New Focus steering Fail.

YELLAUTE · 24-10-2013, 06:41 PM

2012 Ford Focus Sport Manual. 5500 kilometres on the clock, 11 months old, and the POWER STEERING FAIL warning comes on as the steering wheel rips out of my wife’s hands, centring the steering and causing the Focus to go across the corner she was entering before she could stop it inches from school children walking out of the school where she works.
We got it to Ford dealer and was told “it is the first one that has happened to” according to FoMoCo Australia
We were told the next day, cant replicate the problem come pick it up its all working fine.
In the mean time I come on here and find references to all the Focus of the same model (all over the world) with the exact same problem….First one ….bull *****.

We refused to pick it up until it is fixed and there it has sat for five weeks, I asked yesterday what is happening and got the answer that the dealer is waiting on FoMoCo Engineering to give them some answers on what they can do to fix it. The dealer has added 1500 kilometres to it trying to replicate the problem. (That’s great on such a low kilometre vehicle) I was also told not a spanner has touched the car in all that time except for the 7500klm service we paid for (we haven’t driven it since 5500 kilometres)

It goes on…..no one has found the fix for any of the ones on the web, and I cant see FoMoCo doing anything about ours. So we own a current model Focus Manual Sport we paid $28,000.00 for 11 months ago but can’t drive it unless we are willing to be crash test dummies for Ford.

fiestaz · 24-10-2013, 08:10 PM

That is really worrying. I wouldnt want to drive it either.

Were any error codes logged? there should have been as an error did come up.

YELLAUTE · 24-10-2013, 08:51 PM

There was an error warning on the dash, it even had a witness (the deputy head mistress) however it had "mysteriously" disappeared according to the service people at the dealership.

fiestaz · 24-10-2013, 08:58 PM

hmm sounds suss to me.... if an error code comes up at all, it should be logged. Always.

Its a toughy as to what you should do next. It would be extremely hard to drive that car comfortably again knowing nothing has been done or fixed.

By the sounds of it they are only waiting for it to do it again, they should probably be pulling things apart and looking deeper to check if everything is 100% ok. Then get into the electronic side of things. Motors etc checking to see if they are ok.

Could be worth trying another dealer?

Franco Cozzo · 24-10-2013, 10:26 PM

Thats the problem with intermittent problems, pain in the ***.

A lot of the time at work we get a van come in, saying the van is doing X problem.

We can't replicate the problem, one off electrical bug.

Then it happens again, van comes back in, still wont do it etc.

747jet · 24-10-2013, 10:37 PM

Check the wireing under the steering column.Found wireing rubbing on. Moving parts causing this problem. Get it checked

YELLAUTE · 25-10-2013, 01:52 AM

Spoke to consumer protection today. They say I will have to make a claim in magistrates court against the dealer, not FoMoCo. They said I purchased the new Focus from the dealer and have returned it to the dealer to have it repaired. My claim is to be based on the vehicle being not fit for purpose and it's the dealers problem to get Ford involved.

We cannot continue without our vehicle.

No work has been done on the vehicle, the dealer has stopped driving it to try to replicate the problem saying its not right to continue to run up kilometres on such a low kilometre customers vehicle, especially if we are going to end up selling it.

Selling it!!! We purchased it for $28,000.00 11 months ago and the dealer says its worth about $18,500 - $19,000 that's just not good enough $9 grand loss for 5500 kilometres, and who will end up owning a Focus with a dangerous fault? And will they be told?

If this continues we will be posting this major dangerous fault with this model Focus on every forum along with letters to papers, motor magazines and everywhere that will publish our story.

YELLAUTE · 25-10-2013, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 747jet

Check the wireing under the steering column.Found wireing rubbing on. Moving parts causing this problem. Get it checked

I am not allowed near the vehicle unless I am willing to take it home and drive it until the problem happens again.
It's a 11 month old vehicle with a three year warranty. It has a dangerous fault that can kill if it reoccurs in the wrong place with a small ( not very strong) driver. It is not fit for purpose.

