Ford Focus Complaints (2003)

977 consumer complaints on file.

#10107707January 21, 2005
TIRES, EQUIPMENT, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
BUY THE CAR IN LIVINGSTON MONTANA 09-28-2002 THE VIN [XXX] THE CAR HAD ONLY LIKE 20 MILES WE DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. WE WENT ON VACATION THAT SUMMER WE HAD A BLOW OUT ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. WE CALLED THE FORD COMPANY IN LIVINGSTON ,MONTANA WE WERE IN ID SO THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANY THING FOR US. WE HAD TO DRIVE TO THE NEXT TOWN ABOUT 14 MILES BACK . WE GOT BACK WE TOOK IT TO FORD COMPANY. THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND SHAKING REALLY BAD AND THE TRUNK WILL NOT LOCK (IT WILL NOT LOCK IF WE PUSH THE BUTTON ) WE DO NOT USE THE TRUNK STILL ,THE CLUTCH POPS OUT THEM TOLD US TO DOUBLE CLUTCH AND IT ( STILL POPS OUT WENT YOU BACK UP SOMETIMES). WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THEY ,THEM ON 09-24-2003 THEY HAD THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS ALMOST I HAVE A LISTED OF THING WANT WAS WRONG AN STILL WRONG WITH THE CAR ,WE TOLD THEM WE WANT AN NEW CAR BUT THEY STILL WOULD NOT GIVE US ONE OR WOULD NOT WORK WITH US , THEM SAID I'M SORRY BUT WE COULD NOT DO THAT. I KNOW YOU FOLKS HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH THE CAR BUT I CAN NOT DO ANYTHING. I WAS MAD AN STILL WE BOUGHT ABOUT FOUR SETS OF TIRES FOR THAT CAR . THE CAR WAS ONLY HAS 48003 MILES, WE HAD MANY OUTS ,WE HAD A BACK BLOW AGAIN IN NOV- 2004 . MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE IT MUCH BECAUSE SHE IS SCARED OF IT. IT PULLS YOU ALL OVER THE ROAD IN THE BAD WEATHER WE LIVED IN WHITEHALL , MONTANA VERY SMALL TOWN IF WE WANT TO GO SHOPPING YOU HAVE TO DRIVE 20 MINS PLUS AWAY, SHE WAITS ON THE WEEKENDS TO TAKE MY CAR. SHE ONLY DRIVES THE CAR TO TAKE OUR CHILD TO SCHOOL WHICH IS A MILE THERE AND BACK. PLEASE HELP US A GET DIFFERENT CAR. THAT MY WIFE WILL NOT BE SCARED OF. *NM UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106573January 18, 2005
AIR BAGS
TRAVELING EAST-BOUND ON I-10. FORCED ONTO LEFT SHOULDER BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE BACK ONTO THE FREEWAY WAS HIT SQUARE ON THE DRIVERS DOOR BY A PICKUP TRUCK TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. VEHICLE ROLLED 3-4 TIMES BEFORE COMING TO STOP. NONE OF THE FRONT OR SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CAR ONLY HAD 5000 MILES ON IT. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10110917January 6, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE HAD A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *NM *TC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105876January 6, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
BOUGHT A 2003 USED FORD FOCUS IN JULY 04 AND ON TUESDAY, JAN. 4 WENT TO START VEHICLE AND KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO IGNITION. NOTHING WORKED WHEELS WERE LOCKED. HAD TO BE TOWED AND TECH HAD TROUBLE DUE TO WHEELS LOCKED. FOUND MANY MORE COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET ABOUT THIS TROUBLE IN FOCUSES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105892January 6, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
BOUGHT A 2003 FORD FOCUS IIN JULY 04 AND ON 1/4/05 (28,406 MILES) WENT TO START VEHICLE AND KEY WENT INTO IGNITION HARD AND WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. IGNITION HAD LOCKED UP. NOTHING WOULD WORK AND WHEELS WERE LOCKED. HAD TO BE TOWED AND TECHNICIAN HAD TROUBLE DUE TO WHEELS LOCKING. FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET OF THIS PROBLEM IN THE FOCUS. CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WAS FIXED BUT IF SAME FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER IS INSTALLED THE PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105733January 4, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
