IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN WHEN SHE INSERTED THE KEY. AS OF SEPTEMBER 28, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.
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 reportsWITHOUT WARNING, AND WITH NO PRIOR OCCURRENCE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2003 FOCUS. A FRIEND RESCUED ME AND DROVE ME BACK TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW - ALONG WITH A 7 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. FIRST, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REP TRIED TO PLA…
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WITHOUT WARNING, AND WITH NO PRIOR OCCURRENCE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2003 FOCUS. A FRIEND RESCUED ME AND DROVE ME BACK TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW - ALONG WITH A 7 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. FIRST, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REP TRIED TO PLAY "DUMB' WHEN I STATED THAT I'M HAVING THE "IGNITION PROBLEM" AND HE LATER TOLD ME THAT IT'S NOT COVERED BY MY WARRANTY. I HAVE PULLED OUT AND READ THE WARRANTY. IGNITION SWITCH IS COVERED BY MY BASECARE POLICY. (I WILL BRING IT IN HAND WHEN I HAVE THE CAR SERVICED IN 2 DAYS.) MEANWHILE, ANOTHER PERSON AT THE SERVICE DESK HINTED THAT I MAY BE ABLE TO TAP IT WITH A HAMMER SO THAT IT WILL TURN AND COULD DRIVE TO THE DEALER AND NOT HAVE TO BE TOWED. SURE ENOUGH, A TAP OF THE HAMMER ALLOWED ME TO TURN THE KEY. I WILL LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND AM STRUGGLING WITH THE THOUGHT THAT A REPLACEMENT FROM FORD WILL BE ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART. WHETHER MY WARRANTY COVERS IT OR NOT, I DON'T WANT ANOTHER BAD IGNITION SWITCH! FROM ALL THAT I HAVE READ, IT SEEMS THAT A LOCKSMITH WOULD REPLACE IT WITH A BETTER QUALITY DEVICE THAN FORD DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE USING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT, THE IGNITION LOCKED UP AND PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM TURNING OR PUSHING THE STEERING WHEEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $400. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAG…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT, THE IGNITION LOCKED UP AND PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM TURNING OR PUSHING THE STEERING WHEEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $400. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000.
2003 FORD FOCUS WAGON, TAIL LIGHTS MELTED BOTH SIDES WHERE YOU REPLACE THE BULB, CANNOT REPLACE THE BRAKE, RUNNING, TURN, BULB BECAUSE YOU CANNOT PULL THE BULB HOUSING OUT OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. FORD SERVICE DEPT. SAID TO LONG ON THE BRAKE PEDAL $160 EA. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION LOCKED, WHICH PREVENTED THE KEY FROM BEING TURNED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB THE DEALER STATED THE CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION LOCKED, WHICH PREVENTED THE KEY FROM BEING TURNED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB THE DEALER STATED THE CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/12/07. *JB
2003 FORD FOCUS/ IGNITION WON'T TURN IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM BY ALL THE DIFFERENT WEBSITES AND BLOGS ABOUT IT. THIS DEFECT SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE A RECALL AND WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER TO FIND OUT THE FIX AND PRICE THEY LAUGHED AND SAID $600 TO $700 DOLLARS. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND I AM APPALLED. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAS TO BE UNLOCKED FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. ON SEPTEMBER 09, 2007, AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS, SHE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND UNLOCK THE STEERING COLUMN. ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, THE CONTACT HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AT HER JOB…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAS TO BE UNLOCKED FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. ON SEPTEMBER 09, 2007, AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS, SHE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND UNLOCK THE STEERING COLUMN. ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, THE CONTACT HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AT HER JOB BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. SHE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR SEPTEMBER 22, 2007. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 24,000. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITON MODULE WAS REPALCED. UPDATED 12/12/07
AT APPROXIMATELY 5:00 P.M., MY IGNITION LOCKED UP ON ME, WITH MY CAR PARKED IN A PARKING LOT CLOSE TO MY HOME (THANK GOODNESS). I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR WIDESPREAD ISSUE, AND THAT I AM DEFINITELY NOT ALONE. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN HE TURNED THE IGNITION. SHE CALLED HER INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY ADVISED HER TO STRIKE THE IGNITION WITH SOMETHING, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START MOMENTS LATER. THE FAILURE BEGAN IN 2005 AND HAS OCCURRED SIX TIMES. THE C…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN HE TURNED THE IGNITION. SHE CALLED HER INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY ADVISED HER TO STRIKE THE IGNITION WITH SOMETHING, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START MOMENTS LATER. THE FAILURE BEGAN IN 2005 AND HAS OCCURRED SIX TIMES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED REPLACING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
DOOR LATCHES ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN, BOTH FROM THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE, SOMETIMES LEAVING ME SITTING IN THE CAR WONDERING HOW I AM GOING TO GET OUT. BEFORE MY WARRANTY WAS UP, THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THIS WAS JUST TYPICAL OF OUR MODEL OF CAR AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. *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.