2003 FORD FOCUS Electrical System Problems

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN I STOPPED TO GET GAS, I GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN TO STAR THE ENGINE. I WAS STUCK AT A GAS STATION IN THE WINTER AND NO ONE WAS ABLE TO HELP ME. AFTER TWENTY MINUTES OF TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS TO GET IT TO START IT WORKED. THE NEXT DAY I GOT IN MY CAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, EXCEPT THIS TIME NOTHING I DID WOULD START IT. I ENDED UP PAYING $112 FOR A LOCKSMITH TO REPLACE THE IGNITION IN MY CAR. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF FORD FOCUS AND THERE HAS YET TO BE A RECALL. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF SOMEONE HAS CHILDREN AND IS STRANDED AND UNABLE TO MOVE THEIR VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION. *TR

KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS BY MORE THEN ONE PERSON. CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM IS REALLY COMMON AND TO TAP THE KEY WITH A HAMMER AND IT WILL TURN AND THAT I NEED TO GO IN AND HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED FOR $500!!! TRIED THEIR HAMMERING SUGGESTION AND THE LOCK STILL WON'T TURN! BECAUSE OF THIS I HAVE MISSED A WHOLE DAY OF SCHOOL. *TR

KEY FROZE SOLID IN THE IGNITION . STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN NOR THE KEY. LEFT STRANDED AND HAD TO CALL A LOCKSMITH TO PHYSICALLY DRILL OUT THE FACTORY INSTALLED IGNITION AND REPLACE IT WITH A STRATTEC REPLACEMENT PART # 707592. LOCKSMITH REITERATED WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET WITH THIS BEING A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS SE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED WHILE IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,542.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD BE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION WOULD COULD NOT BE TURNED TO START THE VEHICLE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 134,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO START THE ENGINE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

MY KEY WILL NOT TURN OVER AND MY WHEEL IS LOCKED UP. THE PROBLEMS STARTED AND I WOULD JUST TURN THE WHEEL AND SOONER OR LATER IT WOULD TURN OVER. NOW IM STRANDED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE WHEEL LOCKED UP AND NO TURNING THE KEY OVER. MISSED WORK AND MONEY. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET ON THIS AND THE WAS OVER 300 DIFF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THIS CAR (FORD) TO SAVE GAS AND MONEY. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED IF THIS MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT HASN'T YET. *TR

LATE NIGHT 35 MILES FROM HOME. KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. HAD TO GET A RIDE HOME. RETURNED THE NEXT DAY AND HAD A LOCKSMITH REPLACE THE IGNITION LOCK WITH A STRATTEC IGNITION LOCK. *TR

KEY WON'T TURN IN IGNITION. LUCKILY, MY CAR WAS PARKED AT HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT COULD LEAVE YOU STRANDED IF AWAY FROM HOME. I NOW HAVE TO LEAVE MY KEY IN THE IGNITION UNTIL I GET THE PROBLEM FIXED.

KEY WONT TURN IN IGNITION WINDOWS DOWN IN A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD. *TR

IGNITION KEY CANNOT BE EXTRACTED FROM VEHICLE AND WE COULDN'T TURN THE ENGINE OFF FOR A PERIOD THEN, COULDN'T RESTART IT AFTERWARDS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION FAILED AND LOCKED ABNORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED THEY ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND WOULD PROVIDE NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW HER TO TURN THE KEY INSIDE THE IGNITION FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. AFTER VARIOUS ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED VARIOUS TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS OR DIAGNOSTICS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION, STALLED THE CAR AND THEN COULD NOT TURN THE CAR BACK ON IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, ON CHRISTMAS EVE NONE THE LESS. *TR

2003 FORD FOCUS KEY NOT ABLE TO TURN IGNITION ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED PREVIOUSLY. VEHICLE STRANDED UNTIL IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY REMOVED AND REPLACED. *TR

