2003 Ford Focus Electrical System Problems
- 135
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 135 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 2 indicate fire
What owners report
- Ignition · 2 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 46 |
| 100–150k mi | 29 |
| 30–60k mi | 22 |
| 1–30k mi | 14 |
| 150–400k mi | 8 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Late night 35 miles from home. Key would not turn in the ignition. Had to get a ride home. Returned the next day and had a locksmith replace the ignition lock with a strattec ignition lock. *tr
ODI 10404437
Electrical System
Key won't turn in ignition. Luckily, my car was parked at home when this happened but could leave you stranded if away from home. I now have to leave my key in the ignition until i get the problem fixed.
ODI 10404848
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Key wont turn in ignition windows down in a bad neighborhood. *tr
ODI 10403707
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition failed and locked abnormally. The manufacturer was contacted they advised there were no recalls for the failure and would provide no further assistance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 100,000.
ODI 10402087
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact stated that the ignition was locked and would not allow her to turn the key inside the ignition for several minutes. After various attempts, the contact was able to turn the key in the ignition. The contact stated the failure recurred various times intermittently. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repairs or diagnostics. The approximate failure mileage…
ODI 10397000
Electrical System
2003 ford focus key not able to turn ignition issue that has been reported previously. Vehicle stranded until ignition lock assembly removed and replaced. *tr
ODI 10386029
Electrical System · Steering
Ford focus 2003 - key won't turn to turn on car - ignition cylinder/tumbler was broken and need to be replaced. I was stranded in a store parking lot. Had to have a tow truck tow my car to dealership. *tr
ODI 10375498
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Key would not turn the ignition, stalled the car and then could not turn the car back on in the middle of rush hour traffic, on christmas eve none the less. *tr
ODI 10392665
Electrical System
I have a 2003 ford focus zx3 at 37000 miles the alternator and battery went bad and had to be replaced at a cost of $700.00. Now at 67000 miles they have both gone bad again and must be replaced at a new cost of $800.00. Additionally i had a 2000 ford focus and at 55000 miles both the alternator and battery had to be replaced. Also we have a 2006 ford focus and at 16000 miles it needed both an alternator and…
ODI 10369428
Electrical System · Engine
Key cannot turn - vehicle cannot be started. Unacceptable and hazardous condition with a poorly designed and/or low quality part on all ford focus and likely other ford products. I got around this by pounding on the key with a small hammer i keep in the glove box - i had lived with this for more than 3 years. Same thing happened to my brother-in-law's car (he removed all the tumblers so any key can start his car).…
ODI 10556832
Electrical System
Key won't turn in ignition. For a couple of weeks, i was able to tap on the end of the key while it was in the ignition lock, and the key would turn. Now, i am unable to get it to turn at all -- even after tapping on it with a hammer. *tr
ODI 10371020
Electrical System · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact stated that while parking, the steering wheel seized while the power steering warning chime sounded. In addition, the key would sporadically fail to turn when inserted into the ignition. The contact stated that the vehicle would start after approximately thirty minutes of repeated attempts. The dealer was made aware of the failure but the vehicle was neither…
ODI 10456120
Electrical System
The ignition was locked solid. The key could be inserted and removed but the ignition would not turn. Replacement seems the only viable solution. It seems to be a design defect as so many cases of the lock-up have been reported.
ODI 10366271
Electrical System
I was parked outside my girlfriend's dr's office waiting to pick her up. It was a cold day and she didn't want to take the bus. When i tried to start the car the key would not turn. I attempted repeatedly to turn the key, but it would not budge. This had happened twice before (i had only owned the car a couple months), but the key had turned with some fiddling. This time it wouldn't turn, no matter what i did. I…
ODI 10364975
Electrical System
2003 ford focus ignition will not turn engine over nor unlock steering. *tr
ODI 10355836
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
2003 ford focus ignition lock-up. Every time the key is removed from ignition and then reinserted, it is very hard to get it to unlock to turn and start. We have been stranded in parking lots during 110 degree weather while trying to get the key to turn. We will have to either replace the ignition or call a locksmith. This is an everyday problem now. *tr
ODI 10353681
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
I was stranded with my 2003 ford focus because they key would not turn in the ignition. I finally was able to get my car towed to a mechanic at 2am and was able to get a ride home. I am very fortunate nothing happened to me - who knows what could have happened that late at night. I had to get the ignition replaced which cost $400. It is ridiculous that this has not been recalled. *tr
ODI 10346488
Electrical System
After warranty expired, put key in ignition and could not turn car on. This was due to a suddenly failing ignition system. Had to replace entire ignition column and was stranded for three days while we figured out the problem. This is a safety issue considering it is a well known problem and many people have been stranded in bad areas or during bad weather. *tr
ODI 10339908
Electrical System
Key fails to turn after driving to work. 03 ford focus. Can not start. Will call for repairs and find cost. Ford would not replace or offer solution due to mileage. *tr
ODI 10339396
Electrical System
2003 ford focus se ignition key would not turn to unlock steering wheel and start car while car was parked. Ignition cylinder removed & replaced with a better part by locksmith in 25 minutes at a cost of $317. This part should never fail. *tr
ODI 10326785
Electrical System
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact stated that abs indicator light and brake indicator light illuminated on the instrument panel and illuminated on an intermittent basis. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership for a diagnostic test where the contact was informed that there was corrosion around the circuit board of the instrument panel. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the…
ODI 10325977
Electrical System
Ignition locks up and can not turn key to start engine. *tr
ODI 10323977
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
The ignition of my 2003 ford focus se, locked up on me and left me stranded in a parking lot. *tr
ODI 10325229
Electrical System
2003 ford focus, zx3, 2.3 liter. The key will not turn in the ignition. This has happened about 6 times, leaving me stranded twice. We are calling a lock smith to re-key the ignition and doors again. *tr
ODI 10320175
Electrical System
Unable to turn key in the ignition. Had occurred sporadically leading up to the date when it was then unable to be used at all, leaving family stranded. Had to have vehicle towed to dealership to have ignition replaced. Subsequent research revealed this is a common failure problem with this vehicle. *tr
ODI 10319330
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2003 Ford Focus.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.