Ford Focus Complaints (2003)

977 consumer complaints on file.

#10297228December 28, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I WAS HOLIDAY SHOPPING ON THE 23RD, JUST CAME BACK TO MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SVT IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE MALL AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. TRIED AND TRIED AND TRIED. NO LUCK, I'M STRANDED, IT'S SNOWING OUT AND IT'S 10:00PM. WHY MOST I RUNE A FRIENDS EVENING TO COME AND PICK ME UP BECAUSE OF A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. $130 DOLLAR TOW AND AN ESTIMATE FROM MY FORD DEALER TO FIX IT FOR $490. I'VE ALREADY RESEARCHED THIS A LITTLE AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE IS NOT A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO GET STRANDED FOR THIS TO GET FIXED? I JUST PAID OFF THE CAR AND IT HAS 91,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296780December 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I AM AN OWNER OF A 2003 FORD FOCUS THAT HAS HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST 1.5 YEARS. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION, LEAVING ME STRANDED NOW THREE TIMES. I HAVE CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THEM ASKING THEM FOR A "GOOD WILL" REPAIR, AND TO NO AVAIL. I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF A FORD FOCUS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND WISH THAT THE NHTSA WOULD GET INVOLVED AND SEEK OUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO FORCE THEM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND REQUIRE THEM TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS REPAIR PERFORMED. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE FORD MOTOR COMPANY FORCED TO RECALL THE VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND FIX IT SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD TO LEAVE A KEY IN THE IGNITION THUS MAKING IT VERY EASY FOR A THIEF TO STEAL THE VEHICLE. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296534December 21, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING
I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX5 THAT HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE KEY TURNING IN THE IGNITION. AT RANDOM TIMES AND LOCATIONS WHEN RETURNING TO THE CAR, I WILL FIND THAT I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I MUST WORK AT IT (LONGEST HAS BEEN AN HOUR) TO GET THE KEY TO TURN. THIS CREATES REALLY BIG PROBLEMS WHEN YOU ARE STRANDED WITH KIDS AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO OCCUR. FROM MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, MANY OTHER FORD FOCUS OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AND THE FIX HAS BEEN TO REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH (SOMETHING ABOUT TUMBLERS NOT ENGAGING) AND THE FORD SERVICE TEAMS ARE VERY AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THE REPAIRS. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY CONSUMERS MUST PAY FOR A WIDE REACHING MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296589December 21, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY WIFE HAS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. SHE WAS IN TOWN AT AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY DAUGHTER. WHEN SHE GOT IN HER CAR TO RETURN HOME THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION. SHE WAS STUCK. I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE, EVEN A CLASS ACTION SUIT IN CALIFORNIA. MY CONCERN IS WHAT IF IT WAS LATE AND SHE WAS STUCK, AT NIGHT, IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE? I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAVE IT REPAIRED FOR $450. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296631December 21, 2009
STEERING
2003 FORD FOCUS STEERING WHEEL LOCK. WITH THE KEY INSERTED, THE IGNITION CANNOT BE TURNED ON. BELIEVE TO BE A TUMBLER PROBLEM. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF THESE PROBLEMS IN THE LAST TWO DAYS. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295886December 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS PREPARING TO RUN SOME ERRANDS ON A SATURDAY, BUT WHEN I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND I COULD NOT GET THE KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. AFTER AROUND 15 MINUTES OF WORKING THE STEERING WHEEL I WAS ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN SO I COULD START THE CAR. THIS KEPT HAPPENING ALL DAY OFF AND ON, UNTIL FINALLY THE NEXT DAY I WAS OUT AT THE GROCERY STORE WITH MY MOTHER AND WHEN WE WENT TO GO HOME, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN NO MATTER HOW MUCH I MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER SPENDING AN HOUR AND A HALF TRYING EVERYTHING I COULD TO START THE CAR, I FINALLY HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND I HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE HELP ME GET IT TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW KEY CYLINDER AND NEW KEYS (WHICH HAVE TO BE PROGRAMMED BECAUSE THE KEYS ARE CODED) WHICH WOULD COST OVER $300. SINCE THIS JUST HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND CAN CAUSE ME TO BE STRANDED BY NOT BEING ABLE TO START MY CAR, I THINK THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I TRIED CONTACTING FORD DIRECTLY, BUT WAS BASICALLY TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THIS, IT SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS (I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX5) AND I BELIEVE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295906December 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE SUPERMARKET AND WHEN I RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND THAT THE FORD FOCUS HAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME NATURE. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN UNLOCKED AND WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED FOR REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295650December 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY FORD FOCUS WAGON (2003) JAMMED. FORD CHARGED ME $430 TO FIX IT, EVEN THOUGH THE PART IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN MANY, MANY VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295511December 13, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION THIS HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES ALREADY WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL???? IT SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM.... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294725December 7, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
