14th Apr 2005, 11:08

Clearly the US spec Focus is not as good as the UK one. I'm on my third, a 2003 model, now with 91,000 miles on the clock and only one minor fault to its name. My 99 and 2001 models both had over 100k when done and still drove well.

10th Feb 2007, 07:05

I bought of 2001 Focus in the summer of 2006, and every since then I have been having nothing, but problems with it. At first it had an exhaust leak, right at the manifold. There was a short in the check engine light. Plus with that, I have a lot of noise coming from the front end. I heard that comes standard with a lot of Fords. Just recently, I had to have the ignition coil and spark plugs wires replaces. Now the check engine light comes on and they tell me that it is the Mass Airflow Sensor. All the problems are not covered by a warranty, and has cost over $200.00 every time. I love the car with the problems set aside. Good gas mileage, and perfect for single ladies. All in all a good ride, if you want to invest money into a car like this.

10th Feb 2007, 09:57

We had a 2001 Focus ZX-3. It never had a single problem and was a very good driving, great performing car.

6th May 2007, 19:15

Go get your brake's checked soon, or if you wait it will end up costing more.

24th Jan 2008, 15:28

The signal switch not poping back into the off position means that the switch arm is broken and will need to be replaced, but even broken by not poping back into place it will still function fine.

As for people with the LX Focus, or SE basic, if you have the 2.0 SPI engine they are known to have a few issues related to them and are often the engines that tend to die out randomly. the 2.0 Zetec is better built, and more reliable. as for the repair of $4,500, you could get a better engine as I mentioned from a local wreaking yard for as little as $300, and should cost no more than $1000 to replace everything without going to a ford dealership.

28th Apr 2008, 14:00

How do you know if it's a SPI or a Zetec?

26th Nov 2008, 08:07

The valve cover will be black with the white lettering "Zetec" on the upper left corner with the spark plugs and spark plug wires running through the middle of the cover side-ways. The SPI will have a metal valve cover that looks like some sort of baking mold flipped upside down.

24th Jul 2009, 15:38

I did not have any problems with my 2001 Focus LX until it hit 25,000 miles. The A/C evaporator failed, then came a fan, the brakes have been noisy forever, but work well. When the car reached 80,000, the engine went, and a rebuilt engine with 40,000 on it cost me $2,000 at a non-Ford garage.

After they changed the engine, a number of parts went bad, the alternator, hoses etc. In total I have spent over $4,500 in 6 years.

Now all the dashboard lights go on and off, the transmission is failing and sometimes the car stalls.

In summary, it is a nice little car, drives well, good mileage, but I will not buy a FORD ever again! Any body wants it?

18th Nov 2009, 20:48

I agree with the fact of Ford Focuses are not the best cars in the world, may be not even close to that, but not all of it is bad. The cars are good looking cars, very good gas savers, affordable price, and I believe Ford Co. has made big improvements in the Ford Focus.

2nd Nov 2010, 15:43

They have made improvements, even on the '03s... but as for the SPI engines going some quickly; they are known to drop valve seats, and that doesn't mean you have to replace the whole engine...

30th Mar 2011, 07:08

I just purchased an 01 Focus ZTS. It has the Zetec. I got it dirt cheap as the seller made a mistake. However it runs and drives perfect, no issues and I've now put about 6,000kms on it since I bought it. (Certified, on the road, clean air tested for $500!).

I found another 01 Focus SE WITH the Zetec for $200 as a parts car and it runs just as good! Thinking about putting it on the road and giving it to my sister as she needs cheap wheels. And the "parts" car has 295,000kms on it!

My issue with both of them is mainly rust though and my car has had 1 of the rear power windows fail, but I can't complain really. My car has 176,000kms on it (these are Canadian cars) and other than the 1 window everything in my ZTS works, ABS, traction control, all the other windows, trunk release etc. Even the leather still looks nice!

4th May 2011, 09:54

My 2002 Focus with an SPI engine dropped the #4 intake seat at 100,180 miles. The car was well cared for and running well.

Then BAM the engine is toast. So I will rebuild.

My 1972 Pinto 2000cc is still running well with only a valve job in 1990. The SPI problem is so common, Ford must have known about it years ago.