MK3 focus - Yes or No

[GazNicki]

Hi all,

We've had some issues over the last 18 months with a 1.8 Sport Ford Focus, and now is the time to move on. I can't begrudge dealing with it any longer.

Now the wife is on a quest to change, and I am at a loss of what to advise.

Mondeo is too big, Fiesta is on the small side (and ugly inside) and the focus is the right size. However, with recent experience of the Focus, I am reluctant to get another. I am also not a fan myself, with the Mondeo being more my bag (I have a mondeo).

Petrol is all that is required as the car would be a town car with the occasion 15 mile motorway trip to the next town. The thought of a 68bhp car doesn't bode well with me, but what are the best options?

Are the Mk3 Focus riddled with issues such as Piston Seals, battery drainage, or banging suspension? Have the issues from the Mk2 been ironed out? How does it compare to the Mk4 Mondeo in terms of being user friendly?

I need a car that she can just get on with instead of each week there being something else to moan about with, so I need reliability, but I need it to look as good as a Ford usually does.

Help me, please.

[alexp999]

1.0 ecoboost would be a good engine for a town Focus.

Not aware of any major issues. I love mine and my previous ones and my mum has a 1.0 estate and loves hers.

[mikeyd1]

As alex said I vouch for 1.0 ecoboost aswell ive had 3 and nothing wrong with any of them in terms of reliability.

[dave1987]

I'd go for the 1.0 ecoboost as well but if you can get a 125hp one with the 6 speed gearbox. That would be plenty adequate for mainly town driving.

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[artscot79]

ide go elsewhere to be honest the 1.0 is riddled with issues as is the mk3 most carried on from the mk1 onwards I reluctantly moved away from ford and I'm glad I did known issues are door faults stop start faults clutch faults driveshaft leaks ecu issues display issues cluster faults

[alexp999]

I'm not aware of any serious common/widespread issues in the 1.0 or mk3. News to me...

@iantt has one and works at a Ford garage so I'd be interested to see if he thinks they have problems.

[iantt]

someone mention me? lol.

there are no common widespread issues with 1.0 or mk3, 

"google"mechanics will always find odd fault here and there and exagerate what they find. no different to any other maufacuturer faults.

ive bought my first ford( in 36yrs of driving and working in the trade) the ford focus mk3 1.0 ecoboost because of the vastly improved quality and reliabilty

[Incontro]

4 minutes ago, iantt said:

someone mention me? lol.

there are no common widespread issues with 1.0 or mk3, 

"google"mechanics will always find odd fault here and there and exagerate what they find. no different to any other maufacuturer faults.

ive bought my first ford( in 36yrs of driving and working in the trade) the ford focus mk3 1.0 ecoboost because of the vastly improved quality and reliabilty

actually there are widespread issues with mk3. the auto gearbox (powershift) dry clutch version on petrols on the earlier models (up until around 2013 build) were plagued with issues, juddering, and early failure. not just UK either, a worldwide issue (so definitely widespread). shame really, because other than that, its a great car. its like the only thing that would hold me off from upgrading from a mk2.5 to a mk3.

[alexp999]

Just now, Incontro said:

actually there are widespread issues with mk3. the auto gearbox (powershift) dry clutch version on petrols on the earlier models (up until around 2013 build) were plagued with issues, juddering, and early failure. not just UK either, a worldwide issue (so definitely widespread). shame really, because other than that, its a great car. its like the only thing that would hold me off from upgrading from a mk2.5 to a mk3.

It's not a problem with the mk3 exactly but a problem with that box, so it will affect every car using those powershift boxes.

[iantt]

so can you tell me how widespread the powershift issue was? what percentage?

[sonic113]

Love fords myself. Also have had one since started driving and me family have always been ford people. 

 

All manufacturers will have some issues but if any car or thing for that matter is looked after and maintained well it should be reliable and last a decent time. Eco boost engine looks fantastic and when i decide to upgrade the family car that will be my next engine choice. I think fords offer great value for money and they have some of the best looking and driving cars on the road and always have done.

