This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
After stalling out the engine of my 5 speed transmission in 1st gear, the car wouldn't start again and in fact lost all power. It was jump started, but in 1st and 2nd gear, it sputtered and lurched forward, then died again. We had to have the car towed to the shop as it was undrivable. Lucky we were just in a parking lot and not out on the road or it could have been disastrous. Even the emergency flashers would not turn on due to no power. The repair shop said that the battery is completely dead and that the battery cables were melted.
2000 Ford Focus SE, purchased new 04/2001 --- 06/02 - car died on fathers day, replaced battery with one from auto zone; ?/03 - at service call for recall of harness wiring, complained about led lights flickering, no problem found; 10/05 - car died, towed to Ford, battery replaced; 12/06 - service at Ford, complained about led lights flickering again, no remedy; 06/07 - car died, towed to Chrysler dealer (my employer), could not locate prob, charged battery, 06/07 car died, replaced battery; 06/07 car died, towed to Chrysler - replaced alternator; 09/08, ignition locked/replaced; 02/09 car died, towed to Ford, replaced battery; 06/09, electrical system warning light illuminates at 35-40 mph. Positive battery cable insulation melted. Service at Dodge (employer) - reroute positive cable directly to bolt on connector to battery, problem continues - carried to Ford, they advise alternator is bad and must be replaced. ---- 9 years, 5 batteries, 3 alternators, problem not corrected. Dealer continues to treat the symptoms, not cure the disease. Something is causing this to happen continuously. Numerous Focus owners at least through 2003 experience same issues. Service advisor admitted to me that they "replace a lot of batteries and alternators in focuses" and that "it seems to be inordinately high numbers". other problems with this car include 3 sets of inferior brake pads (finally had a good set installed by an independent mechanic) and cracked motor mounts causing intense vibration especially when engine is cold. Seeking remedy for electrical issues - considering consulting attorney to start class action lawsuit. Concerned about potential fire hazard. My daughter was driving this car for past 2 years, finally knuckled and bought her a great Chrysler PT CRUISER for her personal safety. I am not in a position to acquire another vehicle for myself and must continue to drive the Focus until otherwise capable of another vehicle. Will never buy Ford again.
I bought my daughter a 2000 Ford Focus in 2008, in Feb 2009 the key would not turn in the ignition at all. We played with this for about a half an hour and it final turned over. Then in June of 2009 same thing happen to my daughter. Went on line to read other peoples reviews and there was plenty of them about the ignition cylinder lock. One very helpful which saved me a towing bill of telling me to hit the key in the ignition with the palm of my hand and it worked, so was able to get the daughters car home. 300 and some odd dollars I have replace the cylinder lock and hope that it doesn't fell her again. I feel that Ford should look into this problem for there is many people that have had the same problem. Like I said I bought the car for my daughter and glad that it didn't break down in an unsafe part of town. Some people say that they didn't grease them enough, I'm not sure of the problem but feel that it should be Ford's responsibility to replace this part or at least give a good explanation of why it is happening to so many Ford focuses. There are at least 50 complaints on this on a site called focal jet, which was very helpful to me. Please take a look into this problem. Other than that the car has been great for the daughter.
Heat damage to battery cable, smoke was coming off of battery cables, the cables were so hot they melted. Car now will not start but occasionally cranks very slowly.. this is exactly as the recall issued by NHTSA in 2003 on the same make and model. Your campaign number 02V288000. My car is now a fire hazard and can't be driven. Need help.
