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 · Dec 13, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
IN APRIL I HAD MY 30,000 MILE MAINTENANCE CHECK-UP. AT THE END OF NOVEMBER MY SPEEDOMETER FAILED AND I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED MY BRAKE PADS REPLACED, WHICH I AGREED TO. THEY ALSO REPLACED MY ROTORS. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALERSHIP WITH REGARD TO THE ROTOR WEAR, WHICH I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND SINCE I HA…
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IN APRIL I HAD MY 30,000 MILE MAINTENANCE CHECK-UP. AT THE END OF NOVEMBER MY SPEEDOMETER FAILED AND I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED MY BRAKE PADS REPLACED, WHICH I AGREED TO. THEY ALSO REPLACED MY ROTORS. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALERSHIP WITH REGARD TO THE ROTOR WEAR, WHICH I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND SINCE I HAD THE CAR INSPECTED 3,000 MILES EARLIER AND THE BRAKES WERE FINE, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS KIND OF WEAR IS NORMAL ON THIS VEHICLE, AND TO EXPECT TO HAVE TO REPLACE MY PADS AND ROTORS EVERY 15,000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. IN ADDITION, I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THERE ARE TWO TSB'S (16685/17278) ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10145107
28,000 miles · Dec 7, 2005
Structure
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRUNK WILL NOT LATCH. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10144697
Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2005
Electrical System
2003 FORD FOCUS WITH FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THE SWITCH WAS LOCK IN PLACED WITH NO HOPE OF TURNING THE KEY. AS THE SERVICE MANAGER AT OUR LOCAL DEALER EXPLAINED, THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH TUMBLER SET AS THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY OF THEM AND HAVE BEEN SENT A TSB ON REPLACING THEM WITH A BETTER ASSE…
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2003 FORD FOCUS WITH FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THE SWITCH WAS LOCK IN PLACED WITH NO HOPE OF TURNING THE KEY. AS THE SERVICE MANAGER AT OUR LOCAL DEALER EXPLAINED, THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH TUMBLER SET AS THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY OF THEM AND HAVE BEEN SENT A TSB ON REPLACING THEM WITH A BETTER ASSEMBLY MADE OF STEEL AS COMPARED TO THE ORIGINAL MADE OF POT METAL. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10144659
98,000 miles · Nov 30, 2005
Electrical System
IGNITION CYLINDER HAS FAILED TWICE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 11/02. THE CAR IS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE IGNITION CYLINDER FREEZES AND PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING. I HAVE HAD THIS CYLINDER REPLACED TWICE IN ONE YEAR. THE FIRST TIME ON 11/6/04 AND THE SECOND TIME IN 11/27/05. *NM
I ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS BEFORE THE PROBLEMS STARTED I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T CHANGE GEAR, THEY SAY THIS IS NORMAL. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WAS NEVER SEALED IN THEY TOLD ME THAT IT COULD BE FIXED. THE FRONT WHEELS CLICK WHEN DRIVEN. THE BRAKES WENT OUT QUICK. THE BACK HUBS AR…
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I ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS BEFORE THE PROBLEMS STARTED I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T CHANGE GEAR, THEY SAY THIS IS NORMAL. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WAS NEVER SEALED IN THEY TOLD ME THAT IT COULD BE FIXED. THE FRONT WHEELS CLICK WHEN DRIVEN. THE BRAKES WENT OUT QUICK. THE BACK HUBS ARE SEALED FROM RUST. AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN GET MY DISABLED CHILD TO THE DOCTORS BECAUSE THE IGNITION HAS GONE COMPLETELY OUT. THE LOCKSMITH SAID I WAS LUCKY I WAS PARKED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10143296
39,000 miles · Nov 17, 2005
Electrical System
IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I AM VERY SURPRISED THAT FORD WOULD LET THIS GO ON SO LONG. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10143034
Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2005
Visibility
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING DEFECT IN FORD FOCUS WINDSHIELD. *TS THE WINDSHIELD HAD COME LOOSE IN THE CENTER ABOUT 12 INCHES. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10142142
Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2005
Electrical System
THE IGNITION ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS HAS FAILED TWICE. ONCE OVER A YEAR AGO, AND AGAIN NOW. THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN WHEN I INSERT THE KEY. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10141478
12,100 miles · Oct 25, 2005
TiresCrash
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR STARTED SPINNING AROUND AND HIT AN EXIT SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE TIRE CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE RIM. BOTH INSURANCE AND POLICE REPORTS WERE TAKEN. THERE HAS BEEN NO CO…
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR STARTED SPINNING AROUND AND HIT AN EXIT SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE TIRE CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE RIM. BOTH INSURANCE AND POLICE REPORTS WERE TAKEN. THERE HAS BEEN NO CONTACT WITH GOODYEAR. THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK
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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