NHTSA Complaint #10234726 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

BEGINNING IN DECEMBER 2005 I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE IGNITION ON MY FORD FOCUS. AT FIRST IT BEGAN WITH THE KEY NOT TURNING IN THE IGNITION. IT HAS GOTTEN INCREASINGLY WORSE OVER THE LAST 21/2 YEARS. ABOUT A MONTH AGO I COULD NOT EVEN GET THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. ONCE THE KEY WAS INSERTED I DID NOT REMOVE IT AGAIN FOR FEAR I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AT ALL. NOW THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN EVEN WITH THE KEY IN IT. NO ONE IS ABLE TO REPAIR THE IGNITION, AND THERE ARE APPARENTLY NO AFTER MARKET PARTS.... SO I HAVE TO GO TO A FORD DEALER AND PAY ALMOST $400 TO FIX THE IGNITION ON A CAR THAT IS 9 YEARS OLD. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND I KNOW THAT THERE A LOT OF OTHER DRIVERS/OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION. AT LEAST 2 OF MY CLOSE FRIENDS ALSO OWN A FOCUS (BOY ARE THEY MAD I SUGGESTED GETTING ONE NOW) AND THEY HAVE BOTH HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS PROVES IT IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, AND I SHOULD THEREFORE BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR FIXED FREE OF CHARGE, OF COURSE THE WARRANTY IS UP, SO BASICALLY I'M SCREWED. I HOPE YOU WILL ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS, BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT, AND I NEED IT TO GET TO WORK, OR LOSE MY JOB IN AN EVER WORSENING ECONOMY. THANKS *TR