Ford Focus Complaints (2003)

977 consumer complaints on file.

#10290428October 30, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION WONT TURN RESULTING IS A STRANDING SITUATION, POSSIBLY IN DANGEROUS AREAS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290201October 29, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
UPON LEAVING WORK LAST NIGHT, I PUT MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. 4 PEOPLE TRIED TO TURN THE KEY, STILL WITHOUT SUCCESS. I TRIED TO WIGGLE TO STEERING WHEEL, THE GEAR SHIFT AND LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR BEFORE TRYING AGAIN. FINALLY, MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. THE TOWING MAN STATED THAT THIS IS THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINT ON ALL THE FORD FOCUSES HE TOWS, AS DO MANY WEBSITES I HAVE RECENTLY LOCATED. OVERALL, IT SEEMS THAT ONCE I FINISHED PAYING OFF MY FORD FOCUS, IT HAS BEEN NEEDING MECHANIC WORK EVER SINCE ON VARIOUS PARTS. I ALWAYS GET MY ROUTINE OIL CHANGES AND MILEAGES CHECK-UPS. MY CAR IS NOW AT THE MECHANIC AND I AM AWAITING AN ESTIMATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290129October 28, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I BOUGHT A 2003 FORD FOCUS FROM AN AUTO DEALER IN AUGUST, 2009. I AM HAVING CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION CYLINDER - THE KEY KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN IT. I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP HERE THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE $450 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE, I'VE FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2003-2004 FORD FOCUS CARS! PLEASE CONSIDER A RECALL FOR THE DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289850October 26, 2009
SEATS
THE DRIVER'S SEAT 2003 FORD FOCUS WAGON ZTW (PURCHASED NEW IN 7/2003, CURRENTLY 55K MILES) SEEMS TO HAVE HAD A SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTION AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT COVER, AND THE CLOTHES OF THE DRIVER AT THE TIME. THE SEAT HEATER BUTTON WOULD NOT TURN THE HEATER OFF. THE FUSE HAD TO PULLED TO GET IT TO TURN OFF. THERE WAS NEVER A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT HEATER BEFORE THIS EVENT. THE DEALER (QUIRK FORD IN QUINCY MA) SAYS IT'S ONLY AN OUT-OF-WARRANTY REPAIR AND WANTS TO CHARGE $600 TO FIX IT. I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT FIRE AND PERSONAL INJURY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286927October 9, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCKS AND I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO START MY FORD FOCUS 2003. I WAS LEFT STRANDED WITH MY SIXTH MO. OLD SON WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS AT A GAS STATION. I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED AND HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED FOR $290.00 IN ADDITION TO TOWING FEES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS OCCURRED, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS AND WAS WARNED BY THE TECH THAT REPLACED THE IGNITION, THAT THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I LIVE IN A MINNESOTA WHERE WINTERS ARE VERY COLD, AND AM CONCERNED I WILL BE STRANDED AGAIN WITH AN INFANT BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFAULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286811October 8, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ON TUESDAY MY CAR OPERATED NORMALLY. WEDNESDAY MORNING I WENT TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND MY KEY WOULD NOT TURN. FORTUNATELY I WAS AT HOME, HOWEVER I COULD HAVE BEEN STUCK SOMEWHERE. I COULD HAVE HAD AN EMERGENCY AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE MY CAR. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, MISS 3 DAYS OF WORK AND AM OUT $510. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286679October 7, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION KEY AND TUMBLER SWITCH. I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WON'T TURN. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED NUMEROUS TIMES. I UNDERSTAND THE REPAIRS ARE $400 +. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286692October 7, 2009
STEERING:COLUMN, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE STEERING COLUMN ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED SINCE IT CAN BE TURNED 360 DEGREES. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286314October 5, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS WITH NO IGNITION PROBLEM. I DROVE TO WORK, AND RAN A FEW WORK RELATED ERRANDS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. AS I WAS PREPARING TO LEAVE WORK FOR THE DAY I PUT MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND IT FELT AS IF IT WERE COMPLETELY LOCKED. MORE THAN 3 PEOPLE TRIED TO TURN THE KEY AND OFFERED DIFFERENT IDEAS AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. TRIPLE A WAS CALLED OUT AND HE EXPLAINED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. HE INFORMED ME THE TUMBLERS IN THE IGNITION HAVE SUDDENLY STOPPED DROPPING AND RECOGNIZING MY KEY. HE THEN PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, TAPPED IN A FEW TIMES TO RELEASE THE TUMBLERS AND IT STARTED. WE THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND STRUGGLED A BIT TO GET THE KEY OUT. IT IS NOW 2 DAYS LATER AND THE SITUATION HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND IS AFFECTING MY TRANSPORTATION. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKED FINE ALL DAY WITHOUT A "STICKING" FEELING OR A RESISTANCE TO TURN AND NOW IT IS COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN AND TURN THE KEY WITH EASE. IT IS SIMPLY STUCK AND NO ONE CAN REALLY EXPLAIN WHY, OTHER THAN POOR QUALITY WITHIN THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285245September 25, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
WE DROVE OUR 2003 FORD FOCUS TO THE GROCERY STORE. UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AND STRANDED MY WIFE, 4 YEAR OLD AND 6 MONTH OLD CHILDREN AND MYSELF WONDERING WHAT WE COULD DO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284970September 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
