2012 Ford Focus, Quality Job None!!!

[JimsterG]

Compared to my 2003 Honda Accord that I bought new, the 12 Focus I have now has a superior build quality. The Honda went back under waranty for A/C that did not work so well, a failed power mirror, and a rear seatbelt that refused to retract. and that was just in the first few months. It all got sorted out over time, but honestly the Focus has a quieter interior than the Accord did.

[funktional]

Originally Posted by JimsterG

Compared to my 2003 Honda Accord that I bought new, the 12 Focus I have now has a superior build quality. The Honda went back under waranty for A/C that did not work so well, a failed power mirror, and a rear seatbelt that refused to retract. and that was just in the first few months. It all got sorted out over time, but honestly the Focus has a quieter interior than the Accord did.

It should, a lot has changed in almost 10 years in the auto industry. Not putting down your Focus but comparing an '03 Accord to a 2012 Focus is almost like comparing an F-15 with an F-35.

[ki4csq]

well, my Focus has been in the shop now a whole week.... and the call I got yesterday was that they were still trying to figure out what was wrong, but they have now duplicated the issue.

FORD, Just replace the damn thing now!!! If you don't, it will be the very last Ford I will ever, ever, own.....

[unfocused1]

Originally Posted by funktional

Why not sell it privately? Used car prices are ridiculous and are only going to get worse as new car sales improve and manufacturers offer fewer incentives to sell new cars.

I didn't buy a new Focus when my old one was totaled based on what I've read here about the latest model. I hope Ford steps up and helps you guys out, this really is a beautiful car (Latest get Focus), it's a shame that reliability isn't up to par.

From my perspective (YMMV), only that transmission noise is anything to worry about. Ford says it is normal but part of me still thinks it isn't, mostly due to what others have reported... and the ESPs not covering the clutches (part of the transmission). The latter is a yellow flag that suggests the noises we hear are indeed abnormal... Why would Ford otherwise not stand behind its automobile design and not cover one of the components therein? Especially something as major as any part of the transmission? (Again, other people who had problems DID get good customer service, with one or two reporting total transmission replacements, so I'm not going to worry regardless...)

And, yes, it is otherwise a perfect car. (Okay, I don't have MFT, but I wouldn't want it...) I still baby mine and I've almost had it a year. If it's just a transmission quirk, no problem. I hate conspiracy theories anyhow...

[hotleadsingerguy]

Originally Posted by unfocused1

From my perspective (YMMV), only that transmission noise is anything to worry about. Ford says it is normal but part of me still thinks it isn't, mostly due to what others have reported... and the ESPs not covering the clutches (part of the transmission). The latter is a yellow flag that suggests the noises we hear are indeed abnormal... Why would Ford otherwise not stand behind its automobile design and not cover one of the components therein? Especially something as major as any part of the transmission? (Again, other people who had problems DID get good customer service, with one or two reporting total transmission replacements, so I'm not going to worry regardless...)

And, yes, it is otherwise a perfect car. (Okay, I don't have MFT, but I wouldn't want it...) I still baby mine and I've almost had it a year. If it's just a transmission quirk, no problem. I hate conspiracy theories anyhow...

That's the thing...it's not a transmission quirk. I've been around the racing world for years and have driven many cars with this exact style of transmission. The problem is the design that Ford created is problematic. The software programming has the potential of ruining the clutches, which is a *massive* problem. No software should ever be created to actually hurt or destroy the hardware it runs on. That's a pretty basic tenet of programming.

[thehun]

Just FYI if you cannot get anywhere with the Dealer or Ford, contact BBB Auto Line..it is free

[lhcaz]

Originally Posted by JimsterG

Compared to my 2003 Honda Accord that I bought new, the 12 Focus I have now has a superior build quality. The Honda went back under waranty for A/C that did not work so well, a failed power mirror, and a rear seatbelt that refused to retract. and that was just in the first few months. It all got sorted out over time, but honestly the Focus has a quieter interior than the Accord did.

I also had the same a/c issues and way more so after 8 months of getting nowhere I took matters into my own hands and did some research.
At issue is the a/c condenser its behind the shutters that cover the radiator and they open when the car engine needs to cool down.aka the thermostat opens the fan turns on the shutters open. There is more to the system but for the most part that’s the science behind how it works. There is some air flow when the shutters are closed but simply not enough for any a/c system to work properly.
The main issue is the fords design, when we had cool temps like 85 to 95 degrees,
the car did not need as much fan time so the a/c condenser gets little or no are flow. Even with the a/c on max the shutters are closed, Thus giving us a cabin temp of 75 to 80 degrees (way to hot).
The a/c temp at the dash (vents) averaged 45 to 60 degrees on max but the temps were up and down as the shutters opened and closed over and over.
We live in the Mohave Desert so it gets hot like 100 to 115 even 125 degrees when it was that hot the car is Needing more fan time so the fan runs more so the a/c seemed to work.
Why?
Because the a/c condenser was getting max air flow.
The flaw is Fords shutter system having the a/c condenser behind the shutters;thus no air flow.
After consulting an attorney I was told I could use the Lemon law because of the few months i owned the car, low miles and a multitude of required documented trips to the dealer for the same a/c issue.
He also told me the focus is selling like hot cakes and ford will never
Admit to a design flaw and or an a/c issue. so no full refund.
A factory Ford rep. also told me there was nothing wrong with the car.
So I traded my new 2012 ford focus in on a new 2012 import.
The a/c blows 29 degrees all the time.
I don't feel its fair to list the brand i now own but there truck line
did pull the space shuttle.

FORD
I have never been so let down in my life with a US made car.

[thehun]

As soon as I saw the shutter system....major flaw design especially in the long term so I made sure I didnt get a car with shutters.

[suss6052]

Originally Posted by thehun

As soon as I saw the shutter system....major flaw design especially in the long term so I made sure I didnt get a car with shutters.

How is it a major design flaw? Mine are always open when I have the a/c set on and I've still yet to actually be able to witness them closed as I don't tend to stand in front of the car with the engine running except perhaps in winter to get the defroster going while scraping the snow and ice off the windows.

Maybe the earlier software was more aggressive in shutting the shutters or something as I recall the April 2011 build 2012 I had in November for a rental with the manual HVAC controls had a poorly functioning a/c at freeway speeds on a 50-60 degree day but as soon as I slowed down and puled off the freeway the a/c started to get ice cold again ergo on that case at least the shutters were affecting the a/c operation by allowing the condensor to vapor lock and not work as effectively the car was getting 35.x mpg keeping up with traffic and generally seeing how quiet it was at speed.

[Kabigon]

Originally Posted by lhcaz

I also had the same a/c issues and way more so after 8 months of getting nowhere I took matters into my own hands and did some research.
At issue is the a/c condenser its behind the shutters that cover the radiator and they open when the car engine needs to cool down.aka the thermostat opens the fan turns on the shutters open. There is more to the system but for the most part that’s the science behind how it works. There is some air flow when the shutters are closed but simply not enough for any a/c system to work properly.

That's not how it works in my car.