2003 Ford Focus complaints

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ALL OF THE TIME. SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT BUCKLE, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT UNBUCKLE. THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT IT TWICE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE REAR SEAT BELT BECAUSE THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THIS APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS AGO.*AK

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTS FLUCTUATED. AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING, THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTS STOPPED WORKING. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB

WITH JUST 43,500 MILES ON THE CAR MY IGNITION LOCKED UP AND I COULD NOT TURN THE KEY TO START THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERS REPAIR SHOP TO BE FIXED. *JB

I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS WHICH HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT. THE IGNITION ON THE CAR HAS LOCKED UP COMPLETELY AND THE IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION AT ALL. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD BY THEIR SERVICE DEPT. THAT THIS HASN'T BEEN ISSUED AS A RECALL BY FORD BUT THEY HAS "SEVERAL" FORD FOCUS' COMING IN FOR IGNITION REPAIR. FORD ASSUMES NO LIABILITY AT THIS POINT BUT THEY ARE HAPPILY CHARGING APPROX. $500 FOR THE IGNITION REPAIR AT THEIR SHOP. I AM VERY UNSATISFIED AND FEEL THAT WITH THE LARGE # OF FORD FOCUS OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME COMPLAINT, SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ON A LARGER SCALE AS IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE MECHANICS OF THE IGNITION. A POPULAR WEB SITE THAT OFFERS ADVICE TO AUTO OWNERS IS WWW.EDMUNDS.COM AND THERE IS A LARGE POSTING OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE PERTAINING TO THIS MATTER. THIS CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING WEB ADDRESS: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.EEA50DC PLEASE REPLY AND LET ME KNOW IF ANY ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE. SINCERELY, PATRICK MILLER. *NM

DT: 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE IGNITION TUMBLER FAILED AT 38,000 MILES. RANDOMLY, THE KEY WAS HARD TO PUT IN AND THEN IT WENT OUT. THE BATTERY FAILED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. BOTH PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED AT FORD. THE BATTERY WENT OUT YESTERDAY AND THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A NEW ONE. THE IGNITION TUMBLER STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO.

CAN'T TURN CAR ON , IGNITION SWITCH LOCK. ASKING 350.00 TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT. *JB

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 1 YEAR THAT I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER REPLACED IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3. *JB

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN DRIVER BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN, APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. DRIVER HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES. DRIVER HAS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN TO A STOP. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO JERKED WENT THE CONSUMER REACHED SPEEDS OF 55 MPH AND HIGHER. *JB

DT: 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCK GOT STUCK. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO ANYWHERE. THIS HAPPEND WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND THEN STARTED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP DOID NOT KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2004. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON AUGUST 20, 2005. BOTH TIMES.GNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BOTH TIMES. THERE WERE OTHER TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO START BUT IT DID START.*AK

IGNITION LOCKED UP TOWED TO HILLTOP FORD IN MAYSVILLE KENTUCKY. WAS TOLD IGNITION LOCKED UP AND COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $755.69. THE WARRANITY WENT OFF JUST 1,000 MILES BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. WAS TOLD THEY HAVE HAD MANY OF THESE PROBLEMS A CAR WAS COMING IN FOR THE SAME THING WHEN WE LEFT.

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: CONSUMER HAS A 2003 FORD FOCUS WHICH WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION ON AUGUST 7, 2005 WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING AND APPLIED BRAKES BEFORE IMPACT, WHEN THE OTHER VEHICLE HIT THE FRONT END VEHICLE WENT OUT OF GEAR AND WAS KNOCKED BACKWARDS. ROAD WAS DRY AND CLEAR OF DEBRIS. CONSUMER, SON AND , DAUGHTER SUSTAINED INJURIES. . CONSUMER SUSTAINED LOWER BACK AND NECK INJURIES, . SON AND DAUGHTER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. POLICE AT SCENE WERE SHOCKED THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. *AK

DT: CALLER'S VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE EGR TUBE. THE WELDING CAME OFF, AND THE FUMES GOT INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. CALLER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ITS REPLACEMENT. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK UPDATED 1/16/2007 - *NM

DT: 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED FRONT WINDOW CAME OUT. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT. THEN, THE TRUNK STARTED POPPING OPEN, THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE PURCHASED IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE SHE MOVED. THEY STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDSEDNEW BRAKE PADS. TE CONSUMER TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY THE FRONT TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A TIRE COMPANY, THEY FOUND THE FRONT ROTORS WORE OUT, AND THIS WAS A MANUFACTURERING PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. ALSO A PIECE WAS COMING OFF THE VEHICLE BETWEEN THE TWO DOORS ON THE DRIVER SIDE BETWEEN THE WINDOWS. THIS VEHICLE JUST WENT OVER 15,000 MILES WHEN SHE WAS LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP. IN ADDITION, THERE IWAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WAS TOO HARD TO PULL BACK, AND IT SWERVED IN THE OTHER LANE. THE TRUNK WAS STILL COMING OPEN.*AK

