NHTSA Complaint #10095836 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

THREE TIMES ON MY TRIP CROSS-COUNTRY THE IGNITION LOCKED ON MY FOCUS, REFUSING TO ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN TO START THE ENGINE AS WELL AS DISABLING THE STEERING. A HELPFUL AAA SERVICER GOT MY CAR STARTED IN RURAL WYOMING AFTER ALLOWING IT TO ROLL DOWN A HILL, BUT THE SAME TACTIC ON SUBSEQUENT EFFORTS FAILED TO PRODUCE THE DESIRED RESULT, AND I ENDED BY HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED. INTERNET RESEARCH HAS REVEALED THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG "FOCI," ALTHOUGH FORD HAS DECLINED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE IGNITION, WHICH EMPLOYS TUMBLERS THAT ROUTINELY SLIP INSIDE THE IGNITION, STRANDING DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS ROADSIDE, SOMETIMES FOR HOURS. FORD HAS APPARENTLY DECLINED TO ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS NOT A "SAFETY ISSUE." I BEG TO DIFFER THAT STRANDING MOTORISTS IS INDEED AN UNSAFE PRACTICE.MY IGNITION IS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED AND REKEYED AT A COST EXCEEDING $300, AND I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT I WILL EVENTUALLY BE STUCK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO THE FAULTY DESIGN OF THE IGNITION. I HAVE ALSO BEEN WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION ON THREE OCCASIONS AND EXPERIENCED COSTLY DELAYS IN MY CROSS COUNTRY TRIP.*AK