Recalls

CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY - CABLES
02V288000FORD MOTOR COMPANYfrom 07/19/1999 to 05/31/2001V (Vehicle)29185402/10/2003ODIFORD MOTOR COMPANY11/06/200211/06/2002
Defect SummaryCertain passenger vehicles equipped with zetec engines, loose or broken attachments and misrouted battery cables could lead to cable insulation damage.
Consequence SummaryThis, in turn, could cause the battery cables to short resulting in heat damage to the cables. besides heat damage, the check engine light may illuminate, the vehicle may fail to start, or smoke, melting, or fire could also occur.
Corrective SummaryDealers will inspect the battery cables for the condition of the cable insulation and proper tightening of the terminal ends. as necessary, cables will be rerouted, retaining clips installed, and damaged battery cables replaced. owner notification began february 10, 2003. owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
NotesAlso contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
00V411000FORD MOTOR COMPANYfrom 03/08/1999 to 12/15/1999V (Vehicle)7450012/19/2000MFRFORD MOTOR COMPANY12/06/200012/12/2000
Defect SummaryVehicle description: passenger vehicles. a decklid wire harness can fatigue and develop broken wires in the bend area of the wire harness.
Consequence SummaryThis could result in either a loss of individual lamp functions, or in the case of a short of the broken wires that causes a fuse to open, in the loss of stop lamp or tail lamp function. loss of stop lamp or tail lamp function could increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective SummaryDealers will replace the decklid wire harness.
NotesOwner notification began december 19, 2000. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673. also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

Bulletins

BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1858104/01/200510017884Erratic instrument cluster gauges and/or warning indicators - service tip. *tt12/06/2005
1837901/01/200510013318Brake and anti-lock brake system lights on after hec (hybrid electronic cluster) replacement. *tt04/14/2005
0417409/06/200410013116Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illuminated - system lean diagnostic trouble codes (dtc's) - service tips. various models including 2004 f-series. *tt04/08/2005
1728210/01/200310004926Harsh transmission engagement with possible malfunction indicator lamp (mil) on and diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0705 (tr circuit failure). *tt01/20/2004
0318109/15/200310004027Remote keyless entry (rke) - service tips. *tt11/14/2003
0315208/04/200310003185Diagnostic trouble codes (dtc) p0402 and/or p0403 or runs rough in wet weather conditions. *tt10/10/2003
03030102/01/200310002515Electrical - horn inoperative - vehicles equipped with 2.0l engine only. *tt09/04/2003
02090105/17/20040491637615Rough idle, low power and / or stall at idle, a malfunction indicator lamp illuminated and diagnostic trouble codes p0300 through p0304 stored in memory. *tt12/03/2002
1571003/01/2002636348Information on vehicles with programmable modules. *tt11/07/2002
1555801/01/2002630093Information regarding diagnostic trouble code b2496 (panic feature does not operate correctly). *yh04/12/2002
1527409/01/2001625812Subject regarding ck ground connections. *jg12/03/2001
1377101/01/2000612798Some vehicles equipped with 2.0l spi may exhibit a mil on and dtc p1518. *mjs06/12/2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY
024503/04/2002636065Information regarding discharged battery charging service tips and guidelines. *tt11/05/2002
1316408/01/19996091982Subject regarding batter disconnect connector action. *tt11/17/2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
1426201/01/2000620405Information on inpsection of fuse #63. *tt08/07/2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION
1841302/01/200510012971Unable to remove ignition key - service tip. *tt04/05/2005
0218209/16/200210008591Trim-ignition lock cylinder difficult to turn, unable to remove sticking ignition key-ignition lock cylinder removal procedure. *mj08/09/2004
1542111/01/2001630440Some vehicles may exhibit a difficult to turn, unable to remove, or sticking ignition key. *tt04/17/2002
1509207/01/2001621101Some vehicles may exhibit an ignition key that is difficult to remove from the ignition lock cylinder intermittently, but will rotate freely. *tt09/07/2001
1396803/01/2001620288Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty turning ignition key. this may be caused by the ignition lock cylinder (ilc). *tt07/24/2001
1475203/01/2001619484Exhibiting an ignition key that is difficult to remove from the ignition lock cylinder intermittently, but will rotate. *tt06/01/2001
1455301/01/2001617928Exhibiting difficulty turning ignition lock cylinder. *jb04/02/2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER
016204/02/2001619266Vehicles equipped with passive anti-theft system (pats) may not start or crank. *tt05/22/2001
1352111/01/1999614644Subject regarding key programming information. *tt11/29/2000
1335810/01/19996092166On some vehicles equipped with automatic transmission, the ignition key may be difficult to remove in park position. *tt11/27/2000
1396803/01/2000612941Concerns with a hard to turn ignition key. *tt06/14/2000
832403/01/2000612745A condition may exist where the ignition key is difficult to turn. *tt06/12/2000
795301/01/20007953612462All vehicles with securilock (parts) do not use the same type of ignition key. different pats keys exist for different vehicles.06/08/2000
751811/01/1999610856Some vehicles may require ignition keys to be reprogrammed after the key codes have been erased. *tt05/16/2000
725710/01/19996090840Vehicles equipped with automatic transmission, the ignition key may be difficult to remove in the park position. *tt03/30/2000
1318809/01/19996090546Information regarding focus key programming, anti theft system. *mjs03/21/2000
700009/01/19996090314Information regarding the new passive anti-theft system named encrypted passive anti theft (epats). *tt03/14/2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE
1582804/01/2002637571Some vehicles may exhibit diagnostic trouble code b1213, b1342, b1601, b2431. *tt12/03/2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
0414706/01/200505161210017923Service wiring harness replacement guidelines - service tips. *tt12/07/2005
9922210/18/19996089681Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses. *tt02/11/2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
1328810/01/1999609609Some vehicles may exhibit instrument cluster warning lamps that are inoperative. *tt04/04/2000

Investigations

NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PE02032FORD MOTOR COMPANY03/12/200207/31/2002ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES02V288000
 Allege that the engine compartment fires on the driver's side in the area of the battery
EA02014FORD MOTOR COMPANY07/31/200211/13/2002ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES02V288000
 Alleged engine compartment fires on the driver's side in the area of the battery

Consumer Complaints

Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
08/01/2004650001
 Very hard to put key into or remove from ignition, have not removed key in 8 years. *tr
08/01/200465000
 Very hard to put key into or remove from ignition, have not removed key in 8 years
01/17/20131082351
 I was starting my car, on first start did not start when retried starting there was nothing tried again nothing opened hood and smoke was coming out from battery cover. removed cover and battery cables and battery were very hot the positive and negative cables started melting. when had cooled enough to touch removed positive cable and when tried replacing cable there was a lot of sparking, called my mechanic who picked the car up inspected cables found them to be defective contacted ford and the said they knew of this problem but because of the date and manufacturing place of the car it is not covered under the recall for this problem. *tr
01/17/2013108235
 I was starting my car, on first start did not start when retried starting there was nothing tried again nothing opened hood and smoke was coming out from battery cover.removed cover and battery cables and battery were very hot the positive and negative cables started melting. when had cooled enough to touch removed positive cable and when tried replacing cable there was a lot of sparking, called my mechanic who picked the car up inspected cables found them to be defective contacted ford and the said they knew of this problem but because of the date and manufacturing place of the car it is not covered under the recall for this problem.
11/24/2012150000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. while parked, the contact inserted the key in the ignition but the key could not be turned. the vehicle was towed an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing however, the mechanic advised that the vehicle would have to be taken to the dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
11/24/2012150000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. while parked, the contact inserted the key in the ignition but the key could not be turned. the vehicle was towed an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing however, the mechanic advised that the vehicle would have to be taken to the dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000. kmj
11/24/2012150000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. while parked the contact inserted the key in the ignition and noticed it would not turn. the vehicle was towed an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the mechanic stated the vehicle would have to be taken to the dealer. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000. da
07/16/20121100001
 The battery cable coming from the positive terminal is melted. upon investigation i found that this was a recall: nhtsa campaign #02v288000. however ford is claiming that my vin is not part of the recall, even though it is specific for my model and year, and even though my car is experiencing the exact issue that the recall is for: faulty electrical wiring that can lead to a fire. i have not had a fire in my vehicle, but a melted cable is close enough for my liking. battery terminal cables should not be melting, period. *tr
07/16/2012110000
 The battery cable coming from the positive terminal is melted. upon investigation i found that this was a recall: nhtsa campaign #02v288000. however ford is claiming that my vin is not part of the recall, even though it is specific for my model and year, and even though my car is experiencing the exact issue that the recall is for: faulty electrical wiring that can lead to a fire. i have not had a fire in my vehicle, but a melted cable is close enough for my liking. battery terminal cables should not be melting, period.
06/26/201299000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. while parked, the contact placed the key in the igintion and was unable to turn the key. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for a diagnotic test. the technician stated that the ignition would have to be replaced. the contact also noticed the front driver
06/26/201299000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. while parked the contact placed the key in the igintion and was unable to turn the key. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnotic. the technician stated the ignition would have to be replaced. the contact also noticed the front drivers side door handle was loose and about to fracture. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 99,000. da
02/24/2012110123
 Plastic insulation of electrical connector that connects right headlight bulb with wiring overheated, melted and caused smoldering fire that led to damaging smoke deposits in headlight assembly. fire stayed contained to headlight housing.
12/07/2011130000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the contact noticed a strong odor when the vehicle was shut off. the vehicle was started and after driving two blocks, smoke was seen coming from the engine. the contact opened the hood and found that a fire had started near the engine. the fire department was called to extinguish the fire. the dealer was not notified of the failure. the manufacturer was notified and the contact was awaiting a response. the current and the failure mileages were 130,000. a report was taken by the fire department. kmj
12/07/2011130000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the contact noticed an odor when she shut the vehicle off. she entered the vehicle and then drove two blocks when she noticed smoke coming from the vehicle. she parked the vehicle and opened the hood when the fire became bigger and called the fire department. the dealer had not been notified since the vehicle was purchased from a private party. the manufacturer was notified and the contact was awaiting a response. the current and the failure mileages were 130,000. a report was taken by the fire department. bw
10/18/2011168005
 The ignition on my 2000 ford focus is defective in that the key does not go all the way into the ingtition. this problem appears to be systemic with the focus. the car is stranded in the path of oncoming cars and presents a danger to the public. systemic issues across a large span of vin numbers present a safety issue and a general public nussiance. cars are stranded in intersections and places of business because of defective ignitions that are known to ford. these issues are on blog sites in large numbers. i trust the transportation and safety board will recognize the significance of this problem. i am requesting an investigation that i am sure will reveal public safety concerns by the sheer number of incidents of this ignition failure.
10/19/201166000
 Put the key in ingition would not turn.tried for over 2 hours.had car towed to ford dealer.afterward saw online this problem happens alot on this model.this is a used car we bought for our daughter.she was stranded over 3 hours and 50 miles away.ford knows of this problem and does not address it.this is unacceptable.
10/18/2011168005
 The ignition on my 2000 ford focus is defective in that the key does not go all the way into the ingtition. this problem appears to be systemic with the focus. the car is stranded in the path of oncoming cars and presents a danger to the public. systemic issues across a large span of vin numbers present a safety issue and a general public nussiance. cars are stranded in intersections and places of business because of defective ignitions that are known to ford. these issues are on blog sites in large numbers. i trust the transportation and safety board will recognize the significance of this problem. i am requesting an investigation that i am sure will reveal public safety concerns by the sheer number of incidents of this ignition failure.
10/19/201166000
 Put the key in ingition would not turn.tried for over 2 hours.had car towed to ford dealer.afterward saw online this problem happens alot on this model.this is a used car we bought for our daughter.she was stranded over 3 hours and 50 miles away.ford knows of this problem and does not address it.this is unacceptable.
10/18/2011168005
 The ignition on my 2000 ford focus is defective in that the key does not go all the way into the ingtition. this problem appears to be systemic with the focus. the car is stranded in the path of oncoming cars and presents a danger to the public. systemic issues across a large span of vin numbers present a safety issue and a general public nussiance. cars are stranded in intersections and places of business because of defective ignitions that are known to ford. these issues are on blog sites in large numbers. i trust the transportation and safety board will recognize the significance of this problem. i am requesting an investigation that i am sure will reveal public safety concerns by the sheer number of incidents of this ignition failure.
10/19/201166000
 Put the key in ingition would not turn.tried for over 2 hours.had car towed to ford dealer.afterward saw online this problem happens alot on this model.this is a used car we bought for our daughter.she was stranded over 3 hours and 50 miles away.ford knows of this problem and does not address it.this is unacceptable.
