Faults:

Drip leak from the head gasket.

Brake caliper bolts.

O2 sensor (upstream) default.

Water pump & thermal housing "KAPUT"!

A constant vibration after NEW tires & rims.

Voltage fluctuation (dimming lights/flicker).

Trunk starts to NOT stay up.

Molding separation inside vehicle.

Hoses coming off.

Door handle (lock out of vehicle).

Bulbs >> brake, fog & center brake light.

Sunroof motor.

General Comments:

This Focus has been WELL taken care of, just have to keep a constant maintenance that gets quite expensive.

The battery however has been a die hard battery (NOT a DIEHARD); it's the original.

Consistent balancing the tires..

Exhaust system readily expensive and ready to go now!!

=(

Faults:

I am only now replacing my clutch, and it's only $300. I have been driving this thing like a race car, and it has just responded to all I throw at it, including reliability.

General Comments:

If you want a car that doesn't break down under performance usage, and you haven't got 25000 plus to spend, then a used SVT is a great choice.

Sure, things will go on them, but it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to fix, plenty of parts around, and it's nice keeping up with guys who just blew 35000 when you only spent 6000. Safe to say you have plenty of room for repairs, and they are SO fun to drive, my wife doesn't want to drive her new car anymore once she tried the SVT...

General Comments:

Test drove a 2002 Ford Focus Wagon with 72,000 miles. The car drove well. I then took the car to a mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection. He noted the following: rear main seal leaking oil - 600.00 to repair, oil pan gasket leaking, front brake job required. He also told me that most of the lower part of the engine compartment and much of the front end suspension area was coated in fan belt dressing, and that he could not do a visual inspection because he simply could not see the parts that needed to be inspected. He surmised that the dealer was trying to hide something. His verdict was to not purchase the vehicle. I handed the keys back to the dealer and walked away.

Faults:

Been through quite a few sets of tires.

On its second battery.

A few sets of brake pads in the front.

On its second set of brake pads in the back.

Belt - 470000. The first one was starting to slip.

Tune up - 82000.

Transmission - 96000.

Another belt - 105000.

Thermostat housing - 109000.

Ball joints - 118000.

Tie rod ends - 132000.

Water pump - 137000.

Don't remember the exact mileage, but a couple of the power window switches failed.

General Comments:

This is a good car for what it is. A 4 cylinder front wheel drive. I know Ford had a bad run of making some poor cars a few years prior like the Taurus, and Escort, and Contours. They seemed to have a lot of problems; so I have been told from people who have owned them.

My grandfather bought me this car brand new, and now he's passed on. One of the reasons I'm holding onto it is sentimental value cause of him. Also it gets good gas mileage. I also have a 2005 Dodge 3500 diesel pickup. This is like my economy ride.