IllustrationTHE IGNITION LOCK HAS LOCKED ITSELF AND AS A RESULT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON. FROM WHAT I'VE GATHERED ON THE INTERNET IT WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I TALKED TO ONE OF THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS COST AROUND $500 TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED. *TR
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
What owners actually said
977 reportsMY 2003 FORD FOCUS, LEFT ME SITTING ON A FRIDAY EVENING BECAUSE THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO TURN THE KEY. NOT ONLY WAS THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER LOCKED, BUT SO WAS THE GEAR SHIFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL. I COULDN'T MOVE THE VEHICLE AT ALL. IT WAS DARK AND I WAS LEFT SITTING WITH ONE OF MY TWO CHILDREN. I …
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MY 2003 FORD FOCUS, LEFT ME SITTING ON A FRIDAY EVENING BECAUSE THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO TURN THE KEY. NOT ONLY WAS THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER LOCKED, BUT SO WAS THE GEAR SHIFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL. I COULDN'T MOVE THE VEHICLE AT ALL. IT WAS DARK AND I WAS LEFT SITTING WITH ONE OF MY TWO CHILDREN. I HAD TO CALL FOR A RIDE, GET THE CAR TOWED AND THEN PAY TO GET IT FIXED. ALL ALONG, FORD KNEW THAT THIS WAS, AS THEY STATED ON THEIR WEBSITE, "A DEFECT". OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE FORD FOCUS. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT'S A ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FACED AND PROBABLY BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL, IN MY OPINION. I FEEL THAT PAYING FOR THIS "DEFECT" IS UNACCEPTABLE. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE THIS ON RECALL AND TAKE CARE OF REPLACING THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FOR IT'S CUSTOMERS! *TR
TIRE FIRST WENT FLAT WHEN THE TIRE WAS REFILLED WITH AIR A BUBBLE BEGAN TO FORM AND AFTER THAT THE TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE. *TR
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION. *TR
IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I WAS STRANDED AWAY FORM HOME, HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND HAVE THE CARE TOWED TO THE DEALER. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2000-2003 FORD FOCUS CARS AND FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RE-CALL, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE ISSUE A TSB 05-21-17 IN REFERENCE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBL…
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IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I WAS STRANDED AWAY FORM HOME, HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND HAVE THE CARE TOWED TO THE DEALER. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2000-2003 FORD FOCUS CARS AND FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RE-CALL, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE ISSUE A TSB 05-21-17 IN REFERENCE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. *TR
I HAVE HAD A FEW PRIOR PROBLEMS GETTING MY KEY TO TURN IN MY IGNITION, WHICH I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO FIX MYSELF. LAST NIGHT HOWEVER, I WAS UNABLE TO GET MY KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A LESS THAN IDEAL NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER 30 MINUTES OF TRYING TO START MY CAR. THIS IGNITION LOCK PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED THE…
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I HAVE HAD A FEW PRIOR PROBLEMS GETTING MY KEY TO TURN IN MY IGNITION, WHICH I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO FIX MYSELF. LAST NIGHT HOWEVER, I WAS UNABLE TO GET MY KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A LESS THAN IDEAL NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER 30 MINUTES OF TRYING TO START MY CAR. THIS IGNITION LOCK PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED THE EVE BEFORE THANKSGIVING WHICH LEAVES ME WITHOUT A CAR ON A HOLIDAY WEEKEND. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. ON THREE OCCASIONS, THREE WINDOW MOTOR REGULATORS HAVE FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND BOTH REAR WINDOWS FAILED AND WERE REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,100 AND FAI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. ON THREE OCCASIONS, THREE WINDOW MOTOR REGULATORS HAVE FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND BOTH REAR WINDOWS FAILED AND WERE REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,700.
WHEN I PUT MY KEY INTO MY CAR IT WILL NOT TURN. WHILE THIS MAY NOT BE AN "OBVIOUS" SAFETY RISK, IT CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS PROBLEMS IF YOU ARE STRANDED SOMEWHERE. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH FOCUS, YET HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. I ENDED UP STRANDED FOR OVER AN HOUR AS I WAITED FOR SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP, FINALLY I BANG…
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WHEN I PUT MY KEY INTO MY CAR IT WILL NOT TURN. WHILE THIS MAY NOT BE AN "OBVIOUS" SAFETY RISK, IT CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS PROBLEMS IF YOU ARE STRANDED SOMEWHERE. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH FOCUS, YET HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. I ENDED UP STRANDED FOR OVER AN HOUR AS I WAITED FOR SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP, FINALLY I BANGED THE KEY OUT OF FRUSTRATION AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY MATTER TO ME, AS I AM A SINGLE WOMAN. FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THEIR DEFECTIVE IGNITION CYLINDERS. I WILL NOW HAVE TO SPEND AT LEAST $400 TO FIX THIS, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE WON'T HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, AS IT WILL BE REPLACED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE MECHANISM. *TR
I AM CURRENTLY LEASING A FORD FOCUS ZX5, I'VE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS FOR JUST OVER 6 MONTHS. AFTER STOPPING AT THE GROCERY STORE WITH MY 17 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER, MY KEY DOESN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION!! NOT ONLY IS THIS FRUSTRATING IT IS DANGEROUS. MY DAUGHTER WAS CRYING FROM THE COLD THAT NIGHT AND I HAD TO WALK …
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I AM CURRENTLY LEASING A FORD FOCUS ZX5, I'VE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS FOR JUST OVER 6 MONTHS. AFTER STOPPING AT THE GROCERY STORE WITH MY 17 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER, MY KEY DOESN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION!! NOT ONLY IS THIS FRUSTRATING IT IS DANGEROUS. MY DAUGHTER WAS CRYING FROM THE COLD THAT NIGHT AND I HAD TO WALK HOME WITH HER IN MY ARMS!! SO IN CONCLUSION I FEEL THAT THE FACT THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER CAN GO AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING IS A DEFINITE AND UNNECESSARY RISK TO SAFETY. MY DAUGHTER IS NOW SICK BECAUSE OF THIS! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. IT TOOK THE CONTACT APPROXIMATELY 20 ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE IGNITION CYLINDER IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. IT TOOK THE CONTACT APPROXIMATELY 20 ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE IGNITION CYLINDER IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,000. UPDATED 03/14/08. *LJ
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.