10/18/2011168005
 The ignition on my 2000 ford focus is defective in that the key does not go all the way into the ingtition. this problem appears to be systemic with the focus. the car is stranded in the path of oncoming cars and presents a danger to the public. systemic issues across a large span of vin numbers present a safety issue and a general public nussiance. cars are stranded in intersections and places of business because of defective ignitions that are known to ford. these issues are on blog sites in large numbers. i trust the transportation and safety board will recognize the significance of this problem. i am requesting an investigation that i am sure will reveal public safety concerns by the sheer number of incidents of this ignition failure.
10/19/201166000
 Put the key in ingition would not turn.tried for over 2 hours.had car towed to ford dealer.afterward saw online this problem happens alot on this model.this is a used car we bought for our daughter.she was stranded over 3 hours and 50 miles away.ford knows of this problem and does not address it.this is unacceptable.
06/15/2011175000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. while driving at approximately 40 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. the contact inspected the vehicle and noticed the battery cables had melted. after moving the battery cables the vehicle restarted and the contact was able to drive with constant deceleration. the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel intermittently. the contact stated that the wires had completely burnt with time and he had the wires replaced. the failure continued. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 02v288000 (electrical system:battery:cables) but the vin was not included. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 175,000. tlb
06/15/2011175000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. while driving at approximately 40 mph the vehicle suddenly stalled. the contact inspected the vehicle and noticed the battery cables had melted. after moving the battery cables the vehicle restarted and the contact was able to drive with constant deceleration. the check engine light illuminates on the instrument panel intermittently. the contact stated the wires had completely burnt with time and he had the wires replaced. the failure continued. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 02v288000 (electrical system:battery:cables) but the vin was not included. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 175,000. ds
06/28/201180000
 Engine compartment fire extending into passenger area, fire had started in the area of the driver side headlight.
12/24/2010102000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the contact stated that while trying to start his vehicle the key would become stuck in the ignition and he would be unable to release the key. the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who advised him that the tumblers had collapsed and the ignition needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were approximately 102,000. the vin was unavailable.
12/24/2010102000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the contact stated that when trying to start his vehicle the key would get jammed in the ignition and he would be unable to release the key. the vehicle was inspected by a independent mechanic and they advised him that the tumblers had collapsed and the ignition needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were approximately 102,000. the vin was unavailable. tb
02/12/2011165000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. while driving approximately 30-35 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle began to jerk abnormally as the speedometer failed. the vehicle later stalled yet the contact was able to restart the vehicle and it was taken to an authorized dealer. the dealer performed a diagnostic and advised that the fuel delivery modular would need replacing. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 03v482000 (fuel system, gasoline) and was advised by the dealer that the recall had expired. she called the manufacturer and was advised that the recall was only effective for ten years and the vehicle was outside of the ten year limitation. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 165,000 and the current mileage was 167,913.
02/12/2011165000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. while driving approximately 30-35 mph the check engine light illuminated on the dashboard and the vehicle began to jerk. the speedometer stopped working and the vehicle later stalled. she turned the vehicle off and it restarted but the instrument cluster works at times. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. the dealer advised her that the fuel delivery modular needed replacing. the contact referenced recall nhtsa campaign id number: 03v482000, component: fuel system, gasoline and was advised by the dealer that the recalled had expired. she called the manufacturer and was advised that the recall was only good for 10 years. the vehicle was purchased used. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was 165,000 and the current mileage was 167,913. vwb
12/29/2010112000
 My wife drove to the movies. after the movies she found she couldn't turn the key in the ignition. she jiggled it and tried for 20 minutes before calling me. the car is a 2000 ford focus. my wife and her friend were stranded in a bad part of town due to a malfunction. when i called my dad about it (he is a service manager for a chrysler/jeep dealership) he told me it's a terribly common problem for the 2000-2003 focus. i called ford. they told me the same thing. says the fix them all the time. i asked why it wasn't recalled since my wife was left stranded and they wouldn't answer. i am just glad that my kids weren't in the car. it was only 20 degrees outside. ford needs to fix this!
01/04/200940000
 Ignition key will not turn on our 2000 ford focus. i have lubricated the lock mechanism for several years after learning of this problem, prior to having mine occur. sometimes key will insert but not turn. other times key will not fully insert. in both cases i am left stranded. key problem is not affected by position of steering wheel, shift lever interlock position, etc. problem appears to be within the key-tumbler mechanism. with such wide spread knowledge of this problem, why hasn't ford done a voluntary recall? this problem could occur during a life-threatening situation e.g. rush to hospital., robbery attempt, etc. the reported frequency of incidents, as viewed on internet sites, would indicate a magnitude in excess of ford's previous suv-tire failure rollovers. the key issue is more than an inconvenience, it is a safety issue!
04/11/200530000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the contact stated that when she tries to turn the key in the ignition it won't turn. she has to hit it with a mallet to get it to turn. the contact stated there are numerous complaints online about this failure. ford was contacted and they are aware of the failure but claim there is nothing they can do. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was about 30,000. the current mileage was 100,000. rd
06/05/2010180000
 2000 ford focus ignition doesn't work. key won't turn in ignition
12/01/2009630001
 Ford focus 2000. 63,000 miles. key would not go all the way into ignition (original key) also tried second key (original key, not used much). fortunately, car was in my driveway. had car towed to dealership. ignition replaced. there had been no indication of a pending problem. *tr
12/21/20091700001
 Key will not turn to on position. *tr
01/29/2010800001
 Ignition key won't turn in ford focus 2000 zx3. it left me stranded in college had to tow my car home. *tr
10/14/20091
 The key won't release from the ignition also the ignition won't turn off and if the car was on fire or motor caught on fire you could not turn off the ignition to shut the car off. *tr
10/01/2008490001
 2000 ford focus zx3 battery cables. not included by ford in vin range for current recall 02v288000 cause the battery cables to short resulting in heat damage to the cables. besides heat damage, the check engine light may illuminate, the vehicle may fail to start, or smoke, melting, or fire could also occur. although this vehicle suffers identical symptoms plus stalling in traffic which puts operators life at risk.. *tr
09/20/20091070001
 Key would not turn. seems like there is problem with ignition cylinder. *tr
07/23/2009800001
 My key won't turn in the ignition of my 2000 ford focus. *tr
07/17/2009800001
 Car key gets stuck in ignition. will not come out. *tr
07/15/20091075601
 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. *tr
06/15/20091
 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. *tr
06/05/20091380001
 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. *tr
06/08/20091140001
 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. *tr
07/01/20051000001
 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 2000.00 and plus the dealer asked for a down payment of 1200.00 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. *tr
06/01/20091050001
 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. *tr
05/20/2009980001
 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. *tr
04/19/200745000
 Tl*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.
03/18/20071055541
 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. *tr
03/14/20091490001
 Like so many others my key gets jammed up it wont turn wont start the car and you get stuck where ever you happen to be at the time. *tr
03/03/20091
 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. *tr
03/02/2006640001
 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. *tr
02/12/20091
 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. *tr
02/12/20091086741
 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. *tr
02/11/2009670001
 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. *tr
02/06/20091655001
 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. *tr
01/05/200985000
 Tl*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.
12/10/2008903031
 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. *tr
12/09/20081200001
 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. *tr
12/09/20081
 Ignition failure after replacing it roughly 1 year ago. 2nd ignition cylinder to be replaced in this car. *tr
12/03/20081190001
 My daughter went to drop off lunch to my other daughter and the ignition locked and the key wouldn't turn. according to clarence ditlow with auto safety .org this is the number 1 reported defect in the 2000-2003 ford focus, so why isn't ford recalling this vehicle problem??? my daughter called ford customer service about this issue and the rep told her that this is a problem that has been happening and that they would probably have to recall this issue. i then called ford customer service several days later and the representative told me that there is no record of any problems relating to the key locking and not being able to drive the vehicle. i was very upset and said goodbye and went on the internet to do my research and found that this was a common problem with this vehicle. i will never buy another ford if this is the way they represent their vehicles. i then called ford back after my research and inquired why the other rep had told me that there was no record of any issues of this type with the focus. all i want is for ford to stand behind their product. nothing my daughter sis could of prevented this issue and now ford wants me to pay for the ignition to be replaced at a cost of $400 to $500 according to research shown. unbelievable... please help... *tr
12/05/2008600001
 There is no indication or warning to when this problem will occur--it is purely random. it has happened to my wife three times in the past year. when the key is put into the ignition, it will not turn. thus, leaving the driver stranded. a locksmith had to be called to work on the ignition. fortunately, this time she was stranded at church (the first time was at a shopping mall and the second at work). but, should she have been somewhere unfamiliar or isolated, this would have made her quite uncomfortable being alone. *tr
11/26/20081145911
 I am writing regarding my 2000 ford focus zx3. i was left stranded in a town 50 miles from my hometown. the key went in and wouldn't turn. i had to have it towed 3 times to get it to a ford dealer ( who is the only one who could fix the problem). it cost me 380.52 to get the car fixed, in which 221 of that was just labor! but since they had to program the ignition, they were the only ones to do it. after researching the problem, i have found thousands upon thousands of complaints about this problem. also, the tow truck drivers said they tow 2 or 3 of these a month because of this. ford has to be aware of this problem. it is unfair that they have not at least recalled the part. as a consumer, i can safely say i have lost a lot of respect for ford. as a child i grew up a ford fanatic, however due to the purchase of my focus and the carelessness of the company to take care of the minor problems with the car, that has changed. ford needs to recognize this problem and do something about it. i have warned all of my friends with focuses of this problem, and they are just preparing themselves for this to happen. something must be done about this problem! until then, i am unsatisfied with ford's service, and product. *tr
05/06/200637000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the contact was able to insert the key into the ignition, but it would not turn and start the vehicle. the failure began in 2003. she took the vehicle to the dealer and they installed a new ignition lock in the vehicle, which resolved the issue. currently, five years later, the failure recurred. the contact believes that a recall should be issued, but the manufacturer refuses to be responsible for the defect. the vehicle is currently parked at her place of employment. the failure mileage was 37,000 and current mileage was 90,000.
11/25/2008450001
 Starting 2 years ago rear hatch would intermittently unlock when brake pedal was depressed. problem was worse in cold weather. within last two weeks, rear brake lights no longer work when brake pedal is depressed, and the rear windshield wiper no longer functions. all symptoms point to a failure in the wiring harness leading from the car body to the rear hatch lid. online forums of focus owners document broken insulation and wires in this wiring harness. a similar problem was the target of a nhtsa recall of focuses from this model year, but apparently only applied to the sedans. i have an appointment with my ford dealer to repair, but without a recall i will be forced to pay out of pocket. please investigate this issue and report a recall soon if appropriate. the brake light failure and spontaneous opening of the rear hatch while driving are serious safety hazards. here is an example of other owners reporting this problem online: http://forums.focaljet.com/team-pit-stop/457417-all-zx3-owners-please-read-potential-safety-hazard.html. *tr
08/18/2008720001
 This will be our 5th ignition replacement since purchasing this car new in 2000. the first three were covered. since we have to pay another 500 for this one we have been making due by leaving the key in and not completely turned off by just a hair. or on the occasion we forget and take it out we have to beat it with the back of a screwdriver to get it to engage. this has caused me to get out and leave the car in drive on several occasions since i got use to putting the car in park before removing the key i can no longer remove the key so i am distracted by digging out the clicker so i can get back into my car. this is so dangerous! my car rolled across the library parking lot and into another car. this could have been a child run over! all because of this ignition problem. i have never left my car in drive in over 32 years before this trouble! i have been stranded in relentless heat with children and freezing temps again with children. this is with out question a situation that needs to be recalled. we should not have to keep paying for a design flaw. it is not from over use or heavy key chains. there are many many days i don't even leave the house to use it. i don't stop and start the car a lot. this is a very dangerous problem and will not be taken seriously by ford. *tr
11/26/2008660001
 After months of issues starting the car and the key not turning, the ignition now is completely locked. the key...both keys provided by the dealer at the time of purchase...will not turn the ignition. *tr
09/10/20081120001
 Ford focus key will not turn in the ignition. *tr
08/02/20081000001
 00 ford focus taillights not working. found that ford has a recall for the wire harness decklid. took vehicle to a ford dealership was told that my vehicle is not part of the recall. i've numerous recalls on this vehicle already. vehicle was overheating. was told by ford dealership that needed a new radiator, cost me $800. when i picked up the vehicle it was still overheating, come to find out i only needed a new water pump. *tr
10/05/20081
 Turning the key in the ignition has become more and more difficult. to where it has taken up to a half an hour to actually get it to turn. it is most certainly a safety concern where in there is the possibly of becoming stranded somewhere. *tr
08/26/200873450
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. while driving approximately 15 mph, the contact smelled a burning odor in the vehicle. he pulled the vehicle over and opened the hood, but did not find any smoke. in addition, the coolant temperature was fine; however, he felt is was extremely hot under the hood. he entered the vehicle and noticed that the service engine light was illuminated on the instrument panel. he has not taken the vehicle to be diagnosed by a mechanic. through online research, the contact discovered nhtsa campaign id number 02v288000 (electrical system:battery:cables) for the same symptoms he was experiencing in his vehicle. he had also been experiencing loss of power and hesitation in the vehicle while traveling at low speeds. he discovered nhtsa campaign id number 05v030000 (latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch). the manufacturer stated that his vin was not included in either recall. the contact believes the vehicle should be included since he is experiencing identical failures. the current and failure mileages were 73,450.
