Ford Focus - Problems, Statistics, and Analysis

Ford Focus owners have reported a total of 26,976 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 (4,921 problems).

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

Model Year Number of Problems
  2018 Focus
1,116
  2017 Focus
1,198
  2016 Focus
1,586
  2015 Focus
1,337
  2014 Focus
3,612
  2013 Focus
2,903
  2012 Focus
4,921
  2011 Focus
146
  2010 Focus
379
  2009 Focus
296
  2008 Focus
314
  2007 Focus
481
  2006 Focus
247
  2005 Focus
506
  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 (6,443 problems). The second most common problem is related to the vehicle's electrical system (4,260 problems).

Table 2. Common problems of Ford Focus

Problem Category Number of Problems
  Power Train
6,443
  Electrical System
4,260
  Engine And Engine Cooling
3,474
  Steering
1,944
  Equipment
1,779
  Other Fuel System
1,578
  Gasoline Fuel System
928
  Air Bag
922
  Vehicle Speed Control
920
  Structure
854
   
  Service Brakes
792
  Suspension
714
  Latches/locks/linkage
612
  Visibility
312
  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
14
  Forward Collision Avoidance
12
  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 1,116123,5928    
1.13
  2017 1,198134,9719    
0.99
  2016 1,586184,13310    
0.86
  2015 1,337158,08811    
0.77
  2014 3,612327,54012    
0.92
  2013 2,903233,22713    
0.96
  2012 4,921318,60314    
1.10
  2011 14691,91815    
0.11
  2010 379176,68816    
0.13
  2009 296148,91517    
0.12
  2008 314180,72418    
0.10
  2007 481231,57719    
0.11
  2006 247136,43720    
0.09
  2005 506248,68921    
0.10
  2004 411109,46222    
0.17
  2003 1,017258,38523    
0.17
  2002 963253,72724    
0.16
  2001 1,819269,77125    
0.27
  2000 3,713306,71226    
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 YearProblems 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


☘ Focus Service Bulletins
⚑ Focus Safety Recalls
☤ Focus Defect Investigations
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