Ford Focus DA3
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
224–349 PS
2.5L Turbo Benzin
225 hp Five-Cylinder — a Sound That Gets Under Your Skin
Fun to Drive!101–105 PS
1.6L Duratec 16V Benzin
6 weaknesses
Good Choice150–182 PS
1.6L EcoBoost Benzin
7 weaknesses
Stay Away!Body Variants
The Ford Focus DA3 is available as Turnier and Schrägheck — choose your body type for specific insurance data:
Generations
Engine Overview
The Ford Focus DA3 is available with 9 engine variants — from 60 to 349 hp. 3 variants had engine changes — the model year is crucial.
The Ford 1.6L TDCi (Diesel, 90–116 PS) comes with 3 different engines: G8DA (2005–2011, Stay Away!) und HHDA (2005–2012, Stay Away!) und G8DA (2006–2012, Stay Away!). Pay attention to the model year for the 1.6L TDCi!
The Ford 1.8L TDCi (Diesel, 101–116 PS) comes with 2 different engines: F9DA (2005–2012, Stay Away!) und HJBA (2005–2007, Stay Away!). Pay attention to the model year for the 1.8L TDCi!
The Ford 2.0L TDCi (Diesel, 110–140 PS) comes with 2 different engines: G6DA (2005–2011, Be Careful) und G6DA (2008–2011, Be Careful). Pay attention to the model year for the 2.0L TDCi!
The Ford 1.6L Duratec 16V (Benziner, 101–105 PS) has the HWDA (1.6L Duratec 16V) — rated: "Good Choice", 6 known weaknesses.
The Ford 1.6L Duratec Ti-VCT (Benziner, 116–120 PS) has the SHDB (1.6L Duratec Ti-VCT) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Ford 1.8L Duratec HE (Benziner, 125 PS) has the QQDA (1.8L Duratec HE) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Ford 2.0L Duratec HE (Benziner, 145 PS) has the AODA (2.0L Duratec HE) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Ford Focus RS (Benziner, 305 PS) has the HUBA (2.5L Turbo) — rated: "Be Careful", 12 known weaknesses.
The Ford Focus ST (Benziner, 224–226 PS) has the HUBA (2.5L Turbo) — rated: "Be Careful", 12 known weaknesses.
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Rust on sills and wheel arches Despite full galvanising, sills and wheel arches rust heavily, especially at the junctions between the wing and the bumper. The tailgate rusts under the roof spoiler when water ingresses. Symptoms: Visible bubbling and brown discolouration at the sill lower edge, wheel arch, and boot area. from 100,000 km | Medium | |
| Rust at the rear bumper/wheel arch junction Up to model year 2007, water accumulates at the junction between the rear bumper and wheel arch, leading to rust. Ford had to carry out multiple repaints. Check carefully before buying. Symptoms: Blistering and rust spots on the rear wheel arch, particularly around the bumper attachment point. from 80,000 km | Low | |
| Rust on wheel arch edges and boot floor Wheel arch edges are almost universally affected without cavity wax treatment. Water penetrates through rear light seals and spoiler fixings into the boot floor, which then corrodes from the inside. Symptoms: Paint bubbling at the wheel arch-to-bumper transition, damp smell in the boot, rot beneath boot lining | High |
Top Reported Issues
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Known Problems and Issues
A total of 128 weaknesses have been documented for the Ford Focus DA3 (2005–2012) — 117 engine-related and 11 vehicle-related. 9 problem engines: F9DA (1.8L TDCi), G8DA (1.6L TDCi), HHDA (1.6L TDCi), HJBA (1.8L TDCi), M2DA (1.0L EcoBoost), JQDA (1.6L EcoBoost), R9DA (2.0L Ti-VCT), T1DA (1.6L TDCi), G8DA-44kW (1.6L TDCi 60PS). Typical issues affect Rust, Suspension, Electronics, Cooling. Considered reliable: HWDA (1.6L Duratec 16V).
Focus (F9DA, 2005–2015) — Stay Away!: Injector seal: "Black Death" failure, Turbocharger failure, High-pressure pump failure. Power: 101 PS.
Focus (G8DA, 2005–2011) — Stay Away!: Injector Seal 'Black Death' Failure, Turbocharger Failure from Oil Starvation, Leaking Injector Seals. Power: 90–95 PS.
Focus (HHDA, 2005–2012) — Stay Away!: Injector Seal 'Black Death' Failure, Turbocharger Failure from Oil Starvation, Leaking Injector Seals. Power: 105–116 PS.
Focus (HJBA, 2005–2007) — Stay Away!: Injector seal: "Black Death" failure, Turbocharger failure, High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure. Power: 116 PS.
Focus (G6DA, 2005–2011) — Be Careful: Injector Wear and Leaks, High-Pressure Fuel Pump Metal Debris and Failure, Timing Belt Premature Failure — Interval Too Long. Power: 133–140 PS.
Focus (G8DA-44kW, 2005–2011) — Stay Away!: Injector Seal 'Black Death' Failure, Turbocharger Failure from Oil Starvation, Leaking Injector Seals. Power: 60 PS.
Focus (G8DA, 2006–2012) — Stay Away!: Injector Seal 'Black Death' Failure, Turbocharger Failure from Oil Starvation, Leaking Injector Seals. Power: 95–105 PS.
