REDLINE ALLEYFord Focus Mk3 buying guide
2011 to 2018. A Mk3 Focus suits a buyer who wants a sharp handling hatch; a manual is the safer used buy.
Big jobs
- PowerShift dual clutch auto. The PowerShift dual clutch automatic is troublesome and widely advised against, and its fluid and filter change matters for its life.
- Clutch and dual mass flywheel (manuals). A stiff change, a high biting point or a spongy pedal are warning signs, and a worn dual mass flywheel rattles when the engine is switched off.
Workshop jobs
- Front suspension bushes and coil springs. Creaking over speed humps usually comes from dry bushes, and broken front coil springs clonk or twang when turning.
- Windscreen bonding. Screen bonding may fail, mostly on cars with a recently replaced screen.
- Alternator. A failing alternator can be spotted with a simple load test.
Small jobs
- Brakes and rear hum. Juddering front discs and grumbling rear pads are often from cheap aftermarket parts, and a rear hum below about 110 km/h is often cheap tyres mistaken for a wheel bearing.
- 1.0 EcoBoost degas hose (2011 to 2013). On the 1.0 EcoBoost a small plastic coolant hose was the subject of a UK recall; if it splits at speed it can leak and destroy the engine.
Questions for the seller
- Is it manual or PowerShift auto, and has the PowerShift had any clutch or control unit work?
- When was the PowerShift fluid and filter last changed?
- Which engine is it?
- Has the windscreen been replaced?
Sources
Researched 2026-11-04. General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection.