NHTSA Complaint #10250185 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

THIS WILL BE OUR 5TH IGNITION REPLACEMENT SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR NEW IN 2000. THE FIRST THREE WERE COVERED. SINCE WE HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER 500 FOR THIS ONE WE HAVE BEEN MAKING DUE BY LEAVING THE KEY IN AND NOT COMPLETELY TURNED OFF BY JUST A HAIR. OR ON THE OCCASION WE FORGET AND TAKE IT OUT WE HAVE TO BEAT IT WITH THE BACK OF A SCREWDRIVER TO GET IT TO ENGAGE. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO GET OUT AND LEAVE THE CAR IN DRIVE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE I GOT USE TO PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY I CAN NO LONGER REMOVE THE KEY SO I AM DISTRACTED BY DIGGING OUT THE CLICKER SO I CAN GET BACK INTO MY CAR. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS! MY CAR ROLLED ACROSS THE LIBRARY PARKING LOT AND INTO ANOTHER CAR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CHILD RUN OVER! ALL BECAUSE OF THIS IGNITION PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER LEFT MY CAR IN DRIVE IN OVER 32 YEARS BEFORE THIS TROUBLE! I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN RELENTLESS HEAT WITH CHILDREN AND FREEZING TEMPS AGAIN WITH CHILDREN. THIS IS WITH OUT QUESTION A SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO KEEP PAYING FOR A DESIGN FLAW. IT IS NOT FROM OVER USE OR HEAVY KEY CHAINS. THERE ARE MANY MANY DAYS I DON'T EVEN LEAVE THE HOUSE TO USE IT. I DON'T STOP AND START THE CAR A LOT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY FORD. *TR