08/25/20081258841
 2000 ford focus, ignition cylinder locks up and cannot turn key to turn on car. i see that there has been a lot of reported incidents of the same. *tr
08/20/2008980001
 2000 ford focus the car was being driven and had just pulled into our neighborhood when the ac fan stopped running and i noticed the smell of smoke. the car was pulled over immediately and turned off. smoke started pouring out from under the dash board and burst into flames. 911 was called the fire trucks came and put the fire out. the entire interior is gone while the engine and drive train are fine. the car is totaled. *tr
07/13/2008105000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the contact stated that the instrument panel lights illuminate intermittently. in addition, the speedometer does not work properly at times. the vehicle will idle roughly or fast and has to be shut off in order for the idling to stop. the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 00v302000 (vehicle speed control:cables). the current mileage was 106,000 and failure mileage was 105,000.
06/12/2008960001
 I am experiencing what thousands of others have experienced with the 2000 ford focus. for the past year, we have intermittently had the ignition switch lock up, unable to turn the key and start the car. i have been stranded many times. my mechanic told me this is a overwhelmingly common problem with the 2000 focus and suggested tapping and banging on the ignition switch to get it to turn. this worked for about a year, however, as i am finding out by reading these complaints, it finally has frozen and will not turn. ford wants to charge people four hundred fifty dollars to replace this defective switch, only to replace it with another defective switch,which will ultimately need replacing , yet another $450.. my husband purchased an ignition switch from an auto parts store, only to have to take it to ford anyway to install because they get you by charging $150. to reprogram the pats system on the key. at what point and how many vehicles have to be reported to be defective , how many owners have to be charged thousands of dollars to replace defective parts with defective parts and ford allowed to keep charging and recharging us to fix the same problem rather than being accountable for the problem and recalling the part?? why aren't consumer's protected against this? *tr
04/01/2008800001
 2000 ford focus #1 car has been owned by me since 2001 (bought from a dealer with 13k miles on it), it gets used lightly and never goes on long trips. i use it just for local driving, to and from work. (about 5 miles a day, car has 80k miles on it) this car is a lemon! i have had some of the strangest problems and gone through more recalls then anyone should have to. #2 problems i'm having currently: suspension car's front passenger side spring has broken, makes very loud crunching noises when turning, needs repair. electrical car has smelled of burning rubber, and electrical system has started smoking on more then one occasion, have come very close to going up in flames. turning the car off then disconnecting the battery terminal cures the problem temporarily. was also told by local mechanic front axles are bad, and need to be replaced soon but do not know much more about it. problems i've had: fuel pump recall, door latch recall, and battery cable recall. have also had problems with the rear bearings of the car, paid out of pocket to fix those, because dealer told me there was no recall on them. after reading nhtsa campaign #01i017000 i have since learned otherwise. #3 all the problems i'm having with the car currently are not fixed. all the other ones were repaired by the dealer with the exception of the rear wheel bearings. the front spring is still available as is still on the car, and he electrical system is still intact. i will have to replace the spring soon but i'll hold on to it. the same goes for the front axle's. *tr
04/28/20081000001
 Well, basically, my ignition has gone out on my 2000 ford focus for the third time. i've gone on the web and have read the same problem happening to other people. the key will not turn the ignition and it will not start. i think this should be investigated due to a safety hazard. imagine being in a remote location and being in need of medical attention and your car not starting? imaging going hiking and twisting your ankle, after suffering through agonizing pain, you realize you have to suffer much longer because you can't turn the key in you ignition. i've never had to experience any of these situations, but i have experienced my third ignition failure. the first two were $300 each, and i just got off the phone with a ford dealership and they told me it would cost $600?? price gouging in our time of high gasoline costs?? i believe these faulty parts need to be investigated. *tr
04/29/2008601
 Unable to turn ignition to start car with key, regular mechanic unable to fix problem, had to be sent to a ford dealer to replace the lock cylinder at a cost of 350.00. *tr
04/12/2008764951
 2000 ford focus ignition failure. car ignition locked/froze up and i had to have the car towed and the ignition replaced at a cost of some $500. this is a widespread problem with the ford focus and ford refuses to reimburse me and has not addressed the problem with a recall. *tr
03/03/2008910001
 Smelled smoke coming from vehicle and upon exiting vehicle fire was coming from the underneath of the engine compartment. *tr
06/28/200742000105/30/2007
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. in july of 2007, the door locks on the vehicle began to malfunction. the contact changed the fuse, but this did not correct the failure. the tail and brake lights also began to malfunction, followed by the rear hatch. the dealer advised him not to drive the vehicle because a fire had taken place in the wiring. the contact is currently awaiting the vehicle diagnosis. the current mileage was 42,338 and failure mileage was 42,000.
04/26/2007106/01/2006
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the contact stated that the power door locks stopped working. the contact noticed that the fuse for the power door lock had failed. he replaced the fuse, but the passenger front door failed to unlock. he did not experience any failures with the other doors. a dealer has not inspected the vehicle to determine the cause of the failure. the current mileage is 78,500 and the failure mileage was unknown.
03/07/200790150710/21/2000
 I drove a 2000 focus zx3 for 3 years without a single problem. on march 2007 (90000 miles) the car stalled and died completely in the middle of a california freeway. after 5 min i was able to restart the car and drive to my mechanic (not a ford dealer). computer analysis showed a faulty mass air flow sensor. he replaced it ($450). two days later, the car stalled again in a residential area (20 mph and full tank of gas). the car restarted and i drove back to same mechanic. he didn't find anything wrong and suggested i should drive to a ford dealer. they replaced the fuel delivery module at no cost because of ford recall #03n01. after that the car stalled (and died) again while pulling out of a parking lot (5 mph and full tank). ford technicians drove the car for 150 miles while hooked up to a flight recorder and found nothing. i drove it for 20mi with a flight recorder and it stalled right away. i tried restarting it and it stalled again (4 times in a row). i was able to record the data using flight recorder. for the first time the check engine light was on (code p1237). the ford dealer inspection all the electrical wires looking for a faulty connection ground. after re-wiring they test-drove the car again. they think the car is ok now. this has been my third week without a car. i was renting a car in order to go to work (paying to go to work). i can't afford to spend more money on more surprises. i have been stressed emotionally and financially. even if the car is ok now, i don't feel safe driving it (or any other ford). at this point i decided to sell the focus to the same ford dealer. i'm complaining about the ford focus and ford in general (as a corporation and a brand) for allowing such a flaw to be sold to the general public. i have been very well treated by the service department at the ford dealer. *jb
01/30/2007103/26/2004
 The car was having trouble starting we replaced the battery checked the cables had the starter tested the guy said it was the nuetralization switch. he got back into start the car and it locked up. it is now still sitting there for them to figure out how to fix it. *nm
12/09/2006100000106/01/2002
 The car had been driven 2-3 miles, then parked. about 15 minutes later the fire was spotted. flames were 12 to 15 feet high before the fire dept arrived and put it out. *jb
10/14/200682175303/07/2002
 In 2004 vehicle's ignition key lock fails to work properly. vehicle is towed to ford authorized repair and they correct the problem. in 2006 vehicle's ignition key lock fails again. vehicle is taken to ford authorized repair and corrected again. both times i was left stranded since the vehicle's ignition key would not turn to start the vehicle and could not be removed from the ignition. vehicle's dash lights suddenly failed while driving at night. lights come on and off. several times during nightime driving the lights fail. vehicle's door power door locks and trunk locks fail and cannot be opened with keyless entry. a fuse continues to fail possibly due to a short in the wiring system. *nm
10/03/2006510/03/2006
 I purchased a car from mega motors on 10/3/06. on 10/04/6 the car cut off on me in the middle of the expressway. i took the car to the shop and a computer diagnostic test proved that the sensors are out on the car and that the transmission is out of range. i took the car back to mega motors on 10/05/06 and i also provided them with a copy of the diagnostic report. the company isn't doing anything to help me, all they are telling me is that they can't fix the car but i can come pick it up. i didn't have the car two days before it messed up on me in the middle of traffic. ruiz auto shop said that the car is no good. i tried calling mega motors again but they just keep me on hold for a really long time. as a paying customer i feel like i was in danger for my life and i can't get the company to provide me with another car nor give me my money back, after two days of having the car. i contacted the bbb and found that this company has had nine complaints since 2003. *jb
09/20/200678500105/21/2005
 2000 ford focus zts, started to smoke from the fuse box, within 3 minutes the engine compartment was on fire and car was totally in flames. no warning signs, nothing odd about how the car ran. just riding along and smoke starts and i pulled over asap and the car went into flames. nothing was done to correct what ever problem it was...the car is destroyed. no one knows what caused the failure. when the car started to smoke, the smoke came from the fuse box on the drivers side. the smell of burnt plastic was smelled and as i stated before the car was in flames. i had just enough time to get out of the car and away from it. *nm
08/08/200658000812/20/1999
 Early on i had issues with stalling but just thought it to be weird for the car would turn back on..would power down while driving then i could start it over again. wasn't until recently it became an issue that worried me when i was on a trip and it did it 3 times in a row and it wouldn't start on the second time but then did on the third try. i had been pulling out into heavy traffic when car just died.. everything went dead. tonight my engine light came on and i started searching the net looking for reasons why when i came across the stalling issues with the ford focus 2000. i have also encountered multiple problems with the car over the years and until recently have stayed under 50,000 miles. i also had the locking of the ignition which was replaced by the dealing but last time i took the car in for the rear bearings they told me my car was not one of the 21 states it had issues with. i see they have now included that to go into all 50 states. at this point i am really scared to drive this car anymore and was just getting ready to do an out of state drive which i am putting on hold. i've had other issues that are nothing compared to the car stalling out in traffic.. it just stops.. steering freezes brakes lock.. its a mess and a danger to my child's life and mine. the latest problem of stalling plus the gas pressure seems to be an issue.. i press on the gas and it seems to sputter as if the car wasn't getting enough gas and almost dies.. i thought maybe my clutch was going out but that doesn't seem to be the case. it has not been a cause of an accident thank goodness but have come very close. this is a danger to other drivers and to myself. *jb
06/04/20065
 I took my vehicle to the local ford dealer on march 2, 2006 after i was having trouble with it stalling and then it was hard to restart. they replaced the fuel pump and fuel filter. then on may 19, i took the car in again to have a recall on the locks fixed and to assess the check engine light being on. i was told that their was an evap leak at the gas cap and one would be ordered for me. during this wait i experienced a strong gas smell surrounding the vehicle and coming up through the vents. then on june 4 (the cap still not replaced), i was getting poor gas mileage. as i was backing out of a driveway i noticed a string of gas. as i was driving down the road i was losing gas. i went from half a gallon to e in less that 8 min. until i arrived at my destination and the car died. i put it in neutral and rolled to safety. then i had to have it towed to my local ford dealer who is currently assessing the situation....please help!!! previous problems includes, but it is not limited to the following problems (cuts out, dies, hesitates{coil pack replaced}, the key not fitting into the ignition {jammed the key in & wd40}. *nm
03/14/20061
 Our ford focus has been nothing but problem since we bought the thing. the wiring was shot about 4 months in, and we could no longer use the electronic locks, or trunk opener. however, the latest problem would be the ignition. i was getting gas when i went to put the key in the ignition and it was stuck. luckily, after a brief panick attack i managed to get it to start. today, unfortunately we weren't so lucky, and the steering wheel, brake pedal and ignition are all frozen and are unable to start the car. i now have no vehicle for work tomorrow morning, and am furious with this unreliable vehicle. someone must do something about this! *nm
01/20/200699335103/01/2000
 Dt*: the consumer stated while traveling 40 mph the occupants started smelling electrical smoke. the occupants realized the vehicle was on fire in the dashboard; smoke was billowing out of dashboard. the consumer pulled the vehicle off the road and the occupants exited. the vehicle was extinguished, and then towed to the consumer home. there has been no inspection of the vehicle. the manufacturer has been alerted. *jb
01/06/2006509/01/2005
 There is a leak in the resevoir for the radiator, electrical problem with the radio. the radio keeps losing power when going down the road. the master switch for the passenger window does not work, the rear passenger window assembly is broke leaving the window not able to stay up. there is a funny noise when driving down the road. it sounds like a crackly noise. half of the time the heat will not work. *jb
11/15/200572000112/01/2001
 Dt: the contact stated there was an electrical problem. the dealer said it was a problem with the sensors within the fuel pump. the dealer said they would need to replace the sensors to remedy the problem. due to the numerous attempted repairs that have not corrected the problem he was not going to have the vehicle repaired at this time. the contact already spent enough money having the vehicle repaired, and should not be out any more money for attempts to repair the vehicle. *ak
07/01/200596000105/01/2003
 2000 ford focus. radio started turning itself on and off about 3 months ago. a/c started doing same this about 1 month ago (on same panel on dash). now a/c will not work at all, but radio continues to turn itself on and off whether car is running or not. *nm
07/26/2005126855012/19/2001
