Ford Focus Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems
Owners have filed 795 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Ford Focus across 19 model years. The 2000 model year has the most (406). The words owners use most often: “brake pads” (15% of reports).
- 795service brakes, hydraulic complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 71mention a crash
- 29mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $730typical repair cost reported by owners
- 28%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Brake pads: mentioned in 121 of 795 complaints (15%)
- Front brakes: mentioned in 60 of 795 complaints (8%)
- Grinding noise: mentioned in 42 of 795 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes, hydraulic repair on the Ford Focus at $730, and half of them between $610 and $900.
Based on 22 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2001–2011), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do service brakes, hydraulic problems happen?
Based on 306 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 795 complaints, 71 mention a crash, 8 a fire, 29 an injury.
Ford Focus service brakes, hydraulic complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Focus | 2 | 0% | 69,470 |
| 2017 Focus | 1 | 0% | 9,026 |
| 2016 Focus | 4 | 0% | 134,500 |
| 2014 Focus | 4 | 0% | 38,000 |
| 2013 Focus | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2012 Focus | 5 | 0% | 6,750 |
| 2011 Focus | 2 | 2% | 73,673 |
| 2010 Focus | 3 | 1% | 9,000 |
| 2009 Focus | 5 | 2% | 6,318 |
| 2008 Focus | 2 | 1% | 70,866 |
| 2007 Focus | 11 | 3% | 25,000 |
| 2006 Focus | 7 | 3% | 32,000 |
| 2005 Focus | 18 | 4% | 15,500 |
| 2004 Focus | 31 | 8% | 14,739 |
| 2003 Focus | 51 | 5% | 20,000 |
| 2002 Focus | 64 | 7% | 23,000 |
| 2001 Focus | 176 | 10% | 24,641 |
| 2000 Focus | 406 | 11% | 32,406 |
| 1999 Focus | 2 | 18% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists service brakes, hydraulic for the Ford Focus. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated before shifting to the next gear and jolted into gear while upshifting. The contact stated that while stopped at traffic lights, the vehicle vibrated abnormally. The contact stated…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the "Oil Pump" message became displayed, and the vehicle decelerated and stalled. Additionally, during the failure there was a loud knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that the brakes…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal clicking noise coming from the engine. The engine lost oil pressure. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle was slow to respond, and the brake pedal was…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the ABS warning light illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was…
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, and the brake pedal became firm. The check oil warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Focuss have service brakes, hydraulic problems?
No. NHTSA has 795 owner complaints about service brakes, hydraulic for the Ford Focus. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Focus service brakes, hydraulic?
No recall currently lists service brakes, hydraulic for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Ford Focus?
Owners report a typical cost of $730 (half paid between $610 and $900), from 22 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Ford Focus?
The most frequent phrase is “brake pads”, in 121 of 795 complaints, followed by “front brakes” (60).
Other Ford Focus problems
- Power Train problems (6,803)
- Electrical System problems (4,342)
- Engine problems (2,318)
- Steering problems (2,099)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (1,440)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (1,281)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (1,158)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (1,076)
See all Ford Focus problems.