2003 Ford Focus complaints

2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCKED SO THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN. WE HAD TO HAVE A LOCKSMITH COME OUT TO REMOVE THE IGNITION LOCK PINS, WHICH HE REPORTED COMMONLY MALFUNCTION IN THIS WAY. THIS IS A COMMONLY REPORTED PROBLEM ON 2000-2005 YEAR FORD FOCUS VEHICLES, BUT FORD WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT CAN RESULT IN DRIVERS BEING STRANDED, UNABLE TO START THEIR VEHICLES. *TR

WE HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND APPARENTLY THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE HAS A REPUTATION OF HAVING THE IGNITION LOCK UP AND JUST WONT START AGAIN. APPARENTLY FORD DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ITEM YET. MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER HAVE BEEN STRANDED FOR 4 HOURS TRYING TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR

MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY ONE PERSON, MY OWN SUNDAY DRIVER GRANDMOTHER AND IS CURRENTLY ONLY DRIVEN BY MYSELF AND MY MOTHER. IT HAD ONLY 47,800 MILES ON IT WHEN THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION LEAVING MY MOTHER STRANDED AT ONE PLACE AND ME STRANDED ACROSS TOWN WAITING FOR A RIDE. THE FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED UP RANDOMLY POTENTIALLY MAKING THE CAR A ROADSIDE AND/OR TRAFFIC HAZARD. *TR

KEYS WOULD BE HARD TO TURN IN THE IGNITION THE TODAY KEYS WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION...LEFT STRANDED. *TR

KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER SOME REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO START, EVENTUALLY THE KEY WOULD WORK. THIS TIME, IT HAS REFUSED TO BUDGE. SEEMS TO BE CONNECTED TO THE STEERING WHEEL BEING TURNED BUT THAT LOCKS UP TOO, SO IT CAN'T RESOLVE ITSELF. RESEARCH ON INTERNET SUCH AS CONSUMER'S REPORT SHOWS THIS TO BE A FREQUENT COMPLAINT WITH THIS MODEL. DEFECTIVE IGNITION! THE OTHER DAY IT LEFT ME STRANDED WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN. I WOULD CLASSIFY THAT AS A SAFETY CONCERN! *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

WITH NO WARNING AND 1000K OUT OF THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OR START THE CAR. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, A NEW IGNITION CYLINDER COST $258.44 PLUS TOW. CONSUMERS DO NOT EXPECT A CAR WITH 37K TO FAIL ON THEM LIKE THIS. I COULD HAVE BEEN ON A FAMILY OUTING WITH MY SON WHO IS A DIABETIC. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY REPORTED YET FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. DEPENDABILITY OR LACK THERE OF, IS IMPERATIVE TO THE SAFETY OF A VEHICLE. *TR

IGNITION KEY/CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACE. KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO START CAR. *TR

2003 FORD FOCUS THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. *TR

I HAD A CRACK IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR THAT I TOOK TO GET REPAIRED. I DROVE MY CAR THERE, TURNED THE CAR OFF WHILE WAITING FOR THE CUSTOMER IN FRONT OF ME TO PULL UP. I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND PULLED IT UP TO WHERE THE SERVICEMAN WAS WAITING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I GAVE THEM MY INFORMATION. THE SERVICEMAN THEN TOOK MY CAR, STARTED IT, AND DROVE IT INTO THE SERVICE BAY. THEY DID THE WORK ON THE CAR AND THEN WITHOUT WARNING THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THEY TRIED AND TRIED. IT WOULDN'T TURN. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING OR ANYTHING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE FORD DEALER AND ASKED THEM HOW THIS HAPPENS, IF IT HAPPENED OVER TIME, OR WHAT. THE GUY TOLD ME THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AND THEN IT WOULD COST $400 TO GET REPAIRED. JUST OUT OF THE BLUE WITHOUT WARNING HE SAID THAT THE IGNITION COULD GO OUT! I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE ONLY HAD TO REPAIR THE IGNITION SWITCH AT VIRTUALLY HALF THE PRICE USING FORD DEALER PARTS! IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE THAT SOMETHING AS VITAL AS THE IGNITION CAN JUST STOP AT ANY TIME! *TR

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON APRIL 12TH, 2008. 2-3 HS AFTER BEING PARKED ON THE STREET THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET, BUT ACCORDING TO THE FIRE INVESTIGATION UNIT THE FIRE APPARENTLY STARTED NEAR THE CONSOLE AREA. *TR

