2004 FORD FOCUS Electrical Systemignitionswitch Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD NOISE WAS DETECTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE KEY OVERHEATED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO DRIVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT FURTHER MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT BOTH PASSENGER DOORS WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR NEEDED EXTRA STRENGTH TO OPEN AND THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WAS STUCK AND WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE UNKNOWN DEALERS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE ENGINE VALVE WAS STUCK. THE CAUSE OF THE OTHER FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES....

THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO TURN IN MY 2004 FORD FOCUS LEAVING ME STRANDED. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAD HAPPENED AND TO TEMPORARILY REMEDY THE SITUATION I HAD TO TAKE A HAMMER AND TAP THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TURN AT THE SAME TIME TO START THE CAR. THE KEY MUST REMAIN IN THE IGNITION AT ALL TIMES NOW TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT BANGED ON THE KEY AND THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,139 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,673. UPDATED 11/9/10 *CN

THE ISSUE I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT IS IN REGARD TO FORD FOCUS AUTOMOBILES FROM 2000 TO CURRENT DATE 2010. THERE IS A KNOW DEFECT WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH IS MADE WITH INFERIOR METAL PARTS IN THE IGNITION LOCK. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT METAL SHAVINGS ARE PRODUCED INSIDE THE LOCK AND AFTER TIME THESE METAL SHAVINGS CAUSE THE LOCK TO JAM. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN STRANDED BECAUSE THEY CANNOT TURN THE IGNITION KEY. FORD DENIES THIS PROBLEM. JUST GO TO ANY LOCKSMITH OR TOW TRUCK DRIVER OR GOOGLE FORD FOCUS IGNITION ON THE INTERNET. EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. EVERYTIME THIS HAPPENS IT COSTS THE OWNER BETWEEN $500 AND $800 TO HAVE THIS FIXED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. MY 2004 FOR FOCUS CURRENTLY HAS THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BY FORD AND I THINK THIS IS THE BIGGEST SCAM...

IGNITION SWITCH IN LOCK POSITION FREEZES AND REFUSES TO UNLOCK WHEN IGNITION KEY IS INSERTED, CAUSING AN INABILITY TO START ENGINE OR UNLOCK STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM STRANDS MOTORISTS WHEREVER THEY ARE WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS SWITCHED OFF AND REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. *TR

I HAVE TWO ISSUES WITH MY FORD FOCUS (2004) FIRST, I RAN INTO A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IT WILL NOT TURN. I LEFT THE KEY IN FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS WHEN THIS INITIALLY HAPPENED BUT, IT WORE OUT MY ALTERNATOR AND I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I REMOVED THE KEY ONCE THE NEW ALTERNATOR WAS INSTALLED. I HAD SOME MINOR SUCCESS WITH INSERTING THE KEY AND HAD TO BANG ON IT WITH MY HAND TO GET IT TO TURN. THIS WORKED SUCCESSFULLY FOR 2 WEEKS. THE IGNITION SWITCH IS NOW FROZEN. I AM BACK TO SQUARE ONE. SECONDLY, THE TRUNK LATCH DOESN'T CLOSE PROPERLY AND I HAVE TO USE MY REMOTE TO REOPEN THE MECHANISM IN ORDER TO GET IT TO CLOSE. VERY AGGRAVATING. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD IF THESE ISSUES ARE NOT RECALLED. *TR

KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION LEAVING ME STRANDED AT NIGHT. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR(FORD FOCUS) ACCORDING TO INTERNET QUERIES. *TR

I HAVE OWNED MY 2004 FORD FOCUS SE FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS NOW AND OUT OF NO WHERE THE IGNITION IN THE CAR FROZE. WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION THE KEY DOESN'T GO IN THE KEY HOLE SMOOTHLY ONCE ALL THE WAY IN IT WONT TURN. I WAS STRANDED AT WORK FOR 3 AND A HALF HOURS TRYING TO GET MY CAR STARTED FINALLY A TOW TRUCK DRIVER CAME AND USED A MALLET HIT MY KEY WHILE IT WAS IN THE IGNITION TO GET THE CAR STARTED. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HEARD THAT FORD DID A RECALL ON THIS PART. TURNS OUT THAT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS I AM FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PART...I DID SOME RESEARCHING ONLINE AND FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM FORD IS NOT FIXING THIS MALFUNCTION. I AM DEPLOYING TO IRAQ...

2004 FORD FOCUS WITH IGNITION PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *KB

MY DAUGHTER WENT TO START HER 2004 FORD FOCUS AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHEN INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. STEERING WHEEL AND IGNITION CYLINDER WERE LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. THIS WAS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS "IGNITION CYLINDER BINDING." DEALERSHIP DRILLED OUT CYLINDER AND REPLACED AT A COST OF $425. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,947. *TR

THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2004 FORD FOCUS.*CN

2004 FORD FOCUS IGNITION KEY LOCKOUT FAILURE. HAD TO REPLACE TUMBLER. *TR

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THIS PROBLEM. IT JUST HAPPENED OUT OF NO WERE. MY KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. AS OF NOVEMBER 8, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER AND IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME DEFECT, BUT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE. HE CONSIDERED THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO DAYS LATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE KEY CARTRIDGE CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO OF THE THREE ORIGINAL KEYS HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THE REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,155 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,200. UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07

WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE IGNITION SWITCH OF THE 2004 FORD FOCUS BEGAN TO STOP FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I AM CURRENTLY ABLE TO TURN THE KEY IF I SPEND A FEW MINUTES MANIPULATING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY TURNING THE KEY.*AK

WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2004 FORD FOCUS, 3 YEARS AGO. OF COURSE THE WARRANTY JUST RAN OUT (WE'RE AT ABOUT 38,000 MILES). OVER THE PAST 2 WEEKS, WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS GETTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, AND ONCE IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY WONT TURN. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT TOOK JUST A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS AND THEN IT TURNED. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE, AND HAS TAKEN UP TO 5 MINUTES TO GET THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TO TURN. EXACTLY 2 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS AFTER THE PROBLEM AROSE, I WENT TO START MY CAR AND THIS TIME IT TOOK 10 MINUTES TO GET TO KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TO TURN. THAT SAME NIGHT I WAS ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE A FRIENDS HOUSE, AND AGAIN THE KEY HAS TROUBLE GOING INTO THE IGNITION, AND ONCE IN IT WONT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED, AND...

YESTERDAY I GOT INTO MY CAR (A 2004 FORD FOCUS), PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. TODAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. THE KEY CYLINDER HAD MALFUNCTIONED. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS, BUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS REFUSED TO RECALL THE AFFECTED MODELS EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP DID REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BUT I HAD TO PAY OVER $200 FOR IT. *NM

THE KEY FOR MY 2004 FORD FOCUS STATION WAGON ISN'T WORKING RIGHT. I TURN IT BACK AND FORTH IN THE IGNITION AND IT TAKE 5 MINUTES TO START THE CAR. IT ISN'T ON RECALL BUT SHOULD BE. THERE ARE LOTS OF THE SAME ISSUES ON THE INTERNET. *JB

IGNITION CYLINDER FAILED TO TURN DURING START UP. KEY WOULD BOTTOM OUT IN CYLINDER AS REQUIRED, BUT UPON ATTEMPTING TO ROTATE IN ANY DIRECTION THE KEY WOULD NOT MOVE. COULD NOT GET KEY TO ROTATE AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO DO SO OVER A 12 HOUR PERIOD. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND TALKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE REP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, IT SEEMS THIS PROBLEM IS VERY PREVALENT WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL FROM ITS INCEPTION IN 2000. THE PARTICULAR FAILED IGNITION CYLINDER INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE LISTED HAS HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES IN THE PAST, BUT EACH TIME RESOLVED THE PROBLEM WITHIN MINUTES. NOT THIS TIME. IT HAD TO BE REPAIRED THROUGH DESTRUCTIVE DISASSEMBLY, IE THE CYLINDER LOCK NEEDED TO BE DRILLED AND REPLACED. *NM

I NOTICED WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED MY 2004 FORD FOCUS THAT IT HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY NOT TURNING THE IGNITION OVER. I RECENTLY WAS STRANDED BECAUSE MY KEY DIDN'T TURN OVER AND I TOOK IT THE SHOP WHO CONFIRMED IT WAS MY IGNITION LOCK THAT FROZE. THE COST $265...*NM

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE.. FORTUNATE THAT THE EVENT HAPPENED WHILE AT HOME. I TRAVEL FREQUENTLY AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DETRIMENTAL IF THIS HAD OCCURRED WHILE ON DUTY. FORD'S EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WE PURCHASED IN GOOD FAITH, REFUSED TO COVER THE COMPONENT. WHILE THE PLAN CLEARLY STATES THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IS COVERED. FORD'S COST FOR REPAIR IS OVER $365.00. *JB

I HAVE A 2004 FORD FOCUS LX AND THE IGNITION LOCKED FROZE. THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN, THEREFORE NOT ALLOWING MY VEHICLE TO START NO MATTER WHAT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 50000 MILES ON IT AND IS FAIRLY NEW. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN FORD FOCUS VEHICLES. THERE IS EVEN A CLASS ACTION SUIT GOING ON IN CALIFORNIA. FORD DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THIS AS A RECALL BECAUSE IT'S NOT A "SAFETY" ISSUE. IF MY CAR DOESN'T START IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME, ESPECIALLY WITH MY KIDS, THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND MOST OF THEM SAY THAT THEY HAD TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED MORE THAN ONCE WITHIN A 3 YEAR TIME PERIOD. *JB

ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO I TRIED TO START MY 2004 FORD FOCUS, BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. AFTER ABOUT 10 TRIES IT FINALLY WORKED. THIS AFTERNOON I WENT TO MY CAR TO PICK UP MY WIFE FROM WORK AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. I HAVE TRIED FOR OVER TWO HOURS AND NO RESULTS. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FIND THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE BUT RATHER THE NORM. EVEN FURTHER RESEARCH REVEALED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FROM THE FORD COMPANY, IN FACT THEY ARE ACTIVELY DENYING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *NM

THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED ON MY 2004 FORD FOCUS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START; IT FROZE THE STEERING COLUMN AS WELL. IT OCCURRED LATE IN THE EVENING AND LEFT ME STRANDED 50 MILES FROM HOME. I HAVE SINCE READ MANY REPORTS OF THE SAME OCCURRENCE TO OWNERS OF THE FORD FOCUS OF VARIOUS YEARS AND TRIMS. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR SPONTANEOUSLY WITHOUT ANY FOREWARNING AND IS OF GREAT POTENTIAL DANGER TO THE DRIVER. FOCUS OWNERS REPORT REPAIRING THE PROBLEM REPEATEDLY AND FORD ADAMANTLY DENIES THE DEFECT. *JB

DRIVER PLACED THE KEY INSIDE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE KEY FAILED TO COME OUT OF IGNITION. DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK

I PARKED MY CAR TO GO WORK ONE EVENING,AND I CAME BACK AND IT FAILS TO WORK.NEITHER OF MY KEYS WILL TURN THE IFNITION.MY KEYS GO IN AND OUT OF THE THE IGNITION SWITCH ONLY. MY CAR HAS 40K MILES ON IT,AND IT NEEDS A RECALL IMMEDIATELY.I DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO FIX RIGHT NOW,SO I AM STRANDED.*AK

THE IGNITION SWITCH AND STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED. THE OWNER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER.

CONSUMER PLACED THE KEY INSIDE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IT FAILED TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON. CONSUMER HAD TO HIT THE IGNITION SWITCH HARD IN ORDER FOR THE KEY TO COME OUT. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND APPOINTMENT.*AK

WHILE PLACING THE KEY INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH IGNITION FAILED TO START UP THE VEHICLE, AND THE KEY FAILED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL, AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR PARTS AND LABOR. *AK

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK AND CYLINDER.*AK

LOCK CYLINDER WILL NOT OPERATE TO START CAR. KEY WILL NOT TURN. I PURCHASED CAR USED WITH 24161 MILES AS USED WITH BALANCE OF NEW CAR WARRENTEY. FIRST HAPPENED AT 30810 MILES , 35500 MILES,40211 MILES, AND AT 42152 MILES. THE CAR IS UNUSABLE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *JB

IGNITION CYLINDER / LOCK SEIZED AND PREVENTED VEHICLE FROM STARTING.*AK