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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

Power Train complaints

48 reports
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29,488 miles · Sep 28, 2004
Power Train

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE WAS STILL HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER WAS FURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10094485

19,000 miles · Sep 13, 2004
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER CAN SHIFT GEARS WITHOUT PUSHING THE SHIFT RELEASE BUTTON. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CONSUMER ACCIDENTALLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WHEN DRIVING AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF…

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CONSUMER CAN SHIFT GEARS WITHOUT PUSHING THE SHIFT RELEASE BUTTON. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CONSUMER ACCIDENTALLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WHEN DRIVING AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF HAVING DONE SO UNTIL THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10083925

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2004
Air BagsPower TrainCrash

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING. THEN, THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING AND COLLIDED INTO A BUILDING. BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION…

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THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING. THEN, THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING AND COLLIDED INTO A BUILDING. BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10083430

11,600 miles · May 25, 2004
Power Train

TRANSAXLE DISENGAGES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. TRANSAXLE RE-ENGAGES BELOW 30 MPH. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10073149

3,042 miles · May 3, 2004
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE/BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THEN, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEARS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10071994

1 miles · Apr 29, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, AirInjury

. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. ON OCTOBER 31 OF 2003, I PURCHASED FORD FOCUS SE, BRAND NEW.. FOR FIVE MONTH I OWN THIS VEHICLE, I WAS IN THE SHOP FOR ALL KIND DIFFERENT PROBLEMS 9 TIMES. IT WAS: CONSTANT VERY STRONG VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, CONSTANT GROUNDING NOISE COMES FROM EN…

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. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. ON OCTOBER 31 OF 2003, I PURCHASED FORD FOCUS SE, BRAND NEW.. FOR FIVE MONTH I OWN THIS VEHICLE, I WAS IN THE SHOP FOR ALL KIND DIFFERENT PROBLEMS 9 TIMES. IT WAS: CONSTANT VERY STRONG VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, CONSTANT GROUNDING NOISE COMES FROM ENGINE SITE AND TRANSFORMED TO AN ULTRASOUND NOISE AT HIRE SPEED, THE SQUEALING HAS INTENSIFIED AND SOUNDS HORRIBLE! TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE I DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, HAD TO USE TOW TRACK.( DEALER SAD THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM) ,BUT TRANSMISSION STILL LOCKS AND JERKING CONSTANTLY, SQUEAL NOISE FROM BREAKS, (DEALER REPLACED FRONT PADS AND RESURFACE DRUM, BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR REAR BREAKS AND NOISE AND PULSATION IS STILL THERE., DEALER FOUND DEFECTIVE RIMS, DEFECTIVE TIRES, THROTTLE PROBLEMS, BRAKES PROBLEMS. PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR INTENSIFIED. I GOT MY CRUSE CONTROL ACCELERATED BY IT SELF IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY, TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP AND JERKING INTERMITTENTLY, BRAKES SQUEALING AND PULSATE THE FORD DEALER SALES AND SERVICE PEOPLE SAID THAT I SHOULD NOT RETURN FOR SERVICE AND WAIST ANY BODYS TIME, HE SAID THAT WHAT I HEAR AND FILL IN MY FORD FOCUS IS NORMAL. FORD WARRANTY IS NOT WORTH A PAPER IT IS WRITTEN ON. SO, FORD WONT FIX MY CAR AND I CANNOT DO IT OTHER WISE. AS A RESULT OF STRONG VIBRATION AND SQUEALING NOISE I AM LOOSING BALANCE, HAVE SEVERE HEADACHE, ALL BODY EKING, I HAVE PAIN IN BOOTH OF MY ARMS, AND I HAVE DIFFICULTY TO WALK AND MY RIGHT LEG BECOME NUM. I HAVE TO USE WALKING CANE AND KNEE AND ANKLE SUPPORT. I SCARED TO EVEN DRIVE IT ANYMORE. I AM PLEADING TO YOU, TO HELP .ME TO GET A FULL REFUND FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR ITS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, PLUS A COMPENSATION FOR ALL EXPENSES INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THIS ORDEAL.

NHTSA ODI #10068068

7,000 miles · Apr 1, 2004
Electrical SystemPower Train

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED TWICE, BUT ALWAYS STARTED BACK UP AFTER A FEW MINUTES. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALER REPLACED THE STARTER AND ON THE ANOTHER OCCASION, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *AK THE STARTER WAS FOUND FAULTY, THE TRANSMISSION WAS INOPERATIVE AND THERE WAS A VIBRATION WHILE GOING 40 MPH …

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WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED TWICE, BUT ALWAYS STARTED BACK UP AFTER A FEW MINUTES. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALER REPLACED THE STARTER AND ON THE ANOTHER OCCASION, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *AK THE STARTER WAS FOUND FAULTY, THE TRANSMISSION WAS INOPERATIVE AND THERE WAS A VIBRATION WHILE GOING 40 MPH DUE TO SHIFTING, THE CLOCK DISPLAY WAS INOPERATIVE, AND THE ENGNE LIGHT STAYED ON. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10059791

3,000 miles · Apr 1, 2004
Power TrainSuspensionCrash

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO JERK. AS A RESULTED THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VAN AND HIT A TREE. THE VAN WAS TOTALED. *NM *SC

NHTSA ODI #10055841

100 miles · Mar 8, 2004
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

ON SATURDAY MORNING I BOUGHT THE CAR - A BRAND NEW 2003 FORD FOCUS SE WAGON. ON SUNDAY MORNING, I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE DUE TO THE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS OF THE MOMENT. INSTANTLY, THE BACK END OF THE CAR SWERVED TO THE RIGHT IN A JACK-KNIFE MANNER. THE CAR SPUN AROUND AND THREW ITSELF ONTO THE SHOULDE…

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ON SATURDAY MORNING I BOUGHT THE CAR - A BRAND NEW 2003 FORD FOCUS SE WAGON. ON SUNDAY MORNING, I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE DUE TO THE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS OF THE MOMENT. INSTANTLY, THE BACK END OF THE CAR SWERVED TO THE RIGHT IN A JACK-KNIFE MANNER. THE CAR SPUN AROUND AND THREW ITSELF ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE FRONT END WOUND UP POINTED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY THE CAR LANDED IN A SANDY SPOT WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OR TO ME. IT WAS AS IF I HAD HIT BLACK ICE, EXCEPT THAT DRIVING CONDITIONS THAT DAY WERE PERFECT - 50 DEGREES, SUNNY AND DRY WITH GOOD ROAD SURFACE. IN MY OPINION, THIS INCIDENT MAY BE THE RESULT OF POOR DESIGN: THAT IS THE REAR END OF THE FOCUS SE WAGON IS TOO LIGHT TO HOLD THE ROAD WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, OR THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THE CAR TO SPIN. IN ANY EVENT, THIS WAS A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE FOR ME. I THINK THAT THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP FOR ME AND A HAZARD FOR EVERYONE ELSE NEAR IT ON THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10060746

2,585 miles · Feb 19, 2004
Power Train

WHEN COMING TO A STOP, TRANSMISSION OPERATED POORLY. IT WAS HARD TO SHIFT GEARS OR GEARS DID NOT SHIFT AT ALL. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10053363

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.