Known APK problem

Ford Focus III: warning lights

On the Ford Focus III the APK inspector finds warning lights problems 2.9× as often as on cars of the same age: at 9–10 years 9.2%, against about 3.2% nationally.

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

What is it?

A warning light that stays on (for example ABS, airbag or engine fault) points to a fault that has to be read out first.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Switch on the ignition: all lights come on briefly and go out after starting. If one stays on, ask about the cause.

Ask the seller: Does a warning light ever come on, and has the fault been read out?

By age

Share of inspected Ford Focus IIIs with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.

Age	Type	Focus III	95%-CI	National	Difference	n
7 – 8 years	B	0.5%	0.4 – 0.6%	0.4%	1.2×	10,043
7 – 8 years	C	1.7%	1.4 – 2.0%	0.9%	1.8×	10,043
9 – 10 years	A	0.2%	0.2 – 0.3%	0.0%	5.8×	13,017
9 – 10 years	B	0.8%	0.7 – 1.0%	0.2%	4.4×	13,017
9 – 10 years	C	9.2%	8.7 – 9.7%	3.2%	2.9×	13,017
11 – 12 years	A	0.3%	0.2 – 0.4%	0.1%	5.4×	13,611
11 – 12 years	C	5.1%	4.7 – 5.5%	2.4%	2.1×	13,611
13 – 15 years	A	0.2%	0.2 – 0.3%	0.1%	3.0×	14,526
13 – 15 years	C	1.8%	1.6 – 2.0%	2.6%	0.7×	14,526

A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.

Comparable cars at 9–10 years

Model	Warning lights	Vs. national
Ford Focus III	9.2%	2.9×
Audi A3 (8V)	1.9%	0.6×
Volkswagen Golf VII	1.4%	0.5×
Opel Astra K	1.4%	7.7×
SEAT Leon III	1.1%	0.3×
Peugeot 308 II	1.0%	0.3×

Looking at a Ford Focus III? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Ford Focus IIIs of the same age.

All weak spots of the Ford Focus III · Warning lights: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the Ford Focus III often have warning lights problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 9–10 years the inspector found a warning lights defect on 9.2% of inspected Ford Focus IIIs, against about 3.2% of all cars of the same age (2.9×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the warning lights on a used Ford Focus III?

Switch on the ignition: all lights come on briefly and go out after starting. If one stays on, ask about the cause.

Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.

Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know