Focus (G6DA, 2008–2011) — Be Careful: Injector Wear and Leaks, High-Pressure Fuel Pump Metal Debris and Failure, Timing Belt Premature Failure — Interval Too Long. Power: 110–116 PS.
Focus (T1DA, 2011–2014) — Stay Away!: Injector Seal 'Black Death' Failure, Turbocharger Failure from Oil Starvation, Leaking Injector Seals. Power: 90–101 PS.
Focus (T1DA, 2011–2014) — Stay Away!: Injector Seal 'Black Death' Failure, Turbocharger Failure from Oil Starvation, Leaking Injector Seals. Power: 101–109 PS.
Focus (T1DA, 2011–2014) — Stay Away!: Injector Seal 'Black Death' Failure, Turbocharger Failure from Oil Starvation, Leaking Injector Seals. Power: 109–116 PS.
Focus (TYDA, 2011–2014) — Be Careful: Injector Wear and Leaks, High-Pressure Pump Metal Debris and Failure, Premature Timing Belt Failure — Interval Too Long. Power: 136–140 PS.
Focus (TYDA, 2011–2014) — Be Careful: Injector Wear and Leaks, High-Pressure Pump Metal Debris and Failure, Premature Timing Belt Failure — Interval Too Long. Power: 163 PS.
Focus (SHDB, 2005–2011) — Be Careful: VVT Cam Phaser Failure — Cold Start Rattle, Ignition Coil Failure — Misfires, Ti-VCT Cam Phaser Wear. Power: 116–120 PS.
Focus (QQDA, 2005–2011) — Be Careful: Crankcase Breather (PCV) Blocked, Thermostat Fault — Risk of Overheating, Intake Swirl Flaps — Rattling and Breakage. Power: 125 PS.
Focus (AODA, 2005–2011) — Be Careful: Crankcase Breather (PCV) Blocked, Thermostat Failed — Overheating Risk, Intake Manifold Swirl Flaps — Rattling and Breaking Off. Power: 145 PS.
Focus (HUBA, 2005–2011) — Be Careful: Turbocharger Failure — Boost Drops Away, Head Gasket — Overheating Damage, Cylinder Wall Crack from Overheating. Power: 224–226 PS.
Focus (Volvo-B5254-Focus-ST, 2005–2011) — Be Careful: Turbocharger Bearing Wear from Spirited Use, Cylinder Wall Cracking from Overheating, Coolant Loss from Head Gasket. Power: 224–226 PS.
Focus (HUBA, 2009–2011) — Be Careful: Turbocharger Failure — Boost Drops Away, Head Gasket — Overheating Damage, Cylinder Wall Crack from Overheating. Power: 305 PS.
Focus (Volvo-B5254-Focus-ST, 2009–2011) — Be Careful: Turbocharger Bearing Wear from Spirited Use, Cylinder Wall Cracking from Overheating, Coolant Loss from Head Gasket. Power: 305 PS.
Focus (Volvo-B5254-Focus-ST, 2010–2011) — Be Careful: Turbocharger Bearing Wear from Spirited Use, Cylinder Wall Cracking from Overheating, Coolant Loss from Head Gasket. Power: 349 PS.
Focus (M2DA, 2011–2014) — Stay Away!: Wet Timing Belt Dissolves in Wrong or Old Oil, Degas Hose at Coolant Expansion Tank Fractures, Oil-Bath Timing Belt Disintegrates. Power: 101 PS.
Focus (M2DA, 2011–2014) — Stay Away!: Wet Timing Belt Dissolves in Wrong or Old Oil, Degas Hose at Coolant Expansion Tank Fractures, Oil-Bath Timing Belt Disintegrates. Power: 125 PS.
Focus (PNDA, 2011–2014) — Be Careful: VVT Phaser Faulty — Cold Start Rattle, Ignition Coil Fault — Misfires, Cam Phaser (Ti-VCT) Faulty. Power: 86 PS.
Focus (PNDA, 2011–2014) — Be Careful: VVT Phaser Faulty — Cold Start Rattle, Ignition Coil Fault — Misfires, Cam Phaser (Ti-VCT) Faulty. Power: 101–105 PS.
Focus (PNDA, 2011–2014) — Be Careful: VVT Phaser Faulty — Cold Start Rattle, Ignition Coil Fault — Misfires, Cam Phaser (Ti-VCT) Faulty. Power: 120–125 PS.
Focus (JQDA, 2011–2014) — Stay Away!: Recall 17S09: Missing Coolant Level Sensor, Recall 18S07: Clutch Pressure Plate Can Fracture, Cylinder Head Crack from Unreported Overheating. Power: 150 PS.
Focus (JQDA, 2011–2014) — Stay Away!: Recall 17S09: Missing Coolant Level Sensor, Recall 18S07: Clutch Pressure Plate Can Fracture, Cylinder Head Crack from Unreported Overheating. Power: 182 PS.
Focus (R9DA, 2011–2018) — Stay Away!: Dual Clutch (6DCT450) Wear, Hairline Crack in Engine Block — Coolant Entering Combustion Chamber, Fuel Pump Failure. Power: 170 PS.
Focus (R9DA, 2011–2014) — Stay Away!: Dual Clutch (6DCT450) Wear, Hairline Crack in Engine Block — Coolant Entering Combustion Chamber, Fuel Pump Failure. Power: 160 PS.
What to watch out for with the Ford Focus? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee