2012 Ford Focus acceleration & cruise control problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Jul 25, 2026AROther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise ControlSteering

   The TCU/TCM has been going in and out of control. Sometimes it will work then others it will shut off. Speedometer won’t work, power steering won’t work, cruise control won’t work, etc. and when you do the transmission reset for it, it won’t work at all.

   NHTSA complaint #11752841 · source
2. Filed Dec 29, 2025PAEngineAcceleration & Cruise ControlSteering

   the car runs without power when shifted to drive gear. It is sluggish trying to speed up. Took to Ford Dealers on a recall with that is suppose to take care of it..nothing seems to have changed. I am not sure anything was done. trans makes a rough sound starting..

   NHTSA complaint #11707435 · source
3. Filed Aug 23, 2024MOOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   On highway with my 18 month old and as a cat merged on ramp I signaled and moved to left lane. I had to move and quickly so that another fast car would not hit me in the rear end where my baby was seated in car seat. In only the 3 seconds I had to make decision which hit would be better for me and my child, my car stuck in the lower gears and I could not speed up to move out of way or pass vehicle parallel my car was losing speed rather than gaining when I pushed in gas to…

   NHTSA complaint #11610355 · source
4. Filed Jun 13, 2024AKElectrical SystemEngineAcceleration & Cruise Control

   Vehicle won’t start on multiple occasions. Vehicle struggles to turn on and lag to turn off. Vehicle struggles to change gears to speed up

   NHTSA complaint #11594231 · source
5. Filed Apr 4, 2024VIFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   My 2012 Ford SE stalls out between First, second and third gear whenever I am accelerating to 40mph. The Transmission error continues to pop up after driving for a long period of time. Whenever driving 50 mph to 70 mph as soon as I release the gas pedal, the car goes into neutral stall out & whenever I press down on the gas pedal nothing happens and I have to pull over & Turn the car off and turn it back on to reset the transmission computer. If I don’t do that and I press…

   NHTSA complaint #11581162 · source
6. Filed Jan 25, 2024MIFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   The transmission module, and Transmission. While on freeway with my family car shut off while driving. Yes , Yes , No there were no warning signs until after the jerking and shaking started after 39 days then the engine light came on. After that a that the sign said transmission over heating pull over and let car cool down. what was most scary is that it shut off while driving.

   NHTSA complaint #11567854 · source
7. Filed Sep 5, 2023146,000 miUTTowedAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The message that the transmission had overheated was displayed. The contact was able to push the vehicle off the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the part was on backorder. The parts…

   NHTSA complaint #11542696 · source
8. Filed Feb 22, 2023MAAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   Only 67867 miles and the transmision is not working . I only drive short distances. Allwise have a problem. Since I buy the car. I never complain because I am very busy. But. know the car stop complete

   NHTSA complaint #11508616 · source
9. Filed Sep 19, 2022TNEngineOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise Control

   Transmission over heating stop safely light comes on transmission hot stop wait 5 second I do the restart of the transmission and it keeps doing it

   NHTSA complaint #11485138 · source
10. Filed Aug 29, 2022OHOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

    TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE I called for and they now claim my vechile cant be covered because it's out of this stated warranty by a few months. We hThe car has been in for service regarding the transmission on this car multiple times. We have broguht in for service as well as call for many years, over and over again, we've been told there is nothing wrong with the car. even though it has a warning for tranmission malfunction service now. ave been…

    NHTSA complaint #11481781 · source
11. Filed Aug 3, 2022CAAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

    -Loss of power from the pedal, not able to accelerate from a stop. RPM rides high until it shifts. "Transmission Malfunction. Service Now" notice. -Unaffected by other traffic but not able to properly maneuver traffic. -Problem has re-occurred but not taken to a service center. -No inspection conducted yet. - No warning lamps appeared until issue occurred a few times.

    NHTSA complaint #11477335 · source
12. Filed Jan 9, 2022COElectrical SystemEngineAcceleration & Cruise Control

    Transmission has spontaneously went from overheating to not while driving, gears are slipping have speed and when it goes to shift all power lost, then it kicks back in. It was coded with transmission control module failure. The module and both actuators have been replaced now car will not relearn shifting patterns. Spontaneous overheating transmission messages just when car is turned on. Transmission control module has been programmed by dealership but all problems continue…

    NHTSA complaint #11446817 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology