Overview & Reviews

Raising the bar for compact vehicles, Ford is offering its stability system -- called AdvanceTrac -- on ZTS Sedans and ZX3 Hatchbacks. Ford has also made previously optional features standard equipment. Highlights include a driver armrest on every model except LX and power windows on SE Sedans and Wagons. SE Wagons also get the Zetec engine as standard and can be ordered with a manual transmission. A new manual moonroof is offered on the ZX3 and new 16-inch wheels are standard on ZTS Sedans and optional on ZX3 Coupes.

• Thoughtful and large interior, smooth ride, sharp steering, good selection of body configurations and features.

• Lots of suspension movement, not enough low-end grunt, polarizing styling.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 229.00

• 

  Worst Car Ever - 2001 Ford Focus
  By marigoldsb - September 26 - 10:15 pm

  I bought this car in 2002. It had 10,000 miles on it. It now has 220,000. Ive had nothing but problems. It was recalled several times. I had many problems with the fuel pump when I first got the car. I replaced the EGR valve sensor 4 or 5 times. The turn signal will not turn off by itself. I had this fixed once, but it broke again. The passenger side window has broken twice. The passenger side seat will not recline. The radio randomly turns off. Ive replaced tires, rotors, brakes and shocks multiple times. The ignition recently just broke and had to be replaced. Sometimes the front doors will not open from the outside so I have to climb in through the back. Wheel bearing broke 4 times.

• 

  Bad and Worse - 2001 Ford Focus
  By pc1967 - May 12 - 6:46 pm

  Basically purchased it used for $3200, 20k miles later, after regular oil changes and sensible driving habits. It dropped the #4 valve seat effectively destroying the head and piston below the valve. This was the 2.0 SPI a.k.a split port engine. Do not buy a 01 Focus if the 8th VIN digit is a letter P without signed documented proof from the dealer that the valve seats have been replaced with the improved design period!! Ford should have seriously recalled this vehicle from the start. The only good thing that came out of this is, that I purchased a Toyota Yaris after this heap blew up. If Ford gave me a shiny new Focus, Id sell it and get another Toyota right there on the lot.

• 

  This car is HORRIBLE - 2001 Ford Focus
  By qtbex87 - March 12 - 10:12 pm

  When i bought the car i had 62000 mi on it and now its been 5 years with 116000 ive had to replace the trasmission, replace the water pump and timing belt, replaced the coolant system 2 times not to mention the hoses and clamps about 3 times or more tires have been replaced twice, just when you think the car is ok something else will break and it costs at least 500 dollars or more! the car has electric problems sometimes the lights will just go out by itself i bought it for 8000 and spent almost triple that amount fixing this stupid car. the cd player you have to get replaced since the cds will stop playing after like 20 min or less the only good thing with this car is the gas milage

• 

  Worst used car I have ever purchased - 2001 Ford Focus
  By jenas62 - January 25 - 10:29 am

  I bought this car in June 2010 for my kids to drive. It looked great on the outside and shifted well and has great air conditioning but that is where it ends. The guy I bought it from put used tires on it but they still had a lot of tread. In the 6 months that we have had this car I have had to replace the radiator, the heating element, the water pump and all 4 tires. This thing eats tires. I would never trust my kids to drive it out of town. Its simply not reliable. Other issue that are not quite as important: The windows crank down backwards from other cars. The drink holder is in a stupid place. Sometimes the passenger side door will not open. This car is a piece of crap.

• 

  Would not recommend! - 2001 Ford Focus
  By Christina - November 14 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my Focus for 5 years. I bought it w/over 50,000 miles on it. W/in 45 days the engine blew. It makes a loud rattling sound, it shakes, the brakes always squeak & the front passenger seat belt has never worked. Its a very small car inside very uncomfortable to drive. For being such a small car, it doesn’t get good mileage. The engine now has about 100,000 miles on it & the vehicle has about 172,000 miles. It has lasted me a long time for being a “Ford” but I have also had to put a lot of money into it for various things. It now needs a new Cadillac converter & water bottle. It would make an ok car for someone w/o children. But is not recommended for a tall person.

• 

  I Used To Praise It - 2001 Ford Focus
  By bonnilass - October 27 - 2:00 am

  Im now 60 years old. This car had 50k miles on it and was 4 y/o when I got it. Everything that could go wrong on this car has gone wrong twice in the 5 years Ive had it (now 118k)and again I am facing motor mounts, a timing belt, a new head gasket the shifter came off at the base, the suspension trashed, CV joints, cooling system problems, numerous strange rattles, and the stereo pops out on the right side when I accelerate so its taped into place. The wind whistles through every crack, and conversation in the cabin is not fun. Its a MONEY PIT $$$$ that knows no bounds, at least $1500 per year on the average. Unfortunately most of it hits all at once. Im saddened by its performance.

• 

  Terrible car. - 2001 Ford Focus
  By Tman - July 24 - 1:25 am

  We bought this car with around 30,000 miles on it. And ever since its been one problem after another! Weve had to replace all 4 tires nearly every 16 months! The upper engine mount has needed to be replaced twice. The passengers side strut needed to be replaced 3 times. The radio goes off intermittently and you need to push the faceplate back in. the ignition wasnt working right. The car sputters sporadically. It doesnt like to start on rainy days. has bad gas mileage for a 4 cyl. Its poor in the snow. the a/c stopped working and wont stay charged. The list goes on and on. The car was designed by monkeys. Its a piece of junk, we will NEVER buy a ford again

• 

  Ford Built Very Bad- No Quality - 2001 Ford Focus
  By muadib - April 5 - 6:31 pm

  Have less than 10,000 miles per year and this car is breaking down left and right. EGR sensor issues every week, vacuum problems now starting. Do not buy this car!

• 

  Never buy one this - 2001 Ford Focus
  By gracie - October 3 - 1:42 pm

  You are better of setting a few thousand dollars on fire and then buying a used Honda or Toyota. I have spent 3K on this in the past 6 weeks, three trips to the dealership and it only has 65k on it. I truly would love to see the US produce a car that did not break down every season, but to date every experence that I have had over the past 12 years with US cars are the same. My wifes Honda has 100k and has never, I repeat never had a single problem.

• 

  Friends dont let friends.... - 2001 Ford Focus
  By kevjalittell - May 24 - 10:00 am

  Buy Focuss. this car has been nothing but trouble. Emissions sensors pop and the dealerships want me to rent a car for 3 days so they can fix it under warranty. UGGHHHH...If the value of the vehicle wasnt dropping so fast Id sell or trade but I financed it for 4 years with 15% down and Im STILL upside down on it. 26MPG is average with the AT. The interior is starting to fall out of it....It eats tires and wont keep alignment on either axle. Brakes on front end cost $375.00 in PARTS ALONE because they dont have squealers...Pad wear out and overheat the calipers...