2003 Ford Focus Complaint Log

I BOUGHT A 2003 FORD FOCUS BRAND NEW IN FEBRUARY 2003. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 300 MILES ON IT. YESTERDAY THE IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT COSTING ME OVER $250. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR! I WENT INTO A RESTAURANT AND CAME OUT. I WAS STRANDED. I'VE SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR SITUATIONS/COMPLAINTS AND OTHER PEOPLE HAD SIMILAR SITUATIONS. I UNDERSTAND BATTERIES GOING DEAD OR WEAR AND TEAR ON BRAKES. I'VE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. I'VE NEVER OWNED A FORD BEFORE EITHER! IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH FORD? IS THIS STATEMENT TRUE?: FIXED OR REPAIRED DAILY.

DT: THERE IS A CROSS MEMBER PIECE OF METAL BEHIND THE DASH OF THE CAR, THE CROSS MEMBER BAR BEHIND THE DASH HAS OBVIOUS RUST SPOTS. *AK THE BRACE BEHIND THE DASH WHICH EXTENDS FROM THE STEERING COLUMN TO THE RIGHT END OF THE DASHBOARD HAS OBVIOUS OXIDATION SPOTS AND RUST. THERE IS NO INDICATION OF THE CAUSE. NO WATER SPOTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THESE RUST SPOTS CAN BE SEEN BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AS WELL. VEHICLE HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE. VEHICLE ALSO HAS A STUCK ACCELERATOR CAUSED BY FAILURE TO THE THROTTLE BODY PLATE. *TT *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT PRESSED THE UNLOCK BUTTON TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND IT FAILED TO OPEN. SHE HAD TO MANUALLY PULL THE DOOR THREE TIMES BEFORE IT OPENED. FORD STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,898.

VEHICLE HAD FUMES COMING IN. IT SMELLED AS IF SOMETHING WAS BURNING. DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECTS.*AK CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING STILL SMELL BURNING INSIDE, IT IS PRETTY SCARY AND WISH SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. *BP

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE IGNITION FROZE. THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THESE VEHICLES. *AK

REAR DOOR OPENS HARD TO THE POINT THAT BREAKAGE OF DOOR HANDLE SEEMS IMMINENT. AT TIMES DOOR WILL ONLY OPEN FROM INTERIOR. A SMALL OUTWARD DENT HAS APPEARED IN THE DOOR HANDLE AREA AS A RESULT OF PULLING ON DOOR HANDLE SO HARD. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED TO DATE AS NO INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED. *JB

CAR WILL MISS A LOT WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY, SOMETIMES THE MOTOR SPEEDS UP RAPIDLY, SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE IS STOMPING THE GAS PEDAL WHEN I AM NOT. THE MOTOR KIND OF JUMPS AND SPUTTERS PERIODICALLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *NM

2003 FORD FOCUS LX SEDAN - MY WIFE WENT TO WALMART ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, AND UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR THE KEY WOULD NO LONGER UNLOCK THE IGNITION SWITCH. DESPITE MANY ATTEMPTS (A LOCKSMITH WAS UNABLE TO COME UP WITH ANYTHING) WE ENDED UP HAVING THE CAR TOWED. THE QUOTED REPAIR PRICE IS ROUGHLY $400. THERE ARE SEEMINGLY ENDLESS ACCOUNTS OF THIS VERY SITUATION WITH THE FORD FOCUS IGNITION ON FORUMS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OR FORD SHOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THIS DEVICE.*AK

BRAKES TURN TO SPONGES AND GOES TO FLOOR DEALER SAYS CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND KICKS IT OUT NOW THREE MORE PROBLEMS HAVE ARISEN MOTOR SHUTS OFF AT SLOW U-TURN SPEED AND TRANS DOWNSHIFTS HARD INTO LOW GEAR CAUSING A FACE PLANT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, LASTLY THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN GOES OFF AFTER 3 HOURS OF DRIVING.

THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

ON APRIL 11, 2005, AS I WAS LEAVING WORK IN THE EVENING, I PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND COULD NOT TURN THE KEY. THE FOLLOWING DAY, I SPENT SOME TIME ON THE TELEPHONE WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AND KEY MAKERS TRYING TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I FINALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT IT WAS A FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER. ON APRIL 14 I HAD THE CAR TOWED INTO BOHN FORD INC. AT 401 N. CARROLLTON AVENUE, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70119. (504) 485-2646. WHILE THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND LEARNED FROM ONE WEBSITE THAT THERE WERE AT LEAST 137 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAD. I FOUND A SECOND WEBSITE WITH ANOTHER LIST OF PEOPLE WHO WERE SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES OF THE FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK. TWO PEOPLE WHO POSTED ONTO THE WEBSITE MENTIONED THE PO5. I UNDERSTOOD FROM THEM THAT THE CAR COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED FOR $24.58. THE CAR HAD TO BE UNDER SIX YEARS OLD AND UNDER 75,000 MILES. THE STAFF AT THE BOHN FORD DEALERSHIP WAS VERY CONSIDERATE AND UNDERSTANDING OF MY SITUATION; HOWEVER, WHEN I REQUESTED A PO5, THEY TOLD ME THAT WHILE THEY WERE SURE THAT I QUALIFIED , THEIR OFFICE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO APPLY FOR A PO5 AT THIS TIME. MY TOTAL BILL CAME TO $396.69 TO DRILL OUT, CODE, AND REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK; AND TO CUT, ERASE, AND PROGRAM TWO PAT KEYS. THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK PROBLEM ON THE FORD FOCUS CAN BE TRACED AT LEAST AS FAR BACK AS 2001. THEREFORE I URGE YOU TO BEGIN A RECALL ON THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK. *JB

I PURCHASED A USED 2003 FOCUS IN JANUARY OF 2004. THE CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 42000 MILES ON IT. I WENT TO WORK ONE DAY AND WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. IT GETS STUCK. THE WHEELS LOCK AND I HAVE TO JIGGLE IT UNTIL IT FINALLY COMES UNSTUCK. I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR AT WORK OVERNIGHT ONCE BECAUSE OF THIS AND THE FORD DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT IT IS NOT A RECALL. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I WILL NOT PAY OVER $200 FOR SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING TO MORE PEOPLE. *JB

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE CAME FROM THE VEHICLE. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK

I HAVE A 2003 ZTS WITH A 5 SPEED. AFTER DRIVING ROUGHLY 40 MILES NONSTOP WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS 85 AND ABOVE, THE FIRST TIME I PUSH THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN THE PEDAL IS REALLY STIFF, LIKE A SUPER DUPER HEAVE DUTY CLUTCH. BY THE 2ND OR 3D TIME I PRESS IT IN IT'S NORMAL AGAIN. THE CAR SHIFT FINE.. JUST HAS THIS REALLY STIFF PEDAL FOR 1 OR TWO PUSHES AFTER AN 40 MILE TRIP IN HOT TEMPERATURES. FORD AGREED, AFTER A TON OF COMPLAINING, TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER, BUT IT NEVER HELPED. THE CAR HAS 35,000 AND 95% OF THOSE MILES ARE ON THE INTERSTATE SO THERE "SHOULD BE" NEXT TO NO WEAR ON THE CLUTCH ITSELF. THIS STARTED HAPPENING AT ABOUT 28,000 MILES. NOW THAT THE TEMPERATURES HAVE FALLEN BACK TO MID 70'S FOR DAYTIME HI'S THE PROBLEM IS ALMOST NON-EXISTENT. *NM

ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED. DRIVER NOTICED THAT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM . *AK

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

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZTS. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FIRE DEPT. AND POLICE DEPT. BOTH EXPRESSED DISBELIEF THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE WHOLE FRONT END HAS TO BE REPLACED INCLUDING BOTH THE FRAME RAILS, AS WELL SOME ENGINE COMPONENTS. I WILL KNOW MORE WHEN THE REPAIRS START. THE VEHICLE I WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WITH HAD BOTH OF THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOY. IF I WERE NOT WEARING MY SEATBELT, I WOULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS INJURIES.

WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEED THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE FRONT/REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. *AK THE BRAKES VAVE CONSUMER PROBLEMS SINCE THEY BROUGHT THE CAR. HAD NEW ROTORS, NEVER STOPPED LIKE THEY SHOULD. FINALLY ALL THE BRAKES WENT OUT. DEALER KEPT SAYING THEY KEPT GETTING THE WRONG PARTS. STILL DON'T DRIVE AS IT SHOULD. DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDER. *BF

WHILE MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WAS BEING VACUUM AT THE CARWASH, THE SIDE PASSENGER AIRBAG OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS DEPLOYED. MY CAR WAS PARKED AND THERE WAS NO IMPACT. I HAD MY CAR TOWED FROM THE CARWASH TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR. THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT GIVEN ME A SOLID REASON AS TO WHY THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THEIR THEORIES HAVE RANGED FROM DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE, THE FORCE OF THE VACUUM AT THE CARWASH, TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT I RAN OVER A TIRE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE OF THE COLLISION HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *SC *JB

REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR BRAKES AND FUEL FILTER REPLACEMENT ON 2003 FORD FOCUS. *BF THE CONSUMER TRADED THE VEHICLE. *JB

WE ARE A FRANCHISEE OF AN AUTO RENTAL COMPANY. WE HAVE HAD A HALF DOZEN FORD FOCUSES THAT THE IGNITION SWITCHES HAVE FAILED ON. THESE VEHICLES HAVE MILEAGE IN THE RANGE OF 40,000-45,000 MILES. THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL JUST QUIT WORKING. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLES TOWED IN EVERY INSTANCE, AND FORD HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT OR MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS. IT COSTS US OVER $400 EVERY TIME. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. THESE HAVE BEEN 2003-2004 MODEL VEHICLES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SUDDENLY, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

I JUST BOUGHT THIS USED 2 WEEKS AGO, THINKING IT HAS UNDER 50,000 MILES IT'S GOOD. WELL ON FEBRUARY 17,2005, I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN. I TRIED FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR AND NOTHING,I TRIED AGAIN THE NEX MORNING AND NOTHING, THE DELEARSHIP HAD TO TOW AND HERE I AM WITHOUT A CAR, SO I DECEIDED TO SEARCH THE WEB AND SEE IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE AND SURE ENOUGH IT HAS, IF THIS IS A RECALL IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *AK

ONCE THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE, AND IS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE , CAUSING THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY ON ITS OWN. THE OWNER INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT A YEAR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK ANOTHER ISSUE WAS THAT THE LEFT REAR ROTOR HAD BROKEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THE REAR SENSOR ASSEMBLY/ABS WAS REPLACED. THE ROOT OF THIS PROBLEM STEMMED FROM THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING WHICH HAD FALLEN APART AND DAMAGED THE ROTOR AND THE WHEEL SENSOR. THE LEFT REAR KNUCKLE WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE LEFT REAR ROTOR. *SC *JB

FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN A POTHOLE WAS STRUCK WITH THE RIGHT FRONT, CAUSING A BLISTER TO THE SIDEWALL AND A SLIGHT BEND TO THE RIM. UPON REVIEW OF THE SHALLOW DEPTH OF THE POTHOLE, I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT CAUSED A PROBLEM. ONE WEEK LATER, THE REAR TIRE ON THE SAME SIDE SHOWED A BLISTER. THE RIM WAS FINE AND HAVE NO RECALLECTION OF HITTING ANYTHING. ANOTHER WEEK AND ANOTHER POTHOLE. THIS TIME A FLAT, ON THE SAME FRONT. NOW A SEVERELY BENT RIM; ON THE INSIDE. THE RIM WAS REPAIRED AND THE TIRE REINSTALLED. HOWEVER, NO NEW BLISTER OCCURRED ON THE INSIDE WALL. I HAVE MADE THIS SAME COMMUTE FOR 10 YEARS WITH OTHER VEHICLES SHOD WITH OFF-BRAND TIRES, AND NEVER HAD AN INCIDENT OF ANY KIND.*AK

THERE WAS NO FAILURE OR INJURIES. JUST A PROBLEM WITH GAS MILEAGE. THIS VEHICLE GETS THE WORSE GAS MILEAGE OF ANY AUTO I EVER OWNED EXCEPT MY 1969 PLYMOUTH GTX 440. I KEEP COMPLAINING BUT THE PROBLEM IS SAID TO BE WITH THE ENGINE TYPE. Z-TEC AND THAT IS WHY ON THE 2005 THEY FINALLY CHANGED THE ENGINE. I GET APPROX 15-17 MPG IN THE CITY NO AIR ON AND HIGHWAY IS APPROX 22-25. I HAVE YET TO GET CLOSE TO 300 MILES ON A TANK FULL OF FUEL. TERRIBLE TERRIBLE .I HAVE PAPER FROM WINDOW AND IT STATES FUEL MILEAGE SHOULD BE APPROX 25 CITY 30 HIGHWAY. THIS VEHICLE NOT CLOSE. RUNS WELL THOUGH. I WOULD CALL THIS A FAILURE OF GAS MILEAGE FACTORY ESTIMATE NUMBER OF TIMES IN BOX BELOW IS CONSERVATIVE. I FIGURED CLOSER TO 275-300 *JB

I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS WHERE THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LATCH HAS FAILED. JUST FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FORD RECALL # 05S27) , BUT IT IS ONLY FOR 2000 - 2002 MODELS & MINE IS A 2003. MY CAR IS IN FOR REPAIR AT MY FORD DEALER NOW , THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM & HV TO ORDER NEW PARTS FOR MY CAR .I HV BEEN TOLD I MUST PAY FOR REPAIRS. WHY ARE THE 2003 MODELS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

AFTER WASHING THE VEHICLE AT A CAR WASH STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY DIRECTION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS BROKEN , AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

MY 2003 FOCUS ZTW WAGON HAS BEEN IN FOR BRAKES 3 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. FORD STANDING BY THIS AS A "WEAR" ITEM NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. COULD I HAVE 2002 PARTS IN MY VEHICLE? I HAVE HAD BRAKE INSPECTIONS DONE WITH OIL CHANGES INDICATING EVERYTHING IN THE "GREEN ZONE". THE ROTOR WARPING IS SUDDEN AND UNPREDICTABLE. 3 BRAKE JOBS IN ONE YEAR IS EXCESSIVE AND PROBLEMATIC. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE EVEN WITH THE BRAKES BEING FIXED. *JB

VEHICLE, A 2003 FORD FOCUS W/ 20,000 MILES, BECAME DISABLED DUE TO COMPLETE FAILURE OF CLUTCH TO REENGAGE WHEN I SHIFTED - ROLLED TO STOP IN EVENING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 66 IN FAIRFAX, VIRGIINIA. CAR HAD PREVOUS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING AND WAS RETURNED FROM DEALER TWO DAYS EARLIER, FEBRUARY 2, SAYING THE CLUTCH WAS "PERFORMING OK AT THIS TIME NPF." I COULD NOT MANEUVER FROM THE TRAVEL LANE AND CALLED 911. A VIRGINA STATE POLCIE CAR WAS DISPATCHED AND PULLED UP BEHIND ME TO PREVENT A REAR END COLLOSION UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. DEALER THEN PRONOUNCED THAT THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY "WORE OUT" AND CHARGED $1,840 FOR A COMPLETE REPALCEMENT OF THE PRESSURE PLATE, CLUTCH PLATES AND FLY WHEEL. THEY DID NOT RETAIN PARTS (AS I HAD REQUESTED) AND DENIED ANY WARRANTY COVERAGE. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN HE TURNED THE IGNITION. SHE CALLED HER INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY ADVISED HER TO STRIKE THE IGNITION WITH SOMETHING, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START MOMENTS LATER. THE FAILURE BEGAN IN 2005 AND HAS OCCURRED SIX TIMES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED REPLACING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WOULD NOT START STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON TOWED TO DEALER COST WAS 50 DOLLARS W/ EXTENDED WARRANT ALSO HAPPENED TO MY SISTERS 2003 FORD FOCUS .THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED . *AK

IGNITION SWITCH/STEERING COLUMN HOUSING UNIT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKES ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. *TC

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS AND A CONCUSSION. ALSO, PASSENGER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION. VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS.*AK

NOTHING LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE, IT JUST HAPPENED QUITE ABRUPTLY. I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WOULDN'T TURN FORWARD. ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED IN PLACE. *NM

THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER LOCKS UP, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR.THE IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN THE LOCK.IF THE CAR IS TOWED IN IT CREATES A PROBLEM IN THAT THE CAR STAYS IN PARK AND IF TOWED INCORRECTLYWILL DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION.FORD MOTOR VIEWS THIS AS NATURAL WEAR AND TEAR. *AK

BOUGHT A 2003 FORD FOCUS IIN JULY 04 AND ON 1/4/05 (28,406 MILES) WENT TO START VEHICLE AND KEY WENT INTO IGNITION HARD AND WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. IGNITION HAD LOCKED UP. NOTHING WOULD WORK AND WHEELS WERE LOCKED. HAD TO BE TOWED AND TECHNICIAN HAD TROUBLE DUE TO WHEELS LOCKING. FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET OF THIS PROBLEM IN THE FOCUS. CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WAS FIXED BUT IF SAME FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER IS INSTALLED THE PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN.*AK

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE HAD A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *NM *TC *JB

I HAVE HAD TWO COMPLETE TRANSMISSIONS REBUILT ON THIS VEHICLE, THE FIRST AT AROUND 18,000 MILES, THE SECOND AT AROUND 50,000. IT IS BEGINNING THE SAME SEQUENCE OF EVENTS, FAILURE TO ENGAGE IN 4TH GEAR (AUTOMATIC). DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL COMPLETE FAILURE. I UNDERSTAND THE 2003 TRANSMISSION TO HAVE RELATIVELY FREQUENT FAILURE OCCURRENCE BASED ON WEB AND OTHER INVESTIGATION. DATE OF FIRST INCIDENT BELOW IS APPROXIMATE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS SEVERELY WORN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AS WELL AS AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE SUSPENSION WAS REALIGNED APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED HE HAD TO PURCHASE A SET OF TIRES EVERY 20,000 MILES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 241,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

AFTER COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STRUCK A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE THE IGNITION LOCKED AND KEY WILL NOT TURN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

THE HEAT WARMER BURNED THROUGH THE FABRIC BURNING THE SEAT AND CAUSING A FIRE. THE CONSUMER WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *JB

ON DECEMBER 20, 2004 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN MY FORD FOCUS ZTS. THE ROADS WERE VERY ICY, AND NEAR MY HOME, I SLID ON A PATCH OF ICE, WENT OVER A SMALL BANK, AND HIT 2 TREES IN SOMEONE'S YARD. WHILE I WAS SLIDING I WAS HEADED TO HIT ONE TREE HEAD ON, BUT I WAS ABLE TO STEER AWAY TO WHERE I HIT BOTH TREES AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME, BUT ONLY FROM THE SIDE. HOWEVER, NEITHER MY FRONT NOR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH WAS ENOUGH TO TOTAL MY CAR, EVEN THOUGH I WAS ONLY GOING 25 M.P.H. IT WAS BRAND NEW, ONLY 20,000 MILES. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD DEFINITELY HAVE DEPLOYED.*AK

IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WOULD NOT TURN AFTER THE KEY WAS INSERTED THE KEY WAS HARD TO GET INTO THE CYLINDER BEFORE IT SEIZED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND ON THE AUTOMOTIVE TALK NET I WAS ABLE TO PRINT OUT 35 PAGES OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS WITH 3 TO 4 COMPLAINTS ON EACH PAGE. A FEW OF THE COMPLAINTS SAID THAT TOW TRUCK DRIVERS HAD TOLD THEM THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL CALLS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AS DID THE LOCK SMITH I CALLED TO FIX MINE. THE COST WAS $200.00*JB

TRAVELING EAST-BOUND ON I-10. FORCED ONTO LEFT SHOULDER BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE BACK ONTO THE FREEWAY WAS HIT SQUARE ON THE DRIVERS DOOR BY A PICKUP TRUCK TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. VEHICLE ROLLED 3-4 TIMES BEFORE COMING TO STOP. NONE OF THE FRONT OR SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CAR ONLY HAD 5000 MILES ON IT. *NM

DT: A 4 DOOR VEHICLE, AND THE DOORS WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY. IT HAS A BINGE CORD TO HOLD THE BACK DOORS CLOSED. THE FRONT DOORS SOMETIMES LATCH, AND AT OTHER TIMES THEY DO NOT. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY WILL ONLY FIX THE LATCHES IF CONSUMER PAYS FOR IT. *AK