NHTSA Complaint #10114089 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

1/25/04 PARKED AT METER IN STAMFORD CT, KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT OF IGNITION. GOT IT OUT, THEN WOULDN'T GO BACK IN. 20 MINUTES OF SWEATING/SWEARING, GOT KEY BACK IN. HAD TO LEAVE IT IN THE IGNITION (DANGEROUS) UNTIL 2/12/04. CAR TO DILLON FORD, WHO REPLACED KEY CYLINDER FOR $210. MILEAGE 76,489. I SAVED BROKEN IGNITION SWITCH, IF YOU WANT IT. REPLACEMENT WAS A FORD MOTORCRAFTCO. IGNITION SWITCH SW-5997 XS4Z-11582-AA. JANUARY 2005 BROKE AGAIN! BROADWAY AUTO REPLACED KEY IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AGAIN FOR $250.00. MILEAGE 96,000. THEY GAVE ME A COPY OF "IGNITION SWITCH LOCK CYLINDER: ALL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, INTERIOR- IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER HARD TO TURN. POSTED 09/16/02. ARTICLE NO. 02-18-2 2000 FORD FOCUS L4-121 2.0L SOHC VIN P SFI COPYRIGHT 2004 ALLDATA 8.30 "USE LOCK CYLINDER REPAIR KIT (XS4Z-11582-AA)" THIS IS THE SAME CYLINDER THAT BROKE IN MY FIRST REPLACEMENT. I SAVED BROKEN CYLINDER. BOTH CYLINDERS HAVE THE CODE S 38 KB ON BARREL. FORD'S AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, I.E., TECHNICAL BULLETIN. FORD'S USING THE SAME INFERIOR PART TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE KEY CYLINDER, MAKING OVER $200 EACH TIME. NHTS COMPLAINT SITE HAS 291 COMPLAINTS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION SWITCH; 277 COMPLAINTS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,IGNITION; 4 COMPLAINTS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER; 2 COMPLAINTS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: STARTER ASSEMBY. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS "AUTOMOTIVE TALK.NET" 114 COMPLAINTS TOPIC: 2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. THIS IS DANGEROUS, HIGHLY PROIFTABLE FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY. FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE FOR THE OVER $500 SPENT SO FAR ON THIS PROBLEM.*AK