Ford Focus Complaints (2003)

977 consumer complaints on file.

#10172210October 30, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT START BECAUSE THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. I'VE TRIED A NUMBER OF TACTICS TO GET THE CAR TO START BUT FAILED. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ONLINE, I'VE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ANY MY PROBLEM HAS ALL THE SAME SYMPTOMS. LUCKILY, THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT HOME AND AS ONLY LEFT ME WITH ONE VERY INCONVENIENT PROBLEM; HOWEVER, IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHERE PERSONAL SAFETY COULD HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171976October 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. UPDATED 11/30/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171568October 23, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
HAD NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH IGNITION IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SE. LEFT MY HOMETOWN FOR THE DAY TO SHOP 2 COUNTIES AWAY. AFTER SHOPPING, WENT TO START MY CAR AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. THE KEY WOULD GO IN, BUT WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND AM WAITING NOW FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. I HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM IN THE FORD FOCUS. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL SINCE THE IGNITION IS VERY OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART USED IN THE CAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171676October 23, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 FORD FOCUS THAT I BOUGHT USED WITH ONLY 14,000 MILES ON AND HAVE USED AS MY COMMUTER CAR FOR 3 MONTHS. AT ROUGHLY 20,000 MILES THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH ONCE BUT AFTER A LITTLE SHAKING IT WORKED. AROUND A MONTH LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME WHEN IT DID ENGAGE IT WOULD NOT START THE ENGINE, I ROLLED STARTED THE CAR AND GOT HOME BUT THE NEXT DAY THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH AT ALL - TRIED FOR THREE DAYS WILL NOT TURN, CURRENTLY LEARNING THE DETAILS OF HOW TO REPLACE AN IGNITION SWITCH FROM FRIENDS AND NICE FOLKS ON THE INTERNET BUT I HAVE HAD TO BORROW A CAR FOR TWO DAYS AND WILL HAVE TO RENT ONE AT THE END OF THE WEEK AND UNTIL I CAN BUY AND INSTALL A NEW PART JUST TO GET TO WORK. AS OTHER ARTICLES CLAIM FORD CLAIMS THIS PROBABLY ISN'T A SAFETY CONCERN BUT IS RATHER ANNOYING AND COSTLY TO FOLKS LIKE MYSELF WHO BOUGHT THE FOCUS HOPING FOR A RELIABLE FUEL EFFICIENT COMMUTER CAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171551October 22, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. FIRST INCIDENT IN JULY, 2006 AND AM NOW EXPERIENCING ANOTHER. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD AND DO NOT WANT TO BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE JUST BECAUSE I CAN'T GET THE KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. I AM NOW ALSO DEALING WITH (TODAY) A SOLENOID MALFUNCTION IN MY TRANSMISSION (3RD GEAR). THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AS WELL. THE CAR JERKS LIKE CRAZY AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 30 MPH. THANK GOODNESS I WAS CLOSE TO A SIDE STREET TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS THAT THESE ISSUES ARE NOT BEING RECALLED. THE IGNITION IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH ENOUGH PEOPLE.... *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171496October 21, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAN'T TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAN'T START THE CAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171297October 19, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT LOCKS AGAINST THE PASSENGER AND DOES NOT ALLOW SLOW GENTLE MOVEMENT IN A NON-CRASH ENVIRONMENT. THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT BELT WORKS FINE AND LIKE NORMAL. HAVE BEEN TO ORIGINATING DEALER TWICE TO CORRECT - NO CHANGE IN OPERATION. SAFETY DEFECT AS CRUSHING LOAD CAUSES PASSENGER TO HOLD BELT PHYSICALLY OUT WHEN SEATED OR OTHERWISE DEFEATING BELTING ARRANGEMENT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171376October 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION IS LOCKING UP WITH THE KEY IN IT MULTIPLE TIMES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170536October 11, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
TRIED TO PUT ON DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT AND FOUND IT TO BE LOCKED IN PLACE. FULL SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170440October 10, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, EQUIPMENT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION LOCKED RESULTING IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER KEY BEING REPLACED BY THE SERVICE DEALER. WHILE SEARCHING THE NHTSA WEBSITE, COMPLAINTS WERE FOUND WHERE THIS OCCURRED TO VEHICLES AND THE IGNITION CYLINDER KEY WAS REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THIS REPAIR DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PERMANENT FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THERE WAS AN ODOROUS SMELL WHEN THE HEATING FAN WAS TURNED ON AND THE SMELL OCCASIONALLY OCCURRED WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR THE ODOROUS SMELL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169712October 2, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SE. KEY SWITCH JUST STOPPED TURNING. REPLACEMENT OF SWITCH: PART $89, TOWING: $60, LABOR $250...GETTING THE STEERING WHEEL FIXED LATER, AFTER IT WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY: $100. I HAVE DONE A SEARCH ON THIS FAILURE...THERE ARE MANY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE FORD FOCUS ENTHUSIASTS SITES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169720October 2, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
1ST- TRUNK LATCH DOES NOT DISENGAGE, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN MY NEAREST TOWN. AFTER 3-4 TIMES OF ADJUSTING AND OILING, IT STILL DOES NOT RELEASE CORRECTLY, WHEN YOU PUSH THE DASHBOARD RELEASE, OPEN THE TRUNK IT CLOSES THE LATCH ON ITS OWN, YOU CANT CLOSE THE TRUNK UNLESS YOU REPRESS THE DASH RELEASE, WHICH IS DIFFICULT WITH ARMS FULL, OR PULL THE SAFETY RELEASE PROVIDED FOR NOT GETTING LOCKED IN THE TRUNK, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR. 2ND- MY IGNITION FROZE UP YESTERDAY MORNING. NO FOR WARNING. HADN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS. NOW I HAVE TO GET BACK TO MY CAR AND GET IT TO THE GARAGE. BEING NEWER TO THE AREA AND NO OTHER VEHICLE AT MY DISPOSAL IT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO COST ME NOT TO MENTION THE REPAIR COST. 3RD- OH MY GOD--- I JUST READ ABOUT THE BACK DOOR PROBLEMS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING, I TRANSPORT VERY PRECIOUS CARGO BACK THERE, MY GRAND CHILDREN, BEING THAT THERE ARE 3 OF THEM TWO HAVE TO BE BY THE DOOR. I WILL HAVE THE SERVICE AREA CHECK MY DOORS WHEN THEY FIX THE IGNITION. WHY WASN'T I TOLD ABOUT THIS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169344September 26, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON PLACING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE WITH A PAIR OF PLIERS, WHICH ALLOWED THE KEY TO TURN AND START THE ENGINE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168975September 22, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
(1) NO EVENT LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE; IT WAS UNEXPECTED (2) THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED ON THE VEHICLE,WHICH RESULTED IN US NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE CAR. (3) THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE ARE AWAITING TO HERE THE RESULTS FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168765September 20, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, STEERING:COLUMN
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE STARTER FAILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE FLYWHEEL AND THE STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THIRTY TIMES FOR THE FOLLOWING FAILURES: BRAKES ROTORS WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES; BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED; THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER THE SECOND ATTEMPT TO REPAIR IT. THE ELECTRICAL WIRING UNDER THE DASHBOARD HAD TO BE REWIRED. THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE VALVES; THE REAR DOOR LATCHES WERE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL # 05V300000. THE DEALERSHIP HAD NOT CORRECTED THE NOISES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO COOPERATED IN FINDING A SUITABLE RESOLUTION. THE LAST PROBLEM FOUND BY THE DEALERSHIP WAS THE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE HEADS. THE ENGINE HEADS WERE ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FRAME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168791September 20, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THIS WAS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168573September 18, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING:COLUMN
THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 FORD FOCUS WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES, THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CAR REFUSED TO START. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF NEUTRAL, MAKING A TOW DIFFICULT. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM, FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RISK OF DRIVERS BEING STRANDED IN UNSAFE PLACES WHERE THEY COULD BE RAPED, ROBBED OR MURDERED. FORTUNATELY, THIS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE AND I IN OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX, HOWEVER THERE ARE REPORTS OF OTHER PEOPLE NOT BEING SO LUCKY. HIXSON FORD CHARGED US $289.69 TO REPAIR THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER PLUS WE PAID $65 TO TOW THE VEHICLE. BELOW IS A LIST OF WEBSITES DOCUMENTING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF THE FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCKING UP AND RENDERING THE CAR INOPERABLE. SOME EVEN COMPLAIN OF IT HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING: HTTP://CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_FOCUS_IGNITION.HTML HTTP://WWW.FAZMICLAW.COM/FOCUS.HTML HTTP://WWW.WJLA.COM/NEWS/STORIES/0706/347339.HTML HTTP://CBS5.COM/INVESTIGATES/LOCAL_STORY_041015136.HTML HTTP://WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/FOCUSIC/PETITION.HTML HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.EEA50DC HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-493.HTML HTTP://THS.GARDENWEB.COM/FORUMS/LOAD/CARS/MSG062031202524.HTML?20 HTTP://WWW.COMPLAINTS.COM/DIRECTORY/2004/DECEMBER/12/7.HTM HTTP://WWW.COMPLAINTS.COM/DIRECTORY/2005/JULY/5/17.HTM HTTP://FORUMS.FOCALJET.COM/PROBLEMS-SERVICE-RECALLS/416401-PLEASE-POST-IF-YOUR-IGNITION-HAS-LOCKED-13.HTML THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168318September 14, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKING UP ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE IGNITION LOCKED UP ON ME AS I WAS LEAVING MY MOTHER'S HOUSE AUGUST 12, 2006. WHEN I INSERTED MY KEY I FOUND THAT IT WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL AND THE STEERING COLUMN HAD LOCKED UP AS WELL. LEAVING ME STRANDED, I CALLED A TOW TRUCK WHO TOWED MY CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP IN WHICH I PURCHASED MY CAR. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME I WAS THE FOURTH FOCUS HE HAD TOWED THAT WEEK WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, SO I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY MORNING TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG AND GET MY CAR BACK. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED ALL WEEKEND, WHICH MEANT I MISSED WORK ALL WEEKEND. I AM VERY UPSET THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS TO BE FIXED ON MY CAR, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THESE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES FOR YEARS. MY MAIN CONCERN FOR THIS PROBLEM AND REASON I AM SO UPSET IS THAT FORD HAS SAID THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM. I SAY TO THEM THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. WHAT IF YOUR CAR STALLS OUT ON TRAIN TRACKS AND YOU CAN'T GET IT TO START UP AGAIN? I THINK THAT WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT ABOUT IF YOU LIVE NEAR THE COAST AND YOU HAVE TO EVACUATE DUE TO A HURRICANE OR SOME OTHER NATURAL DISASTER? WHAT IF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO SOMEONE IN NEW ORLEANS DURING KATRINA? ARE YOU GOING TO TELL THEM IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE? ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO COME AND DRILL OUT THE IGNITION CYLINDER BEFORE THEY CAN EVACUATE? I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES AND THEY SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW I WILL NEVER BE BUYING ANOTHER FORD AGAIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167718September 8, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION LOCKED AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM BEGAN AS BEING ROUGH IN TURNING THE KEY BUT GRADUALLY WORSENED TO NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AT ALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167534September 7, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS, AND LIKE MANY OTHER FORD CUSTOMERS I HAVE READ ABOUT, I HAD MY IGNITION LOCK JAM UP TO THE POINT WHERE IT CANNOT BE STARTED WITH THE KEY. IT WILL PROBABLY REQUIRE A NEW CYLINDER, WHICH, ACCORDING TO OTHER COMPLAINTS, WILL BREAK JUST AS EASILY. CLEARLY FORD SHOULD STEP UP AND TAKE SOME CREDIT FOR SUCH AN INCONVENIENCE. IT'S JUST FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE CAN BECOME INJURED FROM THIS PARTICULAR CASE OF BAD ENGINEERING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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