Model overview

The Ford Focus is a compact vehicle produced by Ford. The initial Focus was created by Ford of Europe's German and British teams.

The Focus was unveiled in July 1998 in Europe, replacing the Ford Escort, and Mazda Familia-derived Ford model. The year 2018 marked the end of the last North American Focus constructed in Michigan. The production of the fourth-generation Focus began elsewhere in 2018.

The last Ford Focus is a front-wheel-drive available as a sedan or hatchback. It comes in a variety of styles and trims (S, SE, SEL, Titanium). Besides these trims are an electric variant Electric, a performance-oriented ST, and high-performance RS with more powerful engines and aggressive suspension tuning.

The base trim is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (160 horsepower, 146 pound-feet of torque) paired to a five-speed manual transmission, or an optional six-speed automatic transmission.

The Focus Electric hatchback is equipped with an electric motor (143 hp, 184 lb-ft of torque) paired to a single-speed automatic transmission with an estimated range of 115 miles.

Ford Focus known problems

Some of the common problems or complaints owners have about the Ford Focus are:

Air-bag problems affecting the Focus produced in 1999. The front and side airbags were known to work/deploy inaccurately.

The 2002 Focus RS was known to have problems with the brake hose rubbed against the interior of the rear wheel arch.

Issues with the oil filler cap which became loose and produced a leak of oil onto the exhaust heat shield.

Some 1998 Focus models could have door latch issues due to a small plastic piece being damaged, causing the door to not close properly.

Alternator problems correlating with short-circuiting or overheating.

The second-generation of Ford Focus is prone to encounter water leaking into the cabin due to defective seals on the windows or sunroofs.

Leaks in the fuel return pipe affecting 2004-2005 models. The main cause was the degradable materials of the pipes were made.

Models between 2003 and 2005 are known to have issues with the wiper motors. Water could reach the engine through the wiper arm and cause short-circuiting, overheating, or the meltdown of nearby trims.

Focus models from 2008 could have power steering defects. The hoses on the power steering system were not made to defined standards, causing to deteriorate over time.

Ford Focus PDF owner manual

Below you can find the owners manuals for the Focus model sorted by year. The manuals are free to download and are available in PDF format. Is is recommended to check the owners manual corresponding to the correct year of your Ford Focus to solve the problems or to get insights about the car.