2003 Ford Focus complaints

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

THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SE IS STUCK. THE VEHICLE IS NOW RENDERED UNUSABLE SINCE IT CANNOT BE STARTED. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY RELATED ITEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOW STRANDED AND WILL REQUIRE THE SERVICES OF A LOCKSMITH OR HAVE TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. I HAVE READ ONLINE WHERE THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS MANUFACTURED IN 2000 THROUGH 2003. *TR

APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO I BEGAN TO NOTICE A DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE KEY WHEN PLACED IN THE IGNITION. THE PROBLEM BEGAN SMALL, A LITTLE JIGGLE OF THE KEY AND THE IGNITION CYLINDER WOULD TURN AND THE CAR WOULD START. THE PROBLEM GREW TO THE POINT IN WHICH I WOULD HAVE TO FORCIBLY KNOCK THE KEY IN WITH THE PALM OF MY HAND OTHERWISE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. I TRIED ALL KINDS OF WAYS TO GET THE CAR TO START, BUT HITTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION CYLINDER SEEMED TO BE THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT WORK. FINALLY APPROXIMATELY 3 DAYS AGO I WAS LEAVING WORK, PLACED THE KEY IN THE CAR, WHICH NOT TO MY AMAZEMENT DID NOT TURN IN THE CYLINDER. SO AS I HAD GROWN ACCUSTOM TO I GAVE THE KEY A SMACK, BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN. I SAT IN MY CAR FOR CLOSE TO AN HOUR TRYING TO GIGGLE, SHACK, SMACK, JIMMY, AND PLAY WITH THE KEY ANY WAY I COULD THINK OF BUT I COULD NOT GET MY CAR TO START. NOW WHEN YOU WORK MIDNIGHTS AND YOU GET OFF WORK WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS GOING TO WORK, FINDING A RIDE IS NOT THE EASIEST OF THINGS. AFTER SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A HIGHLY COMMON PROBLEM IN FORD FOCUS'. *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

MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZTW HAS LUG NUT CAPS THAT DO NOT STAY ON. EVERY YEAR I LOSE SEVERAL CAPS AS THE TEMPERATURE CHANGES CAUSING THE METAL TO EXPAND MAKING THE CAPS LOSE. RECENTLY A CAP FLEW OFF AS MY I WAS DRIVING AND HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LUCKILY NOT BREAKING IT. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE. *TR

I PLACED MY KEY IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR FOCUS OWNERS, EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE HAD THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED. NOT ONLY IS THIS A HUGE FINANCIAL BURDEN, IT IS ALSO A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. LIVING IN CHICAGO, IF I BECOME STRANDED AND UNABLE TO START MY CAR, I COULD BE IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION (AS COULD MANY OTHER OWNERS IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS). *TR

THE IGNITION WOULDN'T TURN WITH THE KEY. VERY OFTEN IT WOULD TURN WITH DIFFICULTY AFTER SOME WIGGLING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER A WHILE IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE ONCE THE KEY WAS REMOVED. EVENTUALLY WE GOT THE KEY TO WORK AND NOW WE LEAVE THE KEY IN AND LOCK THE DOORS WITH THE REMOTE. IT USED TO HAPPEN AS MY WIFE WOULD LEAVE WORK IN THE DARK WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS IN SOME AREAS. I HAD TO GET AN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR IT MYSELF. I AM A FULLY QUALIFIED MECHANIC THOUGH. *TR

OWNER OF A 2003 FORD FOCUS SVT. I WENT TO THE MOVIES LAST NIGHT AND WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN. I SINCE HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED AND THE IGNITION FIXED. *TR

FORD FOCUS 2003 - IGNITION FAILURE, KEY WILL NOT TURN MY KEY WILL NOT TURN IN MY IGNITION. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF US (FORD CUSTOMERS) WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NOT A "SAFETY" PRECAUTION. PLEASE RECALL. AMERICANS ARE NOT ENCOURAGED TO BUY AMERICAN-MADE CARS; SADLY BUT TRUE. *TR

MY KEY WILL NOT TURN. THERE FOR I CAN'T START MY CAR. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND I HAVE BEEN STUCK PLACES NUMEROUS TIMES. I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. AT ANY TIME I COULD BE STUCK ANYWHERE! THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS CARRY A HAMMER WITH ME, SO THAT I CAN TAP THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND GET THE KEY TO TURN SO I CAN START MY CAR. I FEEL IT IS NOT SAFE TO CARRY A HAMMER AROUND BUT HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE TO START MY CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE REAR DOORS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO BE REPAIRED, BUT AFTERWARDS, THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. THE HANDLES ON THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE CONTACT CAN OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, BUT NOT FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DOORS SEEM TO BE SEALED EXTREMELY TIGHTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE DOORS PROPERLY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 118,507.

