2003 Ford Focus Complaint Log

2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3 IGNITION RANDOMLY FAILS. INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND IT WILL NOT TURN. YOU CANNOT START YOUR CAR FOR AN INDETERMINABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. MAJOR FLAW IN FORD IGNITIONS WITH NO REMEDY FROM FORD. *TR

I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK THURSDAY MORNING AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE WITH THE CAR AND IGNITION. AS I TRIED TO CRANK MY CAR TO GO TO LUNCH THAT DAY, I NOTICED THAT I COULD INSERT MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION BUT COULD NOT TURN IT TO START THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE SINCE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD TO CALL AAA FOR THEM TO SEND A LOCKSMITH OUT TO REPAIR MY IGNITION SWITCH IN MY CAR. I HAVE ALREADY HEARD SO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND NOT EVEN THREE MONTHS AGO, MY MOM WHO HAS THE EXACT SAME MAKE AND MODEL CAR AS ME, HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HER. MY BROTHER HAS THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL CAR AS ME ALSO AND NOW I AM WORRIED HE IS GOING TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE OCCUR TO HIM SOON TOO. *TR

2003 FORD FOCUS ZX5. IGNITION SWITCH WON'T TURN. CAN'T START CAR. *TR

THE CAR HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE LOCKS FOR A WHILE NOW. WE CAN NOT PUT THE KEY INTO THE DOOR TO UNLOCK IT BECAUSE IT WONT ALWAYS WORK. THE HANDLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS BROKE ONCE AND WAS REPLACED. NOW THE KEY FOR THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN TO START THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN TO START THE CAR. *TR

THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS HAS BEEN FAILING TO WORK PROPERLY. HALF THE TIME I HAVE TO JIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL AS I TURN THE KEY IN ORDER FOR MY START TO START. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING OFF AND ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW. THEN TONIGHT, I GOT STRANDED AT THE SUPERMARKET AND WAS STUCK FOR HOURS WAITING FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE DISPATCHER NOT ONLY SENT OUT THE WRONG PERSON TO ASSIST ME, BUT THE FIRST TOW TRUCK THAT CAME WASN'T PROPERLY TO TOW MY CAR DUE TO THE WAY I WAS PARKED SO I HAD TO WAIT FOR A SECOND TOW TRUCK (A THIRD PERSON). NOW MY CAR WON'T START AT ALL, THE WHEEL IS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP, AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO THE MECHANIC IS TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AGAIN. HOWEVER, UPON DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH, I FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. AND FRANKLY, THIS CAR IS MY FAMILY'S ONLY DECENT FORM OF TRANSPORTATION, SO WITHOUT IT WE'RE PRETTY MUCH STUCK. *TR

KEY WILL NOT TURN IN 2003 FORD FOCUS. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT APPEARS TO BE LINKAGE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

NO EVENTS TO INDICATE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM. THE FAILURE, OCCURRING NOW SPORADICALLY AND W/O WARNING, RESULTS IN AN INABILITY TO TURN THE IGNITION LEAVING US STRANDED FOR THE UNSAFE AND SILLY REASON OF BEING UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY. NO OLD PARTS WERE AVAILABLE AND CLOSE TO 400 DOLLARS LATER, THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION. HOWEVER, ONLY ONE MONTH AFTER HAVING IT REPLACED, THE IGNITION FAILED TO START AGAIN (IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RETURN THE KEY) AND ALAS, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX5 AND THE REAR HATCH LATCH DOES NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE SO HAVE TO SLAM IT DOWN A FEW TIMES TO GET IT TO LATCH. I NOTICED THE RECALL, BUT I LIVE IN NEBRASKA AND THE RECALL DOES NOT APPLY THERE. I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED. ALSO THE DOOR LATCHES ARE GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO OPEN, IS THERE ANY RECALL ON THEM. ALSO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENT LEVER IT WILL NOT STAY, IT RELEASES AS YOU ARE DRIVING CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN. NOT SAFE. *TR

WENT TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I TRIED EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN IN THE PAST, AND BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. NOT THIS TIME... *TR

THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEN MY DAUGHTER OPENED THE DOOR SOMETHING POPPED AND YOU COULD NO LONGER OPEN THE DOOR - I FAILED AN INSPECTION AND RECEIVED A TICKET BECAUSE THE DOOR WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY. MY NEPHEW WENT TO THE JUNKYARD TO GET THE PART BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT NEW AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS HAPPENED OCT OF 2007. I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS. MY DAUGHTER OPENED THE BACK RIGHT SIDE WINDOW AND SOMETHING AGAIN POPPED. THE WINDOW WOULDN'T GO UP OR DOWN. A DEALER SAID IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED - AGAIN - THAT THE PLASTIC PART THAT MAKES IT GO UP AND DOWN POPPED. AGAIN OFF TO THE JUNK YARD - $8.00 BUCKS WHAT A DEAL. THESE THINGS STARTED RIGHT AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED - GO FIGURE. WHY ARE PLASTIC PARTS BEING PUT INTO OUR VEHICLES - AS A SINGLE MOM I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE ALL PARTS FOR THE DOOR HANDLES AND WINDOWS AS THEY POP. WE NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I AM HAVING IGNITION ISSUES. MY KEY WILL NOT TURN. IT IS ON A REGULAR BASIS THAT THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT IN FOR REPAIR YET. I CALLED FOR AN ESTIMATE. *TR

THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST $300-350 TO FIX. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. MY DAUGHTER'S ROOMMATE HAS A 2004 FOCUS WHICH THE SAME THING HAPPENED LAST YEAR, 2007. *TR

KEY WON'T TURN IN IGNITION! YOU CAN PLACE THE KEY AND THE SPARE KEY, IN THE IGNITION AND IT WILL NOT TURN. LOOKED UP ONLINE AND FOUND WEBSITE THAT STATED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. OUR KEY HAS TO STAY IN THE IGNITION BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT TAKE IT OUT. VERY DISAPPOINTED THIS IS A SAFETY NOT RECALL ! MY WIFE AND CHILDREN CAN BE STRANDED IN FREEZING WEATHER ! ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. *TR

THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. IT GETS JAMMED ALL THE TIME NOW. PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS OF MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK & FORTH WORKED FOR AWHILE, BUT EVEN THAT DOES NOT WORK NOW. THE ONLY WAY TO START IT IS TO TAP ON THE KEY WHEN IT IS IN THE IGNITION WITH A MALLET OR HAMMER. THIS USUALLY WORKS AFTER A FEW TRIES. NOW I HAVE TO CONSIDER LEAVING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO START IT EASIER OR CARRY A HAMMER IN THE CAR. NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM YET. ACCORDING TO LOCAL FORD DEALER IT'LL COST $250-275 TO REPAIR. LOCAL (CHEAPER) MECHANICS CAN'T REPAIR IT SINCE THEY NEED TO GET A CODE FROM FORD TO PROGRAM THE PART SO THE NEW IGNITION CYLINDER WILL RECOGNIZE THE KEY. FROM SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. BASICALLY A BAD DESIGN AND/OR INFERIOR MATERIALS USED IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES I'VE OWNED ESPECIALLY ONES THAT ARE ONLY 5 YRS OLD. I AM SURPRISED THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART YET. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT DO I DO IN THE EVENT I NEED TO EVACUATE BECAUSE OF A NATURAL DISASTER OR TERRORIST? I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET AWAY SINCE I CAN'T START MY CAR ! AND TAPPING ON THE KEY WITH A HAMMER WILL WORK FOR ONLY SO LONG. AND OF COURSE FORD WILL JUST REPLACE WITH THE SAME CHEAP DEFECTIVE IGNITION CYLINDER THAT THE CAR ORIGINALLY CAME WITH ANY WAY. SO I'LL PROBLEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN A COUPLE YEARS AGAIN. *TR

MY 2003 FORD FOCUS KEY WOULDN'T NOT TURN. IT FINALLY BROKE OFF INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH LEFT MY DAUGHTER STRAINED AT CAPTAIN D'S. WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. WE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING IT FIX WHEN YOU'RE ON A LOW BUDGET. *TR

IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS AND HAS LEFT FAMILY MEMBERS STRANDED.... IGNITION KEY CONTINUES TO LOCK, DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT (COST EST. $450.00). *TR

MY CAR REFUSES TO START. YOU CANNOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO GET IT TO COME ON. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I SAW DOZENS OF COMPLAINS FROM PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AND SINCE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY MY DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HELP ME. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE HUNG UP ON ME TWICE. THE ONLY FIX IS TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I MANAGED TO USE A HAMMER TO HAMMER IT IN. *TR

I WAS OUT DOING ERRANDS AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION EVEN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOOSE. I TRIED A FEW TIMES AND IT FINALLY TURNED. LATER THAT EVENING WHEN LEAVING THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AGAIN, EXCEPT THIS TIME IT DID NOT EVER TURN AND I ENDED UP HAVING TO BORROW A CAR FROM MY IN-LAWS. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING QUOTES TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND FIXED OR REPLACED. *TR

SO FAR, I HAVE ONLY HAD THE PROBLEM OCCUR ONCE AND AM STILL WORKING TO GET IT REPAIRED. NOTHING REALLY HAPPENED TO WARRANT THE PROBLEM HAPPENING. IT SEEMED TO JUST HAPPEN RANDOMLY. IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS, THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED. SO FAR, I HAVE HEARD HUNDREDS OF CASES OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR, ALL FOR FOCUSES RANGING FROM YEAR 2000 TO 2003, AND THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMS TO FIX IT IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE MAINTENANCE DONE. SPEAKING WITH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY DID ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT WOULD NOT ISSUE A RECALL SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT BELIEVE IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. I EXPECT TO HAVE TO PAY A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH FORD REALIZES ITS AN ERROR ON THEIR PART AND THAT A DEFECT WITH THEIR CAR IS WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A COMPANY TO KNOWINGLY KEEP SOMETHING DEFECTIVE ON THE MARKET, EVEN WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD MY KEY FAIL TO WORK IN A LOCKED IGNITION OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE FIRST OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR WA PURCHASED IN 2004 AND NOW IT HAS RECURRED. THE FIRST WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT THIS IS NOT. APPARENTLY FORD IS QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AS SEVERAL FOCUS OWNERS HAVE FIXED THIS COMPLIANT ON LINE. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? WHY SHOULD FORD GET A BAIL OUT WHEN THEY LEAVE THEIR CONSUMERS WITHOUT ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIRING A PROBLEM OF THEIR MAKING? *TR

THE IGNITION LOCKED UP IN THE CAR. THE IGNITION KEY WOULDN'T TURN OR DO ANYTHING. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE A 12 WEEK OLD BABY AND LIVE IN NORTH DAKOTA. I HAD MY BOYFRIEND'S 11 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WITH AS WELL. ME, AN INFANT, AND A CHILD STUCK WITH A CAR THAT WON'T START IN WEATHER THAT IS BELOW FREEZING WITH THE WINDCHILL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

BACK TIRE SITS IN AND KEEPS GOING THROUGH TIRES AND HAD THE BEARING REPLACED AND DRUM ON BOTH SIDES AND SHOCKS AND IT STILL DOES IT AND THE REAR END JUMPS TO THE SIDE ITS BAD. *TR

MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SE HAS THE ISSUE WHERE THE IGNITION LOCKS. IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE I CAN GET THE KEY TO TURN. TWICE NOW I HAVE HAD TO GET IT TOWED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

IGNITION STAYS LOCKED, FAILS TO TURN TO START ENGINE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. OCCURRED OVER A DOZEN TIMES TO ME. CAN LEAVE A PERSON STRANDED. VERY COSTLY FIX, $150 FOR NEW IGNITION SWITCH, PLUS LABOR, $200 TO $350 TOTAL COST FOR FIX. MANY, MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS FOR SAME PROBLEM FOUND ON WWW.MYCARSTATS.COM AND OTHER FORUMS. *TR

