2003 Ford Focus Ignition Problems
- 263
- 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 263 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- turn ignition · 50 records
- ignition turn · 21 records
- steering wheel · 17 records
- ignition switch · 16 records
- common problem · 15 records
- ignition cylinder · 10 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 92 |
| 60–100k mi | 66 |
| 100–150k mi | 27 |
| 1–30k mi | 19 |
| 150–400k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Ignition
The cylinder lock in my 2003 ford focus has failed me twice,and i have to have it replaced again. There is a lot of complaints and there a ford servicemen that have told me this is a big problem with this car. *jb
ODI 10148146
Engine And Engine Cooling · Ignition
2003 ford focus ignition key would not turn. Vehicle also shows sign of stalling. *ts ***no answer required*** *jb
ODI 10148661
Ignition
Yesterday i was unable to start my car. I put in the key but it would not turn. There was no warning, no clicking, no difficulties starting my car in the past. After several hours we finally got the car started and took it into the shop. They told me that it was the tumbler and the cost of the repair would be $226. Not only did the dealership charge for the damaged part and labor but also to run the diagnostic test…
ODI 10146394
Ignition
Starting approx. 7 month's after i purchased my brand new 2003 ford focus from jack byrne ford in mecanicville, ny i started to have problems with my car starting (feburary of 2004). I would place the key in the ignition and attempt to start the car. Upon turning the key in the ignition - nothing would happen. The radio would turn on and so would the heat blowers and i would also get some dinging. But, the car…
ODI 10146274
Ignition · Lock · Master Cylinder
One day may car just didn't start, the ignition cylinder has been replaced- the car has under 49000- and it has already had several problems! The master cylinder( for the brakes) , the ignition cylinder, and several pieces have already had to be replaced on my 2003 ford focus!!! Please recall this car! The parts put in the ford focus 2003 during the manufacturing are obviously defective!!!! At the consumers expense…
ODI 10148072
Ignition
Ignition switch will not turn. Obviously this is a very common problem and i am very surprised that ford would let this go on so long. *nm
ODI 10143034
Ignition
The ignition on my 2003 ford focus has failed twice. Once over a year ago, and again now. The ignition will not turn when i insert the key. *nm
ODI 10141478
Ignition
The ignition of our 2003 ford focus will not allow the key to turn. There was no warning that there was a problem until it was time to leave for work and the key would go into the lock, the bell would sound, but the lock would not turn. According to the dealer this is a common problem with the ford focus, and they suggest you either get the car towed to their shop, or, if you can, drive it to their shop to have it…
ODI 10139469
Ignition
I have a 2003 ford focus with 44,000 miles on it. The ignition locks too frequently and has cost me not only money, but job related time and costs. I was told that it was not covered under warranty let alone as a recall. Don't you need the ignition to ignite to use the car? *nm
ODI 10139224
Ignition
I have a 2003 ford focus zx3, it has just a little over 48,000 miles. One morning (out of blue), the key lock would not turn over. Luckily, i was home. As a result, i had it towed into a ford dealership. Was charged an arm and a leg by the towing company (ford dealer recommended) and to make things worse, found out that my extended warranty did cover a (key/ignition cylinder) replacement compartment, would of been…
ODI 10140524
Ignition
I have a 2003 ford focus, and just recently my ignition went out. The key will not turn and the steering wheel is locked. I know various people who own a focus and have had the very same problem. It barely started to stick the day before it finally went out. I currently am looking into my options on how to fix the problem. I am having a very hard time getting to work and getting around in general. It is very hard…
ODI 10139506
Ignition
Ford focus needed ignition tumblers replaced because the old ones locked up about 4 hours from home. Luckily i read that almost everyone with a focus has had the same exact problems; however, ford has not done anything to remedy the situation. I had a lock smith fix the problems whom aaa referred me to. I will never ever buy a ford again and am trying very hard to become part of a class action suit against ford for…
ODI 10139167
Ignition
This is the second time in 1 year that i have had to have my ignition lock cylinder replaced in my 2003 ford focus zx3. *jb
ODI 10135313
Ignition
I own a 2003 ford focus which has 52,000 miles on it. The ignition on the car has locked up completely and the ignition key will not turn the ignition at all. I have contacted the local ford dealership where i was told by their service dept. That this hasn't been issued as a recall by ford but they has "several" ford focus' coming in for ignition repair. Ford assumes no liability at this point but they are happily…
ODI 10135894
Ignition
Ignition locked up towed to hilltop ford in maysville kentucky. Was told ignition locked up and column would have to be replaced at a cost of $755.69. The warranity went off just 1,000 miles before this happened. Was told they have had many of these problems a car was coming in for the same thing when we left.
