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
2003 ford focus -- ignition locks and cannot be released to start the car. Dealer (smith ford in lordsburg, nm) has to tow in to work on and last time even replaced the ignition. I am told that this small dealer has had 3 different focus' with the same problem. *jb
ODI 10098757
Ignition
My ignition locked. I had to have it towed to the dealership to be repaired. *jb
ODI 10098372
Anti-Theft Device · Ignition
I recently purchased a used 2003 ford focus from menlove dodge toyota in bountiful in late september. Verything was going fine, until one day my wife comes home an hour late from work saying that the keys for our car would turn in the ignition, she had to enlist the help 2 other co-workers & finally got it started after an hour of trying it. O i went out to take a look at the ignition and sure enough the key would…
ODI 10102404
Ignition
I started my car normally and drove to the store. When i came out from the store i got in my car, inserted my key in the ignition and attempted to start my car. The car would not start and my sterring wheel stayed in a locked position. I toggled my key in the ignition to no avail my car would not start. I ended up have to call a tow truck , who was the driver saw the model car immediately tapped on the ignition…
ODI 10096266
Drum · Ignition · Manual Transmission · Underbody Shields
The consumer heard a grinding noise coming from the rear brake drums. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak the rear drum brake pads were defective, parts and compound were missing, trim under the steering column was missing, the transmission was slipping in first, second and third gear, and the ignition was damaged. *sc *jb
ODI 10101372
Ignition
Ignition switch becomes locked and will not turn.*ak
ODI 10090662
Ignition
2003 ford focus ignition ceased to function. Ehicle needed to be towed and serviced by ford. Esearch on internet indicates this is an extremely widespread problem among ford focus owners, with many owners needing to repair or replace the ignition several times over the course of a few years.*ak
ODI 10086864
Ignition
We bought a new ford focus in december of 2002. In march 2004, with about 20,000 miles on it, the ignition switch started to act up. When inserted into the ignition the key got stuck and would not turn on several occasions. After spending about 20 to 40 minutes of wiggling the key and knocking on the steering column it would finally turn. We brought it to the dealership in april after being stuck at night for almost…
ODI 10112222
Ignition
Bought a 2003 used ford focus in july 04 and on tuesday, jan. 4 went to start vehicle and key would not go into ignition. Nothing worked wheels were locked. Had to be towed and tech had trouble due to wheels locked. Found many more complaints on internet about this trouble in focuses. *ak
ODI 10105876
Ignition
The ignition has been sticking for a couple months, making it difficult to start the car, more recently it has been a daily occurrence that the ignition would not turn without great difficulty. What this ultimately lead to was getting stranded due to the car being unable to start ( ignition wouldn't even turn). I am now going to have to get the car towed and either re-keyed, or a new ignition put in which will cost…
ODI 10351623
Ignition
I got into my car last night and could not start it, i have a 2003 ford focus station wagon se, the key won't turn in the ignition, i am stranded and cant get to the drug store to get my sons medication. I cant get to the grocery store and am afraid i wont be able to get to work on monday. *tr
ODI 10234921
Ignition
Key would not turn in the ignition on my 2003 ford focus wagon. Was stranded at a drive in movie theater at 2am with 2 small children and the windows down as it started to rain. *tr
ODI 10335315
Engine And Engine Cooling · Ignition
I had a crack in the coolant reservoir that i took to get repaired. I drove my car there, turned the car off while waiting for the customer in front of me to pull up. I turned the car back on and pulled it up to where the serviceman was waiting. I turned the car off. I gave them my information. The serviceman then took my car, started it, and drove it into the service bay. They did the work on the car and then…
ODI 10227494
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2003 Ford Focus.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.