IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. UPDATED 11/30/06. *JB
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
Electrical System complaints
522 reports2003 FORD FOCUS THAT I BOUGHT USED WITH ONLY 14,000 MILES ON AND HAVE USED AS MY COMMUTER CAR FOR 3 MONTHS. AT ROUGHLY 20,000 MILES THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH ONCE BUT AFTER A LITTLE SHAKING IT WORKED. AROUND A MONTH LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME WHEN IT DID ENGAGE IT WOULD NOT START THE ENGINE, I ROLLE…
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2003 FORD FOCUS THAT I BOUGHT USED WITH ONLY 14,000 MILES ON AND HAVE USED AS MY COMMUTER CAR FOR 3 MONTHS. AT ROUGHLY 20,000 MILES THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH ONCE BUT AFTER A LITTLE SHAKING IT WORKED. AROUND A MONTH LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME WHEN IT DID ENGAGE IT WOULD NOT START THE ENGINE, I ROLLED STARTED THE CAR AND GOT HOME BUT THE NEXT DAY THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH AT ALL - TRIED FOR THREE DAYS WILL NOT TURN, CURRENTLY LEARNING THE DETAILS OF HOW TO REPLACE AN IGNITION SWITCH FROM FRIENDS AND NICE FOLKS ON THE INTERNET BUT I HAVE HAD TO BORROW A CAR FOR TWO DAYS AND WILL HAVE TO RENT ONE AT THE END OF THE WEEK AND UNTIL I CAN BUY AND INSTALL A NEW PART JUST TO GET TO WORK. AS OTHER ARTICLES CLAIM FORD CLAIMS THIS PROBABLY ISN'T A SAFETY CONCERN BUT IS RATHER ANNOYING AND COSTLY TO FOLKS LIKE MYSELF WHO BOUGHT THE FOCUS HOPING FOR A RELIABLE FUEL EFFICIENT COMMUTER CAR. *NM
HAD NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH IGNITION IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SE. LEFT MY HOMETOWN FOR THE DAY TO SHOP 2 COUNTIES AWAY. AFTER SHOPPING, WENT TO START MY CAR AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. THE KEY WOULD GO IN, BUT WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND AM WAITING NOW FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. I HAVE READ ONL…
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HAD NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH IGNITION IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SE. LEFT MY HOMETOWN FOR THE DAY TO SHOP 2 COUNTIES AWAY. AFTER SHOPPING, WENT TO START MY CAR AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. THE KEY WOULD GO IN, BUT WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND AM WAITING NOW FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. I HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM IN THE FORD FOCUS. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL SINCE THE IGNITION IS VERY OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART USED IN THE CAR. *NM
I HAVE HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. FIRST INCIDENT IN JULY, 2006 AND AM NOW EXPERIENCING ANOTHER. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD AND DO NOT WANT TO BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE JUST BECAUSE I CAN'T GET THE KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. I AM NOW ALSO DEALING WITH (TODAY) A SOLENOID MALFUNCTION IN MY TRANSMISSION (3RD GEAR). THIS …
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I HAVE HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. FIRST INCIDENT IN JULY, 2006 AND AM NOW EXPERIENCING ANOTHER. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD AND DO NOT WANT TO BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE JUST BECAUSE I CAN'T GET THE KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. I AM NOW ALSO DEALING WITH (TODAY) A SOLENOID MALFUNCTION IN MY TRANSMISSION (3RD GEAR). THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AS WELL. THE CAR JERKS LIKE CRAZY AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 30 MPH. THANK GOODNESS I WAS CLOSE TO A SIDE STREET TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS THAT THESE ISSUES ARE NOT BEING RECALLED. THE IGNITION IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH ENOUGH PEOPLE.... *NM
CAN'T TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAN'T START THE CAR. *NM
2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION IS LOCKING UP WITH THE KEY IN IT MULTIPLE TIMES. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION LOCKED RESULTING IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER KEY BEING REPLACED BY THE SERVICE DEALER. WHILE SEARCHING THE NHTSA WEBSITE, COMPLAINTS WERE FOUND WHERE THIS OCCURRED TO VEHICLES AND THE IGNITION CYLINDER KEY WAS REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THIS REPAIR DOES NOT SEEM…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION LOCKED RESULTING IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER KEY BEING REPLACED BY THE SERVICE DEALER. WHILE SEARCHING THE NHTSA WEBSITE, COMPLAINTS WERE FOUND WHERE THIS OCCURRED TO VEHICLES AND THE IGNITION CYLINDER KEY WAS REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THIS REPAIR DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PERMANENT FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THERE WAS AN ODOROUS SMELL WHEN THE HEATING FAN WAS TURNED ON AND THE SMELL OCCASIONALLY OCCURRED WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR THE ODOROUS SMELL.
