Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the rear doors failed to latch. The contact had to use a bungee cord to keep the doors closed; however, they would open every time a turn was made. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000. ..
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.
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 they must replace these parts and deal with all the consequences. The Ford company should take responsibility for their mistakes! Details on problems: 1- my car shuttered started smoking from the hood a bit- and smelled as if something had burned underneath the hood. ( the ignition light came on ) at almost 30000 miles. Took it into the deal- they replaced a coil- name unknown. …
I am the owner of a 2003 Ford Focus and I have several issues. In the last year I have experienced problems with the ignition locking and as well as the steering wheel, I contacted the dealer carey paul Ford in decatur, ga and was told that I had to pay for repairs, which I did, after being stranded with my son. This cost me 260.00, I am a single mother and cannot afford to spend money on problems that the manufacturer clearly was aware of. The trunk on the vehicle just randomly opens at any given moment, you're riding along the road and the trunks just opens for no reason. This I find just annoying but would also like to have corrected. …
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. …
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 guy could not free (turn) the ignition switch it either. I had first cell-phoned called the dealer, they had no suggestions. …
The left rear door doesn't latch properly, causing the door to fly open on it's own. Thank goodness kids were not in the car when this occurred. Since the first incident, the door will not latch and is now tethered with rope and can't be used. Ford know about this problem as they have a current recall notice NHTSA campaign id number: 05V030000 Ford claims that my vehicle is not covered. The issue for my vehicle is that it was purchased in the state of florida in 2003 and registered in the state of florida in feb of 2005 when the recall came out. (it is now registered in the state of ny where it has been since 2006. If the recall came out one year later, my car would be covered?) covered or not, Ford knows that the car is unsafe. …
1st- trunk latch does not disengage, I have taken it to the dealership in my nearest town. After 3-4 times of adjusting and oiling, it still does not release correctly, when you push the dashboard release, open the trunk it closes the latch on its own, you cant close the trunk unless you repress the dash release, which is difficult with arms full, or pull the safety release provided for not getting locked in the trunk, this has been going on since I purchased my car. 2nd- my ignition froze up yesterday morning. No for warning. Hadn't had any problems. Now I have to get back to my car and get it to the garage. Being newer to the area and no other vehicle at my disposal it is definitely going to cost me not to mention the repair cost. …
Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the starter failed. There were no warning signals for the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealership who determined the flywheel and the starter had to be replaced. After the first incident, the contact took the vehicle to the dealer thirty times for the following failures: brakes rotors were replaced four times; battery and alternator had to be replaced; the transmission had to be replaced after the second attempt to repair it. The electrical wiring under the dashboard had to be rewired. The air conditioning was repaired three times with the replacement of defective valves; the rear door latches were repaired according to recall # 05V300000. The dealership had not corrected the noises from the steering column. The manufacturer was contacted and refused to cooperated in finding a suitable resolution. …
Related recalls
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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…
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.
Door Lock & Latch complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are door lock & latch problems on the 2003 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 82 complaints about the locks & latches of the 2003 Ford Focus, 8% of the model year's 977 complaints. The component named most often is doors › latch (24 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Ford Focus door lock & latch problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-030 (latch, Feb 1, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Ford Focus door lock & latch problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to locks & latches problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.