2012 Ford Focus petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Ford Focus petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Ford Focus petrol than on all cars registered in 2012.

• Individual direction indicators2.2× usual
  Ford Focus

  6.3% All 2012 cars

  2.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 1.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

• Anti-roll bar links10.3× usual
  Ford Focus

  3.1% All 2012 cars

  0.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 0.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

  At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

• Headlight aim1.5× usual
  Ford Focus

  5.8% All 2012 cars

  3.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.8%, against 3.8% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

  At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

Common 2012 Ford Focus petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2012 Ford Focus petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  34% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Suspension
  33% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Lights and electrics
  22% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Brakes
  21% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Exhaust and emissions
  8% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

  At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  7% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults on the 2012 Ford Focus petrol

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Coolant pipe that can split (early 1.0 EcoBoost)

  Early 1.0 EcoBoost petrol

  On early 1.0 EcoBoost Focuses a small plastic coolant pipe could split and overheat the engine. Ford issued a fix.

  At the viewing: Ask whether the coolant pipe fix was done, and check the coolant level.

  Source: Parkers: Ford Focus Mk3 buying guide

• Timing belt that runs in oil (1.0 EcoBoost)

  1.0 petrol (EcoBoost and non-turbo)

  Ford’s 1.0 three-cylinder petrol uses a timing belt that runs in the engine oil on most cars. If oil changes are late or the wrong oil is used, the belt breaks down and sheds rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some later cars have a timing chain instead: a Ford dealer can tell you from the VIN. Ford’s change interval is 10 years or 150,000 miles, and the belt isn’t covered by warranty.

  At the viewing: Ask for a full service history with the right oil, and when the belt was changed. An oil-pressure warning light, a rattle or a rough idle are warning signs.

  Source: Parkers: everything you need to know about the Ford wet belt

• PowerShift automatic gearbox

  Automatic versions only

  Expert buying guides suggest avoiding the PowerShift automatic on this Focus. Early versions especially were troublesome.

  At the viewing: If it’s an automatic, ask for proof of gearbox fluid changes and test it in slow traffic for judder or hesitation.

  Source: Parkers: Ford Focus Mk3 buying guide

• Broken front coil springs

  Front springs can snap. You may hear a clonk when turning the wheel.

  At the viewing: With the car stopped, turn the steering from lock to lock and listen for a clonk or twang. Springs should be replaced in pairs.

  If it needs doing: Coil springs (pair), about £175–£400. ClickMechanic

  Source: Parkers: Ford Focus Mk3 buying guide

• Rattle from the flywheel

  A rattle as you switch the engine off can mean the dual-mass flywheel is failing, which is a big job alongside the clutch.

  At the viewing: Switch the engine off and listen for a rattle. Check the clutch doesn’t bite very high.

  If it needs doing: Clutch and dual-mass flywheel, about £650–£1,200. ClickMechanic

  Source: Parkers: Ford Focus Mk3 buying guide

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 Ford Focus petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Has the Ford fix for the coolant pipe on the 1.0 EcoBoost been done?
2. Has the timing belt been changed, and is there a full service history with the right oil?
3. Any recent work on the individual direction indicators? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2012 Ford Focus petrol as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar links? (Flagged at MOT 10.3× as often on the 2012 Ford Focus petrol as on other cars the same age.)
5. Any recent work on the headlight aim? (Flagged at MOT 1.5× as often on the 2012 Ford Focus petrol as on other cars the same age.)
6. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?