 Purchased 2000 ford focus, vin 3fafp3132yr227563 from croft ford on dec. 19, 2001; mileage was 12,163 (car was still under warranty); have been unable to walk since march of 2002 (mileage on car is now just over 13,000; last 200 plus miles has been put on by ford dealerships attempting to fix car). have had this car in to several ford dealerships; none of which can solve problem of engine surges; dash lights sweeping; transmission bolting; etc., etc., etc. this car is not safe to drive; i have notified ford motor company; the dealerships, etc., and feel that it should be covered under manufacturer warranty .. instead latest was that ford dealership wanted $500 to replace alternator and could not guaranty that would fix problem; i already paid $105; plus $110 and the same problems are happening. the car has been at the ford dealership in woodbridge, va, for over 2 weeks, which leaves my family without a car to transport me. this is not right. i told todd croft of croft ford that i needed a good, dependable, safe car because this would be the last car i ever purchased. he knew that i did not drive much at all and i feel that he sold the car (with an existing problem) to me thinking that i would never know. my daughter was the one who realized this car had a serious defect and took it to croft ford to be fixed several months ago; to date, it still is not fixed; is a danger to drive, not only to the person/occupants of the car, but to any vehicles near when the power surges occur and the transmission bolts. *jb
09/13/200530400102/23/2000
 Dt: the caller said automatic locks on the doors and trunk did not work. the keyless entry remote for the locks will not work to lock or unlock the vehicle. neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were willing to provide any financial assistance. *ak *nm
08/26/2005150000104/14/2000
 Engine compartment fire (four days after ford dealership replaced ignition lock cylinder). *nm
07/13/200585000106/15/2000
 For no apparent reason while driving home from work, my car battery light came on, then stalled, smoke began emanating form under the hood, then the car went up in flames. i'm very lucky i was not injured. the car was totaled. this car has been nothing but problems since i bought it. *jb
08/03/2005107/09/2003
 While driving my 2000 ford focus, i came to a four way stop and the car ceased to work, as if i had turned off the key...no sputtering, just stopped. i restarted the vehicle and it lurched forward, died again, just as before. as i looked out the front windshield, i observed smoke coming from the hood of the car. i exited the car and flames were coming from the wheel wells. i immediately called 911. people began spraying water on the car from garden hoses, two people stopped with fire extinguishers and nothing put out the flames. when the fire department arrived, within 10 minutes, the entire front of the car was destroyed. pieces in the engine compartment were melting and falling off the engine onto the ground. police arrived to direct traffic. the car was towed to wendle ford, and my insurance company removed the vehicle to their premises the next day. i still have no idea what could have caused this problem in a five year old vehicle with no prior problems. as i have seen several other incidents of fire in this vehicle, the government should make ford motor company investigate why this is happening before someone gets killed! *jb
07/10/200539000106/12/2003
 Dt: on sunday the owner's wife made a right hand turn off of mentor onto hart street. the engine shut off like the key had been turned off and the engine burst into flames. the vehicle was towed to classic ford but has not been looked at by the insurance company yet. the cause of the fire has not been determined. both the fire and police departments were at the scene. the entire front of the vehicle has complete fire damage. there were no other vehicles involved. prior to the fire there were no problems with the vehicle. the vehicle owner feels the fire was the result of a faulty electrical system. *nm
06/24/200520
 The consumer had numerous repairs performed on her 2000 ford focus. *jb recall campaign#02v288000 & 00v411000. repairs that have taken place within one year: 14 new tires because of a problem with the wheels, engine, transmission jerking, re-wired, battery, overheating and muffler. *sc
08/13/200486000212/03/2003
 Events, just normal driving. sway bar link disconnected causing sharp rightward pull at highway speed. continued smelling of electrical burning from dash panel with intermittent instrument failure, and airbag lights flashing. smoke came from the vent systems a couple times, but no fire noticed as of yet. nothing has been done to correct failure, costs too much for me to have ford diagnose the problem, $500+ for dash labour costs to pull it and inspect.
01/01/2005108/03/2004
 While going 65 mph, a vehicle pulled off the ramp in front of the consumer. the consumer applied the brakes and they failed to work. the consumer lost control of the vehicle. *sc all of the lights on the vehicles digital meters where blinking. the vehicle flipped three times and landed on the roof. prior to the accident the vehicle had electrical and brake problems. all the digital figures on the dash would blink on and off. *tc *jb
02/14/2005101/01/2002
 I have had this car since 2003 and it has been nothing but trouble. i have had it into the shop for many of the previously stated repairs- ignition lock, revving/ gas line sticking, broken windshield with no outside cause, cracked side mirrors from cold, etc. this week my rear window fell into the door and would not roll up. the estimate is close to $400. i have had other problems, so many i can't recall them all now. i would advise others to avoid ford products in the future- i certainly will. *jb
02/03/20053
 Car is a lemon. radio has failed multiple times. door locks and ignition lock have failed multiple times. current problem is car stalls at intersections. emission light is on and stays on. deal can not fix.*jb i consider the stalling at intersections to be very dangerous. if someone is moving forward assuming the car will move, and it does not because of the stall, a crash may result.
12/08/20041
 Fatality vehicle fire, dec. 8 2004. my husband is the original owner of a 2000 ford focus, subject to numerous service visits to bill brown ford, livonia mi for: ignition, steering column, wheel bearing, brake, rear window control, seat belt &trunk latches, overhead light and engine light. the vacuum line & fuel pump & valve assembly were replaced 2/03, followed by stalling. in 6/03, a/c compressor & manifold line replaced. fuel line & pump failure in 8/03, resulted in gasoline spill on residential street minutes after parking. bogging followed repairs, pcm reprogrammed & leaking pvc tube replaced 1/04. fuel pump again replaced. in 8/04, our 24 year old son took ownership of this problematic car. we are uncertain as to whether vehicle malfunction caused a 35 mph collision with a fire hydrant. an immediate engine explosion and fuel fed fire trapped my son and his passenger. described by police as a relatively minor crash which would not be expected to claim lives, the subsequent unexplained engine fire claimed two young lives. a malfunctioning driver's airbag was also detected. this incident was originally reported to nhtsa by my husband (#10104088). i am supplying these additional facts for your clarification. please correct your posting of 0 injuries as there were 2 fatalities. please take effective action to save lives, as these trouble plagued vehicles seem to become more lethal as they age. confirmation of receipt of this information is requested. *nm *sc *jb
01/22/2005108/15/2004
 Coming home from work my engine light came on , i took it to a friend and he check it and said it was as cylinder misfire he reset he code(?) and said that he didn't guarantee that it wouldn't come back on . it work fine the rest of the day , but when i was again coming home from work the next day it came on again ,i immediately turn around and took it to the garage where i get repairs done . he also said it was a cylinder misfire and suggests i replace my spark plugs and wires , he also cleaned something else and something iac ( you can tell i don't know squat about cars)i paid 149.00 for this service . a day and half later i was back in the garage with the same problem (engine light on) this time he says it something with my transmission code and to call the co. and see if there is or was a recall on it . some thing about flashing the computer. i have only had this car since august 2004 and have trouble with all this and with the key not working but the car was still under a 30 day warranty and the car salesman took care of that problem. i am just wondering what next ,how much , money does not grow on trees around here. after reading all the complaints on this here website i wonder why i even bought a ford focus. i also have very squeal brakes constantly , and my rear passenger tire has a problem and my son won't even let me drive my car till i get it check out there is more money. my car only has 44,000. miles on it. *jb
05/01/20031
 The consumer stated the vehicle had electrical problems. the lights were turning on and off. the cause is undetermined. *jb
05/10/20041
 First problem started with vehicle stalling- found out that fuel pump was faulty. pump was replaced because of recall. second problem started with no warning- remote for door locks/hatch back/anti-theft stopped working and automatic door locks also stopped working. even after replacing battery in both remotes still does not work. at the same time keyless entry stopped working i noticed that when i turn on my rear windshield wiper the rear hatch opens. i fear that this could be a safety issue because if driving during rain can't use rear wiper or hatch can open and anything in rear of vehicle could fall out causing an accident. please notify me if this is a re-occurring problem and what can be done to remedy it. *jb
10/31/200445000108/12/2000
 Many problems, the radio started shorting out almost immediately. i have to replace my tires at least once a year (10,000 miles.) at 37000 miles after the bumper to bumper ran out, my air conditioner and heater fan only worked on 4, 1, 2, and 3 did not. i took it to ford, the diagnosis was an open circuit which cost me $409.00. ( i think i was ripped off) last month i took a road trip and whenever i would climb steep inclines the car sputtered and eventually died. there was no indication of my car overheating. after about 5 minutes or so the car would start and continue to sputter up the hill. this made it extremely unsafe for me and my family resulting in a near collision with a truck. this week, my car wouldn't start at all, there was some corrosion on the battery terminals so i cleaned them w/a wire brush. i also noticed that the cables looked burned. the car started after we jumped it, but died after removing the cables. i have spent more money on this car than any other car i have ever owned. my last car was a ford escort, i still have it, it is 10 years old and has well over 100000 miles on it with no problems. i have 9 payments left on my focus and will be selling it after that. *jb
04/20/2004470005001/15/2000
 1) stalling, stuttering and or slow acceleration 2) gauges and lights inside and outside the vehicle are fluctuating as they wish. he car was taken to the dealer three times so they could diagnosis and work on the problem. 1st time there was a recall performed on the fdm (fuel delivery module). 2nd time they gave it a computer update and then all of the electrical problems began to occur. third time they sent me away saying there is not a problem. 2 weeks later with all the symptoms giving lots of problems (shuttering and stuttering, car stalled many times while traveling on the interstate etc.). finally it quit all together when electrically it blew up or shorted out somewhere. all the gauges were fluctuating empty to full,0 to 100 mph, air bag illuminated etc. cabin lamps went crazy. the car smelled like it was burning in the cabin. found no burnt or melted wires. i called the dealer to get them to pick up the car and they told me the battery went dead. when they test drove it now being the fourth time they said it needed new spark plugs and wires. i just cannot believe what they are telling me so i pulled this vehicle out of their care. *ak
10/12/200406/06/2004
 Everything was great with the car until recently. can insert key into the ignition, but cannot turn the key. i pull the key in and out until something catches and it will finally turn. sometimes it takes 2 minutes, sometimes 30 minutes. *nm
09/13/20043
 Headlights/radio and electrical parts would come on and off on their own. consumer drove vehicle to dealer for inspection, but mechanic could not duplicated the problem
10/22/2001322715008/21/2000
 We have a 2000 ford focus and it has been in and out of the shop for the same problem. the car stalls at times and the lights of the car go off and on as well as the radio and the speedometer go crazy from on side to the other. i can be driving and have the radio off and it will turn on. the car stalled for the first time on oct. 22 2001 and it didn't restart so we took it to ford and they replaced the fuel pump. the car drove good for a while and then it started all over again. so we took it to ford on sept. 30 2002 and they told us that it was altenator. so we had it replaced. the car did good for a while and then on july 16 2003 the engine would stall. ford said that this time it was vacuum leak and they replaced the tube assembly. the car still had the same problem and we took it in on july 18 2003 the engine would stall. ford said that it was the fuel pump once again. so we had it replaced. the car still had the same problem so we took it back to ford and they said it was the altenator. we couldn't afford to have it fixed by ford so we had the altenator fixed with someone else. on sept. 17 2003 we could not start the car and we had to have it towed. ford said that it was the ignition cylinder and we had it replaced. after all of this the car did ok for a little while but on jan. 28 2004 the engine begain to stall once again. ford said that it was the fuel pump once again so we had it replaced. on feb. 4 2004 the gas would leak when you filled the tank. ford said it was the pump retaining nut not seated properly. the car still did not act good it started out slow with the car stalling every now and then and then it just would stall and turn off while you are driving. and sometimes the car would not ever start again untill 15 min would pass and then it would start. on aug. 20 2004 we took it to ford and they said that the alternator. so we had it replaced for the 3rd time. *ak
07/30/20042
 While driving vehicle stalled. consumer restarted the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. mechanic determined that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. consumer informed the mechanic that the problem recurred, and had not been resolved.*ak
08/04/2003440001008/02/2003
 Rear passenger door on the left side locked and will not open, either from the inside or the outside. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the locks were not covered under the warranty, and it will cost in excess of 500.00 for repairs. *ak the consumer's wife was working with the left rear door. the switch had come loose and the left door was currently working. the right door was still failing. no electrical power switches were working on the doors. six fuses were replaced. the electrical problems were still not repaired. the door problem occurred two days after purchase. *sc *jb
02/01/2004101/29/2004
 I purchased a 2000 ford focus from carmax in miami fl during the last weefk of january. immediately after the purchase i experienced many problems. i have been in and out of the dealership and have been given the run-around. i lost 12 hours of work, been late and been left stranded by the ford twice. i have had about a dozen loaners and am currently still in one (4months later). i am paying for a car that i do not have and as a result i do not want it anymore. i want something else.i no longer wish to do business with carmax and want them to purchase the car back from me. however i am not upside down and do not feel that is fair since i have only had the car about 14 days since i bought it. i need help!*ak
04/30/200430000111/13/2003
