2012 Ford Focus Fuel System, Gasoline Problems
Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about fuel system, gasoline problems on the 2012 Ford Focus, 1% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 95,771 miles. The words owners use most often: “purge valve” (32% of reports).
- 56fuel system, gasoline complaints
- 95,771median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- 22%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Purge valve: mentioned in 18 of 56 complaints (32%)
- Fuel gasoline included: mentioned in 8 of 56 complaints (14%)
- Upon investigation: mentioned in 7 of 56 complaints (13%)
At what mileage do fuel system, gasoline problems happen?
Based on 52 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 56 complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Ford Focus fuel system, gasoline complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel System, Gasoline complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Focus | 65 | 8% | 67,000 |
| 2017 Focus | 61 | 7% | 60,000 |
| 2016 Focus | 61 | 5% | 80,000 |
| 2015 Focus | 34 | 3% | 77,000 |
| 2014 Focus | 53 | 2% | 90,000 |
| 2013 Focus | 53 | 3% | 99,000 |
| 2012 Focus | 56 | 1% | 95,771 |
| 2011 Focus | 2 | 2% | 44,150 |
| 2010 Focus | 15 | 5% | 51,835 |
| 2009 Focus | 4 | 2% | 58,000 |
| 2008 Focus | 1 | 0% | 32,233 |
| 2007 Focus | 8 | 2% | 45,000 |
| 2006 Focus | 7 | 3% | 58,000 |
| 2005 Focus | 17 | 4% | 51,000 |
| 2004 Focus | 8 | 2% | 33,000 |
| 2003 Focus | 12 | 1% | 16,633 |
| 2002 Focus | 58 | 6% | 50,644 |
| 2001 Focus | 277 | 16% | 52,378 |
| 2000 Focus | 366 | 10% | 52,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:evaporative emissions:canister
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
Risk: An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:evaporative emissions:canister
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 and 2017 Focus vehicles equipped with 2.0L GDI gasoline engines and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles equipped with 2.0L GTDI engines, previously recalled under 18V-735. The affected vehicles did not have the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) updated as intended. Therefore, the Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor management system.
Risk: The excessive vacuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began July 29, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S22.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:evaporative emissions:canister
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system.
Risk: The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module. Dealers will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. If the CPV is replaced, dealers will inspect and replace the carbon canister, fuel tank and fuel delivery module as necessary. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Ford Customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S32. Note: Until the vehicle is serviced for this concern, owners are advised to keep the fuel tank at least halfway full.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle previously failed the vehicle state inspection due to the check engine warning light being illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle stalled intermittently while driving. The contact had to pull over, wait, and then restart the…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while attempting to refuel, the fuel nozzle continuously clicked off. Additionally, while operating the vehicle, the fuel gauge malfunctioned and displayed inaccurate fuel information. The contact stated that the fuel gauge incorrectly…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the purge valve had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2012 Ford Focuss have fuel system, gasoline problems?
No. NHTSA has 56 owner complaints about fuel system, gasoline for the 2012 Ford Focus (1% of the 3,769 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Ford Focus fuel system, gasoline?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list fuel system, gasoline. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do fuel system, gasoline problems start?
The median reported mileage is 95,771 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about fuel system, gasoline problems on the 2012 Ford Focus?
The most frequent phrase is “purge valve”, in 18 of 56 complaints, followed by “fuel gasoline included” (8).
Other 2012 Ford Focus problems
- Power Train problems (1,446)
- Steering problems (927)
- Engine problems (475)
- Electrical System problems (352)
- Structure problems (332)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (284)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (166)
- Latches/locks/linkages problems (134)
See all 2012 Ford Focus problems or fuel system, gasoline problems across all Focus years.