I purchased a Ford Focus 2000 from john thorton on thorton road in lithia springs on or about 7/2005. I also traded in my Lexus 1991 vehicle which I had just fixed up for $2000 and plus the dealer asked for a down payment of $1200 which I gave, and I requested them to add a warranty which they did not in the contract. The vehicle was white and black inside. I drove smooth for about 4 months until one day as I was driving the vehicle cut off. I had the brakes redone, and some other work. I took the vehicle back to the dealer and they worked on it and charged me some more. Until I realized the mechanic called me name for pick up and he stated to me thinking I was another person, my vehicle is ready and it had 3 recalls on it in the past. I assume he meant me, and come to realize it was my car he was speaking about. Every since then, my car would cut off at stop lights and while I was driving. I was told by the dealer mechanic it has a short wire that can cause a fire and there is nothing they can do. I placed the car in ch 7 in bankruptcy in 10/05 and he no transportation except by bus and cab. Ford dealer in lithia springs, ga 30122 sold me a car with 3 recalls as part of the car's history. I don't know what else it involved.
- Lithia Springs, GA, USA
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The ignition system in my 2000 Ford Focus ZX3 is now locked and the key won't turn the cylinder. There has been progressive problems leading up to this. The key started not to turn the cylinder at all then would. Further investigation online says that this is a major problem on all model Focus' within the years of 2000-2005.
I have a 2000 Ford Focus ZX3 and while I am driving down the highway my transmission will rev all the gauges in the car will go up and down and my headlights flash. I have taken it to a Ford dealership they say they fix the problem and as I pull away the same thing happens. So why is it that Ford the people that make my car can't even tell me what's wrong with it. So having taken my car to four different places and the problem keeps happening, nobody seems to know how to fix it, I guess I will have to get another car (it will not be a Ford). This is really great timing with the economy and all. I mean I put a new alternator on, a new battery, I had the ground wires cleaned, a new ignition switch put on. Oh yeah it always smells like something is burning under my hood (like when you blow a candle out). It's pretty bad when you're driving on the highway and basically your car dies, somebody could smash into you causing a pile-up. I am afraid to drive my car who knows what will happen next. I just think if you make a product you should know how to correct the problems so you have a safe vehicle.
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. He noticed that the wires would bend, fray and break when closing the rear liftgate. While closing the liftgate, the vehicle lost all electrical power to the rear wiper, washer and the top rear brake light which also caused the cruise control to become inoperative. He removed the sleeve and mended the wires together which caused the components to function correctly; however, the contact felt that if the wires continued to bend, the failure would recurr. He consulted the manufacturer about recall 00V411000 but was told that his vehicle was not included. The current mileage was 47,766 and the failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
I've had 2 major problems with my 2000 Ford Focus SE. My ignition is locked. The key will not turn at all, the key will go in but will not turn with much research online I'm seeing that I am not the only person that has had this problem, and the problem is the ignition cylinder. 2nd- I've been having problems with the instrument cluster in my car, and once again with alot of research I'm seeing that I am not the only one with this problem anyway.
I have been stranded several times in my Focus. Hoping that every time I get in my car that today is not the day. The key won't turn in the lock and after so many failed attempts, worrying about the cost of repair. The car sat for two months and killed the battery. Unfortunately the car has become such a hassle to drive. I was late to work and got a point on my super strict attendance policy. This problem has put my employment at risk. The car has also been fixed previously for the same issue by the past owner, I found out. Called the dealer where it was fixed and they told me that I was out of warranty and there was going to be an hefty cost. Why won't Ford stand up, and say they put unreliable parts inside what is suppose to be a reliable car.
On 3-2-06 I was unable to start my vehicle because the key would not turn..I had to have my car towed to a mechanic where the steering column had to be removed, the ignition switch had to be removed, new ignition switch had to go to locksmith to be key coded, then a new installation switch was installed. The cost was about $300 plus towing plus inconvenience...too many of the same complaints..Ford should recall problem/reimburse people who pd.
1-2. ignition on my Ford Focus has locked up; apparently this is a widespread problem that almost every Focus owner has. The key cannot be turned, so the car will not start, leaving me stranded wherever my car happens to be. Since I drive back and forth to school several times a year (a 4 hour drive) this leaves the potential to be stranded in backcountry Indiana at all hours of the night, with no way to start my car and no one I know nearby to pick me up. 3. I will be replacing the ignition cylinder to correct this problem. However, since all Ford Focus 2000-2003 ignition cylinders are defective and have this same problem, it is very likely to happen again, and instead of being stranded at a friend's apartment, I might be stranded much farther from home.
