Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Ford Focus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 99 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 99, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLATCH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOORS FAILED TO LATCH. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE A BUNGEE CORD TO KEEP THE DOORS CLOSED; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD OPEN EVERY TIME A TURN WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. ..*BF *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE OIL AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE BATTERY. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT A CLUSTER UNDER THE DASHBOARD, WHICH CONTROLLED ALL THE LIGHT SIGNALS, WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE "REPAIRED OR REPLACED." THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. UPDATED 04/08/16*LJ *CN
I WAS USING MY PASSENGER SEAT HEATER WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO PICK SOMETHING UP FROM THE MALL WHEN I STARTED SMELLING A BURNING SMELL. WHEN I GOT TO THE MALL,I LOOKED OVER TO FIND A LARGE SCORCH MARK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT
MY WIFE COMPLAINED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT WAS SO HOT IT WAS BURNING, RESULTING IN A MILD BURN. I INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVER SIDE BACK CUSHION HEATING ELEMENT HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNT INTO THE SEAT CUSHION AND BACK LINING OF THE SEAT FABRIC. I HAVE PICTURES AND HAVE HELD ONTO THE DEFECTIVE PART. THE HEATING ELEMENT HAS BEEN REPLACED HOWEVER WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE READ OF OCCURRENCES OF THIS INCIDENT INCLUDING REPORTS OF FIRES. *TR
(1ST) IT WAS PASSENGER REAR DOOR LATCH WOULDN'T STAY LATCHED, DOOR COME OPEN DURING DRIVING, (2ND) A MONTH LATER TRUNK WOULDN'T LATCH, THEN (3RD) 2 MONTHS LATER DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR CAME OPEN DURING DRIVING, WOULDN'T LATCH. DAUGHTER ALMOST FELL OUT AND CAR ALMOST HIT DOOR WHEN IT FLEW OPEN. I HAD TO USE SEAT BELT TO TIE DOOR SHUT TO MAKE IT HOME. *TR
WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER SIDE LEATHER HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE FILLED THE CAR WITH SMOKE IN FLAMES. *TR
THE SEAT BACK ADJUSTMENT TO RECLINE THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BROKE, THEREFORE WE ARE UNABLE TO INCLINE OR RECLINE THE POSITION OF THE SEAT. *TR
THE LEFT REAR DOOR DOESN'T LATCH PROPERLY, CAUSING THE DOOR TO FLY OPEN ON IT'S OWN. THANK GOODNESS KIDS WERE NOT IN THE CAR WHEN THIS OCCURRED. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH AND IS NOW TETHERED WITH ROPE AND CAN'T BE USED. FORD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE A CURRENT RECALL NOTICE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V030000 FORD CLAIMS THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED. THE ISSUE FOR MY VEHICLE IS THAT IT WAS PURCHASED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN 2003 AND REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN FEB OF 2005 WHEN THE RECALL CAME OUT. (IT IS NOW REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF NY WHERE IT HAS BEEN SINCE 2006. IF THE RECALL CAME OUT ONE YEAR LATER, MY CAR WOULD BE COVERED?) COVERED OR NOT, FORD KNOWS THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE. A REMEDY WOULD BE TO RE-ISSUE THE RECALL AGAIN SO THAT IT COVERS ANY 2003 FOCUS AS I AM CERTAIN THAT MY CAR IS NOT THE ONLY CAR SOLD IN A STATE NOT COVERED, BUT THAT HAS SINCE RELOCATED TO A STATE WHERE CORROSION CAN OCCUR DUE TO SALT AND WINTER CONDITIONS (UNBEKNOWNST TO CONSUMERS). I AM LUCKY THAT MY KIDS WERE NOT HURT, BUT SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT NOT BE AS LUCKY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 07/25/12 *BF A LOCK SMITH DETERMINED THE LOCK WAFERS WERE BENT, DUE TO IT BEING MADE OF CHEAP METAL. UPDATED 07/30/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRACKET FOR THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO LEAN TO ONE SIDE ABNORMALLY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A LOCAL MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE SEAT BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
UPON OPENING, THREE HARD CLICKS ARE HEARD - AND LOCK OPENS ON OCCASION. OFTEN REFUSING TO LATCH AND ON MANY OCCASIONS, I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. IT APPEARS TO BE AS STATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V030000 I HAVE SPOKEN WITH DEALER AND FORD ON MANY OCCASIONS THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND THEY INSIST THIS CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE CAMPAIGN AND REFUSE TO INSPECT, OR VIEW, OR ASSESS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH). AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR TO REMAIN CLOSED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR OPENED WHILE A CHILD WAS SEATED IN THE REAR SEAT. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE DOOR LATCH WAS EXTREMELY CORRODED. THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NO LONGER LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER FUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES: DOORS: LATCH). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
TRUNK LATCH FAILED AT 37,000 MILES ON 2003 FORD FOCUS. COULD NOT GET THE TRUNK TO LATCH TO DRIVE HOME. COST OVER $400 TO REPLACE THE PART WHICH IS NOT IN YET. DRIVING AROUND ANOTHER WEEK WITH MY ONLY CAR'S TRUNK TIED DOWN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN CLOSING THE RIGHT PASSENGER REAR DOOR, IT WOULD NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY; MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
