2001 Ford Focus ZETEC 1.6 petrol from UK and Ireland
Summary:
Poblems have clouded what could be a nice car
Faults:
Firstly:
Drivers door handle refused to open door (central locking didn't regester it) -Replacement handle.
Petrol gauge regestered on empty when tank was half/full. Was told it may be a glitch in tank. Advised to drive continuously round a roundabout, shaking the car from side to side! :Needed new float-fixed, but still reads on empty from time to time.
Cold start. Loud rasping from front of car engine. Reported problem time after time, but still not fixed.
Water appeared in passenger foot well. Pollen filter replaced. Water appeared again, went to garage for water tests, fixed problem.
Water appeared in both passenger-driver-rear passenger footwells - 3 inches. Spent 3 days in garage. One week later started to leak again. Drivers and passenger seat now damp after rain.
Went back into body shop to fix on going problem. Was assured this time problem was fixed. Started leaking again - drivers, passengers, rear passengers footwells - seats still damp after rain.
Green Moss growing on car door window, rubber ledges.
Car has constant fusty smell due to the water problem.
General Comments:
Problems apart.
Very comfortable seats, roomy interior, stylish, modern.
Engine slow for 1.6 16valve.
Handling very responsive.
Nice alloys and seats.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 2nd November, 2004
26th May 2006, 21:47
As a mechanic I find it hard to believe that a car driven in a normal manner could go through brake linings in 15,000 miles. ANY car, foreign or domestic should go 60,000 to 100,000 miles on a set of brake pads. I've driven cars and trucks from GM, Ford, and Chrysler, as well as one German and one Japanese car. None of them ever required brake service of any kind before 80,000 miles. One Chrysler product had two sets of brake pads in 240,000 miles. Only continual tail-gating and riding the brakes can wear pads out in 15,000 miles. I suspect the other problems may also be due to abusive driving as well. The Focus is one of the best built cars on the road, foreign or domestic.