NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
522 reportsClear category filter74,000 miles · May 3, 2016
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, AND THE BATTERY AND ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE HAZER LIGHT FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, AND THE BATTERY AND ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE HAZER LIGHT FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
NHTSA ODI #10862798
76,000 miles · Mar 22, 2016
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ *TR
NHTSA ODI #10851004
65,000 miles · Mar 7, 2016
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SIX OCCASIONS WHERE THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED EACH TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SIX OCCASIONS WHERE THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED EACH TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
NHTSA ODI #10840295
46,000 miles · Jan 15, 2016
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE OIL AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE OIL AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE BATTERY. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT A CLUSTER UNDER THE DASHBOARD, WHICH CONTROLLED ALL THE LIGHT SIGNALS, WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE "REPAIRED OR REPLACED." THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. UPDATED 04/08/16*LJ *CN
NHTSA ODI #10820494
75,000 miles · Dec 17, 2015
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO START. IN ADDITION, THE KEY WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
NHTSA ODI #10811027
152,300 miles · Oct 4, 2015
Electrical SystemSeats
I WAS USING MY PASSENGER SEAT HEATER WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO PICK SOMETHING UP FROM THE MALL WHEN I STARTED SMELLING A BURNING SMELL. WHEN I GOT TO THE MALL,I LOOKED OVER TO FIND A LARGE SCORCH MARK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT
NHTSA ODI #10779588
185,000 miles · Aug 10, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSteering
WHEN RIDING DOWN THE ROAD THE DOORS WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK BY THEMSELVES. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR USED, IT CAME WITH MANY KEYS. WELL, THIS TIME WHEN IT LOCKED, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE IGNITION LOCKED AND I HAD TO GET IT TOWED FROM SMITHFIELD NC; APPROXIMATELY …
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WHEN RIDING DOWN THE ROAD THE DOORS WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK BY THEMSELVES. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR USED, IT CAME WITH MANY KEYS. WELL, THIS TIME WHEN IT LOCKED, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE IGNITION LOCKED AND I HAD TO GET IT TOWED FROM SMITHFIELD NC; APPROXIMATELY AN HOURLY FROM MY HOME. THE MECHANIC CAN NOT GET IT UNLOCKED BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL HAS TO BE TURNED TO UNLOCK IT, VICE VERSA, AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. ALSO THE LIGHTING IS VERY POOR WITH THE HEAD LIGHTS AND I SEE THIS ON ALL THE VEHICLE FOR THAT YEAR AND MAKE AS I RIDE DOWN THE ROAD. MY CAR IS PARKED BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD TO FIX IT. I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS STEERING AND IGNITION LOCK ISSUE. I AM WONDERING WHY THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR THE ISSUE. IT IS A HAZARD. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD MANUFACTURER CONCERNING THE MATTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY CAN'T ASSIST ME WITH IT BECAUSE MY CAR HAS NO WARRANTY. ALSO, THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE REAL DOOR LOCK. FORD DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS REPAIRED BY TEAM FORD DEALERSHIP PRIOR TO ME OWNING THE VEHICLE; I INFORMED HIM THAT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL A ISSUE GETTING THE REAR DOOR TO LOCK SECURELY AT TIMES. HE INFORMED ME THAT IT COULD ONLY HAVE BEEN FIXED ONCE UNDER THE RECALL. THESE ISSUES HAVE OCCURRED REPEATEDLY SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2009. THEY ALL PUT ME AT RISK OF GREAT DANGER.
NHTSA ODI #10747450
146,000 miles · Apr 29, 2015
Electrical System
KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION. AGAIN! HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10713516
190,000 miles · Mar 3, 2015
Electrical System
KEY LOCKS INSIDE THE IGNITON DOESN'T ALLOW THE CAR TO START I REPLACED THE IGNITON LOCK 3 TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL HAPPENS... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10691968
Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2015
Electrical System
I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY IGNITION NOT TURNING. I LOOKED UP AND SAW OVER 300 COMPLAINTS SINCE 2011 ON THIS PROBLEM.. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST ME. I AM NOW TAKING MY CAR TO A COMPANY THAT HANDLES THIS PROBLEM AND I HAVE TO PAY OVER $150.00!!! I BELIEVE THIS IS A BIG P…
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I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY IGNITION NOT TURNING. I LOOKED UP AND SAW OVER 300 COMPLAINTS SINCE 2011 ON THIS PROBLEM.. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST ME. I AM NOW TAKING MY CAR TO A COMPANY THAT HANDLES THIS PROBLEM AND I HAVE TO PAY OVER $150.00!!! I BELIEVE THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH NO RECALL. THE OWNER HAS STATED THAT HE IS FIXING AT LEAST ONE CAR (FORD FOCUS) A WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, YET THERE IS NOT RECALL!!!!!!
NHTSA ODI #10676480
Official recalls
1Feb 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
1AQ10001 · 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.