2003 Ford Focus Latches & Locks Problems

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. 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 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.

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

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.

MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT START DUE TO THE FACT THAT FORD HAS APPARENTLY USED DEFECTIVE LOCK CYLINDERS ON THE 2003 FORD FOCUS. I WALKED UP TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST 350 TO REPAIR THE CAR. (NOT INCLUDING CHARGES FOR GETTING THE VEHICLE TO THEM) THIS HAS PREVENTED ME FROM DRIVING A CAR THAT I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON. *TR

I WAS HOLIDAY SHOPPING ON THE 23RD, JUST CAME BACK TO MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SVT IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE MALL AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. TRIED AND TRIED AND TRIED. NO LUCK, I'M STRANDED, IT'S SNOWING OUT AND IT'S 10:00PM. WHY MOST I RUNE A FRIENDS EVENING TO COME AND PICK ME UP BECAUSE OF A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. $130 DOLLAR TOW AND AN ESTIMATE FROM MY FORD DEALER TO FIX IT FOR $490. I'VE ALREADY RESEARCHED THIS A LITTLE AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE IS NOT A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO GET STRANDED FOR THIS TO GET FIXED? I JUST PAID OFF THE CAR AND IT HAS 91,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX5 HATCHBACK. IT ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT, BUT WE HAVE HAD A HUGE PROBLEM THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR. THE IGNITION LOCKS UP FREQUENTLY, AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. THIS PROBLEM HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON MANY AN OCCASION. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME 5 TIMES. EACH OF THOSE TIMES, I HAVE MANAGED TO GET IT WORKING AGAIN BY VIOLENTLY JAMMING THE KEY AND JIGGLING IT IN THE IGNITION, OR WAITING A WHILE BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO INSERT THE KEY AGAIN. TODAY, HOWEVER, NONE OF THESE METHODS WORKED, AND THE IGNITION SEEMS TO BE PERMANENTLY STUCK. AFTER CAREFUL RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUS 2001-2003. IT HAS LEFT MANY DRIVERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY STRANDED IN INOPPORTUNE TIMES AND LOCATIONS, AS WELL AS COST THEM HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS EACH TIME THAT THE WHEEL LOCKS UP. THE SHEER VOLUME OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM INDICATES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON. IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM ARISES FROM SUBSTANDARD ENGINEERING ON FORD'S PART. PLEASE LOOK INTO FORCING A RECALL. *TR

2003 FORD FOCUS DOOR LATCHES BROKEN. DOORS FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY AND LOCAL STREETS. SOMEONE COULD HAVE FALLEN OUT OR ANOTHER CAR COULD HAVE HIT THE DOOR WHEN IT FLEW OPEN AND HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH. FORD HAD A RECALL ON THE 4 AND 5 DOOR FOCUS BUT NOT ON A 3 DOOR WHICH IS MINE. ONE DOOR HAS BEEN FIXED $293 AT A DEALER AND THE OTHER DOOR NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I FEEL FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE ME AND FIX THE OTHER DOOR FREE OF CHARGE. THIS CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND FORD KNOWS THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE DOOR LATCHES. IF SOMEONE GETS KILLED FORD WILL PROBABLY HAVE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2003 FORD FOCUS FOR MY DAUGHTER AND SHE WAS STRANDED AFTER DRIVING IT TO WORK WHEN SHE COULDN'T GET THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED TO USE HER KEY. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER IT IS COMMON IN FORD FOCUSES OF THIS YEAR. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE SHAFT NEEDING TO BE REPLACED FOR $500 AND THERE IS NOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE OF THIS MAKE/MODEL OF CAR. THIS IS RIDICULOUS SINCE FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ISSUED TO DATE. UNACCEPTABLE! *TR

