Ford Focus Complaints (2003)

977 consumer complaints on file.

#10213400January 2, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY HAS A TENDENCY TO STICK INSIDE THE IGNITION WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THIS PREVENTS THE IGNITION FROM TURNING. AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT SHE TAKE A HAMMER AND GENTLY TAP THE KEY WHEN INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION IN AN ATTEMPT TO LODGE IT OUT. THE CONTACT HEEDED THE ADVICE AND THE REMEDY WORKED TEMPORARILY. AFTER A FEW WEEKS, THE FAILURE WORSENED AND CURRENTLY OCCURS THREE TIMES PER WEEK. THE STEERING COLUMN STICKS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A FLAT ROAD SURFACE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED UPRIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IS WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING COLUMN. FORD STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213161December 29, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH LOCK BARREL FAILURE. THIS IS AN ONGOING WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM ABOUT THE FORD FOCUS THAT FORD SEEMS HAPPY TO IGNORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213072December 28, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
I HAD A FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION SPRING BREAK WHILE THE CAR SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. THIS COULD HAVE KILLED ME IF IT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD AS A JAGGED POINT WAS ENGAGED WITH THE TREAD OF THE TIRE. DEALER ADMITS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS AND THE TAURUS, BUT WOULD NOT COVER THE PART OR LABOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213017December 28, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I AM HAVING PROBLEM WITH MY IGNITION. THE KEY DOES NOT TURN AT ALL. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES BUT ITS ALREADY CAUSING PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213068December 28, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE HAD TWO COMPLETE TRANSMISSIONS REBUILT ON THIS VEHICLE, THE FIRST AT AROUND 18,000 MILES, THE SECOND AT AROUND 50,000. IT IS BEGINNING THE SAME SEQUENCE OF EVENTS, FAILURE TO ENGAGE IN 4TH GEAR (AUTOMATIC). DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL COMPLETE FAILURE. I UNDERSTAND THE 2003 TRANSMISSION TO HAVE RELATIVELY FREQUENT FAILURE OCCURRENCE BASED ON WEB AND OTHER INVESTIGATION. DATE OF FIRST INCIDENT BELOW IS APPROXIMATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212714December 26, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE HAD RECURRING CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH REMOVING THE IGNITION KEY FROM THE IGNITION CYLINDER/TUMBLER ON OUR 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3. ON DECEMBER 23, 2007, I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY AFTER HOURS OF TRYING TO JIGGLE OR CAJOLE THE KEY AND/OR CYLINDER. I WAS FORCED TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. AND I WAS WITHOUT A PRIMARY CAR OVER CHRISTMAS. THE FORD DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS "A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM." THE "RESOLUTION" WAS REPLACEMENT OF THE PART AND A SUBSTANTIAL SERVICE CHARGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212590December 22, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
KEY FAILS TO TURN IN IGNITION IN 2003 FORD FOCUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212451December 20, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS. I HAVE THE COMMON COMPLAINT THAT MY IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE WHEEL BECAME LOCKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY. I HAVE FOUND COUNTLESS STORIES SIMILAR TO MINE ON THE INTERNET AND IT'S SO COMMON THAT THE FORD DEALER AND ALL THE LOCKSMITHS THAT I HAVE TALKED TO IN THE LAST TWO DAYS HAVE KNOWN EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212333December 19, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP CONSTANTLY AND THE CONTACT CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE STEERING CANNOT BE UNLOCKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $375. THE PART IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212349December 19, 2007
STEERING:COLUMN
THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNLOCK. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE BUT I WAS ABLE TO FREE IT AFTER SOME EFFORT. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY LUCK THIS TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212155December 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION LOCK HAS LOCKED ITSELF AND AS A RESULT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON. FROM WHAT I'VE GATHERED ON THE INTERNET IT WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I TALKED TO ONE OF THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS COST AROUND $500 TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211442December 11, 2007
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE FIRST WENT FLAT WHEN THE TIRE WAS REFILLED WITH AIR A BUBBLE BEGAN TO FORM AND AFTER THAT THE TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211445December 11, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
MY 2003 FORD FOCUS, LEFT ME SITTING ON A FRIDAY EVENING BECAUSE THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO TURN THE KEY. NOT ONLY WAS THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER LOCKED, BUT SO WAS THE GEAR SHIFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL. I COULDN'T MOVE THE VEHICLE AT ALL. IT WAS DARK AND I WAS LEFT SITTING WITH ONE OF MY TWO CHILDREN. I HAD TO CALL FOR A RIDE, GET THE CAR TOWED AND THEN PAY TO GET IT FIXED. ALL ALONG, FORD KNEW THAT THIS WAS, AS THEY STATED ON THEIR WEBSITE, "A DEFECT". OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE FORD FOCUS. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT'S A ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FACED AND PROBABLY BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL, IN MY OPINION. I FEEL THAT PAYING FOR THIS "DEFECT" IS UNACCEPTABLE. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE THIS ON RECALL AND TAKE CARE OF REPLACING THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FOR IT'S CUSTOMERS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210442December 1, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210081November 27, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I WAS STRANDED AWAY FORM HOME, HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND HAVE THE CARE TOWED TO THE DEALER. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2000-2003 FORD FOCUS CARS AND FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RE-CALL, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE ISSUE A TSB 05-21-17 IN REFERENCE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209680November 22, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE HAD A FEW PRIOR PROBLEMS GETTING MY KEY TO TURN IN MY IGNITION, WHICH I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO FIX MYSELF. LAST NIGHT HOWEVER, I WAS UNABLE TO GET MY KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A LESS THAN IDEAL NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER 30 MINUTES OF TRYING TO START MY CAR. THIS IGNITION LOCK PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED THE EVE BEFORE THANKSGIVING WHICH LEAVES ME WITHOUT A CAR ON A HOLIDAY WEEKEND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209019November 15, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. ON THREE OCCASIONS, THREE WINDOW MOTOR REGULATORS HAVE FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND BOTH REAR WINDOWS FAILED AND WERE REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,700.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208848November 13, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN I PUT MY KEY INTO MY CAR IT WILL NOT TURN. WHILE THIS MAY NOT BE AN "OBVIOUS" SAFETY RISK, IT CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS PROBLEMS IF YOU ARE STRANDED SOMEWHERE. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH FOCUS, YET HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. I ENDED UP STRANDED FOR OVER AN HOUR AS I WAITED FOR SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP, FINALLY I BANGED THE KEY OUT OF FRUSTRATION AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY MATTER TO ME, AS I AM A SINGLE WOMAN. FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THEIR DEFECTIVE IGNITION CYLINDERS. I WILL NOW HAVE TO SPEND AT LEAST $400 TO FIX THIS, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE WON'T HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, AS IT WILL BE REPLACED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE MECHANISM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208542November 9, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I AM CURRENTLY LEASING A FORD FOCUS ZX5, I'VE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS FOR JUST OVER 6 MONTHS. AFTER STOPPING AT THE GROCERY STORE WITH MY 17 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER, MY KEY DOESN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION!! NOT ONLY IS THIS FRUSTRATING IT IS DANGEROUS. MY DAUGHTER WAS CRYING FROM THE COLD THAT NIGHT AND I HAD TO WALK HOME WITH HER IN MY ARMS!! SO IN CONCLUSION I FEEL THAT THE FACT THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER CAN GO AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING IS A DEFINITE AND UNNECESSARY RISK TO SAFETY. MY DAUGHTER IS NOW SICK BECAUSE OF THIS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207500October 31, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2003 FORD FOCUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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