Does The Ford Focus RS Have A Head Gasket Failure Problem?
As a four-wheel drive, 345bhp hot hatch weapon with a ‘Drift Mode’, the Focus RS seems like a triumph for Ford on paper. However, RS life is not going well for some owners.
Take Reddit user ‘KentuckysGentleman’, who’s documented his issues on a massive thread that’s just ticked over 1000 comments. He first noticed something was wrong when his RS started idling roughly on a cold start, which was soon followed by the dreaded ‘check engine’ light, and ‘random multiple misfires’. He’s not alone, either.
His post on the FocusRS.org forum already has responses from 23 other owners experiencing similar problems - uneven idling, excessive fluid consumption and white smoke. The worst part is, it doesn’t sound like a quick thing to fix. In the case of ‘KentuckysGentleman’, he’s in for a wait of “four to eight weeks” for the parts to arrive “from backorder.”
Over at Jalopnik multiple forum posts and YouTube videos from RS owners around the world have been dug up, all with the same kind of issues. The publication also spoke to one owner who’s already been waiting six weeks for parts. Now, Ford has issued a response, and has seemingly admitted there may be some kind of issue:
“Ford is aware that some 2016-17 Focus RS customers have experienced concerns with their engines, which may initially show white exhaust smoke and/or coolant consumption. We are working on a repair for all customers. In the meantime, if vehicles show these symptoms, customers should visit their dealer for an inspection and repair under warranty.”
Ford UK also told us that there are efforts afoot to get replacement parts in place “across all markets” to deal with affected cars.
We’ll be following this story with interest…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
This is not going to be the most affordable fix :( Nevertheless they need to focus on resolving the issue asap
The headgaskets for my 2003 Outback would have cost me $1500, but luckily they were already replaced when I bought the car. I can only imagine how much the ones for the focus are going to cost…
High boost without proper testing leads to stuff as bad as this… This is why Japanese turbo cars are so popular, they have mastered the black art of turbos 😂😂
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True. Making a turbo engine costs millions. But this is the eco boost which is a good engine. It isnt having any problems in other fords.
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Should of asked for some advice
Yeah look at the progress they have made with the Impreza STi. The early ones blew head gaskets all the time but now the newer ones are stronger.
I guess it does make sense - You drive a normal car and it’s not on fire. 😅
I thought we all knew the rs had problems with head gaskets and engine blocks?
Fiestas had a overheating problem a while back that Ford had to recall. They fitted violent level sensors.
I’ve got $1 says…
Suspicions of it being a mazda 2.3 intensify
It was just enjoying a bit of vape nation bro.
Surprise surprise Ford have produced another time bomb.
first the 2 star crash rating Mustang, now this? lol
I do hope this EcoBoost doesn’t turn out to be another K-Series
“There are efforts afoot to get replacement parts across all markets” ..wow, more money for them.
Its cheaper for a car company to realise there is a problem, yet keep going in production, than recalling and fixing it.
The lawsuits they will probably get even for a defective airbag, will be less costly than retracting cars.
So yeah, probably there is a problem with the RS, but i guess its nothing that cant be fixed.. 24 owners with problems seems like an ok number for defective products among thousands produced. Doesnt sound so bad.
Engine failures on a car that new are unacceptable, no matter how many cars are affected.
If the law finds out they’re doing that (paying lawsuits instead of recalling) they risk a huge ass fine. And Ford was the cause of that law
So they’ll have learned from that and not do it again