2003 Ford Focus Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 16about this part
- Share
- 2%of 977 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 70,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the seat belts of the 2003 Ford Focus, 2% of the 977 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,500 miles. 2 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.
“Front passenger seat belt locks against the passenger and does not allow slow gentle movement in a non-crash environment. The front driver seat belt works fine and like normal. Have been to originating dealer twice to correct - no change in operation. Safety defect as crushing load causes passenger to hold belt physically out when seated or otherwise defeating belting arrangement.”
NHTSA complaint #10171297, filed 2006-10, 17 miles“I have replaced the transmission, the water pump, the thermostat, and all radiator hoses. The car overheats daily still. The stereo cuts on and off and can't be turned off by the power button. The rear left seatbelt is stuck where it can't be used. The driver window fell into the door, when the panel was removed it showed that the whole wire system had snapped. The driver door also can only be opened from the inside.”
NHTSA complaint #10242182, filed 2008-09, 70,000 miles“Piston in transmission deteriorated causing shift solenoid and value body to go bad at 71,000 miles, front drivers seat belt will not unbuckle, rear seat belts will periodically not buckle, now blowing massive amounts of smoke, rims are seized when trying to change tires, no matter if it was just taken off 5 minutes previously to takeoff; ignition seized and ending up having to rebuild steering column.”
NHTSA complaint #10153418, filed 2006-03, 71,000 miles“While traveling at 40 MPH a dog ran into the street and consumer's vehicle hit the dog. Upon impact, none of the bags deployed, and consumer sustained chest injuries. In addition, driver's side seat belt failed, it locked the driver in after the impact. However, passenger's side seat belt and rear seat belts functioned properly.”
NHTSA complaint #10044570, filed 2003-10, 8,500 miles“Consumer states that the second row middle seat belt buckle became unlatched when driver slammed on the brakes causing the child seat to be trhown into the back of front seat .”
NHTSA complaint #10024911, filed 2003-06, 12,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10012954Feb 21, 2005Safety belt web stop button service.
Seat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 | 0% |
| 2017 | 5 | 1% |
| 2016 | 4 | 0% |
| 2015 | 6 | 1% |
| 2014 | 14 | 1% |
| 2013 | 18 | 1% |
| 2012 | 43 | 1% |
| 2011 | 3 | 3% |
| 2010 | 3 | 1% |
| 2009 | 4 | 2% |
| 2008 | 8 | 3% |
| 2007 | 12 | 3% |
| 2006 | 4 | 2% |
| 2005 | 13 | 3% |
| 2004 | 5 | 1% |
| 2003 | 16 | 2% |
| 2002 | 10 | 1% |
| 2001 | 22 | 1% |
| 2000 | 54 | 1% |
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 complaintsAir bags
46 complaintsBody and structure
40 complaintsOther or unknown
26 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
25 complaintsEquipment
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