Google Ford Focus Steering problem and read about the few hundred 2012 Ford Focus all over the world that have the same problem, some have had the steering fail on the open road/ freeway at high speed with bad results. Ford want me to take my wife's car back and let her drive it until lit happens again.

Yellow_Festiva · 25-10-2013, 08:15 AM

I hate reading threads like this, brings back so many bad memories.....

It seems the same lines are used throughout the country... 'never heard that one before, it's unique to your vehicle'...

In any event, I believe that your warranty is 'extended' by the time it is sitting in the dealer getting repaired. This may or may not apply to you as I'm sure they are holding it against their liking.

I had to video certain problems with my car before they would believe me that it was happening. On the flip side, I had pictures of intermittent problems happening and the '1 picture' wasn't a 'pattern' and I was to wait for the problem to happen again before they even think about taking any action. In the last case it was the LCD screen blanking or getting pixelated....

Oh, the value they offered is probably the trade in... I sold privately in the end.

And yes, the bunch of clowns also offered that I take my car down to the used car lot to trade in if I wasn't happy with the car they sold me that they stuffed up while the 'expert, specialist technicians' were slowly killing my car each time they got their hands on it....

Really sorry to hear dude...

YELLAUTE · 25-10-2013, 10:49 AM

Just spoke to Ford Customer "dont" Care and she said Ford are not the ones responsible for the car sitting in the dealership. She said there is currently no fault and the dealer has done 1500 Klms trying to replicate the fault, we have been told the car is ready for us to pick it up and give to my wife to drive and we have refused to pick it up so it will sit there indefinitely.

She sounded like she was reading some prepared statement. Is this what is called Customer Care?

We do not have a loan car!

Franco Cozzo · 26-10-2013, 09:31 PM

Is yours a Thai built Focus or the German one?

LVzetec · 27-10-2013, 07:27 AM

Actually I think that I had a similar problem occur one morning in my LV Focus Mk11. I started it and the power steering fail light came on, with no power steering. Fortunately this didn't happen whilst driving as there was no power assistance.

n my case I turned the motor off, and then restarted without the error.

Since then the problem has not re-occurred (touch wood)

YELLAUTE · 29-10-2013, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Is yours a Thai built Focus or the German one?

Thai built.

YELLAUTE · 29-10-2013, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LVzetec

Actually I think that I had a similar problem occur one morning in my LV Focus Mk11. I started it and the power steering fail light came on, with no power steering. Fortunately this didn't happen whilst driving as there was no power assistance.

n my case I turned the motor off, and then restarted without the error.

Since then the problem has not re-occurred (touch wood)

You should do more than touch wood.!
My missus had no chance of turning the wheel when the assistance went away, it was sudden and she said it felt like the steering wheel lock snapped on . It ripped the wheel out of her hands and steered straight ahead, across the corner (not around the corner) onto the wrong side of the road before she could pull it up. Yes she turned the motor off after demonstrating to the bystanders that the motor was still running and there was a warning bong bong coming from the dash as well as the warning STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQ'D, When she restarted the motor the steering worked.

Some others have not got out of it quite so easily, there is now reports of two (that I know of) high speed incidents of steering assist failure in the 2012/2013 Ford Focus and both did not end well (no one seriously hurt yet but its only a matter of time) most of the other 100 or so reports I have read are at slow speed or just after start up, but quite a lot have had it happen a number of times and one after picking up the Focus from a dealer after being told they could not replicate the problem and it did it on the way home causing a incident with a kerb destroying a wheel and tyre.

Some one is going to get hurt before Ford will even acknowledge there is a problem.

Western Australian Consumer Protection Motor division has a report from us and one more and wants more people with the problem to report the incidents.

YELLAUTE · 31-10-2013, 12:27 PM

Six weeks now and still no fix. Ford Australia is just waiting us out. its a game to them.
They have lost one of their most loyal customers they could ever have. All that money they spend trying to get new customers. If only they looked after their existing owners.

aratic · 31-10-2013, 02:24 PM

Has there been an actual fix publicised on overseas forums or the like? Or is it a mystery?

I know with the ST there has been a number of people in the UK getting the whole steering rack assembly replaced under warranty due to issues with wandering and stiffening. But if it were me I'd probably bite the bullet and just pay for a new rack to be installed, atleast youd get to use your car.

It sounds like Ford have done everything they can to fix the problem. Sorry if its not what you want to hear

YELLAUTE · 01-11-2013, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aratic

Has there been an actual fix publicised on overseas forums or the like? Or is it a mystery?

I know with the ST there has been a number of people in the UK getting the whole steering rack assembly replaced under warranty due to issues with wandering and stiffening. But if it were me I'd probably bite the bullet and just pay for a new rack to be installed, atleast youd get to use your car.

It sounds like Ford have done everything they can to fix the problem. Sorry if its not what you want to hear

Pay for a new rack so we can use our BRAND NEW CAR. why would we bother paying $29,000.00 for a new car with three years warranty against faults and then when that BRAND NEW CAR has a warning come up on the dash STEERING ASSIST FAILURE SERVICE REQ'D We then go and pay more money to Ford so we can use it.
Sorry, but I think you must work for Ford.

A call from the dealer yesterday said the matter has been escalated to top brass in Ford and the matter being discussed is a buy back.

I take that to mean they cant fix it, six weeks with it sitting in a dealers yard, Ford bosses are now discussing doing the right thing and giving back our money so we can purchase another car for my wife that is safe and is "fit for purpose"

PS consumer Protection here in WA does not agree with you. Ä new car, as with all goods sold in Australia, must be fit for purpose, if not the manufacturer must replace with a new product or return the purchase price. That's the Law, and they say this case is straight forward the only problem we have is how long are we suppose to wait and why are Ford making us hurt so much over it. they don't seem to care at all about existing customers.

YELLAUTE · 01-11-2013, 05:06 PM

About replacement of parts to fix the problem.

Until they bother to find the problem, identify the part and replace the actual part, replacing parts does no good. there is reports of parts being replaced (guessed to be responsible) both in the USA and Melbourne Australia, and the vehicles have been bought back with the same problem weeks/months later. One case in Melbourne was a steering rack was replaced, fixed the problem for two weeks. a couple of cases in USA have had the computer and some relays replaced, no fix.

There is a lot of talk in USA of it being a simple wiring rubbing around the steering column that takes power away from the power steering electric pump. this has not been verified and although there is plenty of reports on the www and various forums, Ford Motor Company of Australia has told us "no one else has reported this problem to them and as the dealer cannot replicate the problem, there is nothing they can do" So how hard are they looking at finding a fix?

Its over for us. my wife loves her new Focus, we have driven all the competitors cars over the last few weeks and she says none are as good as her Focus. she still wants it back fixed, but ford are not even trying to fix it (it has not moved for two weeks , sitting in the dealers yard in the same position covered in dirt and bird droppings)
We will never purchase another new Ford, whatever the value of the new car warranty is in the purchase price, its not worth one cent to us. we will get the money back and purchase a three year old Ford (out of warranty) or a new car of another brand. That will be the first new car in twelve years that has not been a Ford.

aratic · 01-11-2013, 05:09 PM

I dont work for Ford, but looking at it from both sides for a warranty claim to be accepted (and paid for) by Ford Australia there would have to be some evidence provided by the dealer that there is a problem. Your dealer, not through lack of trying, as lets remember they have done 1500kms in your car (think of the labour costs associated with that alone), has not been able to replicate the problem.

Yes correct you shouldnt have to pay for a new steering rack on a new car, but whats better, being a few bucks out of pocket or having peace of mind, actually being able to use your new car and the lack of hassle its probably causing.

