2000 FORD FOCUS Electrical Systemignition Problems

1. WENT TO START CAR AND THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN 2. IGNITION CYLINDER WHICH I HAVE LEARNED IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. LATE FOR WORK 3. $411.00 FOR LABOR TO DRILL OUT AND REPLACE AND TO PURCHASE A NEW SET OF KEYS. *JB

I PURCHASED A USED 2000 FORD FOCUS FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, 2 DAYS AGO I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AFTER WORK, I PUT THE KEY IN AND IT WOULD NOT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL IN COMPLETLY LOCKED UP. I LOOKED IT UP ON THE NET AND HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS HAPPENS REGULARLY. I CALLED THE DEALER AT FRIENDLY FORD TO ASK HIM WHAT WAS UP AND HE SAID I WAS ON MY OWN. THE COST IS $400.I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THE SITUATION.WHY HAVE YOU NOT FILED A RECALL!!FORD TOLD ME THAT IT IS UP TO YOU TO GET THAT DONE. I THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU CANNOT TURN YOUR CAR ON AT 10 AT NIGHT, BY YOURSELF. IS ANYONE OUT THERE LISTENING TO THE THOUSANDS OF ANGRY FOCUS OWNERS??I HEARD THAT...

I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS LE WITH LESS THAN 23,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED TWICE, ONCE IN 2002 AND ONCE IN 2005. THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE KEY, BUT WITH THE CYLINDER ITSELF. BOTH TIMES, THE CYLINDER LOCKED UP AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED. *NM

2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION CYLINDER WOULD NOT TURN WHEN KEY WAS INSERTED. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO CHARGED $350 TO DRILL OUT THE CYLINDER AND REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE. *NM

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE IN 2000 FORD FOCUS LEFT ME AND MY THREE CHILDREN STRANDED IN SECLUDED AREA AT DARK. AT THIS POINT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND IT IS APPARENT THAT IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE FORD FOCUS. *NM

2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION. KEY STARTS TO GET STUCK IN IGNITION NO WARNING IGNITION LOCKS AND CAR WILL NOT START. TO FIX THE PROBLEM IGNITION GETS DRILLED OUT AND COSTS $175.31. THIS SEEMS TO BE A NATIONAL PROBLEM WITH THE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OF THIS CAR AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *NM

IGNITION STICKS. WON'T LET ME TURN KEY OR SOMETIMES EVEN PUT KEY IN IGNITION. *JB

THE IGNITION ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS LOCKED UP. WITH SOME WD-40 AND A FEW TAPS WITH A HAMMER, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN AGAIN, BUT I DIDN'T TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AGAIN FOR 2 DAYS UNTIL I COULD GET IT REPLACED -- FOR FEAR I WOULD GET STRANDED SOMEWHERE AGAIN. AFTER DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH I LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR OTHER FORD FOCUS OWNERS AND WANTED TO REPORT IT WITH HOPES THAT A RECALL MIGHT OCCUR SOMEDAY. *JB

2000 IGNITION ISSUE - I CAN PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, HOWEVER I CAN NOT TURN THE VEHICLE OVER. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY IGNITION SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT AN OVERWHELMING $350.00. FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *NM

WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF PURCHASING THE 2000 FORD FOCUS THE AIR BAG SENSOR BROKE, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAL AND LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THE IGNITION LOCKED. THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED OR MOVED DUE TO THE LOCKED IGNITION. NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT THE BRAKES. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $280.27. THE IGNITION HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER. *NM

DAUGHTER WAS ATTEMPTING TO START HER CAR AND COULD NOT GET THE KEY TO TURN. AFTER TRYING DIFFERENT KEYS. WE CALLED THE FORD DEALER WAS INFORMED THAT THE KEY CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A LITTLE RESEARCH INTO THIS SHOWS THIS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. AND AT 400 A SHOT FORD SHOULD SHOW A PROFIT. *JB

2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3. UNABLE TO INSERT KEY INTO IGNITION. STRANDED FAR FROM HOME AT NIGHT. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND THE IGNITION REPLACED. *NM

FORD REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL OR REPLACE THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY WHICH IS FAULTY. *NM

KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THE HIGHWAY AND I TURNED OFF THE CAR TO CHANGE THE TIRE. WHEN RETURNING TO THE CAR TO START THE CAR THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD TO PAY FOR A TOW TRUCK AND A FORD DEALER BILL OF OVER $250 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE IGNITION.