KEY IN IGNITION WILL NOT TURN, CAN NOT START CAR! WILL HAVE TO GET IT TOWED TO FORD DEALER FOR $300+ REPAIR. DAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN STUCK ANYWHERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294829December 7, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS GOING DO THE INTERSTATE IN MY FORD FOCUS ZX3 WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I LOSE ALL POWER, IM IN THE MIDDLE LANE SURROUNDED BY 18 WHEELERS AND OTHER CARS, AND THEY HAVE TO SWERVE TO AVOID MY CAR BECAUSE THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT! THIS CAR IS TERRIBLE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294452December 3, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE KEY. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS. THE FIRST TIME WAS APPROX ON THE DATE LISTED BELOW. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINS OF JIMMYING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT FINALLY UNLOCKED. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES SINCE THEN AND WITH ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME MESSING WITH IT I WAS ABLE TO GET IT UNLOCKED. TODAY, THOUGH, IT LOCKED UP AGAIN AND NO MATTER WHAT I DO IT WILL NOT UNLOCK. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL MANDATED ON THIS ISSUE SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE A SEVERE PROBLEM WITH THE 2000-2003 FORD FOCUS. WHAT IF I WERE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND I COULD NOT GET MY CAR STARTED? I HAVE HEARD PROBLEMS FROM FELLOW FOCUS OWNERS THAT EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE IGNITION THE SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED AND ALL THEY GET IS A "SORRY" FROM FORD. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294235December 2, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS THE IGNITION IS GONE IT WON'T WORK. I WAS TOLD BY YANKEE FORD THAT THIS IS A REGULAR PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR. IT'S SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE LOCKING CHAMBER IT COST 400.+ DOLLARS TO FIX. IT I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY RECALL BECAUSE SOMETHING BAD COULD HAPPEN BE IT ON THE ROAD OR IN A PARKING LOT LATE ONE NIGHT ..........SAY IF SOMEONE IS GETTING OUT OF WORK AND THERE SITTING TRYING TO START THEIR CAR AND IT WON'T AND THEN THEY GET MUGGED ROBBED OF RAPED...ALL BECAUSE OF FORDS FAULTY IGNITION LOCK CHAMBER..... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294249December 2, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE GEARS WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75867.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294253December 2, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN INSIDE OF THE IGNITION AND SUDDENLY, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55,000. UPDATED 1/11/09 *CN THE IGNITION LOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE KEY OR THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE CAN FEEL THE IGNITION STARTING TO GIVE HER TROUBLE AGAIN. UPDATED 01/14/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293967November 30, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STEERING
I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX5 AND THE REAR HATCH LATCH DOES NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE SO HAVE TO SLAM IT DOWN A FEW TIMES TO GET IT TO LATCH. I NOTICED THE RECALL, BUT I LIVE IN NEBRASKA AND THE RECALL DOES NOT APPLY THERE. I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED. ALSO THE DOOR LATCHES ARE GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO OPEN, IS THERE ANY RECALL ON THEM. ALSO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENT LEVER IT WILL NOT STAY, IT RELEASES AS YOU ARE DRIVING CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN. NOT SAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293382November 24, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION CYLINDER WILL NOT TURN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291609November 10, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZTS THAT HAS 140,000 MILES. I KNOW MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE IGNITION HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS THAT SCARE ME FROM TIME TO TIME THAT I MAY GET STRANDED. YOU PUT THE KEY IN, GO TO TURN THE KEY TO START AND THE IGNITION ACTS LOCKED. YOU TRY AGAIN AND AGAIN BUT STILL NOTHING. THIS HAS LEFT ME TRYING TO TURN MY IGNITION FOR UP TO 10 MINUTES SO FAR. THIS STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, ONCE A WEEK. NOW IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY, NOT EVERY TIME, BUT AT LEAST 2 OUT OF 5 TIMES I GO TO START MY VEHICLE IT HAPPENS. THIS IS DEFINITELY GETTING WORSE VERY QUICKLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2000-2003 FORD FOCUS MODELS. I HAVE HEARD THAT EVEN IF I TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED WHICH WILL COST UP AROUND $500, THAT THE NEW IGNITION WILL PROBABLY DO THE SAME THING DUE TO FORD NOT CORRECTING THE PROBLEM IN THE DESIGN OF THE IGNITION. I WILL TRY CALLING A LOCKSMITH DUE TO THE COST BEING LESS. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OCCURRING AND SHOULD BE CHECKED INTO AS A RECALL MATTER. I DO NOT HAVE THE PATIENCE TO WAIT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN NOR DO I HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GET MY VEHICLE STARTED SO I WILL GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291629November 10, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZTS LEFT ME (A FEMALE) STRANDED LAST NIGHT FOR TWO HOURS AT NIGHT WHILE WAITING FOR A FRIEND TO GIVE ME A RIDE HOME BECAUSE WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE STORE MY KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. I TRIED A NUMBER OF THINGS FOR TWO HOURS AND FINALLY HAD TO LEAVE IT AT THE STORE OVERNIGHT. I TRIED AGAIN THIS MORNING, BUT SAME THING, KEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL NO MATTER WHAT I DID! THIS MORNING I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO ASK.COM AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. THERE ARE OVER 100 COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER FOCUS OWNERS OF ALSO BEING STRANDED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE!!!!! SOME WOMAN/TEENAGE GIRL IS GOING TO GET ABDUCTED/RAPED AND MURDERED BECAUSE SHE IS LEFT STRANDED BECAUSE THE DUMB KEY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION!!!! OF COURSE, FIRST THING I DID WAS GO TO FORD TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION AND FOUND OUT NO, THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS STUPID CAR PART!!! THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAID IT WOULD COST ME PROBABLY BETWEEN $300 AND $500 TO FIX IT!!!! AND IT'S A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT!!!!! I WILL NEVER, EVER BUY ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE OF ANY TYPE AND I WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW THAT FORD MAKES PIECE OF '!@#$% CARS AND TO NEVER BUY ONE!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291119November 5, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 2003 FORD FOCUS STRANDED ME ON 11/1/2009 BECAUSE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR FOR YEARS 200 - 2003 AND FORD HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. IT COST ME $300 TO GET THE LOCK CHANGED OUT IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE CAR. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO STRAND OWNERS LIKE THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Focus