NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
977 reports96,000 miles · Jan 21, 2010
Electrical System
NO EVENTS TO INDICATE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM. THE FAILURE, OCCURRING NOW SPORADICALLY AND W/O WARNING, RESULTS IN AN INABILITY TO TURN THE IGNITION LEAVING US STRANDED FOR THE UNSAFE AND SILLY REASON OF BEING UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY. NO OLD PARTS WERE AVAILABLE AND CLOSE TO 400 DOLLARS LATER, THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION. H…
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NO EVENTS TO INDICATE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM. THE FAILURE, OCCURRING NOW SPORADICALLY AND W/O WARNING, RESULTS IN AN INABILITY TO TURN THE IGNITION LEAVING US STRANDED FOR THE UNSAFE AND SILLY REASON OF BEING UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY. NO OLD PARTS WERE AVAILABLE AND CLOSE TO 400 DOLLARS LATER, THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION. HOWEVER, ONLY ONE MONTH AFTER HAVING IT REPLACED, THE IGNITION FAILED TO START AGAIN (IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RETURN THE KEY) AND ALAS, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10301669
50,000 miles · Jan 20, 2010
Electrical System
IGNITION IN 2003 FORD FOCUS FAILS TO WORK. KNOW ISSUE WITH FORD FOCUS WHICH SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE DUE TO POTENTIAL SAFETY FACTORS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10300456
60,000 miles · Jan 15, 2010
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION AND STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE MOVED ONCE THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE LOCK POSITION. THE KEY ALSO COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION AND STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE MOVED ONCE THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE LOCK POSITION. THE KEY ALSO COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60000.
NHTSA ODI #10299864
60,000 miles · Jan 14, 2010
Electrical System
MY IGNITION WILL NOT TURN ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT (OR SO I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY FORD), YET IS NOT ON ANY RECALLS. IT NEEDS TO HAVE THE COMPLETE IGNITION REPLACED -- AT MY OWN COST! APPARENTLY THE PARTS ARE POORLY MADE AND THEY FAIL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10299716
59,000 miles · Jan 9, 2010
Electrical System
FORD FOCUS 2003 IGNITION PROBLEM. KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION. HAVE BEEN TOLD NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IGNITION MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $450.00. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10298824
88,000 miles · Jan 6, 2010
Electrical System
THE IGNITION LOCK ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS LOCKS UP AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. IT STARTED OUT AS JUST STICKING A LITTLE BIT BUT WORKING AFTER TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SEVERAL TIMES. IT ENDED WITH IT COMPLETELY LOCKING UP. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SAFE PLACE AND A LOCKSMITH CAME OUT AND REPAIRED THE PINS IN…
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THE IGNITION LOCK ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS LOCKS UP AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. IT STARTED OUT AS JUST STICKING A LITTLE BIT BUT WORKING AFTER TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SEVERAL TIMES. IT ENDED WITH IT COMPLETELY LOCKING UP. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SAFE PLACE AND A LOCKSMITH CAME OUT AND REPAIRED THE PINS IN THE IGNITION TUMBLER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10298509
Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2010
Electrical System
THE IGNITION LOCK OF THE FORD FOCUS COMPLETELY JAMMED/LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING IN A QUESTIONABLE PART OF TOWN DUE TO SUBSTANDARD MANUFACTURING. I WAS STRANDED FOR OVER 3 HOURS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10298130
48,000 miles · Jan 4, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
AFTER A TWO-WEEK VACATION, I WAS GOING TO DRIVE MY 2003 FORD FOCUS TO WORK. AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY SOFT. THE REPAIR SHOP THAT DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM TOLD ME THAT I HAD A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH CONTROLS BOTH THE CLUTCH AND BRAKES. THEY ALSO …
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AFTER A TWO-WEEK VACATION, I WAS GOING TO DRIVE MY 2003 FORD FOCUS TO WORK. AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY SOFT. THE REPAIR SHOP THAT DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM TOLD ME THAT I HAD A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH CONTROLS BOTH THE CLUTCH AND BRAKES. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF. REPAIR INCLUDED A NEW MASTER CYLINDER AND REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT WAS COINCIDENCE OR NOT, BUT THEY ALSO DISCOVERED THAT MY REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS HAD ALSO "EXPLODED." REPAIR REQUIRED CYLINDER AND DISC REPLACEMENT. OLD PARTS HAVE BEEN RETAINED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10298021
Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2010
Electrical System
I WENT TO PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHILE IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ME APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START MY CAR THE KEY FINALLY TURNS AND THE CAR STARTS. MY FEAR IS, THAT I MAY GET STUCK IN A BAD AREA WHEN TRAVELING AND WILL BE UNABLE TO START THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10297961
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
Official recalls
1Feb 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.
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