NHTSA Complaint #10088947 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

I HAVE HAD THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK AND KEY UNABLE TO TURN TWICE NOW. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN FEBRUARY 2003. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED AND RE-KEYED. IT COST $867 TO FIX. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS "FIXED", I STILL HAD TO WIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE KEY TURNED WHICH AT TIMES TOOK A FEW MINUTES. NOW A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED. I CAN'T GET THE KEY TO TURN AT ALL. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AFTER A YEAR AND THAT FORD WAS A "REAL STICKLER ON THEIR WARRANTIES" AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT AGAIN. JUST A NOTE - AFTER ONLY A YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, IT SQUEAKED LIKE CRAZY ANYTIME I USED THE BRAKES. EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED, THE CAR STILL SQUEAKS.*AK