NHTSA Complaint #10090493 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

I AM OUT-OF-STATE IN A LARGE CITY AND YESTERDAY MY KEY WOULD GO INTO THE IGNITION, BUT WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR OVERNIGHT IN A FAIRLY BAD NEIGHBORHOOD. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF REPORTS ON THIS SITE ABOUT THE SAME THING GOING WRONG IN THE FOCUS. I AM HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP TODAY AND WILL HAVE TO PAY A HOLIDAY FEE BECAUSE TODAY IS A HOLIDAY AND IN THE MEAN TIME HAVE NO FORM OF TRANSPORTATION. I WILL HAVE TO RENT A CAR TOMORROW (THE RENTAL CAR PLACES ARE CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY). I JUST WENT ON A 4,000 MILE TRIP, SOME OF WHICH WENT THROUGH VERY DESOLATE PARTS OF NEVADA--WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED THEN??? I HAD NO CELL RECEPTION IN MOST OF THAT AREA. IF FORD DOESN'T THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THEY ARE WRONG. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE REPLACED DUE TO ITS FAILURE. LUCKILY, IT WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL. BECAUSE OF THE IGNITION PROBLEM, I WILL INCURE A TOWING BILL, THE REPAIR BILL, AND A RENTAL CAR FEE, NOT TO MENTION THE HUGE INCONVENIENCE AND STRESS. I EXPECT THE TOTALLY COST TO BE $500+. I HOPE THAT FORD RECALLS THIS PROBLEM, AS I DO THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY NEED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO SO. IF THEY DON'T CHANGE THEIR WAYS, I WILL SURELY NEVER BUY A FORD VEHICLE AGAIN.*AK