Photo: Calreyn88 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
1999 Ford Focus: common problems and reliability
· 1st generation11 owner complaints on record.
Most complaints are about engine and engine cooling. No recalls.
Should I buy a 1999 Focus?The 1999 Ford Focus has 11 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are engine and engine cooling and electrical system. Owners most often flag plastic thermostat housing cracks and leaks.
Safety record for the 1999 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 1999 Ford Focus vehicles (US, public record).
Is 1999 a good year for the Focus?
Across the 20 Focus model years we track, complaint volume runs from 11 (1999) to 5,240 (2014). With 11 complaints, the 1999 Focus sits below the model's median of 1,018.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
What owners report on the 1st generation Focus
Owners of the 1998-2005 Focus generally describe it as a cheap, reliable, and fun-to-drive economy car that handles better than most competitors in its class.
- Very frequentPlastic thermostat housing cracks and leaks
- RecurrentPlastic coolant crossover tube cracks and causes overheating
- RecurrentFront sway bar end links wear out and clunk over bumps
- RecurrentRight front engine mount fails regularly
- RecurrentSPI engine drops valve seats around 80,000 miles
Owner insights for the 1st generation Focus. Read the full 1st generation owner report.
Typical used price
Used Focus listings typically run $7,194–$10,865 across 2003 to 2018 model years.
Other Focus model years
Compare every Focus year side by side to see how 1999 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Focus against its rivals
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