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS MY CAR IGNITION HAS BEEN GETTING STUCK, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO START MY CAR. THIS PAST WEEKEND MY KEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL STRANDING MY FAMILY AWAY FROM HOME WHILE TRYING TO VISIT MY GRANDMOTHER IN THE HOSPITAL. LUCKILY WE WERE NOT HER MEANS TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL AS IT SEEMS THAT I HAVE PURCHASED AN UNRELIABLE CAR. AS I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT IT SEEMS ALMOST ALL FORD FOCUS OWNERS ARE ENCOUNTERING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE EVEN READ THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN HENCE THE LACK OF RECALL! I LIKE BILLIONS OF AMERICANS RELY ON MY CAR IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD. I HOPE TO GOD THAT I DO NOT HAVE A FORD FOCUS IF ANYTHING DESPERATE SHOULD BECOME OF ME AND I NEED SAFETY BECAUSE APPARENTLY THEY DON'T LIKE TO EVEN...

FORD FOCUS 2003 - KEY WON'T TURN TO TURN ON CAR - IGNITION CYLINDER/TUMBLER WAS BROKEN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS STRANDED IN A STORE PARKING LOT. HAD TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK TOW MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP. *TR

KEY WON'T TURN IN IGNITION. FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, I WAS ABLE TO TAP ON THE END OF THE KEY WHILE IT WAS IN THE IGNITION LOCK, AND THE KEY WOULD TURN. NOW, I AM UNABLE TO GET IT TO TURN AT ALL -- EVEN AFTER TAPPING ON IT WITH A HAMMER. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3 AT 37000 MILES THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WENT BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $700.00. NOW AT 67000 MILES THEY HAVE BOTH GONE BAD AGAIN AND MUST BE REPLACED AT A NEW COST OF $800.00. ADDITIONALLY I HAD A 2000 FORD FOCUS AND AT 55000 MILES BOTH THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO WE HAVE A 2006 FORD FOCUS AND AT 16000 MILES IT NEEDED BOTH AN ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THE CAR WAS THREE YEARS OLD AND OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, IT IS A VERY LOW MILEAGE CAR, AND IS ONLY DRIVE 10 MILES A DAY. WE REALLY LIKE THE FOCUS AS IT IS A GREAT VALUE AND A FUN CAR TO DRIVE BUT AFTER HAVING TO REPLACE 4 ALTERNATORS IN 18 MONTHS WE ARE RETHINKING OUR LOVE...

THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED SOLID. THE KEY COULD BE INSERTED AND REMOVED BUT THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. REPLACEMENT SEEMS THE ONLY VIABLE SOLUTION. IT SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT AS SO MANY CASES OF THE LOCK-UP HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

I WAS PARKED OUTSIDE MY GIRLFRIEND'S DR'S OFFICE WAITING TO PICK HER UP. IT WAS A COLD DAY AND SHE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THE BUS. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I ATTEMPTED REPEATEDLY TO TURN THE KEY, BUT IT WOULD NOT BUDGE. THIS HAD HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE (I HAD ONLY OWNED THE CAR A COUPLE MONTHS), BUT THE KEY HAD TURNED WITH SOME FIDDLING. THIS TIME IT WOULDN'T TURN, NO MATTER WHAT I DID. I EVENTUALLY HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. THE MECHANIC CALLED ME TODAY AND SAID THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE KEY HAS TO BE REPROGRAMMED. I READ SEVERAL SOURCES ONLINE THAT SAID THIS IS NOT NECESSARY THAT ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU THIS IS PADDING THEIR OWN POCKET, BUT WHAT CAN I DO? I'M NOT A MECHANIC AND I'M NOT ABOUT TO CALL THIS GUY A...