NO INITIAL INDICATIONS OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT HAPPENED, A SUDDEN ONSET. ONE DAY, I GOT IN MY CAR, TRIED TO START THE ENGINE, AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I TRIED TURNING THE WHEEL TO GET THE KEY TO TURN, AND STILL NO ABILITY TO TURN THE KEY IN THE LOCK AND START THE CAR. I TRIED A SECOND KEY THAT IS NOT USED, JUST IN CASE IT WAS A WORN KEY, BUT STILL NO ABILITY TO TURN THE KEY IN THE COLUMN LOCK. FINALLY, AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF TRYING TO JIGGLE AND FINAGLE THE KEY TO TURN, IT DID. SINCE THEN, I HAVE FOUND THAT IF THE KEY IS REMOVED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL IT TURNED UNTIL A POSITIVE CLUNK IS HEARD AND FELT, INDICATING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK HAS ENGAGED, THE PROBLEM REPEATS EVERY SINGLE TIME. IF I REMOVE THE KEY AND MAKE SURE TO NOT TURN THE WHEEL SO THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS NOT ENGAGED THEN I CAN RELIABLY INSERT THE KEY AND TURN IT IN THE IGNITION LOCK AND START THE CAR. I CALLED FORD TO ATTEMPT TO REQUEST A "GOOD WILL REPAIR" BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN A GOOD AND LONG TERM FORD CUSTOMER (I HAVE OWNED A FORD PINTO, A FORD FOCUS, A FORD CONTOUR, AND A FORD ESCAPE BEFORE THIS FORD FOCUS) BUT THE AGENT THREW UP A LOAD OF RESISTANCE. NOW I AM TOLD THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING UNTIL I TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALER AND PAY FOR AN INSPECTION TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM. THIS "SERVICE" TO VERIFY WHAT I CAN RELIABLY REPRODUCE EVERY AND ANY TIME, IS UNNECESSARY AND WILL COST APPROXIMATELY HALF OF WHAT IT WILL COST ME TO HAVE MY LOCAL GARAGE EFFECT THE CHANGE AND MAKE THE REPAIR. I AM JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO SUFFER DUE TO THIS DESIGN DEFECT THAT FORD MUST KNOW ABOUT. *TR

THE LOCK CYLINDER FROZE IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS TWO MONTHS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE REPAIRS TOTALED $343. *TR

I GOT INTO MY 2003 FORD FOCUS LAST SUNDAY AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. IT HAD BEEN ACTING UP IN RECENT DAYS BUT ON THIS DAY NOTHING WOULD WORK. THEREFORE MY CAR WAS RENDERED USELESS. LONG STORY SHORT...TOWED IT TO THE DEALER THEY TOOK THE LOCK TUMBLER CYLINDER OUT AND SURE ENOUGH--DEFECTIVE MECHANISM. FORD REFUSES TO COVER IT IN A WARRANTY OR EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN AND NOW I AM OUT OF POCKET $400 PLUS THE TOW TO EVEN GET MY CAR TO TURN ON. DID SOME "INTERNET RESEARCH" AND WE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. *TR

THE IGNITION HAS LOCKED UP ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS EACH TIME I HAVE TRIED TO START THE CAR FOR THE PAST 3 DAYS. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN SOME DANGEROUS PLACES (INCLUDING A PARKING STRUCTURE IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES AT 1:30AM) FOR UP TO 40 MINUTES TRYING TO GET THE CAR TO START. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS TIED SHUT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT LATCH PROPERLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH) AND SHE WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,748. UPDATED 05/06/08 *BF UPDATED 05/06/08 *TR

ON JANUARY 22, 2008 THE KEY WOULD NOT START THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT TURN TO RELEASE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. THIS HAD HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIME PREVIOUSLY BUT WE WERE ABLE TO TURN IT AFTER CONSIDERABLE EFFORT. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY COLD DAY IN MICHIGAN AND COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF I DID NOT GET SOME HELP FROM MY DAUGHTER. WE CALLED SEVERAL LOCKSMITHS AND FINALLY ONE MOBILE LOCKSMITH CAME AND REPLACED THE LOCK. *TR

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 05V030000 REGARDING RECALL OF FORD FOCUS MODELS 2000-2005 FOR REAR DOOR LATCH PROBLEMS (FORD RECALL 05S27) IDENTIFIES VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AT THE WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM MAY 22, 2002 THROUGH JANUARY 26, 2005 AS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AS AFFECTED BY FORD FOR THIS RECALL. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED AT THE WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANT IN JUNE 2003 AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DOOR LATCH PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. I FEEL THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. SO FAR THEY HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO REMEDY MY COMPLAINT. *TR

