NHTSA Complaint #10083172 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

CAME OUT OF WORK AFTER CLOSING UP AT 9:30 PM. AT FIRST, KEY WOULD ONLY GO INTO IGNITION HALF WAY.AFTER A LITTLE JIGGLING KEY WENT IN THE REST OF THE WAY BUT WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL, AND STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOCKED. AFTER A HALF HOUR OF TRYNG I GAVE UP AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER(JOHN LANCE FORD - WESTLAKE, OHIO) BECAUSE THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS OPEN TILL MIDNIGHT. ON THE RIDE THERE THE TOWTRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME HE PICK UP SEVERAL FOCUS'S A WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HEARD THE SAME THING FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DEALER. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION TUMBLER AND STEERING COLUMN IGNITION LOCK AT A TOTAL COST OF $331.52 TO ME SINCE IT WAS NOT COVERED. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND WITH FORD SINCE I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE COVERED. I HAVE NEVER HEARD A RESPONSE FROM EITHER SINCE. I FEEL THIS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I WAS STRANDED AT NIGHT, BUT I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE AAA AND A CELLPHONE. I FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE THAT DON'T. THIS IS AN UNBELIEVABLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2000 FOCUS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL, AND WE SHOULD ALL BE REIMBURSED.*AK