Ford Focus Complaints (2003)

977 consumer complaints on file.

#10202778September 12, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR LATCHES ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN, BOTH FROM THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE, SOMETIMES LEAVING ME SITTING IN THE CAR WONDERING HOW I AM GOING TO GET OUT. BEFORE MY WARRANTY WAS UP, THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THIS WAS JUST TYPICAL OF OUR MODEL OF CAR AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202266September 8, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
REF. NHTSA 05V030000 MY DAUGHTER TOOK HER CAR TO REEMY FORD OF JOHNSON CITY TN. TO HAVE THE SAFETY RECALL TAKEN CARE OF. REEMY FORD SAID THEY COMPLIED WITH THE RECALL. SINCE THEN THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH. THE RECALL STATES IF THE LATCHES DO NOT PASS THE EVALUATION THEY WILL BE REPLACED. WHEN REEMY WAS CALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEY TOLD MY DAUGHTER THAT THEY HAD COMPLIED WITH THE RECALL AND THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. LATCH DOES NOT LATCH, SOUNDS LIKE THE RECALL NOTICE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201310August 31, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION CYLINDER TOTAL FAILURE. KEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. SEARCH TERM "IGNITION CYLINDER""FORD FOCUS" ON THE NET AND YOU WILL BE AMAZED HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM THIS. WHY A SAFETY ISSUE. WELL, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I STOPPED THE CAR SOMEWHERE AND WAS STUCK IN THE DESERT IN THE 112 DEGREE HEAT, WHICH BY THE WAY IS THE TEMPERATURE THAT EXISTED WHEN IT HAPPENED IN MESA AZ. I WAS LUCKY THE CAR WAS HOME. *TR UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10200957August 28, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY CAR WAS RUNNING FINE THEN SUDDENLY THE IGNITION SWITCH WON'T TURN. TUMBLER BROKE $350 AT DEALERSHIP. COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, YET DEALER WON'T WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201048August 28, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THE IGNITION/LOCK MECHANISM HAS BEEN FAILING. THE WHEEL WILL NOT RELEASE AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN TO THE ON POSITION. SOMETIMES IF FORCED, THE KEY WILL TURN, BUT THE LOCK HAS BROKEN COMPLETELY NOW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199039August 10, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
THE WEEKEND OF JULY 28TH I HAD FAMILY IN TOWN. WE WERE DOING THE ATTRACTIONS. THE CAR STARTED EVERYTIME WE WERE GOING OR LEAVING ANYWHERE. WENT TO GO HOME AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. WE HAD THE BATTERY JUMPED AND IT WOULDN'T HOLD A CHARGE. PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY AND MADE IT HOME. THE NEXT DAY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. CAR RAN FINE FOR 1 WEEK. WENT TO LEAVE WORK ON THE 6TH OF AUGUST AND IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL. THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. TOOK THE CAR TO HAVE THE NEW BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TESTED. NOTHING WRONG W/EITHER ONE. TOOK THE CAR TO FORD DEALERSHIP THEY SPENT 1 1/2 HOURS ON IT AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. SOMETHING IS PULLING ON MY BATTERY CAUSING IT TO DIE. TOOK IT BACK HOME AND NOW IT MAYBE THE COMPUTER. HAVE 110,000 MILES ON IT. I WOULDN'T THINK THIS WOULD START HAPPENING ALREADY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197925July 31, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY OTHER FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197856July 30, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. SHE HAS HAD TO STRIKE THE KEY WHILE IT WAS IN THE IGNITION FOR IT TO TURN AND START THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, THE KEY DOES NOT WORK AT ALL WHILE IN THE IGNITION. SHE HAS NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $800 FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER A RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197525July 26, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197241July 23, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT SHUTS DOWN THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197259July 23, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
IGNITION KEY SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN TO START KEY. I HAD TO REPLACE THE LOCK ASSEMBLY ON 2003 FORD FOCUS I BOUGHT BRAND NEW 12/31/2003. TOLD BY SCOTT REYNOLDS OF REYNOLD'S FORD THAT EVEN ONE OF HIS MECHANIC'S WIFE HAD SAME PROBLEM AS A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197019July 20, 2007
SUSPENSION:REAR, SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS, WHEELS
REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE ON FORD FOCUS 2003. THIS PART WHICH IS USUALLY GOOD FOR 75,000 TO 100,000 MILES FAILED DUE TO CORROSION ON BOTH REAR WHEELS. THE AXLE WAS ALMOST CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. A KNOWN PROBLEM ON PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS 2000, 2001 & 2002. AFTER THIS INCIDENT I WAS INFORMED BY MY NIECE AND BROTHER-IN-LAW THAT THERE FORD FOCUS MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR HAD ALSO FAILED IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. FORD CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. WHILE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THEY ALSO FOUND A BROKEN FRONT SPRING; FROM CORROSION; WHICH FORD ACKNOWLEDGES AND IS PAYING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SPRINGS; DUE TO A PREVIOUS RECALL. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR AT $323.00 FOR THE AXLE AND ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR ALIGNMENT ETC. AFTER THE PARTS ARE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196754July 18, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DURING THE PAST WEEK HAD BEEN HAVING TROUBLE TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, AND A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO THE IGNITION WAS COMPLETELY STUCK. AFTER 4 HOURS OF TRYING TO GET IT TOO TURN I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AND IT WAS BEING REPAIRED AS OF RIGHT NOW. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE LESS THAN 2 AND A HALF YEARS AND HAVE YET TO EVEN SURPASS 50,000 MILES ON IT. THIS WA S A PROBLEM THAT IS QUITE WIDESPREAD AMONG FORD FOCUS OWNERS I FELT THE NEED TO MAKE MY PROBLEM KNOWN ALSO. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196369July 14, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
