2003 Ford Focus Complaint Log

I GOT IN MY CAR AND PLACED THE KEY IN TO START YESTERDAY AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE IGNITION HAD LOCKED UP. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE KEY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, HOWEVER, THIS MORNING. I WAS TRYING TO RETURN HOME AND UNABLE TO START MY CAR, I HAD TO WAIT IN MY CAR FOR AN HOUR UNTIL SOMEONE COULD BRING ME THE KEY (IT IS CURRENTLY 22 OUT). THE KEY STILL WILL NOT TURN AFTER SEVERAL TRIES. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING TO GET IT FIXED TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY OTHER WAY. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND APPARENTLY HUNDREDS OF 2003 FORD FOCUS OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE SAME DAY THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, THEY COULD NOT REMOVE THE BULB BECAUSE WHEN THE BULB "SHORTED," IT MELTED PLASTIC AROUND THE BULB. I HAD TO BUY AN ENTIRELY NEW TAIL LIGHT AND SOCKET ASSEMBLY FOR OVER $100. I WAS TOLD BY HIM THAT THIS HAPPENS "A LOT" ON THE FOCUS WAGONS AND HE HAD REPLACED 6 OF THEM THAT DAY. WHEN I EXPRESSED MY ANGER AND DISBELIEF AT THE COST AND ASKED WHY THIS WASN'T A RECALL ITEM, HE SAID NOT TO BLAME HIM BECAUSE HE DIDN'T DESIGN IT. I AM ANGRY ABOUT THE COST, BUT ALSO WHETHER THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. IT WAS 5 DEGREES THE DAY THIS HAPPENED AND SUCH A "SHORT CIRCUIT" MAY HAVE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND MY KEY WONT START MY CAR. WHEN YOU PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE KEY WONT TURN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. IN AN ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT PLACED HER KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE IGNITION. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

MY CARS IGNITION DOESN'T WORK. IT WILL LOCK ME OUT OF MY OWN CAR. I HAVE TO BANG MY KEY AS HARD AS I CAN TO GET THE IGNITION TO UNLOCK. *TR

KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. *TR

ON JANUARY 22, 2008 THE KEY WOULD NOT START THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT TURN TO RELEASE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. THIS HAD HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIME PREVIOUSLY BUT WE WERE ABLE TO TURN IT AFTER CONSIDERABLE EFFORT. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY COLD DAY IN MICHIGAN AND COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF I DID NOT GET SOME HELP FROM MY DAUGHTER. WE CALLED SEVERAL LOCKSMITHS AND FINALLY ONE MOBILE LOCKSMITH CAME AND REPLACED THE LOCK. *TR

IGNITION SWITCH WON'T TURN. IT'S LIKE THE KEY IS FROM THE WRONG CAR OR SOMETHING. I WAS STUCK IN 5 DEGREE WEATHER WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW-TRUCK DRIVER TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH WAS CLOSED ANYWAY. THE TWO-TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THAT HE'S PERSONALLY SEEN ABOUT A HUNDRED FOCUSES (FOCI?) WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THAT THEY ARE "NOTORIOUS" AMONG THE TOW-TRUCK DRIVERS FOR THIS PROBLEM. HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME, BUT NOW I HAVE LOOKED ON THE WEB AND SEEN THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THERE IS A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT IN CALIFORNIA OVER IT. *TR

THE IGNITION ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS KEEPS SEIZING UP. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE KEY TO TURN IS TO TAP IT WITH A HAMMER. I RAN A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR FORD FOCUS STEERING LOCK AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. MANY OF WHICH SAID THAT FORD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE A PROBLEM AND CHARGED THEM FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE YET AND AM RELUCTANT TO WASTE MY TIME WITH THE DEALER GIVEN THE COMPLAINTS I SEE AND THE FACT I COULD HAVE IT DONE CHEAPER ELSEWHERE. FORD NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THIS AND RECALL OR REIMBURSE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN COLD WEATHER. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE IGNITION PART WAS REDESIGNED IN 2005 AND NOW FUNCTIONS PROPERLY. *TR

IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN. LEFT STRANDED. *TR

I AM WRITING BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR MY CAR DUE TO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. MY WIFE WAS SHOPPING AND WHEN SHE WENT TO START THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. WE ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO OUR HOME. WE WENT ONLINE AND RESEARCHED AND SAW THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR AND YEAR THAT WE HAVE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. OUR CAR IS A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND ITS AN IGNITION LOCK PROBLEM. THE AVERAGE REPAIR IS BETWEEN $300 - $500. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS MY WIFE WAS STRANDED WITH OUR 7 WEEK OLD AND 4 YEAR OLD IN VERY COLD WEATHER WITH NO WAY TO START THE CAR FOR ANY HEAT. ITS DANGEROUS AND THE COMPLAINTS ARE MANY. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GOOGLE IT AND YOU CAN SEE. I CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO GET BACK TO ME BY TOMORROW AT 2 TO LET ME KNOW. I BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD AS AGAIN THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE YET TO EVER ISSUE A RECALL FOR IT. THANK YOU. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK OR ALLOW HER TO START THE VEHICLE. A PROFESSIONAL STATED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER DOES NOT UNLOCK, WHICH PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,600.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION ONLY IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. HE NOTIFIED THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS THAT ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURE, BUT WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. EVERYONE REFUSES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING A LOCKSMITH. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE KEY REMAINS IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL AND IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZTW. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE CYLINDER. THIS HAS LEFT ME STRANDED WITHOUT A CAR. *TR

MY MOTHER PURCHASED A NEW 2003 FORD FOCUS FROM LOFINK'S FORD IN CARTHAGE, NY LATE IN 2003 SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE FIRST THREE YEARS SHE HAD THE CAR, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH/STEERING COLUMN. SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE. SHE REPEATEDLY TRIED THE KEY/STEERING WHEEL AND WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN. WHEN SHE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD, SHE WAS TOLD THAT SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENED, THAT SHE SHOULD JUST JIGGLE THE KEY/ETC. SHE RELOCATED TO BELTON, TX IN JUN 07 TO BE NEAR ME, HER DAUGHTER. ON 30 SEP 07 THE CAR HAD THE SAME ISSUE, EXCEPT THAT NO AMOUNT OF JIGGLING THE KEY/STEERING COLUMN WOULD ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO JOHNSON BROTHERS FORD IN TEMPLE, TX. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSTICS READ AS FOLLOWS: IGNITION SYSTEM DIAG FOUND IGNITION SWITCH BINDING REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH, RETEST SYTEM OK. THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN HAD TO DRILL OUT IGN LOCK CYLINDER TO REMOVE. THIS COST: $474.67 WHICH WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THE CAR HAD 16,505 MILES ON IT AT THAT TIME AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I PURSUED THIS ISSUE WITH THE REPAIRING DEALERSHIP, THE SELLING DEALERSHIP, AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY (IN WRITING) TO NO AVAIL, REQUESTING A GOOD FAITH REIMBURSMENT. TODAY THE SWITCH FAILED AGAIN AND THE CAR IS NOW BEING TOWED FOR REPAIR.*CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. HE ARRIVED HOME AND FELT AS IF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK REST WAS LEANING MORE THAN NORMAL. HE CHECKED THE SEAT AND FOUND THAT IT HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A DEFECTIVE FACTORY WELDING CAUSED THE SEAT BOLT TO FAIL. THE CONTACT WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT AND HE FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE SAFETY CONCERN, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY MILEAGE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 05/06/08 *BF UPDATED 05/06/08 *TR

I AM HAVING PROBLEM WITH MY IGNITION. THE KEY DOES NOT TURN AT ALL. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES BUT ITS ALREADY CAUSING PROBLEM. *TR

THE IGNITION ON OUR 2003 FORD FOCUS FAILED. I WAS OUT OF TOWN VISITING RELATIVES IN OMAHA AND STOPPED AT THE OMAHA SAMS CLUB. WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE STORE TO GO HOME, THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. IT WAS FROZEN SO THE KEY COULD NOT MOVE IT AT ALL. AS A RESULT, I WAS STUCK AT A STORE. I CALLED RELATIVES AND WE ARRANGED FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AND WE WERE BILLED $339.00 FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE ON ANY VEHICLE YET IT IS SUPPOSEDLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. *TR

I HAD A FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION SPRING BREAK WHILE THE CAR SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. THIS COULD HAVE KILLED ME IF IT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD AS A JAGGED POINT WAS ENGAGED WITH THE TREAD OF THE TIRE. DEALER ADMITS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS AND THE TAURUS, BUT WOULD NOT COVER THE PART OR LABOR. *TR

OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE HAD RECURRING CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH REMOVING THE IGNITION KEY FROM THE IGNITION CYLINDER/TUMBLER ON OUR 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3. ON DECEMBER 23, 2007, I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY AFTER HOURS OF TRYING TO JIGGLE OR CAJOLE THE KEY AND/OR CYLINDER. I WAS FORCED TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. AND I WAS WITHOUT A PRIMARY CAR OVER CHRISTMAS. THE FORD DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS "A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM." THE "RESOLUTION" WAS REPLACEMENT OF THE PART AND A SUBSTANTIAL SERVICE CHARGE. *TR

KEY FAILS TO TURN IN IGNITION IN 2003 FORD FOCUS. *TR

I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW, IT HAS 58,000 MILES SINCE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I CHANGED THE TIRES 4 TIMES. IT MAKES A NOISE IN THE BACK AXLE, IT BROKE TWICE ALREADY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ALOT OF TIMES THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. THE NOISE IS LOUD. *TR

IGNITION SWITCH LOCK BARREL FAILURE. THIS IS AN ONGOING WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM ABOUT THE FORD FOCUS THAT FORD SEEMS HAPPY TO IGNORE. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNLOCK. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE BUT I WAS ABLE TO FREE IT AFTER SOME EFFORT. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY LUCK THIS TIME. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS. I HAVE THE COMMON COMPLAINT THAT MY IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE WHEEL BECAME LOCKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY. I HAVE FOUND COUNTLESS STORIES SIMILAR TO MINE ON THE INTERNET AND IT'S SO COMMON THAT THE FORD DEALER AND ALL THE LOCKSMITHS THAT I HAVE TALKED TO IN THE LAST TWO DAYS HAVE KNOWN EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU. *TR

UPON OPENING, THREE HARD CLICKS ARE HEARD - AND LOCK OPENS ON OCCASION. OFTEN REFUSING TO LATCH AND ON MANY OCCASIONS, I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. IT APPEARS TO BE AS STATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V030000 I HAVE SPOKEN WITH DEALER AND FORD ON MANY OCCASIONS THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND THEY INSIST THIS CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE CAMPAIGN AND REFUSE TO INSPECT, OR VIEW, OR ASSESS. *TR

THE IGNITION LOCK HAS LOCKED ITSELF AND AS A RESULT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON. FROM WHAT I'VE GATHERED ON THE INTERNET IT WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I TALKED TO ONE OF THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS COST AROUND $500 TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP CONSTANTLY AND THE CONTACT CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE STEERING CANNOT BE UNLOCKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $375. THE PART IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

TIRE FIRST WENT FLAT WHEN THE TIRE WAS REFILLED WITH AIR A BUBBLE BEGAN TO FORM AND AFTER THAT THE TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE. *TR

MY 2003 FORD FOCUS, LEFT ME SITTING ON A FRIDAY EVENING BECAUSE THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO TURN THE KEY. NOT ONLY WAS THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER LOCKED, BUT SO WAS THE GEAR SHIFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL. I COULDN'T MOVE THE VEHICLE AT ALL. IT WAS DARK AND I WAS LEFT SITTING WITH ONE OF MY TWO CHILDREN. I HAD TO CALL FOR A RIDE, GET THE CAR TOWED AND THEN PAY TO GET IT FIXED. ALL ALONG, FORD KNEW THAT THIS WAS, AS THEY STATED ON THEIR WEBSITE, "A DEFECT". OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE FORD FOCUS. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT'S A ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FACED AND PROBABLY BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL, IN MY OPINION. I FEEL THAT PAYING FOR THIS "DEFECT" IS UNACCEPTABLE. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE THIS ON RECALL AND TAKE CARE OF REPLACING THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FOR IT'S CUSTOMERS! *TR

