Ford Focus always finds its buyer, regardless of generation. The first Focus will please those who value good driving performance, and the second will delight those who are looking for an inexpensive, roomy car without serious shortcomings.
The Ford Focus Mk.III debuted in 2011 and received a facelift in 2020.
The Third Focus can compete with any of its predecessors, but, unfortunately, it has lost some of its practicality. The inside is not as free as in the Ford Focus 2. Part of the space was eaten up by the increased size of the front panel, which forced the driver and passenger seats to be moved back. As a result, the second row became a little more crowded.
You don't have to count on a large trunk either. The 5-door hatchback with under-floor spare wheel offers just 300 litres. The station wagon, which has 490 liters at its disposal, is also far from ideal. The sedan will also disappoint. Instead of the standard 500 liters for the segment, the owner will find only 475.
As befits a modern car, the Ford Focus 3 can be equipped with numerous safety systems, in particular: a parking assistant, an unintentional lane change warning system, automatic high beams, a traffic sign recognition system, adaptive cruise control, and a blind spot monitoring system. Most of them were available only in the richest trim levels and only for a fee.
Many people will like the interior design. It looks beautiful and modern. True, the multimedia screen, by modern standards, seems too small.
Engines
Ford Focus 3 received a wide range of powertrains. The backbone is formed by 1.6-liter Duratec naturally aspirated engines with 85, 105 and 125 hp. As an alternative, a 1.0 liter 3-cylinder EcoBoost with output of 100 or 125 hp was available for Europeans. A 1.6-liter EcoBoost was also offered there, generating 150 or 182 hp. In Russia, Duratec with a capacity of 2.0 liters, developing 150 hp, was appointed top. After restyling, its place was taken by a 1.5-liter Ecoboost with an output of 150 hp.
Cars with 2.0 and 1.6 liter diesel engines were also offered on the European market. Both turbodiesels were created jointly with the PSA concern, but the aggregate part does not completely coincide with the French counterparts used by Peugeot and Citroen.
All about the weak points of the Ford Focus 3 (photos and videos).
Good afternoon. From this article you will learn about the weak points of the Ford Focus 3. Traditionally for our site, the article will contain a lot of photos and video material.
The Ford Focus of the first two generations has become a real bestseller in our market. The third generation car, the world premiere of which took place in 2010, was received more calmly by our car enthusiasts, but it also overtook many strong competitors in terms of sales volumes. Now, in addition to the new Ford Focus, car enthusiasts can also take a closer look at used options. But how many unpleasant tricks will a “third” Focus with mileage throw up during operation? This is what we will find out now.
Body.
Since the third generation Ford Focus has not been in production for too long, it will not be possible to find rust spots on its body. Foci of corrosion can only be seen on those specimens that have been in serious accidents and were not restored in the best way after them. But poorly fitting doors and foggy front optics are far from uncommon on the third-generation Focus. Fortunately, fogging can be easily cured by replacing the usual headlight plugs with the same ones, but with ventilation holes. Owners also complain that the windshield becomes covered with small scratches too quickly.
Salon.
The interior of the Ford Focus 3 is comparable in quality of finishing materials to those of most of its classmates. However, assembly flaws and uneven gaps in most cars can be easily detected. Naturally, the third generation Focus is not free from “crickets”, which most often settle in the area of the radio and air ducts on the front panel.
Line of engines.
The vast majority of the “third” Ford Focus that were officially sold on our market will have a 1.6-liter gasoline engine under the hood, which, depending on the degree of boost, can develop 85, 105 and 125 horsepower. The two weakest versions, even if they please with fairly low fuel consumption, are better to refuse immediately.
For a fairly heavy car, 105 horsepower, and even more so 85 “horses,” is frankly not enough. If we talk about the problems that Ford Focus gasoline engines can cause, then we will happily admit that so far there are practically none. Many Focus owners are alarmed by a rattling noise at the top of the engine, which tends to get worse as it warms up, but there is no need to be afraid of this. This is just a feature of the injectors. By the way, unusual sounds are also produced by the two-liter gasoline GDI, which is quite often found on those Ford Focus that were sold in Western European countries. Europeans also love the diesel Focus, which can easily withstand a range of 200 thousand kilometers, but in our country such versions of the car are extremely rare on sale.
