Ford Focus Complaints (2003)

977 consumer complaints on file.

#10281695August 25, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING
I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS. I JUST HIT 70K MILES YESTERDAY, AND STARTING TODAY MY IGNITION IS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. MY CAR IS IN PARK, THE TIRES ARE NOT TURNED, ETC. I WENT BACK IN THE HOUSE TO TRY AND FIND A SOLUTION AND UPON SEARCHING I FOUND SITE AFTER SITE, COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT ABOUT 2000-2003 FORD FOCUS' LOCKING UP LIKE THIS AFTER 70K MILES, AND THAT IT COSTS $500 TO FIX. MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BUT IS NOT COVERED BY FORD AND HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE THIS AND NOW MY CAR IS USELESS AND CAN'T EVEN BE MOVED. I CAN ONLY MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL ABOUT AN INCH AND A HALF EITHER WAY AND THE KEY IN THE IGNITION DOES NOT MOVE AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281323August 21, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE GAS GAUGE AND THE SPEEDOMETER INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO REGISTER THE FUEL LEVEL AND SPEED. THIS OCCURS APPROXIMATELY 6 TO 7 TIMES A DAY. THE DEALER STATED THE COST TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE IS $70.00. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT HE IS AWARE THAT THE FAILURE EXIST WITH HER YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER, HE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO MAIL THE PART TO BE REPAIRED BY ANOTHER FACILITY. THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE WITHIN 2 DAYS DUE TO THE ODOMETER READING. THE CONTACT IS REQUESTING THAT THE MANUFACTURER ASSUMES THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280942August 19, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING
I HAVE A FORD FOCUS 2003 IN WHICH THE IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN AND EVERYTIME I NEED TO START THE CAR I HAVE TO ROCK THE STEERING WHEEL REAL HARD RIGHT TO LEFT. ONE OCCASION THE CAR LOCKED UP ON ME WHILE BACK BUT FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT AS I WAS MOVING VERY SLOW. THIS IGNITION PROBLEM IS A VERY REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN TO MAKE FORD FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. YOU ONLY HAVE TO GO TO THE INTERNET AND PUT IN THE SEARCH WINDOW "FORD FOCUS IGNITION PROBLEMS" AND IT WILL TELL YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW. IN FACT I FOUND OUT IN CALIFORNIA THERE IS A CLSS ACTION SUITE AGAINST FORD FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE A LOCKSMITH FIX THE IGNITION AS I DON'T WANT TOPAY DOUBLE TO THE FORD DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280992August 19, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2003 FORD FOCUS DOOR LATCHES BROKEN. DOORS FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY AND LOCAL STREETS. SOMEONE COULD HAVE FALLEN OUT OR ANOTHER CAR COULD HAVE HIT THE DOOR WHEN IT FLEW OPEN AND HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH. FORD HAD A RECALL ON THE 4 AND 5 DOOR FOCUS BUT NOT ON A 3 DOOR WHICH IS MINE. ONE DOOR HAS BEEN FIXED $293 AT A DEALER AND THE OTHER DOOR NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I FEEL FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE ME AND FIX THE OTHER DOOR FREE OF CHARGE. THIS CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND FORD KNOWS THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE DOOR LATCHES. IF SOMEONE GETS KILLED FORD WILL PROBABLY HAVE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280510August 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH ON OUT 2003 FORD FOCUS CONTINUALLY JAMS AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN AND START THE CAR. THIS CAN BE REMEDIED ON OCCASION BY HITTING THE KEY WHILE IN PLACE, BUT THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET IT UNJAMMED VARIES. WE'RE AFRAID THIS MAY HAPPEN WHILE MY WIFE AND CHILD ARE OUT SOMEWHERE AND THERE IS NO ONE TO HELP THEM, THUS LEAVING THEM STRANDED. WE'VE LOOKED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE IN ANY GIVEN DAY; SOMETIMES IT'S MORE OFTEN THAN THAT. THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION WE HAVE AT THE MOMENT IS TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT THIS MAKES THE CAR PRONE TO BEING STOLEN, THUS LEAVING US WITH NO TRANSPORTATION. WE TRIED CONTACTING FORD DIRECTLY AND WERE TOLD TO CALL BACK ON MONDAY. AS WE UNDERSTAND IT FROM OUR ONLINE RESEARCH, THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH. AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THERE IS NO RECALL ABOUT THIS, ALTHOUGH A CLASS ACTION SUIT HAS BEEN FILED IN CALIFORNIA REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280515August 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS WITH THE IGNITION CYLINDER STICKING. ON AUG 13, 2009 I WENT TO START THE CAR AND THE CYLINDER WAS STUCK. I HAVE A NEW CYLINDER TO REPLACE THE OLD ONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280481August 14, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
