2001 FORD FOCUS Electrical Systemignitionswitch Problems

IGNITION SWITCH ON THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND WILL NOT TURN. MY WIFE IS A DIABETIC AND HAS NUMEROUS HEALTH COMPLICATIONS DUE TO HER DIABETES. IF WE WERE OUT AND BECAME STRANDED IT COULD HAVE COST US HER LIFE. I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH FORD FOR NOT FIXING THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE KEY WOULD OCCASIONALY BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION, BUT COULD BE REMOVED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

2001 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH NOT TURNING WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE. MY STARTED EARLY MORNING AFTER WORK -20 OUTSIDE. LUCKY I WAS HOME. GOOGLED AND SOMEBODY SAID HIT IT WITH HAMMER AND IT WILL TURN OR REPLACE NEW IGNITION SWITCH. HIT IT MANY TIMES AND NOW IT GOT WORSE. FIX IS NOT CHEAP AND IT IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINTS FROM MANY PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO IT COULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OR IN SEVERE WEATHER CONDITION OR SAFETY EVACUATION THAT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE IF YOU CAN'T START YOUR VEHICLE. CAN SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE FORD IS GETTING AWAY WITH NEGLIGENCE OR I SUPPOSE WILL JUST BAIL THEM OUT SO THEY CAN KEEP RIPPING PEOPLE OFF WITH EXPENSIVE VEHICLES AND FAULTY EQUIPMENTS. IS THAT HOW THIS WORKS. SCREW THE TAX PAYERS AND CONSUMERS WHO KEEP THIS COUNTRY PRODUCTIVE. FORD...

IGNITION SWITCH SEIZING, UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. 2001 FORD FOCUS WAGON. HAS HAPPENED, AND BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF FORD OWNERS, YET FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS THEY DO NOT SEE IT AS A 'SAFETY ISSUE'. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED TO ME, IT WAS AROUND 11PM ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, ON A SMALL SIDE ROAD NEAR MACK AND WOODWARD, DOWNTOWN DETROIT. THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL ANYONE CAN CONVINCE ME MY SAFETY WAS NOT IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY PART! *TR

KEY WILL NOT TURN...CAN'T START CAR..KEY TUMBLER DEFECTIVE. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2001 FORD FOCUS IN APRIL 2007 FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP. ONE DAY A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO I WENT INTO A STORE AND WHEN I CAME OUT MY KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. FORTUNATELY I GRABBED A PASSERBY TO HELP ME AND HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THEN A FEW DAYS AGO I GOT HOME FROM WORK ONE NIGHT, PARKED MY CAR, AND WENT INSIDE. NEXT MORNING WHEN I TRIED TO LEAVE FOR WORK THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO THE IGNITION AND THE WHEEL WAS LOCKED AGAIN. AFTER AN HOUR OF TRYING TO GET THE KEY IN, I HAD TO CALL A MECHANIC TO TOW THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND GET IT REPAIRED. IT COST ME $400. *TR

IGNITION SWITCH- MY KEY WON'T ENTER THE IGNITION. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE PART. FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS FAULTY PART. *TR

2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3 IGNITION FAILURE THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND DOES NOT TURN AND THE CAR I GUESS IS KNOWN FOR IT AND THE COMPANY DOES NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM THE CUSTOMER HAS TO PAY FOR THE NEW IGNITION EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS AND THE CAR IS KNOWN FOR DOING THIS. *JB

I HAD TO HAVE MY IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED BECAUSE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2001 FOCUS. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY AND UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AS OF JULY 16, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,000. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR

MY WIFE OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS LX,WE HAVE BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT IGNITION PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR FOR MONTHS WHERE THE KEY DID NOT TURN THE IGNITION. I CALLED FORD SERVICE , AND THEY ADVISED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION WHICH WILL COST BETWEEN $380 AND $480. I COULD NOT AFFORD THIS,, AND LOST TIME AT WORK TO GO AND MESS WITH THE IGNITION. I HAD TO WIGGLE IT BACK AND FORTH ,SOMETIMES TAKING ME 2 HOURS, TO GET THE KEY TO TURN. I READ FORUMS ON THE INTERNET THAT MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY COULD NOT FORD REIMBURSE ANY COST OR DO THIS FOR CHEAPER THEN THE AMOUNT I WAS QUOTED. THE CARS WILL SIT IN THE DRIVEWAY UNTIL I COULD GET ENOUGH MONEY FOR REPAIRS. THE CAR WONT EVEN TURN NOW EVEN AFTER WIGGLING IT BACK AND FORTH, SO I MAY HAVE TO GET THE CAR TOWED...

