NHTSA Complaint #10078542 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

WE OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS 4DR LX. ON 2/18/2004 AND AGAIN ON 6/20/2004, WE PUT A KEY IN THE IGNITION, AND IT WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. WE TRIED EVERYTING, INCLUDING JIGGLING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FIRST TIME, WE HAD THREE KEYS FOR THE CAR AND FOUND THAT ONE WORKED, BUT THE OTHERS DIDN'T. IT WAS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (NOT FORD'S), WHICH COVERED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE IGNITION ASSEMBLY. IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP AGAIN, 4 MONTHS LATER, UNDER A PARTS WARRANTY (LESS THAN 1 YEAR/ 12,000 MILES SINCE THE LAST TIME). THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT THIS IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. THIS TIME, WE WERE OUT OF TOWN ON A HOLIDAY SUNDAY (FATHERS' DAY), NO RENTAL CARS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE, NO PLACE TO STAY. NEITHER KEY WORKED (HAD TWO). WE HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT WORKED ON IT THE LAST TIME. IT IS THERE NOW. A TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID HE SEES THIS OFTEN/ THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AS DO SOME OF THE WEBSITES LISTING COMPLAINTS ABOUT HIS MAKE/MODEL CAR. THIS TIME IT SHOULD BE UNDER FORD'S PARTS WARRANTY, BUT WE ARE CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN. I AM TERRIFIED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND ONE OF US WILL BE STRANDED SOMEPLACE AND NOT ABLE TO GET HELP. PLEASE INVESTIGATE, AND IF YOU FIND THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, AS IT APPEARS TO BE, PLEASE MAKE FORD RECALL THIS PART AND FIX THE PROBLEM. OUR CAR ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000 MILES ON IT. WE PREVIOUSLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND 3 MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM (HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES). IT IS NOW OUTSIDE THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, AND IT DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE LEMON LAW. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THE CAR NOW, NOR SHOULD WE HAVE TO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY (BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHO WILL BUY IT, KNOWING THAT THEY COULD GET STRANDED SOMEWHERE, TOO). THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.*AK