2003 Ford Focus Complaint Log

MY DAUGHTER DRIVES A 2003 FORD FOCUS SVT. ON FEBRUARY 28, 2007 SHE WAS RETURNING TO EASTON, PA FROM STATE COLLEGE, PA WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DESTROYED ITSELF RESULTING IN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE GEARBOX, FLYWHEEL,BELL HOUSING AND PRESSURE PLATE. THIS TOOK PLACE ON I-80 . I FEEL YOU SHOULD BE INFORMED DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE AND SEVERITY OF THE EXPLOSION. A FIRE DID RESULT FROM THE FAILURE/EXPLOSION. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD (STATE COLLEGE FORD) AND THEIR ESP REPRESENTATIVE HAS CLAIMED THE DO NOT COVER PRESSURE PLATE FAILURE PAST 12,000 MILES AND HAVE DECLINED TO ADMIT THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING A 65 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART FOR AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE HAD LOST POWER FOUR TIMES. THERE WAS A WARNING LIGHT, BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO REMEMBER WHICH ONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. *AK

I HAVE OWNED 3 FORD FOCUS: ONE 2000 AND TWO 2003. ALL THREE VEHICLES HAVE HAD AN IGNITION CYLINDER FAILURE WHICH COST IN EXCESS OF $300 EACH TIME. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AND THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. ON THREE OCCASIONS I HAVE BEEN STRANDED AND HAD TO CALL AAA TO GET BE TO A GARAGE FOR REPAIR. I HAVE CITED ONLY THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT IN THIS COMPLAINT. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND I FAIL TO SEE WHY A RECALL WAS NEVER ISSUED. FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *NM

DEFECT IN THE KEY IGNITION; KEY WOULD GET STUCK AND CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON AT ALL. YOUR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TURN ON THE CAR AT ALL. THE KEYS WOULD BE 100.00 EACH AND THEY HAD TO BE PROGRAM. SEVERAL REPAIRS FINALLY HAD TO REPLACE THE HOLD IGNITION FOR A TOTAL OF 411.62. THIS WAS A DEFECT ON THE FORD COMPANIES PART; DID A SMALL SURVEY AND EVERYONE WITH FORD VEHICLES OR FORD FOCUSES HAD THE SAME PROBLEM; BUT HAD TO PAY OF THEIR POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS WHEN THEIR WARRANTY RAN OUT. I BELIEVE FORD OWES ME FOR THE REPAIR. THE DOORS ALSO GET STUCK AND WON'T OPEN. *TR

I'VE HAD MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WAGON IN TWICE FOR REPAIR OF THE IGNITION LOCK. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE PROBLEM THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T RELEASE AS THE KEY WOULDN'T FIT INTO THE IGNITION. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REMOVED THE LOCK CYLINDER. IT WAS CLEANED AND LUBED AND OPERATING NORMALLY ON 26 JANUARY 2007. ABOUT A MONTH LATER I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 13,000 MILES ON IT! THEY HAD TO DRILL OUT THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND REPLACE IT. I HOPE THIS TIME IT WILL LAST LONGER THAN A MONTH! THIS WAS A VERY COSTLY SERVICE! $267.00 FOR LABOR AND $99.91 FOR THE PART! I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY RECALLS ON THIS YET BUT IF THEY DO HAVE ONE I'M HOPING TO GET MY MONEY BACK AS THIS HAS BEEN A VERY COSTLY SERVICE TO ME - ALMOST $600.00 TOTAL FOR BOTH INSTANCES! *JB

