Faults:

We bought this car used, and immediately had it serviced and replaced the water pump and the timing belt. One month later, the entire engine blew out - on a six year old car with low kilometers! Since this was our only vehicle, and we didn't want to take a total loss, we replaced the entire engine. Several months later, we had to replace the engine coil and all the spark plugs and wires. Ford Focus engines are total crap. It's been totally unreliable. In just a year and a half, we have spent the same amount in fixing it as we did for the purchase price of the car. Sick.

General Comments:

Small, but comfortable. The engine runs very loud, so it's a noisy ride. Gas mileage is decent, but nothing to get excited about.

Faults:

Only thing was a leak and it was fixed... Nothing else after that!

General Comments:

I have a 2000 ford focus SE Wagon. I have absolutely no problem with this car. It runs great. It went through inspection and had not one thing wrong with it. Yeah I had a leak and it was fixed, but other than that it runs great! There are no unusual sounds, no leaks, everything works great! I don't see what the big problem is... Yes some people have had bed experiences with the focus... but then others have not... Every car has its problem... But mine I am perfectly happy with has 98,000 miles on it and it still runs like a beauty!

Faults:

I have no idea what the problem is, but I have to keep replacing the headlights every 4 months or so.

I don't know if it's because I'm tall and have a long way to get to the seat, but I know have a little hole on the seat on the left side.

I had the steering wheel lock on me a couple times. Same problem both times.

The part that holds the shifter box to the actual car snapped and I couldn't go in reverse for a couple days.

General Comments:

I absolutely love my car. I've had it for 4 years now and I volunteer to drive everywhere. It takes curves like a beast.

The stock stereo isn't bad, once the car got a couple thousand more miles on it, the bass kinda rattles the inside paneling, but if you turn it up loud enough it doesn't matter. :)

It's a pretty quick little car. It'll kick a Honda civics ass.

The interior is very roomy and the stock seats form to your back like a glove.

Faults:

When I bought the car from the original owner, all the necessary recalls had been done, and the car had apparently only had regular scheduled maintenance.

The top mount of a rear shock broke at about 25,000, for no apparent reason (had not hit a large pothole or anything similar).

The original tires were replaced at 32,000 due to dry-rot (The car was six years old then).

The original front brakes were replaced at 36,000. The rear shoes look good for another 10,000 maybe.

I've always noticed a slight valve lifter clatter for about a half second when starting the car after it has been off an hour or more. I've had other cars do this, no big deal.

General Comments:

I got this car for $1500 under "book" from a neighbor. I dropped my previous Toyota Tacoma because I was no longer using the truck bed, and the gas mileage was only so-so.

I don't understand everyone's problems with their Focuses. Brakes and tires wearing out early? Do you drive like you're trying out for NASCAR or LeMans? Of course they wear out fast when badly abused. Ignition switch failure? Mine is still original. I don't "jam" the key in, and if it binds because of the steering wheel lock, I know to turn the wheel a bit before I turn the key. I see lots of people jump in a car, any car, shove the key in, and practically twist it off they're in such a hurry. A little patience goes a long way.

My Focus wagon is reasonably comfortable on a long drive (I'm 6 foot), and the handling is above average for a car in this class. My gas mileage is about 24 mpg in town traffic and 36 highway. I don't feel my repairs have been excessive in the 18 months and 15000 miles I've had the car, and the previous owner did well, too. A lot of recalls at first, but most were not too serious; and, would you rather have a problem recalled or hushed up?

Maybe I just got a one-in-a-million good Focus? I don't especially love the car, but it's been practical and dependable for me.