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Ford Focus vs Honda Civic: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2018, owners filed an average of 1,070 complaints per model year about the Ford Focus and 644 about the Honda Civic.

Side by side

Ford FocusHonda Civic
Model years compared2006-20182006-2018
Owner complaints13,9118,375
Complaints per model year1,070644
Recalls2433
Years to avoid2012201320142006200720082016
Best years2006200820092011
Most common problemTransmissionEngine
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy22-34 mpg combined (2018)25-36 mpg combined (2018)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Ford Focus: 2052006 Honda Civic: 1,40420062007 Ford Focus: 3912007 Honda Civic: 1,2042008 Ford Focus: 2502008 Honda Civic: 91620082009 Ford Focus: 2292009 Honda Civic: 3962010 Ford Focus: 2872010 Honda Civic: 39820102011 Ford Focus: 1132011 Honda Civic: 1692012 Ford Focus: 3,7722012 Honda Civic: 45620122013 Ford Focus: 2,1122013 Honda Civic: 3192014 Ford Focus: 2,6062014 Honda Civic: 29320142015 Ford Focus: 1,0222015 Honda Civic: 3812016 Ford Focus: 1,1852016 Honda Civic: 1,08320162017 Ford Focus: 9002017 Honda Civic: 6062018 Ford Focus: 8392018 Honda Civic: 7502018
Ford FocusHonda Civic

Problems compared

FocusCivic
Transmission6,317696
Engine2,5491,249
Fuel system1,827386
Steering1,6731,214
Electrical1,407744
Acceleration742257
Airbags3941,211
Visibility202843

Questions about the Ford Focus vs Honda Civic

Which is more reliable, the Ford Focus or the Honda Civic?

Between 2006 and 2018, the Ford Focus has 3 years to avoid and the Honda Civic 4. The Ford Focus has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Honda Civic drew fewer complaints per model year (644 vs 1,070), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Ford Focus or the Honda Civic?

From 2006 to 2018, the Ford Focus was covered by 24 recalls and the Honda Civic by 33.

What years of the Ford Focus and Honda Civic should you avoid?

Ford Focus: 2012, 2013 and 2014. Honda Civic: 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2016.

More compact cars comparisons

Honda Civic vs Toyota CorollaHonda Civic vs Hyundai ElantraHonda Civic vs Nissan SentraHonda Civic vs Mazda MAZDA3Honda Civic vs Kia ForteHonda Civic vs Volkswagen JettaHonda Civic vs Subaru ImprezaChevrolet Cruze vs Honda CivicHyundai Elantra vs Toyota CorollaNissan Sentra vs Toyota CorollaMazda MAZDA3 vs Toyota CorollaKia Forte vs Toyota CorollaToyota Corolla vs Volkswagen JettaSubaru Impreza vs Toyota CorollaChevrolet Cruze vs Toyota CorollaFord Focus vs Toyota CorollaHyundai Elantra vs Nissan SentraHyundai Elantra vs Mazda MAZDA3Hyundai Elantra vs Kia ForteHyundai Elantra vs Volkswagen JettaHyundai Elantra vs Subaru ImprezaChevrolet Cruze vs Hyundai ElantraFord Focus vs Hyundai ElantraMazda MAZDA3 vs Nissan Sentra

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