Brake Lights, Door Handles, Trunk Release, Keys

I have a 2003 Focus with 60,000 miles on it. I brought it to the dealer for issues that I thought were unique for me until I found this website. They are as follows:

1. Brake Lights stopped working and would blow fuses whenever they were replaced. Was told that there was a short in the harness and needed to be replaced. I wonder how many others have had a 'short' in the brake light harness???

2. Door Handles - hard to open from outside. I thought the first time that I had to get the drivers side opened from the passenger side was an anomoly until it became difficult for all four doors to open. It seems that Ford has a specific 'lube' kit for the doors. Why have I never had tis issue with any other car I've purchased in the past 30 years? And why does Ford have a specific 'lube' kit?

3. Rear Trunk Release - The rear trunk release stopped operating correctly several months ago and I figured as long as Ford was fixing the first two things (Door Handles and Brake Lights) - I figured they could take care of the Rear Trunk Release. It would 'click' multiple times to open the trunk and then would be difficult to get closed again. They diagnosed the issue and replaced my latch.

I got the car back after $550 got added to my credit card. Things seemed ok with the exception that the doors still stick and will take time for the lubrication to work in. I used the original key all week with no issues. I used the second original key that came with the car and the steering wheel locked. I tried the first original key again and the steering wheel was still locked. Eventually, I disconnected the battery for five minutes and retried with the first original key and the issue was resolved. For experimental purposes - I recreated the scene that caused the steering to lock and the situation was duplicated. Somehow or another, Ford changed the key coding so now I only have one key that works and it takes two keys to reprogram a third (which, incidentally, only is available from Ford) - Seems to me that Ford has developed the concept of planned obsolesence to a very good degree for them.

Stop voting if you are not going to reply!

If only I had known so many others had issues with the exterior door handles I would have taken it to Ford while under warranty. My handles, especially the rear don't open very good. In fact, I sometimes think the doors are locked and hit the unlock button.

There was a recall on the rear door handles/latches on the sedan...

2003 sedan: trunk latch quit working properly at about 84K. It will open, but may have to cycle it a couple of times to relatch.

1. Brake Lights stopped working and would blow fuses whenever they were replaced. Was told that there was a short in the harness and needed to be replaced. I wonder how many others have had a 'short' in the brake light harness???

I had the same problem. Even my parking lights wouldnt come on. Luckily i found the short myself in the wire harness that passed through the roof and into the hatch. My mechanic soldered the broken wires for me and wrapped them up good with electrical tape and only charged me $30. Two years later everything is fine.

2. Door Handles - hard to open from outside. I thought the first time that I had to get the drivers side opened from the passenger side was an anomoly until it became difficult for all four doors to open. It seems that Ford has a specific 'lube' kit for the doors. Why have I never had tis issue with any other car I've purchased in the past 30 years? And why does Ford have a specific 'lube' kit?

You dont have to keep feeding Ford money . Just pick up a spray can of lithium grease , plug the little red straw into the sprayer, pull and hold the door handle out and spray a little grease in there. Then work the handle in and out several times until you feel it smooth out. I've been doing it twice per year for about 6 years now. Always works ;)

3. Rear Trunk Release - The rear trunk release stopped operating correctly several months ago and I figured as long as Ford was fixing the first two things (Door Handles and Brake Lights) - I figured they could take care of the Rear Trunk Release. It would 'click' multiple times to open the trunk and then would be difficult to get closed again. They diagnosed the issue and replaced my latch.

I have only had this problem once where i couldnt close the hatch. I had to press the trunk release to unstick the lock catch.

I got the car back after $550 got added to my credit card. Things seemed ok with the exception that the doors still stick and will take time for the lubrication to work in. I used the original key all week with no issues. I used the second original key that came with the car and the steering wheel locked. I tried the first original key again and the steering wheel was still locked. Eventually, I disconnected the battery for five minutes and retried with the first original key and the issue was resolved. For experimental purposes - I recreated the scene that caused the steering to lock and the situation was duplicated. Somehow or another, Ford changed the key coding so now I only have one key that works and it takes two keys to reprogram a third (which, incidentally, only is available from Ford) - Seems to me that Ford has developed the concept of planned obsolesence to a very good degree for them.

My ignition lock set broke also. Had to have it towed to the dealer and replaced . I forget how much......but just remember that it was too much.


In the end there's a lesson to be learned......Never buy a car made in Mexico :(

i have yet to have any of those happen on my '02 SE Zetec as a side note you can reprogram your own key, it's all in the owners manual

I can't choose "none".