266 problems related to ignition have been reported for the 2003 Ford Focus. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Ford Focus based on all problems reported for the 2003 Focus.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Focus. While attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition failed. The failure recurred several times. A local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ignition needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 23,700. The VIN was not available.
Key will not turn in ignition.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the piston valves and the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 125,000. Updated 10/29/lj.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Focus. The contact stated that all attempts to start the vehicle failed. The contact also stated that the key was unable to be removed from the ignition and the contact had to use excessive force to retrieve the key. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified and they stated that the vehicle needed to be taken to a dealer. The failure mileage was 43,000. . . . . Updated 03-28-13 updated 04/22/2013.
The ignition key fails to turn. Keys are fine and hitting the key worked a few times to get the key to turn. With this problem, a person can easily become stranded in unfavorable conditions. Also, should anything happen where the engine dies while driving, the steering could become locked with no way to turn key.
Ignition key will not turn in lock. Unable to start car. Wife stranded. Brought her other keys, same problem. Finally got lock to turn by viloently wiggling and pounding on key. Drove car home. Internet search seems to indicate this is a very common problem. We are the original vehicle purchasers.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Focus. While parked, the contact inserted the key into the ignition but was unable to start the vehicle because the ignition cylinder would not turn. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
When I try to start my car, the key won't turn when I put it in the ignition. This happened three times just today. I can wiggle the key back and forth and luckily it's ended up working, but this is not the first time this has happened. I've read online that this is a problem with the Focus. This should be recalled.
The ignition wouldn't turn, although the key can go in and out of it. Hired a locksmith before I knew the dealership might fix it for free because I needed it fixed quickly.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the ignition locked and prevented her from inserting the key to start the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, who did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 85,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the key could not be turned in the ignition. The dealer was notified of the failure who advised the contact that there were no recalls for the failure. The manufacturer was also contacted who offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 114,000.
Leaving work at the end of the day I went to start my vehicle and the key would not turn in the ignition. It was very cold and after adjusting the steering wheel several time for about 5 minutes I was able to start the car. I have since had difficulty turning the key in the ignition of my vehicle everyday. The last incident was while at the gas station, which took almost 15 minutes to get the vehicle started again. I have researched the issue online and found that many other people have also had this issue, with no recall placed on the vehicle as it is not an immediate risk to safety. Although I have now found my self uncomfortably attempting to start my car in less that safe environments on more than one occasion.
I was on my way to work when I stopped to get gas, I got back in my car and the ignition would not turn to star the engine. I was stuck at a gas station in the winter and no one was able to help me. After twenty minutes of trying different things to get it to start it worked. The next day I got in my car and the same thing happened, except this time nothing I did would start it. I ended up paying $112 for a locksmith to replace the ignition in my car. I have read on several forums that this is a common problem with this year of Ford Focus and there has yet to be a recall. This could be a dangerous situation if someone has children and is stranded and unable to move their vehicle to a safe location.
Key will not turn in ignition after multiple attempts by more then one person. Called Ford dealership and they said the problem is really common and to tap the key with a hammer and it will turn and that I need to go in and have the ignition replaced for $500!!! tried their hammering suggestion and the lock still won't turn! because of this I have missed a whole day of school.
The ignition cylinder will not turn. A key can be inserted into the ignition, but it can not be set into the "on or acc" position. The car cant be started and is now, in effect, a one ton paper weight. After researching the problem online, it seems to be very common.
Key won't turn in ignition/ ignition stuck.
Key froze solid in the ignition . Steering wheel would not turn nor the key. Left stranded and had to call a locksmith to physically drill out the factory installed ignition and replace it with a strattec replacement part # 707592. Locksmith reiterated what I read on the internet with this being a known problem with the Ford Focus.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Focus. The contact stated that in an attempt to turn the key in order to start the vehicle, it refused to turn. A local mechanic replaced the ignition and reprogrammed the key and door locks. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer was notified, but denied any assistance with repairing the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000 and the approximate current mileage was 25,200.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the key could be inserted into the ignition would could not be turned to start the vehicle. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure, nor was the vehicle diagnosed or repaired. The current and the failure mileages were 134,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle refused to start. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where the ignition cylinder was replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 107,000.
Tl-the contact owns a 2003 Ford Focus. The contact stated the ignition was locked and the key will not turn to start the engine. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 120,000. Mw.
Key won't turn in ignition. Luckily, my car was parked at home when this happened but could leave you stranded if away from home. I now have to leave my key in the ignition until I get the problem fixed.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Focus. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition failed and locked abnormally. The manufacturer was contacted they advised there were no recalls for the failure and would provide no further assistance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 100,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the ignition was locked and would not allow her to turn the key inside the ignition for several minutes. After various attempts, the contact was able to turn the key in the ignition. The contact stated the failure recurred various times intermittently. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repairs or diagnostics. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000.
Key would not turn the ignition, stalled the car and then could not turn the car back on in the middle of rush hour traffic, on christmas eve none the less.
Key won't turn in ignition. For a couple of weeks, I was able to tap on the end of the key while it was in the ignition lock, and the key would turn. Now, I am unable to get it to turn at all -- even after tapping on it with a hammer.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while parking, the steering wheel seized while the power steering warning chime sounded. In addition, the key would sporadically fail to turn when inserted into the ignition. The contact stated that the vehicle would start after approximately thirty minutes of repeated attempts. The dealer was made aware of the failure but the vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 140,000.
The ignition was locked solid. The key could be inserted and removed but the ignition would not turn. Replacement seems the only viable solution. It seems to be a design defect as so many cases of the lock-up have been reported.
I was parked outside my girlfriend's dr's office waiting to pick her up. It was a cold day and she didn't want to take the bus. When I tried to start the car the key would not turn. I attempted repeatedly to turn the key, but it would not budge. This had happened twice before (I had only owned the car a couple months), but the key had turned with some fiddling. This time it wouldn't turn, no matter what I did. I eventually had to have it towed. The mechanic called me today and said the ignition cylinder needs to be replaced and the key has to be reprogrammed. I read several sources online that said this is not necessary that anyone who tells you this is padding their own pocket, but what can I do? I'm not a mechanic and I'm not about to call this guy a liar. I have to bite the bullet and pay for the repairs as he describes them.
The key in my 2003 Ford Focus will not turn the ignition. We were stranded in the middle of nowhere. The key is fine. . The actual ignition mechanism is locked and will not turn.
2003 Ford Focus ignition will not turn engine over nor unlock steering.
My ignition is locked up/steering wheel.
My 2003 Ford Focus has ignition problems. My key could not turn in the ignition. And as I search online, a lot of ppl have the same problems. This is a recurrent problem with Ford Focus and specifically 2003 Ford Focus. This is very severe. Image you're in a hurry to start the car, the key could not turn and you are stuck. So why is there is nothing done about it by Ford? I just asked the dealership and they told me it is around $450 to replace the ignition. I don't think I should pay this money due to Ford's fault.
2003 Ford Focus ignition key will not turn now.
2003 Ford Focus ignition lock-up. Every time the key is removed from ignition and then reinserted, it is very hard to get it to unlock to turn and start. We have been stranded in parking lots during 110 degree weather while trying to get the key to turn. We will have to either replace the ignition or call a locksmith. This is an everyday problem now.