NHTSA Complaint #10280510 — 2003 FORD FOCUS

THE IGNITION SWITCH ON OUT 2003 FORD FOCUS CONTINUALLY JAMS AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN AND START THE CAR. THIS CAN BE REMEDIED ON OCCASION BY HITTING THE KEY WHILE IN PLACE, BUT THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET IT UNJAMMED VARIES. WE'RE AFRAID THIS MAY HAPPEN WHILE MY WIFE AND CHILD ARE OUT SOMEWHERE AND THERE IS NO ONE TO HELP THEM, THUS LEAVING THEM STRANDED. WE'VE LOOKED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE IN ANY GIVEN DAY; SOMETIMES IT'S MORE OFTEN THAN THAT. THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION WE HAVE AT THE MOMENT IS TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BUT THIS MAKES THE CAR PRONE TO BEING STOLEN, THUS LEAVING US WITH NO TRANSPORTATION. WE TRIED CONTACTING FORD DIRECTLY AND WERE TOLD TO CALL BACK ON MONDAY. AS WE UNDERSTAND IT FROM OUR ONLINE RESEARCH, THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH. AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THERE IS NO RECALL ABOUT THIS, ALTHOUGH A CLASS ACTION SUIT HAS BEEN FILED IN CALIFORNIA REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR