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

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  Great car! - 2001 Ford Focus
  By Chayse G. - November 5 - 8:52 pm

  I got my blue 2001 Focus ZX3 for free, it needed an idler pulley, and it ran well! It may have the occasional stall and rattle, but it runs well!

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  My First Car. - 2001 Ford Focus
  By dierad53 - April 25 - 6:44 am

  I bought this car over a year ago and shouldve taken it to a mechanic. I bought it for $1200 from a guy in my town. It had 251000 miles on it. I drove it 3 thousand miles the first month I had it. To date I have replaced the battery(it had a go-cart battery when I bought it), rear wheel bearings, rear and front brakes, alternator, full front suspension, new tires. So far I probably have about 3200 dollars into it and it now needs a new engine. I got screwed by the former owner but i love this car. I will drive it for years. Great gas mileage and drifts well. Ive gotten it to 110 before new suspension. Then i hit a hawk. I love this car and enjoy doing work on it. Love my ZX3.

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  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.

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  My ZX3 is a great vehicle - 2001 Ford Focus
  By tjnugent - August 3 - 7:40 pm

  I bought this vehicle new in 2001 (Focus ZX3 hatchback 5-speed manual with no air conditioning or electric windows). This is the best car Ive ever owned. We now have over 225,000 miles on the car with little maintenance. By keeping up on the oil changes/tune-ups, weve had no major issues other than changing out the ignition once while it was still under warranty. Great mpg (30-40 avg overall) I mostly drive freeway. Were considering buying a 2013 as a replacement vehicle for our 2000 Focus SE sedan (bought it used automatic w/electric everything it has too many issues now at 180,000 mi). The ZX3 is a wonderful car. I would recommend the version I purchased. Its a keeper!

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  Great drivetrain - too bad its a rust bucket - 2001 Ford Focus
  By kopandem9305 - July 25 - 8:45 pm

  I bought my SE Wagon in 2008 with 155,000 miles on it from a private sale for $2,500. 5 years later, it now has 230,000 miles on it and is still running great... but unfortunately the New England winters have taken their toll and the car cannot even be safely lifted on a jack anymore. Would cost thousands to get the proper body work done, so going with a newer car. Mechanic even told me 12 months ago "this will probably be your final sticker, you wont want to pay the bill next year." That said, the car got me this far very reliably, with very little cost. I got 30 MPG, the only repairs/maintenance I did was oil changes, brake and tire replacement. I feel I got a great value in the 5 years.

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  Very Reliable - 2001 Ford Focus
  By tjh9 - May 22 - 11:15 am

  I purchased my 01 Focus Wagon SE from a dealership in 2011 with ~190,000 mi on it for $2850. It has been almost 2 years now and this car has given me almost no grief. The A/C went out once (A/C is a luxury anyways, who cares?), front coil springs had to be replaced, and the muffler hit the ground once while going over a speed bump (temporarily fixed it with shoelaces, haha) All in all, great performance great value!

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  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.

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  For what i needed, this was actually a great car. - 2001 Ford Focus
  By krwkim26 - February 6 - 4:54 pm

  I paid $3,000 for this car when i was 19. It was used with 136,000 miles on it and with that.. I really didnt have alot of issues with. Had it for 3 years before it finally gave up at 172,000. I know thats not long, but for the milage it had, it didnt pretty well. The only issues i had were minor- drive belt and ignition switch- both easy fixes. Occasionally a hupcap would come off randomly while driving, but that seems to happen with steal wheels.. haha The a/c never failed and it got decent gas milage. Going from point A to point B and being in college on a budget.. this was a good car.

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  Note to all the poor souls who own the 2.0 SPI variant. - 2001 Ford Focus
  By pc1967 - October 28 - 6:26 pm

  As the title states if you own the 2.0 SPI SOHC aka (2.0 split port) variant. Sell this car immediately its a literal time bomb. Possibly the worst engine design by Ford ever. No matter how you baby that engine expect the valve seats to fly directly into the cylinder head anytime after 70K miles. The minimum cost to fix is actually almost as much as the cars valuation. Even if you catch it prior to damage its a very costly fix and one that could have been avoided by Ford if the had made a slight design variation to the 2.0 SPI. Symptoms of failing valve seats include. Engine chatter Running rough or stalling in idle A #2 or #4 cylinder misfire code Avoid the Focus VIN P at all costs

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  No Focus - 2001 Ford Focus
  By tinkeredout - August 3 - 7:39 pm

  Do your self a big favor and buy something else. This car (if you could call it that, should be yellow). I have been a mechanic for more than 28 years. This car is not built to last more than 50k.