Faults:

- Light bulbs.

- Multi-belt.

- Ball joints front suspension.

- Brake discs front.

- Timing belt.

General Comments:

Nice car to drive, good performance, pleasant design. But in the the 2.5 year period I had the Focus, I was not very lucky. Two times the car left me stranded with broken belts, and the last time - when the timing belt broke, 10.000 km before it should have been replaced, the engine could not be repaired.

Faults:

Back doors wouldn't shut at 100k ($500).

Alternator at 100k ($600).

Timing belt at 100k ($400).

Stock stereo went out ($300).

Driver's seat wore out at 100k (still not fixed.. looking at $800).

Back window regulators at 105k ($400).

Overheating at 110k. Was told it was a thermostat ($150).

At 115k, all of my headlights went out; a relay ($250).

Goes through tires and brakes like no one's business (sets of tires are $600, since they are 205/50 R16).

Ignition switch (key stuck in ignition) at 120k ($350).

Ignition coil pack at 128k ($275).

At 140k miles, the timing belt yet again (it shredded) ($800).

Water pump was leaking at the same time; replaced.

At 142k, had to replace both front shocks (coil springs broke) ($400).

143k, coolant fans went out.. had to replace both fans as well as relays ($500).

144k, motor mount and replaced the radiator coolant tank ($350).

148k, replaced all four tires yet again ($695).

148k, brake job all around ($450).

152k, transmission lost PARK, and it doesn't want to shift. Was told we have to do a transmission rebuild.. or a new unit. Rebuild is $1800 or a new one is $2500!!! SO DONE WITH THIS CAR!!!

Oh, and I need new back shocks, which are another $400..

General Comments:

The Focus handles well... but either you can get one with a bad motor or one with a bad transmission.. Avoid 2000-2005 models :( Finding out a lot about recalls.. magically I have the same issues as the recalls, but that my car is not included on them.. and finding out a lot about "silent recalls".. recalls that Ford will fix only if you complained about the issue before your warranty went out, then it's a BIG F U from the blue oval.

The car handles well in dry conditions.. see a raindrop or snowflake.. go ahead and park it.. the car will be all over the place..

Gas mileage is all over the place.. I can get 30 MPG one day, and the next day on the same route, I can get as little at 18-20 MPG.. and with this small gas tank, that is a big hit.

I have leather seats and a great sound system (speakers at least), but somehow Ford skipped the option of ABS!!!

Every time I save enough money to get back into school.. somehow my car finds its way back into my pocket.. The sad thing is I can't even get this clunker away :( This car has screwed over any chance of getting back into school.. THANK YOU FORD!!!