THERE IS SERIOUS PROBLEMS W/ THE FRONT END OF THIS VEHICLE. IT WAS PURCHASED APPROX. 17 MONTHS AGO. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD 3 MAJOR BRAKE JOBS. TWICE, THE PADS WERE REPLACED AND ONCE BOTH THE PADS AND THE ROTORS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ALSO RESONATES AT HIGH SPEEDS. EVERYTHING SHAKES INCLUDING THE STERRING WHEEL AND THE STATES. IT APPEARS MY TWO FRONT TIRES ARE OUT OF ROUND. FORD ORIGINALLY SAID IT WAS DEFECT IN THE TIRE, WHICH I REPLACED, HOWEVER THE NEW TIRE IS OUT OF ROUND AS WELL. AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE SAYS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT STRUTS. FORD HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM ME REGUARDING BOTH THE BRAKES AND THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. ALSO THE VEHICLE IS VERY LOUD AND IT APPEARS TO BE AIR COMING IN WHEN. FORD INITIALLY RESEALED THE WINDSHIELD, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104886January 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WOULD NOT TURN AFTER THE KEY WAS INSERTED THE KEY WAS HARD TO GET INTO THE CYLINDER BEFORE IT SEIZED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND ON THE AUTOMOTIVE TALK NET I WAS ABLE TO PRINT OUT 35 PAGES OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS WITH 3 TO 4 COMPLAINTS ON EACH PAGE. A FEW OF THE COMPLAINTS SAID THAT TOW TRUCK DRIVERS HAD TOLD THEM THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL CALLS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AS DID THE LOCK SMITH I CALLED TO FIX MINE. THE COST WAS $200.00*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105482December 29, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE HEAT WARMER BURNED THROUGH THE FABRIC BURNING THE SEAT AND CAUSING A FIRE. THE CONSUMER WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105221December 22, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105100December 20, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK.....*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10101372December 17, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE REAR DRUM BRAKE PADS WERE DEFECTIVE, PARTS AND COMPOUND WERE MISSING, TRIM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN WAS MISSING, THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING IN FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD GEAR, AND THE IGNITION WAS DAMAGED. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106895December 13, 2004
TIRES
REAR TIRES WEAR OUT PREMATURELY ON 2000, 2001 AND 2003 FORD FOCUS. ALL HAVE NEW TIRES INSTALLED BECAUSE OF REAR TIRE WEAR AND MISALIGNMENT. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE REAR TIRES BEGAN THUMPING AND THE TREAD WALL STARTED CUPPING. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAS HAD THREE VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TC THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE 2000 AND 2001 FORD FOCUS ONLY THE 2003. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107088December 13, 2004
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
THREE TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND REPLACEMENTS. THE ENGINE, STARTER/IGNITION AND 1 GEAR SHIFT ALL REPLACEMENTS AND OTHER VARIOUS PROBLEMS. *BF FOUR CD PLAYER REPLACEMENTS, THE BRAKES FAILED, AND 1 ALARM FAILURE. *SC THE ENGINE WAS ALSO REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109308December 10, 2004
SUSPENSION
TIRES WEAR CONFINED TO REAR WHEELS. *BF THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAS AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WHICH ORIGINATED FROM THE FACTORY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103500December 10, 2004
WHEELS:RIM
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PROBLEMS PERTAINED TO THE TIRE AND RIM. SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE SAME TIRE AFTER 18,000 MILES/30,000 MILES, AND 46,000 MILES DUE TO MUD ACCUMULATING INSIDE THE TIRE RIM. THIS THREW THE BALANCE OFF, AND VEHICLE CONTROL WAS AFFECTED. IT PERFORMED ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER ALSO CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102449December 9, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
