NHTSA Complaint #10222026 — 2004 FORD FOCUS

I HAVE OWNED MY 2004 FORD FOCUS SE FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS NOW AND OUT OF NO WHERE THE IGNITION IN THE CAR FROZE. WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION THE KEY DOESN'T GO IN THE KEY HOLE SMOOTHLY ONCE ALL THE WAY IN IT WONT TURN. I WAS STRANDED AT WORK FOR 3 AND A HALF HOURS TRYING TO GET MY CAR STARTED FINALLY A TOW TRUCK DRIVER CAME AND USED A MALLET HIT MY KEY WHILE IT WAS IN THE IGNITION TO GET THE CAR STARTED. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HEARD THAT FORD DID A RECALL ON THIS PART. TURNS OUT THAT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS I AM FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PART...I DID SOME RESEARCHING ONLINE AND FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM FORD IS NOT FIXING THIS MALFUNCTION. I AM DEPLOYING TO IRAQ FOR THE SECOND TIME AND I CAN NOT LEAVE MY FAMILY A WORKING VEHICLE BECAUSE OF A DEFECT FORD HAS WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM. I FEEL AS IF THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD FACE AND SHOULD DO AN OFFICIAL RECALL ON. THIS IS POOR SERVICE ESP COMING FROM A LARGE VEHICLE COMPANY LIKE FORD. *TR