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

I HAVE HAD TWO FRONT END ALIMENTS IN 20,000 MILES AND MY CAR HAS 23.454 MILES ON IT . ALSO NOW IT NEEDS NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS AND THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THEM UNDER WARRANTY . THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUS THAT SHOULD BE FIXED . *NM

DT: TACHOMETER IN VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING WHICH RESULTED IN A SHORT. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO GO OUT. THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAD TO BE REPLACED 8 TIMES SINCE SEPTEMBER. THE SOLENOID IN THE IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE AND RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER, WHO HAS REPLACED THE SOLENOID. BUT DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE HE COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. CONSUMER REPORTED THIS TO FORD 3 TIMES. THE ALARM ON THE CAR WAS ALSO NOT WORKING. THE ALARM WAS NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, BUT WAS SOMETHING THAT CONSUMER PAID EXTRA FOR THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO ADD ON VEHICLE. FORD WILL NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE ALARM BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MANUFACTURED BY FORD. *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

BRAKES TURN TO SPONGES AND GOES TO FLOOR DEALER SAYS CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND KICKS IT OUT NOW THREE MORE PROBLEMS HAVE ARISEN MOTOR SHUTS OFF AT SLOW U-TURN SPEED AND TRANS DOWNSHIFTS HARD INTO LOW GEAR CAUSING A FACE PLANT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, LASTLY THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN GOES OFF AFTER 3 HOURS OF DRIVING.

THE IGNITION HAS LOCKED THREE (3) TIMES ON A 2003 FORD FOCUS IN LESS THAN A TWO YEAR TIME PERIOD. IT APPEARS THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND/OR COMPONENTS ARE SUBSTANDARD SINCE THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASIONS. THE IGNITION LOCKED FOR THE THIRD TIME ON JULY 20, 2005. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR A REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION. THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST TWO (2) INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM.

I WAS SITTING IN DRIVER'S SIDE OF 2003 FORD FOCUE, CAR WAS TURNED ON AND PARKED. CAR SHUT OFF BY ITSELF AND I THEN SMELLED SMOKE. I OPENED HOOD AND THERE WAS A FIRE ON REAR-SIDE OF ENGINE - NO SIGN OF ANY OIL SPILLAGE..

I DRIVE TO WORK AT THE SPEED LIMIT AND I USE THE BRAKES VERY SOFTLY. I WAS PARKING AT WORK AND MY BRAKES STARTED TO REALLY GRIND. TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEEALERSHIP AND SURE ENOUGH THE CAR WHICH HAD 18,000 MILES ON IT, HAD TO GET NEW BRAKE PADS.

OUR 2003 FORD FOCUS HAS HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED TWICE. PARKED THE CAR, TURNED OFF THE CAR, CAME BACK TO START LATER AND THE IGNITION SWITH WOULD OT TURN. FIRST SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN JULY 2004 AND THE SECOND ONE IN MARCH 2005. TODAY WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A CITY STREET THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME SO LOOSE IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL HAVE TO BE TOWED FOR THE THIRD TIME TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE FIRST IGNITION SWITH WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE SECOND SWITCH. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON THE FORD FOCUS AND I BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE. OF MAJOR CONCERN IS THIS IS THE THIRD FAILURE ON A STEERING COLUMN IN A NEW VEHICLE.

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: THE CONSUMER STATES HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW WINDOW REGULATOR. WHEN HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AND WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AUGUST 15. THE POWER WINDOWS ON HIS VEHICLE WAS RISING SIDEWAYS. IF THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN, THE MECHANIC STATED IT WOULD EVENTUALLY BREAK. *JB

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE REAR DOOR ON THE WAGON DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT GO ALL THE WAY DOWN WHEN TURNING THEM OFF. DEALER WAS WORKING ON THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, DEALER WILL TAKE CARE OF THE DOOR AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION. *AK

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.

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

NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE THE BATTERY LIGHT WOULD FLICKER AND FLASH AND THE CAR WOULD STALL. FORD ISSUED A TSB WHICH "CURES" THIS BUT IT DID NOT WORK WITH ME OR MANY OTHER FOCUS OWNERS (JUST SEARCH WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM OR WWW.FOCALJET.COM). FORD SAYS THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL IT DOES THIS WITH THEM, BUT IT IS SO RANDOM THERE IS NEVER A SET OCCASION WHEN IT WILL DO THIS. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES BEFORE ME FOR THE SAME SITUATION. THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND THE PCM "FLASH" HAS BEEN DONE OVER 2 TIMES. EVEN THE SERVICE REP AT THE SELLING DEALERSHIP SAID "THIS CAR REALLY LIKES TO BE HERE FOR THAT PROBLEM". THOSE WERE HIS OWN WORDS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT HAS STALLED ON MY WHEN I WAS IN AN OFF-RAMP AND I ALMOST COLLIDED WITH THE BARRICADE AN AT AN INTERSECTION.