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

MY KEY STOPPED WORKING, OR WOULD ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY FOR THE PAST MONTH. I STARTED CARRYING MY SPARE KEY AT ALL TIMES SO I WOULDN'T GET STRANDED. I FINALLY HAD A 2ND KEY MADE ($125 AT DEALERSHIP). THE NEW KEY FAILED TO WORK LATER THE SAME DAY. MORE INTERMITTENT IGNITION PROBLEMS FOR NEXT 2 WEEKS. THIS PAST SATURDAY BOTH KEYS FAILED. WHEN I COULD FINALLY GET THE CAR TO START I CAME HOME AND STARTED RESEARCHING ON WEB. FOUND THIS IS A WIDESPREAD WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM. HAVE APPT. AT DEALERSHIP TOMORROW FOR TOTAL IGNITION REPLACEMENT, MY TIME, MY DIME. IT WILL BE A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS. I ALREADY WORK A FULL TIME AND PART-TIME JOB TO MAKE ENDS MEET. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO BE STRANDED SOMEPLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, EITHER. FORD DAMNED WELL KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND JUST IGNORES THEIR CUSTOMERS. THIS IS THE 5TH FORD I'VE OWNED IN 20 YEARS. IT WILL BE MY LAST. *JB

KEY WILL NOT TURN INSIDE THE IGNITION. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AS WELL, BUT I WAS ABLE TO JIGGLE IT LOOSE. THIS TIME IT IS STUCK AND 40 MINUTES OF JIGGLING, WD40, AND FRUSTRATION DID NOT WORK. I AM STILL WORKING ON WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. *NM

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT SHUTS DOWN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 05V030000 REGARDING RECALL OF FORD FOCUS MODELS 2000-2005 FOR REAR DOOR LATCH PROBLEMS (FORD RECALL 05S27) IDENTIFIES VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AT THE WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM MAY 22, 2002 THROUGH JANUARY 26, 2005 AS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AS AFFECTED BY FORD FOR THIS RECALL. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED AT THE WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANT IN JUNE 2003 AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DOOR LATCH PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. I FEEL THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. SO FAR THEY HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO REMEDY MY COMPLAINT. *TR

FORD FOCUS 2003 FOR SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE IGNITION LOCK KEY CYLINDER HAD NOT WORKED, I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE KEY AND GET THE CAR TO START. CONSEQUENCES, FIRST I WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE MY CHILD TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM UNTIL ANOTHER VEHICLE ARRIVED, ANOTHER CONSEQUENCE, I WAS LATE TO WORK, THEN IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON A DANGEROUS AREA OF TOWN, RISKING MY LIFE. FINALLY IT GOT STUCK AT THE AIRPORT AND HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. *JB

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD LOCK UP AND THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE TURNED. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING A NEW IGNITION CYLINDER. THE IGNITION CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 39,035 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,700.

CAR HAD SUDDEN ACCELERATION THAT WAS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE--AUG 2004 CAUSING CRASH WITH 1 INJURY & CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY IN REVERSE CAUSING CRASH WITH DAMAGE TO HOUSE...BOTH ACCIDENTS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL..OWNER WAS ACCUSED OF CARELESS DRIVING BUT WAS NOT AT FAULT EITHER TIME. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE FAULT IS THAT WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. IT IS LOCKED IN PLACE. IT HAPPENED ONCE THIS SUMMER ON THIS CAR AND ON A 2002 FOCUS I SOLD TO A FRIEND WHOM WORKS WITH ME. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM, WHICH THEY HAD. THEY TOLD ME I COULD TAP IT WITH A RUBBER HAMMER TO GET IT TO UNLOCK. SURE THING, IT DID. I CHECKED FOR RECALLS, WHICH NONE WERE FOUND. I CHECKED FOR TSB'S, SURE ENOUGH, THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS APPEARD TO BE A MAJOR DEFECT. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM IF FOR INSTANCE SOMEONE WENT FOR A DRIVE DURING THE WINTER IN THE REMOTE MOUNTAINS AND STOPED TO GOT FOR A WALK. UPON RETURN, THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION WOULDN'T WORK AND THEY'RE STRANDED. FORD DIDN'T APPEAR TO WANT TO LISTEN TO MY COMPLAINTS. LOOK AT THE TSB'S AND YOU'LL REALLY GET A GOOD PICTURE OF THE VOLUME OF IGNATION PROBLEMS.

