Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Ford Focus, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Electrical system2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Air bags1
- Steering1
- Structure1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 1999 Ford Focus cars on Dutch roads are the 1.6 petrol (74 kW, 99 hp), 1.4 petrol (55 kW, 74 hp) and 1.8 petrol (85 kW, 114 hp), out of 5 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.6 petrol | 74 kW 99 hp | 690 |
| 1.4 petrol | 55 kW 74 hp | 163 |
| 1.8 petrol | 85 kW 114 hp | 84 |
| 2.0 petrol | 96 kW 129 hp | 31 |
| 1.8 diesel | 66 kW 89 hp | 21 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
993 first registered in 1999 are on Dutch roads; 2% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde372
- Band onvoldoende profiel337
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk240
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld236
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen231
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm221
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse175
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)164
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
775 cars built in 1999 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 4,221 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 1,736 of these cars first registered in 1999 took their annual MOT test. 51% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1999 the figure was 63%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1999 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 25.5% | 16.6% |
| Suspension | 23.8% | 13.1% |
| Brakes | 14.9% | 12.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 11.1% | 9.3% |
| Visibility | 8.7% | 6.9% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.3% | 7.3% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
729 of these cars first registered in 1999 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 243,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
1 1999 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1999 Ford Focus.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1999 Ford Focus: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 610829 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A TIMING BELT SHREDDING OR TIMING BELT STRIKING THE FRONT COVER. *TT |
| 6092221 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A TIMING BELT SHREDDING OR TIMING BELT STRIKING THE FRONT COVER. *TT |
| 10026389 | FORD: CERTAIN 1999-2001 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES UP TO 6000 LB GVWR REGISTERED IN NEW YORK AND CERTAIN 2001 VEHICLES UP TO 6000 LB GVWR REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF MAINE, CERTIFIED FOR SALE IN CALIFORNIA-FEDERAL EMISSION WARRANTY REFUND. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)