NHTSA Complaint #10179036 — 2002 FORD FOCUS

TWO SEPARATE 2002 FORD FOCUS AUTOMOBILES HAVE HAD THE IGNITION LOCK BREAK, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE KEY, UNLOCK THE STEERING COLUMN, OR START THE VEHICLE. BOTH THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. IN THE FIRST CASE, THERE HAD BEEN A GRADUAL INCREASE IN THE DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION LOCK. IN THE SECOND CASE, THE FAILURE WAS ABRUPT AND COMPLETE - NORMAL OPERATION IN THE EVENING AND TOTAL FAILURE THE NEXT MORNING. THE TWO VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE A 2002 FORD FOCUS 3-DOOR HATCHBACK (ZX3), AND A 2002 FORD FOCUS 4-DOOR SEDAN (ZTS), BOTH TIMES IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP (SPECIFICALLY, VETERANS FORD IN METAIRIE LA) AND HAVE THE LOCK REPLACED AND TWO NEW KEYS MADE AT THE COST OF $375 FOR EACH OCCURRENCE. *JB