THE IGNITION LOCK FREEZES AND WILL NOT TURN, WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONSEQUENCES HAVE INCLUDED LOSS OF VEHICLE USE, TOWING EXPENSES, AND UNWANTED STRESS. *NM

THE IGNITION STARTED LOCKING SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, BUT EVENTUALLY WOULD WORK AFTER PLAYING WITH THE KEY TO START. TODAY, WHILE OUT AT A SHOPPING CENTER, IT LOCKED UP COMPLETELY, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THIS CAR IS A 2003 WITH ONLY 13000 MILES ON IT.

IGNITION LOCK OF FORD FOCUS 2003 BROKE AND WE WERE UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR AWAY FROM A DRIVEWAY THAT WAS BLOCKED SINCE IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY. ONE MECHANIC WAS PAID TO TRY TO START THE CAR BUT HE WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL (BUT HE WAS STILL PAID). EVENTUALLY, WE LEARNED FROM THE WWW THAT THIS WAS A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM. A LOCKSMITH WAS CALLED WHO REPLACED THE LOCK AND WAS PAID. IN ADDITION TO THE FINANCIAL EXPENSE, TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE LOCATION OF THE CAR AND THE TIME SPENT WERE SIGNIFICANT COSTS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE TRUNK WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATED TO 35 MPH; THE EGR TUBE CAME LOOSE FROM THE MANIFOLD FOR THE SECOND TIME, MADE A LOUD NOISE, AND ALLOWED ESCAPING EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE SERVICE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. UPDATED 01/30/07. *JB

I HAVE OWNED 2 FORD FOCUSES, A 2000 AND NOW A 2003 MODEL. BOTH VEHICLES HAVE HAD THE IGNITION LOCK UP AND I WAS CHARGED $400 TO FIX IT. OBVIOUSLY, FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS COMFORTABLE ENOUGH WITH THIS DESIGN FLAW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS, AND THE CONSUMER IS LEFT HOLDING THE BILL. THERE ARE OVER 400 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS LOGGED ON THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE: HTTP://FORUMS.FOCALJET.COM/PROBLEMS-SERVICE-RECALLS/416401-PLEASE-POST-IF-YOUR-IGNITION-HAS-LOCKED.HTML WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET THIS COMPANY TO ADMIT THEY ARE PUTTING OUT A FAULTY PRODUCT? *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH JAMMED AND THE SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED.

THE WIPERS ON THIS CAR DO THE EXACT SAME THING MY 2000 FORD FOCUS DID THAT HAD A RECALL THEY DON NOT WANT TO RETURN TO THE HOME POSITION. *NM

SECOND OCCURRENCE OF KEY BEING PUT IN IGNITION, STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP AND INABILITY TO START CAR. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRED. FIRST TIME (11/2004) UNDER WARRANTY, SECOND TIME(12/5/06) CHARGED $300, REDUCED TO $80 UNDER PROTEST FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM. NO WONDER FORD IS GOING UNDER! *JB

NHTSA PREVIOUS REPORT 01V258000 (RECALL ID 01D-258) FOR FORD FOCUS WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR PROBLEMS - 2001/2002 VEHICLES. I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS, WIPER DOES NOT STOW - AS THERE ARE OTHER REPORTED VEHICLES - WILL NHTSA DIRECT FORD TO "RECALL" OR FIX LATER MODEL YEAR FOR THIS SAME ISSUE? THE VIRGINIA SAFETY INSPECTION FAILED MY CAR FOR THIS ISSUE - STATED FORD WOULD FIX, FORD DEALER HAS NO REQUIREMENT, AS THIS IS NOT A "RECALLED YEAR". *JB