IGNITION KEY MECHANISM WOULD JAM AND NOT TURN -PREVENTING TURNING THE KEY AND LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL. UNABLE TO TOW CAR (LUCKILY ALL 2-3 TIMES THIS HAPPENED I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO DEALER FOR FLATBED TOW). WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY AND THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. LAST OCCURRENCE THAT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND FORD WOULD NOT REIMBURSE EVEN THOUGH OTHER FOCUS OWNER HAD THIS PROBLEM - SOME UP TO 10 OCCURRENCES AND FORD SAID NOT A DEFECT. I ONLY HAD TWO KEYS ON MY KEY RING SO NOT A WEIGHT ISSUE. *TR

IN 2007, TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING A 2003 FORD FOCUS I WAS LEFT STRANDED ON A SUNDAY EVENING IN BLIZZARD LIKE CONDITIONS IN ANCHORAGE ALASKA AFTER THE IGNITION ON THE FOCUS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE PART FAILURE THAT THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE OPERATED PERFECTLY ONE MOMENT, THEN I WAS UNABLE TO EVEN TURN THE IGNITION KEY THE SECOND. I ULTIMATELY HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR THE PART TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BUT UNIMPROVED IGNITION (THAT MAY FAIL AGAIN - AGAIN STRANDING ME - PERHAPS IN A LESS POPULATED AREA). ADDITIONALLY, MY FIANCEE HAS A 2000 FORD FOCUS WHOSE IGNITION FAILED ON HIM TONIGHT - ALSO STRANDING HIM. THE FACT THAT THE IGNITION FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE IS DANGEROUS AND LEAVES THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION. *TR

I HAVE HAD A FEW PRIOR PROBLEMS GETTING MY KEY TO TURN IN MY IGNITION, WHICH I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO FIX MYSELF. LAST NIGHT HOWEVER, I WAS UNABLE TO GET MY KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A LESS THAN IDEAL NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER 30 MINUTES OF TRYING TO START MY CAR. THIS IGNITION LOCK PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED THE EVE BEFORE THANKSGIVING WHICH LEAVES ME WITHOUT A CAR ON A HOLIDAY WEEKEND. *TR

IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I WAS STRANDED AWAY FORM HOME, HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND HAVE THE CARE TOWED TO THE DEALER. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2000-2003 FORD FOCUS CARS AND FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RE-CALL, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE ISSUE A TSB 05-21-17 IN REFERENCE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. *TR

WHEN I PUT MY KEY INTO MY CAR IT WILL NOT TURN. WHILE THIS MAY NOT BE AN "OBVIOUS" SAFETY RISK, IT CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS PROBLEMS IF YOU ARE STRANDED SOMEWHERE. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH FOCUS, YET HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. I ENDED UP STRANDED FOR OVER AN HOUR AS I WAITED FOR SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP, FINALLY I BANGED THE KEY OUT OF FRUSTRATION AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY MATTER TO ME, AS I AM A SINGLE WOMAN. FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THEIR DEFECTIVE IGNITION CYLINDERS. I WILL NOW HAVE TO SPEND AT LEAST $400 TO FIX THIS, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE WON'T HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, AS IT WILL BE REPLACED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE MECHANISM. *TR

I AM CURRENTLY LEASING A FORD FOCUS ZX5, I'VE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS FOR JUST OVER 6 MONTHS. AFTER STOPPING AT THE GROCERY STORE WITH MY 17 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER, MY KEY DOESN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION!! NOT ONLY IS THIS FRUSTRATING IT IS DANGEROUS. MY DAUGHTER WAS CRYING FROM THE COLD THAT NIGHT AND I HAD TO WALK HOME WITH HER IN MY ARMS!! SO IN CONCLUSION I FEEL THAT THE FACT THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER CAN GO AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING IS A DEFINITE AND UNNECESSARY RISK TO SAFETY. MY DAUGHTER IS NOW SICK BECAUSE OF THIS! *TR

