NHTSA Complaint #10126278 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR OVER 3 YEARS NOW AND ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. ONE DAY, I DROVE THE CAR TO MY FRIEND'S HOUSE AND WAS READY TO LEAVE AND INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO THE IGNITION AND THEREFORE, I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO LOCKED. I HAD TO CALL A LOCKSMITH AND HE HAD TO DRILL INTO THE IGNITION TO REMOVE IT AND REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE. HE ALSO HAD TO PROGRAM A NEW KEY. THE LOCKSMITH TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. I AM SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL AS OF YET FOR THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PRODUCT AND ISSUE A RECALL. WE AS CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL FOR THIS PROBLEM. BY NOT SOLVING THIS ISSUE, THIS ALLOWS OTHERS TO BENEFIT FROM REPAIR COSTS TO THESE VEHICLES EVERYTIME THEY ARE STRANDED AND HAVE NO ONE ELSE TO TURN TO EXCEPT THE ONLY LOCKSMITH IN THE AREA WHO CAN CHARGE WHATEVER TO REPAIR THE IGNITION.