KEY WILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION ON. *TR

WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, WHEELS TURNED, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE IGNITION CYLINDER WILL NOT TURN I.E. THE KEY WON'T TURN THE IGNITION. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MORNING. WHEN PUSHING IN ON THE KEY, THE KEY WAS ABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION. IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED THE KEY WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN IN IGNITION. I TALKED TO TWO DEALERSHIPS AND THEY WERE BOTH AWARE WITH THE PROBLEM AND THE TEMPORARY SOLUTION. I TALKED TO THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND HE SAID HE AS SEE THIS HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES. HE TOLD ME THAT FORD STOP USING THIS TYPE OF IGNITION SYSTEM HOWEVER, CHEVROLET STARTED USING THIS SYSTEM AND HE HAS SEEN THE SAME PROBLEMS OCCUR WITH NEW CHEVROLETS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER 15 MINUTES OF TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION VARIOUS WAYS, THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STARTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE PURCHASE DATE, TRANSMISSION TYPE, FUEL TYPE, AND FUEL SYSTEM WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

2003 FORD FOCUS CAR HAS (2) DIFFERENT TYPE SPARK PLUGS INSTALLED AT FACTORY CAUSING CAR NOT TO RUN NORMAL. FORD MOTOR CO. DOES NOT HAVE A ANSWER FOR PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE BETWEEN 10-30 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART AFTER IT HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE COOLANT SYSTEM. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT DUE TO THE MILEAGE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE SAME REPAIR AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,371.

PLACE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THERE IS ONLY 50K ON THE CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. HE ARRIVED HOME AND FELT AS IF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK REST WAS LEANING MORE THAN NORMAL. HE CHECKED THE SEAT AND FOUND THAT IT HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A DEFECTIVE FACTORY WELDING CAUSED THE SEAT BOLT TO FAIL. THE CONTACT WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT AND HE FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE SAFETY CONCERN, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY MILEAGE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 05/06/08 *BF UPDATED 05/06/08 *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS EX. ON THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, AND I LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW A FORD MUSTANG BARRELING DOWN ON ME. WITH NO TIME TO REACT, I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AT 50 MILES AN HOUR. WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, EVEN THOUGH I CAME DEATHLY CLOSE TO SMASHING MY FACE AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED HER VEHICLE INTO PARK, TURNED IT OFF, AND THEN STARTED IT UP AGAIN, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF IT IS IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IF THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE, IT WOULD SURGE BACKWARD. THE CONTACT ONLY NOTIFIED THE INSURANCE COMPANY. A CRASH OCCURRED AND AN OCCUPANT WAS INJURED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE PARKED IN THE BACKYARD, THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WINDOW. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE LOCKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE DEALER REPAIRED THAT FAILURE AS WELL. AFTERWARDS, THE IGNITION CYLINDER BEGAN TO FAIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AND HAD TO PAY $300. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 5,000. UPDATED 05/21/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRUNK NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AS WELL. UPDATED. 05/20/08. *JB

PREMATURE FAILURE OF IGNITION MODULE, COULD HAVE FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY. AFTER TALKING TO DEALERSHIP AND OTHER FORD SOURCES, DEALERS FIX AT LEAST A FOCUS A WEEK WITH THE SAME ISSUE, THIS IS AN EXTENSIVE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION ONLY IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. HE NOTIFIED THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS THAT ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURE, BUT WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. EVERYONE REFUSES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING A LOCKSMITH. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE KEY REMAINS IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SHE CALLED A MECHANIC AND THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,030 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,382. UPDATED 04/22/08. *LJ

THE KEY IGNITION IS LOCKED AND WON'T TURN ON THE CAR. *TR

IGNITION SWITCH WON'T TURN IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE AIRPORT. *TR

PLACED KEY INTO 2003 FORD FOCUS AND CANNOT TURN KEY IN IGNITION. THE IGNITION IS LOCKED UP. CAR HAS ONLY 60,000 MILES!!! *TR

WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY TO PASS OTHER CARS THE TRANSMISSION DROPS INTO LOWER GEAR THE THE MOTOR REVS UP NOT SHIFTING INTO ANOTHER GEAR STALLING AND SLOWING DOWN CAUSING CARS BEHIND TO ALMOST HIT MY CAR. AT HIGHER SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC THIS CAN CAUSE A ACCIDENT. *TR