MY KEY WILL NOT TURN. THERE FOR I CAN'T START MY CAR. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND I HAVE BEEN STUCK PLACES NUMEROUS TIMES. I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. AT ANY TIME I COULD BE STUCK ANYWHERE! THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS CARRY A HAMMER WITH ME, SO THAT I CAN TAP THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND GET THE KEY TO TURN SO I CAN START MY CAR. I FEEL IT IS NOT SAFE TO CARRY A HAMMER AROUND BUT HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE TO START MY CAR. *TR

AFTER FUELING, MY DAUGHTER TRIED TO START THE CAR (2003 FORD FOCUS WAGON), BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. WE GOT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT, AND THE KEY CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED BY A LOCKSMITH. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR, PLUS THE TOWING, COST OVER $200.00. MEANWHILE MY DAUGHTER'S CAR WAS STUCK AT THE GAS PUMP, WHERE OTHER CUSTOMERS WANTED TO FUEL, BUT COULD NOT DO SO. I'M GLAD MY DAUGHTER HAD NOT RUN OVER A NAIL, LIKE I DID THE OTHER DAY, HAVING TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, AND THEN HAVE THIS PROBLEM OCCUR. DEPENDING ON WHERE THIS KIND OF THING HAPPENS, THIS COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. NOT ONLY WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT WITH THE PLACE THE VEHICLE IS STRANDED WHEN IT OCCURS. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT FORD HAS KNOWN FOR QUITE SOME TIME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY REFUSE TO RECALL CARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, AND CONTINUE TO USE THIS DEFECTIVE PART IN THEIR FORD FOCUS VEHICLES. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I BOUGHT WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ONE, AND YET IT COVERS EVERYTHING BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH, IT SEEMS. UNLESS FORD DECIDES TO REIMBURSE ME, I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT. THIS IS THE FOURTH FORD FOCUS WE HAVE PURCHASED. IF I DON'T FIND SATISFACTION WITH THIS PROBLEM, IT WILL CERTAINLY BE THE LAST. ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, MY FOCUS HAS HAD SQUEALING BRAKES SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT, AND FORD HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THIS, AS WELL, SAYING THAT IT'S "NORMAL." NO WAY THIS NOISE IS NORMAL. I'M FED UP WITH FORD AT THE MOMENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. ON THREE OCCASIONS, THREE WINDOW MOTOR REGULATORS HAVE FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND BOTH REAR WINDOWS FAILED AND WERE REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,700.

WHILE IN DANGEROUS SITUATION MY FORD FOCUS AGAIN HAD A KEY FAIL IN THE IGNITION. I HAD TAKEN IT TO FORD, WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND ASKED FOR IT TO BE REPLACED AND THEY SAID, "OH, IT'S OK, JUST JIGGLE IT." THAT DOES NOT WORK. EVENTUALLY IT WILL COME FREE, USUALLY, BUT NOW IT SEEMS TO BE PERMANENTLY STUCK. NO, THERE IS NO TENSION ON THE STEERING WHEEL FROM A PARTLY TURNED FRONT WHEEL. IF THIS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE OR DAUGHTERS IN A DANGEROUS NEIGHBORHOOD, I WOULD JUST GO BERSERK. *TR

IN JULY 2007 THE IGNITION KEY LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT BE TURNED TO START THE ENGINE. I MANAGED TO GET IT TO TURN (NO, IT WAS BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HOLDING) AND DROVE IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE KEY CYLINDER FOR NEARLY $400. DESPITE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND A 100,000-MILE WARRANTY, THIS SERVICE WAS NOT COVERED. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE KEYS WERE WORN OUT AND THAT I NEEDED TO MAKE A NEW KEY TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURE. I DID SO AND ONLY USE THE NEW KEY TO START THE CAR. NOW, ONLY 3 MONTHS LATER, THE IGNITION PERIODICALLY STICKS AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO START LOCKING UP AGAIN. IF I PUSH THE KEY IN FIRMLY, IT WILL TURN NORMALLY. THIS IS A POOR QUALITY MECHANISM AND FORD SHOULD RECALL THIS BEFORE IT HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ON A 40-BELOW WINTER NIGHT. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.

STEERING COLUMN LOCK GETS STUCK. VEHICLE CANNOT BE STARTED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHEN IT WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. HE HAD TO SHAKE THE STEERING WHEEL AND MOVE IT FOR 15 - 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $512. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,500.

