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 · Apr 5, 2009
Electrical System
THE IGNITION SWITCH RANDOMLY BROKE ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. MY KEY WILL NOT TURN THE SWITCH. I WAS STRANDED WITH MY 2 CHILDREN. I CONTACTED AAA AND THE LOCKSMITH THAT I SPOKE WITH WAS OUT OF STOCK ON THE IGNITION CYLINDER BECAUSE "THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. I USUALLY KEEP 4 OR 5 ON HAND." I CONSIDER THIS A P…
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THE IGNITION SWITCH RANDOMLY BROKE ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. MY KEY WILL NOT TURN THE SWITCH. I WAS STRANDED WITH MY 2 CHILDREN. I CONTACTED AAA AND THE LOCKSMITH THAT I SPOKE WITH WAS OUT OF STOCK ON THE IGNITION CYLINDER BECAUSE "THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. I USUALLY KEEP 4 OR 5 ON HAND." I CONSIDER THIS A PERSONAL SAFETY ISSUE AS THERE WAS NO WARNING OF IT OCCURRING. IT WAS ALL VERY RANDOM. I DROVE TO THE LOCATION. I DID MY BUSINESS. I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR. MY KEY WOULD NOT WORK. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10264162
43,000 miles · Mar 30, 2009
Electrical System
THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEN MY DAUGHTER OPENED THE DOOR SOMETHING POPPED AND YOU COULD NO LONGER OPEN THE DOOR - I FAILED AN INSPECTION AND RECEIVED A TICKET BECAUSE THE DOOR WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY. MY NEPHEW WENT TO THE JUNKYARD TO GET THE PART BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT NEW AT THE DEALERS…
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THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEN MY DAUGHTER OPENED THE DOOR SOMETHING POPPED AND YOU COULD NO LONGER OPEN THE DOOR - I FAILED AN INSPECTION AND RECEIVED A TICKET BECAUSE THE DOOR WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY. MY NEPHEW WENT TO THE JUNKYARD TO GET THE PART BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT NEW AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS HAPPENED OCT OF 2007. I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS. MY DAUGHTER OPENED THE BACK RIGHT SIDE WINDOW AND SOMETHING AGAIN POPPED. THE WINDOW WOULDN'T GO UP OR DOWN. A DEALER SAID IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED - AGAIN - THAT THE PLASTIC PART THAT MAKES IT GO UP AND DOWN POPPED. AGAIN OFF TO THE JUNK YARD - $8.00 BUCKS WHAT A DEAL. THESE THINGS STARTED RIGHT AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED - GO FIGURE. WHY ARE PLASTIC PARTS BEING PUT INTO OUR VEHICLES - AS A SINGLE MOM I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE ALL PARTS FOR THE DOOR HANDLES AND WINDOWS AS THEY POP. WE NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10263608
50,030 miles · Mar 18, 2009
Electrical System
THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN ON IN MY CAR. THE KEY WILL GO IN, BUT IT WILL NOT TURN. IT WAS HARD TO TURN FOR A WHILE, SEVERAL WEEKS I JUST WOULD KEEP TRYING AND JIGGLING IT, AND IT WOULD EVENTUALLY WORK, AND NOW IT JUST WON'T TURN ON AT ALL. I WAS STRANDED IN A DANGEROUS AREA UNTIL MY HUSBAND COULD COME TO PICK ME UP. I CALLED A …
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THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN ON IN MY CAR. THE KEY WILL GO IN, BUT IT WILL NOT TURN. IT WAS HARD TO TURN FOR A WHILE, SEVERAL WEEKS I JUST WOULD KEEP TRYING AND JIGGLING IT, AND IT WOULD EVENTUALLY WORK, AND NOW IT JUST WON'T TURN ON AT ALL. I WAS STRANDED IN A DANGEROUS AREA UNTIL MY HUSBAND COULD COME TO PICK ME UP. I CALLED A LOCKSMITH TO REPAIR IT AND HE SAID HE GETS THIS ISSUE AL THE TIME WITH FORD FOCUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10262261
Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2009
Electrical System
MY KEY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10262079
51,000 miles · Mar 13, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
I WAS SEATING IN A TACOBELL DRIVETHRU, WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY ENGINE HAD A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10261773
172,000 miles · Mar 9, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN SERIOUS FRONTAL CRASH AND AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10261320
Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2009
Electrical System
2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10261143
Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WEAR DOWN FASTER THAN I CAN AFFORD TO FIX THEM. ROTORS ONLY LAST 1-2 MONTHS THEN BEFORE WARPING THEN I RIDE THEM OUT FOR ANOTHER MONTH (NO MONEY TO KEEP REPLACING) THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR 2 YEARS. I HAVE RECEIPTS AND MECHANICS PROOF. ITS CRAZY. I HAVE ALSO VERIFIED SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER CAR…
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ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WEAR DOWN FASTER THAN I CAN AFFORD TO FIX THEM. ROTORS ONLY LAST 1-2 MONTHS THEN BEFORE WARPING THEN I RIDE THEM OUT FOR ANOTHER MONTH (NO MONEY TO KEEP REPLACING) THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR 2 YEARS. I HAVE RECEIPTS AND MECHANICS PROOF. ITS CRAZY. I HAVE ALSO VERIFIED SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER CAR COMPLAINT WEB SITES WITH PEOPLE AND FORD FOCUS' - BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT MONTHLY. I CANT AFFORD THE REPAIRS BUT I CANT AFFORD TO HAVE MY BRAKES GO OUT COMPLETELY AND RISK THE HARM TO MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. PLEASE HELP *TR
NHTSA ODI #10261002
42,000 miles · Feb 27, 2009
Electrical System
WHEEL AND IGNITION LOCK UP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10260176
83,000 miles · Feb 22, 2009
Electrical System
KEY IGNITION PROBLEM WITH 2003 FORD FOCUS. NOT VERY SAFE WHEN MY DAUGHTER CANT GET HER KEY TO START HER CAR FORD NEED TO FIX THIS ASAP. *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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