FORD FOCUS IGNITION KEY WILL NOT INSERT. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE I AM STRANDED WITH AN IMMOBILE CAR. *AK

MY IGNITION AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHEN I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE WORK. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE, I FOUND OUT IT IS GOING TO COST ME ABOUT $400 TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. MY PROBLEM IS THE GENTLEMAN WHO TOWED MY CAR TOLD ME THIS WAS THE THIRD FOCUS HE TOWED THIS WEEK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN FOCUSE'S. I WORKED REALLY HARD TO PAY FOR THE CAR AND EXPECT BETTER SERVICE FROM FORD. IF THIS A COMMON OCCURRENCE, I FEEL IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT IGNITION WILL NOT TURN WITH THE KEY. THIS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES , AND SHETOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 1-3-07. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR, AND SHE WILL HAVE THE REPAIR ORDER FROM THE WORK DONE. *AK

WHEN I TRIED TO START MY 2001 FORD FOCUS THIS MORNING TO RETURN HOME, THE IGNITION LOCKED. I HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED 2CE BEFORE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN I WENT ON THE WEB FOR INFO I SPENT HRS READING OF ALL THE OTHER CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO SOLVE THIS. IT WAS SUGGESTED I WRITE TO THIS SITE. *NM

2001 FORD FOCUS: IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN AFTER INSERTION, SO THE CAR WON'T START. JAMMING KEY HARD INTO COLUMN AND MAYBE ROCKING THE STEERING WHEEL EVENTUALLY ENABLES THE KEY TO TURN AND START THE VEHICLE. INTERMITTENT, BUT NOW BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. LAST TIME IT TOOK 40 MINUTES TO START CAR - COULD BE PERSONAL DANGER. *JB

FORD FOCUS YEAR 2001 - THE IGNITION HAS LOCKED UP TWICE. HAD AAA LOCKSMITH MAKE A NEW KEY THAT WORKED BETTER- OLD KEY YOU HAVE TO HIT WITH FORCE TO MAKE IT WORK. NOW IT TURNS BUT WON'T START. *NM

IGNITION LOCK FAILURE. KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH. A LOCKSMITH WAS CALLED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT ALERTED.

IGNITION SWITCH DETERIORATED RESULTING IN A FAILURE; THERE WERE NO PRIOR INDICATIONS OF THE IMMINENCY OF THIS FAILURE. IGNITION SUBSEQUENTLY COMPLETELY FAILED TO TURN. ENTIRE IGNITION SWITCH SYSTEM REPLACED. THE KEYS WILL BE THE NEXT TO FAIL, AS THEY ARE WEARING DOWN IN A MUCH MORE SUBSTANTIAL MANNER THAN I HAVE EVER SEEN AN AUTOMOBILE KEY DETERIORATE. *NM

CONCERN: 2001 FORD FOCUS ZX3 (IGNITION SWITCH STUCK) THIS CAR HAS ONLY 35000 MILES. AS I HAVE SEARCHED FOR REPAIR INSTRUCTION FOR THIS PROBLEM I KNOW IT IS WIDE SPREAD. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR EVERYDAY TO COLLEGE AND THE IGNITION SWITCH STUCK AND LEFT HER STRANDED. THE KEY WOULD GO INTO THE CYLINDER BUT WOULD NOT TURN. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF SHE WERE ALONE AND STUCK IN A PARKING LOT IN THE DARK!!! I BELIEVE THE SCENARIOS ARE SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THAT FORD NEEDS TO REMEDY THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WINTER IS SETTING IN AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE GOING TO BE GETTING STRANDED IN THEIR FORD FOCUS'. THIS WON'T GET ATTENTION UNTIL SOMEONE DIES! FORD IS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY! *NM

IGNITION LOCK-UP. FIRST TIME MAJOR DISASTER WITH INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DEALERSHIP COSTING ME $1055.26 JUST BECAUSE THE KEY CYLINDER/KEY WOULD NOT WORK. SECOND TIME IT LOCKED UP, 14 MONTHS LATER, STILL COST ME OVER $500.00 FOR FIX AND NEW KEYS AT DEALERSHIP. *JB

MY IGNITION KEY OFTEN STICKS IN THE IGNITION AND CAN NOT BE REMOVED. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD KNOWS ALL ABOUT IT. THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PIECE OF JUNK. IT MAKES THE CARS UNSAFE AS THEY SOMETIMES LOCK THE COLUMN AND SOMETIMES MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTART THE CAR IN UNSAFE LOCATIONS, SUCH AS HIGH CRIME AREAS OR ADJACENT TO INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. IT MAKES THE CARS VULNERABLE TO THEFT. FORD WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AND IT SEEMS EVERY FOCUS WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AS THEY DO NOT OWN UP TO THEIR DESIGN FAILURES. *JB

2001 FORD FOCUS. KEY ( IGNITION SWITCH) FAILED. KEY WON'T TURN . *NM

IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2001 FORD FOCUS LOCKED. UNABLE TO PUT KEY ALL THE WAY INTO IGNITION SWITCH. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE KEY WAS ABLE TO BE TURNED, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT REMOVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED, AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE DEFECT.

FROZEN IGNITION LOCK. *NM

KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE SWITCH , REPLACED SWITCH ONE TIME, THE NEXT TIME I HAD TO HAVE THE KEYS REPROGRAMMED ONE TIME AND NOW MY POS IS SITTING ACROSS TOWN WILL NOT CRANK BECAUSE THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. IF I SIT IN THE CAR AND BANG AROUND ON THE KEY WHILE IN THE IGNITION FOR 3 OR 4 HOURS I MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY GET THE CAR TO CRANK. NOW ONCE THE VEHICLE ( I DON'T KNOW WHY I CALL IT A VEHICLE ITS MORE LIKE NIGHTMARE ) DOES GET STARTED UP AND AS LONG AS I LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH IT WILL RE-START. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR 4 YEARS. *NM

IGNITION DIDN'T TURN, THE ONLY WAY TO TURN KEY WAS TO BANG AGAINST KEY WITH SCREW DRIVER, PROBLEM GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, SO EVENTUALLY I HAD TO GET IT REPAIRED. MANY FORD FOCUS FORUMS STATE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM UPON MANY FOCUS'! *NM

PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH - MULTIPLE TIMES - FINALLY HAD LOCKSMITH CHANGE THE IGNITION. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THREE YEARS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED, THE IGNITION SWITCH IS BEING REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP.

AT FIRST, KEY WOULD GO INTO IGNITION ALL THE WAY, BUT WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. WOULD HAVE TO TAKE KEY OUT, PUT BACK IN, ETC UNTIL FINALLY IT WOULD TURN. TODAY THE SAME THING HAPPENED, EXCEPT THEN IT WOULDN'T GO IN AT ALL. IT TOOK 10 MINUTES OF JIGGLING IT AROUND FOR IT TO GO IN; NOW, TO GET THE KEY IN I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND MESS AROUND WITH IT UNTIL IT GOES IN. TALKED TO MECHANIC AND FORD DEALERSHIP - MUST REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER. I LOOKED UP ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS AN OVERLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS AND THAT THE PART IS DEFECTIVE. *JB

WE BOUGHT OUR DAUGHTER A 2001 FORD FOCUS. ALL THE REVIEWS STATED THAT THE CAR WAS A GOOD, ECONOMICAL, SAFE CAR. WE PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN 2004. SINCE THE PURCHASE HER STEERING AND IGNITION SYSTEM HAS LOCKED UP ON HER TWICE. AFTER READING MANY SITES IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUS. THIS IS AN ECONOMICAL CAR THAT MANY PARENTS ARE RELYING ON TO GET THEIR COLLEGE AGED CHILDREN TO AND FROM SCHOOL. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL ALL FORD FOCUSES SO THEY CAN ALL HAVE NEW IGNITIONS INSTALLED. THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN IS MOST IMPORTANT HERE. PARENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CONTINUALLY WORRY THAT THEIR 22 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER MAY BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE WITHOUT HELP DUE TO FORDS LAZY ATTITUDE. PLEASE RECALL THESE CARS THAT SO THAT PARENTS CAN HAVE PEACE OF MIND KNOWING THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAFE.*NM

IGNITION NOT TURNING ON 2001 FORD FOCUS. I HAVE READ A MESSAGE BOARD THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. ALSO, BRAKES HAVE BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL FORD BUYER BUT AM CONSIDERING CHANGING TO A DIFFERENT MAKE. *NM

2001 FORD FOCUS. INSERT KEY BUT IGNITION WILL NOT TURN. APPARENTLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL!*JB

BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT LESS THAN 24,000 MILES; CONTINUES GRINDING AND SQUEAKING CONTINUE EVEN FOLLOWING BRAKE REPLACEMENT AND TURNING OF ROTORS; AT HAVE REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES TWO TIMES, WITH LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON EACH SET OF TIRES; IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED - I COULD GET THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, BUT IT WOULD NOT ROTATE; NOW AT ONLY 41,000 MILES, THE ENGINE ATTEMPTS TO STALL IN IDLE - THE WHOLE CAR SHUDDERS - AND HAS STALLED TWICE WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. THIS PRESENTS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR MY TWO CHILDREN AND OTHERS ON THE ROADWAY. IN REVIEWING THIS SITE, I AM OBVIOUSLY NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THESE SAME PROBLEMS. WHY DOESN'T THE NHTSA ISSUE RECALLS ON FORD FOCUS FOR THESE AND OTHER PROBLEMS? FORD SHOULD RECALL THE WHOLE LINE AND ISSUE REFUNDS TO CUSTOMERS OR CANCEL THEIR REMAINING...

IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK UP- I DO NOT KNOW WHAT LED TO THE LOCK UP. A FEW DAYS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED MY EMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN WENT OUT A FEW DAYS LATER. I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK UP... PLEASE RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB

I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW AND ONLY HAVE ABOUT 20,000 MILES ON IT (I LIVE IN THE CITY AND I DON'T DRIVE THAT MUCH). OVER THE LAST 2 WEEKS, THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2001 FOCUS IS STARTING TO FAIL. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND AFTER READING ALL THE PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET AM WONDERING WHY NO ONE HAS FILED A LAWSUIT OR WHY FORD ISN'T ISSUING A RECALL. I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO SHELLING OUT $300+ TO FIX THEIR PROBLEM. I GOT THE SPARE KEY IN THE IGNITION, SO I JUST LEAVE IT IN ALL THE TIME AND LOCK THE DOORS, AND I TRY TO DRIVE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. I GUESS I'LL BE USING MY TAX RETURN TO FIX FORD'S PROBLEM IT'S TOO BAD, MY FAMILY & I HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL FORD CUSTOMERS FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS, BUT I'LL PROBABLY BUY HONDA NEXT TIME OUT. *JB

MY 2001 FORD FOCUS IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKING UP. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED, HOWEVER, IT IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH A LITTLE COAXING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $300 AND THAT HE HAS AT LEAST 2 OF THE SAME CAR COME IN A WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOLD HIM THANK YOU AND WENT HOME AND CALLED FORD, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT I WOULD NEED TO GET IT CORRECTED ON MY OWN. I AM NOT SURE OF THE FIRST INCIDENT DATE. *JB

KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION SWITCH; DEALER HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH BECAUSE THE TUMBLERS WERE WORN OUT; THE CAR IS ONLY 4 YRS OLD AND HAS 39K MILES! DEALER REFUSED TO COVER CHARGES. *JB

THE IGNITION ON MY 2001 FORD FOCUS BROKE. I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO PICK IT UP. UPON RESEARCHING THIS FURTHER, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHAT'S THE DEAL?!? *NM

THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED WHICH CAUSED MY DAUGHTER TO ABANDON HER CAR IN AN UNAUTHORIZED PARKING LOT AT HER UNIVERSITY CAMPUS FOR WHICH SHE WAS TICKETED. WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR, A 2001 FORD FOCUS, TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON INVESTIGATION, WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY THE DEALER, THIS ISSUE IS RAMPANT WITH THIS CAR. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AND THEREFORE THE CAR IS STUCK IN PARK AND INOPERABLE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY MAY BE ISSUING A RECALL AND THAT WE SHOULD KEEP OUR ORIGINAL RECEIPT. THIS ALONE TELLS ME THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AS THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FAILURE IN ENGINEERING DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING. *JB

WE HAVE READ SEVERAL ARTICLES CONCERNING THE FORD FOCUS 2000 AND AN APPARENT DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF DISGRUNTLED FOCUS OWNERS WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE INCONVENIENCE ASSOCIATED WITH IN SOME CASES MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH OFTEN TIMES LEFT THEM STRANDED AND FACING LARGE TOWING AND REPAIR CHARGES. SINCE A FAMILY MEMBER HAD RECENTLY EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET, SPOKE WITH SEVERAL DEALERS AND LOCKSMITHS WHICH LED ME TO CONCLUDE THAT THE FAILED CYLINDERS RESULTED FROM A SUBSTANDARD MANUFACTURED CYLINDER WHICH RAPIDLY DETERIORATES WITH USE AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURES AND JAMS. FORD IS WELL AWARE THAT THESE FRAGILE CYLINDERS ARE MADE OF SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS AND ARE BREAKING AND JAMMING AT AN ALARMING RATE. *JB