[chrisroberson99]

Another vote for the 1.0 Ecoboost, it's a brilliant little engage and perfectly capable of decent performance in the Focus. It's more than happy to sit at 70+ on the motorway too, a great all round car.

[artscot79]

I love fords I hate the fact that they inherit problems that should be ironed out mk1 issues on a mk3 isn't good enough hence why I walked away the mk3 is riddled with issues such as clutch slave cylinder is mega common fault as is dmf failures syndromes failures so bad the parts are back order that's a fact repeated drive shaft oil seal leaks friend had this issue as well even new seals and shafts didn't cure it fir ling usb connectors failing dash display faults inc blackouts' front suspension top mount bearings failing throttle malfunctions cracked coolant chambers door seals unsticking and electrical failure'ssudden power losses random fault lights to name but a few ...if you buy a ford new keep it 3 years the get rid fine if not you've no warranty no comeback and ford accept no responsibility for these flaws inherited from older car's which is the real issue so the choice is up to each person my mk3 test drive ended within 10mins with an engine malfunction then it spluttered to a halt on a low mileage fully serviced ford approved car ..reliable no. good cars to drive yes. a lot of kit for the money no not compared to others. warranty is crap good car if you maintain it yes if you want to keep throwing money at it to fix stupid faults and leaks .no better or worse than others rubbish fords way down there in reliability compared to others again I love fords but I walked like many others have till ford up their game and fix 10yr old flaws that just move from mk to mk and add a decent warranty they wont because they know the car isn't that well built mt stereo warranty is 2 years longer than fords car warranty my interior warranty is 5 years also inc leaks

[JW1982]

I do not recognise any of the MK3 problems you mention. None of these problems are common on the (many) Ford forums I am reading/posting and I have not seen these problems either on my own car or any of the cars I serviced.

There are a few known MK3 specific problems but these are only minor problems that can easily be solved.

 

Good luck with your KIA. In my opinion the quality of a KIA is a lot worse than the quality of a Ford. In the Netherlands KIA has a warranty of 7 Years and believe me You need it! One of the warranty requirements is that the car must be fully serviced by KIA otherwise the warranty will be lost.

One of my employees owns a 3 Year old KIA (from new) and it is a large pain in the !Removed!. service costs are quite high (a lot higher than the fixed Ford prices) the car has a lot of problems. The heater housing has been replaced several times becuse the parts inside simply break off and block the flaps and the central locking does often not work. Both keyfobs and half of the cars electrics have already been replaced but the problem is still not sorted.

 

[dave1987]

I think you're right in there being some common issues, I myself fell foul to a failing clutch at 10k miles on a 1.6 Ecoboost. But don't think for one minute that other manufacturers don't have their problems either. Fair point on the warranty duration when compared to the likes of Hyundai and Kia, but in my experience of driving a Kia Ce'ed for a week & 500 miles for work it was nowhere near as good to drive as a focus and felt cheap inside despite being well equipped.

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[sonic113]

I agree, I have never had any long term issues with all the fords myself or my family ever have had and there were no warranties at all when we bought them. I had my escort for 10 years without a hitch (and I bought it when it was 6 year old) only for the old rust to take her 10 years later but by that stage It was time to upgrade lol! 

Myself I personally am happy with a standard warranty of 1 year or 6 months after that then tough luck so more better to make a good decision at the time of buying. Other manufactures offer different warranties but to me its all sales talk because it would be great to see if they actually hold to them when you really need them.

 

Also agree with kia and Hyundai looking and feeling cheaper and not as well built as ford cars. My wifes aunt bought a Hyundai jeep over a ford Kuga and she came from a early mk2 focus and regrets it dearly only now she is stuck in contract so tough, very bad decision on her part (I did try to tell her but no one listens lol!), very cheap looking and feeling inside to be honest as well.