CAR STALLS OUT IN COLD WEATHER ONLY. CAR WAS PURCHASED ON OCT. '03 FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN JAN. OF '04. WENT THROUGH THE DISPUTE BOARD AND THEY WOULD NOT GRANT NEW VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP AND FORD ENGINEER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. CAR WAS BROUGHT IN ON 6/6/05 WITH THE FORD FIELD ENGINEER PRESENT WHO WANTED TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. TOLD HIM IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE SINCE IT WAS NOT COLD OUTSIDE. PROBLEM STILL UNRESOLVED!

DT: THERE IS A CROSS MEMBER PIECE OF METAL BEHIND THE DASH OF THE CAR, THE CROSS MEMBER BAR BEHIND THE DASH HAS OBVIOUS RUST SPOTS. *AK THE BRACE BEHIND THE DASH WHICH EXTENDS FROM THE STEERING COLUMN TO THE RIGHT END OF THE DASHBOARD HAS OBVIOUS OXIDATION SPOTS AND RUST. THERE IS NO INDICATION OF THE CAUSE. NO WATER SPOTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THESE RUST SPOTS CAN BE SEEN BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AS WELL. VEHICLE HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE. VEHICLE ALSO HAS A STUCK ACCELERATOR CAUSED BY FAILURE TO THE THROTTLE BODY PLATE. *TT *NM

FAILURE OF INTERMITTENT FUNCTION ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN 2003 FORD FOCUS. THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH AN EARLIER (2001) MODEL YEAR AND WAS SUPOSEDLY FIXED BY FORD, BUT I AM HAVING THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 FOCUS ZTS 4 DR SEDAN.

WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEED THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE FRONT/REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. *AK THE BRAKES VAVE CONSUMER PROBLEMS SINCE THEY BROUGHT THE CAR. HAD NEW ROTORS, NEVER STOPPED LIKE THEY SHOULD. FINALLY ALL THE BRAKES WENT OUT. DEALER KEPT SAYING THEY KEPT GETTING THE WRONG PARTS. STILL DON'T DRIVE AS IT SHOULD. DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDER. *BF

VEHICLE HAD FUMES COMING IN. IT SMELLED AS IF SOMETHING WAS BURNING. DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECTS.*AK CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING STILL SMELL BURNING INSIDE, IT IS PRETTY SCARY AND WISH SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. *BP

I BOUGHT A 2003 FORD FOCUS BRAND NEW IN FEBRUARY 2003. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 300 MILES ON IT. YESTERDAY THE IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT COSTING ME OVER $250. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR! I WENT INTO A RESTAURANT AND CAME OUT. I WAS STRANDED. I'VE SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR SITUATIONS/COMPLAINTS AND OTHER PEOPLE HAD SIMILAR SITUATIONS. I UNDERSTAND BATTERIES GOING DEAD OR WEAR AND TEAR ON BRAKES. I'VE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. I'VE NEVER OWNED A FORD BEFORE EITHER! IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH FORD? IS THIS STATEMENT TRUE?: FIXED OR REPAIRED DAILY.

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE IGNITION FROZE. THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THESE VEHICLES. *AK

ON APRIL 11, 2005, AS I WAS LEAVING WORK IN THE EVENING, I PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND COULD NOT TURN THE KEY. THE FOLLOWING DAY, I SPENT SOME TIME ON THE TELEPHONE WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AND KEY MAKERS TRYING TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I FINALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT IT WAS A FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER. ON APRIL 14 I HAD THE CAR TOWED INTO BOHN FORD INC. AT 401 N. CARROLLTON AVENUE, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70119. (504) 485-2646. WHILE THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND LEARNED FROM ONE WEBSITE THAT THERE WERE AT LEAST 137 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAD. I FOUND A SECOND WEBSITE WITH ANOTHER LIST OF PEOPLE WHO WERE SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES OF THE FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK. TWO PEOPLE WHO POSTED ONTO THE WEBSITE MENTIONED THE PO5. I UNDERSTOOD FROM THEM THAT THE CAR COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED FOR $24.58. THE CAR HAD TO BE UNDER SIX YEARS OLD AND UNDER 75,000 MILES. THE STAFF AT THE BOHN FORD DEALERSHIP WAS VERY CONSIDERATE AND UNDERSTANDING OF MY SITUATION; HOWEVER, WHEN I REQUESTED A PO5, THEY TOLD ME THAT WHILE THEY WERE SURE THAT I QUALIFIED , THEIR OFFICE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO APPLY FOR A PO5 AT THIS TIME. MY TOTAL BILL CAME TO $396.69 TO DRILL OUT, CODE, AND REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK; AND TO CUT, ERASE, AND PROGRAM TWO PAT KEYS. THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK PROBLEM ON THE FORD FOCUS CAN BE TRACED AT LEAST AS FAR BACK AS 2001. THEREFORE I URGE YOU TO BEGIN A RECALL ON THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK. *JB

CAR WILL MISS A LOT WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY, SOMETIMES THE MOTOR SPEEDS UP RAPIDLY, SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE IS STOMPING THE GAS PEDAL WHEN I AM NOT. THE MOTOR KIND OF JUMPS AND SPUTTERS PERIODICALLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *NM

ON DECEMBER 20, 2004 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN MY FORD FOCUS ZTS. THE ROADS WERE VERY ICY, AND NEAR MY HOME, I SLID ON A PATCH OF ICE, WENT OVER A SMALL BANK, AND HIT 2 TREES IN SOMEONE'S YARD. WHILE I WAS SLIDING I WAS HEADED TO HIT ONE TREE HEAD ON, BUT I WAS ABLE TO STEER AWAY TO WHERE I HIT BOTH TREES AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME, BUT ONLY FROM THE SIDE. HOWEVER, NEITHER MY FRONT NOR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH WAS ENOUGH TO TOTAL MY CAR, EVEN THOUGH I WAS ONLY GOING 25 M.P.H. IT WAS BRAND NEW, ONLY 20,000 MILES. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD DEFINITELY HAVE DEPLOYED.*AK

2003 FORD FOCUS LX SEDAN - MY WIFE WENT TO WALMART ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, AND UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR THE KEY WOULD NO LONGER UNLOCK THE IGNITION SWITCH. DESPITE MANY ATTEMPTS (A LOCKSMITH WAS UNABLE TO COME UP WITH ANYTHING) WE ENDED UP HAVING THE CAR TOWED. THE QUOTED REPAIR PRICE IS ROUGHLY $400. THERE ARE SEEMINGLY ENDLESS ACCOUNTS OF THIS VERY SITUATION WITH THE FORD FOCUS IGNITION ON FORUMS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OR FORD SHOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THIS DEVICE.*AK

THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE , CAUSING THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY ON ITS OWN. THE OWNER INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT A YEAR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK ANOTHER ISSUE WAS THAT THE LEFT REAR ROTOR HAD BROKEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THE REAR SENSOR ASSEMBLY/ABS WAS REPLACED. THE ROOT OF THIS PROBLEM STEMMED FROM THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING WHICH HAD FALLEN APART AND DAMAGED THE ROTOR AND THE WHEEL SENSOR. THE LEFT REAR KNUCKLE WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE LEFT REAR ROTOR. *SC *JB

WHILE MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WAS BEING VACUUM AT THE CARWASH, THE SIDE PASSENGER AIRBAG OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS DEPLOYED. MY CAR WAS PARKED AND THERE WAS NO IMPACT. I HAD MY CAR TOWED FROM THE CARWASH TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR. THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT GIVEN ME A SOLID REASON AS TO WHY THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THEIR THEORIES HAVE RANGED FROM DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE, THE FORCE OF THE VACUUM AT THE CARWASH, TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT I RAN OVER A TIRE. *AK

THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER LOCKS UP, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR.THE IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN THE LOCK.IF THE CAR IS TOWED IN IT CREATES A PROBLEM IN THAT THE CAR STAYS IN PARK AND IF TOWED INCORRECTLYWILL DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION.FORD MOTOR VIEWS THIS AS NATURAL WEAR AND TEAR. *AK

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE CAME FROM THE VEHICLE. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REGULAR CHECK UP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN OUT. CONSUMER WILL NOTIFY MANUFACTURER.*AK

ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED. DRIVER NOTICED THAT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM . *AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE OF THE COLLISION HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *SC *JB

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZTS. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FIRE DEPT. AND POLICE DEPT. BOTH EXPRESSED DISBELIEF THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE WHOLE FRONT END HAS TO BE REPLACED INCLUDING BOTH THE FRAME RAILS, AS WELL SOME ENGINE COMPONENTS. I WILL KNOW MORE WHEN THE REPAIRS START. THE VEHICLE I WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WITH HAD BOTH OF THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOY. IF I WERE NOT WEARING MY SEATBELT, I WOULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS INJURIES.

REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR BRAKES AND FUEL FILTER REPLACEMENT ON 2003 FORD FOCUS. *BF THE CONSUMER TRADED THE VEHICLE. *JB