Amidst the overly crowded market of compact sedans that comprises major Japanese manufacturers, Ford manages to make a mark and stand strong by matching their reliability. The Ford Focus is an affordable sedan that blends reliability and decent performance for its segment very well. Ford has managed to sell 175,700 units of the Focus and the surprising bit is the fact that it carries just 105 registered complaints of NHTSA. There have been no recalls for this car from Ford and that explains the reason behind the massive sales number. Users mostly faced troubles with the door locks getting jammed and also rough gearshifts which were both issues that Ford has efficient fixes for. The market rivals for the Ford Focus are the Honda Civic, the Toyota Corolla, and the Mazda 3.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Air conditioner – Users of the Focus reported the AC to intermittently work and at times show drastic fluctuations in temperature. This was found to be a common issue among users and the dealers stated that the Ac compressor had failed and that it would need to be replaced.
- Odometer – The users contacted dealers as they found the actual speed of the car to not match the speed displayed on the odometer. The numbers were said to vary even with the miles covered and the dealers were able to find that the car needed a new speed sensor.
- Ignition – The contact stated that they were not able to start the vehicle as the ignition felt stuck. This left the vehicle stranded and dealers suggested getting the ignition cylinder replaced. They also reprogrammed the vehicle computer.
Mechanical Problems
- Engine – It was reported that the car would intermittently lose power and fail to respond when the gas pedal is depressed. The dealers were able to run a test which revealed that the throttle body was faulty and needed to be replaced.
- Transmission – The user reported hearing a loud banging noise coming from the transmission while driving which resulted in the vehicle jerking violently and ultimately stalling. The car was towed to an independent mechanic who inspected the issue and found the shift solenoid to have faulted which was replaced.
Safety Problems
- Seatbelt – It was reported that the driver’s seatbelt would not fasten securely and could detach without clicking the release button even under normal driving conditions. The user had to get the issue inspected and the dealers stated that it was not repairable and the entire seatbelt unit needed to be replaced.
- Airbag – The contact was involved in an accident and the airbags did deploy but they only inflated partially, causing a breastplate fracture to the driver. The issue was said to have been caused because of a faulty inflator. Dealers notified the manufacturer about the issue.
- Steering – It was said that the users received a power steering warning, post which the steering wheel completely failed and felt stiff. Fixing this issue required the users to replace the steering rack.
Interior Problems
- Map light – The map light was said to turn on and off at random times due to the door ajar warning malfunctioning. The warning was said to be displayed even after securing the doors well. This constant flickering of the map light caused the battery to drain sooner than usual.
Miscellaneous Problems
- Door latch – Both the rear doors were said to lock and fail to unlock when trying to access with the key fob or manually. The doors could only be opened from the inside and this caused a lot of hassle. The vehicle was taken to the dealers and after a while of inspection, the issue was said to have been caused by faulty door actuators. Dealers replaced the part and informed the manufacturers about it.
2011 Ford Focus recalls
The 2011 Ford Focus does not have any recalls yet.
Should you buy the 2011 Ford Focus?
The 2011 Ford Focus has proved itself to be a reliable sedan both through its limited complaints as well as its sales figures. Even though the Japanese cars managed to sell a little more in numbers, the quality that Ford carries is a massive differentiator and it plays a crucial role if you intend to hold the car for the long run. Users felt like Ford should have rolled out a recall for the rear door latch issue but with the limited number of vehicles affected, it was not economical for Ford to do so. There is absolutely no doubt about the Ford Focus being the ideal choice for this segment but it’s recommended to get the rear door locks and the AC unit checked for any abnormal functioning.
