NHTSA Complaint #10078486 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

THIS MORNING WHEN WE WERE STARTING OUR FORD FOCUS IT WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO TURN THE KEY.THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED UP.YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING WHEN THAT HAPPENS.WE FOUND OUT THAT FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS INHERENT DEFECT IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM IN THE FOCUS BUT HAS NEVER RECALLED THEM FOR IT. ALL LOCKSMITHS AND OTHER MECHANICS CAN NO LONGER BUY IGNITION SWITCHES FROM FORD TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AND FORD SERVICE CENTERS WANT AN ARM AND A LEG TO DO THE WORK FROM $169- JUST UNDE R$300 IF THEY HAVE TO DRILL IT OUT.THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS IF IT FAILS IN A BAD SPOT AND YOU GET STUCK.IT IS VERY UNSAFE FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE TO DRIVE ALONE SOMEWHERE OR SAY SOMEONE WITH SMALL CHILDREN WHO GETS STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY OR ANYWHERE ON EITHER A HOT DAY OR COLD DAY AS NOTHING WILL WORK.YOU NEED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED.WE WERE LUCKY IN THA TMY HUSBAND KEPT AT IT UNTIL IT DID WORK;BUT HAVE HEARD IT CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME,ANYWHERE AGAIN;AND THA TSOME PEOPLE WHO HAD THEIRS FIXED HAD IT HAPPEN MORE THAN ONCE.I HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND IF IT HAPPENED TO ME WHEN ALONE IT WOULD MAKE THAT SKYROCKET ,ENDANGERING MY HEALTH.FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND THEY ADMIT IT CAN HAPPEN IN ANY FOCUS.THEY WILL NOT RECALL IT UNLESS YOUR DEPT PUSHES THEM TO DO THIS. *AK