NHTSA Complaint #10181257 — 2003 FORD FOCUS

I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE FAULT IS THAT WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. IT IS LOCKED IN PLACE. IT HAPPENED ONCE THIS SUMMER ON THIS CAR AND ON A 2002 FOCUS I SOLD TO A FRIEND WHOM WORKS WITH ME. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM, WHICH THEY HAD. THEY TOLD ME I COULD TAP IT WITH A RUBBER HAMMER TO GET IT TO UNLOCK. SURE THING, IT DID. I CHECKED FOR RECALLS, WHICH NONE WERE FOUND. I CHECKED FOR TSB'S, SURE ENOUGH, THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS APPEARD TO BE A MAJOR DEFECT. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM IF FOR INSTANCE SOMEONE WENT FOR A DRIVE DURING THE WINTER IN THE REMOTE MOUNTAINS AND STOPED TO GOT FOR A WALK. UPON RETURN, THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION WOULDN'T WORK AND THEY'RE STRANDED. FORD DIDN'T APPEAR TO WANT TO LISTEN TO MY COMPLAINTS. LOOK AT THE TSB'S AND YOU'LL REALLY GET A GOOD PICTURE OF THE VOLUME OF IGNATION PROBLEMS.