I GOT IN MY CAR AND PLACED THE KEY IN TO START YESTERDAY AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE IGNITION HAD LOCKED UP. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE KEY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, HOWEVER, THIS MORNING. I WAS TRYING TO RETURN HOME AND UNABLE TO START MY CAR, I HAD TO WAIT IN MY CAR FOR AN HOUR UNTIL SOMEONE COULD BRING ME THE KEY (IT IS CURRENTLY 22 OUT). THE KEY STILL WILL NOT TURN AFTER SEVERAL TRIES. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING TO GET IT FIXED TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY OTHER WAY. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND APPARENTLY HUNDREDS OF 2003 FORD FOCUS OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WITH 27,000 MILES. FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OUT SUDDENLY. THIS IS NOT A FUSE PROBLEM, AS THE WAY TO GET THEM BACK ON IS TO TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEN TURN THEM BACK ON. OFTEN THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES DURING ONE TRIP; AT OTHER TIMES IT WILL "SOLVE" THE PROBLEM FOR MONTHS. IT HAS HAPPENED ON HIGH-SPEED HIGHWAYS AND IT IS DISCONCERTINGLY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS CRITICAL TO KNOW ONE'S SPEED. I BELIEVE (FROM THE INTERNET) THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS. FORD, HOWEVER, DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM, OR HOW TO FIX IT OTHER THAN TAKING IT TO A DEALER AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE SAME DAY THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, THEY COULD NOT REMOVE THE BULB BECAUSE WHEN THE BULB "SHORTED," IT MELTED PLASTIC AROUND THE BULB. I HAD TO BUY AN ENTIRELY NEW TAIL LIGHT AND SOCKET ASSEMBLY FOR OVER $100. I WAS TOLD BY HIM THAT THIS HAPPENS "A LOT" ON THE FOCUS WAGONS AND HE HAD REPLACED 6 OF THEM THAT DAY. WHEN I EXPRESSED MY ANGER AND DISBELIEF AT THE COST AND ASKED WHY THIS WASN'T A RECALL ITEM, HE SAID NOT TO BLAME HIM BECAUSE HE DIDN'T DESIGN IT. I AM ANGRY ABOUT THE COST, BUT ALSO WHETHER THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. IT WAS 5 DEGREES THE DAY THIS HAPPENED AND SUCH A "SHORT CIRCUIT" MAY HAVE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND MY KEY WONT START MY CAR. WHEN YOU PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE KEY WONT TURN. *TR

I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW, IT HAS 58,000 MILES SINCE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I CHANGED THE TIRES 4 TIMES. IT MAKES A NOISE IN THE BACK AXLE, IT BROKE TWICE ALREADY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ALOT OF TIMES THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. THE NOISE IS LOUD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. IN AN ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT PLACED HER KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE IGNITION. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

MY CARS IGNITION DOESN'T WORK. IT WILL LOCK ME OUT OF MY OWN CAR. I HAVE TO BANG MY KEY AS HARD AS I CAN TO GET THE IGNITION TO UNLOCK. *TR

KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. *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

DEFECT IN THE KEY IGNITION; KEY WOULD GET STUCK AND CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON AT ALL. YOUR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TURN ON THE CAR AT ALL. THE KEYS WOULD BE 100.00 EACH AND THEY HAD TO BE PROGRAM. SEVERAL REPAIRS FINALLY HAD TO REPLACE THE HOLD IGNITION FOR A TOTAL OF 411.62. THIS WAS A DEFECT ON THE FORD COMPANIES PART; DID A SMALL SURVEY AND EVERYONE WITH FORD VEHICLES OR FORD FOCUSES HAD THE SAME PROBLEM; BUT HAD TO PAY OF THEIR POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS WHEN THEIR WARRANTY RAN OUT. I BELIEVE FORD OWES ME FOR THE REPAIR. THE DOORS ALSO GET STUCK AND WON'T OPEN. *TR

IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN. LEFT STRANDED. *TR

THE IGNITION ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS KEEPS SEIZING UP. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE KEY TO TURN IS TO TAP IT WITH A HAMMER. I RAN A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR FORD FOCUS STEERING LOCK AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. MANY OF WHICH SAID THAT FORD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE A PROBLEM AND CHARGED THEM FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE YET AND AM RELUCTANT TO WASTE MY TIME WITH THE DEALER GIVEN THE COMPLAINTS I SEE AND THE FACT I COULD HAVE IT DONE CHEAPER ELSEWHERE. FORD NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THIS AND RECALL OR REIMBURSE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN COLD WEATHER. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE IGNITION PART WAS REDESIGNED IN 2005 AND NOW FUNCTIONS PROPERLY. *TR