DOOR LATCHES ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN, BOTH FROM THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE, SOMETIMES LEAVING ME SITTING IN THE CAR WONDERING HOW I AM GOING TO GET OUT. BEFORE MY WARRANTY WAS UP, THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THIS WAS JUST TYPICAL OF OUR MODEL OF CAR AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. *TR

REF. NHTSA 05V030000 MY DAUGHTER TOOK HER CAR TO REEMY FORD OF JOHNSON CITY TN. TO HAVE THE SAFETY RECALL TAKEN CARE OF. REEMY FORD SAID THEY COMPLIED WITH THE RECALL. SINCE THEN THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH. THE RECALL STATES IF THE LATCHES DO NOT PASS THE EVALUATION THEY WILL BE REPLACED. WHEN REEMY WAS CALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEY TOLD MY DAUGHTER THAT THEY HAD COMPLIED WITH THE RECALL AND THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. LATCH DOES NOT LATCH, SOUNDS LIKE THE RECALL NOTICE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT PRESSED THE UNLOCK BUTTON TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND IT FAILED TO OPEN. SHE HAD TO MANUALLY PULL THE DOOR THREE TIMES BEFORE IT OPENED. FORD STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,898.

MY DOOR HANDLE ON MY DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR HAS BROKE AGAIN AND I CAN'T OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT WON'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE SOMETIMES EITHER. BACK IN 2005 BOTH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGERS SIDE HANDLES ON MY VEHICLE BROKE. I HAVE A TWO DOOR AND HAD TO CLIMB THROUGH THE TRUNK TO GET MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS WHICH WERE VERY PRICEY CONSIDERING THE PARTS WERE LESS THAN $50.00. I NOW AM HAVING THE ISSUE AGAIN AND I REFUSE TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET TO FIX IT. I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL AND WHY THE FORD DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND THIS HAS BECOME A VERY FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE. *NM

BACK DOORS ARE DIFFICULT TO OPEN WHEN I PULL THE HANDLES IT WILL (POP) OPEN. I AM AFRAID THAT THE DOORS WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY WHEN CLOSED. *JB

MY 2003 FORD FOCUS HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUNK LATCH FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. WHEN I GO TO CLOSE THE TRUNK IT DOES NOT SHUT. IT WILL SHUT IF I PULL ON THE SAFETY LATCH THEY HAVE IN CASE SOMEBODY GETS LOCKED IN THE TRUNK,HOWEVER EVEN WHEN IT CLOSES THAT WAY WHENEVER IT RAINS MY TRUNK WHEN I OPEN IT GETS ALL WET!I HAD A BUNCH OF CHRISTMAS PRESENTS IN THE BACK AND WHEN I OPENED THE TRUNK THEY WERE SOAKED! ALSO THE DOOR LATCHES SOMETIMES LOCK ON THEIR OWN. TWICE I HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT OF MY CAR. I NO LONGER EVER LEAVE MY CAR WITHOUT MY KEYS! *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING 2003 FORD FOCUS RECALL WORK NOT DONE, BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PARTS. *TS (RECALL # 05V030000) *JB

REAR LATCH MALFUNCTIONS. REGISTERS THAT TRUNK IS SHUT WHEN IT IS NOT AND NOT WHEN IT IS. WHILE GOING OVER SPEED BUMP TRUNK POPS OPEN DUE TO LATCH NOT HITCHING PROPERLY. *JB

THE REAR DOORS WERE DIFFICULT TO UNLOCK ON THE CONSUMERS 2003 FORD FOCUS. *JB ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE REAR DOOR OPENED BY ITSELF. THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR IS NOW BEING HELD SHUT WITH BUNGEE CORDS. *JB *NM

