2003 Ford Focus Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2003 Ford Focus, and owners have filed 977 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2003 Ford Focus
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
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…
Remedy: Dealers will have a lower rocker seal added to the door and have the rear door latches evaluated free of charge. A latch that passes the evaluation will be lubricated to prevent future corrosion. A latch that does not…
977 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Ford Focus have filed 977 complaints with NHTSA; 52 describe a crash and 17 describe a fire. Reports cite 51 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 64,045 miles. Complaints peaked in 2005 with 119 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Vehicle has a recall for Rear Door Latches. I have attempted to take the vehicle to 2 different Cloninger Ford in Hickory and Cloninger Ford in Valdese. Both dealerships claim they can not do the reca”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 6, 2023 · Structure
“Ignition issues. The key will not turn in the ignition. Cannot start my vehicle or turn the steering wheel. My car only has just over 56,000 miles. I am seeing that this is a common complaint and coul”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 26, 2020 · Unknown or other
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Ford Focus (Focus Station Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–27 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18–24 / 23–32 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Midsize Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2/2.3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Ford Focus model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Focus model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 Ford Focus | 0 | 11 |
| 2000 Ford Focus | 11 | 3,686 |
| 2001 Ford Focus | 7 | 1,761 |
| 2002 Ford Focus | 1 | 939 |
| 2003 Ford Focus | 1 | 977 |
| 2004 Ford Focus | 1 | 387 |
| 2005 Ford Focus | 1 | 441 |
| 2006 Ford Focus | 0 | 205 |
| 2007 Ford Focus | 0 | 391 |
| 2008 Ford Focus | 1 | 250 |
| 2009 Ford Focus | 0 | 229 |
| 2010 Ford Focus | 0 | 287 |
| 2011 Ford Focus | 0 | 113 |
| 2012 Ford Focus | 7 | 3,769 |
| 2013 Ford Focus | 11 | 2,112 |
| 2014 Ford Focus | 12 | 2,603 |
| 2015 Ford Focus | 9 | 1,021 |
| 2016 Ford Focus | 10 | 1,181 |
| 2017 Ford Focus | 10 | 898 |
| 2018 Ford Focus | 7 | 835 |
Checking a specific 2003 Ford Focus
How do I know if my 2003 Ford Focus has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2003 Ford Focus; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 05V030000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
- Expedition9,359 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.