NHTSA Complaint #10118346 — 2003 FORD FOCUS

ON APRIL 11, 2005, AS I WAS LEAVING WORK IN THE EVENING, I PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND COULD NOT TURN THE KEY. THE FOLLOWING DAY, I SPENT SOME TIME ON THE TELEPHONE WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AND KEY MAKERS TRYING TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I FINALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT IT WAS A FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER. ON APRIL 14 I HAD THE CAR TOWED INTO BOHN FORD INC. AT 401 N. CARROLLTON AVENUE, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70119. (504) 485-2646. WHILE THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND LEARNED FROM ONE WEBSITE THAT THERE WERE AT LEAST 137 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAD. I FOUND A SECOND WEBSITE WITH ANOTHER LIST OF PEOPLE WHO WERE SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES OF THE FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK. TWO PEOPLE WHO POSTED ONTO THE WEBSITE MENTIONED THE PO5. I UNDERSTOOD FROM THEM THAT THE CAR COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED FOR $24.58. THE CAR HAD TO BE UNDER SIX YEARS OLD AND UNDER 75,000 MILES. THE STAFF AT THE BOHN FORD DEALERSHIP WAS VERY CONSIDERATE AND UNDERSTANDING OF MY SITUATION; HOWEVER, WHEN I REQUESTED A PO5, THEY TOLD ME THAT WHILE THEY WERE SURE THAT I QUALIFIED , THEIR OFFICE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO APPLY FOR A PO5 AT THIS TIME. MY TOTAL BILL CAME TO $396.69 TO DRILL OUT, CODE, AND REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK; AND TO CUT, ERASE, AND PROGRAM TWO PAT KEYS. THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK PROBLEM ON THE FORD FOCUS CAN BE TRACED AT LEAST AS FAR BACK AS 2001. THEREFORE I URGE YOU TO BEGIN A RECALL ON THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK. *JB