1ST- TRUNK LATCH DOES NOT DISENGAGE, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN MY NEAREST TOWN. AFTER 3-4 TIMES OF ADJUSTING AND OILING, IT STILL DOES NOT RELEASE CORRECTLY, WHEN YOU PUSH THE DASHBOARD RELEASE, OPEN THE TRUNK IT CLOSES THE LATCH ON ITS OWN, YOU CANT CLOSE THE TRUNK UNLESS YOU REPRESS THE DASH RELEASE, WHICH IS DIFFIC…
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1ST- TRUNK LATCH DOES NOT DISENGAGE, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN MY NEAREST TOWN. AFTER 3-4 TIMES OF ADJUSTING AND OILING, IT STILL DOES NOT RELEASE CORRECTLY, WHEN YOU PUSH THE DASHBOARD RELEASE, OPEN THE TRUNK IT CLOSES THE LATCH ON ITS OWN, YOU CANT CLOSE THE TRUNK UNLESS YOU REPRESS THE DASH RELEASE, WHICH IS DIFFICULT WITH ARMS FULL, OR PULL THE SAFETY RELEASE PROVIDED FOR NOT GETTING LOCKED IN THE TRUNK, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR. 2ND- MY IGNITION FROZE UP YESTERDAY MORNING. NO FOR WARNING. HADN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS. NOW I HAVE TO GET BACK TO MY CAR AND GET IT TO THE GARAGE. BEING NEWER TO THE AREA AND NO OTHER VEHICLE AT MY DISPOSAL IT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO COST ME NOT TO MENTION THE REPAIR COST. 3RD- OH MY GOD--- I JUST READ ABOUT THE BACK DOOR PROBLEMS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING, I TRANSPORT VERY PRECIOUS CARGO BACK THERE, MY GRAND CHILDREN, BEING THAT THERE ARE 3 OF THEM TWO HAVE TO BE BY THE DOOR. I WILL HAVE THE SERVICE AREA CHECK MY DOORS WHEN THEY FIX THE IGNITION. WHY WASN'T I TOLD ABOUT THIS. *NM
FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SE. KEY SWITCH JUST STOPPED TURNING. REPLACEMENT OF SWITCH: PART $89, TOWING: $60, LABOR $250...GETTING THE STEERING WHEEL FIXED LATER, AFTER IT WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY: $100. I HAVE DONE A SEARCH ON THIS FAILURE...THERE ARE MANY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE FORD FOCUS ENT…
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FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SE. KEY SWITCH JUST STOPPED TURNING. REPLACEMENT OF SWITCH: PART $89, TOWING: $60, LABOR $250...GETTING THE STEERING WHEEL FIXED LATER, AFTER IT WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY: $100. I HAVE DONE A SEARCH ON THIS FAILURE...THERE ARE MANY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE FORD FOCUS ENTHUSIASTS SITES. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON PLACING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE WITH A PAIR OF PLIERS, WHICH ALLOWED THE KEY TO TURN AND START THE ENGINE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM
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.