Lock Fix For The Focus - This do it yourself / pay for part & have a garage fix item that will remove the issue due to a desigen change over the OEM item.
Replacing The Lock Cylinder - I had the key-won't turn problem with my 2003 Ford Focus PZEV. The link shows you how to replace the bad lock cylinder with a better, reliable one (Strattec). It has been over 60,000 miles since installing the Strattec lock cylinder. My key always turns. I got the Strattec online, but not from eBay. You ma be able to get it somewhere else at lower cost. However, you have to turn your key in the bad cylinder to install this Strattec cylinder. To turn the key in your bad cylinder, tap the top of your key with your hand several times, really hard. Once you turn the key, you can install the Strattec. Your bad cylinder will cause the same problem in the future if you keep it in your car.
Replacing The Lock Cylinder - I had the key-won't turn problem with my 2003 Ford Focus PZEV. The link shows you how to replace the bad lock cylinder with a better, reliable one (Strattec). It has been over 60,000 miles since installing the Strattec lock cylinder. My key always turns. I got the Strattec online, but not from eBay. You ma be able to get it somewhere else at lower cost. However, you have to turn your key in the bad cylinder to install this Strattec cylinder. To turn the key in your bad cylinder, tap the top of your key with your hand several times, really hard. Once you turn the key, you can install the Strattec. Your bad cylinder will cause the same problem in the future if you keep it in your car.
I had around 108,500 km on my 2003 Focus when my key started getting stuck trying to turn it in the ignition. It sometimes took me a good 20 minutes to get it to turn and start the car. Eventually though it would not turn at all. Left me stranded in a parking lot.
I also want to note that a family member had a 2002 Focus and had the same issue about a year after it happened to me. For the ignition repair, I paid $414, they paid $573. Should have taken it to a locksmith instead. Emailed Ford and got nowhere. How is there not a recall on this when it is clearly a very widespread and serious problem? I have since replaced this car with a non-Ford. Good riddance.
Ignition will not turn when the key is put in. I understand now that this is a problem pretty common for Ford Focuses. Fortunately it happened at work, so for 3 days now, my car has been sitting in the parking lot. Good thing this didn't happen at a gas station or a car wash. My husband went online and tried to find some information on how to fix this. Tomorrow he is calling a lock smith to see if maybe they can figure it out. He figures they will have the correct tools to deal with this. We are not happy about this at all. I read that there is a class action lawsuit being filed. I will look into this further. Shame on you Ford!! I was thinking about getting a new car here as soon as my house was paid off. I might be looking at Chevy's or Dodges now.
car is a LEMON! .............................................................................................................................................................
- gcashwell,
Albuquerque, NM, US
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It's amazing to me that this problem has been chronic enough to be reported time and time again by owners of these vehicles BUT Ford has YET to consider a recall. I am not happy with this company and the multiple issues encountered with their vehicles. I think it's time to purchase from a different company!
I've been living with this problem for over a year because the Ford dealership quoted around $700 to replace the starter. I've been tapping the key about 6 times with the bottom of my cup holder to get the key to turn. Usually, this works after a few times, along with wiggling the steering wheel.
Today, none of the usual tricks worked and I ended up leaving my car in the driveway and borrowing someone elses' car to get to work.
I want to know what to do for cheep - the car has 186,000 miles on it, but runs great. It's not a pretty car - had it valued at around $700. How can I DIY this problem? Or will Ford recall? Today I am out $$$ because I couldn't get to work.
Obviously this is a common problem with the Focus...Ford needs to do a recall or reimburse owners for the repair. Mine is to the point now that I HAVE to get it fixed...to the tune of about 350.00. NOT COOL, FORD!!