 My 2000 ford focus wagon that i purchased in nov of 2003 burned in my work parking lot with only 30,000 miles on it with no warning, no suspicious noises or problems. i drove to work, parked in the lot, walked in, and as soon as i logged on to my computer security was calling to inform me that my car was on fire. the car burned the engine compartment and the front passenger area completely within 15 minutes. the fire department told me that it started in the engine compartment. security said from their video that it also showed to have started in the engine. the flames shot up over 10 feet within minutes of the fire being noticed. when the car was purchased i refused to buy it without a warranty so the dealership gave us a 12 month or 12,000 mile warranty (and we purchased the extended) but now they are saying they have no record of anything but the easycare extended warranty that we purchased. we find this strange since we have had 2 warranty repairs at no charge since the purchase and there was never any question before. the insurance compnay has asked that we go talk to the dealership this evening one more time to try to straighten this out before they pay it and we loose money as well as having our premiums go up. one of my other big concerns is that our other vehicle is also a ford and it has depreciated by some 10,000 dollars since we purchased it in june of 03 new so we cannot trade it in anywhere or sell it without being so upside down as to hurt ourselves. i personally have absolutely no confidence in ford and will never purchase from them again. if anyone can help me with this or give advice please do so by e-mailing me at julie.ledbetter@hillwood.com. thank you.*ak
03/16/2004950001
 The consumer is unable to open the vehicle doors with the remote. the consumer would have to manually use the key to enter the vehicle. the dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *mr
304885
 Ignition doesn't work, steering wheel locks and ignition cylinder occasionally comes out. also while driving, the steering wheel fell off. *la the vehicle overheated when the air condition was turned on, the dealer replaced a pinched wire behind the dash, the air condition was not cool enough, the evaporator core had a leak. *jb
9
 The consumer experienced two defects with her vehicle. *ph the back passenger seat belt was placed in backwards per manufacturer, the volume on the radio increased and decreased without control, the gear stick slid off the post, the vehicle stalled when going to a complete stop, the power knob to the radio would become sticky whenever the sun was present, the trunk would not open, the ignition switch jammed twice, the rear view mirror was stuck in the open position, and the steering wheel adjuster did not exist. the consumer requested compensation. *sc *jb
10/23/2003112/11/2000
 While driving, the vehicle stalled due to electrical failure. there were no brakes or steering. the vehicle crashed into a tree. driver dislocated her shoulder and sustained a head injury. *ak the rear wheel bearings was replaced, the fuel filter was replaced *jb
12/30/20032
 The driver placed the key in the ignition but the vehicle would not engage. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for analysis. the mechanic determined the ignition switch needed to be replaced. *nm the ignition switch was replaced two times, power locks were inoperative, alarm was inoperative, trunk inoperative, and the window(s) were hard to close (must be forced down 3-4 times). *sc *jb
600002
 Battery cable shorted out. also, there were some broken wires in the electrical system. recalls were issued for both of these failures. *ak the manufacturer indicated tht the consumer's vehicle was not included in the recalls due to vin. the throttle body cable malfuntioned. *nm
1
 The consumer noticed that all electrical tail-lights and lights inside the vehicle were lost. upon inspection by the mechanic on the vehicle, an electrical wire was found to have a short. please describe details. *ph
01/14/20030111/14/1999
 Ford focus se year 2000; purchased nov 1999; since 1999 i've had 10 or 11 recalls; a new transmission installed; now my car periodly will not start, i have put the car in the shop from jan 2003 to oct 2003 for the same problem; dearler cannot find the problem they give me a new battery to solve the problem; however i still have the problem; i just recently got the car out oct 24 then on oct 26 stranded again 30 miles from my house with a 11 month old baby; car would not start. its back in the shop again on oct 27. milage on the car is a little over 73,000 miles my warrenty expires 75000. is their a lemon law this would fall under. i'm scared to drive the car with my baby. i still owe on the car. what can i do to resolve this problem?*ak
50001
 Engine check light illuminated, and vehicle hesitated when trying to accelerate. dealer determined that there was an electronic malfunction within the vehicle which was sending incorrect codes to the electronic control module. *ak
07/04/20034
 The owner was unable to unlock the rear doors from the inside and outside. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer four times. *ak the entire automatic system stopped working. the rear door behind the drivers seat was unable to be unlocked or opened from either the inside or outside of the vehicle. the passenger side door became jammed. the lock(s) were all replaced and failed twice at the dealership. the automatic window's worked intermittently. *scc *jb
11/17/2003004/17/2001
 Water leak in my 2000 ford focus. upon reading this website i realize the other problems i've had are similar to this car. car stalling, fuel gauge sticking, radio going out, carpet being replaced,wiper problems etc. when it rains the water can fill the passenger floorboard 2-3 inches. i've had the leak checked at several different places and so far no one can find the leak. according to this website the dealer can't find the problem either. my car is not under warranty any more, and i was informed if the leaking continues it will damage the brain computer or electrical system. if that happens and i have to spend a couple thousand to fix, but if the leaking is not found it will just happen again. i feel this car is unsafe and should have a recall. also, i have not received notice of all the recalls that pertains to this car. i have received only one pertaining to the back real wheel bearing, which was replaced at dealer. but i see that there have been others. why was i not notified? *la
09/02/20031600811/23/1999
 At any speed, the vehicle intermittently stalled on the highway. vehicle had been to the service dealer seven times for the same problem. on one occasion, the dealer replaced the fuel pump, but it did not fix the problem. when the incident happened, after about six minutes, the vehicle could be restarted. manufacturer and the dealer have been notified. *ak when the vehicle stalled the odometer went blank. when the odometer was functional again, the vehicle could be started. the power relay was found open and was replaced and the fuel pressure dropped while the vehicle was in motion. *scc *jb
06/27/20031
 The turn signals on the dash appeared to work fine (left and right) but the rear turn signals did not work at all. the consumer stated he received a ticket. *nlm
06/17/200366000
 Vehicle has a major electrical problem. while driving vehicle gauges will go beserk. door chime activates, all lights flicker on and off, transmission changes gears,and the vehicle stalls.*ak
04/14/2003704/14/2003
 -2000 ford focus lx - bought used on april 14th. both interior and exterior of car in excellent condition, ran extremely well, one owner repo, clean title. -was rear-ended in very low speed, low impact collision, no frame buckling, bending, or damage to car other than scratched rear bumper - truck lid will not latch now. multiple mechanics and appraisers - unable to find problem. -while driving, dash gauges and car speakers will suddenly stop working (speedometer goes to 0, odometer goes blank, fuel gauge goes to 0) and then spontaneously come back on with no after effects. car stalled while stopping after one of these episodes. occasionally when car is started, the odometer will spontaneously reset without prompting (not the main one, the resetable one). -random codes being thrown to computer - car has had two diagnostics run in two weeks, the first for two codes: 1. a mechanical issue, 2. for electrical difficulties in the dashboard - the car was thoroughly inspected and no defects were found. seven days later the computer reported an evaporative system leak - once again the car was thoroughly inspected and no defects were found. after the first diagnostic, a rear brake light went out - after removing the light and fiddling with the wiring, the mechanic got its normal function to resume. -the car has 36,000 miles, i had the brakes inspected the day after the car started shaking violently when i pressed the brake pedal. the rotors are warped terribly and i will have to have the entire brake system replaced, including the rear drums - i do not consider this normal, especially in such a young car. -it has had two recalls filled in the last month, one for a pinch bolt and the other for a wheel bearing. no other recall campaigns were open. these problems have continued since the recalls were completed. -i've owned this car for less than a month. the cars pre-purchase inspection came up clean. the car is no longer under any kind of factory warranty.*jb
04/23/20033000104/01/2002
 While driving the traction control module failed. *nlm which failed every few days. the vehicle would shut down with dash light warnings. *scc
04/22/20031
 When the key was placed inside of the ignition, the vehicle failed to turn over. *jb
04/19/2003204/25/2002
 Car stalls. sometimes dies while driving even at highway speeds of 55 mph. have towed car several times to dealer but once there, the car starts and they can't find anything wrong so i have to pay the towing. last trip to dealer (about a week ago, they did find something wrong and of course what they found was not under warranty) now it happened again....this time we got stranded out of town. this is a very serious problem with the ford focus. i bought this car so my son would have reliable transportation but has become more of a problem than not having a car at all. need help to resolve. *jb
03/15/200310000111/15/1999
 I have a 2000 ford focus zts automobile with approximately 10000 miles. i just had a problem with the electric lock system. the electric lock door actuator in the right rear door failed. the entire locking system stopped working and the right forward and left rear doors both locked closed. the doors were not able to be opened manually from the inside or outside. this bothers me because i feel a possible entrapment situation could result if this occurs as a result of a traffic accident or water submerged. my failure occurred as i was loading the car for my trip home from work. i may have had the right rear and left front doors open at the time of the failure, which may explain why they were not affected. normally, the doors will open from the inside even if locked. this failure overrides that safety feature. *jb
02/05/200330
 After about 10 days of buying my 2000 ford focus the problem. started and one year later the problems are still coming like clock work. first my breaks were squealing i called the dealer, he said not to worry about it until i had time to come in. 1 to 2 months later, after several calls asking if it was still okay to drive, i took my car in and the routers and breaks were bad, they sd i should have brought my car in sooner. well per there request i took my time. i had to pay the get this taken care of. it didn't stop there, my tires kept getting flats so i has to once again replace at my own expenses. now the real problems start, my cruise control was just out of control, my car would accelerate every time i would put in on cruise. the windshield wipers would not work and my radio kept turning off by itself. i had once again at my own expenses replace my windshield wipers calling the maintenance. dept. at meridian ford. they fixed the problem. with the cruise control and it was working fine for about 2 months it is now happening again! now i have problems with the key getting stuck and will not turn, the trunk will not shut, and my car will shut off when the car is in idle. it turns off if in park or drive after about one min. idle. this is very frustrating. and has caused so many financial and stress problems. i don't feel safe in this car and i feel cheated! i was sold a lemon! a list of what was wrong with my new car..bad breaks, bad routers, bad windshield wipers, bad cruise control, bad trunk, bad tires, the key gets stuck and will not turn, and now it turns off while in idle. all these things are still wrong with it and its costing me money, stress,time and it is costing me to be late on my car payments and other bills because i have to pay for all this crap to be fixed! why is this happening! do i need to get a lawyer or do you need to replace or fix my car at your expensive. i have lost so much and feel helpless. i hope this does not fall on deaf ears. *nlm
03/12/2003808/01/2000
 Consumer received poor service from ford motor company, as well as from following local ford dealers morande ford of berlin, ct and ray seraphin ford of vernon ct, and different opinions from ford employees concerning multiple recalls on a-frame/stereo/windshield wiper motor/rear wheel bearings, electrical system, and sudden acceleration/lurching. *ak
03/19/20035
 The vehicle stalled intermittently, the dealer diagnosed the problem as a defective module, which caused electrical problems. *jb the odometer/speedometer had shutdown, the trunk opened, the keyless entry is inoperative and sometime the passenger(s) get stuck in the vehicle due to the faulty locks. scc
01/27/200339000102/01/2001
 The electrical system for the doors failed, which caused the driver side door not to open.*jb *ts
1
 The lights on the console flickered on and off, and also the vehicle stalled without warning.*jb
03/01/20012500010/20/2000
 Ignition failed, had to be replaced, tires wear incredibly fast (4 sets of tires at 45000 miles), radio cut out, had to be replaced twice, brakes failed at least three times causing two accidents, dealership said they replaced them, but lied and never did, was forced to spend $500 having them replaced, trunk doesn't close, bad suspension, spun out on an exit ramp
1
 Consumer noticed a fire near the shift lever while the vehicle was turned off. *jb
508/18/2000
 Consumer has experienced many problems with this vehicle. there is occasional grinding noises when braking suddenly, the brake pedals squeak, the transmission jumps out of gear, there are problems when accelerating, the vehicle stalls when driving above 55 mph, the cruise control is inoperative, and various electrical problems. *jg *jb
12
 The consumer has experienced the following: the replacement of the left dash board cluster (temperature gauge inop from the time of purchase), reattachment of rubber seal around driver door window, reattachment of fuel pump, reattachment of headliner in rear of vehicle, uncrimping of fuel line, lubrication driver door handle(sticking), lubrication of catch on rear passenger side door(had come open while vehicle was in motion), replacement the turn signal switch in steering column-had to be turned off manually, persistent noises/vibrations in the front end of vehicle starting at 36k miles and was told that the tires had tread that was too narrow/were high performance which wasn't needed/was also told that the vibration was caused by improper tire care and tire cupping, the left rear shock needed replacement, and the radio goes out-sometimes goes out when the heat is turned up high. scc
512/15/1999
 Consumer called complaining about having problems with the electrical system on the vehicle. also stated that the power windows does not work also the power locks on the vehicle do not work. dealer was contacted and vehicle was taken to the shop on three different times and it was finely fixed but consumer still thinks that the vehicle still has different issues. ts the brakes squealed, and the vehicle would shut off when the brakes were applied hard, and the vehicle would have to be placed in park in order to restart. a fuse was replaced and had blown again, there was a short ground in the wire on the rear passenger door shorting to the ground, recall 00s50/deck lid wire harness, and two door lock actuators were replaced. scc
12/16/20022701/01/2000
 Continued problems with ford 200 focus zts. bearings, electircal system, brake and paint issues among others.
