NHTSA Complaint #10282708 — 2004 FORD FOCUS

MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS LEFT STRANDED ONE EVENING WHEN THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION OF HER 2004 FORD FOCUS SO SHE COULDN'T GET THE CAR STARTED. I HAD JUST SIGNED UP FOR A CLASS AT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT A CAMPUS 25+ MILES AWAY. I WAS IN CLASS WITH MY PHONE OFF, SO I COULDN'T HELP HER. IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR A YOUNG GIRL TO BE STRANDED ANYWHERE. IN ADDITION, WE LIVE IN TEXAS WHERE WE'RE UP TO 65 DAYS OF TEMPERATURES IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR HEALTH CONCERN FOR ANYONE WHO BECAME STRANDED IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY. I UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON IN 2000-2004 MODELS. WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO GET SOMEONE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN SO SHE COULD DRIVE HOME. HOWEVER, ONCE THERE, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THEN I LEARNED THAT THE PART WASN'T EVEN COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY I HAD PURCHASED. FOR WHATEVER REASON, FORD DOESN'T CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR