NHTSA Complaint #10055057 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

THE "SECURIKEY" IGNITION CYLINDER IS SUBJECT TO REPEATED FAILURES. INITIALLY THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN UNTIL THE STEERING WHEEL IS "WIGGLED." THEN AFTER A TIME, THE UNIT FAILS COMPLETELY. THIS DOES POSE A PROBLEM WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER A "PANIC STOP," WHERE THE ENGINE STALL/STOPS. ESPECIALLY UN-NERVING IN TRAFFICE. 1ST FAILURE 9/30/2001 AT 18,990 MILES. LOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. 2ND COMPLETE FAILURE 1/9/2004 AT 49,400 MILES. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND I AM RETURNING IT TO THE FORD SERVICE SHOP FOR ANOTHER REPAIR. THE MANAGER OF THE SAME SHOP STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR, 2000 FORD FOCUS, BUT THAT ONE REPLACEMENT USUALLY FIXES THE PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THERE ARE NO RETURN VISITS SINCE THE PRUDENT CONSUMER WOULD PROBABLY DUMP THE VEHICLE IN FAVOR OF A MORE RELIABLE AUTO.*AK