2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION WILL NOT TURN ENGINE OVER NOR UNLOCK STEERING. *TR

2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCK-UP. EVERY TIME THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM IGNITION AND THEN REINSERTED, IT IS VERY HARD TO GET IT TO UNLOCK TO TURN AND START. WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN PARKING LOTS DURING 110 DEGREE WEATHER WHILE TRYING TO GET THE KEY TO TURN. WE WILL HAVE TO EITHER REPLACE THE IGNITION OR CALL A LOCKSMITH. THIS IS AN EVERYDAY PROBLEM NOW. *TR

I WAS STRANDED WITH MY 2003 FORD FOCUS BECAUSE THEY KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC AT 2AM AND WAS ABLE TO GET A RIDE HOME. I AM VERY FORTUNATE NOTHING HAPPENED TO ME - WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED THAT LATE AT NIGHT. I HAD TO GET THE IGNITION REPLACED WHICH COST $400. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. *TR

IN 2007, TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING A 2003 FORD FOCUS I WAS LEFT STRANDED ON A SUNDAY EVENING IN BLIZZARD LIKE CONDITIONS IN ANCHORAGE ALASKA AFTER THE IGNITION ON THE FOCUS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE PART FAILURE THAT THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE OPERATED PERFECTLY ONE MOMENT, THEN I WAS UNABLE TO EVEN TURN THE IGNITION KEY THE SECOND. I ULTIMATELY HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR THE PART TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BUT UNIMPROVED IGNITION (THAT MAY FAIL AGAIN - AGAIN STRANDING ME - PERHAPS IN A LESS POPULATED AREA). ADDITIONALLY, MY FIANCEE HAS A 2000 FORD FOCUS WHOSE IGNITION FAILED ON HIM TONIGHT - ALSO STRANDING HIM. THE FACT THAT THE IGNITION FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE IS DANGEROUS AND LEAVES THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION. *TR

AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED, PUT KEY IN IGNITION AND COULD NOT TURN CAR ON. THIS WAS DUE TO A SUDDENLY FAILING IGNITION SYSTEM. HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE IGNITION COLUMN AND WAS STRANDED FOR THREE DAYS WHILE WE FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE CONSIDERING IT IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN BAD AREAS OR DURING BAD WEATHER. *TR

KEY FAILS TO TURN AFTER DRIVING TO WORK. 03 FORD FOCUS. CAN NOT START. WILL CALL FOR REPAIRS AND FIND COST. FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE OR OFFER SOLUTION DUE TO MILEAGE. *TR

2003 FORD FOCUS SE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO UNLOCK STEERING WHEEL AND START CAR WHILE CAR WAS PARKED. IGNITION CYLINDER REMOVED & REPLACED WITH A BETTER PART BY LOCKSMITH IN 25 MINUTES AT A COST OF $317. THIS PART SHOULD NEVER FAIL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ABS INDICATOR LIGHT AND BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ILLUMINATED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION AROUND THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT GAVE FALSE WARNING INDICATIONS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

THE IGNITION OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SE, LOCKED UP ON ME AND LEFT ME STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT. *TR

IGNITION LOCKS UP AND CAN NOT TURN KEY TO START ENGINE. *TR

2003 FORD FOCUS, ZX3, 2.3 LITER. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES, LEAVING ME STRANDED TWICE. WE ARE CALLING A LOCK SMITH TO RE-KEY THE IGNITION AND DOORS AGAIN. *TR

UNABLE TO TURN KEY IN THE IGNITION. HAD OCCURRED SPORADICALLY LEADING UP TO THE DATE WHEN IT WAS THEN UNABLE TO BE USED AT ALL, LEAVING FAMILY STRANDED. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IGNITION REPLACED. SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH REVEALED THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR

I AM A WOMAN WHO WAS LEFT SITTING WHEN MY IGNITION LOCKED UP AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. I CALLED TRIPLE A AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AT A COST OF $278.00 I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT APPARENTLY HAS NOT BEEN FIXED BY FORD AND COULD EASILY HAPPEN AGAIN. OF COURSE, THIS WOULD RESULT IN ANOTHER LARGE AMOUNT OF OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE FOR A NEGLECTING ACT OF FORD. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON EXPENSIVE PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. IT'S A DANGEROUS THING FOR ANYONE TO BE LEFT SITTING WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING VEHICLE, LET ALONE A WOMAN BY HERSELF. *TR

