The first "Focuses" of the third generation rolled off the assembly line not so long ago, or rather in 2011, so it is still quite difficult to evaluate the body of a Ford Focus in terms of its resistance to corrosion and to draw appropriate conclusions about whether it is worth buying a Focus of the third generation. early. Even on the oldest copies, if they have not been in a serious accident, rust spots will not be visible. But the fact that the paintwork on the Ford Focus III is quite weak can be stated even now. You can easily find small scratches and chips on most cars. In addition, many Focus suffer from front optics. On cars from the first batches there were poorly fitting doors. Fortunately, the manufacturer dealt with this problem very quickly, but choosing a Focus for purchase therefore requires more care.

Small assembly flaws can also be seen inside the car. Most often, Focus owners complain about uneven gaps between plastic parts in the cabin. Another typical complaint is the creaking of plastic and “crickets”, which most often start in the area of ​​the radio and the place where the seat belt is attached on the middle pillar. Otherwise, the inside of the “third” Ford Focus rather pleases its buyers on the secondary market.

The 1.6-liter engine with a capacity of 85 horsepower is frankly weak for a fairly large car, and therefore, to be honest, performance lovers should not buy a Ford Focus with such an engine. Purchasing a used car with such a power unit is unlikely to be justified. And a 105-horsepower engine of the same volume will not turn the Focus into a fast car. Although from the point of view of reliability, just like the 125-horsepower version, it is good. So far, the owners have only complained about the characteristic chirping noise, which intensifies when warming up. However, there is no need to be afraid when purchasing. The noises that frighten many car enthusiasts are nothing more than a feature of the operation of the injectors. But you won’t be able to put up with unstable operation, tripping and insufficient traction after a cold start. All these problems - and they were typical for cars that were released at the end of 2011 - were successfully solved by reprogramming the power unit control module. There are no big complaints about the two-liter gasoline engine with 150 horsepower. It, like smaller engines, operates with a characteristic chatter, but does not cause problems. Unless you have to use only high-quality fuel. However, in any case, those who like to save money should not buy the two-liter version of the Focus.

But there are a little more complaints about the gearboxes that were installed on the third generation Ford Focus. In “mechanics”, for example, after a run of 10 thousand kilometers, the right axle shaft seal could begin to leak. And all because of the incomplete seating of the oil seal on the conveyor, which led to damage to its edge. Over time, the problem was, of course, solved, but the bad taste remained for owners of Focus with a manual gearbox. There are also complaints about the PowerShift dual-clutch transmission. When driving for a long time in sluggish traffic jams, it begins to change gears with noticeable jerks. And from the point of view of reliability, PowerShift loses to traditional automatic machines. The first serious problems may begin after 100 thousand kilometers. So, when purchasing a Focus with this gearbox, you should not refuse diagnostics under any circumstances.

The third generation Ford Focus suspension has proven itself to be quite reliable. Most owners have yet to deal with replacing its consumables. However, no matter how hard you want to call it completely problem-free, it’s not possible. And all because with the onset of frost, the Focus suspension begins to make extraneous sounds. Most often, an unpleasant squeak is caused by stabilizer bushings.

There were also problems with the steering. Moreover, the problems are quite serious. After 7-10 thousand kilometers, many owners of the “third” Focus had to deal with play in the steering rod and knocking of the steering rack. Most often, the rack was changed under warranty, but even after the replacement, after the same 10 thousand kilometers, the knocking appeared again. And everything would be fine, but owners of used Ford Focus will have to change the rack not under warranty, but at their own expense. And this pleasure cannot be called cheap. And besides the steering rack, there are plenty of troubles. Problems with electric power steering on Focus occur quite often.

It turns out that it is not in vain that the third generation Ford Focus was received by our car enthusiasts quite restrainedly, and they turn their attention more to the previous - second generation of the car. There are not a huge number of problems with it, but there are enough. But even competitors are not distinguished by exemplary reliability. So it's not all bad. If you can find a “third” Ford Focus in good condition, then it’s worth buying, but it’s better to choose and inspect the car as carefully as possible.