I RECENTLY TOOK MY 2003 FORD FOCUS IN FOR SUSPENSION NOISE IN THE FRONT. THE SHOP TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND SAID HE HAD SEEN A LOT OF FOCUS' AND ESCORTS THAT HAVE THE SPRING ON THE STRUT BREAK. HE SAID THERE IS NO WARNING SIGNS. THE NOISE HE WAS HEARING WAS COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE STRUT WHICH HE SAID DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE A HAZARD BUT SUGGEST I REPLACE BOTH FRONT STRUTS JUST IN CASE. HE SAID A LOT OF THE TIME PEOPLE WON'T KNOW THAT THEIR SPRING IS BROKEN BECAUSE IT WILL STAY INTACT IN THE BOTTOM AND TOP STRUT HOUSING. HE SAID ON OTHER OCCASIONS THE SPRING WILL COME OUT OF THE HOUSINGS AND POSSIBLY PUNCTURE THE TIRE. HE SAID AFTERMARKET BRANDS HAVE A STRONGER STEEL THEY USE IN THEIR SPRINGS AND RECOMMENDED USING THE AFTERMARKET BRAND INSTEAD OF FORD GENUINE PARTS. THAT IS OK WITH ME BECAUSE THE AFTERMARKET BRAND IS CHEAPER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. IT TOOK THE CONTACT APPROXIMATELY 20 ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE IGNITION CYLINDER IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,000. UPDATED 03/14/08. *LJ

THE IGNITION ON MY FORD FOCUS 2003 HAS LOCKED UP FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 75,000 MILES, AND THIS IS GETTING TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM TO HAVE REPLACED. FORD ACTUALLY HAS THE BALLS TO CHARGE ME FOR THIS DEFECT IN THEIR CRAFTSMANSHIP, USING SUBSTANDARD PARTS IN THEIR IGNITION SWITCHES, AND MAKING ME PAY TO COVER UP THEIR FAULTY WORKMANSHIP WHEN GETTING IT REPAIRED. *JB

WITHOUT WARNING, AND WITH NO PRIOR OCCURRENCE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2003 FOCUS. A FRIEND RESCUED ME AND DROVE ME BACK TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW - ALONG WITH A 7 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. FIRST, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REP TRIED TO PLAY "DUMB' WHEN I STATED THAT I'M HAVING THE "IGNITION PROBLEM" AND HE LATER TOLD ME THAT IT'S NOT COVERED BY MY WARRANTY. I HAVE PULLED OUT AND READ THE WARRANTY. IGNITION SWITCH IS COVERED BY MY BASECARE POLICY. (I WILL BRING IT IN HAND WHEN I HAVE THE CAR SERVICED IN 2 DAYS.) MEANWHILE, ANOTHER PERSON AT THE SERVICE DESK HINTED THAT I MAY BE ABLE TO TAP IT WITH A HAMMER SO THAT IT WILL TURN AND COULD DRIVE TO THE DEALER AND NOT HAVE TO BE TOWED. SURE ENOUGH, A TAP OF THE HAMMER ALLOWED ME TO TURN THE KEY. I WILL LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND AM STRUGGLING WITH THE THOUGHT THAT A REPLACEMENT FROM FORD WILL BE ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART. WHETHER MY WARRANTY COVERS IT OR NOT, I DON'T WANT ANOTHER BAD IGNITION SWITCH! FROM ALL THAT I HAVE READ, IT SEEMS THAT A LOCKSMITH WOULD REPLACE IT WITH A BETTER QUALITY DEVICE THAN FORD DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE USING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT, THE IGNITION LOCKED UP AND PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM TURNING OR PUSHING THE STEERING WHEEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $400. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000.

2003 FORD FOCUS WAGON, TAIL LIGHTS MELTED BOTH SIDES WHERE YOU REPLACE THE BULB, CANNOT REPLACE THE BRAKE, RUNNING, TURN, BULB BECAUSE YOU CANNOT PULL THE BULB HOUSING OUT OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. FORD SERVICE DEPT. SAID TO LONG ON THE BRAKE PEDAL $160 EA. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN WHEN SHE INSERTED THE KEY. AS OF SEPTEMBER 28, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.