2003 Ford Focus

977 complaints on file, page 1 of 49.

1. Filed May 4, 2024Failure May 14, 2023Payson, AZElectrical system

   wiring harness fused together

   NHTSA complaint 11586972
2. Filed Feb 6, 2023Failure Nov 23, 2022Hickory, NCBody

   Vehicle has a recall for Rear Door Latches. I have attempted to take the vehicle to 2 different Cloninger Ford in Hickory and Cloninger Ford in Valdese. Both dealerships claim they can not do the recall due to parts. I would like to know what steps do I need to take to get my vehicle repaired for this recall!

   NHTSA complaint 11505755
3. Filed Oct 26, 2020Failure Oct 26, 202056,300 milesWaynesburg, PAUnknown or other

   IGNITION ISSUES. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. CANNOT START MY VEHICLE OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. MY CAR ONLY HAS JUST OVER 56,000 MILES. I AM SEEING THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM ELDERLY AND DISABLED AND IT COULD BE A SERIOUS ISSUE TO MY HEALTH IF I AM STRANDED SOMEWHERE IN BAD WEATHER

   NHTSA complaint 11366467
4. Filed Jun 24, 2020Failure May 22, 2020175,000 milesElkhorn, WIBody

   DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR WILL NOT LATCH JUST FLIES OPEN. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 11330452
5. Filed Feb 26, 2020Failure Oct 29, 2019Pittsfield, MAStructure, Suspension

   2003 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO INADEQUATE STRUCTURAL STEEL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEEL ON THE CONTROL ARMS WERE POORLY MANUFACTURED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY DEAD STOPPED, TURNED RIGHT, MAKING A CRACKING NOISE. THE CONTROL ARM HAD SNAPPED AND DUG INTO THE TAR, BRAKING THE TIE ROD AND CREASING THE BREAKLINE. *JS

   NHTSA complaint 11311272
6. Filed Dec 2, 2019Failure Nov 30, 2019267,000 milesVilla Ridge, MOAir bagsCrash1 injured

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE, CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL, AND SPUN AROUND. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES, FACIAL BRUISING, AND WHIPLASH. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE DRIVER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR HIS INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT WHERE THEY REFUSE THE CONTACT TO VIEW/TAKE PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE UNLESS A FEE WAS PAID. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 267,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11286464
7. Filed Jul 11, 2019Failure Apr 28, 2011RED OAK, TXUnknown or other

   HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT 104,000 WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING.

   NHTSA complaint 11231129
8. Filed Mar 19, 2019Failure Mar 19, 2019160,000 milesDallas, TXEngine

   REPLACED THE CRANK CENSOR AND IT WON'T START

   NHTSA complaint 11190021
9. Filed Jan 20, 2019Failure Jan 19, 2019125,000 milesMason, OHElectrical system

   NEW ONSET BURNING SMELL WHILE DRIVING IN SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENT. PARKED CAR, THEN IT WOULDN'T START. UPON INSPECTION FOUND BATTERY CABLES/SHEATH MELTING. REPLACED BATTERY, CAR STARTED. CAR PARKED AND 1 HR LATER WOULDN'T START- NEW BATTERY IS DEAD. REPLACED WITH 2ND NEW BATTERY, HOOKED UP CABLES AND SPARKS CAME FROM BATTERY (INSTALLED CORRECTLY). CAR STILL WON'T START.

   NHTSA complaint 11171007
10. Filed Dec 9, 2018Failure Dec 4, 2018160,000 milesPeoria, ILUnknown or other

    2003 FORD FOCUS AUTOMATIC LOCK MALFUNCTIONED DOUBLELOCKING THE DOOR CREATING A DEADLOCK EFFECT RESULTING IN NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR

    NHTSA complaint 11157094
11. Filed Sep 12, 2018Failure Aug 27, 2018109,000 milesLancaster, PASteering, Body, Suspension

