2003 Ford Focus Other Problems

Your car may have multiple serious issues including a leaky fuel system, exhaust fumes entering the cabin, electrical problems that have only been temporarily patched with duct tape, and engine or drivetrain issues that were temporarily repaired but need permanent fixes. The frame may be warped with cracked stress points. A thorough inspection by a qualified mechanic is needed to identify and properly repair all underlying problems.

Your ignition key won't turn in the ignition switch, leaving you unable to start your vehicle or turn the steering wheel. This appears to be a known issue affecting multiple vehicles. The repair will likely involve replacing the ignition switch cylinder or having it professionally serviced to restore normal operation.

Your transmission failed without any warning signs and required replacement at 104,000 miles. This is a major mechanical failure that left you stranded. The repair will involve removing and replacing the entire transmission assembly.

Your car's automatic door lock malfunctioned and double-locked the door, trapping it in a deadlock state so you couldn't open it. This prevented normal access to your vehicle. The fix may involve replacing or repairing the door latch assembly and lock mechanism.

THE NEEDLES ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAVE STOPPED WORKING 80% OF THE TIME. THEY WILL ALSO JUMP AROUND, ALONG WITH THE MILEAGE SCREEN FLICKER TO "8888888" OR "--------" WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS OFF. BATTERY AND CONNECTIONS ARE ALL FINE AND THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED.

THE IGNITION CYLINDER HAS HAD ISSUES WITH TURNING WHEN FIRST INSERTING KEY. ON TWO (2) SEPARATE OCCASIONS HAS LEFT ME STRANDED. ONCE WAS WHILE I WAS LEAVING WORK AND ANOTHER WHEN TRYING TO GO TO WORK. THIS ISSUE HAS NOW COST ME A DAYS PAY AND A LOT OF HEADACHE. FORD HAS CLAIMED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER NOT TURNING IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEREFORE WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. AT THIS TIME I FEEL THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN ENOUGH PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE THAT FORD NEEDS TO DO RIGHT BY THEIR CUSTOMERS AND FIX THE ISSUE.

MY REAR DOOR DOES NOT LATCH. BACK DOOR FLUNG OPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND TURNED LEFT.

THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN. ALTHOUGH I HAD BOTH KEYS WITH ME, AND BOTH WILL STILL UNLOCK THE DOORS, NEITHER WOULD TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH. BETWEEN TOWING AND REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH, I HAD TO SHELL OUT $450. FORD KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VINTAGE FOCUS, BUT DOES NOT THINK IT IMPORTANT OR A SAFETY MATTER. AS A WOMAN WHO OFTEN TRAVELS ALONE, I THINK IT IS A SAFETY MATTER. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY, MANY OLD CARS - MUCH OLDER THAN THIS ONE - AND HAVE NEVER BEEN STRANDED BY SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. ALTHOUGH I WAS STRANDED IN FAMILIAR TERRITORY AND NOT FAR FROM HOME, IT MIGHT EASILY HAVE BEEN OTHERWISE. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM, IT WAS CAUSED BY THEIR USE OF FAULTY EQUIPMENT, AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT.

KEY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION, ITS GETTING STUCK AND IM GETTING STRANDED IN AREAS THAT ARE NOT SAFE.

PARKED CAR AT A SERVICE STATION AND WENT TO START IT AND KEY WONT TURN IGNITION LOCKED SOLID IM WAITING TO GET A ESTIMATE TO GET IT FIXED.

THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK SUPPORT HAS SNAPPED. THE SEAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS NOT CAUSED BY ANY ACCIDENT JUST NORMAL DRIVING. I MUST SAY I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A SEAT BREAKING LIKE THIS BEFORE. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION, SO VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START AND HAD TO BE ABANDONED.

