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2003 Ford Focus body problems

40 complaints (4% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 59,246. 2 crashes reported.

owner complaints
40
of this car's complaints
4%
typical mileage
59,246
crashes
2
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Body
    13
  • Body: trunk lid
    7
  • Body: door
    4
  • Frame and members: underbody shields
    3
  • Frame and members
    3
  • Body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments
    1
  • Body: hatchback/liftgate
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Ford Focus body problems in other years

19992005201020152018

Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Ford Focus body

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Water leak 5

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 2003 Ford Focus owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Feb 6, 2023 · Body · NC

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 recall due to parts. I would like to know what steps do I need to take to get my vehicle repaired for this recall!

Filed Jun 24, 2020 · Body · 175,000 miles · WI

Drivers side rear door will not latch just flies open.

Filed Feb 26, 2020 · Body, Suspension · MA

2003 ford focus. Consumer writes in regards to inadequate structural steel. *ld the consumer stated the steel on the control arms were poorly manufactured. While driving the vehicle, it suddenly dead stopped, turned right, making a cracking noise. The control arm had snapped and dug into the tar, braking the tie rod and creasing the breakline.

Filed Sep 12, 2018 · Body, Steering · 109,000 miles · PA

I was leaving a parking lot doing no more than 5 MPH when the car made a sudden jerking motion. Had the car towed to a garage. The damages were severe rust, sub frame rotted, right front axle broken, right front control arm broken, sway bar bent. The tow driver said the wheels could have fallen off my car and I could have been seriously injured or killed because of the thing that went wrong. I put myself and my family in danger with this death trap. Supposedly this car was inspected february 2018. With everything that went wrong with it and the damages, I dont see how it could have been. I believe there to be fraud involved and believe this matter should be investigated further for putting lives in danger. I paid $3,000 for this car in the middle of feb. 2018. It is now august and it had incurred $3,000 in damages. I sold the car for salvage at $125

Filed May 31, 2017 · Body · 190,000 miles · MI

Both rear doors on my 2003 ford focus do not stay latched and will fly open during driving maneuvers. I cannot have passengers in the back seat of my vehicle because of fear that they could fall out while driving. My model and year were recalled by ford in 2005 for this issue. When I recently took my vehicle to the ford dealer to have the issue evaluated I was told there was no issue with the vehicle. The service manager said they didn't need to evaluate the vehicle for the recall from 2005 because the VIN was not in their system and would not report the issue to ford directly because it was not a safety concern.

Filed Nov 4, 2016 · Body, Brakes · 34,000 miles · PA

The sub frame broke while driving the car. Entire sub frame had to be replaced. Almost caused an accident. Struts had to be replaced. Caliper and rotor had to be replaced. Control arm had to be replaced. Just replaced the ignition switch tumblers after the switch locked up and refused to work. There are no recalls listed for this car. Service manager said that focus are notorious for these problems. Car has 34,000 miles on it. The brake line running from the front of the car to the rear rusted out causing a lose of brakes. The car is dangerous.

Filed Jul 2, 2015 · Body · 100,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. While driving at 20 MPH, the passenger side door became ajar. The contact was able to safely pull the vehicle off the roadway to close the door. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 05v030000 (latches/locks/linkages). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Jun 24, 2014 · Body, Engine · NE

In march 2013 I took my ford focus in to replace motor mounts, returned in april for the same awful vibration while heater was on and while idling. The mechanic checked and found that one of the motor mounts was faulty and he replaced. I am taking my focus back for the third time because it is still vibrating while in idle while the AC is on. The first few times after he replaced the faulty motor mount it did the same thing and the mechanic told me that it'll just run like that and that he ran a diagnostic and the transmission, all mounts look good. And my sometimes my steering is off at 35 miles per hour. I only use my focus for in town I don't use to travel out of city or state. I am not a mechanic but I am disabled and I need my car running good. I don't want to lose it. Thank you.

Filed May 28, 2014 · Body, Locks · 111,500 miles · OH

(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.

Filed Apr 21, 2014 · Body · 100,000 miles · MN

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact stated that part of the unibody was rusted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for inspection or repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 124,000.

Questions about the 2003 Ford Focus body

Does the 2003 Ford Focus have body problems?

Owners have filed 40 complaints about the body of the 2003 Ford Focus, 4% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2003 Ford Focus body problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 59,246 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2003 Ford Focus body?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Ford Focus have the most body problems?

The Ford Focus model years with the most body complaints are 2012 (332 complaints), 2000 (137 complaints) and 2013 (84 complaints).

Other 2003 Ford Focus problems

Electrical 522Locks 82Engine 78Steering 73Brakes 62Suspension 49Transmission 48Airbags 46Visibility 25Tires 22Seats 18Lights 16Seat belts 16Fuel system 15Acceleration 14Wheels 10Driver assistance 3

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