NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
977 reportsMileage unknown · Jan 5, 2007
Electrical System
MY CAR IS ONLY THREE AND A HALF YEARS OLD AND FOR THE LAST 8 TO 10 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. IF I TURN THE CAR OFF IT IS VERY, VERY HARD TO GET THE KEY TO TURN OVER. I TOOK IT TO A LOCKSMITH WHO SAID THAT THEY HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN FORD AND MERCURY VEHICLES COMING IN WITH …
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MY CAR IS ONLY THREE AND A HALF YEARS OLD AND FOR THE LAST 8 TO 10 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. IF I TURN THE CAR OFF IT IS VERY, VERY HARD TO GET THE KEY TO TURN OVER. I TOOK IT TO A LOCKSMITH WHO SAID THAT THEY HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN FORD AND MERCURY VEHICLES COMING IN WITH THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEMS. THEY ALSO SAID THAT FORD HAS REDESIGNED THEIR SWITCHES SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL COME UP WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I AM EXPERIENCING. I WAS WONDERING WHY NO KIND OF RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10177901
28,000 miles · Jan 4, 2007
Visibility
NHTSA PREVIOUS REPORT 01V258000 (RECALL ID 01D-258) FOR FORD FOCUS WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR PROBLEMS - 2001/2002 VEHICLES. I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS, WIPER DOES NOT STOW - AS THERE ARE OTHER REPORTED VEHICLES - WILL NHTSA DIRECT FORD TO "RECALL" OR FIX LATER MODEL YEAR FOR THIS SAME ISSUE? THE VIRGINIA SAF…
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NHTSA PREVIOUS REPORT 01V258000 (RECALL ID 01D-258) FOR FORD FOCUS WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR PROBLEMS - 2001/2002 VEHICLES. I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS, WIPER DOES NOT STOW - AS THERE ARE OTHER REPORTED VEHICLES - WILL NHTSA DIRECT FORD TO "RECALL" OR FIX LATER MODEL YEAR FOR THIS SAME ISSUE? THE VIRGINIA SAFETY INSPECTION FAILED MY CAR FOR THIS ISSUE - STATED FORD WOULD FIX, FORD DEALER HAS NO REQUIREMENT, AS THIS IS NOT A "RECALLED YEAR". *JB
NHTSA ODI #10177730
Mileage unknown · Jan 1, 2007
Electrical System
THE IGNITION LOCK FREEZES AND WILL NOT TURN, WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONSEQUENCES HAVE INCLUDED LOSS OF VEHICLE USE, TOWING EXPENSES, AND UNWANTED STRESS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10177451
Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2006
Electrical System
THE IGNITION STARTED LOCKING SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, BUT EVENTUALLY WOULD WORK AFTER PLAYING WITH THE KEY TO START. TODAY, WHILE OUT AT A SHOPPING CENTER, IT LOCKED UP COMPLETELY, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THIS CAR IS A 2003 WITH ONLY 13000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA ODI #10177331
Mileage unknown · Dec 25, 2006
Electrical System
IGNITION LOCK OF FORD FOCUS 2003 BROKE AND WE WERE UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR AWAY FROM A DRIVEWAY THAT WAS BLOCKED SINCE IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY. ONE MECHANIC WAS PAID TO TRY TO START THE CAR BUT HE WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL (BUT HE WAS STILL PAID). EVENTUALLY, WE LEARNED FROM THE WWW THAT THIS WAS A WIDE-SPREAD PRO…
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IGNITION LOCK OF FORD FOCUS 2003 BROKE AND WE WERE UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR AWAY FROM A DRIVEWAY THAT WAS BLOCKED SINCE IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY. ONE MECHANIC WAS PAID TO TRY TO START THE CAR BUT HE WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL (BUT HE WAS STILL PAID). EVENTUALLY, WE LEARNED FROM THE WWW THAT THIS WAS A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM. A LOCKSMITH WAS CALLED WHO REPLACED THE LOCK AND WAS PAID. IN ADDITION TO THE FINANCIAL EXPENSE, TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE LOCATION OF THE CAR AND THE TIME SPENT WERE SIGNIFICANT COSTS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10176903
25,000 miles · Dec 21, 2006
Visibility
THE WIPERS ON THIS CAR DO THE EXACT SAME THING MY 2000 FORD FOCUS DID THAT HAD A RECALL THEY DON NOT WANT TO RETURN TO THE HOME POSITION. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10176737
51,000 miles · Dec 18, 2006
Electrical System
IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKS WHEN TURNING THE KEY ON A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3. THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED MOST OF THE TIME. THIS IS DANGEROUS IF THE CAR STALLS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10176503
70,000 miles · Dec 18, 2006
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE TRUNK WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.
NHTSA ODI #10176362
80,900 miles · Dec 15, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATED TO 35 MPH; THE EGR TUBE CAME LOOSE FROM THE MANIFOLD FOR THE SECOND TIME, MADE A LOUD NOISE, AND ALLOWED ESCAPING EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE SERVICE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. UPDATED 01/30/07. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10176241
Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2006
Electrical System
I HAVE OWNED 2 FORD FOCUSES, A 2000 AND NOW A 2003 MODEL. BOTH VEHICLES HAVE HAD THE IGNITION LOCK UP AND I WAS CHARGED $400 TO FIX IT. OBVIOUSLY, FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS COMFORTABLE ENOUGH WITH THIS DESIGN FLAW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS, AND THE CONSUMER IS LEFT HOLDING THE BILL. THERE ARE OVER 400 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS …
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I HAVE OWNED 2 FORD FOCUSES, A 2000 AND NOW A 2003 MODEL. BOTH VEHICLES HAVE HAD THE IGNITION LOCK UP AND I WAS CHARGED $400 TO FIX IT. OBVIOUSLY, FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS COMFORTABLE ENOUGH WITH THIS DESIGN FLAW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS, AND THE CONSUMER IS LEFT HOLDING THE BILL. THERE ARE OVER 400 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS LOGGED ON THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE: HTTP://FORUMS.FOCALJET.COM/PROBLEMS-SERVICE-RECALLS/416401-PLEASE-POST-IF-YOUR-IGNITION-HAS-LOCKED.HTML WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET THIS COMPANY TO ADMIT THEY ARE PUTTING OUT A FAULTY PRODUCT? *JB
NHTSA ODI #10175831
Official recalls
1Feb 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.
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