Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1350–25K
17525–50K
18850–75K
10775–100K
107100–150K
41150K+
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
What owners actually said
977 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2012
Electrical System
KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS BY MORE THEN ONE PERSON. CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM IS REALLY COMMON AND TO TAP THE KEY WITH A HAMMER AND IT WILL TURN AND THAT I NEED TO GO IN AND HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED FOR $500!!! TRIED THEIR HAMMERING SUGGESTION AND THE LOCK STILL WON'T TURN! BEC…
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KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS BY MORE THEN ONE PERSON. CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM IS REALLY COMMON AND TO TAP THE KEY WITH A HAMMER AND IT WILL TURN AND THAT I NEED TO GO IN AND HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED FOR $500!!! TRIED THEIR HAMMERING SUGGESTION AND THE LOCK STILL WON'T TURN! BECAUSE OF THIS I HAVE MISSED A WHOLE DAY OF SCHOOL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10447002
95,000 miles · Feb 6, 2012
Electrical System
IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS AND CANNOT TURN KEY TO START VEHICLE. HAVE TO USE HAND OR SOMETHING TO HIT THE KEY TO START THE CAR. HAPPENS AT RANDOM AND WITHOUT WARNING. GET IN THE CAR AND CAN'T START IT. UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM BUT FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10446908
11,824 miles · Jan 19, 2012
Electrical System
THE IGNITION CYLINDER WILL NOT TURN. A KEY CAN BE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, BUT IT CAN NOT BE SET INTO THE "ON OR ACC" POSITION. THE CAR CANT BE STARTED AND IS NOW, IN EFFECT, A ONE TON PAPER WEIGHT. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ONLINE, IT SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10444563
Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2012
Electrical System
KEY WON'T TURN IN IGNITION/ IGNITION STUCK. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10444469
Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2012
Electrical SystemSteering
KEY FROZE SOLID IN THE IGNITION . STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN NOR THE KEY. LEFT STRANDED AND HAD TO CALL A LOCKSMITH TO PHYSICALLY DRILL OUT THE FACTORY INSTALLED IGNITION AND REPLACE IT WITH A STRATTEC REPLACEMENT PART # 707592. LOCKSMITH REITERATED WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET WITH THIS BEING A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOC…
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KEY FROZE SOLID IN THE IGNITION . STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN NOR THE KEY. LEFT STRANDED AND HAD TO CALL A LOCKSMITH TO PHYSICALLY DRILL OUT THE FACTORY INSTALLED IGNITION AND REPLACE IT WITH A STRATTEC REPLACEMENT PART # 707592. LOCKSMITH REITERATED WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET WITH THIS BEING A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10444052
25,000 miles · Jan 5, 2012
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN THE KEY IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, IT REFUSED TO TURN. A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION AND REPROGRAMMED THE KEY AND DOOR LOCKS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRING THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN THE KEY IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, IT REFUSED TO TURN. A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION AND REPROGRAMMED THE KEY AND DOOR LOCKS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,200. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE OLD IGNITION HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT AND REPLACED. UPDATED 02/13/12
NHTSA ODI #10442491
55,000 miles · Dec 30, 2011
Electrical System
FAILURE TO BE ABLE TO TURN IGNITION. HAD TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND SPENT $400! INCONVENIENCE? YES! *KB
NHTSA ODI #10441809
102,000 miles · Dec 30, 2011
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS SE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED WHILE IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND THE CURRENT M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS SE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED WHILE IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,542.
NHTSA ODI #10441719
134,000 miles · Dec 22, 2011
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD BE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION WOULD COULD NOT BE TURNED TO START THE VEHICLE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 134,000.
NHTSA ODI #10440992
42,495 miles · Dec 14, 2011
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure
UPON OPENING, THREE HARD CLICKS ARE HEARD - AND LOCK OPENS ON OCCASION. OFTEN REFUSING TO LATCH AND ON MANY OCCASIONS, I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. IT APPEARS TO BE AS STATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V030000 I HAVE SPOKEN WITH DEALER AND FORD ON MANY OCCASIONS THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND THEY INSIST THIS CAR WAS…
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UPON OPENING, THREE HARD CLICKS ARE HEARD - AND LOCK OPENS ON OCCASION. OFTEN REFUSING TO LATCH AND ON MANY OCCASIONS, I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. IT APPEARS TO BE AS STATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V030000 I HAVE SPOKEN WITH DEALER AND FORD ON MANY OCCASIONS THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND THEY INSIST THIS CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE CAMPAIGN AND REFUSE TO INSPECT, OR VIEW, OR ASSESS. *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.
2003 Ford Focus Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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