In the first batches of Focus, the 1.6-liter engines were distinguished by unstable operation, tripping and loss of traction after a cold start. Ford first tried to explain this behavior of power units by premature deposits of carbon deposits in the combustion chamber, after which they released new firmware for the power unit control module. The problem has disappeared.
Transmission problems.
But there are more problems with 3rd generation Ford Focus gearboxes. Even “mechanics” after 5-10 thousand kilometers can upset you with leakage of axle shaft seals. Otherwise, however, there are no complaints about the manual gearbox. But PowerShift . Not only does it begin to change gears with noticeable jerks in slow traffic jams, but also during acceleration it can frighten with a metallic grinding sound when changing gears. When the number of complaints about PowerShift exceeded the acceptable level, Ford was forced to issue a special technical bulletin that ordered the reprogramming of the transmission control module. This partially solved the problem - the vibrations of the box decreased and gear shifts became smoother.
Suspension.
The suspension of the third generation Ford Focus is quite strong and cannot in any way be called a weak point. Up to 100 thousand kilometers, and most cars sold are just approaching this mark; it does not require attention! So at the moment, the only serious complaint about the Focus suspension is the appearance of extraneous sounds when driving over bumps, which tend to intensify with the onset of cold weather.
Steering is the weak point of the Ford Focus 3.
Compared to the suspension, the steering of the “third” Focus seems frankly unfinished. After 5-7 thousand kilometers, the steering rack may begin to knock. And all because of the play of the left steering rod. And the worst thing is that replacing the rack does not fundamentally solve the problem. After the same 10 thousand kilometers, the knocking appears again. Not all is well with electric power steering. Sometimes he can refuse at the most inopportune moment. The culprit is the electric power steering motor. Although there is no need to rush to change it right away. Sometimes the functionality of the electric amplifier can be restored by simply turning the ignition off and on.
Conclusion.
It’s impossible to call the third generation Ford Focus an absolutely problem-free car. If its engines and suspension as a whole do not cause problems, then you should expect unpleasant surprises from the steering and gearboxes after a run of 10 thousand kilometers. Perhaps this is what influenced the fact that the “third” Focus did not become as popular as its predecessors. On the other hand, in terms of reliability, most competitors of the Ford Focus, if even better, are only slightly better. So you shouldn’t refuse to buy a used third-generation Focus. With timely maintenance, the car will serve faithfully for many years.
For those who don’t like to read a lot - a short video review of the interior, exterior and problems of the Ford Focus 3:
That's all for me today. If you want to add to the article about the weak points of the Ford Focus 3, please write comments.
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Which engine to choose?
Those who buy a Ford Focus 3 with a mileage of more than 100,000 km, of course, should consider only naturally aspirated gasoline engines. This is the safest choice. In the event of a malfunction, the motor will not require large repair costs. The 1.6-liter Duratec uses Ti-VCT variable valve timing and multipoint fuel injection. The main thing is to periodically check the valve clearance and change the timing belt every 120,000 km. The 2-liter engine has a timing chain drive. And instead of distributed injection, it is equipped with direct injection.
Motors of the EcoBoost series have a similar design to Duratec. But turbocharging and direct injection radically change the character of the engine. It becomes not only dynamic, but also economical. At least as long as the driver maintains a calm driving manner. It should be understood that the Ecoboost series units are a typical example of downsizing. Small engines operate under high loads and therefore have a limited service life.
As for diesel versions, it is better to choose a 2-liter engine. But it will be difficult to find it. The 2.0 TDCi has no serious shortcomings and is capable of covering more than 200,000 km without any problems. The 1.6 TDCi is also quite reliable. Both turbodiesels require periodic replacement of the timing belt.
