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
85,624 miles · Jun 14, 2010
Electrical SystemSteering
KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. IGNITION WILL NOT TURN. THIS HAPPENS JUST ABOUT EVERY TIME AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO TURN THE CAR ON FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS MUST BE MADE AND EXCESSIVE FORCE TO ENGAGE KEY MUST BE USED. AFTER CONTACTING SEVERAL LOCKSMITHS AND BEING REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN ONLY BE RE…
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KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. IGNITION WILL NOT TURN. THIS HAPPENS JUST ABOUT EVERY TIME AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO TURN THE CAR ON FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS MUST BE MADE AND EXCESSIVE FORCE TO ENGAGE KEY MUST BE USED. AFTER CONTACTING SEVERAL LOCKSMITHS AND BEING REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN ONLY BE REPAIRED BY A FORD DEALER DUE TO THE COMPUTER NEEDING TO BE PROGRAMMED TO MATCH A CHIP IN THE IGNITION AND KEY, A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED. A CUSTOMER SERVICE EMPLOYEE REPORTED THAT IT CAN BE REPLACED FOR $250. BUT THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NO GUARANTEES THAT THE IGNITION WOULD NOT NEED FURTHER REPLACEMENT FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE. IGNITION WILL NO LONGER TURN AT ALL RESULTING IN THE KEY SNAPPING IN THE IGNITION. ENTIRE IGNITION WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10336258
45,000 miles · Jun 13, 2010
Electrical System
MY 2003 FORD FOCUS IS HAVING AN IGNITION PROBLEM - MY KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION - I AM NOW STRANDED AND HAVE TO CALL AAA FOR HELP - THEY JUST LEFT - HAVE TO HAVE IGNITION REPLACED BY DEALER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10336048
106,000 miles · Jun 11, 2010
Electrical System
KEY WILL NOT TURN IGNITION. IT IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. LAST NIGHT I WAS STRANDED LATE AT NIGHT AND HAD TO CALL SOMEONE TO COME GET ME. I TRIED FOR OVER AN HOUR TO GET IT TO TURN. FROM WHAT I AM FINDING OUT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10335807
72,000 miles · Jun 11, 2010
Exterior Lighting
2003 FORD FOCUS SE 4 DOOR SEDAN -- RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL SOCKET HAS MELTED TO TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WHERE IT CANNOT BE REMOVED. BOTH TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND SOCKET HAVE TO BE REPLACED. LEFT REAR APPEARS TO BE DAMAGED ALSO, BUT BULB IS NOT OUT YET. IS THIS A FIRE HAZARD? IT DOES CREATE A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S TAKEN MY GARAGE AN…
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2003 FORD FOCUS SE 4 DOOR SEDAN -- RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL SOCKET HAS MELTED TO TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WHERE IT CANNOT BE REMOVED. BOTH TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND SOCKET HAVE TO BE REPLACED. LEFT REAR APPEARS TO BE DAMAGED ALSO, BUT BULB IS NOT OUT YET. IS THIS A FIRE HAZARD? IT DOES CREATE A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S TAKEN MY GARAGE AND THE FORD DEALER 3 WEEKS TO FIND THE CORRECT SOCKET TO FIT THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10335772
49,774 miles · Jun 8, 2010
Electrical System
KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WAGON. WAS STRANDED AT A DRIVE IN MOVIE THEATER AT 2AM WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND THE WINDOWS DOWN AS IT STARTED TO RAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10335315
64,000 miles · Jun 3, 2010
Structure
WHEN ACCELERATING AT LOW SPEEDS, TURNING AND DRIVING SPEED BUMPS A HORRIBLE RATTLING, VIBRATION, METAL ON METAL SOUND IS HEARD INSIDE THE CARE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BEHIND GLOVE BOX. CONTINUES TO GET WORSE AND 2 AAA APPROVED MECHANICS COULD NOT FIND IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10334373
81,000 miles · Jun 1, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AND WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL. THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY START AND WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL UNTIL THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AND WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL. THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY START AND WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL UNTIL THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,007.
NHTSA ODI #10334052
12,000 miles · May 26, 2010
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
IGN KEY WILL NOT TURNING KEY GETS STUCK LEFT ME STRANDED IN A BAD HIGH CRIME AREA I UNDER STAND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM ON ALL THE FOCUS WHY IS A RECALL MOT BEEN DONE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10332430
47,000 miles · May 21, 2010
Electrical System
THE ORIGINAL FORD CAR KEY FOR MY 03 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION SOMETIMES. ILL SAY ABOUT 25% OF THE TIME IT WON'T. AND I HAVEN'T FIXED IT YET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10331651
53,600 miles · May 18, 2010
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE PLACED HIS KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM TO BANG ON THE STEERING COLUMN TO ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE PLACED HIS KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM TO BANG ON THE STEERING COLUMN TO ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,850. UPDATED 7/20/10 *CN UPDATED 07/23/10*JB
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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