| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2003 Ford Focus repairs by problem area
Engine (42%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (8%)
Brakes and Traction Control (4%)
Suspension and Steering (23%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (18%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (1%)
Other (4%)
Chart based on 332 repairs.
2003 Ford Focus engine repair cost distribution
$2500+ (0%)
$1000 - $2499 (4%)
$500 - $999 (10%)
$100 - $499 (39%)
< $100 (47%)
Chart based on 123 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Wagon
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 143840 mi C $1300 |
Water pump replaced. |
| 91000 mi US $294 |
Leaking engineered plastic mono bloc assembly housing the thermostat and where hoses are connected. Mono bloc, thermostat and gaskets were replaced. |
| 117000 mi US $80 |
Exhaust system bracket rusted off. Part not available so welded new bracket in place.. |
| 106000 mi US $960 |
Heater core was shot and leaked coolant. The whole heater core had to be replaced along with several hoses. Also had a leaky valve cover gasket replaced. |
| 125000 mi | Car had CEL, probably 02 sensor. |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Wagon
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 203000 mi | Exhaust was getting too rusty to be worth repair |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Wagon
110-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 78120 mi | water pump leaking - and body work needed to be done too so decided to cut my losses and trade it in. |
| 57300 mi | Replaced transmission mount. |
| 57600 mi US $2300 |
O2 sensor EGR sensor & valve Vaccuum solenoid |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Sedan
145-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 133000 mi US $425 |
EGR valve replacement. |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Sedan
145-horsepower 2.3L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 144000 mi US $600 |
The whole system was checked out in a tune up and all spark plugs were replaced, the serpentine belt and 2 ignition coils were replaced. Update: check engine light came back on within a week, and now it doesn't start at all. |
| 121700 mi | new engine mount |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Sedan
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 170500 mi US $84 |
Car has a miss sometimes when started also starting to sputter when leaving a red light or stop sign. Plan to try plugs and wires, then coil packs. |
| 172000 mi US $115 |
Car would miss at different times , weather or conditions didn't matter . replaced coil and plugs . Coils had cracks all over but problem still happens when it wants to.Still working on problem. Changed fuel filter too . No help. |
| 172200 mi US $125 |
Timing belt broke replaced it along with water pump,tensioner,serpentine belt and all seals. Earlier misfire was because it had jumped a couple of teeth. |
| 99000 mi US $590 |
radiator and water pump leak |
| 104000 mi US $560 |
waterpump faulty and timing belt was soon due for replacement so had both replaced replaced coolant hoses. one had started to fail, so as a precautionary I thought it best to replace all of them. |
| 35340 mi C $200 |
Replace belt tensioner and idler pull. |
| 76260 mi C $50 |
Replaced leaking water outlet housing. |
| 133000 mi US $250 |
Heater Thermostat Housing Leaking, causing large loss of coolant. |
| 114200 mi US $60 |
Thermostat housing was cracked. Replaced Housing and thermostat. Also replaced valve cover gasket. Cracked T-stat housing may have been caused by oil seeping from valve cover getting on Tstat housing gasket, causing it to swell. |
| 73000 mi US $922 |
engine making squealing sound. Valve cover leaking. Dealer replaced timing belt and tensioner,serpentine belt and tensioner, valve cover gasket. |
| 138000 mi US $50 |
Drive belt tensioner was noisy and replaced. |
| 106000 mi US $160 |
replace entire exhaust system, front to back. |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Sedan
110-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 142500 mi US $25 |
Thermostat failed, stuck closed, and required replacement. |
| 99700 mi US $185 |
Water pump leaking. Replaced T-belt while apart. Engine mounts collapsed. |