ODI 10133634
Ignition
The ignition has locked three (3) times on a 2003 ford focus in less than a two year time period. It appears that the ignition switch and/or components are substandard since the part has been replaced on two previous occasions. The ignition locked for the third time on july 20, 2005. The vehicle is currently at a local ford dealership for a repair or replacement of the ignition. The car was under warranty the first…
ODI 10129601
12v/24v/48v Battery · Ignition
Dt: 2003 ford focus. The ignition tumbler failed at 38,000 miles. Randomly, the key was hard to put in and then it went out. The battery failed as well. The vehicle was no longer under warranty. Both problems have not been fixed at ford. The battery went out yesterday and the consumer purchased a new one. The ignition tumbler started about 2 months ago.
ODI 10135413
Ignition
I bought a 2003 ford focus brand new in february 2003. The car had about 300 miles on it. Yesterday the ignition switch went out costing me over $250. This is not normal wear and tear! I went into a restaurant and came out. I was stranded. I've searched the internet for similar situations/complaints and other people had similar situations. I understand batteries going dead or wear and tear on brakes. I've never had…
ODI 10120855
Ignition
On april 11, 2005, as i was leaving work in the evening, i placed the key in the ignition and could not turn the key. The following day, i spent some time on the telephone with several mechanics and key makers trying to determine the problem. I finally understood that it was a faulty ignition cylinder. On april 14 i had the car towed into bohn ford inc. At [redacted], new orleans, la 70119. [redacted]. While the car…
ODI 10118346
Ignition
I purchased a used 2003 focus in january of 2004. The car only had about 42000 miles on it. I went to work one day and when i went to start my car the key would not turn. It gets stuck. The wheels lock and i have to jiggle it until it finally comes unstuck. I had to leave my car at work overnight once because of this and the ford dealer told me that it is a common problem but it is not a recall. This needs to be a…
ODI 10156111
Ignition
We are a franchisee of an auto rental company. We have had a half dozen ford focuses that the ignition switches have failed on. These vehicles have mileage in the range of 40,000-45,000 miles. The ignition switch will just quit working. We have had to have the vehicles towed in every instance, and ford has refused to do anything about it or make any adjustments. It costs us over $400 every time. Something should be…
ODI 10112659
Ignition
Once the key is inserted into the ignition consumer is unable to start the vehicle, and is unable to turn the key. The steering wheel locks. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the ignition cylinder needed to be replaced. *ak
ODI 10111781
Ignition
Ignition switch/steering column housing unit. *ak
ODI 10110533
Ignition
Bought a 2003 ford focus iin july 04 and on 1/4/05 (28,406 miles) went to start vehicle and key went into ignition hard and would not turn at all. Ignition had locked up. Nothing would work and wheels were locked. Had to be towed and technician had trouble due to wheels locking. Found many complaints on internet of this problem in the focus. Car was under warranty and it was fixed but if same faulty ignition…
ODI 10105892
Engine · External · Ignition · Power Train · Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Starter Assembly
Three transmission failures and replacements. The engine, starter/ignition and 1 gear shift all replacements and other various problems. *bf four cd player replacements, the brakes failed, and 1 alarm failure. *sc the engine was also replaced. *jb
ODI 10107088
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2003 Ford Focus.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.