IGNITION KEY SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN TO START KEY. I HAD TO REPLACE THE LOCK ASSEMBLY ON 2003 FORD FOCUS I BOUGHT BRAND NEW 12/31/2003. TOLD BY SCOTT REYNOLDS OF REYNOLD'S FORD THAT EVEN ONE OF HIS MECHANIC'S WIFE HAD SAME PROBLEM AS A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE.*JB

I TRIED TO LEAVE MY BEST FRIENDS HOUSE BUT MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WOULD NOT START. APPARENTLY I NEED A WHOLE NEW IGNITION. SO I BEGAN SURFING THE NET FOR PRICES AND QUOTES BUT INSTEAD I'VE STUMBLED UPON HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINT FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I WAS TOLD THE PART I WILL NEED COST $70. PLUS $50 TO TOW THE CAR SINCE I CANNOT GET THE CAR STARTED. SO FAR I'VE ONLY MISSED ONE DAY OF WORK BUT I MIGHT MISS MANY MORE BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET THE CAR FIXED RIGHT NOW. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE FORD COMPANY THEY TOLD ME THAT MY TOTAL BILL WILL BE AROUND $230. I AM SO FRUSTRATED WITH THIS CAR. I'M NOT SURE IF I WILL EVEN GET THE CAR FIXED. I PLAN TO INVEST IN A NEW NISSAN. *JB

LOCKING OF IGNITION IN FORD FOCUS. *JB

I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE COME UP A FEW TIMES LATELY. WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN MY IGNITION, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. FROM RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS IGNORED THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO RECALL A SERIOUSLY FAULTY PART. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS NOT RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS NOT A "SAFETY" ISSUE. WHEN SOMEONE WITH A SMALL CHILD CAN NOT START THEIR CAR IN THE DEAD OF WINTER (STUCK ON THE SIDE OF A ROAD), I WOULD CLASSIFY THAT AS A SAFETY ISSUE! THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ADMITTED TO ME THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS ADDRESSED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THAT HE TOWS OVER 30 FOCUSES PER YEAR FOR THIS ISSUE ALONE. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY NEED TO DO AN OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS BEFORE THEY WILL DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. WHAT A RIP OFF! THEY ARE TRYING TO CHARGE ME $100 TO DIAGNOSE AN PROBLEM THAT EVERYONE ALREADY KNOWS. THIS IS WHY FORD IS LOSING MILLIONS OF CUSTOMERS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THEY HAVE LOST ME OVER A $90 IGNITION TUMBLER. *JB

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I COULDN'T TURN THE IGNITION KEY. I HAD TO CALL AAA TO SEND A LOCKSMITH TO REPLACE MY IGNITION SWITCH. HE SAID THAT THIS HAPPENED A LOT WITH FOCUSES. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN FORD FOCUS, BUT FORD HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE TRUNK WITH THE REMOTE SWITCH IT BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THIS AND BOTH TIMES THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FOR FOCUS WITH A CURRENT AND FAILURE ODOMETER READING OF 38,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH UNDER DRY CONDITIONS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. BUT, WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST HER WITH THIS PROBLEM. WHEN THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE AT DEALER FOR SERVICE THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLE MELTED, CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHT TO FAIL. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION, THE IGNITION LOCKED AND WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE IGNITION TURNED AND THE ENGINE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 01/19/07. *JB

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND CAR WILL NOT START. I AM FINDING OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. THIS COULD LEAVE US STRANDED. IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN AS TIMES PASSES. AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, I FEEL THE REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD. *JB

IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKS WHEN TURNING THE KEY ON A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3. THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED MOST OF THE TIME. THIS IS DANGEROUS IF THE CAR STALLS. *NM

MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT START BECAUSE THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. I'VE TRIED A NUMBER OF TACTICS TO GET THE CAR TO START BUT FAILED. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ONLINE, I'VE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ANY MY PROBLEM HAS ALL THE SAME SYMPTOMS. LUCKILY, THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT HOME AND AS ONLY LEFT ME WITH ONE VERY INCONVENIENT PROBLEM; HOWEVER, IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHERE PERSONAL SAFETY COULD HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. UPDATED 11/30/06. *JB

