There are 52 stored owner reports matching the air bags & restraints leading-label group for the 2003 Ford Focus in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 50 of 52 matching reports. This is a limited sample of up to 50 reports, ordered by incident date when available, not the complete group. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE, CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL, AND SPUN AROUND. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES, FACIAL BRUISING, AND WHIPLASH. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE DRIVER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR HIS INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT WHERE THEY REFUSE THE CONTACT TO VIEW/TAKE PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE UNLESS A FEE WAS PAID. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 267,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 01/26/2017*CT UPDATED 7/13/18*JB *TR
ON FEB 11, 2015 I WAS DRIVING TO GO TO THE VET. I HAD NOT BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD IN ABOUT 6 MONTHS. I CAME UPON AN AREA THAT WAS A VERY BAD CHUNK OF ROAD...PATCHES OVER PATCHES AND VERY BUMPY. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR TILTED TO THE RIGHT AND THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. IT TOOK ME A COUPLE SECONDS TO REALIZE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. MY AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE (SIDE AIRBAG) HAD DEPLOYED. SCARED ME! I HAD NO IDEA WHY IT HAD GONE OFF. BUT THE CAR SEEMED TO BE DRIVING OK STILL SO I CONTINUED TO THE VET ABOUT 1-2 MILES AWAY. I WONDERED IF A DEER HAD HIT THE SIDE OF MY CAR BUT WHEN I GOT TO THE VET AND CHECKED MY CAR, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE SIDE OF MY CAR. SINCE THEN I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOY WHEN HITTING A POTHOLE. THE NEXT DAY I WENT BACK AND TOOK PICTURES OF THAT AREA AND A VIDEO.THIS WAS BY A GUARDRAIL WITH A HUGE DROP OFF ON THE SIDE. I AM LUCKY I DIDN'T LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR WHEN THE AIRBAG EXPLODED RIGHT NEXT TO ME AND POSSIBLY GO THROUGH THE GUARDRAIL AND OFF OF THAT STEEP DROP OFF. THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING SITUATION AND THANK GOD, NOBODY WAS IN THAT SEAT. I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS ON THAT ROAD BECAUSE WHEN I LOOKED OVER I SAW A BIG WHITE CIRCLE (DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT FIRST...THOUGHT MY WINDOW HAD BROKEN) AND I SAW THE END OF THE GUARD RAIL WHERE IT ANGLES DOWN AT THE END. I WAS NOT SPEEDING, OR ON THE PHONE. JUST DRIVING DOWN A COUNTY ROAD AND HAD $1700 WORTH OF DAMAGE DONE TO MY CAR. I ONLY HAVE PL/PD ON THAT CAR SO MY INSURANCE WON'T COVER IT.
AIRBAG WARNING SYSTEM LIGHT FLASHES ON INDICATING POSSIBLE FAILURE OR DEFECTIVE SYSTEM BUT DOES NOT REMAIN ON. LIGHT GOES OUT ABOUT 1 HOUR OR SO OF DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH OVER A POT HOLE, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND BOTH THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND RETRACTOR WAS INOPERABLE. THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROX 70MPH, I SIGNALED MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL. AS I CHANGED INTO THE LEFT LANE, MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS OPEN SO SOME SEAT FOAM AND SMOKE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. I PULLED OVER AND THE OTHER DRIVER STOPPED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND CHECKED TO SEE IF I WAS OKAY. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE HOME. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS COMING TO PIECES. IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING IS CHEWING ON IT.
THE LEFT REAR SEATBELT SHOULDER STRAP HARNESS CAUSED MY PASSENGER, A YOUNG CHILD, TO ALMOST BE STRANGLED, LEAVING MARKS AND BRUISES TO THE NECK. CHILD WAS UNABLE TO UNBUCKLE SEAT BELT ON THE RIGHT HE PULLED WITH BOTH HANDS ON THE PART OF THE SEATBELT THAT CROSSED OVER HIS NECK, TO GET OUT, THE TENSION ON SEATBELT RELEASED, AND STRETCHED AS HE TURNED TO THE LEFT AND THEN TIGHTENED UP, THE SEATBELT HAD TO BE CUT TO SAVE HIM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SPUN AROUND. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES, CONTUSIONS, A TEAR TO HER SPINE, A BROKEN RIB, AND HEART PROBLEMS AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT TO HER CHEST. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER OF THE SECOND VEHICLE INVOLVED IN THE CRASH WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT OF THE INCIDENT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
WAS TRAVELING AT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THERE WAS NO IMPACT. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED. AT THIS TIME THERE HAS BEEN NO RESOLUTION. *TR
ON 8/1/2011, GOING 40MPH I HIT A DEER. THE WHOLE HOOD OF MY CAR IS PUSHED IN,MY RADIATOR IS PUSHED IN, I CANNOT OPEN THE HOOD, THE DEER IS DEAD AND BOTH OF THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HOWEVER MY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT LIGHT DID COME ON. WHAT A DEFECT. AT 10 MPH I COULD POSSIBLE UNDERSTAND BUT AT 40 MPH, I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2003 FOR SAFETY, NOW EVEN IF IT WERE FIXED I WOULD BE SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *KB
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS STUCK AND WILL NOT MOVE, CAN NOT PUT SEAT BELT ON TO DRIVE. PULLED ON BELT IT WILL NOT BUDGE.
MY DRIVER'S SEATBELT IS NOT PROPERLY CLICKING SHUT, SO THE SEATBELT IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS WAGON. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR ROAD HAZARD THAT CAUSED THE DEPLOYMENT AND NONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTIFY THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 49,000.
2003 FORD FOCUS INVOLVED IN FRONT END COLLISION CAR WAS TOTALED AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
2003 FOCUS SE COM. WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD ON ACCIDENT FRONT END DAMAGED BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER IMPACT. *TR
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN SERIOUS FRONTAL CRASH AND AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *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
I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND 3 OUT OF 5 OF MY SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY PASSENGER SEAT BELT SOMETIMES HAS TO BE RIPPED OUT IN ORDER FOR IT TO COME UNBUCKLED WHICH COULD LEAD TO SOMEONE DYING IF THEY CANNOT UNBUCKLE AFTER A CRASH. TWO OF MY BACK SEAT BELTS WILL NOT BUCKLE AT ALL. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM FIXED. I HOWEVER FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT. I HAVE ALSO SEEN ONLINE THAT OTHERS HAVE THESE SAME SEAT BELT ISSUES. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. THANKFULLY THERE HAVE BEEN NO WRECKS YET SO NO ONE WAS STUCK IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BUT I AM VERY FEARFUL OF THIS HAPPENING. I HAVE EVEN TRIED CLEANING OUT THE BUCKLES AND IT DID NOT WORK AT ALL. *TR
Showing 1-20 of 50 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 29, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.