Ford Focus Complaints (2003)

977 consumer complaints on file.

#10154759April 6, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER DRIVING FOR 30 TO 45 MINUTES THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE HUB IS HOT TO THE TOUCH. THE REAR BRAKES ARE MAKING A SQUEALING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE BOTH REAR BRAKES AND WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153418March 22, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SEAT BELTS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, WHEELS:RIM, STEERING:COLUMN
PISTON IN TRANSMISSION DETERIORATED CAUSING SHIFT SOLENOID AND VALUE BODY TO GO BAD AT 71,000 MILES, FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BELT WILL NOT UNBUCKLE, REAR SEAT BELTS WILL PERIODICALLY NOT BUCKLE, NOW BLOWING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE, RIMS ARE SEIZED WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE TIRES, NO MATTER IF IT WAS JUST TAKEN OFF 5 MINUTES PREVIOUSLY TO TAKEOFF; IGNITION SEIZED AND ENDING UP HAVING TO REBUILD STEERING COLUMN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153076March 18, 2006
PARKING BRAKE:INDICATOR LIGHT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
MY CALIPERS HAVE FAILED TWICE ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SEDAN. I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2004 AS A END OF MODEL YEAR AND HAVE LOTS OF BRAKE AND ACCELERATION ISSUES. MY BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME WHEN I AM DRIVING. THE CAR WON'T ACCELERATE AND MAKES A LOUD REVVING NOISE. I HAVE ABOUT 27K MILES ON IT AND THE CALIPERS FAILED AT 10K AND THE SECOND TIME AT 22K. IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE FORD MECHANICS SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY IT HAS HAPPENED. SO THE REASON IT FAILS HAS NEVER BEEN REPAIRED BUT THEY REPLACE THE CALIPERS. HOW THEY HAVE FAILED TO REPAIR THE BRAKE LIGHTS FROM COMING ON WAS TO REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE (BUT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEMS). THE BRAKES MAKE A SQUEALING METALLIC NOISE AND I WAS TOLD THAT WAS 'NORMAL' BY THE MECHANICS. AFTER BRINGING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP OVER 10 TIMES I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC TO BRING MY PROBLEM TO FORD CO. WHEN I SAID THE CAR IS NOT SAFE AND THAT I WANT IT REPAIRED OR FOR THEM TO BUY IT BACK THEY SAID I WAS 'DOING' SOMETHING TO MAKE THE CALIPERS FAIL. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER THE WARRANTY! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152961March 17, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE AN 03 FOCUS WITH JUST OVER 40K MILEAGE, AND NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD YET, JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS MORNING I TRIED TO START THE CAR AND THE KEY CYLINDER TUMBLER WAS MECHANICALLY FROZEN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, PAYING $55.50. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO DRILL OUT THE KEY CYLINDER AND REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT SINCE THE TUMBLERS FROZE. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO MENTIONED THEY WERE AWARE OF THE SAME PROBLEM IN OTHER FOCUSES. I BELIEVE I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY A DIME AND THAT THIS IS PURELY A MECHANICAL/WARRANTY/RECALL ISSUE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS, SINCE THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP, BUT THEY SAID I WOULD BEAR A PARTIAL BURDEN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153051March 17, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
MY PURPOSE IN SUBMITTING THIS LETTER IS TO NOTIFY THE NHTSA THAT THERE IS AN EMISSION PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZTW VEHICLE. EMISSIONS FROM THE ENGINE AREA ARE GETTING INTO THE PASSENGER AREA. THESE EMISSIONS ARE CAUSING ME RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS. I HAVE PROBLEMS BREATHING. TO MINIMIZE THE AFFECTS I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY MOON ROOF AND WINDOWS OPEN. I HAVE HAD THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CHECKED BY A NATIONAL FIRM AND THE MECHANIC SAID THE SYSTEM WAS OKAY. THERE WERE NO LEAKS. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEIR MECHANICS COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152822March 15, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCKING UP. KEY WILL NOT TURN OR STEERING UNLOCK. THIS IS SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IT. ITS A 2003 FORD FOCUS SEDAN. IT HAS OVER 60K MILES SO NO WARRANTY. THE ENTIRE IGNITION HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS TO BE TOWED IN. THE SIDE BAR IN THE IGNITION FAILS LOCKING IT UP. IT WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED WITH NO WARNING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152591March 13, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH THE FABRIC ON THE DRIVER SEAT. THE CONTACT NOTICED BURN MARKS ON WIFE'S WHITE WINTER COAT. RECENTLY, WHILE DOING SPRING CLEANING ON THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE NOTICED A BURN MARK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDCE SEAT THAT MATCHEDC THE VERY SAME LOCATION OF CONTACT'S WIFE COAT. WILL BE MAKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT OF SEAT HEATER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151999March 6, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE IS A METAL TO METAL SOUND. AT 10,000 MILES THE PADS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS MAKING THE SAME METAL TO METAL NOISE AGAIN. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE OUTER PADS WERE AT 35%, BUT THE INNER BRAKES WERE METAL TO METAL. THE PADS WERE REPLACED A SECOND TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152041March 6, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WITH 38,700 MILES ON IT RECENTLY NEEDED TO HAVE THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED AS IT WAS CORRODED. I DO NOT DRIVE ME CAR "HARD" AND FOLLOW THE MAINTENANCE GUIDE EXACTLY. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF OTHER FOCUS OWNERS HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND FOUND DOZENS OF UNOFFICIAL COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS THAT THEIR IGNITIONS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHEN THEIR CARS HAD VERY LOW MILEAGE AS WELL. ON TOP OF THIS, MY SISTER, WHO OWNS THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL FOCUS AS I DO, ALSO HAD TO HAVE HER IGNITION REPLACED LAST YEAR. I THINK FORD AND OTHER FOCUS OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND TAKE STEPS TO CORRECT IT. IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS TO NOT BE ABLE TO START ONE'S CAR, AS HAPPENED TO ME. I WAS ONLY LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT STRANDED IN AN UNSAFE AREA AT THE TIME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151823March 5, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3 (STD) WITH 49000 MILES. THE WEEK OF ~2/1/06 TO 2/8/06 I BEGAN NOTICING THAT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WAS GETTING STUCK AND WOULD REQUIRE SOME JIGGLING BEFORE THE KEY WOULD TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 5-10 TEN TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. ON 2/8/06 I WENT OUT TO MY PARKED CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN/OUT OF GEAR, TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SHARPLY, REINSERTING THE KEY, ETC... THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR WORK INCLUDED DRILLING OUT THE BROKEN IGNITION CYLINDER AND REPLACING THE IGNITION CYLINDER WITH A NEW ONE. THE COST TO ME WAS $370. THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR AND MECHANIC INDICATED TO ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS AND THAT THEY HAVE BOTH TOWED AND REPAIRED QUITE A FEW OF FOCUSES FOR THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151430February 28, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START TO THE ENGINE, THE IGNITION LOCKED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED AND A LOCK SMITH WAS CALLED. THE LOCK SMITH REMOVED THE OLD IGNITION AND REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE AND THE VEHICLE STARTS NORMALLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151277February 27, 2006
TIRES, SUSPENSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS PREMATURE WEAR ON THE REAR TIRES. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND NEED REPLACING A THIRD TIME. THE BRAND OF TIRE HAS BEEN CHANGED. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THE TIRES SHOULD BE ROTATED EVERY OTHER OIL CHANGE, BUT THE TIRES HAD NEVER BEEN ROTATED. UPDATED 3/17/2006 - THE FIRST SET OF TIRES WENT BALD AT 22568 MILES. THE SECOND SET WENT BALD AT 31500. THE DEALER ALIGNED THE REAR TO SPECS AND ALIGNED THE FRONT END AND STRAIGHTENED THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151314February 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY WIFE'S FORD FOCUS HAS ITS IGNITION STUCK. A FEW MONTHS BACK IT GOT STUCK BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET IT UNSTUCK AND START THE CAR. SINCE THEN THE IGNITION HASN'T SEEMED RIGHT. IT IS ALWAYS A HASSLE GETTING THE KEY TO TURN. MY WIFE WAS TRYING TO LEAVE WORK ONE DAY AND THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN. I WENT TO HELP AND THE KEY NEVER DID TURN. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE TUMBLERS INSIDE THE IGNITION. IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE IGNITION ONCE IT ONLY LAST A YEAR UNTIL THEY HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. IT COSTS ABOUT $300 TO REPLACE. WE ENDED UP HAVING TO TOW HER CAR TO MY HOUSE WHERE I THEN HAD TO SPEND THE MONEY TO FIX IT. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO DO THIS IF EVERYONE IS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151325February 27, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISION. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, A VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HIT THE SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS BRAKING BEFORE IMPACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. UPDATED 3/20/2006 - *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151003February 23, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN TO START THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WAS CONTACTED TO COME INSPECT AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR PERSONNEL REPLACED THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTED. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150756February 21, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE KEY SWITCH IT WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. IT WAS DETERMINED THE KEY IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED REPLACED. ON THE FIRST OCCASION THE KEY IGNITION WAS REPLACED. THIS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. NOW THE KEY IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR PERSON AND DRIVEN TO THE CONTACTS HOME, WHERE REPAIRS ARE BEING MADE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150412February 16, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE IGNITION TUMBLER WAS REPLACED. THE IGNITION LOCKED UP AGAIN, AND THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT WORK WITH THE NEW IGNITION TUMBLER. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN HIT BY AN OBJECT ON THE HIGHWAY AND OVERNIGHT, WITH THE SOURCE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149929February 10, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
WE BOUGHT OUR CAR USED IN NOVEMBER OF 2004, SINCE THEN, WE HAVE HAD THE DRIVER DOOR HANDLE BREAK TWICE AND THE PASSENGER HANDLE BREAK ONCE. OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT LIFE THREATENING BUT IT IS REALLY ANNOYING TO NOT BE ABLE TO GET YOUR CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT WITHOUT HAVING TO UNLOCK AND OPEN ALL THE DOORS BEFORE YOU CAN GET TO THE RIGHT DOOR. WE HAVE HAD THE HANDLES REPLACED TWICE WHICH WAS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, BUT IT IS BROKEN YET AGAIN, AND I'M NOT SURE OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL COVER IT. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH I CAN'T FIND ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149503February 6, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
STARTING ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO (43,000 MILE) THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO LOCK AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO START THE CAR. AS MANY HAVE STATED ON THEIR COMPLAINTS AND ON AUTOMOTIVETALK.NET THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I HAVE TO TAKE IT IN AND GET IT REPLACED. FROM ALL THE READING I DID IT WILL COST ME BETWEEN $250 AND $450. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OR A LAW SUITE! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149232February 1, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1) I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS WITH AN IGNITION LOCK PROBLEM. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE AND DEFINITELY FEEL IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. *NM 2) STUCK OUT IN THE COLD IN UNSAFE NEIGHBORHOODS. 3) MUST REPLACE THE CYLINDER AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $300
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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