Carsieve All versions
| Variant | Running cost per month | Median price | Listings | Fuel | Engine codes | Gearbox | Production years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6, 100 PS, 5-speed manual Research | €450 | €1,400 | 171 | Petrol | Manual (5) | 2001–2004 | |
| 1.8 CNG, 102 PS, 5-speed manual Research | – | €1,300 | 92 | Natural gas | Manual (5) | 2002–2005 | |
| 1.8, 115 PS, 5-speed manual Research | €481 | €1,400 | 52 | Petrol | Manual (5) | 2001–2005 |
At a glance
- Years: built 1998 to 2005. The facelift came in 2001. The ST170 (2002-2004) and the RS are the sporty versions.
- The issues that matter: a timing belt that breaks or jumps teeth, diesel TDCi and pump faults, cooling leaks, and rust on doors and the tailgate.
- Reliability: 3/5, because a broken belt can wreck the engine and the 1.8 TDCi diesel has known engine faults.
- DIY: 3/5. A simple car to work on, but the timing belt is a job to get right because a slip wrecks the engine.
- Prefer: petrol cars with proof of a timing belt change.
- Avoid: cars with no timing belt record, diesels with no pump or turbo records, and cars with bubbling paint on the doors or tailgate.
Engines and gearboxes
- Zetec-SE 1.4 and 1.6 (petrol, 75 and 100 PS): timing belt and idle valve, see Known issues. Fuel pumps failed often on petrol cars up to 2004 (carwiki; gebrauchtwagenberater citing ADAC; Za Rul from 30,000-40,000 km).
- Zetec 1.8 and 2.0 (petrol, 115 and 130 PS): timing belt, idle valve and thermostat housing (under coolant leaks), see Known issues. Fuel pumps failed often on petrol cars up to 2004 (carwiki; gebrauchtwagenberater citing ADAC; Za Rul).
- ST170 2.0 (petrol, 173 PS, 2002-2004): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- RS 2.0 turbo (petrol, 215 PS, 2002-2004): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 1.6 CNG (102 PS, from 2002): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 1.8 TDDi (75 and 90 PS, to 2001): No fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 1.8 TDCi (100 and 115 PS, from 2001): piston, cylinder head, turbo and high-pressure pump faults, see Known issues.
- 5-speed manual (IB5 or MTX-75): No fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 6-speed manual (ST170 only): No fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 4-speed automatic (4F27E): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing belt | All engines | Not stated (interval 60,000 km) | No confirmed price |
| TDCi pistons, cylinder heads and turbos | 1.8 TDCi diesel, from 2001 | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| TDCi high-pressure pump | 1.8 TDCi diesel, from 2001 | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Water pump and coolant leaks | Petrol and diesel | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Rust on doors and tailgate | All cars | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Wheel bearings | All cars | About 100,000 km, sometimes | No confirmed price |
| Front stabiliser links | All cars | 40,000-90,000 km (Za Rul gives two ranges) | No confirmed price |
| Idle control valve | Petrol | Not stated | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- Timing belt: ask for proof of a belt change at 60,000 km or less. A bad result is no proof.
- TDCi engine: ask for records of turbo and cylinder head work. A bad result is no records on a high-mileage car.
- TDCi pump: ask for high-pressure pump records and look at the pump for diesel leaks. A bad result is a wet pump or no records.
- Coolant: with the engine cold, check the coolant level and look at the water pump and thermostat housing. A bad result is a wet trace or low coolant.
- Rust: check the door seams, tailgate and bonnet edges by hand. A bad result is bubbling paint.
- Wheel bearings: rock each wheel at top and bottom. A bad result is play.
- Stabiliser links: drive slowly over bumps with the window open. A bad result is a knock or rattle from the front axle.
- Idle: let the petrol engine idle cold. A bad result is a low or hunting idle, or stalling.
- Recalls: ask a Ford dealer to check the VIN for open campaigns. A bad result is an open campaign.
Running costs
| Operational | €211 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €138 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €106 |
| Total per month | €455 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €33 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 426
- 25th percentile
- €950
- Median price
- €1,400
- 75th percentile
- €2,000
- Median mileage
- 185,558 km
- Median first registration
- 2004
- Dealer share
- 18.3%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €2,075
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.
In detail
Timing belt
The timing belt drives the camshaft. AUTO BILD says a torn or jumped belt causes major engine damage. ZR reports early belt breaks, especially on a cold start. carwiki says the belt tends to jump teeth rather than tear. Either way, the engine can be lost. The belt and tensioner should be changed at 60,000 km. The rollers should be changed no later than 120,000 km. Owner logbooks show a belt replaced after cracking at 173,000 km. Replace the tensioner and idler rollers with the belt.
Cost: no confirmed price from a non-owner source.
Sources: AUTO BILD, 2006, carwiki, Ford Focus I, Za Rul, Focus I used-car guide, 2005, Za Rul encyclopedia, Focus I timing belt, DRIVE2 logbook, Sedan 1.8, 2003
TDCi pistons, cylinder heads and turbos
From January 2001, the 1.8 TDCi was built with a common-rail system. AUTO BILD reports piston breakage, cracked cylinder heads, many failed turbochargers and common-rail leaks on the TDCi. carwiki names the same piston and cylinder head failures. gebrauchtwagenberater reports a weak turbocharger on the 1.8 TDCi. Ask for turbo and head work records before you buy.
