Used Ford Focus C-MAX MPV 2003 - 2007 reliability
Category: MPV
It's a practical five-seat car with a sparkling drive
What should I look for in a used Ford Focus C-Max MPV?
This isn't Ford's best-built car by a long way. Owners report problems with mechanical reliability, bodywork, interior trim and controls - and not just in JD Power customer satisfaction surveys. A read through the reader reviews on this website shows that you need to give the C-Max a close inspection before buying.
The electronic parking brake can give trouble and there has been a recall over this, so ensure that any remedial work has been done. Likewise, there was a recall on the wiper motor over concerns that it may overheat.
Watch for misfires on 2.0 diesels and 1.8 petrols - often caused by a faulty ECU. This is more common on early cars, although Ford sorted many under its three-year/60,000-mile warranty.
The instrument panel can fail completely and there are many reports of rattles and squeaks inside the cabin, so listen out for them on the test drive.