| 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%)
Select a problem area
- Engine
- Transmission and Drivetrain
- Brakes and Traction Control
- Suspension and Steering
- Electrical and Air Conditioning
- Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim
- Other
Chart based on 332 repairs.
2003 Ford Focus electrical repair cost distribution
$2500+ (0%)
$1000 - $2499 (4%)
$500 - $999 (16%)
$100 - $499 (33%)
< $100 (47%)
Chart based on 55 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
| 102000 mi US $76 |
There was an electrical problem whereby when the brake lights came on the radio would die. It appears to have been a loose ground between the engine and the body. Also caused the engine to freak out. |
| 125000 mi | Blower for the AC was not working. Replaced one burnt fuse for the AC, did not fix. All was disclosed to buyer but he bought anyway. |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Wagon
110-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 60000 mi US $15 |
Replaced turn signal relay |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Wagon
110-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 73960 mi C $80 |
Heater fan bearing making horrible squeaking sound - not loud but same effect as nails on a blackboard! Mechanic replaced fan with the one from my old focus parts car. It has also started making the noise now (Jan) but only on lowest setting |
| 57300 mi | New alternator. |
| 57600 mi US $2300 |
Battery, 3 relays, waterpump, thermostat, and resistor replaced |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Sedan
145-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 130900 mi US $700 |
Quite occasionally, car would not re-start when engine was hot. Would re-start when engine cooled to air temperature. Problem was undiagnosed for 2 repair visits. Problem finally diagnosed as weak battery. |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Sedan
145-horsepower 2.3L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 141500 mi US $596 |
My car just turned off on the highway. They said it was a bad alternator. They replaced it. |
| 140000 mi | alternator stopped charging, replaced with rebuilt unit |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Sedan
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 99400 mi | Power lock on driver's door was jamming, and would not allow the door to be opened unless the key was used. Problem solved by taking apart the door & latch assembly, cleaning, lubing, and replacing. |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Sedan
110-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 100 mi | none as far as I can tell. |
| 76000 mi | Alternator failure. Replaced. Replacement lasted 2 weeks, replaced again under warranty. |
| 78300 mi | Replacement alternator failed after approximately 1 month. Trunk release no longer works from dash switch. Cruise control stopped working. Checked for obvious problems - fuses, connections, etc; decided not to repair. Book value on car is less than 3K; not worth dumping money into. |
| 111000 mi | Alternator failed again, warranty item. R&R alternator. |
| 150000 mi US $40 |
Recharge AC |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Sedan
110-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 64000 mi US $100 |
replaced power window regulator of rear window |
| 96000 mi US $300 |
Replaced leaking Evaporator core and accumulator. Went to have it recharged and learned needed to replace more parts. Also did brakes all around. |
| 97000 mi US $175 |
Replaced suction hose and one liquid hose. Vacuumed and recharged system. Replaced accumulator, suction hose, and one liquid hose. Vacuumed and recharged system. |
| 143000 mi | heater blower motor |
| 47500 mi US $700 |
Rear door handles/locks |
| 118300 mi US $385 |
alternator died |
| 72000 mi US $20 |
A/C was not coming out cold. Bought a R134-A A/C recharge kit from auto parts store. This did the trick, and a month later, the A/C is still running cool. |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Hatch
170-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD
| 57000 mi US $600 |
Rear wiper motor crapped out, wiper stopped during use in the middle of the rear window. |
| 95000 mi US $900 |
Passenger side bulb out. Lights are SVT optional HID bulbs. Dealer was having trouble finding a bulb, asked me to try to source a bulb cheaper than his best quote. To be installed this week. |
| 96700 mi | Bulb installed. |
| 116000 mi US $550 |
Alternator failed and was replaced. |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Hatch
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 37188 mi C $25 |
horn is close to ground and fails after a few years (common repair for this car) |
| 55289 mi C $280 |
A/C line corroded through at a cheap steel clip causing cathodic corrosion (note to owners, you can remove the cheap steel clips (2) - they are installed only for ease of assembly at the factory) |
| 83080 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.... |
| 93000 mi C $500 |
Replaced alternator |
| 110000 mi US $175 |
Alternator replaced |
| 132500 mi US $100 |
Factory stereo died (Blaupunkt). Replaced with an aftermarket unit (Pioneer). |
| 5000 mi | AF/FM CD system LCD read out deffective FREE under warranty |
| 63860 mi C $15 |
Less that 1/2 the strips on the rear defroster work. I tried fixing it with a kit, got a couple to work but would need to take one or two more attempts to fix the problem I think. |
| 84300 mi US $150 |
Strange noise - AC clutch engaging / disengaging. AC recharge kit was purchased and used to recharge refrigerant. |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Hatch
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 66000 mi US $600 |
Alternator |
2003 Ford Focus 4dr Hatch
110-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 113000 mi US $280 |
compressor clutch...replaced whole unit |
| 117000 mi | Unknown, phantom electrical problem blew a 30 amp fuse, car stopped on freeway - twice! Replaced with a larger, 50 amp fuse. No problems since. New battery 4-9-16. |
| 169000 mi US $300 |
Had to replace something to do with the ac that stopped the freon from leaking out by the passenger side wheel. |
2003 Ford Focus 4-door
4-cylinder automatic 2WD
| 102300 mi US $100 |
Replaced wiper motor |
2003 Ford Focus 2dr Hatch
170-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD
| 8000 mi | The car would occasionally stall when bringing the vehicle to a stop. The computer was recalibrated, and mostly solved the problem. |
| 40000 mi US $100 |
The mist feature of the wiper switch no longer stopped the wipers in the down position. The in-dash CD changer jammed. The wiper motor and CD changer were both replaced under extended warranty. |
| 115000 mi US $200 |
Alternator failed. Failure was slow and progressive. Alternator continued to put out positive voltage and current, but not enough to make up what was used. At repair, alt put out 11.5V max. |
| 136000 mi US $100 |
Failing battery replaced with new AGM XS Power battery. |
| 97400 mi US $15 |
Front Wiper Relay Non-functional, replaced |
| 110300 mi | Bad alternator. Was Duralast lifetime warranty installed in 2008, replacing original. New pigtail/connector also installed in 2008. No cost to replace part. Also replaced serpentine belt. |
| 132700 mi US $3 |
Speedometer and Odometer not working when cold. Worked fine when warmed up. Removed and cleaned metal shavings from sensor. Issue has not returned. |
2003 Ford Focus 2dr Hatch
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 104500 mi US $187 |
Replaced starter. |
| 167000 mi US $130 |
Replaced starter |
| 82000 mi US $1060 |
Alternator died. Alternator died. Power steering pump leaking. |
2003 Ford Focus 2dr Hatch
130-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 103000 mi | Brake light wire was broken at the hinge of the back hatch. This caused the middle brake light to not work and the brake lights of the other two lights to always be on. |
2003 Ford Focus 2dr Hatch
110-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 160500 mi US $70 |
Replaced battery |
| 160000 mi US $320 |
Replaced starter. |
2003 Ford Focus 2dr Hatch
110-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 114000 mi US $900 |
bad alternator |
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