| 133300 mi US $15 |
PCV hose 90 degree elbow disintegrated causing a vacuum leak. Car would not idle properly. |
| 148300 mi US $200 |
Developed intermittent miss, coil pack defective. |
| 55000 mi US $800 |
new clutch |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Sedan
110-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 82000 mi US $110 |
Replaced right passenger side motor mount. Bad vibration with engine running and growling noise around right turns. |
| 103000 mi US $40 |
Hesitant downshifting when coasting - replaced throttle position sensor that had clearly failed. Smoother acceleration and mild relief of shifting problem. Update: later fixed hesitation when found a bad plug wire. |
| 148000 mi US $100 |
car needed new passenger side engine mount, common on old Foci |
| 149000 mi | Cheap-arsed SPI engine finally dropped a valve seat, causing enough damage to not make it worth repairing...very common problem Ford refused to acknowledge, I inew I was "rolling the dice" every time I drove it. |
| 60000 mi US $140 |
EG pipe broke. Purchased new one from local Ford dealership. Rubber tube connected to the engine had broken off. Previous owner had stuffed the broken end with wad of electrical tape. The air wasn't able to circulate through the engine properly. |
| 76700 mi US $13 |
Coolant Temperature Sensor needed to be replaced - was running too cool |
| 87000 mi US $330 |
Car was misfiring on cyl 1. Also smelled strongly of anti-freeze. Found a loose clamp and the coolant thermostat needed to be replaced. Was missing the motor mount on the driver side. Due to damage from it being missing, the passenger side motor mount was replaced as well. |
| 93300 mi US $56 |
Rough starts and rough idle. Fuel pump replaced. Cracked head gasket. Nothing done yet |
| 93900 mi US $800 |
Engine had cracked head gasket. Cause unknown. Had the heads resurfaced and repaired using a head gasket kit. |
| 118000 mi | Cylinder 2 misfiring. Spark plugs, wires, and ignition coil replaced. |
| 123000 mi US $325 |
Radiator hoses were dry rotted. Water pump died. Decided to not replace. |
| 27000 mi US $100 |
Ignition lock cylinder would not turn to the on position without tapping the key for several minutes. Ordered new cylinder at http://www.sandiegolockandsafe.com/fordfocus.html by emailing them a picture of the key. |
| 66000 mi US $900 |
Clutch replaced |
| 53000 mi US $457 |
car was misfiring and ignition coil and ignition wires replaced |
| 54000 mi US $175 |
EGR tube had split by exhaust manifold, tube and gasket were replaced. Parts were purchased from Ford dealer by local shop. |
| 62000 mi US $110 |
error code requiring fuel cap to be replaced |
| 70000 mi US $260 |
motor mount needed to be replaced P0456 failure code |
| 136000 mi US $1200 |
A valve seat came out of the cylinder head, ruined the head and 1 piston. Replaced head, piston, connecting rod, rings |
| 158000 mi US $500 |
timing belt tensioner failed. |
| 177000 mi US $450 |
water pump started leaking, replaced |
| 105000 mi US $169 |
timing belt & serpetine belt & plugs/wires because of a misfiring spark plug |
| 139000 mi US $100 |
Crankshaft Sensor went bad and needed to be replaced. After replacement, car has been running fine. |
| 143000 mi | entire exhaust system, heat shield for exhaust |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Sedan
| 93000 mi US $65 |
Replace gasket including grommets |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Hatch
170-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD
| 69002 mi US $165 |
Thermostat housing and a temp sensor. Thermostat housing and a temp sensor. |
| 136000 mi US $1200 |
Thermostat housing cracked and leaking. |
| 95000 mi US $900 |
Heat shield over cat was loose. Shield was removed as dealer suggested proper repair would have required a new cat. Throttle was sticking, particularly in cold weather, on tip-in. At open throttle (to any degree), sticking would not occur, but opening closed throttle would require abnormal force. Throttle body was dirty, system was cleaned. Heat failing to work initially, but root cause was sticking thermostat. Thermostat replaced. |
| 108000 mi | Focus SVT decided that it was tired of being a car and would rather be a bonfire. It always had a flair for the dramatic. Totaled. |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Hatch
