NHTSA Complaint #10206305 — 2003 FORD FOCUS

IN JULY 2007 THE IGNITION KEY LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT BE TURNED TO START THE ENGINE. I MANAGED TO GET IT TO TURN (NO, IT WAS BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HOLDING) AND DROVE IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE KEY CYLINDER FOR NEARLY $400. DESPITE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND A 100,000-MILE WARRANTY, THIS SERVICE WAS NOT COVERED. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE KEYS WERE WORN OUT AND THAT I NEEDED TO MAKE A NEW KEY TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURE. I DID SO AND ONLY USE THE NEW KEY TO START THE CAR. NOW, ONLY 3 MONTHS LATER, THE IGNITION PERIODICALLY STICKS AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO START LOCKING UP AGAIN. IF I PUSH THE KEY IN FIRMLY, IT WILL TURN NORMALLY. THIS IS A POOR QUALITY MECHANISM AND FORD SHOULD RECALL THIS BEFORE IT HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ON A 40-BELOW WINTER NIGHT. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.