MY 2003 FORD FOCUS WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES ON IT WOULD NOT START. APPARENTLY THE IGNITION HAS A DEFECT LEAVING ME STRANDED AT WORK. AS A SOLDIER THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT RELY ON ME TO BE AT A CERTAIN PLACE AT A CERTAIN TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. APPARENTLY THE DEFECT IS WIDELY REPORTED FOR FORD FOCUS YEARS 2000 TO 2003. IT COULD COST ME DEARLY IF I WAS STRANDED IN WEATHER, A REMOTE LOCATION WITHOUT A CELL PHONE, OR IF MY BABY WAS SICK AND NEEDED TO BE RUSHED TO THE ER. *TR

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,RECENTLY I WAS STRANDED ON THE ROAD LATE AT NIGHT WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS FAILED TO TURN OVER. I LATER FOUND OUT THIS IS AN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. AS A FEMALE STRANDED ALONE THIS COULD HAVE LED DIRE CONSEQUENCES! NOW I FIND THAT THE FORD DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE ME SOME$500 TO REPAIR THE SWITCH..TO BE PUT IN JEOPARDY THEN CHARGED AN OBSCENE AMOUNT FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAW IS OUTRAGEOUS. PLEASE HELP. *TR

IGNITION IN 2003 FORD FOCUS FAILS TO WORK. KNOW ISSUE WITH FORD FOCUS WHICH SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE DUE TO POTENTIAL SAFETY FACTORS. *TR

I WENT TO PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHILE IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ME APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START MY CAR THE KEY FINALLY TURNS AND THE CAR STARTS. MY FEAR IS, THAT I MAY GET STUCK IN A BAD AREA WHEN TRAVELING AND WILL BE UNABLE TO START THE CAR. *TR

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2003 FORD FOCUS THAT HAS HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST 1.5 YEARS. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION, LEAVING ME STRANDED NOW THREE TIMES. I HAVE CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THEM ASKING THEM FOR A "GOOD WILL" REPAIR, AND TO NO AVAIL. I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF A FORD FOCUS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND WISH THAT THE NHTSA WOULD GET INVOLVED AND SEEK OUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO FORCE THEM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND REQUIRE THEM TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS REPAIR PERFORMED. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE FORD MOTOR COMPANY FORCED TO RECALL THE VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND FIX IT SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD TO LEAVE A KEY IN THE IGNITION THUS MAKING IT VERY EASY FOR A THIEF TO STEAL...

I WAS PREPARING TO RUN SOME ERRANDS ON A SATURDAY, BUT WHEN I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND I COULD NOT GET THE KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. AFTER AROUND 15 MINUTES OF WORKING THE STEERING WHEEL I WAS ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN SO I COULD START THE CAR. THIS KEPT HAPPENING ALL DAY OFF AND ON, UNTIL FINALLY THE NEXT DAY I WAS OUT AT THE GROCERY STORE WITH MY MOTHER AND WHEN WE WENT TO GO HOME, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN NO MATTER HOW MUCH I MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER SPENDING AN HOUR AND A HALF TRYING EVERYTHING I COULD TO START THE CAR, I FINALLY HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND I HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE HELP...

I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION THIS HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES ALREADY WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL???? IT SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM.... *TR

I WAS GOING DO THE INTERSTATE IN MY FORD FOCUS ZX3 WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I LOSE ALL POWER, IM IN THE MIDDLE LANE SURROUNDED BY 18 WHEELERS AND OTHER CARS, AND THEY HAVE TO SWERVE TO AVOID MY CAR BECAUSE THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT! THIS CAR IS TERRIBLE! *TR