IGNITION SWITCH WON'T TURN. IT'S LIKE THE KEY IS FROM THE WRONG CAR OR SOMETHING. I WAS STUCK IN 5 DEGREE WEATHER WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW-TRUCK DRIVER TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH WAS CLOSED ANYWAY. THE TWO-TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THAT HE'S PERSONALLY SEEN ABOUT A HUNDRED FOCUSES (FOCI?) WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THAT THEY ARE "NOTORIOUS" AMONG THE TOW-TRUCK DRIVERS FOR THIS PROBLEM. HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME, BUT NOW I HAVE LOOKED ON THE WEB AND SEEN THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THERE IS A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT IN CALIFORNIA OVER IT. *TR

THE IGNITION ON OUR 2003 FORD FOCUS FAILED. I WAS OUT OF TOWN VISITING RELATIVES IN OMAHA AND STOPPED AT THE OMAHA SAMS CLUB. WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE STORE TO GO HOME, THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. IT WAS FROZEN SO THE KEY COULD NOT MOVE IT AT ALL. AS A RESULT, I WAS STUCK AT A STORE. I CALLED RELATIVES AND WE ARRANGED FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AND WE WERE BILLED $339.00 FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE ON ANY VEHICLE YET IT IS SUPPOSEDLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. *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

CAR HAD SUDDEN ACCELERATION THAT WAS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE--AUG 2004 CAUSING CRASH WITH 1 INJURY & CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY IN REVERSE CAUSING CRASH WITH DAMAGE TO HOUSE...BOTH ACCIDENTS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL..OWNER WAS ACCUSED OF CARELESS DRIVING BUT WAS NOT AT FAULT EITHER TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK OR ALLOW HER TO START THE VEHICLE. A PROFESSIONAL STATED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER DOES NOT UNLOCK, WHICH PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,600.

I AM WRITING BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR MY CAR DUE TO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. MY WIFE WAS SHOPPING AND WHEN SHE WENT TO START THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. WE ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO OUR HOME. WE WENT ONLINE AND RESEARCHED AND SAW THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR AND YEAR THAT WE HAVE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. OUR CAR IS A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND ITS AN IGNITION LOCK PROBLEM. THE AVERAGE REPAIR IS BETWEEN $300 - $500. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS MY WIFE WAS STRANDED WITH OUR 7 WEEK OLD AND 4 YEAR OLD IN VERY COLD WEATHER WITH NO WAY TO START THE CAR FOR ANY HEAT. ITS DANGEROUS AND THE COMPLAINTS ARE MANY. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GOOGLE IT AND YOU CAN SEE. I CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO GET BACK TO ME BY TOMORROW AT 2 TO LET ME KNOW. I BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD AS AGAIN THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE YET TO EVER ISSUE A RECALL FOR IT. THANK YOU. *TR

THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL AND IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZTW. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE CYLINDER. THIS HAS LEFT ME STRANDED WITHOUT A CAR. *TR

MY MOTHER PURCHASED A NEW 2003 FORD FOCUS FROM LOFINK'S FORD IN CARTHAGE, NY LATE IN 2003 SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE FIRST THREE YEARS SHE HAD THE CAR, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH/STEERING COLUMN. SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE. SHE REPEATEDLY TRIED THE KEY/STEERING WHEEL AND WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN. WHEN SHE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD, SHE WAS TOLD THAT SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENED, THAT SHE SHOULD JUST JIGGLE THE KEY/ETC. SHE RELOCATED TO BELTON, TX IN JUN 07 TO BE NEAR ME, HER DAUGHTER. ON 30 SEP 07 THE CAR HAD THE SAME ISSUE, EXCEPT THAT NO AMOUNT OF JIGGLING THE KEY/STEERING COLUMN WOULD ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO JOHNSON BROTHERS FORD IN TEMPLE, TX. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSTICS READ AS FOLLOWS: IGNITION SYSTEM DIAG FOUND IGNITION SWITCH BINDING REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH, RETEST SYTEM OK. THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN HAD TO DRILL OUT IGN LOCK CYLINDER TO REMOVE. THIS COST: $474.67 WHICH WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THE CAR HAD 16,505 MILES ON IT AT THAT TIME AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I PURSUED THIS ISSUE WITH THE REPAIRING DEALERSHIP, THE SELLING DEALERSHIP, AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY (IN WRITING) TO NO AVAIL, REQUESTING A GOOD FAITH REIMBURSMENT. TODAY THE SWITCH FAILED AGAIN AND THE CAR IS NOW BEING TOWED FOR REPAIR.*CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHILE THE VEHICLE IDLED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON FOUR OCCASIONS BY FOUR DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND THEY STATED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS OF JANUARY 3, 2008, THE MECHANIC HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.