2012 Ford Focus Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 370 electrical system complaints for the 2012 Ford Focus, 10% of its 3,768 total complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 66,000 miles. A related recall (13V335000) covers HID headlight wiring on certain 2012-2013 Focus BEV models.
- Electrical System complaints
- 370
- 10% of 3,768
- Crashes reported
- 12
- Fires reported
- 6
- Injuries reported
- 5
- Median mileage
- 66,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Owners report intermittent electrical shorts that disable the horn and brake lights at the same time, sometimes preceding a crash.
- Some describe headlamp bulbs failing repeatedly and the headlamp wiring harness melting, requiring dealer repair.
- Windshield wipers reportedly activate on their own at highway speed, cycling through different speeds without driver input, in some cases followed by smoke or fire under the hood.
- Owners report airbags failing to deploy during a side-impact collision alongside horn and radio failures.
- Some describe intermittent power steering assist faults that lock the steering wheel and require repeated engine restarts to clear.
When 2012 Ford Focus electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Oct 15, 2011, latest Apr 28, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2012 Ford Focus
- NHTSA 13V335000Aug 1, 2013Electrical System6,308 vehicles
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, manufactured February 16, 2012, through May 7, 2013. Due to a wiring incompatability, the front side marker lamps may not function. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Without the proper illumination of the side maker lamps, the vehicle may be less visible in night time conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will modify the headlamp assembly wiring, free of charge. The recall began on August 16, 2013. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall number is 13C04.
Electrical System complaints by Focus model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many 2012 Ford Focus owners complained about electrical problems?
- NHTSA has logged 370 electrical system complaints for the 2012 Ford Focus, which is 10% of all 3,768 complaints filed for that model year.
- At what mileage do 2012 Ford Focus electrical problems usually show up?
- The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints is 66,000 miles.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 Ford Focus electrical system?
- Yes. Recall 13V335000 covers certain 2012-2013 Focus BEV models with HID headlights and some 2013 Focus ST models, involving headlamp assembly wiring that Ford dealers modify free of charge.
- Have electrical problems on the 2012 Ford Focus led to fires or crashes?
- NHTSA data tied to this complaint area for the 2012 Focus shows 12 crashes, 6 fires, and 5 injuries reported.
- How does 2012 compare to other Focus years for electrical complaints?
- The 2012 Focus had 370 electrical complaints (10% share), higher in raw count than 2010 (43, 15% share) and 2011 (25, 22% share) but with a lower share than several other years listed.