" warning and loses propulsion while driving at speeds around 30-35 mph, sometimes on highways or bridges.
- After the shutdown, the vehicle cannot restart immediately; drivers report needing to open and close doors, cycle the start button, or wait several minutes before power returns.
- Some owners report the shutdown happens repeatedly, including multiple times in a single week, and note it began after a software update.
- Regenerative brakes reportedly behave inconsistently, with no gradual stopping feel, switching abruptly between on and off.
- Airbags failed to deploy in a reported crash at approximately 35 mph after another vehicle crossed the center line.
- One owner reported the battery's usable capacity was less than advertised, with the low-charge warning triggering earlier than expected.
2012 Ford Focus Electric recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 18V592000Sep 10, 2018Other49,197 vehicles
Equipment:electrical
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 120V Convenience charge cords that were supplied with and sold for use with 2013-2015 Ford C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi vehicles and 2012-2015 Ford Focus Electric vehicles. Cords with part numbers FM58-10B706-AA, FM58-10B706-AB, FM58-10B706-AC, FM58-10B706-AD, FM58-10B706-AE and FM58-10B706-AF were manufactured without thermistors, and during vehicle charging, increased resistance in the house's outlet or wiring can cause the cord to overheat and melt.
Risk: An overheated cord can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current cord with a new 120V convenience cord with a thermistor, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S24.
- NHTSA 13V523000Oct 30, 2013Transmission & Powertrain2,456 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Focus Electric vehicles manufactured September 15, 2011, through August 23, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a powertrain control module software problem may result in a stall-like condition.
Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the power control module, free of charge. The recall beganon November 22, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S09. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
- NHTSA 13V475000Oct 17, 2013Other23,000 vehicles
Equipment:electrical:anti-theft devices
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus Electric vehicles and 2013 C-Max vehicles equipped with the Intelligent Access Push Button Start System. In the affected vehicles, there is no audible chime when the vehicle is operational and the driver's door is opened. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: Without an audible door chime, a vehicle owner may open the door and exit the vehicle without being reminded that the vehicle is still operational, leaving the vehicle susceptible to theft.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the door chime, free of charge. The recall began on October 30, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C07.
2012 Ford Focus Electric fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 110 MPG
- Highway
- 99 MPG
- Combined
- 105 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $700
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Electricity
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other Focus Electric years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Ford Focus Electric reliable compared to other years?
- NHTSA data gives the 2012 Focus Electric a Complaint Index of 60, ranking 3rd worst out of 6 model years, earning a Caution verdict. It performs better than the 2013 and 2014 model years but worse than 2015-2017.
- What is the top problem area for the 2012 Ford Focus Electric?
- Electrical System complaints make up 42% of reported issues, tied with Transmission & Powertrain complaints, also at 42%, based on NHTSA owner complaints.
- Does the 2012 Ford Focus Electric have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2012 Focus Electric, covering the 120V convenience charge cord, a powertrain control module software issue, and a missing audible door chime warning. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- What mileage do problems typically show up at on the 2012 Focus Electric?
- The median mileage at failure across all reported issues is 19,000 miles, according to NHTSA complaint data.
- How does the 2012 Focus Electric compare to later years like 2016 or 2017?
- The 2016 and 2017 model years both carry a Best verdict, with Complaint Index values of 20 and 0 respectively, compared to 60 for 2012.