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Ford Focus ElectricModel year report

2012 Ford Focus Electric Problems

Compared with other Ford Focus Electric years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

27/100 0.6× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
33filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
19,000miles, 29 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
105 MPGecombined, Electric FWD · 110 city / 99 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Ford Focus Electric (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 33 consumer complaints for the 2012 Ford Focus Electric. The part named most often is electrical system, with 14 complaints (42% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (14) and steering (6). 29 of the complaints include a mileage, and 69% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 19,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 22 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the control module, 1 NHTSA investigation and 14 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) and 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 Ford Focus Electric model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 27 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Other or unknown (1), Suspension (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “My vehicle experienced a stop safely now message while driving. Power were cut off and the vehicle stalled in moving traffic. My vehicle had done a recall on the power harness to address the stop safely now issue but I don't think the recall fixed it completely.”

NHTSA complaint #11220907, filed 2019-06, 83,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Stop safely now message appeared while traveling about 30mph and slowing down for a stoplight. Car would not move while message was lit. The car had 88% charge, and was charging 5min prior to the incident. Trying to restart the car was unsuccessfully at first, but I turned the car off, opened a door, closed it, then it restarted after that. I was stuck for about 3 or 4 minutes.”

NHTSA complaint #10548777, filed 2013-10, 8,033 miles

Steering: “Twice since we have owned this car the steering wheel locks up after the engine is started. My wife says there is a message on the dash display about the steering. Both times she showed me the steering being locked up in the driveway of our home. I was able to correct the problem by turning off the ignition switch and restarting. She told me this morning it has happened to her while driving once on a highway at 60 MPH . She was able to strong arm the steering wheel to the shoulder. I am extremely concerned about this problem. …”

NHTSA complaint #11113528, filed 2018-07, 80,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “The Ford Focus Electric has two drive modes: d and l . The latter is more aggressive in regenerative braking. When I approach a right turn into my neighborhood, there is a short segment of cement between the two asphalt roads. I believe the traction/steering control gets confused, and the regenerative braking disengages, causing the vehicle to accelerate and lurch forward, even if I am braking/decelerating. Steering behavior also seems affected. The first time this happened was very disconcerting as I thought I was going to crash into the vehicle stopped at the cross-street I was turning onto. …”

NHTSA complaint #11100088, filed 2018-06, 13,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

69% of the 29 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 8,664 and 65,000 miles.

28%0–1028%10–2514%25–5010%50–7510%75–1003%100–1507%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (29 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 19,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

201320147201520162017201820192021
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Ford Focus Electric version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); for electric versions it is the cost of electricity and the rating is in MPGe.

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Focus Electric FWDElectricCVT11099105 MPGe$700

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2012 Ford Focus Electric → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 22 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 22 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ford Focus Electric

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
201776,6500—107 MPGe—Not enough data
2016510,0001—105 MPGe—Not enough data
2015127,0502—105 MPGe—Not enough data
2014559,5002—105 MPGe50 · TypicalFalling
2013695,4503—105 MPGe62 · TypicalStable
20123319,0003—105 MPGe27 · FewerFalling

All Ford Focus Electric model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Ford Focus Electric have?

NHTSA recorded 33 consumer complaints for the 2012 Ford Focus Electric as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Ford Focus Electric is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 14 complaints (42% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 14.

Has the 2012 Ford Focus Electric been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How efficient is the 2012 Ford Focus Electric according to the EPA?

The EPA rates the 2012 Ford Focus Electric (Focus Electric, Electric) at 105 MPGe combined, 110 city and 99 highway, with an estimated annual electricity cost of $700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other battery and motor versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Ford Focus Electric reported?

Among the 29 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 19,000 miles and the middle half falls between 8,664 and 65,000 miles; 69% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.