NHTSA Complaint #768710 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

ON SUNDAY, 21 JULY 2002, THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY FOCUS WENT OUT. AT FIRST, THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO THE LOCK, THEN IT WOULD NOT TURN. THIS RAISED THREE MAJOR CONCERNS: ONE IN THE MID 90'S, FORD US RECALLED OVER 8 MILLION CARS AND TRUCKS THAT HAD FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES. SOME OF THOSE DEFECTIVE SWITCHES RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRES. TWO ALTHOUGH I WASN'T MOVING WHEN THE DEFECT HAPPENED, WHAT IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING AND THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH HAD LOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL OR LEFT ME STRANDED SOMEPLACE LESS SAFE THAN MY OWN DRIVEWAY? THREE MY FOCUS HAS BEEN RECALLED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE 27 MONTHS I'VE OWNED IT, AND THIS INCIDENT ADDS TO MY CONCERNS OVER THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY/RELIABILITY. DT