NHTSA Complaint #10116672 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS'S IGNITION KEY CYLINDER BECAME FROZEN (STEERING WHEEL ALSO LOCKED) AND THE ENTIRE KIGNITION KEY CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 9,902 MILES (6/06/03). TODAY, THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED (LESS THAN TWO YEARS AND 12,000 MILES LATER.) ON 6/13/05 I WILL TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND AGAIN HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER (BOTH TIMES I'VE HAD TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING). I GOT NEWS OF YOUR WEBSITE THROUGH A WEBSITE WHICH IS ENTIRELY FILLED WITH ENTRIES FROM OTHER FORD FOCUS OWNERS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. MANY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS CYLINDER 3 AND 4 TIMES. IT SEEMS THE "REPLACEMENT PART" FORD USES IS EXACTLY THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART AS THE CARS ARE BUILT WITH. YOU MAY NOT THINK THIS ISSUE IS SO INSIGNIFICANT BUT REMEMBER, THERE IS A FUEL INJECTION RECALL ON THIS CAR THEY HAVE YET TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CORRECT AND IF THIS CAR WERE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING, THE OWNER MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART OR STEER THE CAR IF THE WHEEL LOCKS AND THE KEY IS FROZEN DUE TO THIS DEFECTIVE CYLINDER.*AK