NHTSA Complaint #10283600 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED ON THE FORD FOCUS. THE KEY WILL GO INTO THE IGNITION BUT WILL NOT TURN LEAVING US STRANDED. WE WERE LUCKY THIS TIME AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT HOME. ONE OF THE PREVIOUS TIMES WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER WHEN MY ELDERLY MOTHER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND WAS STRANDED IN THE COUNTRY SIDE WITHOUT CELL PHONE SERVICE. SHE WAS HELPED BY A PASSERBY THAT TOOK HER TO A SERVICE STATION. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS OUR PROBLEM AND POSES NO SAFETY ISSUES. FORDS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IS A CONSUMABLE PART (E.G. TIRES, BRAKEPADS ETC.) AND YOU SHOULD BE HAPPILY TO GET MORE THAN THE 12000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE PART. SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE WILL BE STRANDED BY THIS SUB-STANDARD PART AND IT CAUSE THEM HARM OR DEATH. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE THIS HAPPENS. *TR