2003 Ford Focus Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 46about this part
- Share
- 5%of 977 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 50,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 46 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Ford Focus, 5% of the 977 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 50,000 miles. 32 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While driving on the interstate at approx 70mph, I signaled my left turn signal. As I changed into the left lane, my driver's side airbag deployed for no reason. The driver's side window was open so some seat foam and smoke exited the vehicle and made contact with the vehicle behind me. I pulled over and the other driver stopped to see what happened and checked to see if I was okay. I was able to continue home.”
NHTSA complaint #10469588, filed 2012-08, 129,200 miles“On 8/1/2011, going 40mph I hit a deer. The whole hood of my car is pushed in,my radiator is pushed in, I cannot open the hood, the deer is dead and both of the airbags failed to deploy. However my airbag deployment light did come on. What a defect. At 10 MPH I could possible understand but at 40 MPH, I bought the car brand new in 2003 for safety, now even if it were fixed I would be scared to drive it.”
NHTSA complaint #10416808, filed 2011-08, 180,000 miles“I own a 2003 Ford Focus ex. On the date of the incident, I was stopped at a red light, and I looked in the rear view mirror and saw a Ford mustang barreling down on me. With no time to react, I was hit from behind at 50 miles an hour. What bothers me is that the airbags did not deploy, even though I came deathly close to smashing my face against the steering wheel.”
NHTSA complaint #10225027, filed 2008-04, 40,000 miles“Until a week ago, I was the happy owner of an '03 zx3 Focus. On 7/15, I had to swerve to avoid a car drifting into my lane and hit the concrete retaining wall at about 60 MPH. The shock was enough to crush most of the front and engine block and break the axle. Yet the airbags did not deploy. Shame on you Ford.”
NHTSA complaint #10235406, filed 2008-07, 55,000 miles“On feb 11, 2015 I was driving to go to the vet. I had not been down that road in about 6 months. I came upon an area that was a very bad chunk of road...patches over patches and very bumpy. Then all of a sudden my car tilted to the right and there was a loud bang. It took me a couple seconds to realize what had happened. My airbag on the passenger side (side airbag) had deployed. Scared me! I had no idea why it had gone off. But the car seemed to be driving ok still so I continued to the vet about 1-2 miles away. …”
NHTSA complaint #10717692, filed 2015-05, 72,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10014622Dec 1, 2004Air bag light in with all or any combination of dtc b1881 b2434 b2438 and or c1947.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 9 | 1% |
| 2017 | 15 | 2% |
| 2016 | 15 | 1% |
| 2015 | 18 | 2% |
| 2014 | 32 | 1% |
| 2013 | 26 | 1% |
| 2012 | 55 | 1% |
| 2011 | 6 | 5% |
| 2010 | 12 | 4% |
| 2009 | 22 | 10% |
| 2008 | 26 | 10% |
| 2007 | 118 | 30% |
| 2006 | 40 | 20% |
| 2005 | 51 | 12% |
| 2004 | 24 | 6% |
| 2003 | 46 | 5% |
| 2002 | 72 | 8% |
| 2001 | 147 | 8% |
| 2000 | 191 | 5% |
| 1999 | 1 | 9% |
Other parts of the 2003 Ford Focus
522 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
82 complaintsSteering
73 complaintsBrakes
62 complaintsEngine cooling
60 complaintsSuspension
49 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
48 complaintsBody and structure
40 complaintsOther or unknown
26 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
25 complaintsEquipment
22 complaintsTires
22 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Ford Focus
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology