2003 FORD FOCUS Latcheslockslinkages Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLATCH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

(1ST) IT WAS PASSENGER REAR DOOR LATCH WOULDN'T STAY LATCHED, DOOR COME OPEN DURING DRIVING, (2ND) A MONTH LATER TRUNK WOULDN'T LATCH, THEN (3RD) 2 MONTHS LATER DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR CAME OPEN DURING DRIVING, WOULDN'T LATCH. DAUGHTER ALMOST FELL OUT AND CAR ALMOST HIT DOOR WHEN IT FLEW OPEN. I HAD TO USE SEAT BELT TO TIE DOOR SHUT TO MAKE IT HOME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 07/25/12 *BF A LOCK SMITH DETERMINED THE LOCK WAFERS WERE BENT, DUE TO IT BEING MADE OF CHEAP METAL. UPDATED 07/30/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH). AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR TO REMAIN CLOSED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR OPENED WHILE A CHILD WAS SEATED IN THE REAR SEAT. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE DOOR LATCH WAS EXTREMELY CORRODED. THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NO LONGER LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

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 CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

TRUNK LATCH FAILED AT 37,000 MILES ON 2003 FORD FOCUS. COULD NOT GET THE TRUNK TO LATCH TO DRIVE HOME. COST OVER $400 TO REPLACE THE PART WHICH IS NOT IN YET. DRIVING AROUND ANOTHER WEEK WITH MY ONLY CAR'S TRUNK TIED DOWN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN CLOSING THE RIGHT PASSENGER REAR DOOR, IT WOULD NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY; MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

MY KEY WILL NOT TURN OVER AND MY WHEEL IS LOCKED UP. THE PROBLEMS STARTED AND I WOULD JUST TURN THE WHEEL AND SOONER OR LATER IT WOULD TURN OVER. NOW IM STRANDED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE WHEEL LOCKED UP AND NO TURNING THE KEY OVER. MISSED WORK AND MONEY. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET ON THIS AND THE WAS OVER 300 DIFF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THIS CAR (FORD) TO SAVE GAS AND MONEY. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED IF THIS MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT HASN'T YET. *TR

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

THE DOOR HANDLES ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS HAVE A RECALL ON THEM, BUT ONLY ON CERTAIN ONES AND MINE ISN'T ONE OF THEM, ALTHOUGH ALL FOUR OF MY HANDLES ARE BROKEN. THE FIRST INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED WITH THE DOOR HANDLES WAS I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AT A STORE AND LEFT MY FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR WITH IT RUNNING TO GET A PAPER, AND WHEN I WENT TO OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR, THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND ALL OF THE OTHER DOORS WERE LOCKED (BECAUSE THEY AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN GEAR). I WAS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT AT THE TIME AND WAS STRANDED AT THE STORE WITH MY DAUGHTER LOCKED IN THE CAR FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. AND THEN, ON MAY 27TH 2011, I WENT TO LEAVE MY HOUSE AND I USUALLY KEEP THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOWN BECAUSE THE ONLY DOORS...

KEY WONT TURN IN IGNITION WINDOWS DOWN IN A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD. *TR

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

THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZTS, THUS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER A CALL TO THE LOCAL LOCKSMITH, I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR "THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR A FORD FOCUS". WHEN ARRIVING, THE LOCKSMITH PROCEEDED TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THE STOCK IGNITION SWITCH OF MY CAR IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN, COMPARING TO A NEW SWITCH THEY WERE ABOUT TO INSTALL. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH ONLINE, I COULD NOT FIND ANY INFORMATION ABOUT A RECALL FOR THE DEFECTIVE ITEM. I DID FIND, HOWEVER, PLENTY OF COMPLAINS OF FORD OWNERS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I AM SURPRISED SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED SINCE IT JEOPARDIZES THE RELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE KEY IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION. WE WERE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THE KEY IS FINE..THE ACTUAL IGNITION MECHANISM IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT TURN. *TR

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

MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT START DUE TO THE FACT THAT FORD HAS APPARENTLY USED DEFECTIVE LOCK CYLINDERS ON THE 2003 FORD FOCUS. I WALKED UP TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST 350 TO REPAIR THE CAR. (NOT INCLUDING CHARGES FOR GETTING THE VEHICLE TO THEM) THIS HAS PREVENTED ME FROM DRIVING A CAR THAT I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON. *TR

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

IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED UNABLE TO DRIVE FORD FOCUS 2003. COST OF IGNITION CYLINDER, NEW KEY (1), RESET OF COMPUTER = $480.00. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND THE IGNITION AND THE KEY SUDDENLY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION. I HAVE LOOKED THIS PROBLEM UP ONLINE AND IT LOOKS LIKE A FAR TOO COMMON PROBLEM. MY WIFE IS 8.5 MONTHS PREGNANT, AND I THANK GOD THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ANY LATER AS IT IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE. PLEASE TAKE PROMPT ACTION AGAINST FORD AND MAKE THEM ISSUE A RECALL! THANK YOU. *TR

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

IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK STICKS, UNABLE TO TURN KEY AND START CAR. *TR

KEY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION OF OUR 2003 FORD FOCUS JUST HAPPENED TODAY - NO PRIOR PROBLEM WITH IGNITION WILL MOST LIKELY CALL A LOCKSMITH. *TR

