NHTSA Complaint #10243790 — 2004 FORD FOCUS

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE OF MY IGNITION FREEZING UP. I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS AND AFTER MY LAST STOP I GOT INTO THE CAR AND THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION. I HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE TRY, INCLUDING A AAA TOW-TRUCK WORKER. HE SAID HE SEES THIS PROBLEM A LOT IN THE FORD FOCUS, THE IGNITION CYLINDER PREMATURELY WEARS OUT AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND IS WAITING FOR REPAIR ON MONDAY. TO MY SURPRISE, I CAME AND CHECKED THE INTERNET ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THERE IS THOUSANDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT. ALL ARE FORD FOCUS OWNERS. ALL PUT A KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WON'T TURN. I FIND THIS STRANGE THAT THIS CAR HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THE CUSTOMER HAS TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTED. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ANY FORD FOCUS OWNER. THERE IS FOREWARNING BEFORE THE IGNITION FREEZES UP, IT JUST HAPPENS ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. MY CAR WAS ONLY TURNED OFF FOR 10 MINUTES AND IT HAPPENED TO ME. *TR