18 of the 1,224 complaints about the 2003 Ford Focus are about the seats — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 89,000 miles.
18
Complaints
2
Crashes
5
Fires
6
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SEATS
I WAS USING MY PASSENGER SEAT HEATER WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO PICK SOMETHING UP FROM THE MALL WHEN I STARTED SMELLING A BURNING SMELL. WHEN I GOT TO THE MALL,I LOOKED OVER TO FIND A LARGE SCORCH MARK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT
NHTSA complaint #10779588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
MY WIFE COMPLAINED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT WAS SO HOT IT WAS BURNING, RESULTING IN A MILD BURN. I INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVER SIDE BACK CUSHION HEATING ELEMENT HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNT INTO THE SEAT CUSHION AND BACK LINING OF THE SEAT FABRIC. I HAVE PICTURES AND HAVE HELD ONTO THE DEFECTIVE PART. THE HEATING ELEMENT HAS BEEN REPLACED HOWEVER WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE READ OF OCCURRENCES OF THIS INCIDENT INCLUDING REPORTS OF FIRES.
NHTSA complaint #10595759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER SIDE LEATHER HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE FILLED THE CAR WITH SMOKE IN FLAMES.
NHTSA complaint #10575768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THE SEAT BACK ADJUSTMENT TO RECLINE THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BROKE, THEREFORE WE ARE UNABLE TO INCLINE OR RECLINE THE POSITION OF THE SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10553625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRACKET FOR THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO LEAN TO ONE SIDE ABNORMALLY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A LOCAL MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE SEAT BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
NHTSA complaint #10452761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT UNATTENDED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE DEFROSTER ACTIVATED. WHEN THE CONTACT ARRIVED BACK TO THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE FRONT DRIVERS DOOR, SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DID NOT REALIZE THE HEATED SEAT WAS ACTIVATED AS WELL. THE CONTACT BURNED TWO OF HER FINGERS AS A RESULT OF ATTEMPTING TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CONTACT THEN POURED WATER ON THE SEAT AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,677. UPDATED 3/8/11 *CN UPDATED 03/14/11
NHTSA complaint #10379392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
MY DAUGHTER AND WIFE WERE OUT SHOPPING AND TURNED ON THE SEAT WARMERS IN THE FRONT SEAT. AS MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING SHE BEGAN TO COMPLAIN OF A SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING IN THE CAR. SOON AFTER REALIZED HER BACK SIDE WAS HOT ! SUMMARY- DRIVER SIDE SEAT BURN MARKS VISIBLE AND HER WINTER COAT RUINED; IT BURNED IT TOO. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN ADDRESSED WITH FORD? SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED STATING THIS EXACT DESCRIPTION.
NHTSA complaint #10376836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE HEATED SEAT ACTIVATED, SHE NOTICED SMOKE. SHE CUT OUT THE FOAM IN THE SEAT AND REMOVED THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO REFERRED HER TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #10368169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS. SINCE I HAD THE CAR FROM 2004 ON, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT BECAUSE THE SEATS DRIVER DOOR SIDE BACK WELDING FAILED. THE BROKEN WELDING CAUSES THE SEAT TO TWIST TO THE RIGHT. SEAT WAS REPLACED AT MY COST AND REPLACEMENT ALSO BROKE AT THE SAME PLACE. DEALER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT MAY HAVE ALSO BEEN A MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO A RECENT INJURY OF MY LOWER BACK SINCE I HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY TRAUMA FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE THAT I AM AWARE OF. A CURSORY REVIEW OF THE INTERNET TURNS UP DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE NOTE THE DATE PROVIDED FOR THE INCIDENT IS THE APPROXIMATE DATE THE SECOND SEAT BROKE. THE FIRST ONE BROKE IN 2006. BOTH SEATS ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR INSPECTION SHOULD YOU WANT TO REVIEW.
NHTSA complaint #10312491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THE DRIVER'S SEAT 2003 FORD FOCUS WAGON ZTW (PURCHASED NEW IN 7/2003, CURRENTLY 55K MILES) SEEMS TO HAVE HAD A SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTION AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT COVER, AND THE CLOTHES OF THE DRIVER AT THE TIME. THE SEAT HEATER BUTTON WOULD NOT TURN THE HEATER OFF. THE FUSE HAD TO PULLED TO GET IT TO TURN OFF. THERE WAS NEVER A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT HEATER BEFORE THIS EVENT. THE DEALER (QUIRK FORD IN QUINCY MA) SAYS IT'S ONLY AN OUT-OF-WARRANTY REPAIR AND WANTS TO CHARGE $600 TO FIX IT. I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT FIRE AND PERSONAL INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #10289850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. HE ARRIVED HOME AND FELT AS IF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK REST WAS LEANING MORE THAN NORMAL. HE CHECKED THE SEAT AND FOUND THAT IT HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A DEFECTIVE FACTORY WELDING CAUSED THE SEAT BOLT TO FAIL. THE CONTACT WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT AND HE FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE SAFETY CONCERN, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY MILEAGE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 05/06/08 *BF UPDATED 05/06/08
NHTSA complaint #10225413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT WELDS HAVE FAILED AND THE BACK OF THE DRIVER SEAT CAME APART. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH. THE ENGINE SIZE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 101,000.
NHTSA complaint #10192538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
UNDER NORMAL WEAR THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE ON THE 2003 FORD FOCUS.
NHTSA complaint #10191300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH THE FABRIC ON THE DRIVER SEAT. THE CONTACT NOTICED BURN MARKS ON WIFE'S WHITE WINTER COAT. RECENTLY, WHILE DOING SPRING CLEANING ON THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE NOTICED A BURN MARK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDCE SEAT THAT MATCHEDC THE VERY SAME LOCATION OF CONTACT'S WIFE COAT. WILL BE MAKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT OF SEAT HEATER.
NHTSA complaint #10152591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE HEAT WARMER BURNED THROUGH THE FABRIC BURNING THE SEAT AND CAUSING A FIRE. THE CONSUMER WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #10105482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT HAD A PIECE OF METAL WHICH WAS EXPOSED, AS A RESULT, THE CONSUMER CUT HER LEG. *AK (SEVERAL OTHERS HAD BEEN HURT AS WELL) THE METAL WAS ONLY EXPOSED WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS PUSHED FORWARD TO ALLOW THE PASSENGER IN THE BACK TO EXIT. IF THE SEAT WAS BACKED FOR A TALL DRIVER, IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE PASSENGER TO BECOME INJURED. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10040080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
A STOPPED 2003 FOCUS SEDAN WAS REAR-ENDED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BY A MAZDA 626 RESULTING IN LIMITED FLEXIBLE BUMPER DAMAGE TO THE FORD FOCUS, BUT SUBSTANTIAL SPINAL DAMAGE TO THE HEALTHY, 22 YEAR OLD DRIVER WHO WAS SECURELY SEAT-BELTED INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. WHAT WAS LACKING IN THE SEAT DESIGN TO PROTECT THE DRIVER FROM SUCH INJURIES?
NHTSA complaint #10007553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
SEDAN WAS REAR-ENDED RESULTING IN LIMITED FLEXIBLE BUMPER DAMAGE. SUBSTANTIAL SPINAL DAMAGE TO THE HEALTHY, 22 YEAR OLD DRIVER WHO WAS SECURELY SEAT-BELTED INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. WHAT WAS LACKING IN THE SEAT DESIGN TO PROTECT THE DRIVER FROM SUCH INJURIES? PH
NHTSA complaint #10007554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.