NO PREVIOUS INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM, JUST WENT TO MY 2003 FOCUS AND COULD NOT TURN THE KEY. WENT IN THE HOUSE AND GOT THE OTHER KEY. IT WOULD NOT TURN. THE IGNITION COLUMN IS PERMANENTLY LOCKED. FORD HAS KNOWN OF THIS FAILURE FOR 10 YEARS AND DONE NOTHING??? WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR SUCH AN ONGOING AND KNOWN DEFECT? I'M SURPRISED I HAVE NOT HEARD OF DEATHS RELATED TO THIS AS WEATHER CONDITIONS, ROBBERY OR RAPE COULD CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTE TO THIS FIXABLE PROBLEM. SHAME ON FORD. *TR

THE IGNITION OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SE, LOCKED UP ON ME AND LEFT ME STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT. *TR

MY 2003 FORD FOCUS HAS A IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM ALL OF A SUDDEN THE KEY WILL NOT START THE CAR IT HAS LEFT US STRANDED AND HAS TAKEN US AS LONG AS 30 MINUTES TO START CAR. WE HAVE TRIED SEVERAL REMEDIES LIKE SILICONE SPRAY, TAPPING ON KEY SO IT WILL START THIS PROBLEM HAS EFFECTED A HOST OF FOCUS OWNERS WITH COSTLY REPAIRS AND WE WILL SOON HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUSLY FLAWED DESIGN. *TR

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 WOULD NOT TURN) . FURTHER MORE, THE DEALER AND AAA, OF COURSE, SAY TO TRY JIGGLING THE STEERING WHEEL. ALL THAT DID WAS LOCK THE FRONT WHEELS IN A TURNED POSITION AND MADE IT VERY HARD TO MOVE THE CAR GET IT TO A POSITION TO BE TOWED. HAVING THE WHEELS LOCK IN A TURNED POSITION, AS IS COMMON, COULD BE A HAZARD TOO. THE AAA...

2003 FORD FOCUS. WENT TO DRIVE THE CAR GOT IN PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WON'T TURN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. 3/4/10, THE FIRST TIME, IT "FINALLY", AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES TURNED AFTER PUTTING THE KEY IN AND OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE SECOND TIME ON 3/5/10, IT JUST WOULDN'T TURN. THE CAR IS SITTING, WILL HAVE TO CALL A LOCK SMITH TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN, AND VEHICLE CAN NOT BE STARTED, REMOVING KEY AND INSERTING AGAIN AND AGAIN WOULD ALLOW IT TO START THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME. NOW IT WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. *TR

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 THIS A LITTLE AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE IS NOT A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO GET STRANDED FOR THIS TO GET FIXED? I JUST PAID OFF THE CAR AND IT HAS 91,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

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 STAY, IT RELEASES AS YOU ARE DRIVING CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN. NOT SAFE. *TR

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 A WEEK. NOW IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY, NOT EVERY TIME, BUT AT LEAST 2 OUT OF 5 TIMES I GO TO START MY VEHICLE IT HAPPENS. THIS IS DEFINITELY GETTING WORSE VERY QUICKLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2000-2003 FORD FOCUS MODELS. I HAVE HEARD THAT EVEN IF I TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED...

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

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 I HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED LIKE ALL OF THE OTHER OWNERS IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY DAY I GO TO GET MY CAR STARTED IT IS VERY ANNOYING. *TR

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 WAITING A WHILE BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO INSERT THE KEY AGAIN. TODAY, HOWEVER, NONE OF THESE METHODS WORKED, AND THE IGNITION SEEMS TO BE PERMANENTLY STUCK. AFTER CAREFUL RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUS 2001-2003. IT HAS LEFT MANY DRIVERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY STRANDED IN INOPPORTUNE TIMES AND LOCATIONS, AS WELL AS COST THEM HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS EACH TIME THAT...

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 FIX THE OTHER DOOR FREE OF CHARGE. THIS CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND FORD KNOWS THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE DOOR LATCHES. IF SOMEONE GETS KILLED FORD WILL PROBABLY HAVE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM. *TR

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

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) THAT I AM OUT OF LUCK AND HAVE TO PAY THE $336 MYSELF TO FIX THE LATCH THAT I FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL IN THE FIRST PLACE. TWO OF MY OTHER THREE DOORS ARE GETTING HARD TO OPEN AND I FEEL IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY COMPLETELY BREAK ALSO. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND THANK GOD...

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 ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ISSUED TO DATE. UNACCEPTABLE! *TR

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

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 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

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 ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF TRYING TO JIGGLE AND FINAGLE THE KEY TO TURN, IT DID. SINCE THEN, I HAVE FOUND THAT IF THE KEY IS REMOVED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL IT TURNED UNTIL A POSITIVE CLUNK IS HEARD AND FELT, INDICATING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK HAS ENGAGED, THE PROBLEM REPEATS EVERY SINGLE TIME. IF I REMOVE THE KEY AND MAKE SURE TO...

THE LOCK CYLINDER FROZE IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS TWO MONTHS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE REPAIRS TOTALED $343. *TR

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 GET MY CAR TO TURN ON. DID SOME "INTERNET RESEARCH" AND WE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. *TR

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 INSIDE. *TR

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

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 LOCK. *TR

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.

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 LATCHES, BRAKES, AND ENGINE PROBLEMS. *AK

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 ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 15 MONTHS. (13 AT TIME OF FAILURE). *AK