2003 Ford Focus: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2003 Ford Focus?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2003 Ford Focus than on all cars registered in 2003.

• Suspension arm3.7× usual
  Ford Focus

  11.8% All 2003 cars

  3.2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.4% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

• Coil springs1.8× usual
  Ford Focus

  18.5% All 2003 cars

  10.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 2.5% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

• Sub-frame2.3× usual
  Ford Focus

  10.8% All 2003 cars

  4.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

• Rust around suspension or steering mountings2× usual
  Ford Focus

  12.4% All 2003 cars

  6.2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.8%, against 3.1% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

  At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

• Brake lights1.6× usual
  Ford Focus

  9% All 2003 cars

  5.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 8.3%, against 4.6% of all 2003 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.

Common 2003 Ford Focus MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2003 Ford Focus MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Suspension
  53% 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.

• Brakes
  40% 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.

• 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.

• Lights and electrics
  33% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

• Oil and fluid leaks
  17% of testsRough price £80–£600

  At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

• Rust and bodywork
  15% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

  At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Known faults on the 2003 Ford Focus

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.

• Cambelt changes often skipped

  All engines

  A failed cambelt can wreck the engine, and because the job can cost close to what the car is worth, some owners skip it. Many specialists advise changing it more often than 100,000 miles or ten years, especially on diesels.

  At the viewing: Check the service history for a cambelt change.

  Source: What Car?: Ford Focus (1998-2004) reliability

• Catalytic converter failure

  Petrol

  Fault code P0420 means a failed catalytic converter, which is rarely worth fixing on all but the best cars.

  At the viewing: Make sure the engine light is off, and ask whether a code reader has been plugged in recently.

  Source: What Car?: Ford Focus (1998-2004) reliability

• Sill rust

  All engines

  The sills can corrode with age.

  At the viewing: Look along and under the sills for rust.

  Source: What Car?: Ford Focus (1998-2004) reliability

• Electrical faults, wet lights and windscreen heater

  All engines

  Electrical parts are prone to fail, water gets into the headlights and tail lights and blows bulbs, and the Quickclear heated windscreen elements fail.

  At the viewing: Check all lights for water inside, and test the heated windscreen.

  Source: What Car?: Ford Focus (1998-2004) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2003 Ford Focus

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

1. When was the cambelt last changed, and is there a receipt?
2. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 3.7× as often on the 2003 Ford Focus as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the 2003 Ford Focus as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2003 Ford Focus as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?