I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I COULDN'T GET THE KEY TO TURN OVER. THE CARE REPAIR COST WAS $551 AND THE IGNITION AND STARTER CYLINDER INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING FLAW AND FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AS A RECALL PROBLEM. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MANY 2000-2003 FORD FOCUS MODELS HAVE THIS FLAW. *TR

STEERING COLUMN LOCK GETS STUCK. VEHICLE CANNOT BE STARTED. *TR

HAD TO HAVE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER REPLACED ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS; CAR WOULDN'T START (I.E., KEY WOULDN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION) WITH EITHER ONE OF THE TWO KEYS I HAVE (BOTH ORIGINAL KEYS). *TR

SECOND TIME HAVING PROBLEM WITH IGNITION ON 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE KEY WON'T TURN AND HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY AND MISSED DAYS OF WORK TO GET THE REPLACEMENT IGNITION SWITCH. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECALL. THOUSANDS OF FORD FOCUS OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS IT COSTLY AND IS A REPAIR THAT IS FORDS' RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX DUE TO FAULTY IGNITIONS BUT ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

FORD FOCUS KEY WILL NOT TURN IN. I DRIVE A FORD FOCUS ZX5 2003. THE IGNITION LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT TURN. AS A RESULT,I WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT IT HAS HAPPENED FEW TIMES. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AT NO AVAIL. THEY DID NOT RECOGNIZE TO BE AN ISSUE EVEN THOUGH IT #1 ISSUE AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINT ABOUT IT. THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AS THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THESE IGNITIONS TO FAIL. I CONSIDER TO BE A SAFE ISSUE. THERE IS NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SO I HAVE TO RELY ON MY VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR

ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE KEY / IGNITION SWITCH HAS STUCK AND NOT ALLOWED ME TO START MY CAN. THIS PROBLEM HAS LEFT ME STRANDED 2 TIMES WHERE I WAS UNABLE TO RECEIVE HELP FOR MORE THAN 8 HOURS. I CONTACTED A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THERE WAS NO SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS AND IT WOULD COST $400 TO $600 TO REPAIR IT. I DID FIND A LOCKSMITH TO REPAIR IT FOR $250.00 AND WAS TOLD BY THE TECH THAT HE REPAIRS THIS PROBLEM ON THE FORD FOCUS 2 TO 3 TIMES A WEEK. *TR

IGNITION LOCKED LEAVING ME STRANDED. FINALLY GOT THE CAR STARTED ONLY TO FIND IT LOCKED UP AGAIN THE NEXT TIME I TRIED TO START IT. *TR

THE KEY IN MY FOCUS WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS CAUSED ME TO BE STRANDED SINCE I COULD NOT START MY CAR. I RECENTLY LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. IN FACT, A MAN IN THE SERVICE DEPT AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THIS PROBLEM "HAPPENS WAY MORE THAN IT SHOULD." I LIVE IN A CITY WITH HIGH CRIME. BEING STRANDED IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. SINCE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY TYPE OF CAR, THE MANUFACTURER CERTAINLY SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THIS PART TO PREVENT PEOPLE LIKE ME FROM BEING LEFT IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. *TR

IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS BACK IN JULY 2008. IF I PLAYED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL IT WOULD FINALLY TURN THE KEY. THE IGNITION HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS SINCE 2001. *TR

IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER ON FORD FOCUS IS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANISM LOCKS AND IS UNABLE TO TURN. THIS YIELDS THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE, POSING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK IF THE OWNER NEEDS TO USE THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY OR THE VEHICLE STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS AN ISSUE KNOWN BY FORD, AS EVIDENCED BY THE MECHANICS AT LANDMARK FORD, TIGARD, OREGON STATING THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD HAS QUIETLY UPDATED THE CYLINDER. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE NUMEROUS INTERNET FORUMS WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT. ALL OWNERS OF FOCUS VEHICLES WILL HAVE THIS FAILURE, IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. THE REPAIR IS $300+. A RECALL SHOULD BE REQUIRED OF FORD TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING,HARD SHIFTING, AND NOT GOING INTO 4TH. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 70 THOUSAND MILES. TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A SOLENOID. ALSO WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN MY TYPE OF VEHICLE. IT MAY OR MAY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY. WHEN I QUESTIONED WHY HE SAID THAT MANY OF THE FOCUS TRANSMISSIONS HAVE SOLENOID PROBLEMS UNTIL THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WENT ONLINE AND DID SOME SEARCHING AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE OF MY CAR. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD THEY SAID THAT THEY DID NOT SEE THESE PROBLEMS VERY OFTEN. WHEN I APPROACHED THEM WITH THE DISCUSSION BOARDS THAT I HAD READ AND THE COMMENTS FROM MY TRUSTED MECHANIC THEY HAD NO COMMENT. MY CAR DOES WORK NOW AFTER THE SOLENOID WAS REPLACED, BUT IT STILL SLIPS AND SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT FORD WILL NOT ADMIT TO A PROBLEM WITH THE MECHANICS OF THIS TRANSMISSION. *TR

I HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, THE WATER PUMP, THE THERMOSTAT, AND ALL RADIATOR HOSES. THE CAR OVERHEATS DAILY STILL. THE STEREO CUTS ON AND OFF AND CAN'T BE TURNED OFF BY THE POWER BUTTON. THE REAR LEFT SEATBELT IS STUCK WHERE IT CAN'T BE USED. THE DRIVER WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR, WHEN THE PANEL WAS REMOVED IT SHOWED THAT THE WHOLE WIRE SYSTEM HAD SNAPPED. THE DRIVER DOOR ALSO CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. *TR

I PURCHASED MY CAR A YEAR AGO. IT HAS 26,452 MILES ON IT. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND THE LIGHT WAS OUT. I CONTINUED ON. A DAY LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE AND THEY PULLED THE CODES THAT SAID THE GEAR RATIO WAS INCORRECT IN 2ND AND 3RD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED....AFTER 26,000 MILES??? MY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED ABOUT A MONTH PRIOR. I CALLED FORD. THEY REFUSED TO HELP ME IN ANY WAY AND EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY MY DRIVING HAD CAUSED THE FAILURE. THEY ALSO FLAT OUT LIED AND TOLD ME THE WARRANTY WAS FOR ONLY 3/36,000 WHEN I HAVE A NEWS RELEASE FROM FORD STATING IT IS FOR 5/100,000. I DID GET THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT THE COST OF $3600. FORD STILL REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY OBVIOUSLY MADE A MALFUNCTIONING TRANSMISSION. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND HAD TO SPEND $360 TO HAVE MY IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED AS MY STEERING WHEEL HAD LOCKED AND THE KEY UNABLE TO TURN AND START THE CAR WHEN THE CAR HAD JUST WORKED FINE THE PREVIOUS DAY. LUCKILY, IT WAS STILL WARM OUTSIDE AND I WAS NOT STRANDED IN A REMOTE PLACE IN A STORM OR IN WINTER WHERE HARM COULD BEFALL SOMEONE. I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG OR WHAT I NEEDED TO DO, BUT I COULDN'T UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. I EVEN CALLED THE FORD COMPANY WHO STATED THERE WAS NOT ANYTHING THEY COULD DO EXCEPT THAT IT SHOULD BE TAKEN TO A DEALER. I CALLED A FORD DEALERSHIP WHOSE SERVICE DIRECTOR DID NOT SEEM SURPRISED BY WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY STEERING WHEEL, EVEN SAYING THAT PROBABLY THE IGNITION CYLINDER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE PART WOULD USUALLY COST $350-400 TO REPAIR. HE SAID THAT HE HAD REPLACED QUITE A FEW FOR THE FOCUS. THEN I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, OVER AND OVER AGAIN, SOME HAVING REPLACED THIS ONE PART 4-5 TIMES. FOR SOME REASON THIS PART HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SERIOUS ENGINEERING FLAW WITH POSSIBLE SERIOUS RAMIFICATIONS IN STRANDING PEOPLE UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE AND SO I AM TURNING TO YOU TO MAKE THE FORD COMPANY OWN UP TO THEIR DESIGN FLAW CONCERNING ITS CAR, THE FORD FOCUS CONCERNING ITS IGNITION CYLINDER. WHEN THE LOCKSMITH CAME AND REPLACED THE CYLINDER HE DEMONSTRATED WHY THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE. IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH

MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER DRIVES A FORD FOCUS ZX3 2003. AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS, THE IGNITION LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT TURN. AS A RESULT, SHE WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT ALONE FEELING VERY UNSAFE. THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TO MY HUSBANDS F250 IGNITION. THE IGNITIONS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY A LOCKSMITH EACH TIME. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THESE IGNITIONS TO FAIL. *TR

IGNITION IS STUCK AND WONT TURN. LEFT MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WITH NO WAY OF GETTING HOME. *TR

I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE WHAT CAUSED IT, BUT MY IGNITION ON MY 03 FORD FOCUS LX LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER. YOU COULD LEAVE THE KEY IN AND IT WOULD ALWAYS START. BUT IF YOU TOOK THE KEY OUT IT WOULD LOCK UP AND REFUSE TO TURN. I HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED YET AND I THINK IT IS NOT FAIR THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO FIX IT WHEN 9 OUT OF 10 FORD FOCUS DO THIS. I AM TAKING IT TO A LOCK SMITH TO HAVE IT FIXED NEXT WEEK AND I WILL BE SELLING IT AND I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START IN THE MORNINGS AND IT WOULD IDLE EXTREMELY ROUGHLY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND REMEDY THE ISSUE. IN ADDITION, THE MOTOR MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT BLOW COLD AIR. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

KEY WON'T TURN IN IGNITION. *TR

AFTER PLACING THE DOWN PAYMENT OF $1500 AND COMPLETING THE PAPERWORK. NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER THE CAR BEGAN TO STALL ON THE FREEWAY AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND I DROVE IT TO FREEWAY FORD HERE IN HOUSTON, TX. EACH TIME THEY COULDN'T FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I HADN'T ENJOYED THE CAR OVER A MONTH BECAUSE THE CAR WAS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS WHEN I HAD IT AND IT STAYED AT THE DEALERSHIP. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THE DEALERSHIP ASSISTANT MANAGER AND NEITHER HAD AN ANSWER. *TR

THE WHEEL/IGNITION LOCKED AS TURNED THE WHEEL TO PARK ON A HILL. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED ON THIS CAR AND COULD NOT UNLOCK IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WOULD $340 THAT THE WHOLE CYLINDER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR

BACK IN JULY (ISH) OF 07, MY 4 DOOR FORD FOCUS ZX5 PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR WINDOW FELL IN THE DOOR WHILE DRIVING. ON AUG 8, 2008 MY DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW FELL IN THE DOOR AS WELL. I HAD MY 2 GIRLS IN THE BACK SEAT THIS TIME. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TOP PULLEY HAD BROKEN OUT OF THE DOOR CAUSING THE WINDOW TO FALL. I NOW HAVE 2 NON FUNCTIONING WINDOWS WITH THE SAME THING WRONG WITH THEM WITHIN ALMOST A YEAR FROM EACH OTHER. JUST WAITING FOR THE FRONT WINDOWS TO DO THE SAME WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. *TR

BEING STRANDED WITHOUT MY CAR STARTING IS MY ISSUE. HAVE 2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO TURN CAR ON-- STRANDED 5 TIMES-- ONE TIME I WAS 45 MILES FROM HOME-- HAD IT TOWED AND REPAIRED COST $90 NOW IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND HAD TO GET A RIDE HOME FROM WORK HATE TO SEE WHAT THIS BILL WILL BE IF FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH 2000 THROUGH 2003 VEHICLES WHY ARE THEY NOT DOING ANYTHING TO HELP THE CONSUMER OUT BY RECALLING THEM . *TR

COMMENTS: THE IGNITION OF MY FORD FOCUS 2003 LOCKED @ 40,000 MILES. KEY SUDDENLY WOULDN'T TURN. UNABLE TO START ENGINE. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO FORD DEALER BY AAA TOW. AA DRIVER SAID HE HAS HAD MANY SUCH CASES. HAD TO GET IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED @ DEALER FOR EXORBITANT $570.($347 LABOR) THERE ARE THUNDREDS OF THESE CASES BUT FORD WILL NOT ADDRESS PROBLEM. I HEARD THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE INFO ON HOW TO JOIN IN LAWSUIT OR OTHER MEANS TO GET FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL AND/OR PAY FOR THIS PART FAILURE. *TR