KEY WON'T TURN IN IGNITION OF 2003 FORD FOCUS. THIS HAPPENS FAIRLY OFTEN, BUT AFTER SEVERAL TRIES THE KEY WILL USUALLY WORK. NOW THE KEY WON'T WORK AT ALL. HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR BEHIND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285004September 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WITH NO WARNING, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, AND IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN FIVE YEARS LATER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284720September 21, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284668September 20, 2009
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, IGNITION LOCKED AND SHIFT GEAR LOCKED!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284486September 18, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
FORD FOCUS KEY/IGNITION PROBLEM. THE KEY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE YEARS 2000 - 2003. ALSO FOUND INFORMATION THAT THE OEM PARTS USED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE PARKING LOT AT HER APARTMENT. BUT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED ANYWHERE, I.E. HIGHWAY, ROAD, ISOLATED AREA, ETC... BOTTOM LINE IS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE PART AND HAS MADE NO EFFORT TO CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE PART, OTHER THAN MAKING THE OWNER PAY $400 PLUS DOLLARS TO PUT IN ANOTHER OEM DEFECTIVE PART. SOMEONE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS PART AT FORD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284459September 17, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE KEY WAS STARTING TO STICK THEN I COULD NOT GET THE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO START THE CAR SO MY SON THAT WORKS FOR FORD SAID TO TAP ON THE KEY THEN IT SHOULD START SO I DID AND IT WORKED IT IS AN ON GOING THING I THINK THAT IF FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM THEY SHOULD DO A RECALL ON IT THE CAR IS A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY LIKE THE OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM SO NOW I HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED LIKE ALL OF THE OTHER OWNERS IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY DAY I GO TO GET MY CAR STARTED IT IS VERY ANNOYING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283655September 11, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS. A FEW MONTHS AGO THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AT TIMES. USUALLY AFTER A FEW TRIES IT WOULD FINALLY TURN OVER. THIS PAST TUESDAY WHILE AT A GROCERY STORE MY LUCK RUN OUT. NOW THE KEY WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. THE IGNITION IS LOCKED UP. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIPS AND THEY SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. IF IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM THEN WHY ISN'T SOMETHING BEING DONE ABOUT IT? THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE PLACE I HAD MY CAR REPAIRED WHERE ALSO FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. WHAT DO CONSUMER'S HAVE TO DO NOT BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY THE FORD COMPANY. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE STRANDED OUT SOMEWHERE AND KILLED BEFORE FORD ADMITS TO A PROBLEM. I HAVE ALWAYS BOUGHT FORDS BUT AFTER THIS I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283336September 8, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX5 HATCHBACK. IT ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT, BUT WE HAVE HAD A HUGE PROBLEM THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR. THE IGNITION LOCKS UP FREQUENTLY, AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. THIS PROBLEM HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON MANY AN OCCASION. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME 5 TIMES. EACH OF THOSE TIMES, I HAVE MANAGED TO GET IT WORKING AGAIN BY VIOLENTLY JAMMING THE KEY AND JIGGLING IT IN THE IGNITION, OR WAITING A WHILE BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO INSERT THE KEY AGAIN. TODAY, HOWEVER, NONE OF THESE METHODS WORKED, AND THE IGNITION SEEMS TO BE PERMANENTLY STUCK. AFTER CAREFUL RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUS 2001-2003. IT HAS LEFT MANY DRIVERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY STRANDED IN INOPPORTUNE TIMES AND LOCATIONS, AS WELL AS COST THEM HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS EACH TIME THAT THE WHEEL LOCKS UP. THE SHEER VOLUME OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM INDICATES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON. IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM ARISES FROM SUBSTANDARD ENGINEERING ON FORD'S PART. PLEASE LOOK INTO FORCING A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283111September 7, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND THE KEY WILL NOT START THE CAR UNTIL IT IS GENTLY TAPPED WITH A HAMMER (I LEARNED HOW TO DO THIS BY READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET) THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR INSTANCE A PERSON IS ALONE IN AN UNLIT AREA AFTER WORKING THE LATE SHIFT THEY CANT START THEIR CAR CAUSE THE IGNITION MECHANISMS ARE DEFECTIVE FORD RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM BUT FOR SOME REASON HAS NOT BEEN LEGALLY REQUIRED TO FIX THIS DEFECT BY RECALLING ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE IS THE FACT THAT I HAVE TO CARRY A HAMMER IN MY CAR WHEREVER I GO THE COPS COULD SAY I AM CARRYING IT AS A WEAPON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282379August 31, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 19 YEAR OLD SON A FULL TIME COLLEGE STUDENT, WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT A DISTANCE FROM HOME BECAUSE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. A FEW TIMES HE HAS HAD TO, JIGGLE THE KEY TO START THE CAR. AND NOW IT WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. THE CAR IS STILL STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT HAPPENED ON THE WEEKEND. I AM IN FEAR FOR MY SONS SAFETY, HEADING BACK TO COLLEGE 6 HOURS FROM HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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