    I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT DOING NO MORE THAN 5 MPH WHEN THE CAR MADE A SUDDEN JERKING MOTION. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE DAMAGES WERE SEVERE RUST, SUB FRAME ROTTED, RIGHT FRONT AXLE BROKEN, RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM BROKEN, SWAY BAR BENT. THE TOW DRIVER SAID THE WHEELS COULD HAVE FALLEN OFF MY CAR AND I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE OF THE THING THAT WENT WRONG. I PUT MYSELF AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER WITH THIS DEATH TRAP. SUPPOSEDLY THIS CAR WAS INSPECTED FEBRUARY 2018. WITH EVERYTHING THAT WENT WRONG WITH IT AND THE DAMAGES, I DONT SEE HOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN. I BELIEVE THERE TO BE FRAUD INVOLVED AND BELIEVE THIS MATTER SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER FOR PUTTING LIVES IN DANGER. I PAID $3,000 FOR THIS CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF FEB. 2018. IT IS NOW AUGUST AND IT HAD INCURRED $3,000 IN DAMAGES. I SOLD THE CAR FOR SALVAGE AT $125

    NHTSA complaint 11128842
12. Filed Aug 9, 2018Failure Jun 15, 201860,780 milesTopeka, KSSuspensionCrash

    SKIDS TO SIDE AND SPINS ON WET ROAD EVEN IF THE TIRES ARE GOOD EVEN AT 30MPH. TOO MUCH SIDE WAYS SHIFT ON LITTLE BUMPY ROADS.

    NHTSA complaint 11118867
13. Filed Aug 9, 2018Failure Aug 9, 201896,000 milesAddison, ILSteering

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11118729
14. Filed Mar 20, 2018Failure Mar 20, 2018147,921 milesTellico Plains, TNElectrical system

    THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED LESS THAN A WEEK AGO. NOW, IT IS NEEDING REPLACED AGAIN. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL WIRING IN THESE VEHICLES! THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS.

    NHTSA complaint 11080353
15. Filed Mar 7, 2018Failure Mar 7, 201873,432 milesKingston Springs, TNElectronic stability control (esc)

    WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS FLASHES ALONG WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT, THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT INSTANTLY LOSES ENGINE POWER WITHIN MINUTES. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES NOW. I HAVE CHANGED BATTERY, AIR FILTER, ADD GAS CLEANER PRODUCTS. YET THE PROBLEM STILL IS HAPPENING . VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DOWN A EXTREMELY BUSY INTERSTATE.

    NHTSA complaint 11076765
16. Filed Feb 5, 2018Failure Nov 1, 200310,000 milesGainsville, FLElectrical system

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE KEY COULD NOT BE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (PARKS FORD & LINCOLN OF GAINESVILLE LOCATED AT 3333 N MAIN ST, GAINESVILLE, FL 32609) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11067073
17. Filed Jan 12, 2018Failure Dec 28, 201723,700 milesAmsterdam, NYElectrical system, Ignition

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,700. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

    NHTSA complaint 11062430
18. Filed Dec 26, 2017Failure Nov 6, 2017172,255 milesSapulpa, OKFuel/propulsion system, Unknown or other

    CARHOP CAR LOTS, NOT ONLY IN TULSA, BUT IN SURROUNDING AREAS, ARE SELLING CARS THAT ARE UNSAFE, AT ANY COST. THE PROBLEMS RANGE FROM WARPED FRAMES, CRACKED STRESS POINTS, LEAKY FUEL SYSTEMS, ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT COULDN'T BE FIXED BY DUCT TAPE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S VISIBLE WHERE THEY RE-TAPED THINGS. EXHAUST COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE, ENGINE DRIVE TRAIN ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY REPAIRED, SO THEY WILL RUN TEMPORARILY, BUT NEED FURTHER REPAIRS.

    NHTSA complaint 11056536
19. Filed Nov 6, 2017Failure Oct 14, 2017197,253 milesCharlotte, NCExterior lighting

    DUE TO POOR DESIGN THE BULB MELTED THE SURROUNDING HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN THE ENTIRE UNIT HAVING TO BE REPLACED.

    NHTSA complaint 11043991
20. Filed Sep 13, 2017Failure Oct 10, 2016SAN Gabriel, CAAccelerator pedal

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS GETTING STUCK AND FAILED TO RELEASE. THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HAD TO MANEUVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MORE THAN TWICE FOR REPAIRS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (ADVANTAGE FORD LINCOLN, 1031 CENTRAL AVE, DUARTE, CA 91010, (877) 386-3673) WHO PROVIDED NO SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS OR THE OPTION FOR A LOANER VEHICLE SO THEY COULD TEST DRIVE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

    NHTSA complaint 11023007