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.
The key would not go all the way into the ignition. A locksmith came and fixed it, but now I can't get the key out at all and have to leave it in the ignition all the time.
2000 Ford Focus: Ignition seized up and key would not turn. Aaa roadside assistance banged and jiggled to free it up but it seized three times again -- every time turned off the ignition, it won't turn again. I've read many descriptions of complaints about the same occurrence; plan to follow advise of going to locksmith for replacement ignition cylinder because apparently Ford is using same problematic cylinder for replacements.
Beginning in December 2005 I have had trouble with the ignition on my Ford Focus. At first it began with the key not turning in the ignition. It has gotten increasingly worse over the last 21/2 years. About a month ago I could not even get the key into the ignition. Once the key was inserted I did not remove it again for fear I would not be able to drive the car at all. Now the ignition will not turn even with the key in it. No one is able to repair the ignition, and there are apparently no after market parts.... so I have to go to a Ford dealer and pay almost $400 to fix the ignition on a car that is 9 years old. This is ridiculous and I know that there a lot of other drivers/owners that have had problems with the ignition. At least 2 of my close friends also own a Focus (boy are they mad I suggested getting one now) and they have both had to have the ignition replaced. It seems to me that this proves it is a manufacturing problem, and I should therefore be able to get the car fixed free of charge, of course the warranty is up, so basically I'm screwed. I hope you will issue a recall on this, because I can't afford to fix it, and I need it to get to work, or lose my job in an ever worsening economy. Thanks
- Niles, MI, USA
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2000 for Focus ignition lock. I am about to replace my ignition lock for the 3rd time. Each time, I have gone to my car in the evening only to find the key won't go into the lock, it won't turn, etc. I have now been stranded approximately 9 times in sometimes rough areas. This is a well known and documented safety issue.
I have had to replace my ignition in my car 3 times....every year at the exact same time its goes out....I think everybody with a Focus is tired of paying tons of money to get this fixed when its not even our fault.....something has to be done, this has to B mad into a recall....
There was no events leading up to the failure. On 4/26/08 I put the key into the ignition of my 2000 Ford Focus to start it, and the key would not turn. I called my local Ford dealership and was told that the problem I was having was caused by a defect in the ignition system, which id a common problem as they have fixed "too many of these ignition problems to count". however there was no recall and the would not do a "goodwill repair". searching the internet, I found that there were thousands of people who are or who where experiencing the same exact problem with their Ford focuses. The consequences of this failure are that it has cost me my job, and my fiance her job, amounting to approximately 52 thousand dollars yearly in income. I have not taken any kind of repair action to remedy this as of yet, as it costs 400-500 dollars which I do not have.
My ignition on my 2000 Ford Focus wont turn. I had to force the key in and have to leave the key in the ignition so I can start my car. Called Ford they were no help at all. For fear of my car not being able to start I have to leave the key in there and keep a spare key on me so I can lock the car.
My 2000 Ford Focus had a key stuck in the ignition. This caused me to drive a car with a key that would not come out causing a theft issue as I live in baltimore, Maryland. There was fear of going out to start my car and having it break or not turn leaving me stuck on the side of the road. Ford would not fix the problem for less then $500 which is a total joke as this is a faulty part that they put in the car. I had to pay $385 dollars to have a good locksmith replace the part for me. Ford should back up the product that make and should pay back any Focus owner that has had this problem. I will not support a company that will not support their own product.
Key ignition switch became more difficult to operate over the last 6 months. First the key became stuck in the ignition one day. In order to remove the key one had to push the cylinder in while simultaneously pulling the key. It seemed strange at the time that this would happen out of the blue one day, but the new method of removing the key worked. A few months later, the key would not turn the ignition when attempting to start the car leaving my wife stranded out late one night. Luckily, her friend who also owned a Ford mustang, was with her and had experienced similar problems with her car. They were able to start the car buy simultaneously pushing in the cylinder while turning the key and it started. Again strange but it worked. We continued this routine for several months until yesterday, while just spending hundreds of dollars changing tires the technician was unable to get the car started to remove it from the garage. Now faced with more cost the only thing I could be happy about was that it was me stranded and not my wife and my son. It is even more frustrating to learn now that this is and has been a known problem with this make and model of Ford and nothing has been done to correct it. I can pay hundreds to replace the ignition with the same defective part that many say will fail again. This time on one of my wife's many trips with my son in the car seat. Nothing about that scenario sounds safe to me. Ford needs to be prompted to fix this recurring problem to prevent future safety issues.
I got out of my car at walgreens. 10 min later I tried to put my key in the ignition. It would not go all the way in. I turned the steering wheel and it slid in bun my car would not turn on. It cost me 200 to have a locksmith come out and replace the ignition. Apparently it is a common defect with the 2000 Ford Focus.
Key would not go into ignition switch. Called Ford dealer who indicated that there have been numerous problems with ignition switches but no recall has been issued. Had to pay $65 to have car towed and $314 for ignition switch replacement.
Key is hard to get into ignition. Then, it won't turn. After tapping, I was able to turn it on but I don't have the luxury of hoping the car will work or not. What if I'm late to work?
The ignition key lock cylinder is not functioning properly. The key cylinder does not turn properly when the factory key is properly inserted. I have two sets of keys, they are not terribly worn and the cylinder works the same way with both keys. I have to wiggle the key, take it out and flip it over, wiggle the key some more and it still may not work. There have been several times, where I was left stranded, because I couldn't get the ignition cylinder to work. It is always a gamble as to whether the key is going to work in the car or not. I've been informed by the local locksmith that he has noticed this seems to be a common problem with the Ford Focus model cars. He has had to fix quite a few with the same problem. If this is the case, I feel there is a high probability that this may be a manufacturer's defect and all customers needs to be made aware of this defect. I'd also like to be compensated for the funds I had to shell out, because of this defect. Thank you.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- San Fidel, NM, USA