IllustrationIGNITION SWITCH/STEERING COLUMN HOUSING UNIT. *AK
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 reportsMY 2003 FOCUS ZTW WAGON HAS BEEN IN FOR BRAKES 3 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. FORD STANDING BY THIS AS A "WEAR" ITEM NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. COULD I HAVE 2002 PARTS IN MY VEHICLE? I HAVE HAD BRAKE INSPECTIONS DONE WITH OIL CHANGES INDICATING EVERYTHING IN THE "GREEN ZONE". THE ROTOR WARPING IS SUDDEN AND UNPREDICTABLE. 3 BRA…
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MY 2003 FOCUS ZTW WAGON HAS BEEN IN FOR BRAKES 3 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. FORD STANDING BY THIS AS A "WEAR" ITEM NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. COULD I HAVE 2002 PARTS IN MY VEHICLE? I HAVE HAD BRAKE INSPECTIONS DONE WITH OIL CHANGES INDICATING EVERYTHING IN THE "GREEN ZONE". THE ROTOR WARPING IS SUDDEN AND UNPREDICTABLE. 3 BRAKE JOBS IN ONE YEAR IS EXCESSIVE AND PROBLEMATIC. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE EVEN WITH THE BRAKES BEING FIXED. *JB
TE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN A SUDDEN STOP. INTERMITTENTLY THE PEDAL WOULD FEEL SOFT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. *JB
AFTER WASHING THE VEHICLE AT A CAR WASH STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY DIRECTION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS BROKEN , AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE THE IGNITION LOCKED AND KEY WILL NOT TURN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK
I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS WHERE THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LATCH HAS FAILED. JUST FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FORD RECALL # 05S27) , BUT IT IS ONLY FOR 2000 - 2002 MODELS & MINE IS A 2003. MY CAR IS IN FOR REPAIR AT MY FORD DEALER NOW , THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM & HV TO ORDER NEW PARTS FOR MY …
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I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS WHERE THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LATCH HAS FAILED. JUST FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FORD RECALL # 05S27) , BUT IT IS ONLY FOR 2000 - 2002 MODELS & MINE IS A 2003. MY CAR IS IN FOR REPAIR AT MY FORD DEALER NOW , THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM & HV TO ORDER NEW PARTS FOR MY CAR .I HV BEEN TOLD I MUST PAY FOR REPAIRS. WHY ARE THE 2003 MODELS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
THERE WAS NO FAILURE OR INJURIES. JUST A PROBLEM WITH GAS MILEAGE. THIS VEHICLE GETS THE WORSE GAS MILEAGE OF ANY AUTO I EVER OWNED EXCEPT MY 1969 PLYMOUTH GTX 440. I KEEP COMPLAINING BUT THE PROBLEM IS SAID TO BE WITH THE ENGINE TYPE. Z-TEC AND THAT IS WHY ON THE 2005 THEY FINALLY CHANGED THE ENGINE. I GET APPROX 15-17 MPG IN …
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THERE WAS NO FAILURE OR INJURIES. JUST A PROBLEM WITH GAS MILEAGE. THIS VEHICLE GETS THE WORSE GAS MILEAGE OF ANY AUTO I EVER OWNED EXCEPT MY 1969 PLYMOUTH GTX 440. I KEEP COMPLAINING BUT THE PROBLEM IS SAID TO BE WITH THE ENGINE TYPE. Z-TEC AND THAT IS WHY ON THE 2005 THEY FINALLY CHANGED THE ENGINE. I GET APPROX 15-17 MPG IN THE CITY NO AIR ON AND HIGHWAY IS APPROX 22-25. I HAVE YET TO GET CLOSE TO 300 MILES ON A TANK FULL OF FUEL. TERRIBLE TERRIBLE .I HAVE PAPER FROM WINDOW AND IT STATES FUEL MILEAGE SHOULD BE APPROX 25 CITY 30 HIGHWAY. THIS VEHICLE NOT CLOSE. RUNS WELL THOUGH. I WOULD CALL THIS A FAILURE OF GAS MILEAGE FACTORY ESTIMATE NUMBER OF TIMES IN BOX BELOW IS CONSERVATIVE. I FIGURED CLOSER TO 275-300 *JB
AFTER COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STRUCK A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WOULD NOT START STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON TOWED TO DEALER COST WAS 50 DOLLARS W/ EXTENDED WARRANT ALSO HAPPENED TO MY SISTERS 2003 FORD FOCUS .THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED . *AK
BUY THE CAR IN LIVINGSTON MONTANA 09-28-2002 THE VIN [XXX] THE CAR HAD ONLY LIKE 20 MILES WE DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. WE WENT ON VACATION THAT SUMMER WE HAD A BLOW OUT ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. WE CALLED THE FORD COMPANY IN LIVINGSTON ,MONTANA WE WERE IN ID SO THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANY THING FOR US. WE HAD TO DRIVE T…
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BUY THE CAR IN LIVINGSTON MONTANA 09-28-2002 THE VIN [XXX] THE CAR HAD ONLY LIKE 20 MILES WE DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. WE WENT ON VACATION THAT SUMMER WE HAD A BLOW OUT ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. WE CALLED THE FORD COMPANY IN LIVINGSTON ,MONTANA WE WERE IN ID SO THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANY THING FOR US. WE HAD TO DRIVE TO THE NEXT TOWN ABOUT 14 MILES BACK . WE GOT BACK WE TOOK IT TO FORD COMPANY. THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND SHAKING REALLY BAD AND THE TRUNK WILL NOT LOCK (IT WILL NOT LOCK IF WE PUSH THE BUTTON ) WE DO NOT USE THE TRUNK STILL ,THE CLUTCH POPS OUT THEM TOLD US TO DOUBLE CLUTCH AND IT ( STILL POPS OUT WENT YOU BACK UP SOMETIMES). WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THEY ,THEM ON 09-24-2003 THEY HAD THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS ALMOST I HAVE A LISTED OF THING WANT WAS WRONG AN STILL WRONG WITH THE CAR ,WE TOLD THEM WE WANT AN NEW CAR BUT THEY STILL WOULD NOT GIVE US ONE OR WOULD NOT WORK WITH US , THEM SAID I'M SORRY BUT WE COULD NOT DO THAT. I KNOW YOU FOLKS HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH THE CAR BUT I CAN NOT DO ANYTHING. I WAS MAD AN STILL WE BOUGHT ABOUT FOUR SETS OF TIRES FOR THAT CAR . THE CAR WAS ONLY HAS 48003 MILES, WE HAD MANY OUTS ,WE HAD A BACK BLOW AGAIN IN NOV- 2004 . MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE IT MUCH BECAUSE SHE IS SCARED OF IT. IT PULLS YOU ALL OVER THE ROAD IN THE BAD WEATHER WE LIVED IN WHITEHALL , MONTANA VERY SMALL TOWN IF WE WANT TO GO SHOPPING YOU HAVE TO DRIVE 20 MINS PLUS AWAY, SHE WAITS ON THE WEEKENDS TO TAKE MY CAR. SHE ONLY DRIVES THE CAR TO TAKE OUR CHILD TO SCHOOL WHICH IS A MILE THERE AND BACK. PLEASE HELP US A GET DIFFERENT CAR. THAT MY WIFE WILL NOT BE SCARED OF. *NM UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS
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.