NHTSA Complaint #10199311 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

OUR 2000 FORD FOCUS STATION WAGON IGNITION LOCK "FROZE" SO THAT WE COULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR. WHEN I SPOKE WITH A LOCKSMITH AND SAID THE WORDS "2000 FORD FOCUS" HE SAID "DON'T TELL ME, THE IGNITION LOCK WON'T TURN, WILL IT." HE INDICATED THAT HE ALONE IS CALLED OUT ON ONE OR TWO FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCK FAILURES EVERY WEEK. WHILE THIS WAS AN INCIDENT IN WHICH NOBODY WAS INJURED AND NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OTHER THAN THE LOCK HAVING TO BE DESTROYED AS PART OF THE REPAIR BY BEING DRILLED OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE LOCKSMITH CHARGE FOR THE SERVICE CALL AND REPAIR WAS $186.81. WE SPENT TWO AND A HALF HOURS STUCK IN A SHOPPING CENTER MALL WAITING FOR THE REPAIR. IN MY OPINION SINCE MANY OF THESE IGNITION LOCKS HAVE FAILED BASED ON A NUMBER OF INTERNET SITES CARRYING REPORTS OF FAILURES SIMILAR TO OURS, IT IS MY OPINION THAT FORD SHOULD ORDER A RECALL IN ORDER TO REPLACE SUB-STANDARD IGNITION LOCKS, AND SHOULD REIMBURSE OWNERS SUCH AS US FOR EXPENSE WE'VE UNDERGONE HAVING THEIR DUB-STANDARD LOCKS REPAIRED OR REPLACED. *TR