Sorry but just my 2c

marg99 · 01-11-2013, 05:53 PM

Ah... probably allowed the mechanic to drive home and back for a couple of weeks!

LVzetec · 02-11-2013, 07:18 AM

I had posted a reply to the above that I had experienced what I consider to be a similar problem.

When this fail happened to me I did not think it was a mechanical failure. Replacing the steering rack in my opinion could not solve the problem as it is an electrical/computer related issue.

NX74205 · 03-11-2013, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aratic

I dont work for Ford, but looking at it from both sides for a warranty claim to be accepted (and paid for) by Ford Australia there would have to be some evidence provided by the dealer that there is a problem. Your dealer, not through lack of trying, as lets remember they have done 1500kms in your car (think of the labour costs associated with that alone), has not been able to replicate the problem.

I agree with that. Unless there's a pattern of issues with the steering, there's very little that Ford can actually do. They can't very well fix a problem if they don't know what it is and what's causing it. From what the OP has said, it was a one off incident, and frankly, I think the stand off is a little over-reaction from what could well have been a one-off incident (as the dealer has not been able to replicate the problem).

YELLAUTE · 04-11-2013, 01:50 PM

And you all would give the car to your wives to drive the kids to school and just hope it does not happen again?
We might have agreed until we read about the hundred or so 2012/2013 Ford Focuses in America and Europe (exact same car) that has the same dangerous fault, some have taken the cars back after dealer could not replicate and had it happen again, one I read about has had it happen when trying to leave the dealers yard (in USA).
There is two examples of the cars having the steering assistance fail at highway speeds and both ended of the road with varying damage.

Its easy to say its unfair on Ford, especially on a Pro Ford Forum. but my wife is simply to scared to drive it until someone tells her they found what caused it and have fixed it.

The dealer is not paying anything to the teck to drive it home and back to work, what a silly thing to say

The Ford motor company has ignored the examples overseas and just says we are the only one that has had this once off error code.

Because the Ford motor company wont acknowledge there is any others experiencing a problem, they are doing nothing active to find and fix the problem.

Its a stale mate

We will sell it for the smallest loss we can make and get another brand new car for my wife to drive that she feels safe in. However that brings the next problem, do we just take it to the Toyota/Mazda/Subaru dealer and trade it in so they can sell it to some unsuspecting soul, we thought about it, but we wont do that so we asked for a trade in valuation from our dealer and they in turn are asking Ford Motor Company to help because they don't really want to on sell it to the unsuspecting public without the dangerous fault being found.

At the moment our totally unmarked 5,500 klm Ford Focus S manual hatch is worth $18,000 as a straight sale to the dealer and he says he wont make much on that.

We loose over $10,000.00

marg99 · 04-11-2013, 03:55 PM

and you would sell this car so another family is at risk?

Yellow_Festiva · 04-11-2013, 07:51 PM

I really feel for ya mate. Believe me, 'been there, done that'....

I know it will be hard to swallow, but perhaps it will an isolated incident? I know where you are coming from, and had the same conversations / arguments with my dealer and Ford CRC.

In the end, like you I was belting my head against a brick wall. Perhaps agree to take the car back and if the problems happens again you take it to another dealer who doesn't know the history of the car?

Not what you want to hear. I know, but it may be the only option. Selling now will hurt you financially and flogging a dead horse (Ford and the dealership) will just make you go home and vent on people who don't deserve to be on the receiving end of your grievances.

You know what... I believe that 'every dog gets their day'... I have told a whole heap of people my troubles with a specific dealer and the way that Ford have dealt with the issues, including people who are in the market for a new car. They have seen the stress it has put on my family and they didn't need to be convinced further to not buy a blue oval.

I don't really care how many people chime in to tell me how good their experiences were. If anyone or any brand stuffs me around and screws me financially they will be on my black list for a very long time.

