NHTSA Complaint #10037140 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

WENT TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY, CAME OUT TO GO HOME, PUT KEY IN IGNITION, WENT HALF WAY, THOUGHT IT WAS ALARM, DID EVERYTHING TO MOVE THE KEY, NOTHING. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. ADVISED BY SERVICE DEPT, THIS PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTRA CARE, AND NOT COVERED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY OVER 36K MILES. VEHICLE ABOUT 36K MILES. ESTIMATE $500.00. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME VEHICLE IN SHOP. CALLED OUT TO FORD, AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS JUST FINE WITH THEIR CARS, AND THAT THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. FORD DEALERSHIP, SO QUICK TO DEVOUR CUSTOMERS, AND WHEN TROUBLE HAPPENS, CAN'T FIND ANYONE WHO CAN HELP. MY CAR IS NOW SITTING AT THE DEALER, WAITING FOR MY AUTHORIZATION TO PAY $500. TO FIX IT. I AM WITHOUT A CAR. WHAT A NIGHTMARE, I'M JUST GRATEFUL, THIS INCIDENT DID NOT HAPPEN FAR AWAY FROM HOME WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. ANY ADVICE ON GETTING RID OF THIS LEMON WITHOUT BEING A NEGATIVE ON MY CREDIT? WOULD SURE APPRECIATE IT. I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE TO FURTHER THIS COMPLAINT, IT SEEMS LIKE I'M STUCK WITH IT. PLEASE HELP.*AK