2003 Ford Focus: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2003 Ford Focus: 1 recall, 977 owner complaints and up to 27 mpg combined.
Recalls
1 vehicle recall from the manufacturer, plus 6 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #05V030000 · 2005 · 589,932 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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…
6 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Exterior lights Equipment recall #06E026000 · 2006 · 61,944 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
Why it matters: Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
The fix: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006.
Fuel system Equipment recall #06E056000 · 2006 · 58,640 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain aftermarket fuel filters sold under the purolator brand name, p/n f65277, shipped from January 16 through June 2, 2006, for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Due to incorrect design, the quick connectors May not fully seat with the tube interface, even though the person making the connection May believe that the quick connector is fully attached.
Why it matters: Failure of this connection could lead to fuel spillage and, in the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.
The fix: Ufi will notify owners and replace the filters free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2006.
Exterior lights Equipment recall #08E050000 · 2008 · 1,921 vehicles
What's wrong: These headlamps are missing the amber side reflex reflector which fails to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Why it matters: Without the amber side reflex reflectors, the lighting visibility May be affected, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The fix: K2 motor will notify owners and offer a full refund. The recall began on decemeber 17, 2008.
Exterior lights Equipment recall #09E012000 · 2009 · 16,270 vehicles
What's wrong: These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
Why it matters: Decreased lighting visibility May result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009.
Exterior lights Equipment recall #09E025000 · 2009 · 42,540 vehicles
What's wrong: Dope, Inc. is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
Why it matters: Decreased lighting visibility May result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Dope, Inc. will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009.
Equipment Equipment recall #12E007000 · 2012 · 10,006 vehicles
What's wrong: The readymount assemblies were sold as aftermarket service equipment for use on certain 2000 through 2005 Ford focus vehicles. These assemblies were assembled with a nut without the necessary washer. The absence of the washer can allow the readymount assembly to pull apart the top mount.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 17 mention a fire, 51 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (522): the most common themes are door / lock issues (212), stalls / loses power (36).
- Latches & locks (82): the most common themes are door / lock issues (64).
- Steering (73): the most common themes are steering problems (50).
- Engine & cooling (60): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (20), noise or vibration (9), fire / smoke (8).
The 2003 Ford Focus has 977 owner complaints, ranking #8 of 20 Focus model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 1105). Complaints peaked in 2005 (121 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 56,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2002 (939 complaints, 1 recalls), 2004 (387 complaints, 1 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 32 | 27 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 30 | 26 | Regular |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 30 | 25 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 28 | 24 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 29 | 24 | Regular |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 27 | 23 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 23 | 20 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2003 Ford Focus.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2003 Ford Focus have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall for the 2003 Ford Focus, plus 6 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2003 Ford Focus problems?
Owners have filed 977 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (522), latches & locks (82), steering (73).
What gas mileage does the 2003 Ford Focus get?
EPA ratings run up to 27 mpg combined (2.0 L, Manual 5-spd), across 7 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2003 Ford Focus repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.