If Ford were serious about their brand and customers returning they need to remember that 'the customer is always right'. Even if there is a grey area that doesn't favour the brand. My wife knows the issues my car had, hell, she was the one at the receiving end of my own venting. All my extended family know of the troubles we had and the stress and stupidity we had to go through to get supposed action. All my work friends know the issues I had, all her work friends know the issues we had. All the people I meet at family get togethers, business acquaintances, and anyone else who will listen...

It is obvious that Ford haven't learnt from what VW did to their customers.....

Good luck with it mate. In the end, just remember that if you sell it's only money you lose and that comes and goes like the wind.

NX74205 · 05-11-2013, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YELLAUTE

And you all would give the car to your wives to drive the kids to school and just hope it does not happen again?

If it happened to me, yeah I'd be scared shitless. I'd take it to the Ford dealer just as you did, but if they've driven 1500km in the hope of re-creating the problem and it hasn't resurfaced, I'd take the car back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by YELLAUTE

There is two examples of the cars having the steering assistance fail at highway speeds and both ended of the road with varying damage.

... and that's out of how many Focuses built and delivered worldwide? I can sympathise with Ford CRC "not listening" to your concerns. I can perhaps understand your point that there might in fact be a problem with the steering on some Focuses. But the dealer has tried and failed to diagnose the problem, what more is there to do? What if it is indeed a one-off problem, and when you sell it, the next owner experiences absolutely no issues with it whatsoever?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

You know what... I believe that 'every dog gets their day'... I have told a whole heap of people my troubles with a specific dealer and the way that Ford have dealt with the issues, including people who are in the market for a new car. They have seen the stress it has put on my family and they didn't need to be convinced further to not buy a blue oval.

I don't really care how many people chime in to tell me how good their experiences were. If anyone or any brand stuffs me around and screws me financially they will be on my black list for a very long time.

It may be a cliched response, but absolutely true: every brand has its problems. The grass isn't greener on the other side. I respect that you have had bad experiences with Ford, but that doesn't mean that everyone else will have the same experiences, and frankly, telling others not to buy Ford is just serving your own anti-Ford agenda.

I personally know three others who have owned the current model Focus - two of which have not reported any issues with their cars, and one other had lots of issues with the PowerShift transmission and has since returned the car for a full refund, and bought a Civic. I am aware that the Focus is not perfect, but no amount of people telling of their bad Ford experiences is ever going to convince me to spend my money on anything but a Ford.

Yellow_Festiva · 06-11-2013, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NX74205

It may be a cliched response, but absolutely true: every brand has its problems. The grass isn't greener on the other side. I respect that you have had bad experiences with Ford, but that doesn't mean that everyone else will have the same experiences, and frankly, telling others not to buy Ford is just serving your own anti-Ford agenda.

Many here will know the history I have had with my car. If you would like me to direct you to some eye opening threads I will gladly PM them to you.

Why on earth would I want any person I call a friend to go through the same absolute garbage myself and my wife went through???

mik · 12-11-2013, 10:58 AM

is the focus full electric power steering ?

YELLAUTE · 22-11-2013, 02:02 PM

its gone! Ford motor company contributed $5000.00 to the deal and the dealer gave us $20,000.00 ($25,000 refund)
Ford Motor company is supplying the dealer with a new rack, a computer and a power steering pump to replace the lot and the dealer is going to check out the wiring harness near and around the steering column (reported as the cause of the problem on the USA forums) (214 vehicles with the same problem and counting for those that say its a rare "one off" problem).
So why would Ford be going to all this trouble if it was a one off problem?.
the only reason we got our money (almost all of it) returned is they took 9 weeks to even start looking at the problem that we had having no car.

Its over, I would never want anyone I know to go through that

Ford has lost a loyal customer for ever.
What a bunch of idiots!!!!!

YELLAUTE · 22-11-2013, 02:04 PM

PS the ranger is a fantastic truck and my wife's new Honda Civic is very nice.