Should I buy a Focus

Are these cars okay, any issues with them? just need basic advice never been around one.

They for the most part are pretty reliable cars. Stay away from the first 3 years of manufacture as they have problems with the alternators, springs on the struts breaking and problems with the rear hatch not releasing.

so far, these are the major works I did for my 2002 with 208K miles on it.
- struts. replaced it twice already. At first, the pass spring broke
- thermostat housing. it was leaking. Replaced it.
- transmission solenoid.