MYRModel Year Report

2003 Ford Focus

● Typical for this model
2003 Ford Focus
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
977
Recalls
7

Campaigns on file for 2003

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Electrical system

55% of complaints

Complaints per year

1999: 11 complaints 1999 2000: 3,686 complaints 2001: 1,761 complaints 2002: 939 complaints 2003: 977 complaints 2003 977 2004: 387 complaints 2005: 441 complaints 2006: 205 complaints 2007: 391 complaints 2008: 250 complaints 2008 2009: 229 complaints 2010: 287 complaints 2011: 113 complaints 2011 2012: 3,766 complaints 2013: 2,111 complaints 2014: 2,601 complaints 2014 2015: 1,019 complaints 2016: 1,181 complaints 2017: 896 complaints 2017 2018: 833 complaints
1999: 11 complaints 1999 2000: 3,686 complaints 2001: 1,761 complaints 2001 2002: 939 complaints 2003: 977 complaints 2003 977 2004: 387 complaints 2005: 441 complaints 2005 2006: 205 complaints 2007: 391 complaints 2007 2008: 250 complaints 2009: 229 complaints 2009 2010: 287 complaints 2011: 113 complaints 2011 2012: 3,766 complaints 2013: 2,111 complaints 2013 2014: 2,601 complaints 2015: 1,019 complaints 2015 2016: 1,181 complaints 2017: 896 complaints 2017 2018: 833 complaints
1999: 11 complaints 1999 2000: 3,686 complaints 2000 2001: 1,761 complaints 2001 2002: 939 complaints 2002 2003: 977 complaints 2003 977 2004: 387 complaints 2004 2005: 441 complaints 2005 2006: 205 complaints 2006 2007: 391 complaints 2007 2008: 250 complaints 2008 2009: 229 complaints 2009 2010: 287 complaints 2010 2011: 113 complaints 2011 2012: 3,766 complaints 2012 2013: 2,111 complaints 2013 2014: 2,601 complaints 2014 2015: 1,019 complaints 2015 2016: 1,181 complaints 2016 2017: 896 complaints 2017 2018: 833 complaints 2018

2003: 977 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
199911
20003,686
20011,761
2002939
2003977
2004387
2005441
2006205
2007391
2008250
2009229
2010287
2011113
20123,766
20132,111
20142,601
20151,019
20161,181
2017896
2018833

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Electrical system

55% · 536 reports

Most commonly citing ignition and switch.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

wiring harness fused together

NHTSA ODI report, 2024-05-04

Latches/locks/linkages

8% · 83 reports

Most commonly citing latch and lock.

FIRE

Steering

8% · 76 reports

Most commonly citing column and anti-theft device.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Service brakes

7% · 70 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Engine and engine cooling

6% · 60 reports

Most commonly citing engine and exhaust system.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Safety timeline

7 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2005-03-09Latches/locks/linkages05V030000 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…

    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.…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2006-08-04Fuel system, gasoline06E056000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2008-12-17Exterior lighting08E050000 K2 motor is recalling 1,921 aftermarket headlamps of various models sold for use on the above listed vehicles. These headlamps are missing the amber side reflex reflector which fails to conform…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. I
    2010-11-18Audit queryClosed 2015-12-28 Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
  8. R
    2012-03-30Equipment12E007000 Ride control, LLC (Ride control) is recalling certain readymount assemblies, p/n 746641MT and 746646MT, with corresponding aftermarket customer part numbers: gabriel G56944 and gabriel G56945, and…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2003 Ford Focus — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Electrical system: 536 reports on file for this year.
  • Latches/locks/linkages: 83 reports on file for this year.
  • Steering: 76 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 05V030000 · Latches/locks/linkages
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E056000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 08E050000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 12E007000 · Equipment
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2003 Ford Focus reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Ford Focus is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford Focus?
The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 55% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2003 Ford Focus have?
7 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.