Verdict

Weaknesses/problem areas:

• Weak paint coating, susceptible to scratches and chips.
• Fogging of the front optics.
• Poorly fitting doors on early batch models.
• Poorly adjusted gaps in the plastic inside the cabin.
• Creaks and “crickets” in the cabin.
• Weak 1.6 liter engines.
• Leaking right axle shaft seal.
• Unbreakable PowerShift dual-clutch transmission.
• Loose steering rods and knocks in the steering rack.

Strengths/reliability:

• Modern salon interior.
• Reliable engines.
• Reliable suspension.

In the modern automotive industry, successful examples are increasingly rarely produced, which for a long time are included in the ratings of the best-selling cars. This time we’ll talk about one of the few - Ford Focus III.

Why is “Focus” so popular?

It’s not hard to guess from the name - this is the third generation of the model, produced since 2011. Available in all the most popular body styles: sedan, hatchback, station wagon.

The 3rd generation has several engine options. The main ones:

• 1.6 l 105 or 125 hp;
• 2.0 l 150 hp

It is these engines that are most often found on the secondary market. There were also diesel options, but this type did not take root in Russia. This is likely due to poor quality diesel fuel and expensive fuel system maintenance.

Gearboxes for the Focus 3 are available in 5- and 6-speed manual and six-speed robotic gearboxes.

The new generation car has become better in terms of comfort. Convenient options are now available, such as a heated steering wheel, parallel parking assist, automatic slowing down to the car in front, tire pressure monitoring and even lane control with traffic sign recognition.

Unlike its classmates, the car boasts excellent road handling thanks to a non-standard rear suspension solution. A MacPherson strut is installed at the front, and an improved Control Blade multi-link suspension at the rear. It provides the driver with very clear feedback, allowing him to predict the behavior of the car on any type of surface.

When Ford runs out of tricks

Undoubtedly, the car came out good, even a little better than its classmates in some respects. But, as a rule, “the devil is in the details.”

For example, a user of one of the portals about cars writes:

“Low ground clearance of the car (I had to “lift it up” with spacers). A cramped interior for tall people. With preheating of the internal combustion engine, you need to constantly monitor the battery charge. A complete discharge may occur and there will no longer be enough to start the engine.”

Every third person says about the salon that there is not enough space. Tall drivers cannot adjust the seat comfortably without hitting people sitting in the back row of seats. As a result, either the driver is comfortable, but the passengers rest their knees on the backrest, or vice versa. In addition, people note the small trunks. For the sedan version it is 372 liters, for the hatchback it is only 277 liters.

The ground clearance also causes dissatisfaction among owners - it is 150 mm. You have to fear every curb. But these are not the most serious flaws.

The owner of a Focus 3, 2013 1.6 liter with robot, complains about the engine:

“The 1.6 liter on the robot is just a vegetable, no acceleration. You can forget about dynamic maneuvers. Overtaking on the highway is incredibly difficult; even AvtoVAZs are overtaken in the city. It was necessary to take one with a 150-horsepower engine.”

Let's check for reality. If you look at the documentation, this motor is characterized by acceleration to “hundreds” in 13.1 seconds. For example: Lada Priora 1.6 l 87 hp. on the mechanics, according to the passport it accelerates to hundreds in 12.5 seconds.

Due to typical breakdowns and malfunctions, owners most often complain about short-lived steering racks. Even with a new spare part, after 7 thousand kilometers, a slight knocking noise occurs when turning the steering wheel. It will not be possible to completely eliminate the problem; soon the rail will remind itself again. The plastic bushing on the steering shaft is to blame. Some craftsmen grind a steel bushing instead of a plastic one. This increases the interval between repairs several times.

The robotic box is extremely unreliable. The first problems may occur as early as 90 thousand mileage. And then - more. Clutches with friction clutches, a pressure fork, a control unit are being repaired... Some owners, at 150-180 thousand, decide that it is cheaper to change the entire “robot” than to think about repairing it. Some people resort to a more radical solution - sell the car with the “robot” and buy something else.

