Since Ford has been making cars for a really long time now, they really understand what people want and are looking for. The Ford Focus was introduced specifically for the budget-friendly crowd and it has been able to become one of the key players in the compact sedan segment. The 2017 Ford Focus has been made sure to stay to its roots and is offered at a reasonable $16,775 which puts it amongst its competitor’s price range. The Focus is up against cars like the Chevrolet Cruze, the Nissan Sentra, and the Volkswagen Jetta. Coming to the reliability, the Focus has just 4 recalls but does have 375 complaints, but let’s find out if they change the buying decision.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Warning lights – The check engine warning light comes on and stays on until the car is restarted.
- Gauges – The gauges stopped working all of a sudden while driving. There weren’t any battery-related issues that could have caused the problem.
- Radio – Multiple users reported the radio just stopped working for no reason.
Mechanical Problems
- Engine – The car was reported to pick speed even after letting go of the accelerator. The engine also sputtered and stalled for no reason and wouldn’t turn back on immediately. Also, the accelerator isn’t responsive and the engine takes a while to react.
- Steering – The car was being driven and the steering wheel just locked without any warning eliminating the maneuverability that the driver had.
- Brakes – When users tried to use the brakes, the car seemed to accelerate and this can cause collisions.
- Powertrain – The transmission was noticed to slip and miss gears with a lot of shuddering. Also, users noticed the coolant to be leaking very often, and changing the coolant hose didn’t solve the issue fully.
- Fuel system – After every fuel-up, the car finds it hard to start and the driver needs to pump the accelerator multiple times to get the car moving.
Safety Problems
- Seatbelt – The belt doesn’t click in place that easily and takes multiple tries before it manages to buckle up.
- Airbags – Multiple owners claimed the airbags to not deploy after getting involved in a crash.
Exterior Problems
- Lights – The headlight and taillights were reported to go dead quickly after purchase and needed frequent replacing of the bulb.
- Hood – The Hood opened when driving and cracked the windshield on impact.
- Wheels – The lug nuts were swollen and had to be replaced for $120.
Interior Problems
- Headliner – The headliner fabric is seen to separate from the roof and looks saggy.
Structural Problems
- Door latch – The rear passenger door was noticed to stop locking even though the car never collided with another vehicle. It just wouldn’t latch, increasing the chance of injury.
- Windshield/Sunroof – The Windshield shattered without coming in contact with any object. Also, while the car was idling, the sunroof was reported to shatter for no reason.
2017 Ford Focus Recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
5th July 2019 |
19V515000 |
A stuck canister purge valve may cause stall. |
This may cause excessive vacuum which could result in an engine stall when driving. |
Dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module. They will also check for fault codes and replace the CPV. |
|
2 |
28th November 2018 |
18V845000 |
Transmission clutch slip and fluid leak |
Fluid leaks in the presence of an ignition source such as a hot engine can cause a fire. |
The vehicles will be updated with Software that can detect prolonged clutch slip |
|
3 |
22nd October 2018 |
18V735000 |
Stuck canister purge valve may cause stall |
Excessive vacuum can cause engine stall while driving and may lead to not being able to restart the car. |
The powertrain control module will be reprogrammed and dealers will check for fault codes and replace the CPV as needed. |
|
4 |
28th August 2017 |
17V528000 |
Insufficient seat weld frame |
Reduced seat back strength may increase the chance of injury during a crash. |
Dealers will replace the rear left side seat back. |
Should you buy the 2017 Ford Focus?
The 2017 Ford Focus is definitely worth the asking price and it’s spacious enough to accommodate a family. There definitely have been some compromises on the materials used and overall quality but that is expected in such a car. The Ford Focus does stand well against its rivals but one segment where the Ford falls is performance. Almost all the cars pack better performance than the Ford but where the Focus wins is in terms of practicality, efficiency, and its features list. If performance figures are what you’re looking for, go for the Volkswagen but if you need something more reliable and feature-packed, the Ford Focus would be the better buy.
