2003 Ford Focus Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,224 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2003 Ford Focus, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 23/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 60,000 miles.
Typical
Where 2003 sits among all Focus years
What owners report
“Key would'nt turn the ignition on my2003 ford focus zx5. Happened at various times, till it would'nt work at all. Had it repaired at dealership at a cost of $365.00. They replaced the ignition lock.ak”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Focus
“Trunk latch failed to work, unable to close trunk once open and unable to open trunk once closed. Car was in for service for the 2nd time for this problem, ordering new trunk latch mechanism from ford motor company to replace. Service department stated part was defective.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Focus
“The key was stuck in the ignition. Could not turn off. Out of town so this was definately an unsafe situation because i either had to stay with the car until the gas was out of gas since i didn't have cash for repair. The car was driveable”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Focus
“While parking the car on a city street the steering wheel came loose and control of the car was lost. Was able to brake and stop the car at the curb. We determined that the bolt that holds the steering wheel on the shaft had loosened to the point where the steering wheel was no longer making…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Focus
“I drive to work at the speed limit and i use the brakes very softly. I was parking at work and my brakes started to really grind. Took the car into the deealership and sure enough the car which had 18,000 miles on it, had to get new brake pads.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Focus
“Key would not turn in the ignition, so vehicle was unable to start and had to be abandoned.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Focus
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 910 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 56,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 35,123 and 88,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
RIDE CONTROL, LLC (RIDE CONTROL) IS RECALLING CERTAIN READYMOUNT ASSEMBLIES, P/N 746641MT AND 746646MT, WITH CORRESPONDING AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER PART NUMBERS: GABRIEL G56944 AND GABRIEL G56945, AND PRIVATELY BRANDED PARTSMASTER WITH PART NUMBERS G68944 AND…
Fix: RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL SET UP PROCEDURES TO INSPECT, REPAIR, AND/OR REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE OWNER. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY…
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD…
Fix: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE…
Fix: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE…
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH FOUR OR FIVE DOORS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO,…
Fix: DEALERS WILL HAVE A LOWER ROCKER SEAL ADDED TO THE DOOR AND HAVE THE REAR DOOR LATCHES EVALUATED FREE OF CHARGE. A LATCH THAT PASSES THE EVALUATION WILL BE LUBRICATED TO PREVENT FUTURE CORROSION. A…
Federal defect investigations
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2003 Ford Focus reliable?
The 2003 Ford Focus drew 1,224 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 23/100, scored against the model's worst year (2000).
What are the most common 2003 Ford Focus problems?
The top reported problems for the 2003 Ford Focus are electrical (552 complaints), latches & locks (83), and engine (78).
At what mileage do 2003 Ford Focus problems show up?
Owners most often report 2003 Ford Focus problems around 56,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 35,123 and 88,000 miles.
Does the 2003 Ford Focus have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2003 Ford Focus. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.