Recalls: Ford Mk.3 Focus ST
Overview
Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.
Recalls: Ford Mk.3 Focus ST
No recall information is available for the Ford Focus ST (Mk.3). To search for recalls of Ford models, please visit Product Safety Recalls Australia: Ford.
Problems and faults: Ford Mk.3 Focus ST
Overview
This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.
To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.
2012-13 Ford Focus ST: stalling, variable idle RPM and rough running
In October 2014, Ford USA issued Safety Recall #14S17 for Ford Focus ST vehicles that were manufactured from 14 February 2012 to 14 October 2013. In some of these vehicles, certain splices in the engine wiring harness may not have been sufficiently crimped, causing high resistance in engine sensor circuits – this could result in ‘engine performance issues’ including:
- Illumination of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL);
- Reduced engine power;
- Hesitation;
- Rough running; and/or,
- Stalling without warning.
For a description of the repair procedure, please refer to Safety Recall #14S17; a video of the repair is also available below.
Although the US recall for the Ford Focus ST was for vehicles manufactured from 14 February 2012 to 14 October 2013, this was based on customer complaints since the Tunisian supplier did not have manufacturing records to further identify the ‘suspect population’. Prior to issuing this recall, Ford USA had issued Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 13-9-07 which identified the following symptoms: the engine cranking but not starting, rough running, a lack of power, loss of idle RPM and ‘hesitation concerns’ with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0106 and/or P0236.
While the Ford Focus ST for the US market is manufactured at Ford’s Michgan Assembly Plant and no such recall has been issued for European or Australian markets, the engine wiring harnesses for the Ford Focus ST are manufactured in Tunisia and it is understood that these were also used in Ford Focus ST vehicles manufactured in Saarlouis, Germany (where European- and Australian-delivered Ford Focus ST vehicles are produced). Furthermore, European and Australian owners have reported the same symptoms. For a discussion of this problem, please see FocusST.org: engine stalling solution.
For the UK, it has been reported that Ford has issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) which advises that splices SP963 and SP959 are to be repaired if the vehicle exhibits the symptoms described above and fault code P26DE-00-2F-PCM is logged. However, australiancar.reviews has not been able to view this service bulletin.
Ford Focus ST: bang noise during 1-2 shift
In June 2013, Ford USA issued Technical Service Bulletin 13-6-10 for 2013 Ford Focus ST vehicles because a ‘bang’ may be heard and/or a bump felt from the front of the vehicle during a quick 1-2 and/or 2-3 gearshift under moderate to aggressive acceleration. The Technical Service Bulletin described how the following parts were to be replaced with revised components:
- The service transmission support insulator and its centre fastener; and,
- The clutch slave cylinder hydraulic tube.
