Ford Focus IV 1.0 EcoBoost, 125 PS, 8-speed automatic (2018–2022)

Research for this car

• Generation guide Ford Focus IV (2018-2025): known problems and buying guide

  A solid used buy if the recall work is done. Check the diesel filter, the 8-speed automatic and the wiring loom before you pay.

• Engine guide Ford 1.0 EcoBoost petrol engine: problems, costs and what to check

  Wet belt, oil pump and coolant hose faults are the known ones. Buy with belt invoices, oil records and no coolant loss.

Known issues for this car

Before you buy this car

From the generation guide

1. Drive an automatic from cold. Delayed engagement, slip or a hard shift is a bad sign. A scanner should show no gearbox fault codes; ask whether the software was updated.
2. Check the VIN with Ford and the GOV.UK recall checker, then look at the loom near the gearbox. Rough idle, power loss or a stall points to chafing.
3. Look through the wheel spokes for grooves and a sharp lip on the brake discs, and read the last inspection report.
4. Test start-stop, auto-hold, the parking sensors and traffic sign recognition. Check the age and voltage of the 12 V battery.

From the engine guide

1. Timing belt record (no scanner needed). Ask for a dated invoice with the mileage showing the timing belt was changed. Bad: no record, or a car past about 160,000 km (100,000 miles) or six years with no change.
2. Oil pump belt (no scanner needed). Ask whether the oil pump belt was changed with the timing belt. Bad: no record of it.
3. Oil pressure (test drive). Watch the dashboard on the drive. Bad: an oil pressure warning light, then a loss of power.
4. Coolant (no scanner needed). Check the coolant level when the engine is cold, and look for wet stains around the hoses and the expansion tank. Bad: low coolant, a leak, or a temperature gauge that climbs.
5. Coolant hose action (UK cars built October 2011 to October 2013). Ask for proof the coolant hose field service action was done. Bad: no record.
6. Oil records (workshop). Ask for oil change invoices showing 5W-20 oil to Ford spec WSS-M2C948-B. Ask a workshop to check the oil strainer. Bad: a different spec, or no records.
7. Recall check. Enter the VIN in the official recall check for the car's country. Bad: an open recall on the car.

Running costs

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

ADAC versions