Ford Focus - Problems, Statistics, and Analysis

Ford Focus owners have reported a total of 26,703 problems for their cars built in the 20 model years listed in the chart below. The chart shows the number of problems reported across all service years for each given model year of the Ford Focus. The 2012 Ford Focus cars have the most problems reported (4,889 problems).

Table 1. Total number of problems by model year for Ford Focus

Model Year	Number of Problems
2018 Focus	1,064
2017 Focus	1,165
2016 Focus	1,552
2015 Focus	1,300
2014 Focus	3,564
2013 Focus	2,877
2012 Focus	4,889
2011 Focus	145
2010 Focus	378
2009 Focus	294
2008 Focus	311
2007 Focus	481
2006 Focus	244
2005 Focus	505
2004 Focus	411
2003 Focus	1,017
2002 Focus	963
2001 Focus	1,819
2000 Focus	3,713
1999 Focus	11

🔍 Common problems of Ford Focus

The following chart shows the 31 most common problems for Ford Focus cars. The number one most common problem is related to the vehicle's power train (6,359 problems). The second most common problem is related to the vehicle's electrical system (4,236 problems).

Table 2. Common problems of Ford Focus

Problem Category	Number of Problems
Power Train	6,359
Electrical System	4,236
Engine And Engine Cooling	3,418
Steering	1,935
Equipment	1,753
Other Fuel System	1,540
Gasoline Fuel System	919
Air Bag	918
Vehicle Speed Control	913
Structure	847

Service Brakes	789
Suspension	714
Latches/locks/linkage	611
Visibility	309
Wheel	293
Tire	242
Exterior Lighting	199
Seat Belt	197
Electronic Stability Control	160
Unknown Or Other	136
Seats	118
Air Brake	26
Parking Brake	18
Back Over Prevention	13
Forward Collision Avoidance	11
Interior Lighting	7
Child Seat	6
Diesel Fuel System	6
	5
Traction Control System	3
Lane Departure	2

📉 Compare Reliability Across Model Years Using PPMY Index

It would not be fair to compare the Ford Focus of an older model year to newer model years since older vehicles have been in service longer and thus are expected to have more problems. In order to compare the reliability across Focus model years, we use the PPMY index which is defined as the problems reported per thousand vehicles per Year. A smaller PPMY index indicates greater reliability of the given model year cars.

PPMY = P / S / Y * 1000,

where P = total problems reported during the life of a Ford Focus model year; S = total units sold of the model year; Y = years since the debut of the model year (the age of the vehicle).

The results are shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Use PPMY Index to Compare Reliability Across Focus Model Years

Focus Model Year	Problems	Sales [1]	Vehicle Age	PPMY Index
2018	1,064	123,592	8	1.08
2017	1,165	134,971	9	0.96
2016	1,552	184,133	10	0.84
2015	1,300	158,088	11	0.75
2014	3,564	327,540	12	0.91
2013	2,877	233,227	13	0.95
2012	4,889	318,603	14	1.10
2011	145	91,918	15	0.11
2010	378	176,688	16	0.13
2009	294	148,915	17	0.12
2008	311	180,724	18	0.10
2007	481	231,577	19	0.11
2006	244	136,437	20	0.09
2005	505	248,689	21	0.10
2004	411	109,462	22	0.17
2003	1,017	258,385	23	0.17
2002	963	253,727	24	0.16
2001	1,819	269,771	25	0.27
2000	3,713	306,712	26	0.47

📊 Number of Problems Reported During the First Year

Another way to measure the reliability across the model years of the Ford Focus is to use the total number of problems reported during the vehicle's first year in service, as shown in the Table 4.

Table 4. Number of problems in vehicle's; first service year

Model Year	Problems Reported
2018 Focus	39
2017 Focus	44
2016 Focus	59
2015 Focus	70
2014 Focus	420
2013 Focus	438
2012 Focus	351
2011 Focus	10
2010 Focus	27
2009 Focus	24
2008 Focus	18
2007 Focus	40
2006 Focus	18
2005 Focus	53
2004 Focus	67
2003 Focus	73
2002 Focus	118
2001 Focus	144
2000 Focus	294
1999 Focus	1

Switch Model:

Select Model Year:

☘ Focus Service Bulletins

⚑ Focus Safety Recalls

☤ Focus Defect Investigations

Compare Reliability:

Select vehicle 1:
Select vehicle 2: