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Ford Focus.

The best Ford Focus years are 2011, 2008, 2006. Years to avoid: 2012, 2014, 2001. Across 2010-2018, it has a Lemon Index of 227, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2001 to 2018.

227Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Lemon alert. Whole model, 2010-2018: 2.3× the average car's complaints.

Best year 2011 · Worst year 2012

Ford Focus
Photo shows a 2014 Ford Focus. Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

20013533.5× the complaints20021931.9× the complaints200498about average2006531.9× fewer complaints2008372.7× fewer complaints2009611.6× fewer complaints2010561.8× fewer complaints2011195.3× fewer complaints20124134.1× the complaints20133143.1× the complaints20143803.8× the complaints20151121.1× the complaints20161951.9× the complaints20171651.6× the complaints20181671.7× the complaints

Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.

Best years to buy

2011.

2011195.3× fewer complaints than average2008372.7× fewer complaints than average2006531.9× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2012.

20124134.1× the average car's complaints20143803.8× the average car's complaints20013533.5× the average car's complaints

Compare the Ford Focus.

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vs Chevrolet Spark · vs Chevrolet Cruze

Quick answers.

Is the Ford Focus a good car?

Not overall: it draws more complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2018: Lemon Index 227; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2011 and the worst is 2012.

What are the best Ford Focus years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2011, 2008, 2006.

What Ford Focus years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2012, 2014, 2001.

How many recalls does the Ford Focus have?

100 safety recalls across the 15 model years we track. Most: 2001 (14), 2013 (12), 2014 (12). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Ford Focus problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name transmission & drivetrain, engine and electrical most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
20013533.5× the average car's complaints991electrical (19%)14—24–28
20021931.9× the average car's complaints489electrical (21%)8—25–28
200498about average176electrical (39%)6—24–27
2006531.9× fewer complaints than average65electrical (31%)2—23–26
2008372.7× fewer complaints than average72tires (19%)2—28
2009611.6× fewer complaints than average79suspension (22%)0—27–28
2010561.8× fewer complaints than average108transmission & drivetrain (18%)0—28
2011195.3× fewer complaints than average40doors, locks & latches (28%)0—28–29
20124134.1× the average car's complaints1,099transmission & drivetrain (54%)8★★★★☆29–105
20133143.1× the average car's complaints930transmission & drivetrain (61%)12★★★★★26–105
20143803.8× the average car's complaints950transmission & drivetrain (62%)12★★★★★26–105
20151121.1× the average car's complaints229transmission & drivetrain (55%)9★★★★★29–105
20161951.9× the average car's complaints351transmission & drivetrain (52%)10★★★★★22–105
20171651.6× the average car's complaints279transmission & drivetrain (56%)10★★★★★22–107
20181671.7× the average car's complaints212transmission & drivetrain (39%)7★★★★★22–107

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Ford Focus transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data