I’m thinking about getting a 2014 Ford Focus 1.5 Titanium X TDCI with 113k miles for £6995. It looks great and has £4545 worth of extras fitted. Does anyone here own one? Any common problems or things you love or hate about it?
The door seals usually fall off sooner or later. They’re just glued on and don’t last. The boot can also leak, letting water into the spare wheel well, and you might not notice until there’s a bad smell. The water comes in around the boot lid, down the back of the tail lights, and through a vent in the rear bumper.
Edit: I had a 2012 1.6 TDCI for five years. Other than those issues, it was a reliable and practical car. One time my brother accidentally filled the tank with petrol instead of diesel and drove it until it stopped. After flushing the system and replacing the fuel filter, it ran fine for another 40,000 miles.
@Uma
Yep, the door seal problem is on almost every Focus I see. Also, check for rust above the rear number plate area. If it has a heated windshield, make sure both sides work.
@Uma
Seriously, every Focus on the road has that seal sticking out. It’s like they all gave up at the same time!
@Uma
For the boot leaking water, there’s a quick fix video on YouTube. I sealed the vent behind the bumper with silicone, and it solved the problem. Also, check if the timing belt has been changed—it’s a big job on these.
If it has the automatic Powershift gearbox, beware—it’s not the most reliable. If it’s the 3-cylinder Ecoboost engine, you’ll need to watch out for the wet belt. Replacing it costs around £800, and if it starts to degrade, it can damage the engine.
@Briar
They mentioned it’s a 1.5 diesel, so no wet belt to worry about here.
Oak said:
@Briar
They mentioned it’s a 1.5 diesel, so no wet belt to worry about here.
Ah, you’re right—I missed the TDCI in the description. Thanks for pointing that out!
I had a 2014 1.5 Ecoboost Titanium X with lots of extras. Thought the Ecoboom reputation only applied to the 1.0 engine, but I was wrong. Sold it after 9 months.
The car itself was nice and had great features. I even upgraded the head unit for Android Auto. Watch out for clutch issues—mine had the infamous clutch whoop. Fixing it required a new flywheel and clutch, which isn’t cheap.
I’ve got a 2014 1.6 TDCI with 110k miles and no issues so far. Just make sure the cambelt gets replaced when it’s due!
The door seals coming off is a common problem. Also, the vents behind the rear bumper can leak, letting water into the boot. If it’s not fixed in time, water can soak under the interior carpet. Luckily, replacing the vents is simple once you remove the bumper.
I’ve owned a 2014 Focus for years. The door seals falling off and washer pump flooding the BCM are common issues. Check the BCM (under the glovebox) for corrosion—it’s easy to access and worth inspecting.
My dad’s 2014 1.5 TDCI has about 175k miles now and still runs great. He averages around 60mpg, but you should check for uneven tire wear in the rear. These cars tend to crush the inner sidewalls over time. The dashboard design isn’t my favorite—it sticks out and makes the cabin feel smaller.
Watch out for the C-pillar seam sealer failing and letting in water. The seals on the bumper vents, rear lights, and doors are all weak points. Also, check the bulkhead under the intake grill for rust. Not the best car Ford has made in my opinion.
I wouldn’t trust the engine.