MY KEY WILL NOT TURN OVER AND MY WHEEL IS LOCKED UP. THE PROBLEMS STARTED AND I WOULD JUST TURN THE WHEEL AND SOONER OR LATER IT WOULD TURN OVER. NOW IM STRANDED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE WHEEL LOCKED UP AND NO TURNING THE KEY OVER. MISSED WORK AND MONEY. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET ON THIS AND THE WAS OVER 300 DIFF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THIS CAR (FORD) TO SAVE GAS AND MONEY. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED IF THIS MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT HASN'T YET. *TR
LATE NIGHT 35 MILES FROM HOME. KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. HAD TO GET A RIDE HOME. RETURNED THE NEXT DAY AND HAD A LOCKSMITH REPLACE THE IGNITION LOCK WITH A STRATTEC IGNITION LOCK. *TR
THE DOOR HANDLES ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS HAVE A RECALL ON THEM, BUT ONLY ON CERTAIN ONES AND MINE ISN'T ONE OF THEM, ALTHOUGH ALL FOUR OF MY HANDLES ARE BROKEN. THE FIRST INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED WITH THE DOOR HANDLES WAS I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AT A STORE AND LEFT MY FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR WITH IT RUNNING TO GET A PAPER, AND WHEN I WENT TO OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR, THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND ALL OF THE OTHER DOORS WERE LOCKED (BECAUSE THEY AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN GEAR). I WAS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT AT THE TIME AND WAS STRANDED AT THE STORE WITH MY DAUGHTER LOCKED IN THE CAR FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. AND THEN, ON MAY 27TH 2011, I WENT TO LEAVE MY HOUSE AND I USUALLY KEEP THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOWN BECAUSE THE ONLY DOORS THAT WE CAN OPEN ARE THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND ONLY FROM THE INSIDE. BUT ON THIS DAY IT HAD RAINED SO I PUT THE WINDOW UP AND WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE MY HOUSE I HAD ALREADY WENT OUTSIDE AND WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE "PROCEDURE" OF GETTING THE BACK DOOR OPENED SO I COULD PUT MY 3 MONTH OLD SON IN THE CAR AND I GUESS WHEN I WENT BACK INSIDE TO GET HIM, THE DRIVERS DOOR GOT BLOWN CLOSED BY THE WIND, BECAUSE WHENEVER I PUT HIM IN AND SHUT HIS DOOR, I WENT AROUND TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND IT WAS SHUT AND MY 3 MONTH OLD WAS STUCK IN THE CAR!! IT TOOK 30 MINUTES FOR MY HUSBAND TO GET TO THE HOUSE (BECAUSE I HAD TO CALL HIM HOME FROM WORK) AND HE HAD TO CLIMB IN THROUGH THE TRUNK AND MANOVER THE CARSEAT OUT OF THE WAY SO HE COULD WIGGLE IN THERE AND GET THE BABY OUT. MY SON WAS COVERED IN SWEAT FROM HEAD TO TOE AND WAS HAVING A HARD TIME BREATHING WHENEVER WE GOT HIM OUT BECAUSE HE ALREADY HAS BREATHING PROBLEMS AND HE WAS IN THE CAR WITH ALL OF THE WINDOWS UP FOR 30 MINUTES. I BELIEVE THAT THE FORD COMPANY SHOULD FIX OUR DOOR HANDLES BECAUSE IF THAT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS!! *TR
KEY WONT TURN IN IGNITION WINDOWS DOWN IN A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD. *TR
KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION, STALLED THE CAR AND THEN COULD NOT TURN THE CAR BACK ON IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, ON CHRISTMAS EVE NONE THE LESS. *TR
MY DAUGHTER AND WIFE WERE OUT SHOPPING AND TURNED ON THE SEAT WARMERS IN THE FRONT SEAT. AS MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING SHE BEGAN TO COMPLAIN OF A SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING IN THE CAR. SOON AFTER REALIZED HER BACK SIDE WAS HOT ! SUMMARY- DRIVER SIDE SEAT BURN MARKS VISIBLE AND HER WINTER COAT RUINED; IT BURNED IT TOO. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN ADDRESSED WITH FORD? SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED STATING THIS EXACT DESCRIPTION. *LN
THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZTS, THUS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER A CALL TO THE LOCAL LOCKSMITH, I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR "THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR A FORD FOCUS". WHEN ARRIVING, THE LOCKSMITH PROCEEDED TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THE STOCK IGNITION SWITCH OF MY CAR IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN, COMPARING TO A NEW SWITCH THEY WERE ABOUT TO INSTALL. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH ONLINE, I COULD NOT FIND ANY INFORMATION ABOUT A RECALL FOR THE DEFECTIVE ITEM. I DID FIND, HOWEVER, PLENTY OF COMPLAINS OF FORD OWNERS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I AM SURPRISED SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED SINCE IT JEOPARDIZES THE RELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
THE KEY IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION. WE WERE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THE KEY IS FINE..THE ACTUAL IGNITION MECHANISM IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT TURN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH OF THE REAR DOORS FAILED. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SPEAK WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES: DOORS: LATCH). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,050.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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