Model year guide

2012 Ford Focus

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Ford Focus is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 2,348 on record.

2012 Ford Focus — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 Ford Focus at a glance

Safety recalls8
Owner complaints3,791
Overall safety4 / 5 ★
Combined31 mpg
Typical price$9,415

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Ford Focus recalls 8

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage NHTSA Campaign #18V735000 · 22/10/2018

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.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall bega…

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage NHTSA Campaign #19V515000 · 05/07/2019

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 Module (PCM) updated as intended. Therefore, the Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in the fuel vapo…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall bega…

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch NHTSA Campaign #16V643000 · 06/09/2016

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 latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.

Equipment NHTSA Campaign #12E035000 · 02/10/2012

This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Yakima Products, Inc. for use on model year 2012 and 2013 Ford Focus vehicles. This recall is being conducted by Yakima, not by Ford. Certain combined Q-Tower and Q128 Clip rooftop rack systems, part numbers 8000124 and 8000728, do not fully contact the door frame.

Fix: Yakima will notify owners, and Yakima or a Yakima dealer will refund the purchase of the Q-Tower and Q-128 Clip system. There is no replacement system available for the 2012-2013 model year Ford Focus. The safety recall began on October 15, 2012. Only vehicles equipped with the vehicle rack syst…

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring NHTSA Campaign #12V149000 · 05/04/2012

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.

Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND AS NECESSARY, CLEAN AND PROPERLY SEAL THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER MOTOR CONNECTOR. ANY INOPERATIVE WIPER MOTORS WILL BE REPLACED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FOR…

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #13V335000 · 01/08/2013

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 ve…

Fix: 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.

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch NHTSA Campaign #20V331000 · 08/06/2020

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 recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break mak…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website t…

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:evaporative Emissions:canister NHTSA Campaign #26V369000 · 09/06/2026

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.

Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in …

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Ford Focus common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 3,791 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Visibility/wiper
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

2012 Ford Focus safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2012 Ford Focus 5 DR FWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2012 Ford Focus MPG & running costs

Combined31 mpg
City27 mpg
Highway37 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,006

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Ford Focus worth?

Low
$7,000
Typical price
$9,415
High
$11,800

From 2,338 comparable 2012 Ford Focus listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Ford Focus costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$10,030
Depreciation (5 yrs)$6,400
Total$16,430
Per mile$0.22

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($9,415) with the same model 5 model-years older ($3,004), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Ford Focus trims & engines on record

Trims
SE · SEL · Titanium · S · BEV
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl 160 hp

2012 Ford Focus vehicles on record

Other Ford Focus model years

2012 Ford Focus — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Ford Focus have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls for the 2012 Ford Focus. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Focus?

Based on 3,791 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are steering, engine, structure.

What is the 2012 Ford Focus safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2012 Ford Focus an overall crash-test rating of 4 out of 5 stars (frontal 4★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2012 Ford Focus get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Ford Focus at about 31 mpg combined (27 city / 37 highway).

How much is a 2012 Ford Focus worth?

Comparable 2012 Ford Focus listings run roughly $7,000–$11,800, typically around $9,415 (from 2,338 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.