2003 FORD FOCUS — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 963 complaints · 7 recalls
Most-reported system: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (457 complaints · 47.5%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 50
  • Fires 17
  • Injuries 50
  • Deaths 1
Compare with 2002 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution ELECTRICAL SYSTEM appears in 457 of 963 owner complaints (47.5%) in this vehicle snapshot. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 457 complaints, 47.5% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 457 · 47.5% · 1 crash reports 4 fire reports ENGINE: 55 complaints, 5.7% of reports ENGINE 55 · 5.7% · 1 crash reports 5 fire reports STEERING: 55 complaints, 5.7% of reports STEERING 55 · 5.7% · 4 crash reports 1 fire reports SERVICE BRAKES: 51 complaints, 5.3% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 51 · 5.3% · 3 crash reports SUSPENSION: 42 complaints, 4.4% of reports SUSPENSION 42 · 4.4% · 6 crash reports AIR BAGS: 40 complaints, 4.2% of reports AIR BAGS 40 · 4.2% · 26 crash reports POWER TRAIN: 35 complaints, 3.6% of reports POWER TRAIN 35 · 3.6% · 1 crash reports 1 fire reports STRUCTURE: 27 complaints, 2.8% of reports STRUCTURE 27 · 2.8% · 1 crash reports VISIBILITY: 20 complaints, 2.1% of reports VISIBILITY 20 · 2.1% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 676 complaints, 70.2% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 676 · 70.2% · 30 crash reports 10 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 457 47.5% 1 crashes · 4 fires
ENGINE 55 5.7% 1 crashes · 5 fires
STEERING 55 5.7% 4 crashes · 1 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 51 5.3% 3 crashes · 0 fires
SUSPENSION 42 4.4% 6 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 40 4.2% 26 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 35 3.6% 1 crashes · 1 fires
STRUCTURE 27 2.8% 1 crashes · 0 fires
VISIBILITY 20 2.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 676 70.2% 30 crashes · 10 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2002; the first recall shown was reported in Feb 2005. 2002-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2003-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2003-Q3: 23 owner reports 23 2003-Q4: 17 owner reports 17 2004-Q1: 19 owner reports 19 2004-Q2: 24 owner reports 24 2004-Q3: 21 owner reports 21 2004-Q4: 28 owner reports 28 2005-Q1: 30 owner reports 30 2005-Q2: 19 owner reports 19 2005-Q3: 31 owner reports 31 2005-Q4: 37 owner reports 37 2006-Q1: 27 owner reports 27 2006-Q2: 25 owner reports 25 2006-Q3: 23 owner reports 23 2006-Q4: 29 owner reports 29 2007-Q1: 19 owner reports 19 2007-Q2: 23 owner reports 23 2007-Q3: 30 owner reports 30 2007-Q4: 28 owner reports 28 2008-Q1: 28 owner reports 28 2008-Q2: 25 owner reports 25 2008-Q3: 28 owner reports 28 2008-Q4: 36 owner reports 36 2009-Q1: 22 owner reports 22 2009-Q2: 22 owner reports 22 2009-Q3: 28 owner reports 28 2009-Q4: 30 owner reports 30 2010-Q1: 28 owner reports 28 2010-Q2: 25 owner reports 25 2010-Q3: 17 owner reports 17 2010-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2011-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2011-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2011-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2011-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2012-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2012-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2012-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2012-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2013-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2013-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2013-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2013-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2014-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2014-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2014-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2014-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2015-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2015-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2015-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2015-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2016-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2016-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2016-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 2002 Apr 2024 Recall campaign 05V030000 ◆ Recall campaign 05V030000 Recall campaign 06E026000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E026000 Recall campaign 06E056000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E056000 Recall campaign 08E050000 ◆ Recall campaign 08E050000 Recall campaign 09E012000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E012000 Recall campaign 09E025000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E025000 Recall campaign 12E007000 ◆ Recall campaign 12E007000 Investigation AQ10001 ● Investigation AQ10001
  • Campaign 05V030000 was reported 743 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 08E050000 was reported 1,671 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 09E025000 was reported 1,944 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2002-Q4 Owner reports 1
2003-Q1 Owner reports 6
2003-Q2 Owner reports 8
2003-Q3 Owner reports 23
2003-Q4 Owner reports 17
2004-Q1 Owner reports 19
2004-Q2 Owner reports 24
2004-Q3 Owner reports 21
2004-Q4 Owner reports 28
2005-Q1 Owner reports 30
2005-Q2 Owner reports 19
2005-Q3 Owner reports 31
2005-Q4 Owner reports 37
2006-Q1 Owner reports 27
2006-Q2 Owner reports 25
2006-Q3 Owner reports 23
2006-Q4 Owner reports 29
2007-Q1 Owner reports 19
2007-Q2 Owner reports 23
2007-Q3 Owner reports 30
2007-Q4 Owner reports 28
2008-Q1 Owner reports 28
2008-Q2 Owner reports 25
2008-Q3 Owner reports 28
2008-Q4 Owner reports 36
2009-Q1 Owner reports 22
2009-Q2 Owner reports 22
2009-Q3 Owner reports 28
2009-Q4 Owner reports 30
2010-Q1 Owner reports 28
2010-Q2 Owner reports 25
2010-Q3 Owner reports 17
2010-Q4 Owner reports 13
2011-Q1 Owner reports 12
2011-Q2 Owner reports 12
2011-Q3 Owner reports 8
2011-Q4 Owner reports 6
2012-Q1 Owner reports 12
2012-Q2 Owner reports 12
2012-Q3 Owner reports 8
2012-Q4 Owner reports 6
2013-Q1 Owner reports 12
2013-Q2 Owner reports 5
2013-Q3 Owner reports 4
2013-Q4 Owner reports 5
2014-Q1 Owner reports 6
2014-Q2 Owner reports 7
2014-Q3 Owner reports 3
2014-Q4 Owner reports 11
2015-Q1 Owner reports 4
2015-Q2 Owner reports 4
2015-Q3 Owner reports 5
2015-Q4 Owner reports 5
2016-Q1 Owner reports 5
2016-Q2 Owner reports 9
2016-Q3 Owner reports 3
2016-Q4 Owner reports 3
2017-Q1 Owner reports 1
2017-Q2 Owner reports 3
2017-Q3 Owner reports 3
2017-Q4 Owner reports 2
2018-Q1 Owner reports 4
2018-Q3 Owner reports 3
2018-Q4 Owner reports 1
2019-Q1 Owner reports 2
2019-Q3 Owner reports 1
2019-Q4 Owner reports 1
2020-Q1 Owner reports 1
2020-Q2 Owner reports 1
2020-Q4 Owner reports 1
2023-Q1 Owner reports 1
2024-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 05V030000
Recall campaign 1 06E026000
Recall campaign 1 06E056000
Recall campaign 1 08E050000
Recall campaign 1 09E012000
Recall campaign 1 09E025000
Recall campaign 1 12E007000
Defect investigation 1 AQ10001
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (7)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 05V030000

    Report date
    Component:
    LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
    Consequence:
    IF NOT LATCHED PROPERLY, THE DOOR MAY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IF AN OCCUPANT FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE, PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
    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 PASS THE EVALUATION WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A STICKER WILL BE AFFIXED TO THE REAR DOORS ADVISING THE OWNERS TO USE THE RECOMMENDED LUBRICANT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E026000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E056000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
    Remedy:
    UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 08E050000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 09E012000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 09E025000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 12E007000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    IF THE ASSEMBLY SEPARATES DURING INSTALLATION, IT COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE INSTALLER. IF THE ASSEMBLY SEPARATES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT COULD RESULT IN SECONDARY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL SET UP PROCEDURES TO INSPECT, REPAIR, AND/OR REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE OWNER. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-800-999-3903.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 963 complaints · page 1 of 39

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources