NHTSA Complaint #10126145 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS AND THE IGNITION SWITCHED LOCKED ON ME AND COSTS 500.00 AT THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIXED. I ALSO HAVE A FORD TAURUS AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED BUT A REP AT THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING THEM TO FIX IT TO BUY THE PART (WHICH WAS ABOUT 70.00) AND HAVE SOMEONE ELSO TO PUT IT IN. THIS COST ABOUT 120.00 IN TOTAL. ALSO I HAD A WRECK IN THE FORD FOCOS AND IT SO HAPPENS THAT MY RENTAL CAR WAS A FORD FOCUS AND I DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 2 DAYS AND 1 DAY THE IGNITION LOCKED UP. I CALLED FORD AND THE REP LAUGHED AND SAID "OH YEAH THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, WE ARE AWARE OF IT BUT THERES NOTHING WE CAN DO". I WAS STRANDED FOR 3 HOURS BECAUSE I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL A FLATBED WRECKER TRUCK WAS AVAILABLE, BECAUSE WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS SO DO THE WHEELS AND THEREFORE THE CAR CANNOT BE ROLLED. BUT ANYWAYS 3 OF THE SAME CARS ALL WERE LEMONS. THEY ALL PRODUCED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS, AND IT SEEMS AS IF I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEMS AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT THEREIS NO RECALL FROM FORD FOR THIS ISSUE. BUT AS THEIR REP CONFIRMED THEY ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATION.