Problems · by component

2012 Ford Focus exterior lighting problems

26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Focus cite exterior lighting, 1% of all 3,805 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
26
1% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Se acelera y desacelera repentinamente Quiero acelerar para llegar a la mismas velocidad del trafico y no lo hace y eso hase que ponga en peligro la vidad mia y de mi familia por que otro carro puede chocarme. Cuando sucedio eso se activo el CHECK, lo apago por completo y los parabrisas se activan repentinamente , todo esto es muy raro y no es bueno para mi”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 9, 2024Exterior lighting, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemCrash reportedODI 11576328
“I have reported before my vehicle is and has been cyber attacked. This time around my horn has been disable. They turn on the radio, they turn on the light lights of the vehicle, they turn on the radio, they turn on the ac/heat control. If I take it in again, they are going to tell me nothing is wrong. This is very dangerous for me as a driver. I cannot drive a vehicle without a horn. I NEVER heard from you guys on the last report I made. Not sure how this one is going to help. This Ford vehicle is dangerous! If you can please assist, I would appreciate it. Thank you!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 12, 2024Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11571363
“I BEGAN TO NOTICE MY VEHICLE HAVING LIGHTING ISSUES, INCLUDING DIMMER INSIDE DOME LIGHTS, FLICKERING LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, AND IT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME THAT MY BACK UP LIGHTS WEREN'T FUNCTIONAL AT ALL. I WAS PARKED PARALLEL WITH OTHER VEHICLES IN A PARKING LOT. THEN AFTER STARTING MY VEHICLE, I SHIFTED MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE GOING ONLY ABOUT 2 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BEEP, ALONG WITH A WARNING THAT MY LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT DOOR WAS OPEN. IN THE SITUATION, THE BEEPING WAS VERY DISTRACTING AND COULD HAVE INCREASED THE RISK OF CRASHING. I IMMEDIATELY RE-PARKED MY VEHICLE SO THAT I COULD INVESTIGATE. I OPENED , THEN FIRMLY CLOSED ALL 4 OF MY DOORS, THEN TIRED TO OPEN THE TRUNK , ONLY TO FIND THAT MY TRUNK WOULDN'T OPEN. THE BEEPING PERSISTED UNTIL I PRESSED THE OK BUTTON ON MY STEERING WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE HOME SAFELY, ALTHOUGH THE WARNING REMAINED ON MY DISPLAY THE ENTIRE DRIVE HOME. MY TRUNK WOULDN'T OPEN WHEN PRESSING ON THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON ON MY SMART-KEY EITHER. I DROVE THE VEHICLE IN THAT CONDITION FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO LOCATED THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER DOING AMPLE RESEARCH ON OTHER…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2020Electrical system, Exterior lighting, StructureODI 11374632
“#01. THE PANEL LIGHT ARE NOT WORKING IN MY 2012 FORD FOCUS HATCHBACK SE - THE FUEL WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT WORK EITHER WAY - STATIONARY OR IN MOTION, THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. I NEED FURTHER ASSISTANCE IN TROUBLESHOOTING FOR THIS VEHICLE. TO INSPECT MY VEHICLE AND CHECK WHY THE LIGHTS ARE NOT COMING ON. #2 THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE IS VERY CORRODED. #3. I'MNOTABLE TO PROPERLYOPENCAR FRONT DOOR FROM OUTSIDE ONPASSENGERSIDE. I CAN OPEN THE DOOR BUT EXERTING A GREATER FORCE WHEN I PULL TO OPEN THIS DOOR THAN THE REST OF THE DOORS.*DT *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2020Exterior lighting, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11361439
“WHEN YOU GO TO PULL OUT THE CAR WANTS TO JUMP AN STALL THEN U BE GOING DOWN THE ROAD SOME AN THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AN THE TRANSMISSION DONT WANT TO GO OUT OF GEAR THE WAY IT SHOULD I HAVE A 7 MONTH OLD GRAND BABY AN IT SCARES ME TO DRIVE SOMETHING THATS SO DEFECTIVE. PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS. HAD IT CHECK AT FORS AN THEY STILL ANT FIXED IT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 26, 2020Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lightingFire reportedODI 11301924
“1) WHILE DRIVING IN CITY TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING. NEVER WORKED AGAIN AFTER THAT. 2) WHILE DRIVING IN CITY AND HIGHWAY POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. SHUTTING OFF VEHICLE AND RESTARTING GENERALLY FIXES THIS ISSUE. 3) WHILE DRIVING IN CITY VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING AND GAVE NOTICE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AS SOON AS SAFELY POSSIBLE AS TRANSMISSION IS OVERHEATING. WAS STUCK ON SIDE OF ROAD FOR 30 MINUTES AFTER STOPPING VEHICLE AND SHUTTING OFF BEFORE COULD START AND COMPLETE DRIVE TO WORK. AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE NOW AS THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN HAVING ISSUES BEFORE THAT. CLUTCH WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY AND IS INCLUDED IN THE FORD TRANSMISSION CLASS ACTION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2019Steering, Power train, Exterior lightingODI 11241545

Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 13, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

Ford is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Focus BEV vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, manufactured September 15, 2011, through May 6, 2013; and model year 2013 Focus ST vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, manufactured February 16, 2012, through May 7, 2013. Due to a wiring incompatability, the front side marker lamps may not function. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Exterior lightingReported Aug 1, 2013NHTSA 13V335000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 13, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.