Common parts that go wrong on the Ford Focus

Ford has a reputation for making solid, reliable vehicles. The Ford Focus is a very popular medium-sized family car. Whilst its sheer ubiquity may put some people off, the good news is that there are lots of Fords – and therefore lots of used car parts – around. This makes maintenance issues much easier.

The Focus range typically has excellent fuel economy (diesel is better with the larger engines, from 1.8 litre upwards – some of these can manage over 70mpg). It is also great to drive and very spacious. General consensus is you won’t be disappointed and repairs should be minimal.

Recalls

From time to time Ford have issued recalls, for a number of reasons. For example, a particularly cold winter in 2009 led to a risk of engine fires; it was found that the salt put on the roads to stop ice was affecting the fan, causing overheating. If you have a new Focus then Ford should have offered to do the work for free. If you’ve got or are looking to buy a second-hand one, check the year on the web and, if there are any problems, make sure the work has been done already (or get the cost knocked off the price).

Common problems

There are a handful of relatively minor problems associated with the Ford Focus. Many of these can be fixed cheaply yourself. You can source used Ford Focus parts online and fit them relatively easily, in most cases.

• The rubber seals around the windows and boot can leak. Check for dampness inside the car, and replace the seals with new ones (or second hand parts) if necessary.
• The rear wheel arches are prone to rusting. Ford added a plastic strip on later models to prevent this – something else you can do yourself.
• The dipstick is liable to break on some cars – a very minor problem but an annoying one. Again, you shouldn’t have any difficulty picking up a spare from a used car parts dealer online.
• Some people have found the front seats uncomfortable. This is a slightly trickier one to address. You can find spare car seats online or at a scrap yard, but you might just be replacing a bad seat with another bad one. Partly this just comes down to personal preference. Make sure you give the car a good test-drive before you buy it.

Conclusion

A great all-round family car, the Ford Focus is popular for good reason. You shouldn’t have too many problems with one. If you do, it’s such a common make that there are plenty of garages and second-hand car parts around, and so fixing them is straightforward. The known glitches are minor – though you should do your research if you’re buying a Focus, and check that there are no unaddressed recalls. In other words, none of the problems that crop up from time to time should be a deal-breaker. There are a lot of happy Ford drivers out there, so the company must be doing something right.