Ford Focus Complaints (2003)

977 consumer complaints on file.

#10249696November 24, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE LOCK CYLINDER FROZE IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS TWO MONTHS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE REPAIRS TOTALED $343. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249590November 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SE IS STUCK. THE VEHICLE IS NOW RENDERED UNUSABLE SINCE IT CANNOT BE STARTED. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY RELATED ITEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOW STRANDED AND WILL REQUIRE THE SERVICES OF A LOCKSMITH OR HAVE TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. I HAVE READ ONLINE WHERE THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS MANUFACTURED IN 2000 THROUGH 2003. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249542November 22, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO I BEGAN TO NOTICE A DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE KEY WHEN PLACED IN THE IGNITION. THE PROBLEM BEGAN SMALL, A LITTLE JIGGLE OF THE KEY AND THE IGNITION CYLINDER WOULD TURN AND THE CAR WOULD START. THE PROBLEM GREW TO THE POINT IN WHICH I WOULD HAVE TO FORCIBLY KNOCK THE KEY IN WITH THE PALM OF MY HAND OTHERWISE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. I TRIED ALL KINDS OF WAYS TO GET THE CAR TO START, BUT HITTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION CYLINDER SEEMED TO BE THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT WORK. FINALLY APPROXIMATELY 3 DAYS AGO I WAS LEAVING WORK, PLACED THE KEY IN THE CAR, WHICH NOT TO MY AMAZEMENT DID NOT TURN IN THE CYLINDER. SO AS I HAD GROWN ACCUSTOM TO I GAVE THE KEY A SMACK, BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN. I SAT IN MY CAR FOR CLOSE TO AN HOUR TRYING TO GIGGLE, SHACK, SMACK, JIMMY, AND PLAY WITH THE KEY ANY WAY I COULD THINK OF BUT I COULD NOT GET MY CAR TO START. NOW WHEN YOU WORK MIDNIGHTS AND YOU GET OFF WORK WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS GOING TO WORK, FINDING A RIDE IS NOT THE EASIEST OF THINGS. AFTER SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A HIGHLY COMMON PROBLEM IN FORD FOCUS'. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248675November 13, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I GOT INTO MY 2003 FORD FOCUS LAST SUNDAY AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. IT HAD BEEN ACTING UP IN RECENT DAYS BUT ON THIS DAY NOTHING WOULD WORK. THEREFORE MY CAR WAS RENDERED USELESS. LONG STORY SHORT...TOWED IT TO THE DEALER THEY TOOK THE LOCK TUMBLER CYLINDER OUT AND SURE ENOUGH--DEFECTIVE MECHANISM. FORD REFUSES TO COVER IT IN A WARRANTY OR EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN AND NOW I AM OUT OF POCKET $400 PLUS THE TOW TO EVEN GET MY CAR TO TURN ON. DID SOME "INTERNET RESEARCH" AND WE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248479November 11, 2008
WHEELS
MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZTW HAS LUG NUT CAPS THAT DO NOT STAY ON. EVERY YEAR I LOSE SEVERAL CAPS AS THE TEMPERATURE CHANGES CAUSING THE METAL TO EXPAND MAKING THE CAPS LOSE. RECENTLY A CAP FLEW OFF AS MY I WAS DRIVING AND HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LUCKILY NOT BREAKING IT. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248263November 10, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PLACED MY KEY IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR FOCUS OWNERS, EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE HAD THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED. NOT ONLY IS THIS A HUGE FINANCIAL BURDEN, IT IS ALSO A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. LIVING IN CHICAGO, IF I BECOME STRANDED AND UNABLE TO START MY CAR, I COULD BE IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION (AS COULD MANY OTHER OWNERS IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248303November 10, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION WOULDN'T TURN WITH THE KEY. VERY OFTEN IT WOULD TURN WITH DIFFICULTY AFTER SOME WIGGLING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER A WHILE IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE ONCE THE KEY WAS REMOVED. EVENTUALLY WE GOT THE KEY TO WORK AND NOW WE LEAVE THE KEY IN AND LOCK THE DOORS WITH THE REMOTE. IT USED TO HAPPEN AS MY WIFE WOULD LEAVE WORK IN THE DARK WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS IN SOME AREAS. I HAD TO GET AN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR IT MYSELF. I AM A FULLY QUALIFIED MECHANIC THOUGH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248067November 9, 2008
EQUIPMENT
OWNER OF A 2003 FORD FOCUS SVT. I WENT TO THE MOVIES LAST NIGHT AND WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN. I SINCE HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED AND THE IGNITION FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247533November 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
