NHTSA Complaint #10141112 — 2004 FORD FOCUS

WE OWN A 2004 FORD FOCUS ZX3. IT HAS AROUND 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR IS PRIMARY USED FOR COMMUTING, 150 MILES ROUND TRIP EACH DAY. LAST WEEK WHEN GOING TO LEAVE WORK MY HUSBAND INSERTED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT THE LOCK WOULD NOT TURN. HE HAD TO SLAM ON THE KEY TO FINALLY GET THE KEY TO TURN SO HE COULD COME HOME. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE AND THIS MORNING THE KEY IS UNABLE TO TURN AT ALL. WE'VE BARELY HAD THE CAR TWO YEARS. WHEN LOOKING ONLINE FOR A FIX/RECALL NOTICE I DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER AMERICANS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME OF THEM SEVERAL TIMES. AT WHAT POINT DOES FORD ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR USING SUBPAR MATERIALS AND FIX THE THING ON THEIR TAB? I AM NOW SITTING WITH A CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY, UNABLE TO EVEN BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER WITHOUT A TOW TRUCK. IT IS BLOCKING MY GARAGE WHICH HOUSES OUR ONLY OTHER FORM OF TRANSPORTATION. I AM GOING TO BE OUT AROUND $100 TODAY FOR TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE FIXING THE FOCUS. *JB