11/25/2002
 The vehicle began stalling at every stop light or intersection when braking. the owner managed to turn around and drive back to her house. the vehicle has been towed to the nearest dealership for diagnosis. please describe details. ts
05/02/200261000408/01/2000
 While driving the vehicle at any speed, strong chemical fumes spread through out the vehicle. the dealer has been made aware of the problem. nlm the tire rod has loosened, the battery had blown, and the engine light had stayed illuminated. scc
405/01/2000
 Fuel pump problems: when making right hand turns, or driving around extended right hand curves (like freeway on- and off-ramps [aka cloverleafs]), the car nearly stalls when attempting to accelerate after the turn. when consumer steps on the gas pedal, the engine seems to stop running. when consumer lets off the pedal, the engine runs again and once the car has rolled in a straight line for a short distance, (50-100 ft.), consumer is able to accelerate. this problem begins to show up when the fuel gauge indicates the fuel tank is less than full. at that point, the stalling problem only occurs after making a hard turn. the stalling problem is easier to replicate as the amount of fuel indicated by the fuel gauge drops below 3/8 of a tank. this problem has not occurred when making any left hand turns. rear electrical problems up until about 38,000 miles, these problems were intermittent, and werenot evident most of the time. consumer had the vehicle checked at a dealer and they were not able to locate (or even reproduce) the problem. recently, the problems began to reoccur more frequently, until now, they are present virtually all the time. the problems occur together. if one part of the system is functioning properly, the other parts are functioning as well. the problems are, the right turn signals flash quickly. the right turn signals flash quickly when the brakes are applied. if the turn signal is on without the brakes (as in approaching a turn or signaling a lane change), the turn signal flashes normally. the left turn signal is never affected. the rear window defroster does not work. the light on the switch illuminates when pressed on but the window does not clear so there seems to be no power going to the wires of the defroster. taillights and back-up lights illuminate. when the switch of the rear window defroster is on (and the defroster is not working) the taillights and back-up lights illuminate.*jb
08/25/2001708/01/2002
 There is a very bad squeaking noise when braking, and when consumer lets off the brake there is a grinding noise. driver states more than twice brake pedal was applied, and pedal went to the floor. ford has been contacted.*ak.also consumer was complaining of the transmission slipping, the cigarette lighter was not working, cup holder bubbling, serpentine belt was replaced due to a squeal coming from under the hood, gas light was coming on when the tank was full of gas, door ajar light was coming on, starter and battery were replaced, driver sider mirror knob fell off, rpm runs high, headlamp molding was replaced, sunvisor was broke, rear child seat latch cover was broke, air conditioner and heater were replaced, passenger door trim, driver seat metal bar, rewind button for am/fm cassette was inoperative, carpet loose, pillar trim was coming off, ticking noise was coming from the front of vehicle, the egr valve ws replaced, rear tail light was out, the bulb was replaced, deck lid wire harness, a new fuel tank was installed due to the engine light illuminating, the front and rear brakes have been replaced due to warpage, also the speedometer stopped working.*jb
12/20/2000708/01/2002
 When applying brake pedal it would go to the floor, also brakes will grind. rotors had to be turned, and brakes were replaced 7 times, but the problem reoccurred. *ak transmission slips and jerks and rpms jump. no problem found. consumer hears loose gravel sound from right front wheel area. dealer found wheel well loose. dealer found serpentine belt failed causing whistle squeal under hood. gas light on with full tank and door ajar light is on. dealer replaced battery. evaporative hose loose. dealer removed and installed fuel tank. cigarette lighter not working. r-cup hold bubbling. driver side mirror knob falls off. rear child seat latch cover in broke. front driver seat metal fell out. both headlamps moulding fall out. sunvisor mirror/bracket moulding on passenger side between door / dash loose. broken. right outer ac vent broken. loose carpet on right front floor. pillar trim coming off. deck lid wire harness had tp be replaced. clicking noise from l/h front of vehicle. egr valve replaced. left rear tail lamp is out. engine light is on. problems with rewind button for am/fm cassette. *tt
02/25/20021
 Consumer stated the gas gauge failed, the brakes were squeaking, the mirror was torn off by repeated car washes, gas leaked on the both driver and passenger side carpet, and the truck latch was broke, also the fues burst on locks. *yh
10/18/2000205/01/2000
 All instrument gauges don't work at start up, but come on after about a minute of driving, dealer not able to duplicate problem, radio will not turn off after vehicle is turned off, bad fuse #f50 replaced, possible electrical system failure. *cj
08/19/20004
 Consumer rented a car from budget rental. vehicle locked up, and driver was not able to turn off or start vehicle. when this happened, electrical doors would not open. consumer had to climb out of window, and car just died. this has happened on 4 different ford, focuses that consumer had rented. consumer feels this is very dangerous because it could lock up on the highway. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
06/02/2003104/26/2000
 Consumer concerned about the amount of recalls on vehicle. *mr the consumer had to replace the cable shifter when the vehicle was only 2 years old. the alternator had to be replaced, the door lock actuators, tires, sun roof control. *jb
11/09/200461000310/01/2002
 While driving any speed, the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was towed to the dealership, who repaired the alternator. *ak the car cut off several times while backing our of the driveway. the car continued to stall while driving. *eh the fuel pump was replaced. *jb
08/14/2004605001505/01/2000
 Car stalls at low and highway speeds with no warning. fuel pump has already been replaced under recall program. this happened repeatedly in the past few weeks and prior to the fuel pump replacement. following pump replacement it stopped for a while, but now is occuring again with increasing frequency.*ak
03/03/200455000306/01/2000
 The vehicle stalled while driving between 30 and 50 mph. the consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealership. the mechanic repaired the fuel pump once, but that did not resolve the problem. *la the cause was determined by the dealer as a faulty alternator. *sc the consumer has since traded the vehicle. *jb
08/22/200339103/26/2000
 Along with the on going problems i have with my 2000 ford focus, i recently stalled while sitting at the light, i came to find that my positive battery cable was so corroded and burt. causing me to stall. i had taken it to the dealer in august of 2003 they claimed to have inspected and rerouted the battery cable and torqued the pinch bolt. they told me i needed a new battery and offered to do this for me for 190.00 i declined the offer, never did they mention the cables, i had the battery replaced that same day. several weeks later my battery light comes on, i take it back to the dealer and they tell me it's my fault and now the alternator will need to be replaced and the frayed positive cable which is burnt completely is not their fault. they tell me that they will not fix the battery cables unless i pay 390.00 to have the alternator fixed. these issues with my car are as a direct result from this battery cable issue. there are also still many other issues with this car including a leak which they think means the car is actually cracked in half. the service advisor verbally attacks me and gives me the finger and tells me to talk to the hand. the service manager steps in and does nothing to help me. in the meantime i all i wanted was the cables replaced as it is stated in the recall. so i can dump the piece of crap. *la
05/01/2000210/16/2000
 Consumer was on 7th set of tires at 60,000, an alignment with each set. radio had been replaced twice/ brakes had been completely replaced twice/ wheel bearings had been replaced,and ignition was replaced once after vehicle had been towed. low and behold, consumer's focus was sitting in driveway needed to be towed for the same problem again. car was getting horrible gas mileage, sometimes had brake failure which caused 2 accidents. also, lugs:nuts had been replaced. the car would sometimes stall for no apparent reason, and was in need of an alternator.*ak
04/26/20004332301/01/2000
 Battery / alternator light came on and stayed on while driving. this occurred three times : first on 4/26/00 at 4332 miles, second on 4/24/01 at 16674 miles and last on 7/5/01 at 20427 miles. each time the car was repaired by a ford dealer at no cost under warranty.**** dims 11 ivoq entry posted after 12/12/01 cut-over to artemis****748178. *ak
10/30/2002208/01/2000
 On 2 occasions in last week vehicle completely stopped without any warning while driving in heavy rush hour traffic. all electric systems failed. there were no warning lights prior to engine shutting down. first failure, battery replaced; charging system checked but seemed ok. five days later same thing happened alternator and battery replaced. afraid to drive the car on highway now, for fear it will shut down without warning at high speed. i was very lucky not to have caused a major accident. dt
01/10/2002112/01/2099
 In april of 2000 the first problem was encountered when the car lost electrical power and went on auxillary power- i was towed to the dealer and the alternator was found to be the cause of the power failure - both alternator and battery were replaced with no further problems to report as of yet. second problem encountered while idling i noticed the fan was not turning on to cool the engine down- i brought car to dealer in january of 2002 where i was told that there was a problem with the fan relay switch which was replaced to my satisfaction. no further problems have surfaced with cooling system. thirdly and most troubling is my experience with the automatic transmission. i had noticed the transmission slipping in early 2002 (jan) and had the dealer look at it- they told me the fluid level was low and added a quart and test drove - immediate afterwards changed gears great - as time went on i noticed it again- i made an appointment with the dealer- before the appointment the car started worsening until complete transmisiion failure occured. the car was towed to dealer wher it was worked on for about 3-5 days - a new transmission was supposed to be installed (4/2002). 2000 miles later and 4 months same problem surfacing again!! i have an appointment in the morning hopefully the problem will be addressed. i believe this problem is a safety concern and an accident waiting to happen- so far i have been lucky enough to escape injury or death. there are over 60 incident reports listed on nhtsa 's web site for transmission failures and i believe someone needs to look into this matter further. i am considering legal options as well as a simple yet effective way of voicing my opinions through never purchasing a ford again!!!
07/08/2002105/01/2000
 If all of these things are failing after 2 years how di i know some major component that may cause harm to me or my 2 young children wont go out next. no safetyy defect listed. *ak
02/28/200202/01/2000
 Many safety recalls for this car. no safety defect stated. *ak
08/01/2001602/01/2001
 Tires wearing out fast, accelerated speed, and engine kill, uneven suspension, indicator gauges and lights haywire. i was told by ford that i had wrecked the car and had to pay $883.00 for repairs + $350.00 for new tires.*ak
09/14/2000408/01/2000
 On four occasions since purchare vehicle completely stopped with dashboard lights flashing while driving in traffic. dealer replaced the battery, the alternator. each time returning the car which once again shut down while driving.*ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY
10/23/200190000101/20/2000
 I was south bond on warren and observed, and smelled smoke. i went to pull over and found out i had lost brakes. i applied the emergency brake and came to a stop,
06/23/200516700012/20/2004
 Had my oil changed. drove to wal-mart. i smelled somthing burning, stoped and looked under the hood didnt see anything, thought maybe some spilt oil was burning. went inside wal-mart and returned to car and started it and began to drive home. car stalled and some guys yelled at me to get out of the car. i got out saw flames comming out of the wheel wells opened the hood and put out fire and pushed my car off the road.