COOLANT LEAK AND ENGINE OVERHEATING. FORTUNATELY NOTICED IT BEFORE THE ENGINE SEIZED. STOPPED VEHICLE AND TOPPED UP WITH FLUID TO JUST MAKE IT BACK TO HOME. DIAGNOSIS INDICATED THAT NONE OF THE HOSES WERE DEFECTIVE. PERFORMED AN INTERNET SEARCH FOR THE PROBLEM. MANY PEOPLE HAVE DOCUMENTED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET - ITS A LEAK FORM THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING. DEFECTIVE PART ! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280183August 12, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 45000 MILES AND HAS BEEN TREATED GENTLY. I'VE READ 100'S OF POSTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE AND YET FORD IS RELUCTANT TO RECALL THIS OR EVEN OFFER A DISCOUNT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279899August 10, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY BRAKE LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED: THE RESULT OF THE WIRING HARNESS BEING CONSTANTLY ABRADED IN THE HINGE OF THE HATCHBACK. ALL OF THE WIRES WERE EXPOSED, AND IT CAUSED NOT ONLY A DRIVING SAFETY HAZARD, BUT A FIRE HAZARD AS WELL. IN THE YEAR 2000, THIS SAME PROBLEM CAUSED A RECALL OF THE 2000 FORD FOCUSES, BUT I HAVE WRITTEN TO FORD AND THEY DENY ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY CAR. "THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER REGARDING THE WIRING HARNESS CONCERN ON YOUR 2003 FORD FOCUS. YOUR VEHICLE IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY RECALLS OR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAMS AT THIS TIME." IS THEIR RESPONSE. I AM HAVING THE PROBLEM CORRECTED BY MY MECHANIC: HE WILL LENGTHEN THE WIRES SO THAT THEY CANNOT BE CAUGHT IN THE HINGE. FORD ONLY WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE HARNESS, WHICH IS THE SAME AS THE ONE THAT FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279760August 8, 2009
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE KEY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION AND I WAS STRANDED AT A WALMART PARKING LOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279633August 6, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE FORD FOCUS 2003 PROBLEM, THE KEY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION, OR THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278797July 30, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR PARKED AT MALL LATER AT NIGHT. WHEN TO TRY AND START CAR BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS FAILURE CAUSED ME TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED WHICH COST $427.00. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY BUT WAS MOST LIKELY REPLACED WITH THE SAME TYPE OF SWITCH WHICH WILL FAIL AGAIN. I WAS ALSO LEFT STRANDED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT IN A DESERTED AREA OR THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278651July 29, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH FROZE UP IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. COULD NOT START CAR , TURN WHEEL OR TAKE OUT OF PARK. FORD COMPANY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THEIR FAULTING IGNITION. THIS IS DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN WHO TRAVEL ALONE. THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS PART........... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278403July 27, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE KEY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE TO TEND TO ONE OF MY CHILDREN AND THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO CALL FOR A RIDE AND A TOW TRUCK. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. THE IGNITION IS "LOCKED". MY FAMILY AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE TO MOVE INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. VERY UNSAFE. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS TODAY AND IT APPEARS SO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2000-2003 FORD FOCUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276164July 8, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NOTHING LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE OTHER THAN IT HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET IT TO A SHOP. THE IGNITION KEY DOES NOT TURN, IT LOCKS. I CANNOT START MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS. I GOT STRANDED WITH NO CASH, NO FOOD OR WATER IN THE HEAT WITH NO SHADE AROUND. DEHYDRATION WAS A CONCERN. I HAVEN'T FIXED IT YET, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS POSTS PERTAINING TO THIS PROBLEM AND THAT'S HOW I CAME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275893July 6, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STEERING
