2003 Ford FOCUS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
977 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
56,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 751 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition is the most frequently named component, appearing in 263 of 977 complaints (26.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 130 | 13.3% |
| Braking behavior | 92 | 9.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 47 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 45 | 4.6% |
| Engine operation | 42 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition | 263 |
| Electrical System | 136 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 98 |
| Steering | 50 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 49 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 28 |
| Suspension | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 25 |
Electrical System:Ignition: 263; Electrical System: 136; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 98; Steering: 50; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 49; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 28; Suspension: 26; Unknown Or Other: 25
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 135 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 175 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 188 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 107 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 107 |
| 150,000 and above | 39 |
Under 25,000: 135; 25,000 to 49,999: 175; 50,000 to 74,999: 188; 75,000 to 99,999: 107; 100,000 to 149,999: 107; 150,000 and above: 39
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (188). 226 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 54 |
| 2004 | 95 |
| 2005 | 119 |
| 2006 | 105 |
| 2007 | 102 |
| 2008 | 118 |
| 2009 | 104 |
| 2010 | 84 |
| 2011 | 39 |
| 2012 | 38 |
| 2013 | 26 |
| 2014 | 28 |
| 2015 | 18 |
| 2016 | 20 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 54; 2004: 95; 2005: 119; 2006: 105; 2007: 102; 2008: 118; 2009: 104; 2010: 84; 2011: 39; 2012: 38; 2013: 26; 2014: 28; 2015: 18; 2016: 20; 2017: 9; 2018: 8; 2019: 4; 2020: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 130 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 92 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 47 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003000 · 2003-01-20 (January 20, 2003)
AFTER LEAVING MY AUTO, I RETURNED TO FIND THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED, BUT IN TACT/IN PLACE. THERE NO SIGNS OF ANY IMPACT OR ATTEMPTED ENTRY. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING STRIKING THE WINDOW AND APPEARED IT MIGHT BE A FAULTY WINDOW. UPON BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER'S SEVICE SHOP, THE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD NOTIFY HIS FORD REP OF THIS PROBLEM. HE SAID NORMALLY THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING BUT SINCE THE AUTO WAS SO NEW, HE WOULD TRY TO SEE WHAT HE COULD DO. UPON INVESTIGATING IF THERE WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 440 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007553 · 2003-02-15 (February 15, 2003)
A STOPPED 2003 FOCUS SEDAN WAS REAR-ENDED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BY A MAZDA 626 RESULTING IN LIMITED FLEXIBLE BUMPER DAMAGE TO THE FORD FOCUS, BUT SUBSTANTIAL SPINAL DAMAGE TO THE HEALTHY, 22 YEAR OLD DRIVER WHO WAS SECURELY SEAT-BELTED INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. WHAT WAS LACKING IN THE SEAT DESIGN TO PROTECT THE DRIVER FROM SUCH INJURIES?
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007554 · 2003-02-15 (February 15, 2003)
SEDAN WAS REAR-ENDED RESULTING IN LIMITED FLEXIBLE BUMPER DAMAGE. SUBSTANTIAL SPINAL DAMAGE TO THE HEALTHY, 22 YEAR OLD DRIVER WHO WAS SECURELY SEAT-BELTED INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. WHAT WAS LACKING IN THE SEAT DESIGN TO PROTECT THE DRIVER FROM SUCH INJURIES? PH
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007554 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008255 · 2003-02-28 (February 28, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 1,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008255 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008256 · 2003-02-28 (February 28, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT MY 2003 FORD FOCUS STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER 3 TRIES THE CAR FINALLY RESTARTED AND I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THEY SAID THE MASS AIR FLOW SYSTEM WAS BAD AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 1500 MILES ON IT AND IS LESS THAN 2 MONTHS OLD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008952 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE SLIGHT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016807 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)
TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DROPS DOWN ONE OR TWO GEARS, CRUISE CONTROL KICKS OFF, TRANSMISSION TROUBLE LIGHT IN DASH COMES ON, THEN GOES AWAY, DEALER CHECKED ON 04/28/03 AND FOUND NO CAUSE CODE, DEALER PERFORMED FLUID PUMP CHECK AND TESTED OK, TRANSMISSION DID THE SAME THING AGAIN ON 04/29/03. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017583 · 2003-04-25 (April 25, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION MADE A "SHUTTERING AND FLIPPING" SOUND WHILE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017583 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V030000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
Reported: 2005-02-01 (February 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