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 2000 Focus has had many problems with the steering wheel locking. We put the key in and it wont turn. We have been stranded many times and this is costing us al ot of money to have a lock smith fix it, as welll as having it towed and the hassles of trying to get home when it happens in another town(twice). This needs to be fixed by Ford- I see it happens alot with others who own this car.
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. On May 27, 2007, the steering wheel detached from the column while driving 35 mph. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic. The purchase date and engine size was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 130,000.
2000 black Ford Focus ZX3 my key (same key that came with the car) will not start my car....it will not turn over at all. And also I can't get my steering wheel to unlock to make matters worst. This problem doesn't happen often but it happens more than it should, and this time I can't even get it to start at all. It happens about 3 times a year and I can get my car going in about an hour. But, this time my car has been sitting in my drive way for 3 days now. I have called the dealership 3 times. The first time someone gave me advice but, it didn't help. And the last 2 times they have failed to call me back!
- Pensacola, FL, USA
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I have been having problems with the key and ignition in my 2000 Ford Focus for over 6 months now. The key once inserted into the ignition will not turn the lock, which has resulted in leaving me stranded several times, once in below freezing weather with an infant. Upon research online trying to determine what the problem is I am finding this is an extremely common occurrence, and have been subsequently told by two mechanics that it is a defect in the ignition construction that Ford refused to recall. I have had to have the ignition cylinder replace and re-keyed at a cost of over $400.
The contact stated when trying to start vehicle the steering column locked. She had the vehicle towed to a mechanic the first time this happened. Currently, the vehicle experienced the same problem while parked. The repairs will be at contact's expense.
The ignition interlock failed on my 2000 Ford Focus. The key would not go into the ignition, so the steering wheel would not unlock and I could not turn the wheels so that when it was towed ($80) out of the parking space it almost hit another car. They had to drag it up onto the flat bed of the truck. The tow truck driver said that he alone tows one Focus per week due to this problem. I live in a large town and cannot tell me that there are not hundreds of reports of this problem. I was quoted the repair cost of $260 instantly when I called the dealer, how often does that happen. I can see why Ford does not recall this item, it is too much of a money machine!! how many thousands of repair have to be made before they recall this?
Consumer states that steering wheel locks up, which causes the key not to turn in the ignition. The consumer has to work with the steering wheel to get key to turn. Consumer has taken vehicle to service department, and the technician stated that vehicle has an anti-theft system, and that is why it is having steering problems.
The ignition on my 2000 Ford Focus is locking up to the point where I cannot turn my key. The car has 47,000 miles on it. I was stranded for 20 mins the other night trying to get the key to turn. Spend up to 1 to 2 minutes now each time I get in my car reinserting the key until it finally turns. I have also tried my spare key, which is brand new, with same results. From what I have read, this is a common problem, and probably only a matter of time until I have to replace the ignition switch.
For the past week, I have had trouble turning the key in the ignition. It's as if the ignition is locked, along with the steering wheel. I had been able to move the key back and forth and have been successful in getting the key to turn (actually turn so the car could start). Today, however, no amount of 'jimmying' did the trick. The ignition was locked and the key would simply not turn - at all (even after I tapped the key into the ignition with my palm as I turned the key as recommended by a Ford service mechanic). Subsequently, I had to have the car towed to the town and country Ford in portland, or so they could replace the entire ignition cylinder. This is costing me around $290!. I have read other similar complaints, and the tow truck driver - who also owns a Ford Focus ZX3 - has been having similar problems. Despite this, Ford has not 'recalled' this faulty ignition cylinder and I feel this requires further investigation and, at the least, compensation by Ford.
I own a 2000 Ford Focus that has had the same problem happen to it again. Approx. 2 years ago we had to have the entire steering column replaced because the mechanism had locked and would not allow us to turn the key. It has happened again and there is nothing we can do to get the key to turn in the ignition. This is ridiculous and we think that there should be a recall or something designated to assist with this problem. A 2000 model should not have this many problems with its steering mechanisms. Info below is appropriate to latest incident.
My mom drove my 2000 Ford Focus to the shop to have the brakes done. She had no problem inserting the key into the ignition and starting the car. I have never had any problems with ignition sticking or key not turning. When auto mech came out to move the car, the key could not be inserted all the way into the keyhole and would not turn. 2 mechs and my mom tried get to the ignition to unlock. We then called courtesy Ford & were told this is a known problem w/ Focus' & we would have to replace the ignition lock. This cost was est at $260. If this is a "known problem with the 2000 Ford, why are we having to pay for repairs?
I bought a used Ford Focus 2000 in July 2002, since then the steering wheel locked a lot of times. I cannot start the car and haved to towed to dealership and replace the lock cylinder twice. This problem seems to be repeat every year or so. The lastest incident was yesterday. Since the warranty was over, I have to pay by myself to replace the lock cylinder. I am wondering why Ford doesn't let customer know this problem and provide life-time warranty.
Within a 6 day period, Oct 7th through Oct.12th (2004), I experienced intermittent problems with my key getting stuck, locked, or not admitted into the key ignition entry. The failure took place, morning Oct. 12th, 2004. My key was able to fully enter key ignition area, but was not able to turn the key to start the car. The consequence was I had no immediate transportation and was billed for the replacement part (cylinder lock) and labor (approx. $350). The corrective action was to replace the cylinder lock with strattec part number 707592.
Ignition key will not turn, subsequently I was stranded as I could not start the car. I just bought this car 3 weeks ago, wish someone had told me that this was an issue for these vehicles. Car was bought for our daughter to use for school, we bought this vehicle for reliability now have to worry about her getting stranded somewhere.
Key will not turn the ignition switch! this has happen several times over the course of a few years, usually fixing itself. This last time, nothing will fix it. I am checking costs now to replace the whole mechanism.
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- Charles City, IA, USA