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Typical problems and malfunctions
Transmission
In general, the third Ford Focus is not a problematic car. In any case, if the PowerShift robotic gearbox is not installed. The most harmless ailment is oil leaks in the area of the right axle shaft. It is much more unpleasant if the TCM transmission control module fails (35,000 rubles) or the clutch unit wears out prematurely (30,000 rubles).
Leakage of the right axle shaft seal is also observed in cars with a manual transmission.
Engines
Typically, the mechanical part of gasoline engines does not cause any problems. You only have to deal with little things, like a worn-out right support of the power unit (7,000 rubles), a failed oxygen sensor (3,000 rubles), a fuel pump in the tank (15,000 rubles) or a leaking timing control solenoid valve (3,000 rubles).
It is worth noting that the fuel system of the 2-liter Duratec uses a high-pressure pump. The injection pump is sensitive to fuel quality. A neglectful attitude towards choosing a gas station can cost the owner from 20 to 30 thousand rubles.
As for the EcoBoost series engines, owners of restyled Focuses with 1.5 EB are increasingly faced with cracking of the cylinder head, and sometimes the block itself. Turbo engines are characterized by malfunctions of the mass air flow (MAP) sensor. There are also complaints about the engine control program, in which errors are periodically detected. However, the problem is typical for all power units, which Ford solves with regular software updates.
Chassis
The suspension can withstand 100,000 km without intervention. Later you will have to replace the stabilizer struts, support bearings, and sometimes one of the front arms. After 150,000 km, it’s time for wheel bearings and shock absorbers.
Please note: the suspension was equipped with two interchangeable types of levers - steel and aluminum. In the first case, you can replace the ball joint separately, and in the second, only together with the lever.
Steering rack knocking is common. Extraneous sounds, as a rule, bother only on unpaved surfaces, where the car moves quite rarely. Fortunately, this defect does not affect safety. In rare cases, electric power steering may need repairs (10-20 thousand rubles).
Electrics
Problems with power supply occur after 150-200 thousand km due to generator failure, as a result of brush wear or a malfunction of the voltage regulator. You will have to pay about 10,000 rubles for a new generator, and about 3,000 rubles for a regulator.
Electrical malfunctions can also be caused by a failure of the BCM (GEM module). Water from the washer gets onto its contacts.
Body and interior
Corrosion, if it occurs, occurs only on elements of the chassis and exhaust system. Its presence does not cause any concern. After winter, you should check the shutters that cover the radiator grill so that the engine quickly reaches operating temperature. They may remain closed due to contamination. The device was installed only on diesel modifications.
Quite often, owners complain about fogging of the front and rear optics. In addition, they note the occasional appearance of a small amount of water in the trunk (from vents hidden by the bumper) or in the front passenger's feet (from the air conditioning evaporator).
Sometimes the head unit or the electric window drive fails (corrosion of the drive). With age, interior elements and the stove motor begin to make noise (7,000 rubles).
List of works during maintenance 1 (mileage 15,000)
- Changing the engine oil and oil filter (also during all subsequent maintenance).
Recommended oil is Total Quartz 9000 Future NFC 5W-30. Oil specifications according to international standards: ACEA A5/B5, A1/B1; API SL/CF. Manufacturer approval: Ford WSS-M2C-913-C, Ford WSS-M2C-913-B. You will need 4.3 liters. Catalog number of a 5-liter canister is 183199. Average price is approx. 2000 rubles.Oil filter for the 1.6 engine - original article number 1714387, and the average price is about 380 rubles ; for the 2.0 engine - the original article number is 5015485, and the average price is approximately 340 rubles .
- Replacing the cabin filter (during all maintenance). The original article number is 1709013, the average price is around 900 rubles .
- Replacement of the air filter (during all maintenance). The original article number is 1848220, and the average price is about 735 rubles .
Checks during maintenance 1 and all subsequent ones:
- crankcase ventilation system;
- gearbox inspection;
- CV joint covers;
- front and rear suspension;
- wheels and tires;
- steering drive;
- steering play;
- hydraulic brake pipelines;
- brake mechanisms;
- vacuum booster;
- handbrake;
- battery;
- spark plug;
- headlights;
- seat belts and their fastenings.
