This will be a little rant/review/praise of my 2012 Ford Focus Titanium and the various problems I've had with it in the hopes someone at Ford Customer service will see it. This June will be a full year since I've taken ownership of the car. Up until recently, I did not use my car for commuting hence such the relatively low mileage before I get into all the details, I will let you all know I am currently considering filing a Lemon dispute but I have not had a lot of the problems others have had i.e. the steering wheel issue, the grinding gear issue etc 99% of all my problems have been electrical.
I'll start off with the praises:
I do really want to love this car, for the price I paid and everything that is included with the car I don't think I can beat it which is why I chose it. The ride is relatively smooth, I get compliments on the car all the time. I chose every package except the technology package in which it parks itself because well I think it's totally pointless with the exception of a back-up camera... but let's be real thats not worth a grand. I love the MyFord Touch system despite all it's problems(we'll get to that a little bit later), I think the Navigation is by far amongst the best I've ever seen regardless of portable or in-dash. I don't use Sync all that often but when it works it's really good. I love the stock 19" rims on the car, the color is beautiful, and the interior design is relatively nice(there are a few things here and there that look like half-assed job but what can you do).
Now the cons: I have the handling package, so getting 40mpg is unrealistic but I'm getting 21/23 mpg tops, with a slight mixture of highway/city. It doesn't matter whether I was using regular or premium gasoline, mileage is the same while again I understand the bigger wheels/rims will affect mpg... I don't think it'd be this severe, but I could be wrong?
Now onto the one thing that has seen my car head back into the dealer for something that is not an oil change... the electrical.
First, I have had my PCIM(? I think or TCIM) module replaced twice, for those that may not know this is essentially the "computer" to MyFord Touch. I've had two black screens of death. My first black screen of death was literally after only one week of ownership of the car. The second black screen of death was more recently, I received the new update from Ford in the mail, I go to do the update myself and mid-update boom another black screen of death, another trip to the dealer, and a new PCIM module.
Now my third trip to the dealer, my car had to be towed back to the dealership. On my way back to work from lunch in the middle of the highway, my car's gauges kept turning on and off, the air conditioner would turn on by itself, I was unable to close or open the windows, essentially it looked like my electrical system was frying. I get back to work and luckily I am able to close the open window as it was going to rain, I try to turn the car back on and it won't start. I work for a trucking company, so some of my truck drivers helped me check the battery and the fuses and everything seemed ok. From there I call my dealer who tells me to call road service. The tow truck guy comes and he simply goes into the car and turns on the car as if nothing just like always no? haha.
Anyways, me and the two truck driver(real nice guy and Focus Fanatic =]) decide it's best to just two the car down anyways to be safe. This was two days ago. Today, I finally get a call from my dealership. Apparently, they ordered a part to replace something with my fuse box, I also need to drive back down to the dealership to drop off my second key so they can re-program it. Mind you I am about 30-35 mins out from the dealership, and there is a toll on the way down. The money I spent on tolls and gas adds up to a pretty penny.
Anyways, long story short I'm talking it over with my family and we are planning filing a Lemon Law dispute. Now whether it goes anywhere, who knows, but it's worth a shot.
With that being said, I still love this car and I want to be able to love it I doubt everyone will have the same problems I've had, but my 2000 VW Golf with over 100,000 miles is currently outlasting my 2012 Ford Focus with under 7,000 miles and that's something I just cannot accept from a new car. I'm posting this on the forum to hopefully get someone from Ford to take a look, and for those interested in the car to see both the Good, the bad, and the ugly of this car in which I have so much of a love/hate relationship with. I'll keep everyone posted on the outcome.
I'll start off with the praises:
I do really want to love this car, for the price I paid and everything that is included with the car I don't think I can beat it which is why I chose it. The ride is relatively smooth, I get compliments on the car all the time. I chose every package except the technology package in which it parks itself because well I think it's totally pointless with the exception of a back-up camera... but let's be real thats not worth a grand. I love the MyFord Touch system despite all it's problems(we'll get to that a little bit later), I think the Navigation is by far amongst the best I've ever seen regardless of portable or in-dash. I don't use Sync all that often but when it works it's really good. I love the stock 19" rims on the car, the color is beautiful, and the interior design is relatively nice(there are a few things here and there that look like half-assed job but what can you do).
Now the cons: I have the handling package, so getting 40mpg is unrealistic but I'm getting 21/23 mpg tops, with a slight mixture of highway/city. It doesn't matter whether I was using regular or premium gasoline, mileage is the same while again I understand the bigger wheels/rims will affect mpg... I don't think it'd be this severe, but I could be wrong?
Now onto the one thing that has seen my car head back into the dealer for something that is not an oil change... the electrical.
First, I have had my PCIM(? I think or TCIM) module replaced twice, for those that may not know this is essentially the "computer" to MyFord Touch. I've had two black screens of death. My first black screen of death was literally after only one week of ownership of the car. The second black screen of death was more recently, I received the new update from Ford in the mail, I go to do the update myself and mid-update boom another black screen of death, another trip to the dealer, and a new PCIM module.
Now my third trip to the dealer, my car had to be towed back to the dealership. On my way back to work from lunch in the middle of the highway, my car's gauges kept turning on and off, the air conditioner would turn on by itself, I was unable to close or open the windows, essentially it looked like my electrical system was frying. I get back to work and luckily I am able to close the open window as it was going to rain, I try to turn the car back on and it won't start. I work for a trucking company, so some of my truck drivers helped me check the battery and the fuses and everything seemed ok. From there I call my dealer who tells me to call road service. The tow truck guy comes and he simply goes into the car and turns on the car as if nothing just like always no? haha.
Anyways, me and the two truck driver(real nice guy and Focus Fanatic =]) decide it's best to just two the car down anyways to be safe. This was two days ago. Today, I finally get a call from my dealership. Apparently, they ordered a part to replace something with my fuse box, I also need to drive back down to the dealership to drop off my second key so they can re-program it. Mind you I am about 30-35 mins out from the dealership, and there is a toll on the way down. The money I spent on tolls and gas adds up to a pretty penny.
Anyways, long story short I'm talking it over with my family and we are planning filing a Lemon Law dispute. Now whether it goes anywhere, who knows, but it's worth a shot.
With that being said, I still love this car and I want to be able to love it I doubt everyone will have the same problems I've had, but my 2000 VW Golf with over 100,000 miles is currently outlasting my 2012 Ford Focus with under 7,000 miles and that's something I just cannot accept from a new car. I'm posting this on the forum to hopefully get someone from Ford to take a look, and for those interested in the car to see both the Good, the bad, and the ugly of this car in which I have so much of a love/hate relationship with. I'll keep everyone posted on the outcome.