2003 Ford Focus Owner Complaints

wiring harness fused together

NHTSA ID

11586972

Incident

May 14, 2023

Vehicle has a recall for Rear Door Latches. I have attempted to take the vehicle to 2 different Cloninger Ford in Hickory and Cloninger Ford in Valdese. Both dealerships claim they can not do the recall due to parts. I would like to know what steps do I need to take to get my vehicle repaired for this recall!

NHTSA ID

11505755

Incident

Nov 23, 2022

IGNITION ISSUES. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. CANNOT START MY VEHICLE OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. MY CAR ONLY HAS JUST OVER 56,000 MILES. I AM SEEING THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM ELDERLY AND DISABLED AND IT COULD BE A SERIOUS ISSUE TO MY HEALTH IF I AM STRANDED SOMEWHERE IN BAD WEATHER

NHTSA ID

11366467

Incident

Oct 26, 2020

Mileage

56,300 mi

DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR WILL NOT LATCH JUST FLIES OPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

11330452

Incident

May 22, 2020

Mileage

175,000 mi

2003 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO INADEQUATE STRUCTURAL STEEL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEEL ON THE CONTROL ARMS WERE POORLY MANUFACTURED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY DEAD STOPPED, TURNED RIGHT, MAKING A CRACKING NOISE. THE CONTROL ARM HAD SNAPPED AND DUG INTO THE TAR, BRAKING THE TIE ROD AND CREASING THE BREAKLINE. *JS

NHTSA ID

11311272

Incident

Oct 29, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE, CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL, AND SPUN AROUND. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES, FACIAL BRUISING, AND WHIPLASH. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE DRIVER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR HIS INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT WHERE THEY REFUSE THE CONTACT TO VIEW/TAKE PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE UNLESS A FEE WAS PAID. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 267,000.

NHTSA ID

11286464

Incident

Nov 30, 2019

Mileage

267,000 mi

HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT 104,000 WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING.

NHTSA ID

11231129

Incident

Apr 28, 2011

REPLACED THE CRANK CENSOR AND IT WON'T START

NHTSA ID

11190021

Incident

Mar 19, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

NEW ONSET BURNING SMELL WHILE DRIVING IN SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENT. PARKED CAR, THEN IT WOULDN'T START. UPON INSPECTION FOUND BATTERY CABLES/SHEATH MELTING. REPLACED BATTERY, CAR STARTED. CAR PARKED AND 1 HR LATER WOULDN'T START- NEW BATTERY IS DEAD. REPLACED WITH 2ND NEW BATTERY, HOOKED UP CABLES AND SPARKS CAME FROM BATTERY (INSTALLED CORRECTLY). CAR STILL WON'T START.

NHTSA ID

11171007

Incident

Jan 19, 2019

Mileage

125,000 mi

2003 FORD FOCUS AUTOMATIC LOCK MALFUNCTIONED DOUBLELOCKING THE DOOR CREATING A DEADLOCK EFFECT RESULTING IN NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR

NHTSA ID

11157094

Incident

Dec 4, 2018

Mileage

160,000 mi

I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT DOING NO MORE THAN 5 MPH WHEN THE CAR MADE A SUDDEN JERKING MOTION. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE DAMAGES WERE SEVERE RUST, SUB FRAME ROTTED, RIGHT FRONT AXLE BROKEN, RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM BROKEN, SWAY BAR BENT. THE TOW DRIVER SAID THE WHEELS COULD HAVE FALLEN OFF MY CAR AND I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE OF THE THING THAT WENT WRONG. I PUT MYSELF AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER WITH THIS DEATH TRAP. SUPPOSEDLY THIS CAR WAS INSPECTED FEBRUARY 2018. WITH EVERYTHING THAT WENT WRONG WITH IT AND THE DAMAGES, I DONT SEE HOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN. I BELIEVE THERE TO BE FRAUD INVOLVED AND BELIEVE THIS MATTER SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER FOR PUTTING LIVES IN DANGER. I PAID $3,000 FOR THIS CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF FEB. 2018. IT IS NOW AUGUST AND IT HAD INCURRED $3,000 IN DAMAGES. I SOLD THE CAR FOR SALVAGE AT $125

NHTSA ID

11128842

Incident

Aug 27, 2018

Mileage

109,000 mi

SKIDS TO SIDE AND SPINS ON WET ROAD EVEN IF THE TIRES ARE GOOD EVEN AT 30MPH. TOO MUCH SIDE WAYS SHIFT ON LITTLE BUMPY ROADS.

NHTSA ID

11118867

Incident

Jun 15, 2018

Mileage

60,780 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

11118729

Incident

Aug 9, 2018

Mileage

96,000 mi

THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED LESS THAN A WEEK AGO. NOW, IT IS NEEDING REPLACED AGAIN. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL WIRING IN THESE VEHICLES! THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ID

11080353

Incident

Mar 20, 2018

Mileage

147,921 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS FLASHES ALONG WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT, THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT INSTANTLY LOSES ENGINE POWER WITHIN MINUTES. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES NOW. I HAVE CHANGED BATTERY, AIR FILTER, ADD GAS CLEANER PRODUCTS. YET THE PROBLEM STILL IS HAPPENING . VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DOWN A EXTREMELY BUSY INTERSTATE.

NHTSA ID

11076765

Incident

Mar 7, 2018

Mileage

73,432 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE KEY COULD NOT BE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (PARKS FORD & LINCOLN OF GAINESVILLE LOCATED AT 3333 N MAIN ST, GAINESVILLE, FL 32609) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID

11067073

Incident

Nov 1, 2003

Mileage

10,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,700. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11062430

Incident

Dec 28, 2017

Mileage

23,700 mi

CARHOP CAR LOTS, NOT ONLY IN TULSA, BUT IN SURROUNDING AREAS, ARE SELLING CARS THAT ARE UNSAFE, AT ANY COST. THE PROBLEMS RANGE FROM WARPED FRAMES, CRACKED STRESS POINTS, LEAKY FUEL SYSTEMS, ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT COULDN'T BE FIXED BY DUCT TAPE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S VISIBLE WHERE THEY RE-TAPED THINGS. EXHAUST COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE, ENGINE DRIVE TRAIN ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY REPAIRED, SO THEY WILL RUN TEMPORARILY, BUT NEED FURTHER REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID

11056536

Incident

Nov 6, 2017

Mileage

172,255 mi

DUE TO POOR DESIGN THE BULB MELTED THE SURROUNDING HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN THE ENTIRE UNIT HAVING TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

11043991

Incident

Oct 14, 2017

Mileage

197,253 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS GETTING STUCK AND FAILED TO RELEASE. THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HAD TO MANEUVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MORE THAN TWICE FOR REPAIRS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (ADVANTAGE FORD LINCOLN, 1031 CENTRAL AVE, DUARTE, CA 91010, (877) 386-3673) WHO PROVIDED NO SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS OR THE OPTION FOR A LOANER VEHICLE SO THEY COULD TEST DRIVE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11023007

Incident

Oct 10, 2016

MY COMPLAINT STEMS FROM FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING/ SUBPAR WORKMANSHIP. MY CAR HAS DEVELOPED ANOTHER WIRING HARNESS ISSUE. THE REAR ELECTRICAL HARNES WIRES HAVE COMPLETELY CORRODED AWAY. THE PLASTIC INSULATION COMPLETELY CRACKED LEAVING THE WIRES EXPOSED AND TOUCHING EACH OTHER. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME IT CREATED AN ISSUE WITH THE HATCH NOT BEING ABLE TO CLOSE PROPERLY. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED( WITH OEM HARNESS) THIS TIME THE THIRD BREAK LIGHT AS IT IS CALLED STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY.. I WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED. I TOOK APART THE REAR ELECTRICAL BOOT AFTER USING A BOLT METER TO TEST FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY AT THE BRAKE LIGHT SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO CURRENT SO I TOOK THE NEXT STEP.

