Ford Focus Complaints (2003)

977 consumer complaints on file.

#10234460July 15, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FAILURE OF FRONT RIGHT-SIDE OEM COIL SPRING DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION UNDER RUBBER SLEEVE ON COIL SPRING. COIL SPRING WAS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234201July 14, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT" WAS ON OFF AND ON FOR A ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR. THEN I PARKED MY CAR ONE EVENING AND THE FOLLOWING MORNING I COULD NOT TURN MY KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT WAS LOCKED, AND THEREFORE ALSO I COULD NOT CHANGE GEARS TO NEUTRAL OR GET IT OUT OF PARK. I FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM AT A WEBSITE HERE IS THE URL: HTTP://WWW.FORDPROBLEMS.COM/FOCUS/KEY-WONT-TURN-IN-THE-IGNITION.SHTML HOPE THIS HELPS TO MAKE THIS A SAFETY ISSUE WORTHY OF RECALL. I'M BLESSED THIS HAPPENED TO ME AT MY APARTMENT, BUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WERE I TO GET STUCK ELSEWHERE. I PLAN TO CALL A LOCKSMITH TONIGHT TO TRY AND FIX MY PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233988July 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I WAS GETTING INTO MY CAR AND SUDDENLY THE KEY WOULD GO INTO THE IGNITION BUT WOULD NOT TURN. I CALLED A LOCKSMITH AND I SOON AS THEY HEARD THAT IT WAS A FORD FOCUS THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY STATED THAT THIS IS A DEALERSHIP PROBLEM AND THEY HAD TO HELP ME. THEY STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS VERY COMMON WITH MY TYPE OF VEHICLE AND THAT I SHOULD CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IT SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE PERSON ON THE PHONE STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO CHECK THE VEHICLE AND JUST TO LOOK AT IT THEY WOULD CHARGE ME A FEE OF $87.00 TO TELL ME THAT THE KEY DOESN'T TURN. AFTER THAT THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE AS TO HOW MUCH I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AS I FEEL THAT IT IS COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS THAT THEY WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234043July 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I LEFT MY CAR FOR 5 MINS TO GRAB SOMETHING IN MY HOME AND WHEN I RETURNED TO START MY CAR THE IGNITION WOULDN'T EVEN BUDGE, NOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GET THE IGNITION REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233491July 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. AFTER LEAVING THE GROCERY STORE, THE CONTACT PLACED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION BUT COULD NOT TURN THE KEY. SHE ATTEMPTED TO WIGGLE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER,THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START EVEN AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT'S FRIEND OWNS A FORD FOCUS AND INSTRUCTED HER TO TAP ON THE KEY WHILE IT IS IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT HEEDED THIS ADVICE AND, AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, SHE WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALER, WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 10/07/08. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233252July 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX5 AND I HAVE HAD REPEATED KEY IGNITION PROBLEMS. MY KEY TENDS TO NOT WORK IN THE IGNITION AND HAS FORCED ME INTO TOUGH SITUATIONS. THE MOST RECENT WAS BEING STRANDED ON THE 4TH OF JULY IN A CITY I AM NOT FROM IN A BAD PART OF TOWN AFTER A FIRE WORKS SHOW. I ALSO HAVE HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME MATTER AND WHEN I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT IT THEY COULD OFFER NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN A STEEP PRICE TO FIX A PROBLEM THEY CAUSED WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE ROBBERY AND UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE RESEARCHED CONSUMER COMPLAINT SITES AND NOTICED THAT THIS HAS NOT ONLY HAPPENED TO ME AND THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD IN CALIFORNIA FOR SUCH A PROBLEM. I HAVE NOW LOST MY JOB BECAUSE OF NO TRANSPORTATION TO WORK DUE TO FORDS MISHAP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232937July 1, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AT 45 MPH I HEARD A POP FOLLOWED BY A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO FIND MY CAR LEANING NOTICEABLY TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. CAR WAS TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS AS WELL AS THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO COIL SPRING CORROSION AND RESULTING FAILURE OF THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232951July 1, 2008
STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I CURRENTLY DRIVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS HATCHBACK 2.3L. AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND STEERING WHEEL LOCK COMPLETELY. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE, MY CAR KEY WILL NOT TURN AND THE WHEEL REMAINS LOCKED, IN TURN THE VEHICLE BECOMES COMPLETELY UNUSABLE. I CALL TO FORD ROAD SIDE ASSISTANT PROMPTED ME TO QUICKLY MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE TURNING THE IGNITION FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS. I HAD BEEN ABLE TO TURN ON THE CAR UP TO 5 TIMES USING THIS SYSTEM ALTHOUGH ONCE AT THE MECHANIC THE CAR WILL NO LONGER TURN ON, THE MECHANIC MUST NOW DRILL A HOLE INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS STARTED ON MY VEHICLE ON SUNDAY JUNE 29TH. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AS A CAR THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE MOTORIST TO TURN ON THE IGNITION CAN LEAD TO POSSIBLE CRASHES IF THE CAR BECOMES STALLED IN A HIGHWAY ETC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231828June 20, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I TOOK MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WAGON INTO THE SHOP BECAUSE OF LOUD NOISES I WAS HEARING FROM UNDER THE CAR WHILE DRIVING CAR. WHEN THEY GOT IT UP ON THE LIFT THEY HAD ME COME TO REPAIR BAY TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE THEY'D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. WHAT THEY'D FOUND WAS THAT THE CRADLE OR SUBFRAME PIECE THAT HOLDS THE ENGINE IN WAS COMPLETED ROTTED OUT. IT WAS SO BAD YOU COULD STICK YOUR FINGER THROUGH IT. THEY SAID THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'D EXPECT TO FIND ON A 1980S CAR PERHAPS, BUT CERTAINLY NOT ONE THAT WAS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD. I ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD FIX IT AND THEY SAID THEY COULD, BUT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT INSTEAD TO THE FORD DEALER, WHICH I DID. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE FORD DEALER WAS EQUALLY SURPRISED BY THE CONDITION OF THE FRAME AND SAID HE'D TALK TO THE WARRANTY ABOUT IT, BUT THEY SAID A 2003 MODEL WAS NOT COVERED FOR RUST DAMAGE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT. SO THE SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED INSTEAD THAT I CONTACT FORD CUSTOMERS RELATIONS ABOUT IT BECAUSE 1) IT WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT MAY WARRANT A RECALL AND 2) AS A RESULT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. I TALKED WITH THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS PEOPLE BUT THEY TOOK THE POSITION THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR A RUST CONDITION AND BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL IN PLACE FOR SUCH A CONDITION THEY COULDN'T OR WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO I DECIDED TO BRING IT TO YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231648June 19, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 FORD FOCUS CAR KEY IGNITION PROBLEMS THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AND LEFT ME STRANDED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED WERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE IGNITION HAS TO BE REBUILT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231503June 18, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCKED SO THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN. WE HAD TO HAVE A LOCKSMITH COME OUT TO REMOVE THE IGNITION LOCK PINS, WHICH HE REPORTED COMMONLY MALFUNCTION IN THIS WAY. THIS IS A COMMONLY REPORTED PROBLEM ON 2000-2005 YEAR FORD FOCUS VEHICLES, BUT FORD WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT CAN RESULT IN DRIVERS BEING STRANDED, UNABLE TO START THEIR VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230752June 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND APPARENTLY THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE HAS A REPUTATION OF HAVING THE IGNITION LOCK UP AND JUST WONT START AGAIN. APPARENTLY FORD DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ITEM YET. MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER HAVE BEEN STRANDED FOR 4 HOURS TRYING TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230275June 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY ONE PERSON, MY OWN SUNDAY DRIVER GRANDMOTHER AND IS CURRENTLY ONLY DRIVEN BY MYSELF AND MY MOTHER. IT HAD ONLY 47,800 MILES ON IT WHEN THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION LEAVING MY MOTHER STRANDED AT ONE PLACE AND ME STRANDED ACROSS TOWN WAITING FOR A RIDE. THE FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED UP RANDOMLY POTENTIALLY MAKING THE CAR A ROADSIDE AND/OR TRAFFIC HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230164June 6, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KEYS WOULD BE HARD TO TURN IN THE IGNITION THE TODAY KEYS WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION...LEFT STRANDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229479June 2, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING
KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER SOME REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO START, EVENTUALLY THE KEY WOULD WORK. THIS TIME, IT HAS REFUSED TO BUDGE. SEEMS TO BE CONNECTED TO THE STEERING WHEEL BEING TURNED BUT THAT LOCKS UP TOO, SO IT CAN'T RESOLVE ITSELF. RESEARCH ON INTERNET SUCH AS CONSUMER'S REPORT SHOWS THIS TO BE A FREQUENT COMPLAINT WITH THIS MODEL. DEFECTIVE IGNITION! THE OTHER DAY IT LEFT ME STRANDED WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN. I WOULD CLASSIFY THAT AS A SAFETY CONCERN! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228180May 19, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE IGNITION HAS LOCKED UP ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS EACH TIME I HAVE TRIED TO START THE CAR FOR THE PAST 3 DAYS. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN SOME DANGEROUS PLACES (INCLUDING A PARKING STRUCTURE IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES AT 1:30AM) FOR UP TO 40 MINUTES TRYING TO GET THE CAR TO START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227888May 15, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WITH NO WARNING AND 1000K OUT OF THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OR START THE CAR. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, A NEW IGNITION CYLINDER COST $258.44 PLUS TOW. CONSUMERS DO NOT EXPECT A CAR WITH 37K TO FAIL ON THEM LIKE THIS. I COULD HAVE BEEN ON A FAMILY OUTING WITH MY SON WHO IS A DIABETIC. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY REPORTED YET FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. DEPENDABILITY OR LACK THERE OF, IS IMPERATIVE TO THE SAFETY OF A VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227730May 14, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION KEY/CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACE. KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO START CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227640May 13, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2003 FORD FOCUS THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227494May 12, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAD A CRACK IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR THAT I TOOK TO GET REPAIRED. I DROVE MY CAR THERE, TURNED THE CAR OFF WHILE WAITING FOR THE CUSTOMER IN FRONT OF ME TO PULL UP. I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND PULLED IT UP TO WHERE THE SERVICEMAN WAS WAITING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I GAVE THEM MY INFORMATION. THE SERVICEMAN THEN TOOK MY CAR, STARTED IT, AND DROVE IT INTO THE SERVICE BAY. THEY DID THE WORK ON THE CAR AND THEN WITHOUT WARNING THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THEY TRIED AND TRIED. IT WOULDN'T TURN. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING OR ANYTHING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE FORD DEALER AND ASKED THEM HOW THIS HAPPENS, IF IT HAPPENED OVER TIME, OR WHAT. THE GUY TOLD ME THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AND THEN IT WOULD COST $400 TO GET REPAIRED. JUST OUT OF THE BLUE WITHOUT WARNING HE SAID THAT THE IGNITION COULD GO OUT! I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE ONLY HAD TO REPAIR THE IGNITION SWITCH AT VIRTUALLY HALF THE PRICE USING FORD DEALER PARTS! IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE THAT SOMETHING AS VITAL AS THE IGNITION CAN JUST STOP AT ANY TIME! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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