Other family members have a vw passat and and a golf and all comment on how they prefer to travel in my focus and my father inlaws cmax as the ride and comfort seems better to them so it goes to show that ford are still surprising people. Also personally think kia and hyundai have copies the design of fords focus and other manufactures cars because some of those look very similar to the shape of the mk3??????

Now looking at the next batch of new ford models after the new RS all or some are going to have the AWD system which will be a game changer again especially for family cars and the likes of the standard focus fiesta and smax ect Between ford new technology and designs for me they are improving every year and I will be happy to keep with them on the way when I need to upgrade, But since my fords last me a good while its hard to change when the current ford id driving well lol!  

At the end of the day its up to you who is buying but I guess thats why there are so much choice on the market but I love and always have loved ford from my early childhood watching the ford compete in wrc, working at old fords with my grandfather and then doing the same on modern fords with my kids its all about the oval badge and if only Mr Henry Ford knew what he was starting way back when he did, something that would last for generations to come and is still going well to me that's says it all.

[Igglebert]

1.0 ecoboost Focus. Superb motor. I suggest the 100hp over the 125.  That sort of driving suits it perfectly. It's more economical than the 125 (a little) and gas no DMF (I think that's a good thing). Five speed is plenty!

[GazNicki]

Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated.

I've had a load of cars myself in the past, and always end up looking around and coming back to Fords. I wanted a 5-Series BMW last time, but ended up with a Mk4 Mondeo. So glad I did as I got far more car for my money and the drive is superb. A massive jump from the Mk3 I was used to.

I've driven Skoda Octavia VRS (New ones) and while they are nice, the VAG drive quality just isn't there. Will have a look at the ecoboost as it seems to be highly recommended.

[Dee_82]

Not a fan of the Mk3 Focus the 3.5 is good though, the Mk3 just doesn't have the right look about it but I cant put my finger on what that is,

So I think ill just keep my 2.5 for a while yet.  My Mates mk4 Mondeo is nice and is a much more comfortable ride but then my 1.6 is a fair bit more sporty than his 1.8! :D 

In saying all that, my partner has a fiesta and your right, its too small and underpowered so id probably steer her towards a 1l Ecoboost Focus when its time for her to change.

 

[Arwen]

3 hours ago, Dee_82 said:

Not a fan of the Mk3 Focus the 3.5 is good though, the Mk3 just doesn't have the right look about it but I cant put my finger on what that is,

 

I'm the opposite way around with the focus. The mk3.5 front grille looks like a sad whale in my head :-( 

As for the ecoboosts, I have the 1.6 and I'm loving it. Only had it a few months but aside from the normal randomness nature of the start stop, it has been great. Nice and smooth at all speeds, and soaks up the terrible road surfaces well enough for my liking. 

I test drove a 1l and felt it needed to be worked more. The 1.6 suits my more cruising/lazy driving driving stlye than constantly being on the throttle that the 1l likes. Lovely little engine though if you drive like that. 

[Dee_82]

on I agree, if I was going to get an ecoboost it would be a 1.6 or the 1.5 but ive heard some negative opinions on that one.

My partner currently has a wee 90bhp 1.2, so 120bhp from a 1l will do for what she needs it to do :)

 

[dave1987]

And a nice turn of pace from 2nd gear onwards when you want it[emoji108]

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[btmaldon]

I think you've just been unlucky with your 1.8 Sport. I've had a Mk1, 2x Mk2.5 and the Mk3 ST and I have never even had to change a bulb. I have always been able to garage my cars which I think makes a lot of difference to the reliability (certainly the electrics). It seems most makes have more issues if they are subject to damp conditions most of the year.

[James]

The front end of the mk3 Ford focus looks ugly to me but the face lift looks really good.  A Ford Focus mk3.5 with an 1 litre ecoboost engine is the best car in its category for the money.  

[iantt]

13 minutes ago, James said:

The front end of the mk3 Ford focus looks ugly to me but the face lift looks really good.  A Ford Focus mk3.5 with an 1 litre ecoboost engine is the best car in its category for the money.  

ugly or face lift, the rides just as good, told my mrs that. lol