MY IGNITION KEY CYLINDER HAS GONE BAD. MY KEY WILL NOT TURN THEREFORE I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR. BEING THAT I AM A YOUNG FEMALE, I FOUND THIS EXPERIENCE TO BE HORRIFIC AND HIGHLY UNSAFE. MY COUNTY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST MURDER RATES AND BEING STUCK WITHOUT A WAY TO GET AWAY FROM A TROUBLING SITUATION HAS LEFT ME TO HIGHLY REGRET THE PURCHASE OF MY FORD FOCUS. I SEE ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A DEFECT IN A CAR CANNOT BE RECALLED! THIS VENTURE IS COSTING ME OVER 600 DOLLARS WHICH I LIKE EVERYONE ELSE DO NOT HAVE TO SPARE. I FIND IT A SHAME THAT FORD DOES NOT OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKE. IT MAKES YOU QUESTION THE QUALITY THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY PUTS FORTH. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A BELIEVER OF SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY HOWEVER I HAVE LEARNED THAT AMERICAN INDUSTRY LIKE TO BURN PEOPLE AND SELL UNSATISFACTORY PRODUCTS. I APPEAL TO YOU TO RECALL THE FORD FOCUS CYLINDER BEFORE SOMEONE MAKES THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE TO PROVE THAT THIS IS INDEED A HIGH RISK SAFETY CONCERN! *LN

I WAS OUT DOING ERRANDS AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION EVEN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOOSE. I TRIED A FEW TIMES AND IT FINALLY TURNED. LATER THAT EVENING WHEN LEAVING THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AGAIN, EXCEPT THIS TIME IT DID NOT EVER TURN AND I ENDED UP HAVING TO BORROW A CAR FROM MY IN-LAWS. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING QUOTES TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND FIXED OR REPLACED. *TR

KEY WILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION ON. *TR

TODAY, JUNE 24/05 MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WITH 22000 MILES ON IT, HAD A PROBLEM. I WENT TO START THE CAR, AND THE IGNITION WAS TOTALLY LOCKED UP. I HAPPENED TO HAVE STOPPED AT A GAS STATION, AND THE GARAGE MAN GAVE IT A TRY AND COULDNT' DO ANYTHING SO I CALLED FORD ROADSIDE. LA'S ALL CITY TOW, STOPPED VERY SHORTLY, AND TOLD ME THAT THEY KNEW VERY WELL THAT ALL THE FOCUS' DID THIS AND HE WAS ABLE TO SLAM ON THE KEYS JUST SO TO FORCE THE FAULTY IGNITION LOCK PIN TO TURN AND THE CAR STARTED SO I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE DEALER. THE HEAD OF SERVICE AT HOLLYWOOD FORD ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY ALL KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUE AND REPAIRED IT. HOWEVER BY THAT TIME I HAD MISSED WORK. I JUST SHUDDER TO THINK ABOUT SOME POOR PERSON SOMEWHERE STOPPING IN THE WRONG NEIGBORHOOD AND UNABLE SUDDENLY TO START THIER CAR, PARTICULARLY IF THEY HAVE A CHILD WITH THEM. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REP ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE HAD BEEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND CONFIRMED THAT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED.

THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH MOLD IN THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDESNER UNIT.

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE HAD A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *NM *TC *JB

MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT OUR FORD FOCUS IN MAY OF 2003. IN SEPT. OF 2003 WE PAID IT OFF. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH AN ODOR COMING OUT OF THE COOLING/HEATING SYSTEM. IT SMELLS LIKE MOLD/MILDEW. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO BOB BELL FORD IN GLEN BURNIE, MARYLAND ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS BUT TO NO AVAIL. THEY ONLY PUT SOME KIND OF DEODERIZER IN THE SYSTEM THAT LASTS A FEW DAYS, AND THEN THE ODOR COMES BACK AGAIN. THE LAST TIME WE TOOK IT THERE, MY HUSBAND WAS INSULTED BY ONE OF THE SERVICE MANAGERS. THEY STILL HAVEN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM. WE GOT OUR CAR BACK ON SATURDAY, 5 DAYS AFTER TAKING IT TO THEM, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE 'SERVICE MANAGER' HAD IT DETAILED, AND SUGGESTED THAT THE ODOR WAS DUE TO THE CAR BEING DIRTY. GRANTED, THE CAR NEEDED A GOOD WASHING ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT COME ON NOW, PLEASE, THAT WON'T CAUSE AN ODOR ON THE INSIDE. IT IS EITHER A CONDENSATION PROBLEM OR AN IMPROPER WATER DRAINING PROBLEM THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING AND THEY WON'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM PROPERLY. FOR SOME REASON, AFTER IT RAINS, WE SMELL THIS HORRIBLE ODOR WHEN WE USE OUR COOLING/HEATING SYSTEM. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THEY DEODORIZE THE SYSTEM THE ODOR COMES BACK. IT IS A "HEALTH HAZARD" BREATHING THIS HORRIBLE ODOR. HOPEFULLY FILING THIS COMPLAINT MAY HELP OUR SITUATION BEFORE WE ARE FORCED TO GO ANY FURTHER. IF THEY DON'T SOON CORRECT THE PROBLEM , WE WILL BE CALLING THE BBB AND CONTACTING OUR LAWYER. *JB

MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT OUR FORD FOCUS IN MAY OF 2003. IN SEPT. OF 2003 WE PAID IT OFF. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH AN ODOR COMING OUT OF THE COOLING/HEATING SYSTEM. IT SMELLS LIKE MOLD/MILDEW. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO BOB BELL FORD IN GLEN BURNIE, MARYLAND ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS BUT TO NO AVAIL. THEY ONLY PUT SOME KIND OF DEODORIZER IN THE SYSTEM THAT LASTS A FEW DAYS, AND THEN THE ODOR COMES BACK AGAIN. THE LAST TIME WE TOOK IT THERE, MY HUSBAND WAS INSULTED BY ONE OF THE SERVICE MANAGERS. THEY STILL HAVEN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM. WE GOT OUR CAR BACK ON SATURDAY, 5 DAYS AFTER TAKING IT TO THEM, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE 'SERVICE MANAGER' HAD IT DETAILED, AND SUGGESTED THAT THE ODOR WAS DUE TO THE CAR BEING DIRTY. GRANTED, THE CAR NEEDED A GOOD WASHING ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT COME ON NOW, PLEASE, THAT WON'T CAUSE AN ODOR ON THE INSIDE. IT IS EITHER A CONDENSATION PROBLEM OR AN IMPROPER WATER DRAINING PROBLEM THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING AND THEY WON'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM PROPERLY. FOR SOME REASON, AFTER IT RAINS, WE SMELL THIS HORRIBLE ODOR WHEN WE USE OUR COOLING/HEATING SYSTEM. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THEY DEODORIZE THE SYSTEM THE ODOR COMES BACK. IT IS A "HEALTH HAZARD" BREATHING THIS HORRIBLE ODOR. HOPEFULLY FILING THIS COMPLAINT MAY HELP OUR SITUATION BEFORE WE ARE FORCED TO GO ANY FURTHER. IF THEY DON'T SOON CORRECT THE PROBLEM , WE WILL BE CALLING THE BBB AND CONTACTING OUR LAWYER. *JB

WHEN RUNNING THE AC ON THE CAR, THERE IS AN EXTREMELY BAD ODOR WHICH CAN BE SMELLED BOTH INSIDE THE CAR AND OUT. IT APPEARS TO BE SOME KIND OF BURNING OR CHEMICAL ODOR. IT WILL ACTUALLY AFFECT THE BODY BY MAKING YOUR EYES BURN AND MAKING YOU FEEL SICK. IT CAN NOT BE DRIVEN. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES WITH THE PROBLEM UNRESOLVED. THE THIRD TIME, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS FIXED; HOWEVER, UPON TESTING AT THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNRESOLVED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT FORD'S ENGINEERS ARE COMING IN TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM, AS THE SERVICE MANAGER PULLED THREE NEW CARS OFF THE LOT AND FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM.

MY 2003 FOCUS STATION WAGON WILL VIOLENTLY SHAKE (THE ENTIRE CAR) AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55 - 60 MPH WHEN BOTH REAR WINDOWS ARE OPEN ALL THE WAY AND ALL OTHER WINDOWS SHUT, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BECOME ALARMED AT HIGH SPEEDS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW W/AIR FLOW, WHICH CAUSES THE ENTIRE CAR TO RESONATE.*AK