This car is probably one of the worse purchases I've ever made. In the almost 3 years I've had this vehicle, it's been in the shop for substancial work. I just had the window regulator replaced, a coil and thermostat housing. Two days ago I was shopping with my young daughter and as I tried to start my car, the key wouldn't turn in the ignition. Several bystanders tried everything we could think of but I ended up having to have it towed to a nearby Ford dealership. A 4 mile tow cost me $100. I still haven't heard if this is covered by my warranty. It amazes me after reading all of these complaints that Ford has not issued a recall. Quality is job one? What a load of crap. Since I have had a license, I've always had a Ford. Leaving me stranded an hour away from my home for 6 hours in rainy 40 degree weather with my child while I tried to find a ride home makes me rethink why I should stay a loyal Ford buyer.
Tried to go to work one morning and the key would not turn in the ignition. I got frustrated and hit the key. It then turned and everything worked fine for a while. I looked online to see what was going on, and after finding a couple of sites that showed NUMEROUS complaints for the same problem, I tried some of the "fixes". I tried lubricant and kept having to hit the key every time I wanted to start the car. These worked for a couple of days until this morning when even those "solutions" ceased to work. I almost missed work because of the problem. Thank goodness I wasn't camping in the middle of nowhere when this happened. I called Ford and all they would say is that they didn't have any information about this being a problem for the Focus. I called their bluff, and they were still unbending in offering any type of assistance in fixing the car. How can there be so many complaints and the company not know??? I'm definitely getting this fixed by a locksmith so that Ford (or their associated dealership mechanics) doesn't get any money off of this repair!
We parked on a quiet residential street for dinner with relatives. Wanted to drive back home but couldn't start the car. Luckily we had driven two cars, so we went to retrieve another key from home but that didn't work either. Next day I called AAA for a tow back home, and was hit with a small additional charge after the 5th mile. Tried all remedies on web short of spraying WD-40 and drilling out the cylinder. Ford dealer wanted $150 just to look at the problem then another few hundred dollars to fix, and who knows how long that would take.
No problems to date with this student car, except for a non-functioning cigarette lighter socket and a flimsy side view mirror screwed in place after a brush with a brick wall.
Ford Motor Co. -- This issue really should be a safety recall. I can imagine horrible consequences if my kid stalled the car on a busy road or highway and a forced restart is impossible.
Update from Jul 2, 2013: Local auto shops wanted too much just to look at the problem. So I ordered a $25 Strattec replacement ignition cylinder (IC) from Amazon and called a locksmith to install it for me. They came out to my house, made a regular non-PATS key, then used Vise-Grips to turn it in the ignition while they beat on the end of the key with a hammer.
My Daughter's 2003 focus ignition gets stuck, not allowing the key to turn to start the car. she got stranded after work, but luckily the key finally decided to turn. I had a local repair shop look at it and said it's a consistent problem with the 2000-2003 Ford Focus and should be replaced. He oiled it and it seems to be working ok for now. Dealer wants $350 to replace the warranty is just one year or 12k miles!!! NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN!
Arguably the most common Focus problem is that the key won't turn in the ignition. This is a real pain in the ass... It should be a recall but instead the Ford company would rather their buyers shell out hundreds of dollars so that they can "fix" the problem when really it will just happen again. Why does this problem persist? Because Ford replaces the broken part with the same part, only newer, to begin with. I don't understand why Ford does this except the desire to rip off their customers and make money. I haven't had a working car in weeks because of this. I refuse to pay the Ford Company for something they should fix because of their faulty manufacturing.
My mother's 2003 Ford Focus with 32, 366 miles on it (seriously...she basically goes to CVS, Publix, and church) wouldn't allow the key to turn in the ignition. We tried everything and were both really upset. She was about to call the garage to have it towed to the garage when I told her to wait and did a Google search to see if this was a common problem. Thanks to all of you who mentioned tapping the end of the key with a hammer. That worked and will save us at least the tow. As others have mentioned, I will be writing to Ford. The more who complain the more of a possibility of them doing a recall or a reimbursement. In the meantime, after we get it fixed I will update with price to fix.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
After calling Ford Customer Service and getting no help, I have a call into a locksmith to see if they can fix it.
- lgavan, Columbia, MD, US