Cost: no confirmed price from a non-owner source.
Sources: AUTO BILD, 2006, carwiki, Ford Focus I, gebrauchtwagenberater, Ford Focus Mk1
TDCi high-pressure pump
AUTO BILD reports high-pressure pump defects on the 1.8 TDCi. carwiki calls leaks at the high-pressure pump a classic Focus problem. Look for diesel leaks at the pump and ask for its history before you buy.
Cost: no confirmed price from a non-owner source.
Sources: AUTO BILD, 2006, carwiki, Ford Focus I
Water pump and coolant leaks
AUTO BILD says a leaking water pump, on petrol and diesel, causes overheating, blown head gaskets and piston seizure. carwiki says a leaking water pump can burn through the head gasket. gebrauchtwagenberater says the thermostat housing fails more often, on petrol cars. An owner on PistonHeads reports the plastic thermostat housing cracks and leaks coolant. Check for coolant on the water pump and the housing.
Cost: no confirmed price from a non-owner source.
Sources: AUTO BILD, 2006, carwiki, Ford Focus I, gebrauchtwagenberater, Ford Focus Mk1, PistonHeads, RS buying thread
Rust on doors and tailgate
Rust appears at the door seams, the edges of the doors, the hinges and the tailgate. gebrauchtwagenberater names the door seams, tailgate and bonnet. carwiki says corrosion increases over the years, and AUTO BILD says readers report edge rust on the doors, flaps, hinges and the tailgate gas-strut mounts. Both carwiki and AUTO BILD say rust rarely decides the TÜV result. Check the bodywork by hand anyway.
Cost: no confirmed price from a non-owner source.
Sources: gebrauchtwagenberater, Ford Focus Mk1, carwiki, Ford Focus I, AUTO BILD, 2006
Wheel bearings
gebrauchtwagenberater says the wheel bearings can fail the next TÜV inspection. carwiki says the bearings and joints weaken over the years, and early wheel bearing replacement is reported. AUTO BILD says the wheel bearings are often weak and poorly sealed. ZR says hub bearings sometimes need changing at about 100,000 km or more.
Cost: no confirmed price from a non-owner source.
Sources: gebrauchtwagenberater, Ford Focus Mk1, carwiki, Ford Focus I, AUTO BILD, 2006, Za Rul, Focus I used-car guide, 2005
Front stabiliser links
The front stabiliser links wear and rattle. gebrauchtwagenberater names the stabiliser bars among TÜV faults. carwiki says the drop links (Koppelstangen) draw complaints. AUTO BILD names rattling front stabilisers (2003) and criticised stabiliser links (2006). Za Rul says the links give up at 40,000-60,000 km in one place and 70,000-90,000 km in another. The links are a cheap wear part, but a knock at the front axle fails the inspection.
Cost: no confirmed price from a non-owner source.
Sources: gebrauchtwagenberater, Ford Focus Mk1, carwiki, Ford Focus I, AUTO BILD, 2006, AUTO BILD, Focus, Astra and Golf used, 2003, Za Rul, Focus I used-car guide, 2005
Idle control valve
RAC says the car may stall when pulling up at a roundabout, and that the idle speed control valve probably needs replacing. gebrauchtwagenberater says the idle valve can get dirty over time and cause unstable idle. An owner on PistonHeads had a 1.8 Zetec with low idle and stalling when cold. The valve tested within range for that owner, so the cause is not certain.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: RAC used car review, Focus Mk1 1998-2002, gebrauchtwagenberater, Ford Focus Mk1, PistonHeads, 1.8 low idle thread
Recalls
| Country | Code | Years | What is done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany (press reports) | not given | Built February to March 1999 | Airbag control unit can fire the airbags and belt tensioners by mistake. Remedy not stated. |
| Germany (press reports) | not given | Built up to 2000 | Plastic oil filler cap on 1.8 and 2.0 petrol can come loose while driving. Cap replaced. |
| Germany (press reports) | not given | Built up to 16 January 2000 | 1.6 petrol engine can lose power. Software change to the engine control unit. |
Check open campaigns by VIN with a Ford dealer before you buy.
Maintenance
- Change the timing belt and tensioner every 60,000 km, and the rollers no later than 120,000 km.
- At each service, check the coolant level and look at the water pump and thermostat housing for leaks.
- Keep the pollen filter area and drains clear, so water stays out of the footwell.
Sources
English
- RAC: Ford Focus Mk1 1998-2002 used car review
- PistonHeads: Focus Mk1 1.8 low idle and stalling when cold
- PistonHeads: Focus RS buying advice
German
- gebrauchtwagenberater: Ford Focus Mk1 problems
- carwiki: Ford Focus I
- AUTO BILD: Gebrauchtwagen Ford Focus 1998-2004
- AUTO BILD: Focus, Astra and Golf used, 2003