NO INITIAL INDICATIONS OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT HAPPENED, A SUDDEN ONSET. ONE DAY, I GOT IN MY CAR, TRIED TO START THE ENGINE, AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I TRIED TURNING THE WHEEL TO GET THE KEY TO TURN, AND STILL NO ABILITY TO TURN THE KEY IN THE LOCK AND START THE CAR. I TRIED A SECOND KEY THAT IS NOT USED, JUST IN CASE IT WAS A WORN KEY, BUT STILL NO ABILITY TO TURN THE KEY IN THE COLUMN LOCK. FINALLY, AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF TRYING TO JIGGLE AND FINAGLE THE KEY TO TURN, IT DID. SINCE THEN, I HAVE FOUND THAT IF THE KEY IS REMOVED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL IT TURNED UNTIL A POSITIVE CLUNK IS HEARD AND FELT, INDICATING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK HAS ENGAGED, THE PROBLEM REPEATS EVERY SINGLE TIME. IF I REMOVE THE KEY AND MAKE SURE TO NOT TURN THE WHEEL SO THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS NOT ENGAGED THEN I CAN RELIABLY INSERT THE KEY AND TURN IT IN THE IGNITION LOCK AND START THE CAR. I CALLED FORD TO ATTEMPT TO REQUEST A "GOOD WILL REPAIR" BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN A GOOD AND LONG TERM FORD CUSTOMER (I HAVE OWNED A FORD PINTO, A FORD FOCUS, A FORD CONTOUR, AND A FORD ESCAPE BEFORE THIS FORD FOCUS) BUT THE AGENT THREW UP A LOAD OF RESISTANCE. NOW I AM TOLD THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING UNTIL I TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALER AND PAY FOR AN INSPECTION TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM. THIS "SERVICE" TO VERIFY WHAT I CAN RELIABLY REPRODUCE EVERY AND ANY TIME, IS UNNECESSARY AND WILL COST APPROXIMATELY HALF OF WHAT IT WILL COST ME TO HAVE MY LOCAL GARAGE EFFECT THE CHANGE AND MAKE THE REPAIR. I AM JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO SUFFER DUE TO THIS DESIGN DEFECT THAT FORD MUST KNOW ABOUT. *TR

NO EVENTS LED TO THIS IGNITION WILL NOT TURN - HAPPENS EACH TIME I ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR - AT TIMES IT WILL TURN WITH ENOUGH JIGGLING - HAS LEFT ME STRANDED WITH NO RIDE TAKING IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT, BUT THIS IS A KNOWN FORD FOCUS PROBLEM. *TR

MY IGNITION HAS LOCKED UP ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS, I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT FIXED. IT STARTED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO AND SLOWLY HAS GOTTEN WORSE. MY CAR HAS NOT STARTED IN A WEEK. I CANNOT GET TO WORK ON MY OWN. *TR

THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SE IS STUCK. THE VEHICLE IS NOW RENDERED UNUSABLE SINCE IT CANNOT BE STARTED. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY RELATED ITEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOW STRANDED AND WILL REQUIRE THE SERVICES OF A LOCKSMITH OR HAVE TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. I HAVE READ ONLINE WHERE THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS MANUFACTURED IN 2000 THROUGH 2003. *TR

THE LOCK CYLINDER FROZE IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS TWO MONTHS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE REPAIRS TOTALED $343. *TR

I GOT INTO MY 2003 FORD FOCUS LAST SUNDAY AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. IT HAD BEEN ACTING UP IN RECENT DAYS BUT ON THIS DAY NOTHING WOULD WORK. THEREFORE MY CAR WAS RENDERED USELESS. LONG STORY SHORT...TOWED IT TO THE DEALER THEY TOOK THE LOCK TUMBLER CYLINDER OUT AND SURE ENOUGH--DEFECTIVE MECHANISM. FORD REFUSES TO COVER IT IN A WARRANTY OR EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN AND NOW I AM OUT OF POCKET $400 PLUS THE TOW TO EVEN GET MY CAR TO TURN ON. DID SOME "INTERNET RESEARCH" AND WE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SUDDENLY, THE GEAR SHIFT LOCKED AND BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

