NHTSA Complaint #10250982 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

I AM WRITING REGARDING MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3. I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A TOWN 50 MILES FROM MY HOMETOWN. THE KEY WENT IN AND WOULDN'T TURN. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 3 TIMES TO GET IT TO A FORD DEALER ( WHO IS THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD FIX THE PROBLEM). IT COST ME 380.52 TO GET THE CAR FIXED, IN WHICH 221 OF THAT WAS JUST LABOR! BUT SINCE THEY HAD TO PROGRAM THE IGNITION, THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES TO DO IT. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, THE TOW TRUCK DRIVERS SAID THEY TOW 2 OR 3 OF THESE A MONTH BECAUSE OF THIS. FORD HAS TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT IS UNFAIR THAT THEY HAVE NOT AT LEAST RECALLED THE PART. AS A CONSUMER, I CAN SAFELY SAY I HAVE LOST A LOT OF RESPECT FOR FORD. AS A CHILD I GREW UP A "FORD FANATIC", HOWEVER DUE TO THE PURCHASE OF MY FOCUS AND THE CARELESSNESS OF THE COMPANY TO TAKE CARE OF THE MINOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, THAT HAS CHANGED. FORD NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE WARNED ALL OF MY FRIENDS WITH FOCUSES OF THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY ARE JUST PREPARING THEMSELVES FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM! UNTIL THEN, I AM UNSATISFIED WITH FORD'S SERVICE, AND PRODUCT. *TR