I drove to work one morning and when I got there, my key was stuck in the ignition. I let the car run for about 20 min & checked it again and I was able to pull the key out.
Once again, I drove to work one day and my key would not come out of the ignition. I ended up having to leave it in the ignition all day while I was at work and use my keyless entry to lock and unlock the door. Luckily, no one broke into my car because they could have just taken off with the key right there!
My wife tried to get the key out of the ignition, but it was stuck. She tried wiggling it around and pulling it out, and ended up pulling out the whole stupid cylinder. Let me reiterate....THE....CYLINDER.....FELL.....OUT....... I drove to where she was stranded and was able to get the cylinder back in (it locked into place...it is in correctly) but now the key won't turn. So....nice workmanship there, Ford.
Never had any problems with ignition switch before. Owned the car for a couple of years now. Last night my daughter's fiance' was working late and when he got in the car to go home he put the key in the ignition and tried to turn the key to start car and it would not turn. He tried to take key out of the ignition and could not even get the key out. He tried wiggling and pulling hard and finally got the key out, but when he put it back in to try to start it again, he could not get it to turn on. He finally called me for help, so my husband and I made a 25 minute trip to Salt Lake City at 10:00 at night. We took the spare key just in case. When we got there, my husband was able to wiggle and pull the key out. He tried the other key and was able to wiggle it in and get the car started. We decided to get it home before turning it back off so we would at least be able to work on it at our house. When we got home, no matter what we tried we could not get this key to release from the ignition switch. We have not been able to get the key out, so my daughter is without a car and she works double shifts almost everyday, which means she gets off for 2-3 hours in between shifts. So she does not have a car!!! We have read so many complaints exactly like our own and FORD NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE for this problem! I agree with the gentleman that said we should all complain the the Better Business Bureau so maybe they can bring a class action suit against them!
My ignition lock cylinder froze and I had to get the car towed and the part replaced. It appears that this is very common problem in the Focus. It is disappointing that Ford has not offered a recall on what appears to be a common problem with this part.
My 2000 Ford Focus Ignition Switch, broke last night stranding me. I called for a tow and then had to find my own way home. (Job searching and in heels is not the way to walk 5 miles). This also happened to a Ford Taurus that I had owned.
i have a 2000 ford focus se,i have the same problem had the ignition fixed 2 x then i started thinking if my car is warmed up i don't have a problem getting the key out,but still ford id ripping everyone off cause alot of people r having to replace the lock and it's usually with another ford lock so ford is still making alot of money.i say everyone contact the better business bureau and try to get court actions against ford have them repay all of the money that we had to put in to have the ignition fixed ect........
In 2002 with no notice key wouldn t turn in cyl tried it all, finally drilled out car left me stranded at work..6 months later key is binding again dealer replaced for free .what do u no 3 months later key binds going in n turning to start car again threatened a lemon law then dealer inst a ford taurus ignition cylinder never had a prob again
This problem was more of a pain in the butt rather than a big problem..Could not turn key in the ignition. The vehicle was out of warranty. Had to replace myself. Called a local locksmith, dealer wanted too much!! Locksmith knew the problem even before I finished telling him. In fact he told me..IF I had a dollar for every ford focus..." HE even made a special tool just for the focus to drill out the old ignition. He came to my house cost me about $100..Used after market ignition...DO NOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALER THEY WILL KEEP GIVING YOU A FACTORY IGNITION THAT WILL FAIL! Works fine now, problems fixed..
Only had a few key-sticks in the prior months, nothing too imminent. Then in the bad part of town at midnight, the key is stuck and the ignition won't turn. New Ignition core and re-keying from the dealership was a joke. It should have been a recalled part.
I couldn't release my key from the ignition one day and I had to get it replaced for $180.00. My dealership that I bought the car from told me that sometimes the gear shift doesn't lock and I have to play with it in order to lock it. Another time I left the key in the ignition and went to work just taking the keyless entry. When I tried to get in my car the keyless entry was not working even after changing the battery. I called pop a lock and they open my car just to find out I didn't turn the car completely off. Yeah that was my fault but if the key had came out I wouldn't have had the problem. So I am still having a problem with getting the key out, even with a new ignition. it it so aggravating to need to get out the car and have to hit and punch the gear shift to lock.
The key will not release from the ignition when I park the car sometimes. Sometimes I have been able to start the car back it up, and drive it forward, but sometimes I just have to wait. I don't know why it does this, and I have no intention of getting it fixed. Ford should have recalled the vehicle long ago. The reports are all over the internet.
Through research, I've discovered many a disgruntled owner of this car. Actually, I've had fairly decent luck with mine, except for the ignition switch! It has locked up for the third time since March of 2003. The first time, it was handled under warranty recall. The second time, July of 2005, was not and it cost me nearly $400 to fix it. This time, I called the dealer who repaired it and was told there was no recall, no replacement, "It's not a safety issue, " I was told. In fact the service person at this dealership straight up told me that Ford will not assume any liability for the problem, even though it is a chronic, on-going issue caused by faulty design that Ford refuses to recognize. I have owned 4 Ford vehicles in my life, but never again. Their cars are crap and they have zero customer service. The Ford Focus needs to be renamed the Ford F--k Us."
Apparently I'm getting overcharged by $225 by the dealership. I couldn't get my key into the ignition at first and then by force I finally did and then of course it wouldn't come out. Very disappointing that my dealership is overcharging so significantly even though I knew it would be expensive to take it there. Apparently there's even a difference in price throughout the dealerships. Quite irritating.
Desiree Ford- St. Louis MO
Purchased: Car Credit City/ March 2007
Year: 2000
Problem: Ignition Cylinder!!
Complaint: Ford Focus Ignition Cylinder absolutely Sucks!
-People please tell your friends and family DO NOT buy this type of car. I thought I was getting a good car until I did my research and now I see that Ford doesn't even stand behind their cars.
-Tell those you know who own a Ford Focus or any Ford for that matter to do an extremely thorough check on their new purchase, or prospective purchase. Check the internet for recalls, consumer complaints, defects not covered by warranty or dealer.
-I experienced three temporary jams with the ignition cylinder but thought nothing of the first few times until it locked up when I was at the airport. But it didn't stick.
-Go online to Ford Focus Ignition Cylinder Recall Petition and fill out the petition and please make comments and complaints!
-Call your dealer make complaints, go online, make complaints. Talk to people and MAKE COMPLAINTS!!!!
-Its time the consumer be heard, its time we take a stand and not settle for standard cars. Its our families and our lives at stake.
Its kind of sad to think that Ford will only stand behind their product enough to meet standard regulations. I think if we as consumers raised our standards, made noise and said we will not stand for standard automobiles Ford will be forced to make the much needed changes!
I am a 30 yr old woman in St. Louis MO in the same situation as many of the other people just read about. I purchased my car from Car Credit City in March of this year. This same thing just happened to me on July 20,07. I turned the car off about six times earlier in the day. With no warning whatsoever, I came home, got out of the car and could not turn the key back to take it out of the ignition. I struggled with this for about three hours and still could NOT get the car off or the key out. Finally, I called the dealer where I purchased the car and they sent me to Dobbs Tire & Auto Center. They said the car would cost anywhere between $150-200 dollars. But the shocker came the next day when I got the phone call saying parts and labor cost $466 and Ford is NOT assuming any of the responsibility. GREAT!! Where in the HELL am I going to get that kind of money?? Where I come from money does not grow on trees. I did research on the internet and I find that I am NOT alone! There are nearly a thousand petitions on Ford Focus Ignition Cylinder Recall Petition and I am one.
OMG How embarrassing this was. I do medical homecare. One morning after leaving a clients home in the driveway trying to leave my key will not turn in the ignition! I spent nearly 20 mins working on it before it finally worked. Thought this was a wierd quirk. THEN a few weeks later same thing. This time it happened to my boyfriend, on Christmas! We were separated and unable to even spend the holiday together since he was stranded at home. I then went into the dealer and it felt like before I even got to the counter holding my Focus key he asked me if I was having ignition problems! They knew exactly what was wrong, how to fix it and of course the cost. Oh yeah and of course the part was in stock, shocker. I of course did not have the money to repair this so I left the dealership in a huff. As I walked out to my BORROWED car, a shop employee ran out and mentioned that he has heard of people having luck with using a hammer and slightly banging the key back into place. I went home and readily tried this, and IT WORKED! Now I have just made duplicate keys to unlock my doors and the key remains in the ignition. When I take it in for services I have to have a big Post-It saying DO NOT REMOVE! and make perfectly clear that if they do, I could be left stranded. It's horrible. Oh and I also have a problem with my EGR tube.. it's faultily welded, and the dealer knows all about that too. I got a good deal on it, or so I thought. $4800 in 2004 with 42,000 miles
this vehicle was at ford dealership and paid to have the keys reprogramed to the car i drove it 7 miles and broke down, had it towed because it again wouldnt start when turning the key it did nothing but dash lights on, the key now doesnt come out of the ignition at all unless you disconnect the battery, dealership still would not do the recall work on the vehicle unless i payed them for troubleshooting it AGAIN, now if i get it started with a jump it runs how long is a good question but if it sits for 1 hour it drains the battery, WOW the dealer will not fix any of the problems as to the agreement on the recall cards until it breaks down now it stopped going down the freeway they wouldnt pay tow or anything im stuck with a piece of sh*t it is just ford's way of getting repeat customers i think. ford should replace these multiple problem cars yet they wont, this vehicle was in an accident a light one because it stalled and caused the accident they were told about it yet say you gotta prove it again another excuse maybe we should all get together and sue the ford motor corp. anyone interested lets get together email me (use the contact link below)
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I drove to work one morning and when I got there, my key was stuck in the ignition. I let the car run for about 20 min & checked it again and I was able to pull the key out.
- Caitlin G., Reno, NV, US