Ford Focus Complaints (2003)

977 consumer complaints on file.

#10256071January 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KEY ON 2003 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT TURN. STARTED ACTING UP 3 MONTHS OF OWNING. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT IS 5+ YEARS OLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254043January 6, 2009
STEERING
WENT TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I TRIED EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN IN THE PAST, AND BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. NOT THIS TIME... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253572January 2, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SE HAS THE ISSUE WHERE THE IGNITION LOCKS. IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE I CAN GET THE KEY TO TURN. TWICE NOW I HAVE HAD TO GET IT TOWED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253219December 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. IT GETS JAMMED ALL THE TIME NOW. PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS OF MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK & FORTH WORKED FOR AWHILE, BUT EVEN THAT DOES NOT WORK NOW. THE ONLY WAY TO START IT IS TO TAP ON THE KEY WHEN IT IS IN THE IGNITION WITH A MALLET OR HAMMER. THIS USUALLY WORKS AFTER A FEW TRIES. NOW I HAVE TO CONSIDER LEAVING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO START IT EASIER OR CARRY A HAMMER IN THE CAR. NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM YET. ACCORDING TO LOCAL FORD DEALER IT'LL COST $250-275 TO REPAIR. LOCAL (CHEAPER) MECHANICS CAN'T REPAIR IT SINCE THEY NEED TO GET A CODE FROM FORD TO PROGRAM THE PART SO THE NEW IGNITION CYLINDER WILL RECOGNIZE THE KEY. FROM SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. BASICALLY A BAD DESIGN AND/OR INFERIOR MATERIALS USED IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES I'VE OWNED ESPECIALLY ONES THAT ARE ONLY 5 YRS OLD. I AM SURPRISED THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART YET. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT DO I DO IN THE EVENT I NEED TO EVACUATE BECAUSE OF A NATURAL DISASTER OR TERRORIST? I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET AWAY SINCE I CAN'T START MY CAR ! AND TAPPING ON THE KEY WITH A HAMMER WILL WORK FOR ONLY SO LONG. AND OF COURSE FORD WILL JUST REPLACE WITH THE SAME CHEAP DEFECTIVE IGNITION CYLINDER THAT THE CAR ORIGINALLY CAME WITH ANY WAY. SO I'LL PROBLEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN A COUPLE YEARS AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253152December 29, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I AM HAVING IGNITION ISSUES. MY KEY WILL NOT TURN. IT IS ON A REGULAR BASIS THAT THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT IN FOR REPAIR YET. I CALLED FOR AN ESTIMATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252975December 28, 2008
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION BARREL IS COMPLETELY STUCK, IMPEDING ANY USE OF ANY VEHICLE FUNCTIONS. HAS OCCURRED DAILY OR EVERY OTHER DAY FOR A FEW WEEKS. A FEW MINUTES OF JOSTLING MAY ALLOW IT TO WORK. A FEW TIMES IT HAS BEEN STUCK FOR HOURS UNTIL FINALLY WORKING. THIS MAY STRAND SOME TRAVELERS IN WINTER CONDITIONS, LIKE MYSELF. VERY STRESSFUL AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252609December 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST $300-350 TO FIX. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. MY DAUGHTER'S ROOMMATE HAS A 2004 FOCUS WHICH THE SAME THING HAPPENED LAST YEAR, 2007. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252070December 17, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
KEY WON'T TURN IN IGNITION! YOU CAN PLACE THE KEY AND THE SPARE KEY, IN THE IGNITION AND IT WILL NOT TURN. LOOKED UP ONLINE AND FOUND WEBSITE THAT STATED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. OUR KEY HAS TO STAY IN THE IGNITION BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT TAKE IT OUT. VERY DISAPPOINTED THIS IS A SAFETY NOT RECALL ! MY WIFE AND CHILDREN CAN BE STRANDED IN FREEZING WEATHER ! ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251867December 15, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY IGNITION HAS LOCKED UP ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS, I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT FIXED. IT STARTED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO AND SLOWLY HAS GOTTEN WORSE. MY CAR HAS NOT STARTED IN A WEEK. I CANNOT GET TO WORK ON MY OWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251887December 15, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING
MY CAR REFUSES TO START. YOU CANNOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO GET IT TO COME ON. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I SAW DOZENS OF COMPLAINS FROM PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AND SINCE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY MY DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HELP ME. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE HUNG UP ON ME TWICE. THE ONLY FIX IS TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I MANAGED TO USE A HAMMER TO HAMMER IT IN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251908December 15, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS AND HAS LEFT FAMILY MEMBERS STRANDED.... IGNITION KEY CONTINUES TO LOCK, DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT (COST EST. $450.00). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251522December 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SUDDENLY, THE GEAR SHIFT LOCKED AND BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251297December 10, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS OUT DOING ERRANDS AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION EVEN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOOSE. I TRIED A FEW TIMES AND IT FINALLY TURNED. LATER THAT EVENING WHEN LEAVING THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AGAIN, EXCEPT THIS TIME IT DID NOT EVER TURN AND I ENDED UP HAVING TO BORROW A CAR FROM MY IN-LAWS. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING QUOTES TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND FIXED OR REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251182December 9, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SO FAR, I HAVE ONLY HAD THE PROBLEM OCCUR ONCE AND AM STILL WORKING TO GET IT REPAIRED. NOTHING REALLY HAPPENED TO WARRANT THE PROBLEM HAPPENING. IT SEEMED TO JUST HAPPEN RANDOMLY. IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS, THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED. SO FAR, I HAVE HEARD HUNDREDS OF CASES OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR, ALL FOR FOCUSES RANGING FROM YEAR 2000 TO 2003, AND THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMS TO FIX IT IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE MAINTENANCE DONE. SPEAKING WITH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY DID ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT WOULD NOT ISSUE A RECALL SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT BELIEVE IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. I EXPECT TO HAVE TO PAY A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH FORD REALIZES ITS AN ERROR ON THEIR PART AND THAT A DEFECT WITH THEIR CAR IS WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A COMPANY TO KNOWINGLY KEEP SOMETHING DEFECTIVE ON THE MARKET, EVEN WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251020December 8, 2008
STEERING
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD MY KEY FAIL TO WORK IN A LOCKED IGNITION OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE FIRST OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR WA PURCHASED IN 2004 AND NOW IT HAS RECURRED. THE FIRST WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT THIS IS NOT. APPARENTLY FORD IS QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AS SEVERAL FOCUS OWNERS HAVE FIXED THIS COMPLIANT ON LINE. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? WHY SHOULD FORD GET A BAIL OUT WHEN THEY LEAVE THEIR CONSUMERS WITHOUT ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIRING A PROBLEM OF THEIR MAKING? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251129December 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION LOCKED UP IN THE CAR. THE IGNITION KEY WOULDN'T TURN OR DO ANYTHING. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE A 12 WEEK OLD BABY AND LIVE IN NORTH DAKOTA. I HAD MY BOYFRIEND'S 11 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WITH AS WELL. ME, AN INFANT, AND A CHILD STUCK WITH A CAR THAT WON'T START IN WEATHER THAT IS BELOW FREEZING WITH THE WINDCHILL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250910December 5, 2008
SUSPENSION
BACK TIRE SITS IN AND KEEPS GOING THROUGH TIRES AND HAD THE BEARING REPLACED AND DRUM ON BOTH SIDES AND SHOCKS AND IT STILL DOES IT AND THE REAR END JUMPS TO THE SIDE ITS BAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250672December 3, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
NO INITIAL INDICATIONS OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT HAPPENED, A SUDDEN ONSET. ONE DAY, I GOT IN MY CAR, TRIED TO START THE ENGINE, AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I TRIED TURNING THE WHEEL TO GET THE KEY TO TURN, AND STILL NO ABILITY TO TURN THE KEY IN THE LOCK AND START THE CAR. I TRIED A SECOND KEY THAT IS NOT USED, JUST IN CASE IT WAS A WORN KEY, BUT STILL NO ABILITY TO TURN THE KEY IN THE COLUMN LOCK. FINALLY, AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF TRYING TO JIGGLE AND FINAGLE THE KEY TO TURN, IT DID. SINCE THEN, I HAVE FOUND THAT IF THE KEY IS REMOVED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL IT TURNED UNTIL A POSITIVE CLUNK IS HEARD AND FELT, INDICATING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK HAS ENGAGED, THE PROBLEM REPEATS EVERY SINGLE TIME. IF I REMOVE THE KEY AND MAKE SURE TO NOT TURN THE WHEEL SO THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS NOT ENGAGED THEN I CAN RELIABLY INSERT THE KEY AND TURN IT IN THE IGNITION LOCK AND START THE CAR. I CALLED FORD TO ATTEMPT TO REQUEST A "GOOD WILL REPAIR" BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN A GOOD AND LONG TERM FORD CUSTOMER (I HAVE OWNED A FORD PINTO, A FORD FOCUS, A FORD CONTOUR, AND A FORD ESCAPE BEFORE THIS FORD FOCUS) BUT THE AGENT THREW UP A LOAD OF RESISTANCE. NOW I AM TOLD THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING UNTIL I TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALER AND PAY FOR AN INSPECTION TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM. THIS "SERVICE" TO VERIFY WHAT I CAN RELIABLY REPRODUCE EVERY AND ANY TIME, IS UNNECESSARY AND WILL COST APPROXIMATELY HALF OF WHAT IT WILL COST ME TO HAVE MY LOCAL GARAGE EFFECT THE CHANGE AND MAKE THE REPAIR. I AM JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO SUFFER DUE TO THIS DESIGN DEFECT THAT FORD MUST KNOW ABOUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250684December 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION STAYS LOCKED, FAILS TO TURN TO START ENGINE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. OCCURRED OVER A DOZEN TIMES TO ME. CAN LEAVE A PERSON STRANDED. VERY COSTLY FIX, $150 FOR NEW IGNITION SWITCH, PLUS LABOR, $200 TO $350 TOTAL COST FOR FIX. MANY, MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS FOR SAME PROBLEM FOUND ON WWW.MYCARSTATS.COM AND OTHER FORUMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250508December 2, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
NO EVENTS LED TO THIS IGNITION WILL NOT TURN - HAPPENS EACH TIME I ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR - AT TIMES IT WILL TURN WITH ENOUGH JIGGLING - HAS LEFT ME STRANDED WITH NO RIDE TAKING IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT, BUT THIS IS A KNOWN FORD FOCUS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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