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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Air Bags complaints

46 reports
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49,000 miles · Jul 23, 2010
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS WAGON. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR ROAD HAZARD THAT CAUSED THE DEPLOYMENT AND NONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTIFY THE DEALER OR MANUFAC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS WAGON. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR ROAD HAZARD THAT CAUSED THE DEPLOYMENT AND NONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTIFY THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 49,000.

NHTSA ODI #10344832

82,567 miles · Jun 30, 2010
Air BagsCrash

2003 FORD FOCUS INVOLVED IN FRONT END COLLISION CAR WAS TOTALED AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340796

147,000 miles · Dec 29, 2009
Air BagsPower TrainCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE SLID ON AN ICE PATCH , WHICH CAUSED HER TO LOOSE VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN COLLIDED ON AN EMBANKMENT. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SHE RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER NECK, FEET, AND RIBS, THE PASSENGER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE SPINE. THE INSURA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE SLID ON AN ICE PATCH , WHICH CAUSED HER TO LOOSE VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN COLLIDED ON AN EMBANKMENT. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SHE RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER NECK, FEET, AND RIBS, THE PASSENGER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE SPINE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. ALSO THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $450.00. SHE ALSO PAID $300.00 TO REPAIR THE DOOR LOCKS. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE SHERIFF REPORT NUMBER WAS 09004117. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,000.

NHTSA ODI #10297334

98,000 miles · May 7, 2009
Air BagsCrash

2003 FOCUS SE COM. WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD ON ACCIDENT FRONT END DAMAGED BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER IMPACT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267976

98,000 miles · May 7, 2009
Air BagsCrash

2003 FORD FOCUS SE COM WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD ON WHOLE FRONT END DAMAGED AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER IMPACT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267974

172,000 miles · Mar 9, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN SERIOUS FRONTAL CRASH AND AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261320

55,000 miles · Jul 22, 2008
Air BagsCrash

UNTIL A WEEK AGO, I WAS THE HAPPY OWNER OF AN '03 ZX3 FOCUS. ON 7/15, I HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID A CAR DRIFTING INTO MY LANE AND HIT THE CONCRETE RETAINING WALL AT ABOUT 60 MPH. THE SHOCK WAS ENOUGH TO CRUSH MOST OF THE FRONT AND ENGINE BLOCK AND BREAK THE AXLE. YET THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SHAME ON YOU FORD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235406

40,000 miles · Apr 20, 2008
Air BagsCrash

I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS EX. ON THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, AND I LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW A FORD MUSTANG BARRELING DOWN ON ME. WITH NO TIME TO REACT, I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AT 50 MILES AN HOUR. WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, EVEN THOUGH I CAME DEATHLY CLOSE TO SMASHI…

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I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS EX. ON THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, AND I LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW A FORD MUSTANG BARRELING DOWN ON ME. WITH NO TIME TO REACT, I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AT 50 MILES AN HOUR. WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, EVEN THOUGH I CAME DEATHLY CLOSE TO SMASHING MY FACE AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225027

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2007
Air BagsEquipmentCrashInjury

I WAS ON MY WAY TO TAHOE IN FEBRUARY 2006. IT WAS RAINY AND THE ROADS WERE A LITTLE WET. WE HIT A PUDDLE AND HE CAR SPUN OUT HIT BOTH FRONT AND BACK ENDS FROM SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL AND SMASHED INTO THE SIDE WALLS. WE WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 45-50 MPH. THE AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. FROM SMASHING IN TO THE WALLS THE PASSENGER SE…

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I WAS ON MY WAY TO TAHOE IN FEBRUARY 2006. IT WAS RAINY AND THE ROADS WERE A LITTLE WET. WE HIT A PUDDLE AND HE CAR SPUN OUT HIT BOTH FRONT AND BACK ENDS FROM SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL AND SMASHED INTO THE SIDE WALLS. WE WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 45-50 MPH. THE AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. FROM SMASHING IN TO THE WALLS THE PASSENGER SEAT COMPLETELY BROKE BACKWARDS. ALMOST IN A LAYING DOWN POSITION AND THE SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY EXTENDED AND WOULDN'T RETRACT. CAR WAS TOTALED. AT THE TIME THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES. BUT 8 MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT I STARTED HAVING GRAND MALL SEIZURES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10190797

53,000 miles · Jul 7, 2006
Air Bags

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT, POTHOLES NOR BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, HOWEVER THE DRIVER SEAT WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE SENSOR WAS TOO SENSITIVE. WHEN THE MANUFACTURE…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT, POTHOLES NOR BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, HOWEVER THE DRIVER SEAT WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE SENSOR WAS TOO SENSITIVE. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED THE DEALERS DETERMINATION WAS CONFIRMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. UPDATED 07/26/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10161840

Official recalls

1

05V030000 · 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

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.