IllustrationI HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION KIT ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT CAR NEW APPROXIMATE DATE. *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 reportsI HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION KIT ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT CAR NEW. *TR
I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION LOCKING. I'M GOING ON MY 3RD REPAIR FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. FIRST THE IGNITION WAS RE-KEYED AND/OR REPLACED. NEXT THE IGNITION AGAIN WAS REPLACED. THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO REMOVED. THIS TIME, I'M IMAGING THE SAME THING. I'M VERY UPSET THAT FORD HAS NEVER OFFERED TO REPAIR AT DISCOUNTS OR T…
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I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION LOCKING. I'M GOING ON MY 3RD REPAIR FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. FIRST THE IGNITION WAS RE-KEYED AND/OR REPLACED. NEXT THE IGNITION AGAIN WAS REPLACED. THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO REMOVED. THIS TIME, I'M IMAGING THE SAME THING. I'M VERY UPSET THAT FORD HAS NEVER OFFERED TO REPAIR AT DISCOUNTS OR TO REPAIR AT ALL. VERY UPSET THAT THEY NEVER RECALLED IT, KNOWING THIS WAS STACKING UP FOR BUYERS, AS AN ISSUE. I COME FROM A FAMILY WITH FAITHFUL FORD, LINCOLN/MERCURY TIES, WHICH INCLUDE EMPLOYEES, RETIREES, AND A FAMILY THAT SUPPORTS FORD, NO DOUBT. AS A FOCUS OWNER, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED HOW THIS HAS BEEN HANDLED. *TR
SIDEWALL OF TIRE BLEW OUT. TIRES ARE NOT EVEN 2 MONTHS OLD. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. DOUGLAS XTRA TRAC II 185/65/14. *TR
I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE A OIL CHANGE, AND MY MECHANIC SAW THAT THE LEFT SIDE REAR SUSPENSION CROSS STABILIZER BAR IS RUSTED AND THE BOLTS ARE RUSTED. HE SAID TO CALL FORD THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. THERE IS NOT SO I CALLED FORD AND THEY JUST FILED A COMPLAINT.I CAN NOT TAKE MY CAR ON THE INTERSTATE OR GO OVER 40 MPH IF I DID MY MEC…
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I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE A OIL CHANGE, AND MY MECHANIC SAW THAT THE LEFT SIDE REAR SUSPENSION CROSS STABILIZER BAR IS RUSTED AND THE BOLTS ARE RUSTED. HE SAID TO CALL FORD THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. THERE IS NOT SO I CALLED FORD AND THEY JUST FILED A COMPLAINT.I CAN NOT TAKE MY CAR ON THE INTERSTATE OR GO OVER 40 MPH IF I DID MY MECHANIC SAID IF THE RIGHT SIDE BROKE OFF THE CAR WOULD FLIP. MY CONCERN IS DOES SOMETHING HAVE TO HAPPEN FIRST I TRANSPORT MY GRAND KIDS BUT I CAN'T GO OVER 40. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS. *TR
AIRBAG WARNING SYSTEM LIGHT FLASHES ON INDICATING POSSIBLE FAILURE OR DEFECTIVE SYSTEM BUT DOES NOT REMAIN ON. LIGHT GOES OUT ABOUT 1 HOUR OR SO OF DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE BECAME EXTREMELY HOT AND MELTED. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE BECAME EXTREMELY HOT AND MELTED. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTING FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT ALL OF THE IGNITION CABLE CORDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTING FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT ALL OF THE IGNITION CABLE CORDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.
WHEEL STUD ON FRONT, DRIVERSIDE BROKE OFF WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION. BECAUSE OF STUD FAILURE, WHEEL NUTS AND WHEEL FLEW OFF VEHICLE, CROSSING ONCOMING LANE. IF DEFECT OCCURS ON OTHER VEHICLES ON A HWY OR AT HIGHSPEEDS. SEVERE INJURY COULD OCCUR. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED AND ON AN EMPTY STREET. FORD REPORTED NO WA…
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WHEEL STUD ON FRONT, DRIVERSIDE BROKE OFF WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION. BECAUSE OF STUD FAILURE, WHEEL NUTS AND WHEEL FLEW OFF VEHICLE, CROSSING ONCOMING LANE. IF DEFECT OCCURS ON OTHER VEHICLES ON A HWY OR AT HIGHSPEEDS. SEVERE INJURY COULD OCCUR. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED AND ON AN EMPTY STREET. FORD REPORTED NO WAY OF CHECKING ITS DATABASES FOR SIMILAR DEFECTS. *TR
IN MARCH 2013 I TOOK MY FORD FOCUS IN TO REPLACE MOTOR MOUNTS, RETURNED IN APRIL FOR THE SAME AWFUL VIBRATION WHILE HEATER WAS ON AND WHILE IDLING. THE MECHANIC CHECKED AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THE MOTOR MOUNTS WAS FAULTY AND HE REPLACED. I AM TAKING MY FOCUS BACK FOR THE THIRD TIME BECAUSE IT IS STILL VIBRATING WHILE IN IDLE WHILE…
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IN MARCH 2013 I TOOK MY FORD FOCUS IN TO REPLACE MOTOR MOUNTS, RETURNED IN APRIL FOR THE SAME AWFUL VIBRATION WHILE HEATER WAS ON AND WHILE IDLING. THE MECHANIC CHECKED AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THE MOTOR MOUNTS WAS FAULTY AND HE REPLACED. I AM TAKING MY FOCUS BACK FOR THE THIRD TIME BECAUSE IT IS STILL VIBRATING WHILE IN IDLE WHILE THE AC IS ON. THE FIRST FEW TIMES AFTER HE REPLACED THE FAULTY MOTOR MOUNT IT DID THE SAME THING AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT'LL JUST RUN LIKE THAT AND THAT HE RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND THE TRANSMISSION, ALL MOUNTS LOOK GOOD. AND MY SOMETIMES MY STEERING IS OFF AT 35 MILES PER HOUR. I ONLY USE MY FOCUS FOR IN TOWN I DON'T USE TO TRAVEL OUT OF CITY OR STATE. I AM NOT A MECHANIC BUT I AM DISABLED AND I NEED MY CAR RUNNING GOOD. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT. THANK YOU. *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.