NHTSA Complaint #10143672 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED THE 2ND TIME IN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. WHEN I INSERT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WILL NOT TURN REGARDLESS OF WHAT I DO. WITH THE FIRST INCIDENT (10/15/2004) I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND ENDED UP PAYING $115.42 OUT OF POCKET--THE REMAINING $155.09 WAS COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE LOCK CYLINDER. TODAY, 11/24/05, MY HUSBAND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME I AM GOING TO CALL A LOCKSMITH TO DO THE WORK -- APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE FOCUS (MANY FELLOW FOCUS OWNERS ON A WEBSITE RECOMMENDED A LOCKSMITH OVER GOING TO A DEALERSHIP TO SAVE BOTH TIME AND MONEY). THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN COSTLY, INCONVENIENT AND UNSAFE--AS WE HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED. PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL! *JB