I HAVE A FORD FOCUS 2000, MY COMPLAINT IS I HAVE PUT NEW PARTS ON THIS CAR , A NEW ENGINE, FUEL PUMP, PARTS ON THE FRONT END AND A LOT MORE. PLUS MAKING A CAR PAYMENT. WHEN I TAKE IT TO THE FORD SHOP I DON'T LIKE THE WAY I AM TREADED. I STILL HAVE ALL MY RECEIPTS FOR MY CAR I FEEL FORD SHOULD CARE ABOUT THEIR CARS AND THE BUYERS. *NM

CAR WAS STARTING & RUNNING FINE ... STOPPED BY MY MOTHER'S HOUSE; CAME OUT, PLACED KEY INTO IGNITION, KEY REFUSED TO TURN. TRIED ALL THE REGULAR TRICKS (TURNIGN THE WHEEL TO THE STOPS, PRESSING BRAKE, CLUTHC, ACCELERATOR, ETC. TO NO EFFECT) CALLED TOWING SERVICE - THEY COULD NOT MAKE THE KEY TURN EITHER AND COMMENTED THAT THIS WAS "COMMON" IN FORD FOCUS. TOWED VEHICLE TO BALISE FORD - AGREED IT'S A COMMON FAILURE BUT THYE HAVE A REDESIGNED PART FROM FORD - THAT IS NOT COVERED BY FORD'S EXTENDED WARRANTLY. OVER $300 TO REPLACE A PART EVERYEN ADMITS TO FAILING FREQUENTLY!

IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILURE. I COULD NOT GET THE KEY TO GO IN THE IGNITION. AFTER 1/2 HOUR OF PUSHING, PULLING, ROCKING, TILTING, IN OUT, BACK FORTH, I GOT THE KEY IN. UPON ADVICE OF MY MECHANIC AT WOODY SANDER FORD IN CINCINNATI, OH, I WAS TOLD TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION UNTIL I COULD DELIVER IT TO THEM FOR REPLACEMENT. THEY SAY THE PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON BUT FORD WON'T RECALL BECAUSE IT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. MY WEB RESEARCH SUPPORTS THAT IT IS INDEED VERY COMMON AND FOR MANY PEOPLE A RECURRING PROBLEM. THE CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD WITH 54,627 MILES ON IT. THE REPAIR WAS JUST OVER $200.00. *JB

MY CAR WAS NOT SHOWING SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE THE INCIDENT. MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WAS PARKED IN A LOCAL RESTAURANT PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR, THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO THE IGNITION. WE PLAYED WITH IT ENOUGH TO GET IT IN HALF WAY AND THEN THE WHOLE WAY, BUT THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. I CALLED FOR A RIDE AT 12:00AM BECAUSE A COP INFORMED ME IT WAS MOST LIKELY MY TUMBLER OR IGNITION SWITCH. MY CAR WAS TOWED THE NEXT MORNING FROM THE PARKING LOT. THIS WAS A DIFFICULT PROCESS CONSIDERING MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP AND THEY HAD TO "DRAG" MY CAR TO GET IT ON TO THE FLAT BED. MY IGNITION SWITCH IS CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON, BUT WE ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE "KEY CODE" TO SET MY TUMBLER. *NM

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 IGNITION SYSTEM WILL NOT TURN. I TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET IT FIXED. AAA SENT A LOCKSMITH OUT AND HER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS THE 10TH FORD FOCUS THIS WEEK WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID HE HAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE IGNITION SYSTEM. HE SAID HE HAS DONE OVER 150 IN THE LAST YEAR. I SEARCHED ONLINE AN FOUND OVER 5000 PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD AND THEY ACTED AS IF THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. THE FORD FOCUS IS NOTORIOUS FOR RECALLS BUT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ON THE LIST. I BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE ADDED. FORD FOCUS IGNITION SYSTEM SHE BE RECALLED. *NM

I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS AND MY KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS STRANDED WITH THE TWO PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AT NIGHT. I TOOK IT TO GET IT FIXED AND IT IS COSTING MY $510 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB

MY WIFE HAD TO DROP OFF SOMETHING AT A FRIEND'S PLACE OUT IN THE COUNTRY. THEY WOULD NOT BE HOME FOR A COUPLE DAYS. SHE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, DELIVERED THE ITEMS, AND GOT BACK IN THE CAR TO START IT UP AND COME BACK HOME. WE WERE ALL WAITING FOR HER TO GET HOME SO WE COULD LEAVE FOR A CAMPING TRIP. THE KEY WENT INTO THE IGNITION, BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN, CAR WOULD NOT START - THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED HERE MANY TIMES. SHE WENT TO A NEIGHBOR'S TO CALL ME, FINALLY FOUND SOMEONE THAT COULD BRING HER HOME AND GET ME THERE TO SEE WHAT I COULD DO(WE ONLY HAVE ONE CAR). I COULD DO NOTHING. IN THE MORNING I AM GOING TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO. THIS SUCKS BECAUSE MY FAMILY IS ALL PACKED AND READY TO GO CAMPING - NOW THIS....

IGNITION CYLINDER FAILURE, STRANDED US AND WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS IF THIS HAD HAPPENED A WEEK EARLIER WHEN WE WERE IN THE BACK COUNTRY OF IDAHO. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2000-2002 FORD FOCUS CARS AND FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THE IGNITION CYLINDER WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED (AGAIN). *NM

IGNITION STARTED TO STICK AND ON 8/5/05 THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN KEY BROKE OFF HAD TO PAY LOCK SMITH TO COME OUT AND TAKE KEY OUT THAT WAS 125 DOLLARS. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HAVE THEM FIX THE IGNITION BUT TO GET IT THERE THE CAR HAS TO BE TOWED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF CARS AND FORD WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. *JB

IGNITION KEY FAILURE IN 2000 FORD FOCUS SE. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATION ON THE WEB, I LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MOST IF NOT ALL MODELS OF FORD FOCUS. I AM HAVING IT SERVICED NOW BUT ACCORDING TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE, I CAN EXPECT TO HAVE TO DO THIS SEVERAL MORE TIMES OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION KEY CYLINDER HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT AND REPLACED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM FOR A SECOND TIME. THE IGNITION FELL APART AND BECAME LODGED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB

KEY WOULD NOT WORK IN IGNITION - CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE LOCK ASSEMBLY AND TUMBLER. *NM

1) NO KNOWN EVENTS LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE. 2) WHEN HEADING TO WORK IN THE MORNING ONE DAY, I HAD DIFFICULTY INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. ONCE I GOT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I COULD NOT START MY CAR AND COULD NOT GET TO WORK 3) WE HAD TO PAY $70 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP IN BUFFALO, MN. WE THEN HAD TO PAY THEM TO DRILL OUT IGNITION CYLINDER AND REMOVE IT. THEN THEY BUILT NEW CYLINDER AND INSTALLED IT. COSTING ME $350. I UNDERSTAND ALSO, FROM THE FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE (THAT HAD JUST EXPIRED) THAT THIS IS ALSO A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR FORD FOCUS'. *NM

KEY WOULD NOT WORK IN IGNITION - CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE LOCK ASSEMBLY AND TUMBLER. *NM

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THAT THE IGNITION HAS GONE OUT ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE KEY WAS PUT IN IT WWAS HARD TO TURN ON. THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO THE IGNITION AT ALL. THEREFORE YOU ARE STRANDED WHERE EVER YOU ARE. CAR HAS TO BE TOWED. *JB

MY FOCUS 2000 IS IN THE SHOP DUE TO A BROKEN IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.I COULD HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN A DARK PARKING LOT. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED.

2000 FORD FOCUS STEERING AND IGNITION LOCKED. MY SON WHO IS 17 YRS OLD WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO CALL US BECAUSE THE STEERING AND IGNITION WAS LOCKED.

I HAVE HAD MY FOCUS FOR FIVE YEARS, I AM 1 MONTH AWAY FROM PAYING IT OFF. INITIALLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, THERE WERE A FEW MAJOR ISSUES THAT WERE FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY. EXAMPLE- WHEEL BEARINGS, BREAKS, ETC. OTHERWISE MY CAR HAS HAD FEW PROBLEMS OUTSIDE OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. ON FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2005 I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING MY KEY TO GO IN THE IGNITION. BUT IT WENT IN, AND STARTED OKAY. ON TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2005, I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT WAS STUCK. IT WAS ALSO DIFFICULT TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. THE DRIVER OF THE TOW TRUCK ASKED ME IF THE IGNITION WAS STUCK. I TOLD HIM YES, AND HE TOLD ME THAT WAS THE USUAL PROBLEM WHENEVER HE HAD...

I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS. I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER LOCK LEAVING ME UNABLE TO GET THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION OR TURN THE KEY TO START THE CAR. FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AS THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TOLD ME. WITH THIS BEING A KNOWN PROBLEM, FORD STILL WANTS OVER $300 TO FIX A THE PROBLEM. IF THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, WHY IS THE CONSUMER THE ONE THAT HAS TO PAY FOR THE PROBLEM???

IGNITION WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY ON 2000 FOCUS SE, NEED TO REPLACE IGNITION TUMBLER ASSEMBLY

DT: THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP JULY 2ND, 2005. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START DUE TO THE IGNITION. THE SERVICE MECHANIC SAID FORD WAS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB

I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WILL NOT TURN.

I ARRIVED HOME ON SATURDAY MORNING, PARKED IN THE DRIVE MIDWAY, TOOK THE KEY OUT AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE. LATER IN THE AFTERNOON, I TRIED WITH NO SUCCESS TO MOVE THE CAR ALL THE WAY UP INTO THE DRIVE. THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. I MOVED THE WHEEL, WHICH WAS LOCK, BACK AND FORTH AND EVEN TRIED YANKING IT. IT WOULD NOT MOVE. I CALLED MY FRIEND TO COME AND LOOK AT IT. HE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE IT AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY IT HAD LOCKED. THERE IS NO RELEASE ON THE VEHICLE, SO I COULDN'T EVEN MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. EVERY THING IS LOCKED IN PLACE. WE PUSHED THE CAR MANUALLY UP INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHERE IT HAS BEEN SITTING WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN FOR 3 DAYS. I LOOKED INTO GETTING IT FIXED AND FOUND SEVERAL WEBSITES WITH HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP I...

DT: THIS MORNING WHEN LEAVING FOR WORK CONSUMER PUT KEY IN IGNITION AND IGNITION WOULD NOT TURNING OVER AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AS THIS HAS WORKED TWICE BEFORE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ALONG WITH THE IGNITION. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE ENTIRE IGNITION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, AND OFFERED NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS OCCURRED. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP AWAITING REPAIRS. *AK

DT: 2000 FORD FOCUS LX, IGNITION FROZE. PROBLEM OCCURRED BEFORE. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT CONSUMER HAD THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON MAY 26, 2004. THIS PROBLEM GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE. AT FIRST THE IGNITION WAS A LITTLE HARD TO TURN. WITHIN A WEEK THE CONSUMER COULD NOT EVEN TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED IT INCLUDED THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. THERE WERE NO KNOWN OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK

HI, ON SATURDAY EVENING (JUNE 18, 2005) I DROVE MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZTS TO EDGERTON CONFORT INN IN WISCONSIN WITH MY WIFE AND 6 MONTHS OLD CHILD WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. ON FATHER'S DAY MORNING (JUNE 19, 2005) READY TO ENJOY BREAKFAST WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN ON THE CAR. THE IGNITION KEY WOULD ONLY GO IN HALF-WAY AND WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING PLUS STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AS WELL, EVENTHOUTH I DIDN'T LOCK IT THE NIGHT BEFORE. I SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR WITH FRIENDS TRYING DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO RELEASE THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE CLOSEST TOWN I COULD FIND A FORD SERVICE CENTER WAS IN JANESVILLE, WI AND ON A SUNDAY (FATHER'S DAY) I COULDN'T RESOLVE MUCH. I HAD TO SPENT ANOTHER EXTRA NIGHT IN THE HOTEL TO BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THE NEXT DAY. NOT A FUN THING WHEN YOU HAVE A YOUNG...

I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS. MY IGNITION LOCKED. INITALLY, MY KEY WOULD ONLY GO IN HALF WAY, BUT WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER FINALLY GETTING MY KEY IN, IT STILL WOULD NOT TURN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS EXACT INDICENT, AND I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON FAIRLURE. THERE ARE OVER 150 POSTINGS ON AUTOMOTIVETALK.NET ALONE. I PAID $65 TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND $310 TO HAVE IT FIXED AT THE DEALER. CLEARLY, THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART, BUT FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO COMPENSATE THE OUT OF POCKET COSTS TO THE OWNERS.