FORD FOCUS 2003 - IGNITION FAILURE, KEY WILL NOT TURN MY KEY WILL NOT TURN IN MY IGNITION. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF US (FORD CUSTOMERS) WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NOT A "SAFETY" PRECAUTION. PLEASE RECALL. AMERICANS ARE NOT ENCOURAGED TO BUY AMERICAN-MADE CARS; SADLY BUT TRUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246901October 28, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY KEY WILL NOT TURN. THERE FOR I CAN'T START MY CAR. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND I HAVE BEEN STUCK PLACES NUMEROUS TIMES. I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. AT ANY TIME I COULD BE STUCK ANYWHERE! THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS CARRY A HAMMER WITH ME, SO THAT I CAN TAP THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND GET THE KEY TO TURN SO I CAN START MY CAR. I FEEL IT IS NOT SAFE TO CARRY A HAMMER AROUND BUT HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE TO START MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246259October 21, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE REAR DOORS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO BE REPAIRED, BUT AFTERWARDS, THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. THE HANDLES ON THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE CONTACT CAN OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, BUT NOT FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DOORS SEEM TO BE SEALED EXTREMELY TIGHTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE DOORS PROPERLY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 118,507.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246157October 20, 2008
STEERING
I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I COULDN'T GET THE KEY TO TURN OVER. THE CARE REPAIR COST WAS $551 AND THE IGNITION AND STARTER CYLINDER INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING FLAW AND FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AS A RECALL PROBLEM. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MANY 2000-2003 FORD FOCUS MODELS HAVE THIS FLAW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246001October 18, 2008
STEERING:COLUMN
STEERING COLUMN LOCK GETS STUCK. VEHICLE CANNOT BE STARTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245512October 15, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HAD TO HAVE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER REPLACED ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS; CAR WOULDN'T START (I.E., KEY WOULDN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION) WITH EITHER ONE OF THE TWO KEYS I HAVE (BOTH ORIGINAL KEYS). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245139October 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SECOND TIME HAVING PROBLEM WITH IGNITION ON 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE KEY WON'T TURN AND HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY AND MISSED DAYS OF WORK TO GET THE REPLACEMENT IGNITION SWITCH. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECALL. THOUSANDS OF FORD FOCUS OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS IT COSTLY AND IS A REPAIR THAT IS FORDS' RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX DUE TO FAULTY IGNITIONS BUT ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245090October 10, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FORD FOCUS KEY WILL NOT TURN IN. I DRIVE A FORD FOCUS ZX5 2003. THE IGNITION LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT TURN. AS A RESULT,I WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT IT HAS HAPPENED FEW TIMES. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AT NO AVAIL. THEY DID NOT RECOGNIZE TO BE AN ISSUE EVEN THOUGH IT #1 ISSUE AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINT ABOUT IT. THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AS THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THESE IGNITIONS TO FAIL. I CONSIDER TO BE A SAFE ISSUE. THERE IS NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SO I HAVE TO RELY ON MY VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244709October 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE KEY / IGNITION SWITCH HAS STUCK AND NOT ALLOWED ME TO START MY CAN. THIS PROBLEM HAS LEFT ME STRANDED 2 TIMES WHERE I WAS UNABLE TO RECEIVE HELP FOR MORE THAN 8 HOURS. I CONTACTED A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THERE WAS NO SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS AND IT WOULD COST $400 TO $600 TO REPAIR IT. I DID FIND A LOCKSMITH TO REPAIR IT FOR $250.00 AND WAS TOLD BY THE TECH THAT HE REPAIRS THIS PROBLEM ON THE FORD FOCUS 2 TO 3 TIMES A WEEK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244915October 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCKED LEAVING ME STRANDED. FINALLY GOT THE CAR STARTED ONLY TO FIND IT LOCKED UP AGAIN THE NEXT TIME I TRIED TO START IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244187October 2, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE KEY IN MY FOCUS WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS CAUSED ME TO BE STRANDED SINCE I COULD NOT START MY CAR. I RECENTLY LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. IN FACT, A MAN IN THE SERVICE DEPT AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THIS PROBLEM "HAPPENS WAY MORE THAN IT SHOULD." I LIVE IN A CITY WITH HIGH CRIME. BEING STRANDED IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. SINCE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY TYPE OF CAR, THE MANUFACTURER CERTAINLY SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THIS PART TO PREVENT PEOPLE LIKE ME FROM BEING LEFT IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243773September 27, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS BACK IN JULY 2008. IF I PLAYED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL IT WOULD FINALLY TURN THE KEY. THE IGNITION HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS SINCE 2001. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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