Ford Focus Complaints (2003)

977 consumer complaints on file.

#10145107December 13, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
IN APRIL I HAD MY 30,000 MILE MAINTENANCE CHECK-UP. AT THE END OF NOVEMBER MY SPEEDOMETER FAILED AND I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED MY BRAKE PADS REPLACED, WHICH I AGREED TO. THEY ALSO REPLACED MY ROTORS. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALERSHIP WITH REGARD TO THE ROTOR WEAR, WHICH I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND SINCE I HAD THE CAR INSPECTED 3,000 MILES EARLIER AND THE BRAKES WERE FINE, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS KIND OF WEAR IS NORMAL ON THIS VEHICLE, AND TO EXPECT TO HAVE TO REPLACE MY PADS AND ROTORS EVERY 15,000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. IN ADDITION, I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THERE ARE TWO TSB'S (16685/17278) ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144659December 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2003 FORD FOCUS WITH FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THE SWITCH WAS LOCK IN PLACED WITH NO HOPE OF TURNING THE KEY. AS THE SERVICE MANAGER AT OUR LOCAL DEALER EXPLAINED, THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH TUMBLER SET AS THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY OF THEM AND HAVE BEEN SENT A TSB ON REPLACING THEM WITH A BETTER ASSEMBLY MADE OF STEEL AS COMPARED TO THE ORIGINAL MADE OF POT METAL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144697December 7, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRUNK WILL NOT LATCH. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144051November 30, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION CYLINDER HAS FAILED TWICE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 11/02. THE CAR IS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE IGNITION CYLINDER FREEZES AND PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING. I HAVE HAD THIS CYLINDER REPLACED TWICE IN ONE YEAR. THE FIRST TIME ON 11/6/04 AND THE SECOND TIME IN 11/27/05. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143296November 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, WHEELS:HUB, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS BEFORE THE PROBLEMS STARTED I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T CHANGE GEAR, THEY SAY THIS IS NORMAL. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WAS NEVER SEALED IN THEY TOLD ME THAT IT COULD BE FIXED. THE FRONT WHEELS CLICK WHEN DRIVEN. THE BRAKES WENT OUT QUICK. THE BACK HUBS ARE SEALED FROM RUST. AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN GET MY DISABLED CHILD TO THE DOCTORS BECAUSE THE IGNITION HAS GONE COMPLETELY OUT. THE LOCKSMITH SAID I WAS LUCKY I WAS PARKED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143034November 17, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I AM VERY SURPRISED THAT FORD WOULD LET THIS GO ON SO LONG. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142142November 2, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING DEFECT IN FORD FOCUS WINDSHIELD. *TS THE WINDSHIELD HAD COME LOOSE IN THE CENTER ABOUT 12 INCHES. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141478November 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS HAS FAILED TWICE. ONCE OVER A YEAR AGO, AND AGAIN NOW. THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN WHEN I INSERT THE KEY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140686October 25, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH AT 45,000 MILES, FORD FOCUS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140694October 25, 2005
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR STARTED SPINNING AROUND AND HIT AN EXIT SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE TIRE CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE RIM. BOTH INSURANCE AND POLICE REPORTS WERE TAKEN. THERE HAS BEEN NO CONTACT WITH GOODYEAR. THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140559October 24, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE COLLIDED ON 9-29-05 WITH AN AUTOMOBILE THAT CAME ACROSS THE MEDIUM AT A STOP SIGN. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN IT WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HIT THE OTHER CAR WHILE GOING BETWEEN 48-50 MPH. IT HIT THE RIGHT SIDE PANEL IMMEDIATELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HE DID NOT NOTICE ANY LIGHTS ILLUMINATING ON THE DASH PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD GIVE HIM A STATEMENT IN WRITING EXPLAINING WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WANTED A STATEMENT FROM FORD HEADQUARTERS IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN , BUT FORD REFUSED. INITIALLY, TOLD HIM TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER WOULD TURN THIS INCIDENT INTO THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SINCE THEN INDICATED THAT THEY COULD NOT TURN OVER THE ACCIDENT CASE TO THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. THEY WOULD TURN IT OVER TO THE COMPLAINTS DEPARTMENT.*AK UPDATED 11/15/05. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140589October 24, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WITH ONLY 59,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS PROPERLY. FORD DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SAID THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. COST $950 AT INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, $1800 AT DEALER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140594October 24, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