WATER LEAKS IN TO MY 2003 FORD FOCUS FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND LITERALLY FOUND 100'S OF COMPLAINTS. IT SEEMS IT IS RELATED TO THE CABIN AIR FILTER HOUSING. IT ACTS LIKE A FUNNEL THAT DIRECTS RAIN THAT ESCAPES THE COWL SEAL INTO THE CABIN. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS? *TR

UNTIL A WEEK AGO, I WAS THE HAPPY OWNER OF AN '03 ZX3 FOCUS. ON 7/15, I HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID A CAR DRIFTING INTO MY LANE AND HIT THE CONCRETE RETAINING WALL AT ABOUT 60 MPH. THE SHOCK WAS ENOUGH TO CRUSH MOST OF THE FRONT AND ENGINE BLOCK AND BREAK THE AXLE. YET THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SHAME ON YOU FORD. *TR

RATTLE ANF THUMBING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER FRONT OF VEHICLE WHEN GOING OVER EVERY BUMP. REPORTED TO FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON THREE OCCASIONS. (10/11/06, 04/05/07 AND 06/26/08 ) ON 06/26/2008, FORD CHARGED ME $288.56 TO INSTALL A FRONT END STABILIZER KIT. OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

I GOT INTO MY CAR LAST NIGHT AND COULD NOT START IT, I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS STATION WAGON SE, THE KEY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION, I AM STRANDED AND CANT GET TO THE DRUG STORE TO GET MY SONS MEDICATION. I CANT GET TO THE GROCERY STORE AND AM AFRAID I WONT BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK ON MONDAY. *TR

FAILURE OF FRONT RIGHT-SIDE OEM COIL SPRING DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION UNDER RUBBER SLEEVE ON COIL SPRING. COIL SPRING WAS REPLACED. *TR

THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT" WAS ON OFF AND ON FOR A ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR. THEN I PARKED MY CAR ONE EVENING AND THE FOLLOWING MORNING I COULD NOT TURN MY KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT WAS LOCKED, AND THEREFORE ALSO I COULD NOT CHANGE GEARS TO NEUTRAL OR GET IT OUT OF PARK. I FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM AT A WEBSITE HERE IS THE URL: HTTP://WWW.FORDPROBLEMS.COM/FOCUS/KEY-WONT-TURN-IN-THE-IGNITION.SHTML HOPE THIS HELPS TO MAKE THIS A SAFETY ISSUE WORTHY OF RECALL. I'M BLESSED THIS HAPPENED TO ME AT MY APARTMENT, BUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WERE I TO GET STUCK ELSEWHERE. I PLAN TO CALL A LOCKSMITH TONIGHT TO TRY AND FIX MY PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

I WAS GETTING INTO MY CAR AND SUDDENLY THE KEY WOULD GO INTO THE IGNITION BUT WOULD NOT TURN. I CALLED A LOCKSMITH AND I SOON AS THEY HEARD THAT IT WAS A FORD FOCUS THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY STATED THAT THIS IS A DEALERSHIP PROBLEM AND THEY HAD TO HELP ME. THEY STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS VERY COMMON WITH MY TYPE OF VEHICLE AND THAT I SHOULD CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IT SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE PERSON ON THE PHONE STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO CHECK THE VEHICLE AND JUST TO LOOK AT IT THEY WOULD CHARGE ME A FEE OF $87.00 TO TELL ME THAT THE KEY DOESN'T TURN. AFTER THAT THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE AS TO HOW MUCH I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AS I FEEL THAT IT IS COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS THAT THEY WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY PARTS. *TR

I LEFT MY CAR FOR 5 MINS TO GRAB SOMETHING IN MY HOME AND WHEN I RETURNED TO START MY CAR THE IGNITION WOULDN'T EVEN BUDGE, NOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GET THE IGNITION REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. AFTER LEAVING THE GROCERY STORE, THE CONTACT PLACED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION BUT COULD NOT TURN THE KEY. SHE ATTEMPTED TO WIGGLE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER,THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START EVEN AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT'S FRIEND OWNS A FORD FOCUS AND INSTRUCTED HER TO TAP ON THE KEY WHILE IT IS IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT HEEDED THIS ADVICE AND, AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, SHE WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALER, WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 10/07/08. *LJ

