Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the window motor in the passenger's side window was no longer functioning while attempting to roll down the window. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 99,085.
My wipers worked, then paused mid windshield and went back down. Now they no longer work. Both fuses have been checked and there is nothing wrong with them. Now my wipers are unusable which makes my car unsafe to drive. Brought it to the mechanic and they said it looks like the same issues that affected this model on a recall a few years ago. However, when I look up recalls it shows that there are none that affect my specific vin.
As I was driving approximately 60-65mph on the garden state parkway my windshield wipers came on without me telling them to. They cycled through fast, normal, intermittent, off for 60-90 seconds per cycle. After the second cycle I decided to exit the highway and find a place to park and shut the car off. I then hear a thud as I come to a light, 30 seconds later I see smoke. I pull into the parking lot and see lots of smoke and some flames coming from under my hood. I turn off the car and the wipers keep going. I get out and call 911 and within a few minutes my car is engulfed in flames.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 25 to 35 MPH, the windshield wipers activated on their own and the contact noticed smoke and flames under the hood. The contact pulled over and called 911. The fire department extinguished the fire. Neither a police nor a fire report were filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.
Whenever it rains and I'm using my wipers they will just shut off randomly or they do a very inconvenient delay at the worst of times especially when it's raining hard. It's dangerous and you can't see. Oddly enough my horn don't work either. I got the car January 1st,2020 of course it was previously owned I got it from a used car dealer the horn worked until I think March, 2020. I hit a bump and it's like it just quit after that then a couple week later I got a bump again and it started workin for a little bit. Then a couple days went by and it just stopped never to work again. Checked all the fuses they all looked good none looked blown. It's scary because so many times people will either pull out in front of me like they don't see me or almost hit me and I have no way to alert them that they almost him me and need to pay attention. …
I have a 2012 Ford Focus titanium hatchback. I took my car into bob tomes Ford for a shuttering problem and was told to wait and see to continue to drive the car. Months later I had the TCM replace and now my clutch is out. These were all issues at the time I originally brought my car into Ford. After the TCM was replace I tried to pick up my car from bob tomes Ford service center and the service team could not start my car or get it in gear( yet somehow they "test drove" it). My car has stalled in the middle of intersections, my check engine light has come, my transmission is overheating and asking me to pull over and wait 5 minuets. This is extremely dangerous as I am a mother and have up to 3 children with me at one time. I can not trust my car to get me from a to b safely. My car dies randomly when it wants to. My car is now completely undriveable. …
My heater box fails to defrost my windshield and I have to dangerously try to wipe the fog off the windshield by hand to be able to see. Without the air to clear it off and the windshield fogging over it is extremely dangerous to everyone. The first time the car was stationary and I waited for the windshield to clear using the sun to help. The sun is not always available to help with this problem. This problem has occurred while driving causing a dangerous safety issue for everyone around including me. I am getting the car fixed at a cost of about $1000 which is a huge amount. The part is on back order with many in front of me with the same problem therefore I do not know when this will be fixed. I believe that there should be a mandatory recall for the safety of everyone. …
The car rolls forward/backward when in park. The car shudders and shakes when you take off or when you slow down and the accelerate. I have had the clutch worked, replaced and had the replacement's software updated. It behaves like it did when it needed to be replaced the first time. I was told this was normal and I was told to drive the car like I stole it when taking off and accelerating. I speak the truth when I tell you that....exact words...drive it like I stole it. I have modified my driving habits but it has not helped and I feel those habits are dangerous. The passenger side window has in intermittent problem where it will not roll up when rolled down. The door latch May take up to six months to be fixed due to lack of parts and the clutch still stutters and shudders around corners and slow speed take offs. Updated 12/29/16.
My rear windshield exploded. It was parked. The car was running, I closed the driver door and the windshield shattered. It was made by carlite. Ford is not showing any concern, nor the dealership. It's a very expensive fix and makes it worse that it shattered on its own. Ford has had a bad rap with glass for a long time though, just wish I would have known about it before now. They want a car payment every month but don't want to take responsibility for a poor quality department. I am not sure what a person is suppose to do anymore. If you don't have a savings it's down to either paying for the car that now has no rear windshield or get a windshield. Don't want to turn it into insurance, rates will go up for something I didn't cause and its a 500 dollar deductible. I will never buy a Ford again nor any vehicle that has carlite glass.
While driving my 2012 Ford Focus se on 4/28/2021 at 45mph my windshield wipers began to move erratically on their own - at different speed levels. They did not respond to the lever at all. The wipers continued after ignition was turned off. At 7:15 am the next morning of 4/29/2021 while driving at 20mph, the windshield wipers responded to the lever when turned on and off. However at 10:30a, the windshield wipers began to move back and forth erratically again without being activated by the lever. Later in the after noon, 5 pm while driving on the highway at 65mph, the windshield wipers stopped working all together in the midst of a rainstorm. As of today, 4/30/2021 the windshield wipers are non-responsive.
Related recalls
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Switch/wiring
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.
Remedy: 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.
Window & Wiper complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2012 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 70 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2012 Ford Focus, 2% of the model year's 3,770 complaints. The component named most often is power window devices and controls (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Ford Focus window & wiper problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 12V-149 (switch/wiring, Apr 5, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2012 Ford Focus window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 44,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to windows, wipers & sunroof problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.