Illustration2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN. VEHICLE ALSO SHOWS SIGN OF STALLING. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
60 reportsFOR THE PAST 3 MONTHS I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZTS STALLING AND SOMETIMES CUTTING OFF COMPLETELY. THIS HAPPENS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND HAPPENS INFREQUENTLY. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE CAR CAN SHUT OFF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT ACROSS TRAFFIC OR WHILE IN FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC L…
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FOR THE PAST 3 MONTHS I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZTS STALLING AND SOMETIMES CUTTING OFF COMPLETELY. THIS HAPPENS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND HAPPENS INFREQUENTLY. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE CAR CAN SHUT OFF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT ACROSS TRAFFIC OR WHILE IN FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC LANES. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER WHERE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM FIRST-HAND BUT BEEN UNABLE TO FIX IT. IT HAS BEEN THERE A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES, AND THIS ONE WITH BE THE FIFTH. EVERY TIME THEY HAVE SEEMED TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM BUT IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO RESURFACE WITHIN 48 HOURS. SO FAR, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED: OXYGEN SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, FUEL MODULATOR, AND A TRANSMISSION SENSOR. JIFFY LUBE HAS ALSO REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER. ALTHOUGH NONE OF THESE PARTS HAVE BEEN COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, THE DEALER HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO COMPENSATE ME FOR APPROXIMATELY THE LAST THREE REPAIRS FROM THEM. THE CAR IS STILL NOT FIXED AND I PLAN TO TAKE IT BACK TODAY. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THIS IS A CAR WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT AND RATED VERY GOOD BY CONSUMER REPORTS. I HAVE ALSO CHECKED SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS AND PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE PURCHASED A "LEMON", BUT THE NC LAW DOES NOT APPLY SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN VIRGINIA. THE VIRGINIA LEMON LAW DOES NOT HELP EITHER BECAUSE IT APPLIES IF THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT THE DEALER IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED. I ALSO FEEL LIKE THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE PART OF A RECALL BUT FORD HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM (THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2001 MODELS FOR THE SAME ISSUE). ANY HELP YOU COULD OFFER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *JB
THE CAR HESITATES WHILE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH. APPEARS TO SHUT DOWN AND RESTART. THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND NOT REPAIRED. *NM
DT: THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2005. THE MOTOR WAS OFF, AND IT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND THEY SAID IT LOOK LIKE IT STARTED FROM THE WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE STALLED BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM TWO W…
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DT: THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2005. THE MOTOR WAS OFF, AND IT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND THEY SAID IT LOOK LIKE IT STARTED FROM THE WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE STALLED BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM TWO WEEKS BEFORE, AND TOOK IT TO DEALER. THEY REPLACED SOME IGNITION ITEMS. ALSO, WAS HAVING LATCHES, BRAKES, AND ENGINE PROBLEMS. *AK
DT: CALLER'S VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE EGR TUBE. THE WELDING CAME OFF, AND THE FUMES GOT INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. CALLER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ITS REPLACEMENT. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK UPDATED 1/16/2007 - *NM
I WAS SITTING IN DRIVER'S SIDE OF 2003 FORD FOCUE, CAR WAS TURNED ON AND PARKED. CAR SHUT OFF BY ITSELF AND I THEN SMELLED SMOKE. I OPENED HOOD AND THERE WAS A FIRE ON REAR-SIDE OF ENGINE - NO SIGN OF ANY OIL SPILLAGE..
VEHICLE HAD FUMES COMING IN. IT SMELLED AS IF SOMETHING WAS BURNING. DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECTS.*AK CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING STILL SMELL BURNING INSIDE, IT IS PRETTY SCARY AND WISH SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. *BP
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
THREE TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND REPLACEMENTS. THE ENGINE, STARTER/IGNITION AND 1 GEAR SHIFT ALL REPLACEMENTS AND OTHER VARIOUS PROBLEMS. *BF FOUR CD PLAYER REPLACEMENTS, THE BRAKES FAILED, AND 1 ALARM FAILURE. *SC THE ENGINE WAS ALSO REPLACED. *JB
VEHICLE IDLES ROUGHLY. ENGINE SKIPS , AND THE FRONT END SHAKES.*AK
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.