The 2011 Ford Focus is available with one engine option, a 2.0L four-cylinder. It averages 28 mpg combined, but it’s not exactly a ‘thrill’ to drive. But it is reliable, with zero recalls, no investigations, and only few registered complaints.
Key Points
- A naturally aspirated 2.0L I4 is the only engine option for the 2011 Ford Focus, paired to either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic.
- The 2011 Focus puts up decent mileage, averaging a respectable 28 mpg regardless of transmission. A PZEV version was also offered in California exclusively.
- The 2011 Ford Focus has had zero recalls, no investigations, and 104 complaints with the NHTSA, only a few pertaining to the engine.
- Overall maintenance costs for the 2.0L Focus engine are low, with most repairs costing a few hundred dollars.
2011 Ford Focus Comes Equipped with a 2.0L I4 that Delivers Decent Fuel Economy but Little Driving Performance
Ford only put one engine in the 2011 Ford Focus, a naturally aspirated 2.0L four-cylinder engine. This engine offers little in terms of performance, with just 140 hp and 136 lb.-ft. of torque, which propels it from zero to 60 mph in a meager 9.7 seconds. When compared to its competition, that’s almost a full second slower than the least powerful 2011 Honda Civic or Volkswagen Jetta. However, it does edge out the same year Toyota Corolla by 0.2 seconds.
Ford offers two different transmissions for the 2011 Focus: a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic. With either transmission, the fuel economy is average at best.
According to the EPA, the 2011 Ford Focus gets a combined 28 mpg between the city and the highway. That figure is pretty respectable considering it’s a 10-year old car, but it’s still behind similarly-specced rivals from Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen.
Exclusive to a few models in California, some versions of the 2011 Ford Focus are equipped with a PZEV version of the 2.0L engine. PZEV stands for partial zero-emissions vehicle, meaning the engine has a few extra parts to help mitigate the emissions.
To be clear, even though the PZEV is billed as a more eco-friendly vehicle, it has zero effect on fuel consumption and does slightly reduce horsepower.
The 2.0L in the 2011 Ford Focus Has a Handful of Engine-related Complaints Registered with the NHTSA, and Zero Recalls
With zero recalls, no investigations, and 104 complaints registered with the NHTSA, the 2011 Ford Focus is hailed as exceptionally reliable. Of those, only a handful relate to the engine. Some consumers report issues with excessive vibrations at idle, or their vehicle hesitating when trying to accelerate. It was found in most cases that the vibrations were coming from worn motor mounts and that the hesitation was due to a malfunctioning throttle body.
If something does go wrong with your 2011 Ford Focus, more than likely the repair cost will be pretty cheap. The cost to repair the motor mounts is less than $500. It is the same story with the throttle body, which costs under $300.
You can save even more money if you’re interested in servicing your 2011 Focus yourself. The 2.0L in the 2011 Focus needs serviced every 6,000 miles and holds 4.5 quarts of 5W-20 viscosity oil with the filter in place. With a little more information and just a couple of tools, you could save hundreds of dollars a year.
Ford Has Sent out Technical Service Bulletins for the 2011 Ford Focus, but Only One Pertains to Engine Performance
A technical service bulletin is essentially an internal note that Ford sends its technicians regarding issues they’ve noticed on certain models. For instance, if many consumers come forward with transmission problems, Ford may issue a TSB rather than a recall to remedy the issue. This is generally for problems that don’t pose a serious threat to the driver but seem to be common among consumers.
There has been one major TSB pertaining to the 2011 Ford Focus engine. The notice informed technicians of an issue with the electronic throttle valve. This problem can lead to the car hesitating and feeling jerky. It can also impact the idle speed, causing it to be lower or higher than desired. To remedy this, techs were instructed to replace the throttle body. Because the car is out of warranty, if you come across a throttle body issue, this will be an out-of-pocket expense.
Sole 2.0L Engine in the 2011 Focus is Reliable, Efficient, and Pretty Slow, but it Can Last 200,000 Miles or More
If you are looking for variety, Ford isn’t offering a lot in terms of engine options for the 2011 Focus. What it doesn’t provide in options it makes up for in reliability though. With the proper maintenance and care, the car can last over 200,000 miles. Anyone looking for a car they can rely on and drive daily wouldn’t be making a mistake purchasing a 2011 Ford Focus.
Photos: Ford