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 151460 mi C $200 |
Replaced leaking flex pipe. |
| 153760 mi C $70 |
Replaced blown heater coolant tube (on top of radiator). |
| 156820 mi C $50 |
Replaced lower torque mount and driver's side transmission mount. Did not replace hydraulic engine mount on passenger's side, noise persists. Replaced passenger side hydraulic engine mount with aftermarket part. Resolved engine noise and vibration for about 3000kms and failed. Garbage part, should've known better. |
| 159960 mi | Replaced aftermarket passengers side engine mount with part from Ford, engine noise and vibration eliminated. |
| 177940 mi C $200 |
Replaced aftermarket lower torque strut that failed less than a year after install. Replaced with genuine Ford part. Should’ve known better. |
| 182280 mi C $30 |
Replaced faulty EGR vacuum solenoid. |
| 56000 mi US $100 |
Went in for 60K service and brake issue. Dealership also diagnosed leaking cam cover gasket. |
| 84300 mi US $150 |
Engine oil leak. |
| 34658 mi | Fuel pump and sender replaced in response to check engine light coming on numerous occasions after refueling. Covered under warranty. |
| 43623 mi C $221 |
To correct annoying rattle just over 3000 RPM, exhaust flex pipe replacement. This was an ongoing annoyance, just couldn't pinpoint the source. If I had made an issue sooner, would have been warranty. |
| 60636 mi C $360 |
Ignition coil pack and connector failure. Limped to dealer on 2 cylinders. Ignition coil pack and connector failure. Limped to dealer on 2 cylinders. |
| 73780 mi C $165 |
Rattling serpentine belt tensioner. Replaced by dealer. |
| 81220 mi C $100 |
Engine vibration when cold only, Replace RH engine mount. Concern fixed. Tech also found RH axle center support Bearing worn; replaced at same time, paid one deductible. |
| 105000 mi US $60 |
Thermostat housing cracked and leaked around o-ring. Thermostat housing replaced by owner. |
| 24000 mi | Cooling Fan loose and cut hole in radiator causing leak of coolant (fixed under warranty) |
| 24500 mi | Air Flow sensor defective FREE under warranty |
| 34000 mi US $900 |
Ignition Lock defective unable to unlock |
| 70000 mi US $250 |
Right Engine Mount broken |
| 98000 mi US $98 |
Cracked and leaking coolant expansion tank Cracked and Leaking coolant expansion tank |
| 98825 mi | Timing chain skipped timing on OHC, engine dead |
| 77500 mi C $65 |
Replaced valve cover gasket (dried out and minor leak) - self |
| 83480 mi | Repaired ignition coil harness - wire corroded, detached from connector plug. Second wire to fail at a connector plug. Got home on two cylinders, spliced in a wire. Seems a common issue with this car.... |
| 119040 mi C $150 |
Regular maintenance, original egr valve went. easily replaced, made a big difference on my mpg. |
| 166160 mi C $156 |
Replaced coil. Coil was cracked and motor could not sustain load without missfiring. Also caused the speedometer to go crazy. |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Hatch
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 161000 mi US $300 |
P0340 camshaft position sensor code. The root problem was a worn and wobbly crank pulley. The wobble caused an uneven crank pulse which the OBD software misinterpreted as a bad cam sensor. |
| 71000 mi US $350 |
Ignition cylinder would not turn Locksmith installed aftermnarket because for replacement is same junk as original that broke. |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Hatch
110-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 166000 mi US $25 |
Thermostat housing cracked and coolant was leaking out as fast as I was putting it in. Idler pulley seized up and threw my serpentine belt. Had to be towed home at 5 am costing 105 dollars. |
| 169000 mi US $300 |
The head gasket seals and the symptoms were mixed oil coolant leaking under car. |
2003 Ford Focus 4-door
4-cylinder automatic 2WD
| 99500 mi US $104 |
Replaced imrc vacuum selenoid |
| 102300 mi US $30 |
Replaced rear motor mount |
2003 Ford Focus 2dr Hatch
170-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD
| 81200 mi US $500 |
Water pump impeller broke apart resulting in uncontrolled water temperature when driven, was able to drive short distances and shut off and cool down and make it to repair facility. |
| 40000 mi US $95 |
I had a locksmith replace the defective ignition cylinder every Focus built between 2000 and 2005 came equipped with. It should be a recall but Ford has refused. A class action lawsuit is being filed. |
| 60000 mi | Junk plastic thermostat housing cracked again and had to be replaced. Replaced with another junk plastic thermostat housing. |
| 80000 mi US $1352 |
Timing belt, water pump, serpentine belt, all associated tensioners, hoses, cooling system service and a broken SVT-specific exhaust bracket was replaced. The bracket took several days to find since virtually all replacement parts for SVTF have stopped. |
| 110300 mi US $50 |
Terrible misfire only under load. CEL did not show up until ~3 key cycles later. Bad coil connector, factory wiring was pulled too tight and broke, causing to run on 2 cylinders. Replaced connector and pigtail. Also replaced fuel filter. |
| 114000 mi US $12 |
CEL for O2 sensor. Noticed broken wiring near O2 sensor connector. Connector was disassembled, wiring soldered and reassembled. No parts replaced. |
| 118300 mi | CEL for O2 sensor slow response. Fixed by oil change (4000 mi since previous) |
| 137000 mi | CEL for IMRC. Cleaned MAF, air filter, throttle body, IAC. CEL is still intermittent |
| 147000 mi US $100 |
Tensioner pulley locked up. Replaced tensioner, idler, belt |
| 149000 mi US $25 |
Replace lower engine/trans mount |
| 177000 mi US $25 |
Coolant crossover pipe |
| 60000 mi US $2 |
An o-ring on the thermostat housing started leaking. I replaced the O-ring. |
| 65000 mi | Fixed coolant hose leak, thermostat leak, and leaking valve cover. |
| 62000 mi US $65 |
Faulty 02 Sensor - Replaced |
2003 Ford Focus 2dr Hatch
145-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 123000 mi | Hesitation during acceleration below 2500rpm. Occasional near stall during warm starts. Haven't fixed yet. |
| 90000 mi US $80 |
Check engine light would not turn off, mechanic cleaned throttle body. Check engine light came back on a month later. It pops on regularly |
| 90000 mi | CEL issue not resolved. |
2003 Ford Focus 2dr Hatch
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 182000 mi US $28 |
Replaced ignition coil to correct intermittent misfire. |
| 202000 mi US $150 |
Replaced PCV valve and hoses. Engin runs better but check engine light is still on. |
| 202000 mi | CEL on |
| 70281 mi US $245 |
Replaced Valve cover gasket. |
| 102000 mi US $170 |
Thermostat would stay open and the car wouldn't get warm. |
| 109000 mi US $200 |
Thermostat housing replaced |
| 117000 mi US $120 |
Cooling System. The Coolant Return Tank, the Heater Hose Outlet, and the plastic screw for the radiator started leaking all within a month of each other. |
| 34500 mi | Ignition key lock in the steering column broke and was repaired under warranty. |
| 108000 mi US $150 |
Thermostat housing cracked and had to be replaced. |
| 108000 mi US $310 |
leaking water pump |
| 127000 mi US $150 |
Passenger side motor mount failed causing excessive vibration. |
2003 Ford Focus 2dr Hatch
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 99000 mi US $50 |
Thermostat housing was leaking. The seal between the plastic housing and the engine head was broken. |
| 116000 mi US $50 |
Rear motor mount was bad |
2003 Ford Focus 2dr Hatch
110-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 48000 mi US $60 |
Passenger motor mount defective. |
| 50000 mi US $50 |
Replaced defective DDPFE valve, which controls EGR valve gases. |
| 58000 mi US $60 |
Replaced faulty ignition coil pack. Also replaced rear transmission mount discovered to be defective while above repairs were made. |
| 143000 mi US $45 |
I replaced the broken air filter box. Previous owner had broken it trying to remove the cover. I got the replacement at a salvage yard. |
| 146300 mi US $380 |
I replaced the cat and put on a cat back exhaust. |
| 147000 mi US $50 |
Replaced the oil pan. The old one had so much rust I was worried it might start leaking at any time. I replaced the flex pipe between the Cat and the Cat Back. |
2003 Ford Focus
4-cylinder automatic 2WD
| 73000 mi | Coolant was leaking slowly out gasket on undercarriage. Gasket tightened. |
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