THE IGNITION IS LOCKED UP IN MY 2001 FORD FOCUS. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE FOR POSSIBLE REMEDIES, I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCHES ON MY MODEL CAR DATING BACK FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THE STANDARD RATE FOR THESE REPAIRS SEEMS TO BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $350 WHICH TO SOMEONE DRIVING A LOW COST VEHICLE LIKE THE FOCUS IS A LOT OF MONEY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS ADMITTED PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL AND INSTEAD IS CREATING A BOON INDUSTRY FOR THE DEALERS HAVING TO REPLACE THESE PARTS? HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE TO GET SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS? I HAVE OWNED FORD CARS MY ENTIRE LIFE AND I CANNOT SEE A REASON TO CONTINUE TO BUY THEM IF THIS IS THE TYPE OF PRODUCT AND SUPPORT THEY ARE GOING TO START TO PRODUCE. *NM

KEY STARTED GETTING HARD TO INSERT INTO IGNITION SWITCH. KEY WOULDN'T TURN OVER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, BUT ALWAYS MANAGED TO WIGGLE IT TO GET IT STARTED. IT FINALLY FAILED COMPLETELY RESULTING IN A MISSED DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT FOR MY 69 YEAR OLD MOTHER. MATTHEWS FORD IN ASHEVILLE, NC SAYS THAT THIS HAPPENS OFTEN AND THEY REPLACE THEM ALL THE TIME. WILL COST AT LEAST $250 TO GET THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AND MORE FOR A TOW. *JB

IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER IN 2001 FORD FOCUS IS COMPLETELY FROZEN. THE CAR IS UNABLE TO BE STARTED WITH ANY KEYS. THIS HAS LEFT ME STRANDED. I HAVE NOTED MANY INSTANCES, VIA RESEARCH, OF THIS HAPPENING WITH FOCUS', AND AM DEEPLY DISTURBED THAT FORD HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. *NM

THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT PERMIT THE CAR TO START. THE SWITCH (XS4Z-11582-AC CVR ASY AUX FL) HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, ONCE AT 41,407 MILES AND AGAIN AT 57,834 MILES. THE DEALER AND AAA PROVIDED A TEMPORARY REMEDY TO THE STRANDED DRIVER, WHICH IS "WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, HIT IT HARD WITH A HAMMER TO ENGAGE THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY." AAA KEEPS SPARE FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCHES IN ITS EMERGENCY SERVICE SUPPORT TRUCKS. *JB

DT: THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED AND WILL NOT MOVE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING OFF AND ON SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED ON 12-23-04. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY DID NOTHING TO CHANGE THE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *MR

DT: THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN WITH THE KEY IN. CALLER SAID IT WAS STICKING BUT TO IT WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. UP UNTIL HOWEVER, SHE COULD FORCE IT AND IT WOULD WORK, THIS TIME SHE COULD NOT GET THE KEY TO TURN. SHE HAD THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A MONTH. IT STARTED WITHOUT WARNING AND KEPT GETTING WORSE UNTIL 08/26/2005. WHEN SHE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT TURN. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK

DT:THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS LX. THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP , AND WHEN THE CONTACT GOT THE BILL IT WAS $500, INCLUDING TOWING. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED TWICE IN NOVEMBER 2003. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, AND AGAIN ON AUGUST 8, 2005 IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE REPAIR INVOICE FOR AUGUST 8, 2005 STATED DIAGNOSTIC KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION, NECESSARY TO REMOVE STEERING BEZELS, REMOVE IGNITION SWITC TO DRILL LOCK CYLINDER, REMOVE GUTS AND HOUSING. ALSO, IT WAS NECESSARY TO CODE NEW LOCK CYLINDER AND INSTALL IT. THIS COST $257.00. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS TTHE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER. THE COST $103.66 AND THE TOWING WAS $85.00 . THE SECOND TIME ALL THIS WAS OUT OF POCKET, BUT THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS REIMBURSED...