Ford Focus Complaints (2003)

977 consumer complaints on file.

#10604809June 20, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
WHILE WAITING IN A PARKING AISLE FOR A CAR TO EXIT A PARKING PLACE THE ENGINE ACCELERATED TO VERY HIGH RPM. AS MY CAR WAS STATIONARY AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IN DRIVE THE CAR DID NOT SEEM TO MOVE. PLACING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL OR PARK MADE NO DIFFERENCE. SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTED WITH SAME RESULT. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL MINUTES WHILE RESPONDING TO AN INTERESTED PERSON I TRIED AGAIN AND EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL. DROVE THE CAR HOME AND LEFT IT PARKED. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10604894June 20, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REAR CENTER MOUNTED STOP LIGHT FAILED AND THE TRUNK LATCH MECHANISM WOULD OPERATE WHILE DRIVING. THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS FAILED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE WIRING HARNESS HAS FAILED AT THE TRUNK LID JUNCTION. WIRES ARE SHORTING TOGETHER CAUSING ERRATIC OPERATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595759June 3, 2014
SEATS
MY WIFE COMPLAINED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT WAS SO HOT IT WAS BURNING, RESULTING IN A MILD BURN. I INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVER SIDE BACK CUSHION HEATING ELEMENT HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNT INTO THE SEAT CUSHION AND BACK LINING OF THE SEAT FABRIC. I HAVE PICTURES AND HAVE HELD ONTO THE DEFECTIVE PART. THE HEATING ELEMENT HAS BEEN REPLACED HOWEVER WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE READ OF OCCURRENCES OF THIS INCIDENT INCLUDING REPORTS OF FIRES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10594695May 28, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
(1ST) IT WAS PASSENGER REAR DOOR LATCH WOULDN'T STAY LATCHED, DOOR COME OPEN DURING DRIVING, (2ND) A MONTH LATER TRUNK WOULDN'T LATCH, THEN (3RD) 2 MONTHS LATER DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR CAME OPEN DURING DRIVING, WOULDN'T LATCH. DAUGHTER ALMOST FELL OUT AND CAR ALMOST HIT DOOR WHEN IT FLEW OPEN. I HAD TO USE SEAT BELT TO TIE DOOR SHUT TO MAKE IT HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584046April 21, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PART OF THE UNIBODY WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576873April 2, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS THROWN INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT, THE CONTACT'S HIP WAS DISLOCATED AND SHE SUSTAINED SEVERE BRUISING AND A LACERATION THAT REQUIRED THIRTEEN STITCHES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10575768March 31, 2014
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER SIDE LEATHER HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE FILLED THE CAR WITH SMOKE IN FLAMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573857March 20, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
EVERYTHING SHUTS OFF. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. MOST OF THE TIME IT WILL START AGAIN IN APPROX. 3 SECONDS. NOW IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. IT HAS EVEN HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. I MADE A RIGHT TURN, AND THE CAR TOTALLY DIED. I QUICKLY PUT ON MY FLASHERS, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND LUCKILY IT STARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. RIGHT NOW MY CAR IS IN MY PARKING LOT AND IS TOTALLY BLANK. NO POWER WHATSOEVER. I TOOK THE CAR IN ONCE TO MY AUTO MECHANIC, HE DID A DIAGNOSTIC (AND SINCE THE CAR WAS UP AND RUNNING) HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND ALL HE DID WAS CLEAN THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. I KNOW GM IS HAVING PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW, BUT I DON'T THINK MINE IS AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM (BUT WHAT DO I KNOW!) I WAS THINKING OF HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP BUT I'M AFRAID THAT THIS WOULD COST ME AN ARM AND A LEG. ANY THOUGHTS? THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562147January 29, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WHILE DRIVING, AN ODD ODOR COULD BE SMELLED, BUT WENT AWAY AFTER A MINUTE. CAME BACK ONCE BRIEFLY. 20 MINUTES LATER, AS I WAS ABOUT TO TURN INTO MY WORK'S PARKING LOT, MY CAR TURNED ITSELF OFF. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON, IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND ALL THE GAUGES WENT HAYWIRE. AFTER I STOPPED TRYING TO START IT, I TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE CAR ATTEMPTED TO START ITSELF. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS, THE INSIDE OF THE CAR FILLED UP WITH SMOKE. THE FIRE ORIGINATED NEAR THE BATTERY. AN OFFICER SHOWED UP LESS THAN 2 MINUTES AFTER THIS ALL OCCURRED, AND HE SAT THERE AND WATCHED MY CAR BURN. HE PULLED OUT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER 10 MINUTES LATER SO MY CAR WOULDN'T CREATE VISIBILITY ISSUES FOR THE CARS DRIVING PAST (IT DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF A FOUR LANE ROAD). THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MOST LIKELY AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, I HAD MY ALTERNATOR REPLACED. THE NEW ALTERNATOR WAS A FORD MANUFACTURED PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560327January 17, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559666January 13, 2014