Yesterday, Feb. 11, 2009, I came home from school, parked, and turned off my car(2000 Ford Focus) only to find that my key would not come out of the ignition. So in turn I just left the key there obviously and went in my house. Following day before school I try once more to remove the key, no luck, I drive to school, park, turn off car and again tried removing the key and once again no luck. Later on I car pulled with my friend in his car to work, after work he dropped me off at my car to go home. I get in my car only to find that now it wont even start. I called my friend with my cell phone that I was blessed to have and he came back so I was spared from being stranded. We hooked up the cables to jump the car and no luck what so ever, all we merely got was a nice clicking sound. The battery was dead, all because the key could not be removed from the ignition thanks to Ford's selfishness and not issuing a recall. All in all my car remains in that parking lot and I am left without a car. Thank you Ford.
Faulty ignition switch. The same major problem everyone else is having with the Ford focuses. Ignition cylinder locked up on me without warning. Stopped to get gas and when I went to put key back into ignition it wouldn't even go in at first. I though I was in the wrong car. Finally forced key in ignition. It took me a long time but I fortunately was able to finally jiggle it free and get engine started. First warning sign was in 2006 when it temporarily gave me a problem, but now it was being a constant problem. I had done my research on the internet as well and called around to different locksmiths. I was able to drive veh to a locksmith and have a new ignition cylinder replaced. They did not have to reprogram the keys as I see Ford is charging all of these people besides their ridiculous labor on their defective parts, in which they are still replacing defective parts. It cost me under $100 to have repaired with reassurance the ignition would outlast any keys that I have to the veh. Ford is pathetic for not admitting this defect and having a recall. Yes it is a safety issue!!!!!! when you never know that unsuspecting your keys lock up and won't turn the ignition.
This morning I tried to start my car to go to work and for the second time in four years the key would not turn in the ignition. I have read there are others having the same issue with the Focus and yet there has been no recall and the part that was replaced last time continues to have to the same issue.
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the keys have been stuck in the ignition for over a week and cannot be removed. He went to a locksmith and they replaced the ignition at the cost of $125; however, the failure was still not corrected. He called Ford customer service and was informed that nothing could be done to assist. The failure mileage was 85,000.
Due to a failure of the power lock actuators in a 2000 Ford Focus SE (s/w), the passenger door and the rear passenger door have jammed door locks. The doors can not be opened any longer by key, by inside door opening handle or by the remote fob. The consequences are that the only egress from the particular car is via the 2 driver side doors, making half of the car unusable. Passengers who should enter via the functioning doors of the vehicle into the side of the vehicle with the jammed doors do not have an escape route in case of accidents that involve the functioning side of the vehicle. This is an extremely dangerous situation for any driver or passenger. An internet search for "Focus jammed door" or "Focus jammed door lock" returns numerous instances of the same problem, occurring on all Ford Focus doors including trunk/hatch. Drivers enter their vehicles through the passenger side or even through the trunk because some door locks are jammed due to failed power lock actuators, with all safety-related hazards and consequences. The jamming can occur at any time; there is no way to predict it and to take preventive measures. A repair is exorbitantly expensive due to the fact that the doors cannot be opened by key or door opening handle to gain access to and replace the power door actuator that is the cause of the jamming. Ford is neither willing to acknowledge this widespread problem nor participate in the cost of repairs, thus forcing people to take unacceptable safety risks. Because of the serious safety hazard that the jammed doors present and the unpredictability of an occurrence of the problem, a safety recall action should be initiated by the NHTSA to force Ford to make repairs free of charge.
2000 Ford Focus- the ignition locked up, the car cannot be started, the steering wheel is locked and it cannot be put into gear. After looking on the internet, it is apparent that this is a wide spread problem with this year, make and model and Ford is ignoring this and letting their customers pay for an obvious manufacturer defect.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Mckinney, TX, USA