But manual transmission also has its flaws. At one time, early versions of the car had a manufacturing defect. The seal in the box quickly wore out and an oil leak occurred. Installing a new oil seal did not guarantee trouble-free operation. Once every 10-30 thousand I had to pay attention to this moment. This problem has been fixed in new versions.

We also add stabilizer bushings that squeak in winter and poor fit of plastic interior parts during assembly. Without outside intervention, the interior begins to creak. It is important that some parts are available only on order and are not as easy to change as, for example, suspension elements.

How much do these “Tricks” cost?

Although the Ford Focus III model is still quite fresh, for 400 thousand rubles you can find a car with a 1.6 liter and a 2012-2013 model. It will almost certainly be an empty set.

For something more comfortable to drive, for example, with a 2.0 l engine and 150 hp. They will ask you for 630 thousand for 2014.

The new Focus 3, 2018, from the showroom will cost from 900 thousand rubles for the average configuration.

What are used Fords hiding?

Over the past 24 hours, 1,357 cars of all generations of Ford Focus have been checked through the Autocode service. The vast majority had at least one accident. From 30 selectively reviewed reports:

• 19 has an accident or insurance settlements;
• 5 cars have unpaid fines.

Some cars were involved in 2 or more accidents. Like this one, for example:

The car had 5 accidents in 4 years. Road accidents occurred at intervals of 2-3 months.

The number of accidents in itself is not as scary as the amount of damage received in each of them. Having looked at the calculations of insurance companies for restoration work, we notice the most “expensive” case of an accident - 150 thousand rubles in damage.

The car was hit hard. 42 items are recommended for replacement or repair.

Despite all the disadvantages, the Ford Focus III turned out to be successful and was able to find its buyer. A stylish, fashionable car appealed primarily to the younger generation of car enthusiasts. Aggressive design and excellent handling encourage drivers to take an active driving style. Unfortunately, sometimes this leads to dire consequences in the form of fines or accidents. And when selling, owners don’t like to show either one or the other. “Maybe you’ll get lucky with an inattentive buyer.” Therefore, it is important to check the car thoroughly before purchasing.

What fashionable and youth cars would you like to read a review about? Write your options in the comments.

Ford vehicle manufacturers are constantly improving their products and reserve the right to make changes to the specifications, specifications, colors, model prices, configurations, options, etc. presented on this site without prior notice. We draw your attention to the fact that all images and information presented on the website regarding configurations, technical characteristics, color combinations, options or accessories, as well as the cost of cars and service are for informational purposes only, may not correspond to the latest Russian specifications, and under no circumstances conditions is not a public offer determined by the provisions of Article 437 (2) of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. For vehicle details, please contact your nearest authorized Ford dealer.

* Benefits when purchasing a Ford Transit under the “Bonus for Leasing” program, implemented by the distributor, together with official dealers. This program allows any person to receive benefits of up to 220,000 rubles. for Ford Transit when purchasing a vehicle on lease through leasing partner companies. Not compatible with the Trade-in Bonus program. List of leasing partner companies: ALD Automotive LLC (Société Générale Group), Alfa Leasing LLC, ARVAL LLC, Baltic Leasing LLC, VTB Leasing JSC (including UKA LLC - operational leasing), LLC Gazprombank Autoleasing LLC Karkade, LLC LizPlan Rus, JSC LC Europlan, LLC Major Leasing (including LLC Major Profi - operational leasing), LLC Raiffeisen-Leasing, LLC RESO- Leasing", JSC "Sberbank Leasing", LLC "SOLLERS-FINANCE". The list of leasing companies may vary depending on the dealer's region. For details and current information on the conditions for purchasing a car, check with your dealer.
The offer is limited, is not an offer and is valid until December 31, 2019. Ford Sollers Holding LLC reserves the right to make changes to these offers at any time. Details, current conditions and vehicle availability - at the dealer and at

** Total benefit for a one-time purchase of two Ford Transit vehicles under the “Bonus for Leasing” program. The program allows anyone to benefit from purchasing cars on lease through leasing partner companies. Not compatible with the Trade-in Bonus program. List of leasing partner companies: ALD Automotive LLC (Société Générale Group), Alfa Leasing LLC, ARVAL LLC, Baltic Leasing LLC, VTB Leasing JSC (including UKA LLC - operational leasing), LLC Gazprombank Autoleasing LLC Karkade, LLC LizPlan Rus, JSC LC Europlan, LLC Major Leasing (including LLC Major Profi - operational leasing), LLC Raiffeisen-Leasing, LLC RESO- Leasing", JSC "Sberbank Leasing", LLC "SOLLERS-FINANCE". The list of leasing companies may vary depending on the dealer's region. The list of leasing companies may vary depending on the dealer's region. For details and current information on the conditions for purchasing a car, check with your dealer. The list of leasing companies may vary depending on the dealer's region. The offer is limited, is not an offer and is valid until December 31, 2019. Ford Sollers Holding LLC reserves the right to make changes to these offers at any time. Details, current conditions and vehicle availability - at the dealer and at

The fact that Ford does not stand aside from technological progress, moreover, is actively introducing its inventions into production cars, cannot but rejoice. The most striking confirmation of this is the 3rd generation Ford Focus, which in 2011 beat out its main platform competitor, the Mazda3.

At that time, the Japanese had just begun to develop a line of SkyActive chassis and engines for future generations, and the designers of the American brand were already “fighting” on all fronts, introducing into their brainchild new engines, transmissions and a number of options that the “Matryoshka” dreams of to this day .

So has the legendary Ford really won undeniable leadership in the segment? Yes, at first it may seem so, but why don’t the owners of the 3rd Focus shout about the obvious advantage of the model? Maybe it's a weak point?

Duratec here, Duratec there

To the general disappointment of all Focus fans, the 3rd generation “civilian” cars did not receive turbocharged Ecoboost engines. Under the hood of the model were placed mainly “aspirated” Duratec 1.6-liter engines (power 125 and 105 hp), with characteristics and design more reminiscent of a relic of the last century than a look into the future. Motorists were even more surprised by the 85-horsepower engine, released a certain time period after the start of sales of the 3rd generation Focus. At the same time, the phase change system has not disappeared from the gas distribution.

All variations of the 1.6 liter engine have software “suffocation”, but the happy owners of the 125 hp versions. after a mileage of 120-130 thousand, they are sad about the need to remove the “gibles” from 2 catalysts. It is for this reason that the owners of such a car need to take the quality of fuel extremely seriously (the exhaust system is also equipped with 4 oxygen sensors, which means they have 2 times more chances of failure than weaker engines).

In addition, the entire line of power units is susceptible to one “disease” - deposits in the combustion chambers, which invariably leads to uneven operation and difficulty starting engines. It is worth noting that this problem manifested itself in all its glory even during the warranty period of operation, after which new control software was installed on the car, and the “illness” went away.

Another problem of the 3rd generation is oil leakage through the solenoid valves of the phase change system, but replacing these elements can solve it.

Phase change valve leakage is a big problem in many models

The 2-liter GDI chain unit, developed on the basis of the Duratec 1.8, is also worthy of detailed consideration, but the direct intake and phase change system for it was made by the Japanese from Mazda. But the most important thing is that the 2-liter engine turned out to be the most reliable, with the fewest weak points. There is, of course, a small percentage of malfunctions of fuel injectors and injection pumps, but such problems arise in most cases due to untimely or poor-quality maintenance. This engine is especially sensitive to oil changes, which are optimally carried out every 9-10 thousand km.

But the entire line of gasoline units has a common weak point in the form of the right engine support, which in rare cases lasts more than 50 thousand km (and the original part costs about 11 thousand rubles). This “draconian” pricing policy of Ford leads to a search for analogues, and the best option in the current situation would be to buy an original from Volvo, with a more tempting price tag.

The original engine airbag is expensive and leaks often

Diesel engines in the 3rd generation are extremely rare, perhaps for the reason that properly servicing engines of this type is an order of magnitude more difficult than gasoline versions? But upon closer examination, it turns out that there are relatively few problems with such a unit, because such engines are equipped exclusively with PowerShift (wet clutch), similar to Galaxy, Kuga, Mondeo and S-Max.

And again the same problems

Ford designers decided not to equip the 3rd generation of cars with CVTs, which had not previously been officially installed on cars intended for the Russian market, but Focus did not receive a traditional automatic transmission either. Looking at the situation, it seems that Ford was inspired by the sales volumes of original parts in Volkswagen with DSG, and decided to supply us with Focus equipped with “robots”.

The clutch is the weakest point of robotic transmissions. However, the main culprit is the control program, which sacrifices the resource of the nodes for the sake of comfort of movement

In fact, this step is aimed at maintaining global trends, even despite the fact that VAG engineers to this day cannot cope with the “childhood diseases” of their gearbox, equipped with 2 clutches. Yes, Ford tried to deprive PowerShift of all problems, but, unfortunately, to no avail.

The beginning of the “adventure”, as a rule, lies in periodic software updates for the PS, and some are even luckier, because the need to replace the TCM appears.

The TCM unit also sometimes fails.

Starting “shudder”, which can also occur when shifting gears, means the need to eliminate a leak in the engine crankshaft or gearbox input shaft, followed by flushing the clutches and adaptation. If this is not done on time, the owner will have to replace the clutches, which are quite expensive.

The occurrence of a metallic grinding noise at the moment of switching or the absence of several gears indicates a wedge of the pressure fork, and this ailment can only be “treated” by replacing the part.

In the event that problems with jerking when switching PS are not solved by flashing, the clutches must be replaced, because there is no other way to get rid of this problem.

The PowerShift box itself rarely asks for repairs

It is very interesting that in the secondary car market there are a lot of buyers eager to get their hands on a 3rd Ford with a traditional automatic transmission. This, of course, plays into the hands of dishonest businessmen who pass off PowerShift as a simple “box” and are silent about problems with the reliability of the gearbox.

But if you have already become the “lucky” owner of a Ford Focus III with PS, don’t be discouraged, because with proper care this transmission will behave predictably. The main thing is to follow a few basic rules of use:

– They will not accelerate too sharply;

– Use manual mode more often;

– Switch the selector to position “P” when stuck in traffic jams;

– Monitor new software versions for PowerShift.

Fortunately, the mechanical transmission is free of all these “diseases”; for its trouble-free operation you only need to monitor oil leaks through the drive seals (mostly the right one). Although, to be fair, it is worth saying that AMT is also not without this drawback.

Drive leaks can be repaired inexpensively. The main thing is not to wait until the transmission loses oil. In general, keep an eye out

Steering rack - “diseases” for the sake of progress

The innovations that have affected the global auto industry have not bypassed the 3rd generation Focus, and first of all this concerns the electric power steering (most likely in the new models you can forget about traditional power steering). Although, here too, significant improvements were required, since some owners were faced with “autosteering” in the wrong direction and even with a decrease in the efficiency of the functioning of this mechanism. In the vast majority of cases, dealers offer to change the EUR and at the same time the steering rack, which can upset the motorist even without the assistance of an amplifier.

An EUR that is “sick” with autosteer will either have to be treated or replaced. Otherwise, driving is dangerous

In general, rack problems have been known even earlier, and even on other models outside the Ford brand. It consists of rapid wear of the plastic bushing of the steering shaft, which is accompanied by knocking noises when turning the steering wheel. A new rack solves the problem only for a short period, but a steel bushing turned by a skilled craftsman is considered the optimal way out of this situation.

A new steering rack on a Ford Focus is obscenely expensive. Fortunately, the unit can be repaired relatively inexpensively and at the same time deprive it of its weak point forever

The most problematic place in the Ford Focus 3 suspension is considered to be the rear shock absorbers, which are overly sensitive to overloads and after 50 thousand mileage they begin to leak fluid through the rod seals.

The rest of the chassis parts are quite reliable and durable, and can easily last more than 100 thousand, although the stabilizer struts, front hub bearings and front shock absorbers “give up” by this point. But the silent blocks adequately withstand more than 150 thousand km, which, together with the durable elements of the rear suspension (more than 200 thousand km), is a very worthy indicator.

The rear multi-link will be flexible and silent for a long time under adequate driving conditions.

The same can be said about the picky brake system, in which such common troubles as knocking calipers and squeaking linings were not noticed. The lifespan of front pads on cars with 1.6-liter units is about 40 thousand, while clutches on two-liter cars last about 1.5 times less.

Sudden cracks

The body of the 3rd Focus as a whole does not present any unpleasant surprises, except perhaps for the heated windshield, which costs a lot of money and can be scratched or cracked from completely harmless influences. That is why owners of the 3rd generation often complain about cracks suddenly appearing on the windshield in severe frosts.

A crack in the glass causes pain for owners and prepares them for unexpected and significant costs.

Another “surprise” will be poorly functioning locks, mainly due to skewed door hinges (sometimes uneven gaps between these body elements can be observed with the naked eye). The main culprit for this can be considered the notorious domestic assembly, which left its mark on the quality of the Focus III.

The most vulnerable spot of the Focus 3 body is the front bumper. Few people manage to keep it intact

Regarding completely harmless moments, we note the periodic fogging of Focus headlights, as well as the rare change of the “Ford” badge located on the trunk lid (the coating peels off).

Cheapness is not a sign of poor quality

Complaints about the cheapness of materials in the interior of the 3rd generation Focus are largely groundless, because the interior of the car retains its original appearance for quite a long time. The only exceptions to the rule are the front seats, which need covers, as well as the gearshift lever, from which the cover quickly slides off. Interior deflectors also require careful handling, as the fragile plastic can crack. Creaks in the cabin, as a rule, occur in the areas of the door panels and the center console, which means that it will not be easy to eliminate extraneous sounds.

The interior of the 3rd Focus is quieter than its predecessor, and the materials are better, but squeaks still appear

A fairly common “sore” of the Focus III is damage to the circuit of the electric trunk opening mechanism and subsequent failure of the button. True, the manufacturer was able to take this shortcoming into account and provided dealers with improved wiring harnesses.

Trunk won't open? Time to change the wiring harness

Lovers of high-quality sound complain about the fragility of high-frequency speakers located in car doors. Determining this malfunction does not take much time, since nasty creaking sounds can be heard even at minimum volume.

Small thing, but unpleasant

Another feature of the model is related to rain sensors, because they can suddenly start working on a fine day and remain inactive when precipitation falls.

Is it worth buying a used third Focus?

Yes, the list of shortcomings of the 3rd generation Focus is considerable, but the model cannot be called an outsider in its class. The power units here are quite reliable, the chassis is very strong, and there are not many expensive problems with auxiliary equipment.

The most obvious “headache” for Focus owners can be considered the robotic PowerShift and the lack of a worthy alternative to it. Perhaps, in this way, the manufacturer wanted to make money on the sale of parts or reduce production costs? True, this doesn’t make it any easier for us.

In any case, a truly enormous amount of work was done to create the Ford Focus III, although in practice it is the introduced innovations that cause the greatest number of failures. But let's not forget that progress follows trial and error, and no one expected high reliability, such as from the ultra-conservative Toyota Corolla, from the Focus.

Typical condition of Focus with 100 tkm mileage

After the first “hundred” Focus III, as a rule, is quite fresh and ready for another similar marathon, but this is only under normal maintenance conditions. There are already problems with this. Many owners, having seen the prices for spare parts, save inadequately on the purchase of spare parts. Therefore, brake discs worn to death, a huge crack in the middle of the windshield, a leaking engine mount or Chinese spare parts are rather the norm for it. Most sellers consider it necessary to adjust the mileage, especially for robotic cars. What’s interesting is that there weren’t many cars with a “dead” PowerShift gearbox, I think this is all due to the fact that it’s almost impossible to hide the defect even from a blind buyer.

30.12.2017

Ford Focus 3 is one of the best-selling cars in the CIS secondary market. The main criteria by which many car enthusiasts give their preference to this model are: attractive appearance, low cost of purchase and further maintenance, as well as ease of maintenance. Today we will talk about what problems Ford Focus 3 owners most often encounter and what they should pay attention to when choosing this car.

Specifications

Class and body type: C - hatchback, D - sedan and station wagon;

Body dimensions (L x W x H), mm: hatchback – 4358 x 1823 x 1484, sedan – 4534 x 1823 x 1484, station wagon – 4556 x 1823 x 1505;

Wheelbase, mm – 2650;

Ground clearance, mm – 120;

Tire size – 205/55 R16;

Fuel tank volume, l – 60;

Curb weight, kg – 1461, 1340, 1485;

Gross weight, kg – 2050, 1900, 2055;

Trunk capacity, l – 363 (1148), 475, 490 (1516);

Options – Ambiente, Ambiente Plus, SYNC Edition, Trend, Trend Sport, Titanium

Advantages and disadvantages of a used Ford Focus 3

Weak points of the body

Paintwork not the best quality, but this deficiency is observed on many cars and not only budget ones. The most problematic areas are the bumper, hood, arches and sills; in these places, after 3-5 years of operation, the paint may begin to peel off.

Body Galvanized, thanks to this, even in places where the paint has chipped, the metal resists the onslaught of the red disease for a long time. Often the paint is worn down to metal in the places where the rubber seal of the engine compartment comes into contact with the hood; in order not to push problem areas to extremes, it is recommended to cover them with film.

Uneven door gaps are not always the result of an accident; on some examples they were initially not fitted in the best way.

When inspecting, pay attention to the bumper mounts– they are quite fragile and break even from a slight blow.

Front optics is prone to fogging in the area of ​​the light beam, this leads to a significant decrease in the quality of lighting, especially if xenon lamps are installed in the optics. The problem can be eliminated by replacing the headlight plugs with similar ones, but with ventilation holes. There are complaints about the performance of the fog lights - flickering appears in the cold season. The disease usually goes away after warming up the engine compartment of the car.

Heated windshield- very delicate and often cracks due to temperature changes.

Motor reliability

All power units of the Ford Focus 3 are quite reliable, but in small things they can still bother their owners. The most common of them: rapid wear of the right engine mount (50-100 cu), failure of the oxygen sensor (30-50 cu), failure of the fuel pump (100-150 cu), leakage of the electromagnetic timing valve (20-40 cu).

Engine control unit (ECU)– in itself it is reliable, but due to an unfortunate location there is a high probability of damaging it. The block is installed behind the front left fender, almost on the inside of the fender liner, and if this part is hit during an accident, the block will most likely have to be replaced - it will cost about 1000 USD. Also, the reason for early replacement of the unit may be corrosion of its contacts. This problem occurs as a result of moisture entering the unit after washing or driving through deep puddles.

Cooling radiator– the radiator is located very close to the front of the car, therefore, in most cases, even a slight blow to the bumper is enough for the radiator to crack. Often, the air conditioner pipe laid underneath is also damaged along with it.

Gasoline internal combustion engines:

Motor 1.6– many complain about unstable engine operation at idle speed (triplication) and deterioration in dynamics. The main reason is carbon deposits inside the combustion chamber. To fix the problem, it is necessary to reflash the engine control unit (PCM firmware) and clean the combustion chambers from carbon deposits. During operation of a cold engine, you can hear a distinct “clunking” sound, but you should not be afraid of this - this is a peculiarity of the operation of fuel injectors (on a working power unit, after warming up, extraneous sounds disappear).

