Faults:

I have had very good luck with my Focus. I have owned my car now for 3 years and I have had no problem with my car. It has yet to be in the garage except for the re-calls.

General Comments:

I love the car. It is very roomy, I have been on many trips in this car, and it has plenty of room for the driver and the passenger, and all your cargo. The factory radio is awsome, better then an after market. The car is a little slow--it will go, but on after the pedal is on the floor. It also eats gas. The tank is only about 10 gallon, so your filling it up quite often.

Faults:

I had to have the car serviced for various recalls. However, the most annoying thing that happened (which eventually resulted in me trading the vehicle in) was that the car left me stranded at various locations due to a locked ignition cylinder. The dealer had told me the parts had been replaced (at no cost to me) but later found that they were only re-greasing the tumblers inside the cylinder switch. When I found this out, I traded the vehicle away two weeks later.

General defects: Weather trimming, especially around headlights were nearly non existent after several months of my owning the vehicle. The car had multiple blown fuses, so keep some spares.

General Comments:

The one thing that I really loved about the car was that the handling was exceptional. The car really hugged the turns at speeds in excess of 80mph.

The sound system is better than most, although I did replace the cassette/radio deck with a Kenwood CD/MP3 player the second day I had the car.

Faults:

The brakes have squealed since I got the car.

The trunk wouldn't shut and then I took it in to be "fixed" it wouldn't open.

The keys were stuck in the ignition.

The rear seat belts wouldn't work.

The tires cup horribly, even with proper rotation.

After every oil change the car starts to chug and stall when I slow down or stop, but Ford says there is nothing wrong.

General Comments:

This car is very cute, but the WORST vehicle I have ever owned. It has been in the shop 37 times. For problems ranging from seat belts to tires falling off. I wouldn't recommend this car to Bin Laden.

Faults:

A real faint, however noticeable knocking noise. When I had it looked at at my dealership, I was instructed it was a 'Characteristic of the Vehicle'. I noticed the suspicious sound the day I purchased it, it only makes the noise when running, while parked on an incline. No 'ill effects' ever surfaced from it though.

The stock drum brakes started squealing after 62000 miles, had fixed for about $300.

General Comments:

Nothing but luck with my focus. I purchased it used for $6900 (!!!) and worked a few of the kinks out of it and it's run nearly perfect since.

I love my focus, if at all possible I want to put 300,000 miles on it and never let it go!

A word of caution to those who are wanting to purchase a focus, there are a lot of common problems that surface with this car. If you can change your own oil/filters and understand the importance of maintaining your car you can easily get 180,000 miles on your car with minimum investment.

As with all cars, the Focus does need maintained, with its tiny engine and high torque rating it is imperative that you maintain the car and fix tiny problems immediately. This is not a Honda, or a Toyota, you can't simply ignore a failing transmission because you are short on cash. In short, pay a little when its needed and save yourself the maladies so many on this website have experienced.