2003 Ford Focus: problems, recalls and complaints

Problems owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Focus, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.

Electrical system522
Latches/locks/linkages82
Steering73
Engine and engine cooling60
Service brakes, hydraulic51
Suspension49
Power train48
Air bags46
Structure40
Unknown or other25

NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 51 injuries and 1 deaths reported

Compared with other years

1999 2000 2001 200220032004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

NHTSA ODI complaints by model year

Fatal crashes in the US

From 2020 to 2023, 51 2003 Focus vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 42 people died inside them, and 9 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.

NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)

New York safety inspections

At its first New York inspection the 2003 Ford Focus failed the safety check 2.55% of the time — 21% more often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 109,491 miles.

2,586first inspections

2.55%failed on safety

109,491 mimedian odometer

NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count

Engines

The most common engines in 2003 Ford Focus cars on Dutch roads are the 1.6 petrol (74 kW, 99 hp), 1.4 petrol (55 kW, 74 hp) and 2.0 petrol (96 kW, 129 hp), out of 7 versions with at least 20 cars.

Engine	Power	Cars	Share
1.6 petrol	74 kW 99 hp	1,964	79%
1.4 petrol	55 kW 74 hp	200	8%
2.0 petrol	96 kW 129 hp	119	5%
1.8 petrol	88 kW 118 hp	108	4%
2.0 petrol	127 kW 170 hp	39	2%
2.0 petrol	158 kW 212 hp	37	1%
1.8 petrol	85 kW 114 hp	20	<1%

RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars

In the Netherlands

2,524 first registered in 2003 are on Dutch roads; 4% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €31,225.

84.0%had an APK defect recorded since June 2022

88.0%logical odometer history

0.0%with a recall still open

Most common APK defects

Colours

Grey 49%Blue 19%Black 15%Green 11%Red 4%White 1%

RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording

In the United Kingdom

7,315 cars built in 2003 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 9,691 more were declared off the road (SORN).

7,315licensed, end of 2025

43%of those still registered are on the road

Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0

MOT test results in Great Britain

In 2023, 15,290 of these cars first registered in 2003 took their annual MOT test. 52% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2003 the figure was 57%.

52%passed first time

57%all cars from 2003

97,600 miaverage mileage at the test (all cars 108,200 mi)

Failed on	These cars	All cars from 2003
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	24.4%	21.6%
Suspension	21.5%	16.4%
Brakes	12.7%	13.9%
Body, chassis, structure	9.8%	9.4%
Tyres	7.7%	6.3%
Visibility	7.3%	7.7%

DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail

In Finland

1,646 of these cars first registered in 2003 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 253,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.

Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0

In New Zealand

724 2003 cars are on the New Zealand register; 28% arrived as used imports, 71% were sold new in New Zealand.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0

Fuel consumption

Official Canadian test results for 8 variants: combined 8.7–9.6 L/100 km (about 25–27 mpg US), CO₂ 200–221 g/km.

Variant	Engine	Transmission	City	Highway	Combined	CO₂ g/km
Focus · Compact · Regular gasoline	2.0 L, 4 cyl.	M5	9.9	7.2	8.7	200
Focus Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline	2.0 L, 4 cyl.	M5	9.9	7.2	8.7	200
Focus # · Compact · Regular gasoline	2.0 L, 4 cyl.	M5	10.3	7.6	9.1	209
Focus Wagon # · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline	2.0 L, 4 cyl.	M5	10.3	7.6	9.1	209
Focus · Compact · Regular gasoline	2.0 L, 4 cyl.	A4	10.2	7.9	9.2	212
Focus Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline	2.0 L, 4 cyl.	A4	10.2	7.9	9.2	212
Focus # · Compact · Regular gasoline	2.0 L, 4 cyl.	A4	10.6	8.2	9.6	221
Focus Wagon # · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline	2.0 L, 4 cyl.	A4	10.6	8.2	9.6	221

Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada

Recalls in Canada

1 Transport Canada recall for the 2003 Ford Focus.

2005025
14 Feb 2005

Other
Certain four door (sedan and wagon) and five door vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward …

Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada

Recalls

05V030000 · Latches/locks/linkages1 Feb 2005 · 589,932 vehicles

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH FOUR OR FIVE DOORS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A BUILD-UP OF CORROSION AT THE PAWL PIVOT AREA OF THE REAR DOOR LATCH CAN CAUSE A BINDING CONDITION OF THE PAWL THAT MAY AFFECT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PAWL INTO THE CATCH. THE OCCUPANT MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING OR CLOSING A REAR DOOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE REAR DOOR MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY.

Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words

Service bulletins

What Ford told its dealers about the 2003 Ford Focus: known faults, fixes and updates.

Bulletin	Summary
630296	CONCERNS WITH HEADLAMP MOISTURE/CONDENSATION IN LENS ASSEMBLY. *TT
618644	A HALFSHAFT BEARING NOISE (WHINE / MOAN, WHISTLING, HUMMING, DRUMMING OR RATTLING) FROM THE DRIVETRAIN WHICH APPEARS TO BE EMANATING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
10205032	Safety recall 05S27 - Rear door latch corrosion - requests for recall service action - built on or before 01/26/2005
10183768	For 2000-2005 Focus vehicles built on or before 1/26/2005 Safety Recall 05S27 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where the rear door latches may experience corrosion in the pawl pivot area preventing proper engagement of the pawl into the catch. Initially, customers may experience difficulty closing the rear door that may eventually progress to a point where the rear door may not latch properly. If not latched properly, the door may open while driving.
10058100	FORD: DUE TO HIGH CORROSION AREAS, WHERE VEHICLES ARE OPERATED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS, LOWER CONTROL ARM (LCA) CAN SEPARATE FROM FORWARD ATTACHMENT OF SUBFRAME. MODEL 2001-04 ESCAPE. *PE
10058099	FORD: REAR DOOR LATCHES ARE EXPERIENCING CORROSION IN PAWL PIVOT AREA THAT PREVENT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF PAWL INTO CATCH, WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS CAUSING HIGH CORROSION. MODEL 2000-05 FOCUS. *PE
10056643	FORD: ON SOME VEHICLES, OPERATING FOR AN EXTENDED TIME IN HIGH CORROSION AREA, A SAFETY RECALL 05S27 WAS ISSUED, WHERE REAR DOOR LATCHES EXPERIENCE CORROSION IN PAWL PIVOT AREA PREVENTING PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF PAWL INTO CATCH. MODEL 2000-05 FOCUS. *PE
10021051	POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE - INSTALL SPECIAL SERVICE TOOLS PRIOR TO REMOVING CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT. *KB
10020173	POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE - INSTALL SPECIAL SERVICE TOOLS PRIOR TO REMOVING CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT - SERVICE TIP. *TT
10019375	MANIFOLD OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER HEAT SHIELDS LOOSE/MISSING. *TT
10019081	MIRFIRE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0316, P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, OR P0304 - SERVICE TIP. *TT
10019076	REPLACE TIMING BELT IDLER PULLEY DURING 2.0L ZETEC ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT - SERVICE TIP. *TT
10019073	DTC P0316, P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303 AND/OR P0304 - SERVICE TIP. *TT
10018945	MTX-75 PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE. *TT
10017934	REAR BRAKE SQUEAL. *TT
10017923	SERVICE WIRING HARNESS REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES - SERVICE TIPS. *TT
10017922	DIFFICULT OR UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR. *TT
10017884	ERRATIC INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES AND/OR WARNING INDICATORS - SERVICE TIP. *TT
10014667	HARSH TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT AND OR DTC P0705. *EH
10014656	VENT LEAK. *EH
10014622	AIR BAG LIGHT IN WITH ALL OR ANY COMBINATION OF DTC B1881 B2434 B2438 AND OR C1947. *EH
10014596	HARSH TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT AND OR DTC P0705. *EH
10014086	GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
10014082	ENGINE VIBRATION AT IDLE. *TT
10014062	REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT

NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)

NHTSA investigations

AQ10001 · Unknown or otheropened 18 Nov 2010 · closed 28 Dec 2015

Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Cars

Recalls

Directory

More

2003 Ford Focus

Problems owners report

Compared with other years

Fatal crashes in the US

New York safety inspections

Engines

In the Netherlands

Most common APK defects

Colours

In the United Kingdom

MOT test results in Great Britain

In Finland

In New Zealand

Fuel consumption

Recalls in Canada

Recalls

Service bulletins

NHTSA investigations