general problems of the 2003 Ford Focus

Ignition issues. The key will not turn in the ignition. Cannot start my vehicle or turn the steering wheel. My car only has just over 56,000 miles. I am seeing that this is a common complaint and could be a safety issue. I am elderly and disabled and it could be a serious issue to my health if I am stranded somewhere in bad weather.

2003 Ford Focus automatic lock malfunctioned doublelocking the door creating a deadlock effect resulting in not being able to open the door.

The back door locks on this car do not work. They say a lubricant was used to fix the recall issue, however, if that was the fix, it did not work and the locks should have been repaired. That Ford will not address this is insane to me, as door locks should not just go like that. The "fix" was not a fix at all. Also, the lights on this vehicle are horrible. It cannot be driven at night in an unlit area. There is no visibility. I was told once a recall was performed it was then done, however, I do not believe the lock was taken care of properly, therefore, I feel Ford should take care of this. I have applied the lubricant as they instructed to the doors and this does nothing. Neither door will stay closed & opens if driven. When this happened the first time, there was a child in the back seat. We were very lucky we were in a 25 mph zone and were able to immediately pull over. The doors have to be corded shut until a lock is installed. I do not feel I should have to carry the burden of this repair and do not understand how they say a lubricant can fix this problem. It is my opinion the locks should have been replaced during the recall, not just sprayed with a lubricant. I cannot believe I'm the only person with this issue. I feel that Ford saying this recall was completed is far from incorrect and they are responsible for making this right. Again, I understand once a recall is completed it is closed, however, I feel you should look into Ford having not really completed this recall, as the issue was not fixed. It should not have been closed. All they did was put a temporary band-aid on it and did not take full responsibility. What it comes down to is Ford took the cheapest way out at the time and did not truly fix the problem and did not take their full responsibility. Doors that were recalled and are not working were not fixed. I have had contact with Ford with no solution.

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.

Key will not turn in ignition. Again! has happened several times.

Key locks inside the igniton doesn't allow the car to start I replaced the igniton lock 3 times but the problem still happens. . .

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.

I have had issues with the ignition locking. I'm going on my 3rd repair for the same exact issue. First the ignition was re-keyed and/or replaced. Next the ignition again was replaced. The steering column had to removed. This time, I'm imaging the same thing. I'm very upset that Ford has never offered to repair at discounts or to repair at all. Very upset that they never recalled it, knowing this was stacking up for buyers, as an issue. I come from a family with faithful Ford, Lincoln/Mercury ties, which include employees, retirees, and a family that supports Ford, no doubt. As a Focus owner, I am very disappointed how this has been handled.

Wheel stud on front, driverside broke off while car was in motion. Because of stud failure, wheel nuts and wheel flew off vehicle, crossing oncoming lane. If defect occurs on other vehicles on a hwy or at highspeeds severe enjury could occur. Fortunately this occurred at low speed and on an empty street. Ford reported no way of checking its databases for similar defects.

In March 2013 I took my Ford Focus in to replace motor mounts, returned in April for the same awful vibration while heater was on and while idling. The mechanic checked and found that one of the motor mounts was faulty and he replaced. I am taking my Focus back for the third time because it is still vibrating while in idle while the ac is on. The first few times after he replaced the faulty motor mount it did the same thing and the mechanic told me that it'll just run like that and that he ran a diagnostic and the transmission, all mounts look good. And my sometimes my steering is off at 35 miles per hour. I only use my Focus for in town I don't use to travel out of city or state. I am not a mechanic but I am disabled and I need my car running good. I don't want to lose it. Thank you.

(1st) it was passenger rear door latch wouldn't stay latched, door come open during driving, (2nd) a month later trunk wouldn't latch, then (3rd) 2 months later driver side rear door came open during driving, wouldn't latch. Daughter almost fell out and car almost hit door when it flew open. I had to use seat belt to tie door shut to make it home.

I had to replace ignition kit about a month after getting it replaced again I put up with it until dec5 and had ir replaced again 1 day later keys is stuck in ignition again its a total of 7 ignitions I have replaced and Ford again says there is no problem with ignition,. I have seen hundreds of blogs aboutr same problem and Ford doesnt replay to any of them what can be done? I am tired opf paying 250-200. 00 to replace this.

Everything shuts off. Has happened multiple times. Most of the time it will start again in approx. 3 seconds. Now it is happening more frequently. It has even happened while the car is running. I made a right turn, and the car totally died. I quickly put on my flashers, put the car in park, and luckily it started. This has happened twice. Right now my car is in my parking lot and is totally blank. No power whatsoever. I took the car in once to my auto mechanic, he did a diagnostic (and since the car was up and running) he found nothing wrong and all he did was clean the mass air flow sensor. I know gm is having problems right now, but I don't think mine is an ignition switch problem (but what do I know!) I was thinking of having the car towed to the Ford dealership but I'm afraid that this would cost me an arm and a leg. Any thoughts? thank you.

The key won't turn in the ignition - apparently a notorious Ford Focus problem. The car left me stranded miles from home in freezing weather. I will never buy a Ford again because they have not issued a recall.

I had to replace ignition kit about a month after I bought car new approximate date by this time the igintion started draining my battery and alternator and had to have them both replace along with new ignition kit and was told I needed new keys this lated about a month then key got stuck oin ignition again continuosly at that time I called Ford again and was told they have no peroblems with ignition and nothing they will do for me. My nephew went to Ford school to become a mechanic and told me Ford has know about this problem since 2002 and doesnt want to do a recall.

I had to replace ignition kit about a month after I bought car new approximate date.

Had to replace transmission at 104,000 went out without any warning.

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.

I had to replace ignition kit about a month after I bought car new approxiamte date.

I had no event that lead to the failure of the (ignition) in my 2003 Ford Focus zx3. I was on my way to work at 10:30 p. M. And I stopped to put air in my tires at a local gas station. When I got back in to my vehicle I put the key in the ignition and tried to turn the ignition over but it would not move. I turned the steering wheel while trying to turn the key because I thought maybe the steering wheel locked up and yet nothing happend. I walked a mile back home and got my spare key and returned to my vehicle and tried it again and it to failed to turn the ignition. I had the vehicle towed to a local repair shop and I had to miss work that evening. It ended up costing me $336. 28 to repair the ignition switch/tumbler. I looked online for other Ford Focus owners who have had the same problem and found over 30,000 other owners just on one website that have had the same problem with there ignition. I found plenty of people that have had to replace the ignition more then two to three times in there Ford Focus. This is a problem that Ford denies having on there Ford Focus. The Ford Focus ignition is made in germany by a company called huf. The Ford Focus is the only Ford vehicle that has the huf ignition used in it. That is very ironic considering that the only Ford vehicle with numerous ignition problems is the Ford Focus. Ford needs to correct this problem at once. Ford also goes on to state that this is not a safety issue. I beg to differ, for just one example out of many that I could describe, I live in las vegas where the heat can reach over 110 everyday of the week in the summer. If the ignition broke while I was on the side of the road any where outside of las vegas I could be stranded and if I had no water I could easily die within hours. This is a safety issue and I could list a number of saftey problems that could come from this ignition problem.

I had to replace ignition kit about a month after I bought car new approximate date.

I had to replace ignition kit about a month after I bought car new.