Ford Focus Complaints (2003)

977 consumer complaints on file.

#10274574June 22, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3. IGNITION SWITCH LOCKING UP AND NOT ALLOWING THE STEERING WHEEL TO UNLOCK. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 6 TIME IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS. THIS PROBLEM HAS MADE ME LATE FOR WORK EACH TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274338June 19, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING
IGNITION KEY MECHANISM WOULD JAM AND NOT TURN -PREVENTING TURNING THE KEY AND LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL. UNABLE TO TOW CAR (LUCKILY ALL 2-3 TIMES THIS HAPPENED I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO DEALER FOR FLATBED TOW). WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY AND THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. LAST OCCURRENCE THAT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND FORD WOULD NOT REIMBURSE EVEN THOUGH OTHER FOCUS OWNER HAD THIS PROBLEM - SOME UP TO 10 OCCURRENCES AND FORD SAID NOT A DEFECT. I ONLY HAD TWO KEYS ON MY KEY RING SO NOT A WEIGHT ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274115June 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT BUDGE; THEREFORE, A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE KEY BECOMING STUCK IN THE IGNITION; HOWEVER, SHE WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO TWO OTHER VEHICLES HE TOWED THE PREVIOUS DAY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST AND WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,450 UPDATED 07/08/09 *BF UPDATED 07/08/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273929June 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
2003 FORD FOCUS .WE HAVE HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR 4 YEARS AGO ( WAS A USED CAR) THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED ONCE. NOW WE HAVE TROUBLE AGAIN. MY WIFE GOT STUCK AT A SHOPPING CENTER. MY SON, A MECHANIC TRIED TO HELP, BUT COULDN'T GET THE KEY TO TURN. SHE CALLED AAA. WHEN HE ARRIVED HE "HIT" THE IGNITION VERY HARD AND THE KEY TURNED. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET HOME, BUT WE EXPECT TO HAVE MORE TROUBLE. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING ALMOST EVERYDAY. IF THE CAR WERE TO STALL ON THE HIGHWAY, AND NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN, IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS SHOULD A SAFETY RECALL. EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO AT LEAST TURN THE KEY. WE WILL HAVE TO GO TO FORD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION AT THE COST OF $400- 500.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273880June 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD LOCK UP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED, WHICH PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM BEING STARTED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST OR ASSUME LIABILITY UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273540June 11, 2009
SEAT BELTS
I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND 3 OUT OF 5 OF MY SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY PASSENGER SEAT BELT SOMETIMES HAS TO BE RIPPED OUT IN ORDER FOR IT TO COME UNBUCKLED WHICH COULD LEAD TO SOMEONE DYING IF THEY CANNOT UNBUCKLE AFTER A CRASH. TWO OF MY BACK SEAT BELTS WILL NOT BUCKLE AT ALL. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM FIXED. I HOWEVER FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT. I HAVE ALSO SEEN ONLINE THAT OTHERS HAVE THESE SAME SEAT BELT ISSUES. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. THANKFULLY THERE HAVE BEEN NO WRECKS YET SO NO ONE WAS STUCK IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BUT I AM VERY FEARFUL OF THIS HAPPENING. I HAVE EVEN TRIED CLEANING OUT THE BUCKLES AND IT DID NOT WORK AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273240June 9, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT HE HAS EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED DUE TO A SEPARATE ISSUE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS UNSATISFIED WITH THE OUTCOME. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE STOLEN IF THE KEYS ARE LEFT IN THE IGNITION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 198,156.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272650June 2, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY CAR KEY WOULD ALWAYS GO IN BUT NO TURN. ONCE IN A WHILE IF I JIGGLED IT, IT WOULD TURN OVER AND BE OKAY. BUT I WAS SHOPPING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL, SO I CALLED AAA. THEY HAD ME TRY A COUPLE OF THINGS AND IT DIDN'T WORK SO IT WAS TOWED TO MY CAR DEALER. HEIR THEY SAID THAT THE IGNITION WENT AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT AT THE COST OF $350. SHOCKED BECAUSE IT WAS NOTHING THAT I COULD HAVE BROKEN. SO I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD RECALL THIS AS A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT KEEPS HAPPENING AND JUST FIX THE PROBLEM. MY CAR IS ALWAYS IN THE SHOP EVERY 3,000 MILES FOR OIL CHANGES IT IS VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT AND IN THE FUTURE BUY MORE FORD PRODUCTS SO I HOPE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AND FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272520June 1, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 2003 SVT FOCUS TAKES 2 TO FIVE MINUTES OF JIGGLING THE KEY TO GET THE IGNITION TO WORK. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE AND CONTACTED MY NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY CAN FIX IT AT MY COST AND THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON IT. THE CAR IS VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND HAS LEFT ME STRANDED A COUPLE OF TIMES BECAUSE OF THE IGNITION NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268795May 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION TO START THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268433May 11, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I PURCHASED A 2003 FORD FOCUS FOR MY DAUGHTER AND SHE WAS STRANDED AFTER DRIVING IT TO WORK WHEN SHE COULDN'T GET THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED TO USE HER KEY. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER IT IS COMMON IN FORD FOCUSES OF THIS YEAR. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE SHAFT NEEDING TO BE REPLACED FOR $500 AND THERE IS NOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE OF THIS MAKE/MODEL OF CAR. THIS IS RIDICULOUS SINCE FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ISSUED TO DATE. UNACCEPTABLE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268273May 9, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 FORD FOCUS, EARLY MORNING SQUEAKING, MID DAY, VIBRATING, LATE AFTERNOON, CAR STARTS TO SHAKE EXCESSIVELY AND AS I DRIVE INTO MY DRIVEWAY A REALLY LOUD BANGING NOISE COMES FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR, SO LOUD IT SCARED ME, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND OPEN THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND NOTICE THAT THE METAL MOUNTS THAT HOLD THE ENGINE BROKE IN HALF AND A PIECE WAS STILL ON THE MOTOR. MY ENGINE WAS HANGING FROM THE LEFT SIDE, YOU COULD SEE IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY COMES OUT TO CHECK THE DAMAGES AND SAID IN HIS 22 YEARS OF VIEWING VEHICLES FOR CLAIMS HE'S NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. MY MILEAGE IS 59,528, I'M STILL PAYING FOR THIS CAR, UNTIL 2012. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TO A SIX YEAR OLD CAR WITH THIS LITTLE MILEAGE. I CALLED FORD TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS SITUATION. I WAS TOLD NO. I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO SEARCH FOR COMPLAINTS REGARDING 2003 FORD FOCUS, FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF MANY THINGS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SEVERAL REGARDING THE VIBRATING OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE RELATING TO MOTOR MOUNT PROBLEMS. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS INCIDENT CREATED A PROBLEM WITH THE AXEL AS WELL. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME A LOT OF MONEY. WAITING FOR AN ESTIMATE OF REPAIRS ON 5/9/09. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268298May 9, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
HOPPED IN MY CAR LIKE NORMAL TO DRIVE MYSELF TO WORK. PLACED KEY IN IGNITION. WON'T TURN. HAD TO CALL OF WORK AFTER AN HOUR OF TOYING WITH IT AND CALLING MY MANAGER EVERY 15 MINUTES LETTING THEM KNOW... IT WON'T BUDGE.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268303May 9, 2009
TIRES, TIRES:VALVE
VALVE STEM FAILURE ON FORD FOCUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267974May 7, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2003 FORD FOCUS SE COM WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD ON WHOLE FRONT END DAMAGED AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER IMPACT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267976May 7, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2003 FOCUS SE COM. WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD ON ACCIDENT FRONT END DAMAGED BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER IMPACT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267723May 4, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE. MY DAUGHTER WAS STRANDED IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN NO WARNINGS OR SIGNS THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS IMPENDING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266305April 21, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE WEARING BADLY AND THE TOP OF THE RUBBER WAS LEANING INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO PURCHASE A SUSPENSION BAR TO PLACE IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CHANGES ONE DEGREE. THE CONTACT WILL CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO INQUIRE ABOUT ASSISTANCE TOWARDS THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 5/7/09 *CN UPDATED 05/12/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266073April 20, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCK KEEPS FAILING ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3. I HAVE HAD A LOCKSMITH FIX IT TWICE NOW. THE COST TO ME SO FAR IS OVER $400. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264293April 6, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCK WILL NOT TURN. FORTUNATELY FOR FORD, MY WARRANTY IS UP. I HAVE READ REVIEWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THE FORD FOCUS MODEL IN THE YEARS 2000-2003. I CANNOT DRIVE WITHOUT FEARING THAT THE IGNITION WILL LOCK UP ON ME AND I WILL BE STRANDED. THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS TO ME. I WAS LUCKY TO NOT HAVE HAD AN EMERGENCY TO ATTEND TO WHEN I WAS STRANDED UNABLE TO START MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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