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Used 2017 Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM) Consumer Reviews

2.5 out of 5 stars
11 reviews

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3 out of 5 stars

Beware of transmission issues.

Amy, Bloomington, IN, 11/05/2018
Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
35 of 37 people found this review helpful

This car has essentially a manual transmission that shifts via computer. The Focus has been plagued by transmission problems, and the dealer probably will not inform of you of this fact prior to purchase. I found out about my transmission when I noticed rough shifting and took it in for service.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Interior
3 out of 5 stars
Comfort
3 out of 5 stars
Reliability
3 out of 5 stars
Value
3 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

New and true

Rick, Manchester Township, NJ, 01/20/2018
updated 02/05/2024
Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
22 of 26 people found this review helpful

Great little car for the money. I currently have 24000 miles on my ruby red SEL hatchback and I am very happy so far . Driving to my daughters in Virginia from New Jersey I have gotten between 43 and 47 miles per gallon . The drive is mostly highway speeds at 45 - 60 MPH, and I watch traffic lights and traffic up ahead and let off the gas a good distance before coming to the stopped traffic. I'm sure i'm saving my brake pads too. The computer is usually one and a half to 2 miles per gallon too much I use the odometer. I previously had a suburban and this car was a big change. I was surprised how good the ride and comfort were on the highway , I don't drive the car fast, I am very conservative with it . I have also driven stick shifts for years and the shifting of this transmission does not bother me at all. I give it time to shift and have no problems. For me it's a great little car ! One thing I would add is that when I come to a stop, I watch the rpm's, and wait for it to be in neutral before taking off. In traffic I don't creep forward. I wait and give the car in front of me a little distance before I move up thereby not slipping clutches. I believe this helps. I have read about a lot of people who have had many problems , perhaps I just got a good trans or perhaps problems are in my future. I hope not. ( over thirty thousand and still no problems. Still a good little car if you don't beat it up!) I have now experienced a little shuddering of the transmission.. I then took the car out on the highway and ran it from a full stop ( from the shoulder of the road of course) to 70=75 mph. I did this four times, and the shuddering stopped. This I believe cleans the glaze that can form on the clutches. It is now 27 months old with 37000 miles and the car still performs well. I am satisfied with it. It is a small car well built for the money, but it is not to be driven like a high powered sports car. I still get over 41 MPG on long trips. Again I want to stress I am easy with the vehicle. I read an article of a delivery man who attained well over 350000 miles before he needed to have his transmission rebuilt. I will be satisfied if I can top 150000 mark. We shall see! *** 7/30/2020 Now have almost 41,000 miles and still no problems at all. Gas mileage is still over 41 on long trips, but like I said before I am easy with the car. My focus is still amazingly quiet for such a small car. I haven't driven much this past year because of the virus, so I haven't made too many long trips. I give this car 5 stars. I guess I have a good one!***I now have over 51,000 miles and this little focus is just as good as the day I purchased it. No repairs, only oil changes a little sooner then the manual recommends. Recently on a trip down Routes 13 and 113 Del. Md. Va. speed limits 45-55 with cruise control, and I got (45 MPG) by the odometer reading. The computer can be 1-2 mpg off. Keeping my fingers crossed,and hoping to get 150,000 miles. Didn't do much driving this past year due to staying home and not visiting family as much. Now have 59,500 miles and still running well. Also using the cruise control at 71MPH on long runs, I can get 40 + MPG. Don't beat this little car up and it will last a long time! I now have 69,000 miles and it still gets over 40 MPG on long trips (using cruise control) and just made appt. for brakes! Only one small repair was a plastic purge valve (Emissions contol) replaced by Ford under warranty! Ford made a great little car if you don't drive it like it's a race car! If they still made it I would buy another! Thanks Ford!

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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1 out of 5 stars

Bad clutch / transmission

Max, Lynnwood, WA, 10/09/2021
Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Very disappointed. Unfortunately, I didn't know when I bought this but there was a lawsuit against Ford. Apparently they knew about the faulty clutch/transmission design when they designed the car. Stay away from it. This car burns through clutches.

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1 out of 5 stars

Same Bad Transmission

dfelt22, Royal Oak, MI, 11/09/2019
Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful

I bought mine new. I was told it had a new and improved transmission by the dealership. I should have done my research. The car looks good but that's where it ends. The engine shutters and the transmission shifts at strange times. It lurches at corners. It has even stopped running going around turns. The seat has been replaced 2 times because it only latches on half when you slide it back and forth. I test car seats. A misaligned seat latch can be deadly. I had to have the speakers replaced because someone at the plant decided to bash the door panels on instead of properly aligning them. The speaker quality was awful, it's still only okay. Buy a different car. Don't waste your money.

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3 out of 5 stars

Don't forget to Focus

Natasha T, Houston, TX, 11/05/2017
Ford Focus SEL 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6AM)
11 of 13 people found this review helpful

I have owned my car, brand new since April 2017 and I have had numerous issues with the windshield wipers getting stuck in the up/angled position while driving. The engine sputters when accelerating and down shifting. The radio has required 3 updates in the short time I have owned the car. I was told that the wipers "might have had too much water on them to work" or that "the windshield was not wet enough" I hit a curb due to this malfunction. This car is not worth the hassles. Glad I purchased extended warranty.

Safety
2 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Interior
2 out of 5 stars
Comfort
2 out of 5 stars
Reliability
3 out of 5 stars
Value
3 out of 5 stars
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