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Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1. Home
  2. >Ford
  3. >Focus
  4. >2003
  5. >Engine

2003 Ford Focus Engine Problems

Engine complaints and recalls from NHTSA

Summary

The 2003 Ford Focus has 65 NHTSA engine complaints and 0 engine-related recalls.

Problem Areas for the 2003 Ford Focus

Electrical
484
Steering
74
Engine
65
Brakes
60
Suspension
46
Airbags
43
Powertrain
42
Latches & Locks
40
Other
30
Structure
28
Visibility
19
Seats
18
Tires
17
Seat Belts
12
Fuel System
12
Lights
11
Speed Control
9
Wheels
7

65

Complaints

0

Recalls

0

Injuries Reported

Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026

All Engine Complaints

Date ↓ComponentSummary
Mar 19, 2019ENGINEREPLACED THE CRANK CENSOR AND IT WON'T START
May 26, 2017ENGINETHE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. COULD NOT TURN OFF. OUT OF TOWN SO THIS WAS DEFINATELY AN UNS...
Aug 8, 2016ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMCAR STARTS BUT WHEN PUT IN GEAR, STALLS OUT. ENGINE WILL RUN WITH FOOT ON GAS PEDAL BUT STALLS OUR W...
Mar 27, 2016ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A DRAGGING NOISE AND...
Dec 4, 2015ENGINETHE PISTON SHATTERED AT 109,000 MILES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND MANY MORE COMPLAINTS ...
Apr 4, 2015ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMCAR COMES TO A TRAFFIC STOP AND DIES. HAD BEEN SHAKING PRIOR AND HAD A DIAGNOSTIC DONE ONLY TO SPEND...
Mar 20, 2014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,STRUCTUREIN MARCH 2013 I TOOK MY FORD FOCUS IN TO REPLACE MOTOR MOUNTS, RETURNED IN APRIL FOR THE SAME AWFUL ...
Feb 3, 2014ENGINETL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MP...
Mar 14, 2013ENGINEBOUGHT THE 2003 FORD FOCUS NEW FROM MALLON FORD (CURRENTLY LAKEWOOD FORD), IN TACOMA, WA. CAR ADVERT...
Nov 27, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGTHIS VEHICLE WITH 110K MILES TURNS OUT THE VALVE SEAT OF CYLINDER #4 BROKE OFF INSIDE THE ENGINE AND...
Apr 1, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGI HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING UNIT IS CRACKED. WHEN IT CRACKED, AND STARTED T...
Mar 9, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHO...
Oct 22, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGSAFETY HAZARD-- UPPER MOTOR MOUNT ON 2003 FORD FOCUS MALFUNCTIONS/ DISINTEGRATES WITHIN THREE MONTHS...
May 23, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RU...
Mar 20, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING ...
Aug 11, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCOOLANT LEAK AND ENGINE OVERHEATING. FORTUNATELY NOTICED IT BEFORE THE ENGINE SEIZED. STOPPED VEHICL...
May 4, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2003 FORD FOCUS, EARLY MORNING SQUEAKING, MID DAY, VIBRATING, LATE AFTERNOON, CAR STARTS TO SHAKE EX...
Nov 27, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGNO EVENTS LED TO THIS IGNITION WILL NOT TURN - HAPPENS EACH TIME I ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR - AT TI...
Nov 6, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGI WAS SEATING IN A TACOBELL DRIVETHRU, WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY ENGINE HAD A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FA...
Apr 24, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2003 FORD FOCUS CAR HAS (2) DIFFERENT TYPE SPARK PLUGS INSTALLED AT FACTORY CAUSING CAR NOT TO RUN N...

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