I HAVE HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. FIRST INCIDENT IN JULY, 2006 AND AM NOW EXPERIENCING ANOTHER. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD AND DO NOT WANT TO BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE JUST BECAUSE I CAN'T GET THE KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. I AM NOW ALSO DEALING WITH (TODAY) A SOLENOID MALFUNCTION IN MY TRANSMISSION (3RD GEAR). THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AS WELL. THE CAR JERKS LIKE CRAZY AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 30 MPH. THANK GOODNESS I WAS CLOSE TO A SIDE STREET TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS THAT THESE ISSUES ARE NOT BEING RECALLED. THE IGNITION IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH ENOUGH PEOPLE.... *NM

HAD NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH IGNITION IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SE. LEFT MY HOMETOWN FOR THE DAY TO SHOP 2 COUNTIES AWAY. AFTER SHOPPING, WENT TO START MY CAR AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. THE KEY WOULD GO IN, BUT WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND AM WAITING NOW FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. I HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM IN THE FORD FOCUS. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL SINCE THE IGNITION IS VERY OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART USED IN THE CAR. *NM

2003 FORD FOCUS THAT I BOUGHT USED WITH ONLY 14,000 MILES ON AND HAVE USED AS MY COMMUTER CAR FOR 3 MONTHS. AT ROUGHLY 20,000 MILES THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH ONCE BUT AFTER A LITTLE SHAKING IT WORKED. AROUND A MONTH LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME WHEN IT DID ENGAGE IT WOULD NOT START THE ENGINE, I ROLLED STARTED THE CAR AND GOT HOME BUT THE NEXT DAY THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH AT ALL - TRIED FOR THREE DAYS WILL NOT TURN, CURRENTLY LEARNING THE DETAILS OF HOW TO REPLACE AN IGNITION SWITCH FROM FRIENDS AND NICE FOLKS ON THE INTERNET BUT I HAVE HAD TO BORROW A CAR FOR TWO DAYS AND WILL HAVE TO RENT ONE AT THE END OF THE WEEK AND UNTIL I CAN BUY AND INSTALL A NEW PART JUST TO GET TO WORK. AS OTHER ARTICLES CLAIM FORD CLAIMS THIS PROBABLY ISN'T A SAFETY CONCERN BUT IS RATHER ANNOYING AND COSTLY TO FOLKS LIKE MYSELF WHO BOUGHT THE FOCUS HOPING FOR A RELIABLE FUEL EFFICIENT COMMUTER CAR. *NM

2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION IS LOCKING UP WITH THE KEY IN IT MULTIPLE TIMES. *NM

CAN'T TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAN'T START THE CAR. *NM

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION LOCKED RESULTING IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER KEY BEING REPLACED BY THE SERVICE DEALER. WHILE SEARCHING THE NHTSA WEBSITE, COMPLAINTS WERE FOUND WHERE THIS OCCURRED TO VEHICLES AND THE IGNITION CYLINDER KEY WAS REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THIS REPAIR DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PERMANENT FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THERE WAS AN ODOROUS SMELL WHEN THE HEATING FAN WAS TURNED ON AND THE SMELL OCCASIONALLY OCCURRED WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR THE ODOROUS SMELL.

