2003 Ford Focus Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/12/2026

50Steering complaints

5.1%Of all 977 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION263 · 26.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM136 · 13.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH98 · 10%

STEERING50 · 5.1%

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES49 · 5%

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

“VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE THREE TIMES AND VIBRATION PROBLEMS HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THE CONSUMER EXPECTS FORD TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE…”NHTSA complaint 10037869 — filed 08/27/2003

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Ford Focus have steering problems?

Steering is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2003 Ford Focus: 50 of 977 complaints on file (5.1%). 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 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 52 involved a crash, 17 involved a fire, 51 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.