NHTSA Complaint #10150052 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

FORD FOCUS SE IGNITION KEY SWITCH LOCK-UP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM -- KEY WON'T TURN, STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED, AND THE GEAR SHIFT WON'T MOVE. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS ABLE TO MANIPULATE THE KEY AND FINALLY START THE CAR. THIS TIME, IT IS SUNDAY AND I AM STRANDED. A LOCKSMITH TOLD ME THAT FORD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS PARTS AND IT WILL BE A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. SO TOMORROW, I WILL HAVE TO RENT A CAR TO KEEP A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT AND HAVE THE FOCUS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD (I JUST CHECKED THE INTERNET) AND THEY REFUSE TO RECALL THESE CARS TO FIX THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THANKFULLY, I WAS IN A WELL-LIGHTED, SAFE AREA OF THE CITY. I SHUDDER TO THINK OF WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD BEEN STRANDED IN A HIGH-RISK AREA. THE FOUNDER OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY BUILT THE COMPANY ON REPUTATION AND HIGH STANDARDS WITH CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ALWAYS IN MIND. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS GREEDY ORGANIZATION NOW RUN BY MR. BILL FORD WHO CARES NOTHING ABOUT THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF ITS CARS AS HIS ANCESTORS DID? RECALL THIS CAR NOW -- ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!. *JB