AFTER DRIVING MY 2003 FORD FOCUS 5XW (5 DOOR HATCHBACK) THOUGH HEAVY RAIN ON THE HIGHWAY, THE NEXT DAY I NOTICED ONE HEAD LIGHT AND ONE FOG LIGHT WAS OUT. AFTER INVESTIGATION TO THE CAUSE. MY FOG LIGHT HAD JUST NORMALLY BURNED OUT. BUT THE HEAD LIGHT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHILE REPLACING THE BULB NOTICED ALL THREE NYLON CONNECTOR COVERS FOR EACH OF THE THREE WIRES HAD MELTED? CHANGING THE LIGHTS AS A SET THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LIGHT? WITH THE REPLACEMENT BULBS NOW INSTALLED THE DRIVERS SIDE STILL DOES NOT LIGHT , ONLY THE PASSENGERS. THERE IS NO POWER COMING TO THE DRIVERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT FOR NORMAL MODE. IT WILL ONLY LIGHT WITH THE BRIGHTS ON. AS TO THE MELTING OF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR COVERS I'M SURE THAT IS NOT NORMAL OPERATION.? I AM STILL INVESTIGATING WHERE THE POWER LOSS IS COMING FROM AND WHY THE INSULATION ON THE CONNECTORS OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS MELTED AWAY? FYI

1ST- TRUNK LATCH DOES NOT DISENGAGE, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN MY NEAREST TOWN. AFTER 3-4 TIMES OF ADJUSTING AND OILING, IT STILL DOES NOT RELEASE CORRECTLY, WHEN YOU PUSH THE DASHBOARD RELEASE, OPEN THE TRUNK IT CLOSES THE LATCH ON ITS OWN, YOU CANT CLOSE THE TRUNK UNLESS YOU REPRESS THE DASH RELEASE, WHICH IS DIFFICULT WITH ARMS FULL, OR PULL THE SAFETY RELEASE PROVIDED FOR NOT GETTING LOCKED IN THE TRUNK, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR. 2ND- MY IGNITION FROZE UP YESTERDAY MORNING. NO FOR WARNING. HADN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS. NOW I HAVE TO GET BACK TO MY CAR AND GET IT TO THE GARAGE. BEING NEWER TO THE AREA AND NO OTHER VEHICLE AT MY DISPOSAL IT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO COST ME NOT TO MENTION THE REPAIR COST. 3RD- OH MY GOD--- I JUST READ ABOUT THE BACK DOOR PROBLEMS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING, I TRANSPORT VERY PRECIOUS CARGO BACK THERE, MY GRAND CHILDREN, BEING THAT THERE ARE 3 OF THEM TWO HAVE TO BE BY THE DOOR. I WILL HAVE THE SERVICE AREA CHECK MY DOORS WHEN THEY FIX THE IGNITION. WHY WASN'T I TOLD ABOUT THIS. *NM

PARKED CAR WHEN ARRIVING TO WORK AT 8 AM. WAS LEAVING FOR LUNCH AT 12 PM AND IGNITION WOULDN'T TURN AT ALL. WHEEL LOCKED. HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK. FIRST TRUCK ARRIVED AND THEY COULDN'T TOW CAR SINCE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND ONLY A FLAT BED TRUCK. THEN HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL HOURS FOR A WHEEL LIFT TRUCK. WAS TOLD BY TOWING COMPANY THAT HE HAD (8) FORD FOCUS' (SAME MODEL), THAT WEEK WITH SAME PROBLEM. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT LOCKSMITHS DO NOT WANT TO TOUCH THE ISSUE, SINCE IT IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM AND THAT FORD WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUE. TOWED TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE $300 TO REPLACE IGNITION. WARRANTY HAD JUST ENDED ON VEHICLE. FORD CORPORATE HONORED A SMALL PORTION OF REPLACEMENT COST, I ENDED UP PAYING $100 (THANKS TO THE DEALERS HELP), BUT THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. OBVIOUS FROM THIS SITE THAT IT'S NOT JUST ME THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO. (AND THIS PROBLEM IS AMONG MANY OTHERS I HAVE DEALT WITH ON THIS STUPID CAR). *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON PLACING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE WITH A PAIR OF PLIERS, WHICH ALLOWED THE KEY TO TURN AND START THE ENGINE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM

(1) NO EVENT LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE; IT WAS UNEXPECTED (2) THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED ON THE VEHICLE,WHICH RESULTED IN US NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE CAR. (3) THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE ARE AWAITING TO HERE THE RESULTS FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. *NM

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. *JB