2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION KEY AND TUMBLER SWITCH. I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WON'T TURN. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED NUMEROUS TIMES. I UNDERSTAND THE REPAIRS ARE $400 +. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD FOCUS. A FEW MONTHS AGO THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AT TIMES. USUALLY AFTER A FEW TRIES IT WOULD FINALLY TURN OVER. THIS PAST TUESDAY WHILE AT A GROCERY STORE MY LUCK RUN OUT. NOW THE KEY WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. THE IGNITION IS LOCKED UP. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIPS AND THEY SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. IF IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM THEN WHY ISN'T SOMETHING BEING DONE ABOUT IT? THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE PLACE I HAD MY CAR REPAIRED WHERE ALSO FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. WHAT DO CONSUMER'S HAVE TO DO NOT BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY THE FORD COMPANY. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE STRANDED OUT SOMEWHERE AND KILLED BEFORE FORD ADMITS TO A PROBLEM. I HAVE ALWAYS BOUGHT FORDS BUT AFTER THIS I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE....

I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS AND THE KEY WILL NOT START THE CAR UNTIL IT IS GENTLY TAPPED WITH A HAMMER (I LEARNED HOW TO DO THIS BY READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET) THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR INSTANCE A PERSON IS ALONE IN AN UNLIT AREA AFTER WORKING THE LATE SHIFT THEY CANT START THEIR CAR CAUSE THE IGNITION MECHANISMS ARE DEFECTIVE FORD RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM BUT FOR SOME REASON HAS NOT BEEN LEGALLY REQUIRED TO FIX THIS DEFECT BY RECALLING ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE IS THE FACT THAT I HAVE TO CARRY A HAMMER IN MY CAR WHEREVER I GO THE COPS COULD SAY I AM CARRYING IT AS A WEAPON. *TR

MY 19 YEAR OLD SON A FULL TIME COLLEGE STUDENT, WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT A DISTANCE FROM HOME BECAUSE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. A FEW TIMES HE HAS HAD TO, JIGGLE THE KEY TO START THE CAR. AND NOW IT WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. THE CAR IS STILL STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT HAPPENED ON THE WEEKEND. I AM IN FEAR FOR MY SONS SAFETY, HEADING BACK TO COLLEGE 6 HOURS FROM HOME. *TR

BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS WITH THE IGNITION CYLINDER STICKING. ON AUG 13, 2009 I WENT TO START THE CAR AND THE CYLINDER WAS STUCK. I HAVE A NEW CYLINDER TO REPLACE THE OLD ONE. *TR

MY BRAKE LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED: THE RESULT OF THE WIRING HARNESS BEING CONSTANTLY ABRADED IN THE HINGE OF THE HATCHBACK. ALL OF THE WIRES WERE EXPOSED, AND IT CAUSED NOT ONLY A DRIVING SAFETY HAZARD, BUT A FIRE HAZARD AS WELL. IN THE YEAR 2000, THIS SAME PROBLEM CAUSED A RECALL OF THE 2000 FORD FOCUSES, BUT I HAVE WRITTEN TO FORD AND THEY DENY ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY CAR. "THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER REGARDING THE WIRING HARNESS CONCERN ON YOUR 2003 FORD FOCUS. YOUR VEHICLE IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY RECALLS OR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAMS AT THIS TIME." IS THEIR RESPONSE. I AM HAVING THE PROBLEM CORRECTED BY MY MECHANIC: HE WILL LENGTHEN THE WIRES SO THAT THEY CANNOT BE CAUGHT IN THE HINGE. FORD ONLY WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE HARNESS, WHICH IS THE SAME AS THE ONE THAT FAILED....

CAR PARKED AT MALL LATER AT NIGHT. WHEN TO TRY AND START CAR BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS FAILURE CAUSED ME TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED WHICH COST $427.00. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY BUT WAS MOST LIKELY REPLACED WITH THE SAME TYPE OF SWITCH WHICH WILL FAIL AGAIN. I WAS ALSO LEFT STRANDED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT IN A DESERTED AREA OR THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING.*TR