STEERING, SUSPENSION
WHEN DRIVING ON SNOW OR WET ROADWAYS THE HANDLING BECOMES VERY UNSTABLE AT SPEEDS OVER 35 MPH WITH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WANTING TO VEER/PITCH SIDEWAYS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO QUICKLY OVERSTEER TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC. VEHICLE HAS 85,000 MILES, NEW GOODYEAR TIRES. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN THESE CONDITIONS AND IS GETTING MORE UNSTABLE EVEN ON DRY SURFACES MAKING THE VEHICLE FEEL LIKE IT'S FOLLOWING EVERY GROOVE IN THE ROADWAY. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS SEEM TO BE EVERYWHERE ON THE INTERNET. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS/INJURIES/DEATHS IS REQUIRED BEFORE FORD IS MADE TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND STOP PUTTING SUB STANDARD PARTS ON THEIR CARS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558796January 7, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION PREVENTING HER FROM TURNING THE VEHICLE ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. PM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556832December 20, 2013
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KEY CANNOT TURN - VEHICLE CANNOT BE STARTED. UNACCEPTABLE AND HAZARDOUS CONDITION WITH A POORLY DESIGNED AND/OR LOW QUALITY PART ON ALL FORD FOCUS AND LIKELY OTHER FORD PRODUCTS. I GOT AROUND THIS BY POUNDING ON THE KEY WITH A SMALL HAMMER I KEEP IN THE GLOVE BOX - I HAD LIVED WITH THIS FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS. SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY BROTHER-IN-LAW'S CAR (HE REMOVED ALL THE TUMBLERS SO ANY KEY CAN START HIS CAR). IT IS OBVIOUS FROM READING THROUGH THE COMPLAINTS THAT THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE (>50%?) OF ALL OF THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AGAINST THIS VEHICLE. DEALERSHIPS WANT $400 TO FIX IT - THAT'S BS. ACTIONS BY NHTSA OR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD IS APPROPRIATE. IT APPEARS THAT FORD IS USING THIS DESIGN DEFECT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROFIT AFTER HAVING PUT 1000S OF CONSUMERS IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555309December 9, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER STUCK LEAVING US STRANDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553625November 24, 2013
SEATS
THE SEAT BACK ADJUSTMENT TO RECLINE THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BROKE, THEREFORE WE ARE UNABLE TO INCLINE OR RECLINE THE POSITION OF THE SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552115November 13, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY FAILED TO TURN. AFTER TWO HOURS OF REPEATED ATTEMPTS, THE KEY WAS FINALLY ABLE TO BE TURNED TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER BEING DRIVEN DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD THE CONTACT STATED WAS INVOLVED WITH THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550443October 31, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
STEERING WHEEL/KEY LOCK. THE KEY DOESN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10545276September 25, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION HAS GONE OUT ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. I ATTEMPT TO TURN THE KEY AND IT SEEMS LOCKED. I ATTEMPT TO TURN THE KEY BACK AND FORTH AND NO SUCCESS. IF I HIT THE KEY A FEW TIMES IT MIGHT TURN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUES BECAUSE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO TURN THE KEY, I HAVE TO ACCESS TO ANYTHING POWER IN THIS VEHICLE AND I COULD BECOME STRANDED AT ANYTIME WITHOUT WARNING. I HEAR THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS ISSUE AT NO COST TO THE CAR OWNERS. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10538561September 3, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PISTON VALVES AND THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 10/29/13*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535142August 13, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD NOT BE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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