PARKED CAR WHEN ARRIVING TO WORK AT 8 AM. WAS LEAVING FOR LUNCH AT 12 PM AND IGNITION WOULDN'T TURN AT ALL. WHEEL LOCKED. HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK. FIRST TRUCK ARRIVED AND THEY COULDN'T TOW CAR SINCE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND ONLY A FLAT BED TRUCK. THEN HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL HOURS FOR A WHEEL LIFT TRUCK. WAS TOLD BY TOWING COMPANY THAT HE HAD (8) FORD FOCUS' (SAME MODEL), THAT WEEK WITH SAME PROBLEM. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT LOCKSMITHS DO NOT WANT TO TOUCH THE ISSUE, SINCE IT IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM AND THAT FORD WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUE. TOWED TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE $300 TO REPLACE IGNITION. WARRANTY HAD JUST ENDED ON VEHICLE. FORD CORPORATE HONORED A SMALL PORTION OF REPLACEMENT COST, I ENDED UP PAYING $100 (THANKS TO THE DEALERS HELP), BUT THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. OBVIOUS FROM THIS SITE THAT IT'S NOT JUST ME THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO. (AND THIS PROBLEM IS AMONG MANY OTHERS I HAVE DEALT WITH ON THIS STUPID CAR). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196230July 12, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING THE TIRES, STEERING WHEEL AND IGNITION TO LOCK. THEREFORE, CAR BECAME INOPERABLE. A SUBSEQUENT TOW DAMAGED THE CAR BEFORE BEING TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195963July 10, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT PRESSED THE UNLOCK BUTTON TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND IT FAILED TO OPEN. SHE HAD TO MANUALLY PULL THE DOOR THREE TIMES BEFORE IT OPENED. FORD STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,898.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195476July 6, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
(1)FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR 1-1/2 YEARS AGO, THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD SOMETIMES FREEZE, DISABLING THE CAR FROM BEING STARTED. AT FIRST, I JUST HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL IN THE CAR AND THEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD WORK. (2)ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THE IGNITION SWITCH COMPLETELY FROZE. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME. I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE TOW TRUCK MEN WHO CAME TO TOW MY CAR THAT THIS IGNITION SWITCH WAS A FACTORY DEFECT IN ALMOST EVERY AMERICAN-MADE CAR. (3)I WROTE TO FORD IN DETROIT AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THEY DID NOT EVEN GRACE MY COMPLAINT WITH A RESPONSE. I THEN GOT AN ESTIMATE OF THE COST TO REPAIR FROM THE SERVICE DIRECTOR AT CAPISTRANO FORD. HE TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $260 TO $280. I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THIS MONTH AS I AM ON SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INCOME AND HAD ALREADY ALLOCATED MY MONEY GOING OUT FOR JUNE. ON JULY 3 I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, HE INFORMED ME THAT I WAS QUOTED WRONG ON THE COST OF REPAIR AND THAT IT WOULD BE $403 TO REPAIR. I COMPLAINED, REACHED THE DIRECTOR OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AGAIN AND TOLD HIM OF MY COMPLAINT REGARDING THE HIGHER PRICER. THE SERVICE DIRECTOR TOLD ME HE COULD KNOCK OFF $70 OF THE BILL BY TAKING THE COST OUT OF HIS TECHNICIAN'S HIDE. I DISPUTED THAT AS BEING UNFAIR, AND TOLD HIM THAT FORD (IN DETROIT) SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS, NOT HIS TECHNICIAN. HE TOLD ME HE WOULD TRY TO KNOCK OFF EVEN MORE OF THE COST. LATER IN THE AFTERNOON, THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED TO TELL ME MY CAR WAS READY. WHEN ASKED HOW MUCH THE CHARGES WERE, HE TOLD ME "$50 BUCKS!" HE TOLD ME THEY HAD DECIDED TO CHARGE THE SERVICE TO FORD IN DETROIT AND DID THE WORK AS A COURTESY SERVICE WITH A $50 DEDUCTIBLE. AGAIN, THIS IGNITION SWITCH IS KNOWN BY TOW TRUCK PEOPLE TO BE A FACTORY DEFECTIVE PART IN JUST ABOUT EVERY AMERICAN-MADE CAR. MY CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 25,000 MILES ON IT. PLEASE RECALL THIS IGNITION SWITCH ON EVERY AMERICAN-MADE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195181July 2, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE CHECKING THE BRAKE LIGHT BULBS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WIRES WERE CRACKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,281.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195201July 2, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCK FAILURE ON FORD FOCUS ZX3, 2003. MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES. PURCHASED CAR USED AT 39,000 MI; NOW AT 47,000 MI. HAVE OWNED FOR LESS THAN ONE YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10194131June 25, 2007
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH SLIPS DURING ATTEMPTS TO PASS VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY TRUCKS ON TWO LANE HIGHWAYS. DURING ACCELERATION SUDDENLY THE CAR LOOSES SPEED AND THE TACHOMETER REVVED UP, MAKING SAFE PASS IMPOSSIBLE. HAD TO SLOW DOWN AND MERGE AGAIN BEHIND THE VEHICLE. ONLY SEEMED TO HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVE MORE THAN 100 MILES NON-STOP. NO PROBLEMS IN CITY OR FREEWAY DRIVING. REALLY SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENED SO FAR ABOUT 9 TIMES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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