10/11/2004520002
 After having the vehicle serviced on two different recalls vehicle performed poorly. the first recall was for battery wiring corrosion. currently, the battery failed. the second was for the pin bolt controls. steering wheel shook, and the two left front tires were replaced for extensive wear, and a blow out. the tires were replaced, and the vehicle aligned. however, vehicle continued to wear out, the tires and the steering wheel shook. manufacturer offered no solution. no recalls found. *ak.....also, was experiencing problems with decreased power. consumer objected to paying for repairs. *ak
01/15/20030
 Bad brakes, leaking transmission x 2 repairs, numerous electrical probs, one "accident", damage repaired at ford expense, bad tire, noise from front rt side, "surge" prob, car seemed to "stick" in a gear. i don't have my file with me but i know there is more.
12/15/20020
 My complaint is all the problems we have had with the focus. we have had numerous recalls and work done from the drivers seat collapsing, wiring harness replaced, bearings in front, and rear, brake assembly, sway bar, and have had to replace 3 sets of tires, and line up 3 times because they will not make good and the car eats tires. now we have 52,000 miles on the car, and a pin has come loose and gone through the transmission, and case. altough the dealer has been very good, we bought a new car so we would not have this hassle, and that is all we have had.
02/15/20020
 I purchased my vehicle in february of 2002. just 2 weeks after purchasing, car shut down and locked up. had towed to dealership and found out that there were several recalls to be fixed. there was no cost for that work. then in about april of 2002 the button that turns the air on and off messed up and the air would not work. we went to ford and since i had no warranty, i was going to have to pay for the repairs, they quoted me at $170.00 to repair this so i order the part for 12.00 and fixed it myself. then 11-4-02 i went to get into my car and start it, and once again it would not start. we had it towed again, causing us to pay for a rental and towing fees. the car was in the shop for 2 days and they said that the ground wires were shorting out????and they said it needed several other things also, but they are yet to get fixed due to financial reasons. i cannot stand this car!!!
12/18/2003108/01/2001
 We have had several problems with the car since we purchased it.our battery died at 25000 miles, had to be replaced no explanation given. the ignition tumbler had to be replaced be cause it broke, when i took it to the dealership they gave no explanation for it. *akalso we have had our brakes replaced twice within 1 year and need to have them done again(last done in july 2003).and we have been having a problem with the car stalling while driving at various speeds.
11/25/200345000108/24/2002
 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. *ph *sc *jb
04/01/2001412/16/2000
 While working on the vehicle, the mechanic discovered a seal leak in the engine, and a leak in transmission cooler lines. later,while on the road, the vehicle started to fishtail in the back due to a bolt which held the rear suspension had loosened. in addition, the vehicle had stalling problems, and severe corrosion buildup on the battery. *ak *jb
04/26/20004332301/01/2000
 Battery / alternator light came on and stayed on while driving. this occurred three times : first on 4/26/00 at 4332 miles, second on 4/24/01 at 16674 miles and last on 7/5/01 at 20427 miles. each time the car was repaired by a ford dealer at no cost under warranty.**** dims 11 ivoq entry posted after 12/12/01 cut-over to artemis****748178. *ak
03/19/200226000002/27/2001
 2000 ford focus zts, 4-dr sedan. the engine caught on fire on 3/19/02. car was totaled as a result of the fire. fire/police suspected fire originated around the battery.
08/01/200030
 Have had very discerning trouble with 2000 ford focus. things previously fixed are still not working properly. i have had the car since late 2000, and it has been in the service dept. more than i have been able to enjoy it.
11/15/2002102/01/2000
 The battery cable (part #14301) shorted out, causing the car not to start as well as other minor electrical issues. i found the part was recalled for my vehicle(nhtsa campaign id number: 02v288000), and contacted ford. they had said that the car/part was not covered by the recall since my car was made in nov 99, and the recall only covers cars made after jan 2000. i just wanted to make it know that i experienced (and paid for) the failure and suggest that earlier made cars may be having the same issue. dt
11/01/200260000104/01/2000
 Consumer stated there was excessive corrosion on the positive terminal of battery. consumer hads to clean terminal monthly. consumer also stated the insulation on positive terminal was starting to melt at the point where it connects to battery. ts *tt *jb
11/01/200232000105/01/2002
 Consumer stated there was excessive corrosion on the positive terminal of battery. consumer had to clean terminal monthly. ts *tt *jb
10/30/2002208/01/2000
 On 2 occasions in last week vehicle completely stopped without any warning while driving in heavy rush hour traffic. all electric systems failed. there were no warning lights prior to engine shutting down. first failure, battery replaced; charging system checked but seemed ok. five days later same thing happened alternator and battery replaced. afraid to drive the car on highway now, for fear it will shut down without warning at high speed. i was very lucky not to have caused a major accident. dt
10/10/2002
 Consumer states that the some wires melted on the battery causing the car to start. mr
09/10/2002104/01/2000
 Vehicle stalled twice, then engine caught fire in battery area. please note that i live in canada, and site does not permit canadian address. actual zip is m4k 1m6 in toronto ontario, canada. vehicle is total writeoff. ford dealership denied knowledge of fire or stalling problems with focus.*ak
08/24/2001308/01/2000
 Many, many problems and defects with this car...all problems have been replaced more than twice and still faulty. no safety defect listed. *ak
08/01/20020
 After parking vehicleovernight next morning it would not start. after getting vehicle started consumertook it to dealer, and was told that wiring had melted, causing battery not to charge. consumer heard something on tv that nhtsa was investigating such problem.*ak
08/09/2002105/01/2002
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
05/15/2002
 While driving at any speed batteries will die, then engine will start again without turning ignition.*ak
12/31/19991
 Vehicle expereinced an engine fire that was caused by battery acid that leaked onto the wires which caused an electrical short.*jb(claim#43-r793-314)
112/04/1999
 Consumer stated the battery leaked, and burned the wiring from the battery to the starter, which caused the vehicle to catch on fire.*jb
07/27/20011
 The insured noticed that the check light had illuminated, once the hood of the vehicle was opened there was a noise and then smoke began coming from the battery and the fire started with the wiring near or on the battery.*jb (claim#28-3088-224)
01/01/2001
 Engine stalled at 30 to 35 mph. vehicle was towed to a mechanic, and mechanic stated that battery was defective. dealer replaced battery. consumer stated that problem still occuring.
112/04/1999
 Consumer stated the battery leaked, and burned the wiring from the battery to the starter, which caused the vehicle to catch on fire.*jb
12/31/19991
 Vehicle expereinced an engine fire that was caused by battery acid that leaked onto the wires which caused an electrical short.*jb(claim#43-r793-314)
07/27/20011
 The insured noticed that the check light had illuminated, once the hood of the vehicle was opened there was a noise and then smoke began coming from the battery and the fire started with the wiring near or on the battery.*jb (claim#28-3088-224)
05/23/2001310/01/1999
 On 9/5/01 electricial system: battery/ ignition coil assembly had to be remove and install,sparks plugs replace,ignition wires repaired
09/14/2000408/01/2000
 On four occasions since purchare vehicle completely stopped with dashboard lights flashing while driving in traffic. dealer replaced the battery, the alternator. each time returning the car which once again shut down while driving.*ak
02/05/2000
 Attempted to start vehicle in parking lot and it started sputtering and shaking. engine check light/ oil light and battery light came on. then, vehicle just shut off. this happened twice. contacted dealer, and vehicle was in repair shop for 3 days. but, dealer couldn't find anything wrong. the second time this happened dealer said that fuel pump malfunctioned. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY - CABLES
07/16/20121100001
 The battery cable coming from the positive terminal is melted. upon investigation i found that this was a recall: nhtsa campaign #02v288000. however ford is claiming that my vin is not part of the recall, even though it is specific for my model and year, and even though my car is experiencing the exact issue that the recall is for: faulty electrical wiring that can lead to a fire. i have not had a fire in my vehicle, but a melted cable is close enough for my liking. battery terminal cables should not be melting, period. *tr
10/01/2008490001
 2000 ford focus zx3 battery cables. not included by ford in vin range for current recall 02v288000 cause the battery cables to short resulting in heat damage to the cables. besides heat damage, the check engine light may illuminate, the vehicle may fail to start, or smoke, melting, or fire could also occur. although this vehicle suffers identical symptoms plus stalling in traffic which puts operators life at risk.. *tr
06/08/20091140001
 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. *tr
03/03/2008910001
 Smelled smoke coming from vehicle and upon exiting vehicle fire was coming from the underneath of the engine compartment. *tr
06/10/2007112000112/26/2000
 To the best of my knowledge no recall notice was ever received regarding campaign # 02v288000 , i have a bill for replacement of the exact same parts due to the exact same problems this recall notice stated . i would like reimbursement. how do i go about this?*ak
09/03/200645000104/02/2000
 Battery cable damage, vehicle fails to start. *nm
03/13/200666895102/10/2001
 Failed to start; noticed that positive cable insulation near connection to battery was melted; had battery jump-start; took to have battery check in car while running; bad battery; replaced battery with new one; and failed to turn on; mechanic checked continuity and there was none found; mechanic cut off part of cable with burnt insulation and tried to reconnect; no remedy; notified by mechanic that it would cost approximately $400 to replace positive cable harness. mechanic notified me of a recall he found concerning the zetec engine and battery cable harnesses catching on fire; thus, contacted dealer with vin; and they said there is no such recall associated with that vin... *jb
10/03/200558000210/17/2000
 Battery cables were replaced under recall 02v288000. new cables only lasted for 2 years before car quit running and the cables needed replacement again. 2nd replacement was not covered under warranty or recall so consumer had to replace cables at ford dealer for $250 (parts and labor). consumer feels that two years of life on battery cables is completely unacceptable. car is now considered somewhat unreliable due to the fact that battery cables are prone to failure. *jb
09/15/20051000002
 Driving down the highway at about 55 mph, car hesitated, ran real rough, then ran normal until i reached my destination. when i reached my destination car just died in parking lot, would not turn over, would not do anything. had car towed to hillside ford (nearest ford dealer). they called me back and said that could not figure out the problem until they put a starter in the car because the car was not turning over. what the starter has to do with the car dying is beyond me? so i said ok, they changed the starter, charging me of course ($180 for starter), and then realized that the car still didn't do anything. this is when they figured out that the battery cables were all burnt up. so they told me they would have to be changed (another $90.00 for cables). so after the starter and the battery cables were changed the car was back to running normal. my total bill including labor $618.00. i had no choice but to get the car done because it is my only source of transportation. after further looking into recalls on the nhtsa website for my car, i realized that there is a recall for the battery cables on my focus, with my engine and the same year (recall #: 02v288000). i called ford and they told me that all recalls are vin specific and my car was not on the list. this is the same thing they said when they had a silent recall on the fuel pump, which they finally agreed to take care of. *jb
08/25/2005402501
 Battery cable was located in a way that caused abrasion against battery case. wear by this abrasion caused failure of the insulation and a short circuit. this resulted in total engine and electrical failure and started a small, brief electrical fire of the cable insulation and battery case. the incident occurred on a freeway, and put the occupant in significant danger. vehicle was towed to garage. battery and battery cable harness assembly was replaced. status of alternator not yet available.*jb
05/16/2005
 2000 ford focus with z-tech engine caught fire drivers side battery compartment/wire harness
12/09/200454000106/13/2001
 Consumer received recall 02v288000 concerning battery cables. when driving at night, at any speed, headlights got dimmer, and the radio came on and went off intermittently. consumer saw this recall on nhtsa website, and believed battery cable failure was the cause of this problem. the dealer and the manufacturer were not notified. *ak *nm
02/01/2004150005
 While driving the dash light began to flicker then the vehicle shut down suddenly while in gear. *nm campaign id number : 00v411000. the consumer was told that the power cable to the battery was the result of the problem. campaign id number : 02v288000. the consumer was told by the service department that this is a problem because the vehicle could explode. the warranty company turned the consumer down stating that the problem was not part of the warranty. the key gets stuck in the vehicles ignition and would not come out. the doors would not close properly and remained open while the vehicle was in gear. when the tire was removed the consumer noticed that the wheel was missing a lug nut. campaign id number : 00v303000 the air vent did not stay open when the a/c was on high. the brakes howled like a wounded dog from the time of purchase. pads and rotors needed to be replaced. *tc
08/23/2003694042
 Various problems involving 2000 ford focus.*mr recall campaign #02542 was issued for the vehicle in reference to defective battery cables. *cb
06/12/200448000106/07/2004
 While driving at any speed, the vehicle stalled. the consumer restarted the vehicle, and drove it to a mechanic for inspection. the mechanic determined that the battery cables needed to be replaced. *ak recall# 02v288000. the consumer was told that his vehicle was not apart of this recall. the positive battery cable was found routed improperly. *sc *jb
08/22/200339103/26/2000