WE HAD OCCASIONAL DIFFICULTY INSERTING THE KEY INTO OUR 2000 FORD FOCUS, AND THEN ONE DAY WE WERE COMPLETELY UNABLE TO GET THE KEY IN. WE HAVE A KEY THAT IS RARELY USED AND THAT DOESN'T WORK EITHER. WE ARE STUCK AND WILL HAVE TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE OUR CAR TO THE SHOP. MY HUSBAND MISSED A DAY OF WORK AND WE DON'T KNOW YET HOW MUCH THIS WHOLE THING WILL COST US. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS SINCE IT IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM FOR FORD FOCUS CARS.

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE IGNITION LOCKS UP. FROM WHAT SHE HAS SEEN THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE FORD FOCUS. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THERE WERE THREE OTHER VEHICLES THAT THEY ARE FIXING FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER COMPLAINTS. *JB

I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR OVER 3 YEARS NOW AND ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. ONE DAY, I DROVE THE CAR TO MY FRIEND'S HOUSE AND WAS READY TO LEAVE AND INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO THE IGNITION AND THEREFORE, I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO LOCKED. I HAD TO CALL A LOCKSMITH AND HE HAD TO DRILL INTO THE IGNITION TO REMOVE IT AND REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE. HE ALSO HAD TO PROGRAM A NEW KEY. THE LOCKSMITH TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. I AM SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL AS OF YET FOR THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PRODUCT AND ISSUE A RECALL. WE AS CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL...

THE IGNITION "FROZE" SO THAT I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I HAVE SINCE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FAILURE.

MY CAR WAS DRIVING/STARTING JUST FINE UNTIL ONE NIGHT I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND THE IGNITIOON AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T TURN. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER IN MY CAR WHICH COST ABOUT $300.

YESTERDAY, ALL OF A SUDDEN MY KEY DID NOT WANT TO TURN THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR. A COUPLE OF TIMES I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED BY PLAYING WITH IT AND THEN WHEN I NEEDED THE CAR A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER IT WOULD NOT WORK. I AM NOW FINDING ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET IN RELATION TO FORD FOCUS 2000-2003 MODELS HAVE BAD IGNITIONS AND SUBJECTS HAVING TO HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES AND FORD NOT RECALLING THEM. WEBSITES: WWW.AUTOMOTIVETALK.NET AND WWW.EDMUNDS.COM, ETC. I AM A SINGLE MOM, WITH ONLY THE FORD FOCUS TO DRIVE AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO BE STALLED OUT SOMEWHERE WITH MY YOUNG CHILD, BECAUSE FORD HAS DECIDED NOT TO FIX A CONSTANT PROBLEM.

KEY STUCK IN IGNITION, AFTER REPEATEDLY JIGGLING KEY, COULD TURN ON ELECTRICAL, BUT COULD NOT TURN ON ENGINE. FINALLY COULD REMOVE KEY WITH DIFFICULTY, BUT ELECTRICAL STAYED ON EVEN WITH KEY REMOVED. TRIED REPEATEDLY FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR AND A HALF, BUT COULD NOT TURN ENGINE ON. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE IN MAY 2002. AT THAT TIME (2002) THE KEY CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AND THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS RECODED UNDER WARRANTY BY FORD DEALERSHIP.

MY FORD FOCUS 2000 ZX3 WAS WORKING FINE. WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE HOME FROM WORK THE KEY JAMMED IN THE IGNITION. I COULD NOT GET THE KEY TO TURN. I TRIED AND TRIED BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD TO GET MY WIFE TO PICK ME UP. I TRIED IT THE NEXT DAY, STILL JAMMED. I READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUS MODELS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD $350- $650 TO REPLACE IT. VERY EXPENSIVE I THOUGHT. I CALLED AAA, THEY SENT A LOCK SMITH AND IT COST ME $185. NOT ONLY IS THIS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE 12 ALREADY LISTED RECALL ITEMS ON THIS MODEL BUT THE PRICE AT THE FORD DEALER WAS WELL INFLATED!!!! I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ITEM ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST AS IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFAULT. I...

1: ONE INCIDENT OF INSERTING KEY INTO IGNITION 2: TOTAL LOCK UP OF IGNITION,NO INJURY LOSS OF MONEY TO FIX THE PROBLEM 3: REPLACE IGNITION, IGNITION DRILLED AND NEW ONE INSTSALLED, HAVE OLD PART.