I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX5 AND I HAVE HAD REPEATED KEY IGNITION PROBLEMS. MY KEY TENDS TO NOT WORK IN THE IGNITION AND HAS FORCED ME INTO TOUGH SITUATIONS. THE MOST RECENT WAS BEING STRANDED ON THE 4TH OF JULY IN A CITY I AM NOT FROM IN A BAD PART OF TOWN AFTER A FIRE WORKS SHOW. I ALSO HAVE HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME MATTER AND WHEN I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT IT THEY COULD OFFER NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN A STEEP PRICE TO FIX A PROBLEM THEY CAUSED WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE ROBBERY AND UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE RESEARCHED CONSUMER COMPLAINT SITES AND NOTICED THAT THIS HAS NOT ONLY HAPPENED TO ME AND THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD IN CALIFORNIA FOR SUCH A PROBLEM. I HAVE NOW LOST MY JOB BECAUSE OF NO TRANSPORTATION TO WORK DUE TO FORDS MISHAP. *TR

DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AT 45 MPH I HEARD A POP FOLLOWED BY A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO FIND MY CAR LEANING NOTICEABLY TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. CAR WAS TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS AS WELL AS THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO COIL SPRING CORROSION AND RESULTING FAILURE OF THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING. *TR

I CURRENTLY DRIVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS HATCHBACK 2.3L. AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND STEERING WHEEL LOCK COMPLETELY. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE, MY CAR KEY WILL NOT TURN AND THE WHEEL REMAINS LOCKED, IN TURN THE VEHICLE BECOMES COMPLETELY UNUSABLE. I CALL TO FORD ROAD SIDE ASSISTANT PROMPTED ME TO QUICKLY MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE TURNING THE IGNITION FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS. I HAD BEEN ABLE TO TURN ON THE CAR UP TO 5 TIMES USING THIS SYSTEM ALTHOUGH ONCE AT THE MECHANIC THE CAR WILL NO LONGER TURN ON, THE MECHANIC MUST NOW DRILL A HOLE INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS STARTED ON MY VEHICLE ON SUNDAY JUNE 29TH. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AS A CAR THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE MOTORIST TO TURN ON THE IGNITION CAN LEAD TO POSSIBLE CRASHES IF THE CAR BECOMES STALLED IN A HIGHWAY ETC. *TR

I TOOK MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WAGON INTO THE SHOP BECAUSE OF LOUD NOISES I WAS HEARING FROM UNDER THE CAR WHILE DRIVING CAR. WHEN THEY GOT IT UP ON THE LIFT THEY HAD ME COME TO REPAIR BAY TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE THEY'D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. WHAT THEY'D FOUND WAS THAT THE CRADLE OR SUBFRAME PIECE THAT HOLDS THE ENGINE IN WAS COMPLETED ROTTED OUT. IT WAS SO BAD YOU COULD STICK YOUR FINGER THROUGH IT. THEY SAID THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'D EXPECT TO FIND ON A 1980S CAR PERHAPS, BUT CERTAINLY NOT ONE THAT WAS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD. I ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD FIX IT AND THEY SAID THEY COULD, BUT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT INSTEAD TO THE FORD DEALER, WHICH I DID. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE FORD DEALER WAS EQUALLY SURPRISED BY THE CONDITION OF THE FRAME AND SAID HE'D TALK TO THE WARRANTY ABOUT IT, BUT THEY SAID A 2003 MODEL WAS NOT COVERED FOR RUST DAMAGE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT. SO THE SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED INSTEAD THAT I CONTACT FORD CUSTOMERS RELATIONS ABOUT IT BECAUSE 1) IT WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT MAY WARRANT A RECALL AND 2) AS A RESULT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. I TALKED WITH THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS PEOPLE BUT THEY TOOK THE POSITION THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR A RUST CONDITION AND BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL IN PLACE FOR SUCH A CONDITION THEY COULDN'T OR WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO I DECIDED TO BRING IT TO YOU. *TR

2003 FORD FOCUS CAR KEY IGNITION PROBLEMS THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AND LEFT ME STRANDED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED WERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE IGNITION HAS TO BE REBUILT. *TR