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. *TR

I PLACED MY KEY IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR FOCUS OWNERS, EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE HAD THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED. NOT ONLY IS THIS A HUGE FINANCIAL BURDEN, IT IS ALSO A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. LIVING IN CHICAGO, IF I BECOME STRANDED AND UNABLE TO START MY CAR, I COULD BE IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION (AS COULD MANY OTHER OWNERS IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS). *TR

I WAS SEATING IN A TACOBELL DRIVETHRU, WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY ENGINE HAD A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

FORD FOCUS 2003 - IGNITION FAILURE, KEY WILL NOT TURN MY KEY WILL NOT TURN IN MY IGNITION. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF US (FORD CUSTOMERS) WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NOT A "SAFETY" PRECAUTION. PLEASE RECALL. AMERICANS ARE NOT ENCOURAGED TO BUY AMERICAN-MADE CARS; SADLY BUT TRUE. *TR

THE IGNITION WOULDN'T TURN WITH THE KEY. VERY OFTEN IT WOULD TURN WITH DIFFICULTY AFTER SOME WIGGLING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER A WHILE IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE ONCE THE KEY WAS REMOVED. EVENTUALLY WE GOT THE KEY TO WORK AND NOW WE LEAVE THE KEY IN AND LOCK THE DOORS WITH THE REMOTE. IT USED TO HAPPEN AS MY WIFE WOULD LEAVE WORK IN THE DARK WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS IN SOME AREAS. I HAD TO GET AN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR IT MYSELF. I AM A FULLY QUALIFIED MECHANIC THOUGH. *TR

THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION BARREL IS COMPLETELY STUCK, IMPEDING ANY USE OF ANY VEHICLE FUNCTIONS. HAS OCCURRED DAILY OR EVERY OTHER DAY FOR A FEW WEEKS. A FEW MINUTES OF JOSTLING MAY ALLOW IT TO WORK. A FEW TIMES IT HAS BEEN STUCK FOR HOURS UNTIL FINALLY WORKING. THIS MAY STRAND SOME TRAVELERS IN WINTER CONDITIONS, LIKE MYSELF. VERY STRESSFUL AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZTW HAS LUG NUT CAPS THAT DO NOT STAY ON. EVERY YEAR I LOSE SEVERAL CAPS AS THE TEMPERATURE CHANGES CAUSING THE METAL TO EXPAND MAKING THE CAPS LOSE. RECENTLY A CAP FLEW OFF AS MY I WAS DRIVING AND HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LUCKILY NOT BREAKING IT. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE REAR DOORS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO BE REPAIRED, BUT AFTERWARDS, THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. THE HANDLES ON THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE CONTACT CAN OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, BUT NOT FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DOORS SEEM TO BE SEALED EXTREMELY TIGHTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE DOORS PROPERLY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 118,507.

I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I COULDN'T GET THE KEY TO TURN OVER. THE CARE REPAIR COST WAS $551 AND THE IGNITION AND STARTER CYLINDER INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING FLAW AND FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AS A RECALL PROBLEM. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MANY 2000-2003 FORD FOCUS MODELS HAVE THIS FLAW. *TR

HAD TO HAVE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER REPLACED ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS; CAR WOULDN'T START (I.E., KEY WOULDN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION) WITH EITHER ONE OF THE TWO KEYS I HAVE (BOTH ORIGINAL KEYS). *TR

SECOND TIME HAVING PROBLEM WITH IGNITION ON 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE KEY WON'T TURN AND HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY AND MISSED DAYS OF WORK TO GET THE REPLACEMENT IGNITION SWITCH. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECALL. THOUSANDS OF FORD FOCUS OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS IT COSTLY AND IS A REPAIR THAT IS FORDS' RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX DUE TO FAULTY IGNITIONS BUT ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

FORD FOCUS KEY WILL NOT TURN IN. I DRIVE A FORD FOCUS ZX5 2003. THE IGNITION LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT TURN. AS A RESULT,I WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT IT HAS HAPPENED FEW TIMES. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AT NO AVAIL. THEY DID NOT RECOGNIZE TO BE AN ISSUE EVEN THOUGH IT #1 ISSUE AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINT ABOUT IT. THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AS THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THESE IGNITIONS TO FAIL. I CONSIDER TO BE A SAFE ISSUE. THERE IS NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SO I HAVE TO RELY ON MY VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR

IGNITION LOCKED LEAVING ME STRANDED. FINALLY GOT THE CAR STARTED ONLY TO FIND IT LOCKED UP AGAIN THE NEXT TIME I TRIED TO START IT. *TR

ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE KEY / IGNITION SWITCH HAS STUCK AND NOT ALLOWED ME TO START MY CAN. THIS PROBLEM HAS LEFT ME STRANDED 2 TIMES WHERE I WAS UNABLE TO RECEIVE HELP FOR MORE THAN 8 HOURS. I CONTACTED A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THERE WAS NO SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS AND IT WOULD COST $400 TO $600 TO REPAIR IT. I DID FIND A LOCKSMITH TO REPAIR IT FOR $250.00 AND WAS TOLD BY THE TECH THAT HE REPAIRS THIS PROBLEM ON THE FORD FOCUS 2 TO 3 TIMES A WEEK. *TR

THE KEY IN MY FOCUS WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS CAUSED ME TO BE STRANDED SINCE I COULD NOT START MY CAR. I RECENTLY LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. IN FACT, A MAN IN THE SERVICE DEPT AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THIS PROBLEM "HAPPENS WAY MORE THAN IT SHOULD." I LIVE IN A CITY WITH HIGH CRIME. BEING STRANDED IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. SINCE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY TYPE OF CAR, THE MANUFACTURER CERTAINLY SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THIS PART TO PREVENT PEOPLE LIKE ME FROM BEING LEFT IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. *TR

IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS BACK IN JULY 2008. IF I PLAYED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL IT WOULD FINALLY TURN THE KEY. THE IGNITION HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS SINCE 2001. *TR

KEY ON 2003 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT TURN. STARTED ACTING UP 3 MONTHS OF OWNING. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT IS 5+ YEARS OLD. *TR

IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER ON FORD FOCUS IS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANISM LOCKS AND IS UNABLE TO TURN. THIS YIELDS THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE, POSING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK IF THE OWNER NEEDS TO USE THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY OR THE VEHICLE STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS AN ISSUE KNOWN BY FORD, AS EVIDENCED BY THE MECHANICS AT LANDMARK FORD, TIGARD, OREGON STATING THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD HAS QUIETLY UPDATED THE CYLINDER. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE NUMEROUS INTERNET FORUMS WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT. ALL OWNERS OF FOCUS VEHICLES WILL HAVE THIS FAILURE, IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. THE REPAIR IS $300+. A RECALL SHOULD BE REQUIRED OF FORD TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR

APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO I BEGAN TO NOTICE A DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE KEY WHEN PLACED IN THE IGNITION. THE PROBLEM BEGAN SMALL, A LITTLE JIGGLE OF THE KEY AND THE IGNITION CYLINDER WOULD TURN AND THE CAR WOULD START. THE PROBLEM GREW TO THE POINT IN WHICH I WOULD HAVE TO FORCIBLY KNOCK THE KEY IN WITH THE PALM OF MY HAND OTHERWISE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. I TRIED ALL KINDS OF WAYS TO GET THE CAR TO START, BUT HITTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION CYLINDER SEEMED TO BE THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT WORK. FINALLY APPROXIMATELY 3 DAYS AGO I WAS LEAVING WORK, PLACED THE KEY IN THE CAR, WHICH NOT TO MY AMAZEMENT DID NOT TURN IN THE CYLINDER. SO AS I HAD GROWN ACCUSTOM TO I GAVE THE KEY A SMACK, BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN. I SAT IN MY CAR FOR CLOSE TO AN HOUR TRYING TO GIGGLE, SHACK, SMACK, JIMMY, AND PLAY WITH THE KEY ANY WAY I COULD THINK OF BUT I COULD NOT GET MY CAR TO START. NOW WHEN YOU WORK MIDNIGHTS AND YOU GET OFF WORK WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS GOING TO WORK, FINDING A RIDE IS NOT THE EASIEST OF THINGS. AFTER SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A HIGHLY COMMON PROBLEM IN FORD FOCUS'. *TR