Ford Focus RS: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Ford Focus RS: 3 model years scored from 2,728 NHTSA owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns. Worst year 2016, best year 2017.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2017 (score 82). Worst: 2016 (score 76, BUY).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 82 | BUY | $6,724 | 743 | 0 |
| 2017 | 82 | BUY | $6,877 | 842 | 0 |
| 2016 | 76 | BUY | $7,411 | 1,143 | 0 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the Focus RS, through the years →
Focus RS sub-models & family
What goes wrong on the Ford Focus RS
Across every Focus RS model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Power Train1,362 complaints across all Focus RS years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
- Engine621 complaints across all Focus RS years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Fuel/Propulsion System386 complaints across all Focus RS years · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement$680–$1,620
- Unknown Or Other248 complaints across all Focus RS years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Fuel System184 complaints across all Focus RS years · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement$680–$1,620
- Engine And Engine Cooling178 complaints across all Focus RS years · typical job: Water pump, thermostat and coolant service$600–$1,040
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What is the best year for the Ford Focus RS?
On our data the 2017 Ford Focus RS scores 82/100 — the highest of the 3 model years we hold, with 842 NHTSA complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record.
Which Ford Focus RS years should I avoid?
The 2016 is the weakest year we score, at 76/100 (BUY), on 1,143 complaints and 0 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Ford Focus RS problem?
1,362 of the complaints filed against the Focus RS across all its model years sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component.
Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04