NHTSA Complaint #10109866 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

FOR THE PAST WEEK, I HAVE HAD TROUBLE TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. IT'S AS IF THE IGNITION IS LOCKED, ALONG WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THE KEY BACK AND FORTH AND HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE KEY TO TURN (ACTUALLY TURN SO THE CAR COULD START). TODAY, HOWEVER, NO AMOUNT OF 'JIMMYING' DID THE TRICK. THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULD SIMPLY NOT TURN - AT ALL (EVEN AFTER I TAPPED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION WITH MY PALM AS I TURNED THE KEY AS RECOMMENDED BY A FORD SERVICE MECHANIC). SUBSEQUENTLY, I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD IN PORTLAND, OR SO THEY COULD REPLACE THE ENTIRE IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS IS COSTING ME AROUND $290!. I HAVE READ OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER - WHO ALSO OWNS A FORD FOCUS ZX3 - HAS BEEN HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. DESPITE THIS, FORD HAS NOT 'RECALLED' THIS FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER AND I FEEL THIS REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND, AT THE LEAST, COMPENSATION BY FORD. *JB