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Ford Focus reliability


mkaresh

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Because existing sources of auto reliability information left much to be desired, in late 2005 I started conducting my own reliability research at TrueDelta.com. TrueDelta reports absolute stats like "trips to the shop" that make the differences between cars much clearer. Results are updated four times a year, so any significant changes in a model's reliability become apparent quickly.

 

I start including a model year in the main survey when 25 owners have signed up to participate. Just about every recent year of the Focus is either just over or just under this minimum. More participants would help a great deal either way.

 

Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

 

To encourage participation, panel members will receive full access to the results for free.

 

For the details, and to sign up to help out:

 

Auto reliability research

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The August results include the 2001, 2005, and 2007. Sample sizes were small in all three cases, so these results were asterisked. The 2005 and 2007 appear to be about average in reliability, while the 2001 appears to be better than average--though this might be the small sample size talking.

 

With more participants, we could provide more precise results for all years.

 

Full set of results here:

 

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

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I don't suppose, do you track whether visitors who found your site via particular auto websites have a particular bias towards the cars advocated by that website?

 

I don't track this. But people have argued that it could go both ways.

 

1. Fans might under-report problems.

 

2. People who came to a forum because they had a problem might over-report problems.

 

The process has been carefully designed to limit both of these potential distortions. And it seems to work, since the reported problem rates track with other surveys. Just sooner, with an actual repair rate.

Edited by mkaresh
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Updated results were posted this week. We have a full result for the 2005 Focus, and partial results for seven other model years.

 

In general, the repair rate is average for these cars. One model year is worse than average, and two are better than average, but in all three cases small sample sizes could be responsible for the variation.

 

A big thanks to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May, August, and November, so additional participants would certainly be helpful. We'd like to provide full results for more model years.

 

We now have a separate results page for each model. The one of the Ford Focus:

 

Ford Focus reliability comparisons

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A big thanks to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May, August, and November, so additional participants would certainly be helpful. We'd like to provide full results for more model years.

 

 

I am participating with my '00 Focus, and will register my '09 when I receive my next email asking for my results.

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I am participating with my '00 Focus, and will register my '09 when I receive my next email asking for my results.

 

Thanks. Did you add the 2009?

 

We've updated the results for the Focus to include owner experiences through March 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

 

2008: 62, about average

 

2007: 33, better than average

 

2006: 41, better than average

 

2005: 58, about average

 

2003: 101, about average

 

2002: 216, worse than average; based on results for other model years, this one is not accurate

 

2001: 93, about average

 

2000: 111, about average

 

We only had a sufficient sample size for the 2005. The other results are asterisked and only visible to members on the site itself.

 

A big thank you to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years.

 

Ford Focus reliability comparisons

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I have an '02 ZX5 with nearly 180K miles(all mine, I'm the original owner). The only major problems were the front suspension, fixed under a recall notice, and the fuel pump, which let go at about 125K miles in Rawlins, WY(not the best place in the world to be stranded...) I will buy a new C2 5-door when it comes out.

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We've updated the results for the Focus to include owner experiences through June 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

 

2008: 69, about average

 

2007: 60, about average

 

2006: 9, better than average

 

2005: 46, better than average

 

2003: 115, about average

 

2002: 188, worse than average; based on results for other model years, the actual repair rate is probably a bit better than this

 

2001: 143, about average

 

2000: 131, about average

 

We had sufficient sample sizes for the 2003, 2005, and 2007. The other results are asterisked and only visible to members on the site itself.

 

A big thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years.

 

Ford Focus reliability comparisons

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We've updated the results for the Focus to include owner experiences through September 30, 2009x. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

 

2008: 69, about average

 

2007: 60, about average

 

2006: 9, better than average

 

2005: 46, better than average

 

2003: 115, about average

 

2002: 188, worse than average; based on results for other model years, the actual repair rate is probably a bit better than this

 

2001: 143, about average

 

2000: 131, about average

 

We had sufficient sample sizes for the 2003, 2005, and 2007. The other results are asterisked and only visible to members on the site itself.

 

A big thank, once again, you to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years.

 

Ford Focus reliability comparisons

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We've updated the results for the Focus to include owner experiences through December 31, 2009. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

 

2009: 22, better than average

 

2008: 64, about average

 

2007: 84, about average

 

2006: 60, about average

 

2005: 41, better than average

 

2003: 126, worse than average

 

2002: 128, about average

 

2001: 95, about average

 

2000: 85, better than average

 

We had sufficient sample sizes for the 2003, 2005, and 2007. The other results are asterisked and only visible to members on the site itself.

 

A big thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years.

 

Ford Focus reliability comparisons

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We've updated the results for the Focus to include owner experiences through March 31, 2010. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

 

2009: 22, better than average

 

2008: 52, about average

 

2007: 93, worse than average

 

2006: 65, about average

 

2005: 58, about average

 

2004: 72, about average, very small sample size

 

2003: 112, about average

 

2002: 90, about average, small sample

 

2001: 148, worse than average, small sample

 

2000: 144, about average, small sample

 

More consistent from year to year than in the past, because more participants and more data per car.

 

A big thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years.

