NHTSA Complaint #10177147 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

THE IGNITION ON MY 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3 HAS LOCKED UP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, RENDERING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR, AS THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE LOCK. EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN THE PAST, I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO START THE CAR BY JIGGLING THE KEY IN THE LOCK FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES. THIS TIME, HOWEVER, AFTER JIGGLING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION FOR A FULL FORTY-FIVE MINUTES, THERE WAS STILL NO GIVE IN THE IGNITION. I TRIED TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER SIDE AS HARD AS I COULD WHILE TURNING THE KEY, AND IT DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER FINALLY GIVING UP, I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOME ADVICE ONLINE, AND I SAW RIGHT AWAY THAT HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARS. EACH TIME, IT TAKES THEM HAVING TO REPLACE THE IGNITION FOR A COST OF BETWEEN 200 AND 700 DOLLARS, ALL COSTS INCLUDED. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT I WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE SAME COURSE OF ACTION, AS I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN POSSIBLY DO. I CAN'T EVEN HAVE A FRIEND PULL MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, AS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER IT IN ITS PRESENT STATE. I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE COST OF A PROFESSIONAL TOW-TRUCK AND THEN PAY THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE IGNITION ON TOP OF IT ALL. I UNDERSTAND THROUGH MY RESEARCH ONLINE THAT THE REASON THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN DEALT WITH THROUGH A RECALL BY FORD IS THAT IT DOES NOT POSE "AN IMMEDIATE AND IMMINENT HEALTH RISK." THAT MAY BE SO, BUT IT CAUSES FORD FOCUS OWNERS, LIKE MYSELF, COUNTLESS AMOUNTS OF FRUSTRATION AND ANGER TO NOT BE ABLE TO USE OUR CARS. MY CAR IS NOW SITTING ON THE CURB OUTSIDE MY HOUSE, IN PERFECTLY DRIVABLE CONDITION IN EVERY WAY, AND I CAN'T EVEN TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. IF YOU HAVE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, PLEASE LOBBY WITH ALL OF YOUR INFLUENCE TO HAVE FORD ADDRESS AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *JB