2003 Ford Focus Electrical System:ignition:switch Problems
NHTSA component category: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How electrical system:ignition:switch ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 977 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2003 Ford Focus overview page.
What owners report
“IGNITION SWITCH ON AN 03 FORD FOCUS ZX3 LOCKS UP. IT WAS FINE ONE DAY AND THE NEXT IT WASN'T. THE CAR WILL START BUT…”NHTSA complaint 10100101 — filed 11/17/2004
“2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED UP. KEY WILL NOT TURN, LEAVING ME WITH TOWING COSTS TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP.”NHTSA complaint 10098340 — filed 11/05/2004
“CONSUMER PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD…”NHTSA complaint 10094902 — filed 10/01/2004
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Electrical System:ignition:switch complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2003 Ford Focus have electrical system:ignition:switch problems?
Electrical System:ignition:switch is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2003 Ford Focus: 98 of 977 complaints on file (10%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2003 Ford Focus have in total?
977 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 52 involved a crash, 17 involved a fire, 51 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's electrical system:ignition:switch category include?
NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.