REAR LATCH MALFUNCTIONS. REGISTERS THAT TRUNK IS SHUT WHEN IT IS NOT AND NOT WHEN IT IS. WHILE GOING OVER SPEED BUMP TRUNK POPS OPEN DUE TO LATCH NOT HITCHING PROPERLY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140598October 24, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT WHILE MY WIFE WAS AT WORK. HAD TO GET THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. FORD DEALER WANTED AT MIN. OF $100 PLUS PARTS INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED IT FOR $65 PLUS PARTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140524October 23, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3, IT HAS JUST A LITTLE OVER 48,000 MILES. ONE MORNING (OUT OF BLUE), THE KEY LOCK WOULD NOT TURN OVER. LUCKILY, I WAS HOME. AS A RESULT, I HAD IT TOWED INTO A FORD DEALERSHIP. WAS CHARGED AN ARM AND A LEG BY THE TOWING COMPANY (FORD DEALER RECOMMENDED) AND TO MAKE THINGS WORSE, FOUND OUT THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DID COVER A (KEY/IGNITION CYLINDER) REPLACEMENT COMPARTMENT, WOULD OF BEEN COVERED IF IT WERE THE SWITCH/ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE SWITCH. IN THE END, I HAD TO PAY OVER $500 FOR A PART THAT APPARENTLY IS GEARED OR EXPECTED TO FAIL ON NEWER FOCUSES (ACCORDING TO TOW CO., FORD MAINTENANCE STAFF, AND THE RANDOM INTERNET SEARCHES). I CALLED FORD DIRECTLY, AND AT THIS POINT THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT HASN'T DETERMINED IT TO BE A SAFETY PROBLEM (THEY ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM ALSO). I GUESS IF I WERE STUCK UP IN THE SNOW PACKED SANDIA MOUNTAINS AND MY TOES FROZE OFF, HEY MAYBE THEY WOULD CONSIDER IT A PROBLEM. PLEASE, CAN YOU CHECK INTO THIS, I HATE TO SEE OTHER UNSUSPECTING BUYERS, DRIVERS, GET HIT WITH THIS UNNECESSARY BURDEN AND OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE, WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140167October 18, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
I HAVE A 2003 ZTS WITH A 5 SPEED. AFTER DRIVING ROUGHLY 40 MILES NONSTOP WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS 85 AND ABOVE, THE FIRST TIME I PUSH THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN THE PEDAL IS REALLY STIFF, LIKE A SUPER DUPER HEAVE DUTY CLUTCH. BY THE 2ND OR 3D TIME I PRESS IT IN IT'S NORMAL AGAIN. THE CAR SHIFT FINE.. JUST HAS THIS REALLY STIFF PEDAL FOR 1 OR TWO PUSHES AFTER AN 40 MILE TRIP IN HOT TEMPERATURES. FORD AGREED, AFTER A TON OF COMPLAINING, TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER, BUT IT NEVER HELPED. THE CAR HAS 35,000 AND 95% OF THOSE MILES ARE ON THE INTERSTATE SO THERE "SHOULD BE" NEXT TO NO WEAR ON THE CLUTCH ITSELF. THIS STARTED HAPPENING AT ABOUT 28,000 MILES. NOW THAT THE TEMPERATURES HAVE FALLEN BACK TO MID 70'S FOR DAYTIME HI'S THE PROBLEM IS ALMOST NON-EXISTENT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139826October 16, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN SEPT. 2003, BRAND NEW. THIS SPRING, WITH ONLY 23000 MILES ON IT, THE CAR BEGAN MAKING AN AWFUL GRINDING NOISE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY, AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS, AT A PRICE TAG OF NEAR $400. OF COURSE MY WARRANTY DID NOT COVER IT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS CAR, AND IN FORD FOR SELLING A CAR THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS A FAULTY, POORLY MADE BRAKING SYSTEM. ONLY 4 MONTHS AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIR, I HAVE BEGUN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AGAIN. I WILL ABSOLUTELY NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD AGAIN. I AM VERY UNIMPRESSED WITH THEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139469October 12, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION OF OUR 2003 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND THE KEY WOULD GO INTO THE LOCK, THE BELL WOULD SOUND, BUT THE LOCK WOULD NOT TURN. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS, AND THEY SUGGEST YOU EITHER GET THE CAR TOWED TO THEIR SHOP, OR, IF YOU CAN, DRIVE IT TO THEIR SHOP TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE PRICE TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS APPROXIMATELY $350.00 AND IS ONLY GUARANTEED FOR ONE YEAR. THE CAR IS TWO AND A HALF YEARS OLD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139493October 12, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: 2003 FORD FOCUS - AUGUST 11, 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. FORD DEALERSHIP REQUESTED THAT THE MANUFACTURER TO INVESTIGATE THE ACCIDENT. ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005 THE MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE THE ACCIDENT. CONSUMER CALLED THE FORD MANUFACTURE FIVE TIMES WITH NO RESULTS, COULD GET THE MANUFACTURER TO COLLOBORATE ON THIS MATTER. WHILE DRIVING LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND WENT INTO THE DITCH, HIT TWO ROCKS, A TRE, AND CAME TO REST AT THE THIRD ROCK. THIS WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON BEFORE THE ACCIDENT INDICATING THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT WORKING. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT TELL THE CONSUMER WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WAS ONE INJURY.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10139506October 12, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS, AND JUST RECENTLY MY IGNITION WENT OUT. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. I KNOW VARIOUS PEOPLE WHO OWN A FOCUS AND HAVE HAD THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. IT BARELY STARTED TO STICK THE DAY BEFORE IT FINALLY WENT OUT. I CURRENTLY AM LOOKING INTO MY OPTIONS ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM HAVING A VERY HARD TIME GETTING TO WORK AND GETTING AROUND IN GENERAL. IT IS VERY HARD ESPECIALLY WITH TWO CHILDREN. LUCKILY IT DIDN'T LOCK UP ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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