Deciding which car to buy can be a daunting task. With so many options out there, it can be hard to narrow down which one is right for you.
Quick answer: Avoid 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Ford Focus with over 5k complaints
If you’re in the market for a Ford Focus, there are certain years that you should avoid for various reasons. Let’s take a look at which years have issues and why you should steer clear.
Which Ford Focus Years To Avoid?
Even though the Ford Focus is a famous car, it has a lot of reliability problems. Some problems always seem to show up, and some types have been shown to be more troublesome than others.
We’ve put together a list of some of the worst Focus years that you shouldn’t buy used to save you some trouble.
Here are the worst Ford Focus years to avoid:
- 2007 Ford Focus
- 2008 Ford Focus
- 2012 Ford Focus
- 2013 Ford Focus
- 2014 Ford Focus
- 2015 Ford Focus
Ford Focus 2007
The 2007 Ford Focus is sleek, fun, practical, and affordable. It has issues. CarComplaints.com reported 700 complaints and 2 recalls for the 2007 Focus.
The 2007 Focus’s alternator dies early. The alternator often failed unexpectedly, affecting the car’s electrical components. Alternator replacement every 18 months frustrates 2007 Focus owners.
Tire wear is another Focus owner complaint. Low-mileage factory tires wore out quickly. Many tried high-quality tires, but they also wore out soon.
Ford Focus 2008
One of the greatest Ford Focus years to avoid is the 2008, with 500 complaints. Consumer Reports rated the 2008 Focus a 4/5 reliability grade.
Why was it listed? The 2008 Focus has some serious dependability difficulties.
The 2008 Focus has had high tire wear for two years. Owners complained about needing new tires after 35k miles. However, the 2007 model had a worse tire wear issue.
The 2008 Focus also failed in climate. Consumer Reports readers reported that the A/C system or a fan speed stopped operating. The 2008 Focus climate system has issues with the condenser, blower, and compressor.
Ford Focus 2014
The 2014 Focus is CarComplaints.com’s most unreliable vehicle. It was labeled “Beware of the Clunker” after 3,000+ complaints and 10 recalls. The 2014 Focus jerked and hesitated like many others on this list. The car’s problematic dual-clutch transmission grinds and shifts unreliably. Used 2014s are worthless.
Ford Focus 2012
With over 5,000 complaints, Car Complaints recommends avoiding the 2012 Ford Focus.
2012 Focus owners say power steering failure is the worst issue. Users reported that the power steering died while driving in traffic, a major safety issue. Drivers struggle or become stranded when the power steering fails. Intermittent problems could arise at any time.
Driver and passenger door latches break frequently on the 2012 Focus. Once the door opens, the occupants cannot close it. Doors have opened while the vehicle is moving, putting occupants and other drivers at risk.
Avoid the 2012 Ford Focus, if not the worst.
Ford Focus 2013
The 2013 Ford Focus is still unreliable. Compared to 2012, it has fewer issues, yet enough to make this list.
Consumer Reports rated the 2013 Ford Focus a 1/5 reliability rating. Car Complaints also labeled the 2013 Focus a “Clunker,” highlighting its unreliability.
Transmission issues dominate complaints. Several reports said the transmission system shorted out and drivers lost control. It usually occurs at 45k miles and costs $2,600 to fix. This is a major safety issue.
Ford Focus 2015
The 2015 Ford Focus isn’t as bad as the prior two models, but it’s still worth considering.
The 2015 Focus’s dual-clutch transmission was poorly picked. Many drivers experienced a jarring tremor when accelerating from a halt. After a car repair, the issue returns. Ford was sued and had to settle.
Which used Ford Focus models are best choices?
2011 Ford Focus
The 2011 Ford Focus is a good car if you don’t mind that it’s ten years old. With only 200 complaints and a mark of approval from Car Complaints that says “Pretty Good.” Also, Consumer Reports gave it a score of 4 out of 5 for stability, so you can be sure that the 2011 version is a safe used car to buy.
2018 Ford Focus
Ford’s Focus line will end with the 2018 Focus, which is the last car in the line. So if you want to buy the last year of Focus that’s still on the market, you’re in luck because it’s a pretty safe car. The 2018 Ford Focus got a 4 out of 5 for dependability from Consumer Reports. It also did well in its crash and rollover tests.
Common Ford Focus Problems
RepairPal says that the Ford Focus is the 27th most reliable small car out of 36 cars from all brands. It has a reliability score of 4 out of 5. But its image has been hurt by a number of things, such as:
Changes in engine RPM: This can happen with later Focus models, but it happens a lot with the 2018 model, which is one of the more reliable years. R
eports said that after putting the Focus in park, the RPM of the engine could jump.
Transmission problems: This was a common problem for cars made from 2011 to 2016. Many experts think the trouble started when Ford changed something about the PowerShift automatic transmission.
Fuel and exhaust system problems: In 2018, Ford called back over a million Focus cars made between 2010 and 2018 because of a problem that makes them more likely to stall.
It seems that this was caused by a broken purge valve, which could damage the fuel tank and cause the car to stop.
Engine stops running: This seems to be a regular problem with the 2000 Ford Focus, but it has also been reported with older models.
The most typical sign is that the engine dies while it is running. The worst thing that was said was that engines were blown and had to be replaced.
Is a used Ford Focus a good car to buy?
The Ford Focus became known as the car that could do everything. Ford is now putting more effort into making trucks, vans, and electric cars, so the Focus will no longer be made and sold after 2025.
This is the end for this long-running sedan. It’s a shame because the Focus is a good all-around sedan with a good track record for durability.
But we strongly advise you to stay away from the models with problems listed above. This includes the 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 models, which all have transmission problems.
On the other hand, the Focus models from the last few years, like the 2018, are more stable than the ones from earlier years.
Conclusion
When selecting your next car purchase, make sure you do your research thoroughly beforehand—especially if you are looking at older models such as those mentioned above.
While they may appear appealing because they are cheaper upfront costs compared to newer models with more features, they may end up costing more money long term due to their known mechanical issues or lack thereof in terms of safety features such as airbags or other modern safety technology that has become standard in recent model years vehicles today. Keep this in mind before making your next car purchase!