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.
While placing key inside of the ignition key will not turn. Vehicle was towed to the dealer for analysis, and mechanic noticed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced due to a worn out part.
It was hard to turn the key in the ignition switch, and the consumer was unable to start the vehicle. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. The vehicle also had brake problems.
Consumer attempted to start vehicle but key would not turn. The ignition was locked in place and it would not move. Also, steering wheel was locked. Vehicle was towed to the dealership, and technician replaced the ignition switch.
- Beverly Hills, MI, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
With only one month to go before we could return this piece of crap lease, out goes the ignition switch. Never have I had a car where the key wouldn't go in, it was like a joke! so now we get to stick in a bunch of money for nothing. I can't believe with all of the problems and all of the complaints that Ford has done nothing about this as far as recalls go. How many people need to be put out before something is done? my husband now has to take a day off of work in order to get me to work and to get the car fixed. Here I sit without a car now because it is the weekend and the dealerships are not opened. Oh what a joy it is having a Ford vehicle!
Ford Focus fuel pump fails to deliver fuel and car stalls. Dangerous! I was only less than half of a tank of gas full and my car stalled out on the very busy davis blvd in nrh tx. It repeatedly died when trying to restart the car to get it to a service station. I filled the car up and the car worked fine. Now we never let the car get below a haff a tank. Please resolve this issue we could have been killed! this was the most recent time this has happened. This problem and similar hesitation upon acceleration in turns and going uphill have happened numberous times and have left me feeling like I was going to be stranded or worse- in a wreck. I have also had the common ignition cilinder lock problem, a broken door actuator, a broken lumbar support, drasticaly leaking A/C onto the floor, a very noisy front stut noise when going over speed bumps, front car creaking from right front fender noise at highway speeds, and poor service reps that insult person and destroy car (broke things on car that were not broken when brought in for service). All of these things need addressing, but most of all the fuel/hesitation/stalling problem before someone is killed!
Key would not turn in ignition...cylinder locked up, bought a new one from a Ford dealer and had it put in and the same problem occurred two weeks later. Also has stalling at different speeds like the gas is being shut off, and has problems with the front suspension griding when you hit bumps or go across dips in the road.
Ignition won't turn. The tow truck driver said this happens on a lot of other focuses, and he thought it was a recall. When I call the dealer's service center he said he's done three others. He then told me the cost would be about $330. This should be a recall!
On Oct. 11, 2003, I drove to my sister's place of business to pick up my niece and when I came back to the car my key would not go in the ignition. My brother in law tried and he was able to get it in half way but the steering wheel was locked. We even tried the spare key and it did not work. We called a Ford dealership to see if there was something else we could do except turning the steering wheel to unlock it. The service rep. Asked for the year and model of the car and he said he had other Ford customers come in with the same problem and it is the ignition cylinder. He said it would have to be replaced and would cost about $300. I asked if Ford had issued a recall for this problem and he said no. I had the car towed to a Ford dealership and they replaced the ignition switch. There needs to be a recall because sooner or later a Ford Focus owner will be faced with this problem and hopefully they will have $300 to fix the problem.
ZX3; after shutting off the engine, the driver noticed the steering wheel locked. When the driver tried to start the vehicle the key could not be inserted into the ignition, the steering wheel stayed locked. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealer. The ignition cylinder and battery were replaced.
I own a 2000 Ford Focus, which my 17 year old son drives. Today I got a call from him saying he was stranded at a friends house. The problem, he could not get his key to go all the way into the ignition switch. I drove out to where he was and found the key would not go all the way in, it acts like it is the wrong key for that switch.
I noticed the doors squeaking soon after I purchased the car. The noise became progressively worse over the next year. The dealership brushed off my questions telling me the doors just needed grease. Now that the warranty is up they tell me it will cost $405 for them to fix. The doors have not squeaked for over a year, now they don't lock and both rear doors fly open when I take a corner so I keep them tied shut with bungee cords and ropes. All the junk I used to keep in the back seat is now gone, it flew out of the car while I was getting on the highway. Thank god I didn't have passengers. I have had trouble with the gas gauge since I bought the car, and the ignition locked and had to be replaced. The tow truck driver knew what kind of car I had before I told him-he said they pick up a few Ford Focus's every week due to the ignition problems. I have also gone through brakes and tires at an alarming rate. The accumulation of brake dust on the front panels is unreal all I do now is wash this car and write checks to pay for repairs.
After parking at my home I could not get the key back in the ignition. I had to have the car towed to the dealer for the ignition to be replaced. I was told on the phone that this is a common problem.
I have replaced the ignition switch 3 times in least that 2 years and twice in three months. The dealership tells me to call Ford and Ford tells me it a dealership's problem call them the old run around. I also have replace all four brakes and tires with only 25000 miles on the car and they still squeeze and grind when applying the brake. I brought the car used so I do not know if anything was replace before I purchased it lovely vehicle.
The driver placed the key in the ignition and vehicle would not engage. Vehicle was towed to the dealer for analysis. Mechanic noticed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Williamson, NY, USA