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2003 Ford Focus

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Ford Focus do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 864.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

753 reports with mileage · 224 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 522 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 82 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

52 crash reports17 fire reports37 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

46 reports
Clear category filter
267,000 miles · Dec 2, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE, CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL, AND SPUN AROUND. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES, FACIAL BRUISING, AN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE, CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL, AND SPUN AROUND. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES, FACIAL BRUISING, AND WHIPLASH. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE DRIVER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR HIS INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT WHERE THEY REFUSE THE CONTACT TO VIEW/TAKE PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE UNLESS A FEE WAS PAID. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 267,000.

NHTSA ODI #11286464

20,262 miles · Dec 2, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 01/26/2017*CT UPDATED 7/13/18*JB *TR

NHTSA ODI #10929640

72,000 miles · May 21, 2015
Air Bags

ON FEB 11, 2015 I WAS DRIVING TO GO TO THE VET. I HAD NOT BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD IN ABOUT 6 MONTHS. I CAME UPON AN AREA THAT WAS A VERY BAD CHUNK OF ROAD...PATCHES OVER PATCHES AND VERY BUMPY. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR TILTED TO THE RIGHT AND THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. IT TOOK ME A COUPLE SECONDS TO REALIZE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. MY AIRB…

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ON FEB 11, 2015 I WAS DRIVING TO GO TO THE VET. I HAD NOT BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD IN ABOUT 6 MONTHS. I CAME UPON AN AREA THAT WAS A VERY BAD CHUNK OF ROAD...PATCHES OVER PATCHES AND VERY BUMPY. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR TILTED TO THE RIGHT AND THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. IT TOOK ME A COUPLE SECONDS TO REALIZE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. MY AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE (SIDE AIRBAG) HAD DEPLOYED. SCARED ME! I HAD NO IDEA WHY IT HAD GONE OFF. BUT THE CAR SEEMED TO BE DRIVING OK STILL SO I CONTINUED TO THE VET ABOUT 1-2 MILES AWAY. I WONDERED IF A DEER HAD HIT THE SIDE OF MY CAR BUT WHEN I GOT TO THE VET AND CHECKED MY CAR, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE SIDE OF MY CAR. SINCE THEN I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOY WHEN HITTING A POTHOLE. THE NEXT DAY I WENT BACK AND TOOK PICTURES OF THAT AREA AND A VIDEO.THIS WAS BY A GUARDRAIL WITH A HUGE DROP OFF ON THE SIDE. I AM LUCKY I DIDN'T LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR WHEN THE AIRBAG EXPLODED RIGHT NEXT TO ME AND POSSIBLY GO THROUGH THE GUARDRAIL AND OFF OF THAT STEEP DROP OFF. THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING SITUATION AND THANK GOD, NOBODY WAS IN THAT SEAT. I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS ON THAT ROAD BECAUSE WHEN I LOOKED OVER I SAW A BIG WHITE CIRCLE (DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT FIRST...THOUGHT MY WINDOW HAD BROKEN) AND I SAW THE END OF THE GUARD RAIL WHERE IT ANGLES DOWN AT THE END. I WAS NOT SPEEDING, OR ON THE PHONE. JUST DRIVING DOWN A COUNTY ROAD AND HAD $1700 WORTH OF DAMAGE DONE TO MY CAR. I ONLY HAVE PL/PD ON THAT CAR SO MY INSURANCE WON'T COVER IT.

NHTSA ODI #10717692

155,525 miles · Nov 3, 2014
Air Bags

AIRBAG WARNING SYSTEM LIGHT FLASHES ON INDICATING POSSIBLE FAILURE OR DEFECTIVE SYSTEM BUT DOES NOT REMAIN ON. LIGHT GOES OUT ABOUT 1 HOUR OR SO OF DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652079

140,000 miles · Mar 27, 2013
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH OVER A POT HOLE, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND BOTH THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH OVER A POT HOLE, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND BOTH THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504718

129,200 miles · Aug 7, 2012
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROX 70MPH, I SIGNALED MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL. AS I CHANGED INTO THE LEFT LANE, MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS OPEN SO SOME SEAT FOAM AND SMOKE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. I PULLED OVER AND THE OTHER DRIVER STO…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROX 70MPH, I SIGNALED MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL. AS I CHANGED INTO THE LEFT LANE, MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS OPEN SO SOME SEAT FOAM AND SMOKE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. I PULLED OVER AND THE OTHER DRIVER STOPPED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND CHECKED TO SEE IF I WAS OKAY. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469588

80,000 miles · Jun 13, 2012
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SPUN AROUND. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES, CONTUSIONS, A TEAR TO HER SPINE, A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SPUN AROUND. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES, CONTUSIONS, A TEAR TO HER SPINE, A BROKEN RIB, AND HEART PROBLEMS AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT TO HER CHEST. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER OF THE SECOND VEHICLE INVOLVED IN THE CRASH WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT OF THE INCIDENT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10461688

58,400 miles · Sep 6, 2011
Air Bags

WAS TRAVELING AT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THERE WAS NO IMPACT. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED. AT THIS TIME THERE HAS BEEN NO RESOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10423855

50,000 miles · Aug 3, 2011
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AS A RESULT THE HORN WAS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CLOCKSPRING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AS A RESULT THE HORN WAS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CLOCKSPRING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10416875

180,000 miles · Aug 2, 2011
Air BagsCrash

ON 8/1/2011, GOING 40MPH I HIT A DEER. THE WHOLE HOOD OF MY CAR IS PUSHED IN,MY RADIATOR IS PUSHED IN, I CANNOT OPEN THE HOOD, THE DEER IS DEAD AND BOTH OF THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HOWEVER MY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT LIGHT DID COME ON. WHAT A DEFECT. AT 10 MPH I COULD POSSIBLE UNDERSTAND BUT AT 40 MPH, I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW I…

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ON 8/1/2011, GOING 40MPH I HIT A DEER. THE WHOLE HOOD OF MY CAR IS PUSHED IN,MY RADIATOR IS PUSHED IN, I CANNOT OPEN THE HOOD, THE DEER IS DEAD AND BOTH OF THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HOWEVER MY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT LIGHT DID COME ON. WHAT A DEFECT. AT 10 MPH I COULD POSSIBLE UNDERSTAND BUT AT 40 MPH, I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2003 FOR SAFETY, NOW EVEN IF IT WERE FIXED I WOULD BE SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10416808

Official recalls

1

05V030000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Feb 1, 2005

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH FOUR OR FIVE DOORS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A BUILD-UP OF CORROSION AT THE PAWL PIVOT AREA OF THE REAR DOOR LATCH CAN CAUSE A BINDING CONDITION OF THE PAWL THAT MAY AFFECT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PAWL INTO THE CATCH. THE OCCUPANT MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING OR CLOSING A REAR DOOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE REAR DOOR MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF NOT LATCHED PROPERLY, THE DOOR MAY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IF AN OCCUPANT FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE, PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL HAVE A LOWER ROCKER SEAL ADDED TO THE DOOR AND HAVE THE REAR DOOR LATCHES EVALUATED FREE OF CHARGE. A LATCH THAT PASSES THE EVALUATION WILL BE LUBRICATED TO PREVENT FUTURE CORROSION. A LATCH THAT DOES NOT PASS THE EVALUATION WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A STICKER WILL BE AFFIXED TO THE REAR DOORS ADVISING THE OWNERS TO USE THE RECOMMENDED LUBRICANT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

AQ10001 · Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit

Opened Nov 18, 2010 · Closed Dec 28, 2015

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other

On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.