MY CAR WHEN FIRST BOUGHT ALWAYS MOANED AND GROANED UPON BRAKING. I BOUGHT MY CAR 9/14/2003. THE NEXT YEAR IN 5/22/04 THE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 3,500 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER DID PAY FOR AFTER A RUN AROUND. I HAD TO WAIT A WEEK BEFORE BEING ABLE TO TAKE MY CAR IN AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR TO NOT DRIVE MY CAR. HERE I AM IN DECEMBER NOISE IS BACK AND ROTORS ARE ALL BUMPY AGAIN WITH ONLY 8,100 MILES ON IT. THE DEALERSHIP IS WORKING ON TAKING CARE OF IT BUT I AM GOING TO FILE A DISPUTE WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY .*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102404December 8, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2003 FORD FOCUS FROM MENLOVE DODGE TOYOTA IN BOUNTIFUL IN LATE SEPTEMBER. VERYTHING WAS GOING FINE, UNTIL ONE DAY MY WIFE COMES HOME AN HOUR LATE FROM WORK SAYING THAT THE KEYS FOR OUR CAR WOULD TURN IN THE IGNITION, SHE HAD TO ENLIST THE HELP 2 OTHER CO-WORKERS & FINALLY GOT IT STARTED AFTER AN HOUR OF TRYING IT. O I WENT OUT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE IGNITION AND SURE ENOUGH THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN UNTIL AFTER A BOUT 20-30 TRIES. SO THEN I GOT TO THINKING, WITH THIS CAR HAVING LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT I SHOULD HAVE IT LOOKED AT. AFTER TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE & DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, WHICH FORD APPARENTLY FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AS WHAT IF YOU WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY & YOUR CAR STOPS RUNNING, YOUR GOING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS BECAUSE THE KEY WONT TURN TO THE ON POSITION AGAIN. I CALLED TO GET A QUOTE ON GETTING THIS FIXED AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME IN THE BALL PARK OF 200-300 DOLLARS FOR A DEFECT THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A KNOW PROBLEM BY FORD. HAVE FOUND A MESSAGE BOARD THAT OTHER FOR FOCUS OWNERS HAVE POSTED INFORMATION ON WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. MY FELLING IS, WITH SO MANY FORD FOCUS OWNERS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM & ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE IGNITIONS. HERE IS THE URL TO THE SITE I REFERRED TO: HTTP://WWW.AUTOWHIZ.COM/MESSAGEBOARDS/MESSAGE.PHP?ID=1784&PAGE=1*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100806November 30, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
18,000 MILES ON A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE RUINED, THE DEALER TOLD ME I CAN EXPECT THIS WITH A FOCUS OR A ESCAPE BECAUSE OF CENTER MOUNTED ROTORS. THE CAR WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER 2500 MILES AGO. STATE POLICE CAN'T HELP ME DUE THE TIME THAT HAS PASSED SINCE INSPECTION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099298November 30, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE TEMPERATURE HAD BECOME COLDER AND THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT DEPRESS WITHOUT FORCE. THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR WHENEVER THE VEHICLE SAT OVERNIGHT OR FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE CONSUMER WOULD DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR UNTIL IT WOULD MOVE DOWNWARDS. THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. IT WOULD TAKE 4-5 DEPRESSIONS UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR WOULD MOVE DOWNWARD. OTHER PROBLEMS WERE THE BRAKES SQUEALING AND THE VEHICLE SUFFERED FROM NOT STARTING AT TIMES, EITHER THE PANEL LIGHTS WOULD ENGAGE OR THE STARTER WOULD GRIND. *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100101November 17, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH ON AN 03 FORD FOCUS ZX3 LOCKS UP. IT WAS FINE ONE DAY AND THE NEXT IT WASN'T. THE CAR WILL START BUT IT TAKES TIME AND FIDDLING WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BEFORE IT CLICKS AND UNLOCKS AND STARTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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