Illustration2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION WONT TURN RESULTING IS A STRANDING SITUATION, POSSIBLY IN DANGEROUS AREAS. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Focus years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 reportsUPON LEAVING WORK LAST NIGHT, I PUT MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. 4 PEOPLE TRIED TO TURN THE KEY, STILL WITHOUT SUCCESS. I TRIED TO WIGGLE TO STEERING WHEEL, THE GEAR SHIFT AND LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR BEFORE TRYING AGAIN. FINALLY, MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. THE TOWING MAN STATED THAT THIS IS THE MOST COMMON CO…
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UPON LEAVING WORK LAST NIGHT, I PUT MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. 4 PEOPLE TRIED TO TURN THE KEY, STILL WITHOUT SUCCESS. I TRIED TO WIGGLE TO STEERING WHEEL, THE GEAR SHIFT AND LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR BEFORE TRYING AGAIN. FINALLY, MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. THE TOWING MAN STATED THAT THIS IS THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINT ON ALL THE FORD FOCUSES HE TOWS, AS DO MANY WEBSITES I HAVE RECENTLY LOCATED. OVERALL, IT SEEMS THAT ONCE I FINISHED PAYING OFF MY FORD FOCUS, IT HAS BEEN NEEDING MECHANIC WORK EVER SINCE ON VARIOUS PARTS. I ALWAYS GET MY ROUTINE OIL CHANGES AND MILEAGES CHECK-UPS. MY CAR IS NOW AT THE MECHANIC AND I AM AWAITING AN ESTIMATE. *TR
I BOUGHT A 2003 FORD FOCUS FROM AN AUTO DEALER IN AUGUST, 2009. I AM HAVING CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION CYLINDER - THE KEY KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN IT. I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP HERE THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE $450 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE, I'VE FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2003-2004 F…
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I BOUGHT A 2003 FORD FOCUS FROM AN AUTO DEALER IN AUGUST, 2009. I AM HAVING CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION CYLINDER - THE KEY KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN IT. I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP HERE THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE $450 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE, I'VE FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2003-2004 FORD FOCUS CARS! PLEASE CONSIDER A RECALL FOR THE DEFECT. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SEAT 2003 FORD FOCUS WAGON ZTW (PURCHASED NEW IN 7/2003, CURRENTLY 55K MILES) SEEMS TO HAVE HAD A SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTION AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT COVER, AND THE CLOTHES OF THE DRIVER AT THE TIME. THE SEAT HEATER BUTTON WOULD NOT TURN THE HEATER OFF. THE FUSE HAD TO PULLED TO GET IT TO TURN OFF. THERE WAS NEVE…
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THE DRIVER'S SEAT 2003 FORD FOCUS WAGON ZTW (PURCHASED NEW IN 7/2003, CURRENTLY 55K MILES) SEEMS TO HAVE HAD A SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTION AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT COVER, AND THE CLOTHES OF THE DRIVER AT THE TIME. THE SEAT HEATER BUTTON WOULD NOT TURN THE HEATER OFF. THE FUSE HAD TO PULLED TO GET IT TO TURN OFF. THERE WAS NEVER A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT HEATER BEFORE THIS EVENT. THE DEALER (QUIRK FORD IN QUINCY MA) SAYS IT'S ONLY AN OUT-OF-WARRANTY REPAIR AND WANTS TO CHARGE $600 TO FIX IT. I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT FIRE AND PERSONAL INJURY. *TR
IGNITION LOCKS AND I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO START MY FORD FOCUS 2003. I WAS LEFT STRANDED WITH MY SIXTH MO. OLD SON WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS AT A GAS STATION. I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED AND HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED FOR $290.00 IN ADDITION TO TOWING FEES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS OCCURRED, BUT WAS INFORMED…
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IGNITION LOCKS AND I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO START MY FORD FOCUS 2003. I WAS LEFT STRANDED WITH MY SIXTH MO. OLD SON WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS AT A GAS STATION. I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED AND HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED FOR $290.00 IN ADDITION TO TOWING FEES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS OCCURRED, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS AND WAS WARNED BY THE TECH THAT REPLACED THE IGNITION, THAT THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I LIVE IN A MINNESOTA WHERE WINTERS ARE VERY COLD, AND AM CONCERNED I WILL BE STRANDED AGAIN WITH AN INFANT BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFAULT. *TR
ON TUESDAY MY CAR OPERATED NORMALLY. WEDNESDAY MORNING I WENT TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND MY KEY WOULD NOT TURN. FORTUNATELY I WAS AT HOME, HOWEVER I COULD HAVE BEEN STUCK SOMEWHERE. I COULD HAVE HAD AN EMERGENCY AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE MY CAR. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, MISS 3 DAYS OF WORK AND AM OUT $510. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE STEERING COLUMN ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED SINCE IT CAN BE TURNED 360 DEGREES. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION KEY AND TUMBLER SWITCH. I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WON'T TURN. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED NUMEROUS TIMES. I UNDERSTAND THE REPAIRS ARE $400 +. *TR
I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS WITH NO IGNITION PROBLEM. I DROVE TO WORK, AND RAN A FEW WORK RELATED ERRANDS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. AS I WAS PREPARING TO LEAVE WORK FOR THE DAY I PUT MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND IT FELT AS IF IT WERE COMPLETELY LOCKED. MORE THAN 3 PEOPLE TRIED TO TURN THE KEY AND OFFERED DIFFEREN…
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I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS WITH NO IGNITION PROBLEM. I DROVE TO WORK, AND RAN A FEW WORK RELATED ERRANDS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. AS I WAS PREPARING TO LEAVE WORK FOR THE DAY I PUT MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND IT FELT AS IF IT WERE COMPLETELY LOCKED. MORE THAN 3 PEOPLE TRIED TO TURN THE KEY AND OFFERED DIFFERENT IDEAS AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. TRIPLE A WAS CALLED OUT AND HE EXPLAINED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. HE INFORMED ME THE TUMBLERS IN THE IGNITION HAVE SUDDENLY STOPPED DROPPING AND RECOGNIZING MY KEY. HE THEN PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, TAPPED IN A FEW TIMES TO RELEASE THE TUMBLERS AND IT STARTED. WE THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND STRUGGLED A BIT TO GET THE KEY OUT. IT IS NOW 2 DAYS LATER AND THE SITUATION HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND IS AFFECTING MY TRANSPORTATION. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKED FINE ALL DAY WITHOUT A "STICKING" FEELING OR A RESISTANCE TO TURN AND NOW IT IS COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN AND TURN THE KEY WITH EASE. IT IS SIMPLY STUCK AND NO ONE CAN REALLY EXPLAIN WHY, OTHER THAN POOR QUALITY WITHIN THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TR
WE DROVE OUR 2003 FORD FOCUS TO THE GROCERY STORE. UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AND STRANDED MY WIFE, 4 YEAR OLD AND 6 MONTH OLD CHILDREN AND MYSELF WONDERING WHAT WE COULD DO. *TR
Official recalls
105V030000 · 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
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.