TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER 15 MINUTES OF TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION VARIOUS WAYS, THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STARTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE PURCHASE DATE, TRANSMISSION TYPE,…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER 15 MINUTES OF TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION VARIOUS WAYS, THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STARTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE PURCHASE DATE, TRANSMISSION TYPE, FUEL TYPE, AND FUEL SYSTEM WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
NHTSA ODI #10225699
50,000 miles · Apr 23, 2008
Electrical System
PLACE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THERE IS ONLY 50K ON THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10225535
5,000 miles · Apr 16, 2008
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesStructure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE PARKED IN THE BACKYARD, THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WINDOW. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE LOCKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE DEALER REPAIRED THAT FAILURE AS WELL. AFTERWARDS, THE IGNITION CYLINDER BEGAN TO FAIL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE PARKED IN THE BACKYARD, THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WINDOW. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE LOCKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE DEALER REPAIRED THAT FAILURE AS WELL. AFTERWARDS, THE IGNITION CYLINDER BEGAN TO FAIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AND HAD TO PAY $300. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 5,000. UPDATED 05/21/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRUNK NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AS WELL. UPDATED. 05/20/08. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10224763
48,400 miles · Apr 11, 2008
Electrical System
PREMATURE FAILURE OF IGNITION MODULE, COULD HAVE FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY. AFTER TALKING TO DEALERSHIP AND OTHER FORD SOURCES, DEALERS FIX AT LEAST A FOCUS A WEEK WITH THE SAME ISSUE, THIS IS AN EXTENSIVE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10224223
107,000 miles · Apr 4, 2008
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION ONLY IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. HE NOTIFIED THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS THAT ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURE, BUT WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. EVERYONE REFUSES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING A LOCKSMITH. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT P…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION ONLY IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. HE NOTIFIED THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS THAT ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURE, BUT WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. EVERYONE REFUSES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING A LOCKSMITH. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE KEY REMAINS IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
NHTSA ODI #10223361
139,382 miles · Mar 27, 2008
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SHE CALLED A MECHANIC AND THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,030 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,382. UPDATED 04/22/08. *LJ
NHTSA ODI #10222512
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2008
Electrical System
THE KEY IGNITION IS LOCKED AND WON'T TURN ON THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10221297
Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2008
Electrical System
IGNITION SWITCH WON'T TURN IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE AIRPORT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10220878
60,000 miles · Mar 7, 2008
Electrical System
PLACED KEY INTO 2003 FORD FOCUS AND CANNOT TURN KEY IN IGNITION. THE IGNITION IS LOCKED UP. CAR HAS ONLY 60,000 MILES!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10220440
20,000 miles · Feb 22, 2008
Electrical System
I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WITH 27,000 MILES. FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OUT SUDDENLY. THIS IS NOT A FUSE PROBLEM, AS THE WAY TO GET THEM BACK ON IS TO TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEN TURN THEM BACK ON. OFTEN THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES DURING ONE TRIP; AT OTHER TIMES IT WILL "SOLVE" THE …
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I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WITH 27,000 MILES. FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OUT SUDDENLY. THIS IS NOT A FUSE PROBLEM, AS THE WAY TO GET THEM BACK ON IS TO TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEN TURN THEM BACK ON. OFTEN THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES DURING ONE TRIP; AT OTHER TIMES IT WILL "SOLVE" THE PROBLEM FOR MONTHS. IT HAS HAPPENED ON HIGH-SPEED HIGHWAYS AND IT IS DISCONCERTINGLY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS CRITICAL TO KNOW ONE'S SPEED. I BELIEVE (FROM THE INTERNET) THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS. FORD, HOWEVER, DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM, OR HOW TO FIX IT OTHER THAN TAKING IT TO A DEALER AT MY EXPENSE. *TR
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.
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