NHTSA ID

11021307

Incident

Sep 3, 2017

Mileage

230,000 mi

THE BACK DOOR LOCKS ON THIS CAR DO NOT WORK. THEY SAY A LUBRICANT WAS USED TO FIX THE RECALL ISSUE, HOWEVER, IF THAT WAS THE FIX, IT DID NOT WORK AND THE LOCKS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. THAT FORD WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS IS INSANE TO ME, AS DOOR LOCKS SHOULD NOT JUST GO LIKE THAT. THE "FIX" WAS NOT A FIX AT ALL. ALSO, THE LIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE HORRIBLE. IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN AT NIGHT IN AN UNLIT AREA. THERE IS NO VISIBILITY. I WAS TOLD ONCE A RECALL WAS PERFORMED IT WAS THEN DONE, HOWEVER, I DO NOT BELIEVE THE LOCK WAS TAKEN CARE OF PROPERLY, THEREFORE, I FEEL FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS. I HAVE APPLIED THE LUBRICANT AS THEY INSTRUCTED TO THE DOORS AND THIS DOES NOTHING. NEITHER DOOR WILL STAY CLOSED & OPENS IF DRIVEN.WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME, THERE WAS A CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT. WE WERE VERY LUCKY WE WERE IN A 25 MPH ZONE AND WERE ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER. THE DOORS HAVE TO BE CORDED SHUT UNTIL A LOCK IS INSTALLED. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO CARRY THE BURDEN OF THIS REPAIR AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY SAY A LUBRICANT CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT IS MY OPINION THE LOCKS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED DURING THE RECALL, NOT JUST SPRAYED WITH A LUBRICANT. I CANNOT BELIEVE I'M THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS ISSUE. I FEEL THAT FORD SAYING THIS RECALL WAS COMPLETED IS FAR FROM INCORRECT AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THIS RIGHT. AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND ONCE A RECALL IS COMPLETED IT IS CLOSED, HOWEVER, I FEEL YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO FORD HAVING NOT REALLY COMPLETED THIS RECALL, AS THE ISSUE WAS NOT FIXED. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CLOSED. ALL THEY DID WAS PUT A TEMPORARY BAND-AID ON IT AND DID NOT TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY.WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS FORD TOOK THE CHEAPEST WAY OUT AT THE TIME AND DID NOT TRULY FIX THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT TAKE THEIR FULL RESPONSIBILITY. DOORS THAT WERE RECALLED AND ARE NOT WORKING WERE NOT FIXED.I HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH FORD WITH NO SOLUTION

NHTSA ID

11020509

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

BOTH REAR DOORS ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS DO NOT STAY LATCHED AND WILL FLY OPEN DURING DRIVING MANEUVERS. I CANNOT HAVE PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT OF MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF FEAR THAT THEY COULD FALL OUT WHILE DRIVING. MY MODEL AND YEAR WERE RECALLED BY FORD IN 2005 FOR THIS ISSUE. WHEN I RECENTLY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER TO HAVE THE ISSUE EVALUATED I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY DIDN'T NEED TO EVALUATE THE VEHICLE FOR THE RECALL FROM 2005 BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT IN THEIR SYSTEM AND WOULD NOT REPORT THE ISSUE TO FORD DIRECTLY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN.

NHTSA ID

10992393

Incident

May 31, 2017

Mileage

190,000 mi

THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. COULD NOT TURN OFF. OUT OF TOWN SO THIS WAS DEFINATELY AN UNSAFE SITUATION BECAUSE I EITHER HAD TO STAY WITH THE CAR UNTIL THE GAS WAS OUT OF GAS SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE CASH FOR REPAIR. THE CAR WAS DRIVEABLE

NHTSA ID

10992024

Incident

May 26, 2017

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINT AND THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SHOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ID

10983051

Incident

Apr 15, 2017

Mileage

127,000 mi