 

Ford Focus reliability comparisons

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We've updated the results for the Focus to include owner experiences through June 30, 2010.

 

Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the more recent months until the summer or even fall of next year.

 

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

 

2009: 19, better than average

 

2008: 57, about average

 

2007: 70, about average

 

2006: 71, about average

 

2005: 58, about average

 

2004: 50, better than average, very small sample size

 

2003: 96, about average

 

2002: 93, about average

 

2001: 117, about average, one response short of the minimum for a full result

 

2000: 125, about average

 

Now very consistent from year to year, because more participants and more data per car.

 

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years.

 

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:

 

Ford Focus reliability comparisons

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We've updated the results for the Focus to include owner experiences through September 30, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the months since April until the summer or even fall of next year.

 

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

 

2009: 55

 

2008: 59

 

2007: 65

 

2006: 84

 

2005: 82

 

2004: 54, very small sample size

 

2003: 92

 

2002: 91

 

2001: 120

 

2000: 135, a single car short of the minimum

 

The 2004 is better than average, all of the others are about average.

 

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years.

 

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:

 

Ford Focus reliability ratings and comparisons

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We've updated the results for the Focus to include owner experiences through December 31, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the months since April until the summer or even fall of this year.

 

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

 

2009: 65

 

2008: 62

 

2007: 60

 

2006: 71

 

2005: 90

 

2004: 74, small sample size

 

2003: 95

 

2002: 123

 

2001: 123

 

2000: 140, small sample size

 

All are about average.

 

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years.

 

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:

 

Ford Focus reliability ratings and comparisons

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We've updated our reliability stats for the Focus to include owner experiences through March 31, 2011.

 

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

 

2009: 73

 

2008: 77

 

2007: 52

 

2006: 54

 

2005: 96

 

2004: 77, small sample size

 

2003: 102

 

2002: 132

 

2001: 91

 

2000: 103

 

The 2006 and 2001 are better than average, the others are about average. Sample izes are near the minimum in all cases, which likely explains much of the variation from year to year.

 

We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years.

 

We're especially interested in providing some quick results for the new 2012. 18 cars signed up so far, a very fast start.

 

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

 

Ford Focus reliability ratings and comparisons

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We've updated the results for the Focus to include owner experiences through June 30, 2011.

 

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

 

2009: 94, worse than average

 

2008: 52

 

2007: 53

 

2006: 73

 

2005: 116, worse than average

 

2004: 81, small sample size

 

2003: 107

 

2002: 93

 

2001: 94, better than average

 

2000: 123, small sample size

 

About average except where noted. Sample sizes are near the minimum in all cases, which likely explains much of the variation from year to year.

 

We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years.

 

We're especially interested in providing some quick results for the new 2012. 31 cars signed up so far, a very fast start.

 

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

 

Ford Focus reliability ratings and comparisons

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We've updated the our reliability stats for the Focus to include owner experiences through December 31, 2012.


Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:


2013: 15, low


2012: 38, moderate


2010: 43, moderate


2009: 20, low, small sample size


2008: 25, low


2007: 41, low


2006: 41, low


2005: 41, low


2004: 26, low, very small sample size


2003: 80, moderate


2002: 114, high


2001: 66, low, small sample size


2000: 32, low, very small sample size


The 2000 and 2001 seem too low to be accurate. Or owners are living with problems rather than fixing them.


We'll have further updates in May and August. With more owners involved, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years.


To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:


Ford Focus reliability ratings and comparisons

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We've updated our reliability stats for the Focus to include owner experiences through March 31, 2013.


Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:


2013 Focus: 16, low

2012 Focus: 35, moderate

2010 Focus: 51, moderate

2009 Focus: 28, low, small sample size

2008 Focus: 26, low

2007 Focus: 41, low

2006 Focus: 51, moderate

2005 Focus: 48, low

2004 Focus: 31, low, small sample size

2003 Focus: 82, moderate

2002 Focus: 129, high

2001 Focus: 90, moderate, small sample size

2000 Focus: 69, low, small sample size


We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:


2012 Focus: 69, < 1

2007 Focus: 82, 4


We'll have further updates in August and in November.


For the details, including the descriptions of reported repairs, and to sign up to help improve this information:


Ford Focus reliability ratings and comparisons


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We've updated our reliability stats for the Focus to include owner experiences through June 30, 2013. (Another source is about 14 months behind.)

 

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

 

2013 Focus: 23, low
2013 Focus ST: 44, moderate
2012 Focus: 37, moderate
2010 Focus: 38, moderate
2009 Focus: 22, low
2008 Focus: 31, low
2007 Focus: 47, moderate
2006 Focus: 62, moderate
2005 Focus: 55, moderate
2004 Focus: 38, low, small sample size
2003 Focus: 95, moderate
2002 Focus: 116, high
2001 Focus: 84, low, small sample size
2000 Focus: 69, low, small sample size

 

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

 

2012 Focus: 70, 1
2007 Focus: 70, 3

 

We'll have further updates in November and February.

 

To view competitors' scores and descriptions of reported repairs, and to sign up to help:

 

Ford Focus reliability ratings and comparisons

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