Ford Focus II (2004-2011): known problems and buying guide

Built: 2004–2008
Median price: €1,990
Listings: 883
Running cost per month: €441–€465
Power: 90–115 PS (66–85 kW)
Reliability: 3/5
DIY: 2/5

A sound used buy if the diesel turbo, the timing belt and the gearbox check out. Look for rust at the sills and arches.

Updated 24 October 2026

All versions

Variant	Running cost per month	Median price	Listings	Fuel	Engine codes	Gearbox	Production years
1.6, 100 PS, 5-speed manual Research	€465	€1,850	277	Petrol	SHDC	Manual (5)	2004–2008
1.6 Ti-VCT, 115 PS, 5-speed manual Research	€456	€2,200	105	Petrol	SIDA	Manual (5)	2004–2008
1.6 TDCi, 90 PS, 5-speed manual Research	€441	€1,900	63	Diesel	HHDA	Manual (5)	2005–2008
1.6 TDCi, 109 PS, 5-speed manual Research	€446	€1,700	53	Diesel	G8DD, G8DF	Manual (5)	2004–2008

At a glance

Years: built 2004 to 2011. The facelift came in 2008.
Reliability: 3/5. The petrols are simple, but the 1.6 diesel turbo, the gearboxes and rust need checks.
DIY: 2/5. Timing belt, gearbox and steering work needs a workshop.
Biggest risk: turbo failure on the 1.6 TDCi diesel, and a timing belt changed too late on the 1.4 and 1.6 petrols.
Prefer: a car with proof of the last timing belt change and dry, solid sills. Avoid: a 1.6 TDCi that smokes, whines or has no turbo history.

Engines and gearboxes

Rust, suspension wear and the drive shafts apply to every car (see Known issues).

Petrol 1.4, 59 kW 2004-2010. Timing belt. See ignition coils.
Petrol 1.6, 74 kW 2004-2011. Timing belt. See ignition coils.
Petrol 1.6 Ti-VCT, 85 kW 2004-2010. Variable valve timing: the cam adjusters can stick.
Petrol 1.8, 92 kW 2006-2010. Timing chain.
Petrol 2.0, 107 kW 2004-2011. Timing chain.
Petrol 2.5 turbo, ST 166 kW 2005-2010, RS 224 kW 2009-2010 and 257 kW 2010. No common fault confirmed.
Flexifuel 1.8, 92 kW 2005-2010; natural gas 2.0, 93 kW 2007-2010; LPG 2.0, 104 kW 2008-2010. No common fault confirmed.
Diesel 1.6 TDCi, 80 kW 2004-2011 and 66 kW 2005-2011. Turbo failure and a sticking EGR valve.
Diesel 1.8 TDCi, 85 kW 2005-2006. No common fault confirmed.
Diesel 2.0 TDCi, 100 kW 2004-2010 and 81 kW 2008-2010. The EGR valve can clog.

Gearboxes:

5-speed manual IB5, fitted to the 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8. Second gear can jump out.
5-speed manual MTX75, fitted to the 2.0. No common fault confirmed.
4-speed automatic 4F27E, fitted to the 1.6 (74 kW) and 2.0 petrols. Valve body and solenoids wear.
Dual-clutch automatic (Powershift), fitted to the 2.0 TDCi from 2008. No common fault confirmed for the Focus II.

Known issues

Issue	Affects	Typical km	Repair cost
Diesel turbo and EGR valve	1.6 TDCi (turbo and EGR), 2.0 TDCi (EGR)	Not stated	No confirmed price
Timing belt and chain	Belt on the 1.4 and 1.6, chain on the 1.8 and 2.0	Belt: change at 100,000-150,000 km. Chain: stretch from about 150,000 km	No confirmed price
Ignition coils and Ti-VCT cam adjusters	Petrol engines; cam adjusters on the 1.6 Ti-VCT	Not stated	No confirmed price
IB5 manual gearbox	Manual 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8	From under 100,000 km to about 200,000 km	No confirmed price
4F27E automatic gearbox	Automatic 1.6 and 2.0 petrols	From about 150,000 km	No confirmed price
Electro-hydraulic power steering	All engines except the 1.4 and 1.6	Not stated	No confirmed price
Suspension and drive shafts	All	Rear bushes and links: 60,000-100,000 km	No confirmed price
Rust and exhaust	All	Exhaust: after about four to five years	No confirmed price

Before you buy

On a 1.6 TDCi, ask for the turbo history. On the test drive, listen for a loud whine and watch for blue or grey smoke and a loss of power. Any of these means the turbo may need replacing.
On a 1.4 or 1.6 petrol, check the service book for the last timing belt change. With no record, have the belt changed straight away: a broken belt can wreck the engine.
On a 1.8 or 2.0 petrol, listen for a chain rattle when you lift off the throttle. A rattle points to a stretched chain.
On a manual 1.4, 1.6 or 1.8, drive in second gear under load. It must not jump out.
On an automatic, watch for harsh, late or slipping shifts.
On a petrol, check that the engine runs smoothly and does not misfire under load.
Turn the steering from lock to lock. Listen for noise and look for fluid leaks at the steering rack.
Listen for knocks over bumps, and for a rumble from the drive shafts in turns.
Check the sills, the wheel arches, the joints between the wings and the bumpers, and the windscreen frame for rust. Look at the exhaust.
On a Turnier 1.6 diesel built from July 2004 to December 2006, ask a Ford dealer to check the cooling fan recall by VIN.

Running costs

Operational	€184
Workshop	€154
Fixed costs (tax, insurance)	€122
Total per month	€460
New-car depreciation (not included)	€40

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.

Find offers on mobile.de

Listings: 883
25th percentile: €1,300
Median price: €1,990
75th percentile: €2,990
Median mileage: 189,512 km
Median first registration: 2006
Dealer share: 33.1%
Price at 100,000 km: €2,963

To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.

In detail

Diesel turbo and EGR valve

Turbo failure is a known fault of the 1.6 TDCi. The oil feed lines run close to hot exhaust parts. Over time the oil in them cokes and blocks the lines, and the turbo runs short of oil. A failing turbo loses power, gives off blue or grey smoke and whines loudly.

The EGR valve sends some exhaust gas back into the intake. On the 1.6 TDCi, soot can make it stick, which causes a loss of power or the engine's limp mode. On the 2.0 TDCi, the EGR valve can clog.

No mileage is given, and no repair price is confirmed.

Sources: AUTO BILD: Focus II Turnier used car test, Autoplenum: used car check, Focus II, WhoCanFixMyCar: how reliable is the Ford Focus, Kolesa: is the Ford Focus II worth 400,000 rubles

Timing belt and chain

The 1.4 and 1.6 petrols have a timing belt. If it breaks, the valves can hit the pistons and the engine can be wrecked. The belt is rated for 120,000 to 150,000 km, but it can fail earlier, so a change at about 100,000 km is the safe choice. Check the service book for the last change.

The 1.8 and 2.0 petrols have a timing chain. It can start to stretch from about 150,000 km, though many chains last longer. A rattle when you lift off the throttle points to a worn chain.

No repair price is confirmed.

Sources: Za Rulem: what is wrong with the most popular used import engines, Auto.ru: reliability of the Ford Focus II, with all used-car problems, Auto.ru: choosing a used Ford Focus II, Kolesa: choosing a used Ford Focus II, 2014, Kolesa: is the Ford Focus II worth 400,000 rubles

Ignition coils and Ti-VCT cam adjusters

The ignition coils on the petrol engines can fail, which makes the engine misfire. On the 1.6 Ti-VCT (85 kW), the cam adjusters that vary the valve timing can stick. Check that the engine runs smoothly at idle and under load. No mileage is given, and no repair price is confirmed.

Sources: AUTO BILD: Focus II Turnier used car test, Za Rulem: what is wrong with the most popular used import engines, Auto.ru: reliability of the Ford Focus II, with all used-car problems, Kolesa: is the Ford Focus II worth 400,000 rubles

IB5 manual gearbox

The IB5 is the weak point of the manual gearboxes. It is fitted to the 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8. The synchro rings wear, so gears, often second, jump out. The input shaft bearing and the differential also wear, and the differential can fail under load or after hard starts.

Faults show anywhere from under 100,000 km to about 200,000 km. No repair price is confirmed.

Sources: Za Rulem: what is wrong with the most popular used import engines, Auto.ru: reliability of the Ford Focus II, with all used-car problems, Auto.ru: 8 common Ford Focus II faults, Kolesa: choosing a used Ford Focus II, 2014, Kolesa: is the Ford Focus II worth 400,000 rubles

4F27E automatic gearbox

The 4F27E four-speed automatic is fitted to the 1.6 (74 kW) and 2.0 petrols. With care it often lasts well past 200,000 km. The valve body and the pressure solenoids wear, usually from about 150,000 km. Many repairs can be done without removing the gearbox. No repair price is confirmed.

Sources: Za Rulem: what is wrong with the most popular used import engines, Auto.ru: choosing a used Ford Focus II, Kolesa: is the Ford Focus II worth 400,000 rubles

Electro-hydraulic power steering

All engines except the 1.4 and 1.6 have electro-hydraulic power steering, where an electric motor drives the steering pump. It can be noisy, and the pump's electronics can fail. A leaking steering rack needs at least a rebuild. No repair price is confirmed.

Sources: AUTO BILD: Focus II Turnier used car test, Auto.ru: reliability of the Ford Focus II, with all used-car problems, Kolesa: is the Ford Focus II worth 400,000 rubles

Suspension and drive shafts

The front wheel bearings, the strut top bearings and the anti-roll bar links wear early. Worn strut top bearings knock. At the rear, the suspension arm bushes and the anti-roll bar links wear at about 60,000 to 100,000 km. The drive shafts can rumble in turns. No repair price is confirmed.

Sources: Autoplenum: used car check, Focus II, AUTO BILD: Focus II Turnier used car test, Auto.ru: reliability of the Ford Focus II, with all used-car problems, Kolesa: choosing a used Ford Focus II, 2014

Rust and exhaust

Rust shows at the wheel arches and the sill edges. The sills and the front of the car, which takes stone chips, are the most exposed. The joints between the wings and the bumpers and the windscreen frame also rust. Look closely at these spots.

The exhaust rusts quickly and starts to rattle. It is often flagged at the TÜV inspection after about four to five years.

No repair price is confirmed.

Sources: AUTO BILD: Focus II Turnier used car test, Autoplenum: used car check, Focus II, Kolesa: is the Ford Focus II worth 400,000 rubles, Auto.ru: choosing a used Ford Focus II, Motor-Talk: Focus from 2004, still rust problems?

Recalls

Country	Code	Years	What is done
Germany	Not given	Built 16 July 2004 to 1 December 2006	Turnier 1.6 diesel, 66 kW and 80 kW: the cooling fan and its control module are replaced.

The control module of the cooling fan can corrode from road salt. It can then overheat and set fire to the module or nearby cables. About 19,400 cars were affected in Germany. Ask a Ford dealer to check open campaigns for the car's VIN.

Sources: AUTO BILD: Focus Turnier recall, cooling fan control module

Maintenance

Timing belt (1.4 and 1.6): change it at about 100,000 km, and no later than 150,000 km. Keep the invoice as proof.
Timing chain (1.8 and 2.0): no fixed interval. Listen for a rattle when you lift off the throttle.