Motor 2.0– a feature of this engine is the loud operation of the fuel injection pump when starting the power unit. The two-liter Duratec engine is sensitive to fuel quality and if you abuse “bad” gasoline, you shouldn’t count on trouble-free operation of the injection pump (replacement will cost 400-600 USD).

Diesel internal combustion engines:

Diesel power units are equipped with a Common Rail fuel system; this system is very sensitive to fuel quality, so it is advisable to refuel your car only at proven gas stations. Otherwise, expensive repairs of fuel equipment are inevitable - fuel injectors (100-150 cu. units), fuel injection pump (500 cu.u.) and the EGR valve fail.

DPF filter (particulate filter)- designed for 140,000 km, after which replacement is required, but if the car is mainly used on the highway, it can last up to 250,000 km. Signals about the need to replace the filter will be the appearance of an engine error and a significant decrease in traction.

Dual mass flywheel– in most cases, its resource is about 200,000 km; for a replacement you will have to pay about 500 USD. Symptoms: characteristic knocking and shuffling sounds appear.

Transmission problem areas

Mechanics– this type of transmission is reliable, but not flawless. Among the shortcomings, we can note leaking oil seals and souring of gear shift cables. The service life of the original clutch is 120-150 thousand km.

Powershift- is the weak point of the Ford Focus 3. In almost new cars, the transmission bothers with rough shifts (especially in traffic jams), which are excluded by definition for a pre-selective gearbox. Also, jerking can occur not only when changing gears, but also during sudden acceleration. Often the twitching is accompanied by a metallic grinding sound. According to dealers, the reason lies in the imperfection of the firmware, which officials update for free if owners contact them with this problem. Ford officials claim that the latest firmware versions allow for more comfortable and stable shifting. The only pity is that the updated software did not reach all CIS services. The most common technical problem is clutch failure - when using a car in city mode, clutch replacement may be required after a mileage of 50-70 thousand km (400-500 cu.). Servicemen also note a sudden failure of the TCM box control module (500-700 cu).

Ford Focus 3 chassis life

Traditionally, modern cars have MacPherson struts installed at the front; the weak points here are also traditional:

• Bushings and stabilizer struts fail after 30-40 thousand km.
• Support bearings are often given up at 60-80 thousand km.
• After 70,000 km, shock absorbers begin to leak; by 80-100 thousand km, they need to be replaced.
• Wheel bearings and silent blocks run on average 120-150 thousand km.

There is a multi-link installed at the rear:

• Camber levers, run 70-80 thousand km
• Shock absorbers - up to 100,000 km; if you often load the car to full, the resource can be reduced to 30-50 thousand km.
• Wheel bearings - last more than 150,000 km

Steering:

The power steering is equipped with an electric motor, which makes the steering wheel heavier as speed increases. This part rarely fails, but if such a problem happens, the repair will not be cheap - dealers change it along with the rack, but it is the weak point of this model. To check the rack, turn the steering wheel sharply with the car running - there should be no extraneous sounds. If the rack does not knock, do not rush to rejoice, it is a matter of time - in most cases, the rack begins to knock after 60-80 thousand kilometers. When calling for service, dealers changed the rack under warranty, but this did not give the expected result, since the new rack often began to knock after several thousand kilometers. On some examples, the rack does not require repair even after 150,000 km, but, unfortunately, such cases are rare. After 2012, the part was modernized, thereby extending its service life by a couple of tens of thousands of kilometers.

Interior and electrical

The interior of the third Ford Focus 3 has evolved not only in ergonomics, but also in materials (soft plastic is used). The only place that deserves criticism is the front seats - they quickly lose their shape, and the upholstery without a protective cover quickly loses its presentation. Electronics, of which there is a fairly large amount in the cabin, are reliable and rarely cause trouble to their owners.

What's the result:

Operating experience has shown that the Ford Focus 3 is a reliable and unpretentious car that deservedly holds a leading position in the market.

If you have experience operating this car model, please tell us what problems and difficulties you encountered. Perhaps your review will help the readers of our site when choosing a car.