NHTSA Complaint #10358821 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN ON OUR 2000 FORD FOCUS. I HAVE LUBRICATED THE LOCK MECHANISM FOR SEVERAL YEARS AFTER LEARNING OF THIS PROBLEM, PRIOR TO HAVING MINE OCCUR. SOMETIMES KEY WILL INSERT BUT NOT TURN. OTHER TIMES KEY WILL NOT FULLY INSERT. IN BOTH CASES I AM LEFT STRANDED. KEY PROBLEM IS NOT AFFECTED BY POSITION OF STEERING WHEEL, SHIFT LEVER INTERLOCK POSITION, ETC. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WITHIN THE KEY-TUMBLER MECHANISM. WITH SUCH WIDE SPREAD KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM, WHY HASN'T FORD DONE A VOLUNTARY RECALL? THIS PROBLEM COULD OCCUR DURING A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION E.G. RUSH TO HOSPITAL., ROBBERY ATTEMPT, ETC. THE REPORTED FREQUENCY OF INCIDENTS, AS VIEWED ON INTERNET SITES, WOULD INDICATE A MAGNITUDE IN EXCESS OF FORD'S PREVIOUS SUV-TIRE FAILURE ROLLOVERS. THE KEY ISSUE IS MORE THAN AN INCONVENIENCE, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE! *TR