DT: THE DOOR POPS OPEN EVEN IF ITS IN A LOCKED POSITION, THE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON UNLESS THE DOOR IS OPEN COMPLETELY. FOUND A RECALL CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY SAID THIS VEHICLE WAS NOTUNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THIS HAPPENED AROUND IN JULY 2, 2005. THE DOOR LATCHES CORRODED. *AK

REAR DOOR OPENS HARD TO THE POINT THAT BREAKAGE OF DOOR HANDLE SEEMS IMMINENT. AT TIMES DOOR WILL ONLY OPEN FROM INTERIOR. A SMALL OUTWARD DENT HAS APPEARED IN THE DOOR HANDLE AREA AS A RESULT OF PULLING ON DOOR HANDLE SO HARD. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED TO DATE AS NO INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED. *JB

IN JULY OF 2004 OPENED REAR PASSENGER DOOR AND IT WOULD NOT CLOSE. ONE MONTH LATER RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE AFTER BEING OPENED. BOTH DOORS HAD TO BE TIED TOGETHER WITH A ROPE TO KEEP THEM SHUT. AS OF JULY 14, 2005 BOTH THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT OPEN. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR IN FRONT STICK AND OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT CLOSE. THIS WAS REPORTED TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE IN MARCH OF 2005 BY PHONE. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON 2003 FORD FOCUS BUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2000-2002. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED MYSELF. THE COST IS $250.00 PER DOOR. THE CAR WAS ONLY A YEAR OLD WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED. IT WAS ALSO OUT OF WARRANTY. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE EACH LATCH REPACED. I ALSO WILL NOT CARRY ANY PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICHLE FOR FEAR THE DOORS WILL FLY OPEN.

DT: A 4 DOOR VEHICLE, AND THE DOORS WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY. IT HAS A BINGE CORD TO HOLD THE BACK DOORS CLOSED. THE FRONT DOORS SOMETIMES LATCH, AND AT OTHER TIMES THEY DO NOT. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY WILL ONLY FIX THE LATCHES IF CONSUMER PAYS FOR IT. *AK

I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS WHERE THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LATCH HAS FAILED. JUST FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FORD RECALL # 05S27) , BUT IT IS ONLY FOR 2000 - 2002 MODELS & MINE IS A 2003. MY CAR IS IN FOR REPAIR AT MY FORD DEALER NOW , THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM & HV TO ORDER NEW PARTS FOR MY CAR .I HV BEEN TOLD I MUST PAY FOR REPAIRS. WHY ARE THE 2003 MODELS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

AFTER A MONTH OF OWNING THE VEHICLE I WAS GETTING WATER IN MY TRUNK. BROUGHT IT TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTING DEVISE AND REPAIRED THE RUST. A MONTH LATER SAME PROBLEM. BROUGHT IT BACK AND THEY DID THE SAME THING. NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN BUT WARRANTY IS UP.*AK

I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CYLINDER AND KEY DESIGN IS NO GOOD. LOTS OF FOCUS OWNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY (FORD) SAY ITS BECAUSE THE KEYS WERE TO HEAVY OR SOMETHING BUT I ONLY HAVE MY CAR AND HOSUE KEY ON MY RING. NOW IN ORDER TO START THE CAR I NEED TO PLAY WITH THE KEY FOR 1 TO 15 MINUTES JUST TO GET THE CAR STARTED. IT WOULD COST ME AROUND $275 TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BY FORD. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 15 MONTHS. (13 AT TIME OF FAILURE). *AK

THE VEHICLE'S DRIVERSIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *MR

TRUNK LATCH FAILED TO WORK, UNABLE TO CLOSE TRUNK ONCE OPEN AND UNABLE TO OPEN TRUNK ONCE CLOSED. CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE 2ND TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM, ORDERING NEW TRUNK LATCH MECHANISM FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO REPLACE. SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED PART WAS DEFECTIVE.

AFTER FORD BOUGHT BACK MY 2002 LEMON AND EXCHANGED IT FOR A 2003, THE TRUNK LATCH BROKE ON THE CAR. THE TRUNK OPENED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. IT IS CURRENTLY IN FOR REPAIR.*JB