I WAS STRANDED MANY MILES FROM A HIGHWAY BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET MY IGNITION KEY TURNED, STEERINGWHEEL TURNED OR AUTOMATIC SHIFTER MOVED. ALL BLOCKED. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO GET A RIDE BACK TO WHERE I COULD USE MY CELLPHONE. A FRIEND CHECKED THE INTERNET ON THE PROBLEM AND HE FOUND THE SUGGESTION TO HIT THE KEY. LATER MANY TAPS THIS ACTUALLY WORKED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275512July 1, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH IGNITION ON 2003 FORD FOCUS; THE WHEEL LOCKS AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. THIS HAS BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED I WAS PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. AFTER PERSISTENTLY WIGGLING THE WHEEL AND KEY FOR TWENTY OR SO MINUTES, THE IGNITION ENABLED THE KEY TO TURN. BEING THAT THE IGNITION FAILED WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE AND THAT I WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY IN A SAFE MANNER IS POTENTIALLY FATAL TO PASSENGERS AND DRIVERS OF THE FORD FOCUS. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FORD FOCUS FAULTY IGNITION HAVE BEEN UNPREDICTABLE INTRODUCTIONS TO BEING STRANDED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROVOCATIONS. THE SECOND TIME MY IGNITION FAILED, NEARLY A MONTH AFTERWARDS, THE IGNITION FAILED ON THE FOCUS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE ALSO. THE WHEEL LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE LATE AT NIGHT. DIRECT RESULTS OF THE FAULTY FORD IGNITION PUT DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS IN DANGER AND MOREOVER PREVENT THEM FROM LEAVING DANGEROUS PLACES. IT TOOK WELL OVER A HALF HOUR IN THE DANGEROUS FAILURE OF MY LOCKS ALSO: THE THIRD IGNITION FAILURE ALSO COMPOUNDING IN THE SECURITY SYSTEM TO PUTTER OUT. ACTIONS TO CORRECT THE SECOND INCIDENT WERE FROM A MECHANIC TO USE WD 40 AND TRY USING A SEPARATE KEY, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS MUCH MORE COMPLEX AND DANGEROUS THAN ANTICIPATED. USING MY SPARE KEY WORKED AND THE IGNITION NO LONGER LOCKED. THESE ACTIONS SUGGESTED BY A MECHANIC REMEDIED THE PROBLEM, BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY. THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WAS YESTERDAY, AND I'M NOW GETTING ESTIMATES FOR REPLACING THE IGNITION AND THE SECURITY SYSTEM. IN LIEU OF NEAR DEATH, I DEMAND A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275329June 30, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND BACK IN FEBRUARY 2006 I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A RECALL TO FIX DOOR HINGES THAT BECOME HARD TO OPEN OR ACTUALLY BREAK. THEY COMPLETED THE WORK. AS I WAS DRIVING THE OTHER DAY MY REAR PASSENGER DOOR JUST SWUNG OPEN AND THE DOOR WILL NO LONGER LATCH. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID SINCE THEY PUT SOME GREASE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON MY DOOR BACK IN 2006 (THEY NEVER PUT A NEW LATCH ON THE CAR) THAT I AM OUT OF LUCK AND HAVE TO PAY THE $336 MYSELF TO FIX THE LATCH THAT I FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL IN THE FIRST PLACE. TWO OF MY OTHER THREE DOORS ARE GETTING HARD TO OPEN AND I FEEL IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY COMPLETELY BREAK ALSO. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND THANK GOD ONE OF THEM WAS NOT IN THE BACK SEAT THE DAY THE CAR DOOR JUST DECIDED TO SWING OPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275002June 25, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN MY IGNITION ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. I HAVE TO JIGGLE AND JIGGLE TO GET IT FINALLY TURN. IT IS LIKE IT LOCKS UP. GOING TO SEE A LOCK SMITH ABOUT POSSIBLY GETTING IT FIXED IF I CAN NOT GET FORD TO MAKE A GOOD FAITH REPAIR ON IT. TOOK MY 20 MINUTES TO GET THE KEY TO TURN IN ORDER TO START MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274848June 24, 2009
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR IN HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE OFF (PARK) POSITION. WHEN HE TURNED IT OFF, THE WIPERS WOULD STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V258000 ONLY INCLUDED THE 2000-2001 MODELS. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED HIM WITH A REFERENCE NUMBER AND REFUSED LIABILITY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 44,000. UPDATED 08/04/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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