Overview & Reviews

Minor changes are in store for the 2003 Ford Focus. Two new trim levels increase the breadth of prices for Ford's economy car; a base trim for the three door hatchback renders air conditioning optional and only comes with a manual transmission. For the five door hatchback, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, front reading lights and a center console are available when you step up to the comfort trim level from the base level. Heated front seats are a new option, as is a traction control and ABS package. New colors for the exterior brighten up the color palette, and the interior is freshened with two new fabric trims. Finally, a CD/MP3 player is now standard on the ZX3 and ZX5. A SVT version of the ZX5 is also scheduled to appear later in the year.

• Thoughtful ergonomics, large interior, smooth ride, sharp steering, impressive selection of body configurations and features.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 353.00

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  fun to drive - 2003 Ford Focus
  By Shane Paradis - September 24 - 9:54 pm

  fun to drive, just be sure to buy the one with the ztec engine. the spi is slow and unreliable

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  Top Flight Car - If Modified - 2003 Ford Focus
  By svt_owner - July 3 - 8:46 am

  Test drove an Acura RSX-S and SVT. RSX felt cramped with poor outward vision poor and didnt come "loaded" as the SVT - which had everything but traction control. Driving position, outward vision and ergonomics all superior to RSX, as are brakes. Body roll excessive and gear linkage slow. Worst feature is the dual mass flywheel, which is supposed to dampen out ham fisted shifting, but merely retards revs, acceleration, and obviates engine braking. Noisy car with practically no sound insulation, although it comes with a good sound system. MPG on the poor side, especially in mixed traffic, (22-23).

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  Absolute piece of garbage - 2003 Ford Focus
  By invisiblekid87 - April 3 - 1:45 pm

  Bought the car back in 2011, used, about 65,000 miles on it. I should be able to get some life out of it, right? Wrong. About 4 months later, the alternator had to be changed. Figured that was normal - took it for inspection in June of 2012 - needed a tune-up. Then - the ignition started sticking, got to the point where I was coming out of a hair appointment and the car would not start. Had to call a mechanic - $400 dollars to get the ignition fixed! Now - the batterys drained and my transmission is sticking. I have no clue how much its gonna be, but the car has been sitting in the driveway for about 3 months and I refuse to put another dime into it. Good riddance.

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  Clear sailing - 2003 Ford Focus
  By matthewew - March 26 - 5:59 pm

  I love this car. The only issue is that it is rough on tires. I normally get about 40K out of a 60K tire. I average 26-27mpg in the winter and 29-32mpg the rest of the year. I have 149900 miles on my car. I have not experienced many of the issues that others have, but then I bought mine new and know what it has gone through. If you do the maintenance when the owners manual says to do it then you will have very few problems. Word to drivers the rotors are not the best, but the pads are really good so if you have worn out your brake pads, that is on you. I went 89K before having to change rotors and it was a mountain pass that did in the rear brake pads.

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  More fun than expected - 2003 Ford Focus
  By driven1320 - March 9 - 7:54 pm

  I knew what I wanted initially: a small hatchback with good mpg and a manual trans. However, I never expected to like it this much. The old saying that its more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow... this car nails it. Driving around town I find this car more satisfying than my 400hp Mustang. Its reasonably peppy, doesnt have to be revved, and with the addition of a stiffer rear swaybar, the handling is a blast. Tons of room too. On one trip I managed 3 people and a 50" tv. On another, a full dresser. Its got 140k miles on it, so a few things are starting to go, but Id say its held up incredibly well. Couldnt be happier with my purchase!

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  Underpowered, boring, but reliable. - 2003 Ford Focus
  By njoosse - January 4 - 11:41 am

  We owned this car for a little over 5 years. It gave us very little trouble, and was very economical. We got rid of it with 100,000 miles. At that point it was a very rattly annoying car to drive. Also very underpowered, passing someone had to be all planned out. Awesome on fuel, but I think a Civic or a Mazda would have been a lot more fun.

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  avg bang for avg buck - 2003 Ford Focus
  By midlevelbuyer - December 18 - 4:09 pm

  Whaddya expect... youre buying a used car! Granted I bought it 40km and am now past 130k, but its been a great car for the buck. ( had a Toyota dealer ask 10k for the used price at first though? what the..!!) But reading through these reviews its obvious too many poor quality parts were used given how many similarities in repairs: trunk latch has been replaced 3x now and still doesnt latch all the time. Door handles. Ignition locked up. Battery is being drained by something, replaced once already. Sway bar/bushings. But be realistic. Otherwise its been a great little mid level car.

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  Focus for average people - 2003 Ford Focus
  By connemara - November 29 - 12:47 pm

  Cheap to buy used, good solid reliability, few issues, good mileage, fun to drive, very easy to service

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  Horrible Car - 2003 Ford Focus
  By laurenglamtm - November 21 - 11:19 pm

  I bought this care used at 85,00 miles for $5000 and I guess you get what you paid for. Within the first few months I had to get the transmission replaced and from there it has been down hill. I havent even had the car for 4 years and I have had to get a new alternator, spark plugs, coolant resivor, vacuum pump, two thermostats, a plastic piece that connects my coolant resivor to my radiator, and two window pullys that broke. Id say by now I could have gotten a brand new car....Thats how expensive all the repairs cost. Now it makes a weird rattle noise when I idle and the ford dealership cant figure out what it is....and let me tell you it is a really LOUD rattle. DO NOT BUY THIS CAR!

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  Ford = Fix. Or. Repair. Daily. - 2003 Ford Focus
  By jaym83 - September 26 - 9:54 pm

  This car is a nightmare. Every other focus owner ive talked to hates this car too. Never buy this vehicle. Even the ford mechanics at the dealerships ive been to tell me this car is nothing but a bag of issues. I have had this car for less than six years and put less than 40,000miles on it and have had so many issues. This car eats tires and rear brakes like candy. So far, new ignition cylinder after six months of ownership, new motor mounts, new fog lights, new throttle cable, more new tires, more new brakes, rear defroster repair, new alternator, driver seat broke (spot welds that hold the seat up right broke), manual window crank broke off, ECU repair, and none of this is covered by Ford.