2003 Ford Focus Latches/Locks/Linkages Problems
- 49
- 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 49 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- turn ignition · 11 records
- failure mileage · 5 records
- side door · 5 records
- ignition switch · 5 records
- turn start · 5 records
- ignition cylinder · 5 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 20 |
| 100–150k mi | 12 |
| 30–60k mi | 11 |
| 1–30k mi | 2 |
| 150–400k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Latches/Locks/Linkages
I was holiday shopping on the 23rd, just came back to my 2003 ford focus svt in the parking lot of the mall and the ignition would not turn. Tried and tried and tried. No luck, i'm stranded, it's snowing out and it's 10:00pm. Why most i rune a friends evening to come and pick me up because of a faulty ignition switch. $130 dollar tow and an estimate from my ford dealer to fix it for $490. I've already researched…
ODI 10297228
Ignition · Latches/Locks/Linkages
The ignition switch (that is, where the key goes to start the car) would not turn. I was stuck and had to have the car towed. There had been no warning, that is, the key was never hard to turn, i never had to jiggle the steering column, or anything liked that. I just parked the car in front of a store, and five mints later, went out and found out they key would not turn. (i could remove and re-insert the key, it…
ODI 10319862
Ignition · Latches/Locks/Linkages
I own a 2003 ford focus zts that has 140,000 miles. I know my vehicle is out of warranty. The ignition has been giving me problems that scare me from time to time that i may get stranded. You put the key in, go to turn the key to start and the ignition acts locked. You try again and again but still nothing. This has left me trying to turn my ignition for up to 10 minutes so far. This started about 2 months ago, once…
ODI 10291609
Ignition · Latches/Locks/Linkages
We drove our 2003 ford focus to the grocery store. Upon returning to the car, the key would not turn in the ignition and stranded my wife, 4 year old and 6 month old children and myself wondering what we could do. *tr
ODI 10285245
Latches/Locks/Linkages
I have a 2003 ford focus zx5 hatchback. It only has 80,000 miles on it, but we have had a huge problem that many others have had with this car. The ignition locks up frequently, and the key will not turn. This problem has left me stranded on many an occasion. It has happened to me 5 times. Each of those times, i have managed to get it working again by violently jamming the key and jiggling it in the ignition, or…
ODI 10283336
Ignition · Latches/Locks/Linkages
The key was starting to stick then i could not get the in the ignition switch to start the car so my son that works for ford said to tap on the key then it should start so i did and it worked it is an on going thing i think that if ford knows there is a problem they should do a recall on it the car is a 2003 ford focus and is not under warranty like the other owners that have complained about the same problem so now…
ODI 10284459
Latches/Locks/Linkages
2003 ford focus door latches broken. Doors flew open while driving vehicle on highway and local streets. Someone could have fallen out or another car could have hit the door when it flew open and have caused a serious crash. Ford had a recall on the 4 and 5 door focus but not on a 3 door which is mine. One door has been fixed $293 at a dealer and the other door needs to be fixed. I feel ford should reimburse me and…
ODI 10280992
Latches/Locks/Linkages · Steering
I was stranded many miles from a highway because i could not get my ignition key turned, steeringwheel turned or automatic shifter moved. All blocked. Luckily, i was able to get a ride back to where i could use my cellphone. A friend checked the internet on the problem and he found the suggestion to hit the key. Later many taps this actually worked and i was able to drive home. *tr
ODI 10275893
Door · Latches/Locks/Linkages
I own a 2003 ford focus and back in february 2006 i took the car in for a recall to fix door hinges that become hard to open or actually break. They completed the work. As i was driving the other day my rear passenger door just swung open and the door will no longer latch. I called ford and they said since they put some grease or something like that on my door back in 2006 (they never put a new latch on the car)…
ODI 10275329
Latches/Locks/Linkages
I purchased a 2003 ford focus for my daughter and she was stranded after driving it to work when she couldn't get the steering wheel unlocked to use her key. The dealership told her it is common in ford focuses of this year. This has resulted in the shaft needing to be replaced for $500 and there is not guarantee that it won't happen again because of this make/model of car. This is ridiculous since ford has known…
ODI 10268433
Latches/Locks/Linkages
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact stated that both rear door locks no longer functioned. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 05v030000 (latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch). The failure mileage was 120,000 and the…
ODI 10413527
Latches/Locks/Linkages · Structure
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
ODI 10257101
Latches/Locks/Linkages · Steering
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…
ODI 10293967
Latches/Locks/Linkages
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…
ODI 10250672
Latches/Locks/Linkages
The lock cylinder froze in my 2003 ford focus two months after the warranty expired. The repairs totaled $343. *tr
ODI 10249696
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
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…
ODI 10251522
Latches/Locks/Linkages
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…
ODI 10248675
Ignition · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Ign key will not turning key gets stuck left me stranded in a bad high crime area i under stand that this is a problem on all the focus why is a recall mot been done. *tr
ODI 10332430
Latches/Locks/Linkages
The ignition has locked up on my 2003 ford focus each time i have tried to start the car for the past 3 days. I have been stranded in some dangerous places (including a parking structure in downtown los angeles at 1:30am) for up to 40 minutes trying to get the car to start. *tr
ODI 10228180
Latches/Locks/Linkages
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…
ODI 10216161
Cooling System · Equipment · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Power Train · Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. · Seat Belts · Visibility
I have replaced the transmission, the water pump, the thermostat, and all radiator hoses. The car overheats daily still. The stereo cuts on and off and can't be turned off by the power button. The rear left seatbelt is stuck where it can't be used. The driver window fell into the door, when the panel was removed it showed that the whole wire system had snapped. The driver door also can only be opened from the…
ODI 10242182
Ignition · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Dt*: the contact stated while parked, the steering wheel would not unlock. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who determined the ignition cylinder needed to be replaced. Also, the trunk would not close. The dealer was not contacted.
ODI 10176362
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip · Engine · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Module
Dt: the consumer had problems with the vehicle since purchase. The vehicle caught on fire on september 16, 2005. The motor was off, and it burst into flames. The fire department came and they said it look like it started from the wiring harness. The vehicle stalled before it caught on fire. Was having the same problem two weeks before, and took it to dealer. They replaced some ignition items. Also, was having…
Fire reported
ODI 10137043
Latches/Locks/Linkages
I have a 2003 ford focus. The cylinder and key design is no good. Lots of focus owners have this problem. They (ford) say its because the keys were to heavy or something but i only have my car and hosue key on my ring. Now in order to start the car i need to play with the key for 1 to 15 minutes just to get the car started. It would cost me around $275 to get this problem fixed. This should be recalled by ford. I've…
ODI 10072713