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
22,900 miles · Jun 16, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
WHILE COMING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND COMING TO A STOP CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND HEARD A GRINDING SOUND. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, AND IT SIDE SWIPED A SIGN POST NEAR A SCHOOL ZONE. THE POLICE DID NOT INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT NOR WERE THERE ANY INJURIES. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SOME DENTS , AND THE LOSS OF THE EXTERIOR DRIVE…
Read full complaint
WHILE COMING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND COMING TO A STOP CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND HEARD A GRINDING SOUND. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, AND IT SIDE SWIPED A SIGN POST NEAR A SCHOOL ZONE. THE POLICE DID NOT INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT NOR WERE THERE ANY INJURIES. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SOME DENTS , AND THE LOSS OF THE EXTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10079361
Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT AFTER SHIFTING VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE STALLED. DEALERSHIP WASN'T ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10079280
Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER NOTICED AFTER DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO MERGE ON TO FREEWAY VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING AND SHIFTED INTO FULL THROTTLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10079279
20,500 miles · Jun 12, 2004
Structure
OIL FILTER MOUNTED AT LOWEST POINT ON UNDERCARRIAGE IN FRONT OF CAR,I RAN OVER SOMETHING ON THE FREEWAY, THE ONLY PART OF CAR HIT WAS OIL FILTER WHICH LOST OIL AND DAMAGED ENGINE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10075253
15,000 miles · Jun 9, 2004
VisibilityInjury
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. GLASS FILLED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10075983
24,000 miles · Jun 7, 2004
Electrical System
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10075768
6,200 miles · Jun 2, 2004
SteeringCrash
BALL JOINT (SUSPENSION) BROKE, VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. FORTUNATELY, INCIDENT OCCURRED IN A MULTI-STORY PARKING GARAGE, AT LOW SPEED. *AK THE CONSUMER'S INSURANCE REQUESTED STATUS UPDATE. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10062659
Mileage unknown · May 31, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages
AFTER A MONTH OF OWNING THE VEHICLE I WAS GETTING WATER IN MY TRUNK. BROUGHT IT TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTING DEVISE AND REPAIRED THE RUST. A MONTH LATER SAME PROBLEM. BROUGHT IT BACK AND THEY DID THE SAME THING. NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN BUT WARRANTY IS UP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10074551
30,000 miles · May 31, 2004
Equipment
MUSTY MOLD SMELL COMING FROM AIR CONDITIONER AND HEAT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10074549
11,600 miles · May 25, 2004
Power Train
TRANSAXLE DISENGAGES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. TRANSAXLE RE-ENGAGES BELOW 30 MPH. *NM
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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