NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
977 reports21,565 miles · Oct 17, 2004
SuspensionCrash
FORD FOCUS 2003 LOUD CRACKLING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN DRIVING... NEXT CAR DROPPED AND BARED TO THE RIGHT..OFF ROAD TRIED TO GET VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL, AS A RESULT THE CAR VEERED TO THE LEFT TOWARDS ON COMING TRAFFIC..VEHICLE AND CAR, IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC COLLIDED.. SENDING VEHICLE BACK TO THE RIGHT AND INTO A GUARD RAIL..... C…
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FORD FOCUS 2003 LOUD CRACKLING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN DRIVING... NEXT CAR DROPPED AND BARED TO THE RIGHT..OFF ROAD TRIED TO GET VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL, AS A RESULT THE CAR VEERED TO THE LEFT TOWARDS ON COMING TRAFFIC..VEHICLE AND CAR, IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC COLLIDED.. SENDING VEHICLE BACK TO THE RIGHT AND INTO A GUARD RAIL..... COMPLAINT: THE AXLE BROKE LANDING CAR ON FENDER, WHILE DRIVING, NEWLY PURCHASED CAR ON SEPTEMBER 24, ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 3, 2004.. ATTORNEY CONTACTED SAID THEY NEED PROOF OF THE AXLE BRAKING BEFORE ACCIDENT... THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR CLEARLY INDICATES WHAT HAPPENED...THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE THAT CAME OFF STILL HAS THE AXLE ATTACHED TO IT WITH LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE TIRE IT WAS PICKED UP OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER ACCIDENT...I RECEIVED A TICKET FOR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE..WHICH REALLY WAS NO FAULT OF MY OWN..
NHTSA ODI #10095917
8,500 miles · Oct 15, 2004
Unknown Or OtherWheels
THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OVER A ROCK THE SIZE OF A TOMATO AND THE WHEEL RIM HAS A TEAR STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIM. THE PRESSURE OF THE AIR BLEW THE TIRE TOWARD THE INSIDE OF THE RIM. THE RIM SHATTERED AND THE TIRE WAS LEFT INTACT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. …
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THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OVER A ROCK THE SIZE OF A TOMATO AND THE WHEEL RIM HAS A TEAR STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIM. THE PRESSURE OF THE AIR BLEW THE TIRE TOWARD THE INSIDE OF THE RIM. THE RIM SHATTERED AND THE TIRE WAS LEFT INTACT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH LOW PROFILE TIRES. *AK *SC
NHTSA ODI #10087717
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2004
Exterior Lighting
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR RUNNING THE BRAKES LIGHT FAILED TO COME ON. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10096785
13,000 miles · Oct 1, 2004
Electrical System
CONSUMER PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY IT DID NOT COVER WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10094902
14,000 miles · Oct 1, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10094854
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2004
Power Train
IN JULY, 2004 TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE THROW-OUT BEARING AND CLUTCH PLATE AT ABOUT 1,000 MILES THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10094832
29,488 miles · Sep 28, 2004
Power Train
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE WAS STILL HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER WAS FURIES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10094485
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I PURCHASED A 2003 FOCUS FROM A DEALER WHO HAD USED IT FOR A DEMONSTRATION VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS OBTAINED ON OR ABOUT MARCH OF 2004 WITH ABOUT 5,600 MILES. AT THE TIME THE BRAKES SEEMED FINE. TWO WEEKS AGO I HEARD A NOISE AT 16,800 MILES. WHEN I PULLED THE WHEELS TO INSPECT THE BRAKES, I FOUND THE INNER DISC PADS DOWN TO META…
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I PURCHASED A 2003 FOCUS FROM A DEALER WHO HAD USED IT FOR A DEMONSTRATION VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS OBTAINED ON OR ABOUT MARCH OF 2004 WITH ABOUT 5,600 MILES. AT THE TIME THE BRAKES SEEMED FINE. TWO WEEKS AGO I HEARD A NOISE AT 16,800 MILES. WHEN I PULLED THE WHEELS TO INSPECT THE BRAKES, I FOUND THE INNER DISC PADS DOWN TO METAL AND THE OUTER PADS WITH ABOUT 1/8 - 1/4" REMAINING. THE ROTORS ARE SCORED ON BOTH SIDES. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH MY TAURUS. ANYONE ELSE HAVING THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS? I AM STARTING TO THINK THAT THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH FORD'S FRONT DISC BRAKES, OR THAT THE READ DRUMS ARE HOPELESSLY UNDER POWERED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10093184
32,988 miles · Sep 24, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FORD FOCUS 2003 ROTORS WEAR OUT INCREDIBLY FAST.. TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A 30,000 INSPECTION AND HAD TO HAVE NEW ROTORS AND BREAKS I WAS TOLD THAT MANY FOCUS'S ARE COMING IN AT 30,000 THAT NEED NEW ROTORS. WHY??? UNLESS THEY ARE DEFECTIVE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
NHTSA ODI #10093141
40,000 miles · Sep 20, 2004
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON STOPPING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10092769
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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