 Along with the on going problems i have with my 2000 ford focus, i recently stalled while sitting at the light, i came to find that my positive battery cable was so corroded and burt. causing me to stall. i had taken it to the dealer in august of 2003 they claimed to have inspected and rerouted the battery cable and torqued the pinch bolt. they told me i needed a new battery and offered to do this for me for 190.00 i declined the offer, never did they mention the cables, i had the battery replaced that same day. several weeks later my battery light comes on, i take it back to the dealer and they tell me it's my fault and now the alternator will need to be replaced and the frayed positive cable which is burnt completely is not their fault. they tell me that they will not fix the battery cables unless i pay 390.00 to have the alternator fixed. these issues with my car are as a direct result from this battery cable issue. there are also still many other issues with this car including a leak which they think means the car is actually cracked in half. the service advisor verbally attacks me and gives me the finger and tells me to talk to the hand. the service manager steps in and does nothing to help me. in the meantime i all i wanted was the cables replaced as it is stated in the recall. so i can dump the piece of crap. *la
10/02/20032
 While driving at night time headlights failed, only the high beam worked. also, this vehicle had a problem with misrouted battery cables. dealer not notified. vehicle's warranty expired. *ak
09/23/2003470002
 Defective vehicle - numerous major problem and defective parts, recalls
09/11/2000109/03/2000
 2000 ford focus. car would not start 9/11/03. nothing was left on to drain the battery. aaa called. applied pressure to battery cables. was not making connection. wires frayed to cable. finally started when cable was turned and twisted just so. *ph
07/10/2003109/03/2000
 2000 ford focus. bought at sanger ford outlet new. problem: cable and wiring frayed. result: aaa called. dead battery. towed. inconvenience. *ph
08/03/20031
 Consumer's vehicle experienced the same problem as mentioned in recall 02v288000 concerning battery cables. dealer would not repair the vehicle because vin number was not included. *ak
08/01/20034100003/15/2002
 I own a 2000 ford focus stz. i bought this vehicle for my wife and kids. the first incident with this vehicle was back in i think march. the ignition froze, leaving my wife stranded at work and the kids at the babysitter. she had to find a ride to the babysitter and then home. she then had to call a tow company and have the car towed to skyline ford in salem oregon. she was told that there have been quiet a few focus with this problem. the service tech knew immediately what was wrong with the car. we were 100 miles over the factory warranty!! we had to pay for the faulty part. the next problem was in the beginning of august. we went to get ice cream. the car stalled as we were leaving the ice cream store. the car would not start. it finally started after about 15 minutes. we were only about 10 minutes from home. all the way home the car acted like it was not getting enough gas. upon arriving home, i opened the hood and noticed that the battery cable was melted. we called skyline, who could not get us in until saturday. it was 3 or 4 days. now we are told that we have to pay $120 for a faulty part!! there was a recall on this car for faulty battery cables. we are told that if ford decides that there is a problem with the actual cable, then we will be refunded the $120. this is outrageous!! i wish that i had never purchased this car. it has really hurt my opinion of ford products. *nlm
460001
 Battery cable experienced the same defect as stated in recall 02 v 288 000, but this vehicle not covered under recall due to vin. *ak
07/25/200333000
 While driving vehicle began smoking, then caught on fire under the hood. dealer diagnosed melted battery cable as cause.*ak
03/08/2002102/12/2002
 I have had my car for one year and five months. i have replaced the fuel pump a month after purchase, twice within two months. my gas lines have fallen off the car, causing the neighborhood to be filled with fumes. stalls while driving, not matter the speed,dealership said they fixed the issue, still ongoing. car hesistates to go at times. often the inside of the car smells like gas. hard to put car in reverse and other gears, often pops out of gear. recently replaced clutch cable, tech says the clutch is fine. replaced the brakes and rotors after being told they were fine, two weeks later the rotors were gone. brakes continue to squeak. windshield is not sealed, you can hear air blowing in while driving. had a burning smell from under hood was told there was no problem, only to get a recall, and my cables were melted. brake lights always out, when i replace one the other goes out. i have contacted ford motor company, and dealership, both tell me i have to keep getting repairs. i asked ford motor company to buy the car back, and they refused. i feel this car is not safe, i hate driving it.*ak
1
 The recalls on vehicle had failed after mechanic indicated that the recalls were not needed in dry climate and refused to do them. had taken vehicle back to dealership at least 3 times for repairs. the mechanic had supposed to have ordered parts each time but failed to do so. needed parts for the battery cable (recall campaign #02v288000), the rear wheel bearings recall campaign #01i017000 and the ball joints. parts were never ordered.*ak
07/01/20031
 Nhtsa recall 02-v-288-000:certain passenger vehicles equipped with zetec engines, loose or broken attachments and misrouted battery cables could lead to cable insulation damage. this recall failed.*ak
03/24/200341097203/25/2003
 The consumer received a recall notice for the battery cable wire. the vehicle battery light was on and the vehicle was taken to the dealer to replace the wire. two weeks later the wire was replaced again. the vehicle was driven home then parked. ten minutes later the vehicle caught fire. total loss. *nlm prior to fire the battery light was on and the vehicle stalled out occasionally. *tt
450001
 The vehicle failed to start. the consumer then discovered the battery was dead, and the terminal was corroded. also the brake lights were inoperative. *jb
03/07/20031
 The consumer received a notice for recall remedy 02v288000. prior to receiving notice, consumer took the vehicle to the service dealer regarding the fraying of the battery cables. once the recall notice was received, the consumer took the car back to dealer and they tried to force the consumer to file a warranty claim for repair. *jb
01/24/200350000610/31/2002
 The steering wheel had a knocking sound. *jb there was a recall on the battery cable, and the pinch bolt has caused a lot of problems. (the problem still exists) the vehicle will knock when turned to the left. the front axle bearings were damaged along with the seal. the battery cables had a short circuit and the cables still have a corrosion problem. the vehicle stalled while driving, the steering wheel locked, and when the vehicle is turned off, it won't start, you must allow to cool down. the consumer felt that this is a fire hazard/recall #02v288000 scc
03/25/20032
 The vehicle continued to experience a problem with the battery cable after the recall was performed. *jb
1
 The vehicle failed to start, the dealer rerouted the battery cable. *jb
1
 The vehicle failed to start, the dealer rerouted the battery cables. *jb
104/12/2000
 The vehicle failed to start, the dealer rerouted the battery cables. *jb the vehicle also had suspension and transmission problems ph *jb
03/14/20032
 After the recall regarding the battery cables was performed, the problem recurred.*jb
1
 After the recall for the battery cable 02 v 288 000, was performed, a week later the vehicle caught on fire.*jb
03/04/20031
 Consumer received a recall notice #02s42 to replace the battery wire. the consumer was traveling on the highway and she noticed smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. the vehicle caught on fire.*jb
11/15/200125000105/14/2000
 I sent this letter to ford in may of 2000 i purchased a ford focus, thinking it would be a safe, low maintenance car, considering it had been in europe since 1997. i would think this would be plenty of time to work out any bugs you may have. or, should i call them recalls. i think a car that has 16 recalls, most of them which i would consider safety issues, should be recalled entirely. i have had other issues with this car as well. my key would not turn, seat belts locking for no reason, door handles not opening the door (this is all happening again). and one that has not been addressed, brakes. i am now on my third set of front rotors since i have purchased the car. the same thing has happened every time. the driver side rotor and pad will wear completely down yet the passenger side will be just fine. i have talked to other focus owners and the same thing is happening. i still have my last set of rotors just to prove it. i got smart this time and bought replacements that were not made by you. stop tech cross drilled rotors and ebc greenstuff kevlar pads. i also replaced the driver side caliper with a non-ford replacement. i want out of this car because i feel it is unsafe. i also would like to warn other focus owners that this car is unsafe. you also had better not send me to the dealership again. what does the dealership have to do with the production of an unsafe car? nothing, except that they sell it. i am not putting up with ford pushing me around or giving me the run around either. this car is extremely unsafe and should not be on the road. i did not do this before but this time you leave me no choice. this letter will be sent to as many bad product websites as i can find. it will also be sent to nhtsa, consumer reports and the better business bureau. you did not do anything with my previous complaint and now there are more issues with this product that not only concern safety, but the life of the car. something will be done.*jb
1
 Consumer was informed no parts were available regarding the battery cables recall # 02v288000. *jb
02/25/20031
 Nhtsa#02-v-288-000:the dealer did not perform the recall on consumer's vehicle.*jb
1
 The consumer was informed that the manufacturer did not give the dealer the code to perform the battery cable recall 02 v 288 000. *jb *scc
1
 No parts were available regarding the recall for the battery cables recall 02 v 288 000. *jb
12/21/2003
 The battery cable coroded causing the vehicle to shut down at highway speed. please provide any addition information. ts
04/15/2002
 Something was burning while driving, after parking found battery cable was burning. dealer contacted. feel free to provide any further information.*ak
08/15/2001212/20/2001
 Positive battery cable is burning off insulation.*ak consumer states that the positive battery cable harness has gotten so hot that it has burned the red plastic cable cover black and has caused the battery to bulge out as if it could burst, consumer states the positive wire was cut from the battery past terminal and there has not been any problems as of yet, also transmission fluid was leaking at the case half, also the front struts were replaced. *slc
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
10/25/200027510010/01/2000
 Dt: the consumer stated there were multiple problems with the vehicle. the brakes make noises and pulsated when the pedal was depressed. the vehicle was taken to the service dealer where the brake light switch and ignition cylinder switches were replaced. the dealer also turned the drums, replaced the brake pads and resurfaced the front rotors. there was a vibration in the front end when braking. the lower ball joint, right wheel bearings, right front sway bar link, bone socket, steering rack column and tie rod ends were replaced in an attempt to remedy the problem. the tail light covers retained moisture and condensation built up. the dealer replaced the tail light covers and fuses that were blown due to the moisture. lastly, the contact noticed the rear seat was loose and upon inspection the dealer discovered an anchor and hinge problem. the back hinge and pillar were replaced. *jb
03/25/2005107/05/2000
 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.*ak
09/14/2004560001
 Went to lock doors using power door locks, power door lock system failed. research on internet showed this is a common problem amung owners of ford focus. replacement of fuse and checking of locking system. 20 minutes of research on google with ford focus fuse 63 returned many results where owners have documented this problem and others have inquired about this problem.*ak
07/15/200343000112/01/2001
 The factory power entry remote failed to open the doors and the trunk. the batteries have been changed but the problem still exist. the dealership feels that the problem is due to a failure in the fuse. the dealership was unable to locate the fuse. the fuse should be located behind the main fuse in the vehicle per the owner's manual. please provide any additional information. *nm *mr
07/13/200343207208/21/2002
 Fuel pump went out and it also made the fuel pump driver module to go out as well. also there is a loose connection at the fuse junction box in the engine bay.*ak
08/28/2002
 Rear brake lights went out. consumer replaced fuse, and while driving started smelling smoke. consumer had to use excessive effort in order to stop vehicle. once stopped, consumer turned key to off position and engine kept running. consumer then removed replaced brake fuse, and engine stopped. with fuse removed brake lights worked. but, consumer will occasionally smell smoke from fuse box.*ak
08/09/2002308/01/2000
 When i get close to 1/4 of a tank of gasoline, my car begins to die or sputter. it has died several times and wont restart. the other day i was coming off an exit ramp from the highway and it died coming around the sharp turn. i was almost hit by several cars while trying to get the car started long enough to move it off the ramp. after about 20 or so times of turning the ignition and gunning the pedal, i got it moved into a safe area off the highway. it took about 45 minutes and a lot of conk outs to get it moved. i was stranded and very angry. i was even more angry when i got home and did a little research to find that this same complaint has been made to ford/nhtsa and never reported to the public. i have had 6 recalls this year on this damn car and i am very concerned for my safety now. i got the car because of its great ratings for saftety- now i am affraid everytime i put my son in the car of it blowing up on me. i want to get rid of it but i cant because i owe more on the loan then i can get for trade in (my guess is the value of the car has totally fallen because of all these recalls). i am so angry with ford and i am affraid for my safety while driving this car. please do something about this! thank you. oh and the gas gauge never reads correctly. i have to count my miles to make sure i am okay on gas between fill ups. the gauge will just drop to below e and the light comes on for no reason. then after a bit of driving it will go back to normal. very odd.*ak
07/16/2002
 Electric system wiring causing lights/ windows, and door locks to go out. dealer notified.*ak
401/01/2000
 Car stalled. towed to dealership (apple ford), replaced fuse. stalled again. this time entire fuel system replaced. gas guage read inacurate. another new fuel system. still read inacurrate. a new console. still reads inaccurate to this day. just gave up trying to get it fixed. *ak
04/01/2000
 I want to report a problem with my focus. my car seems to have a problem that the dealer is not able to pinpoint. whenever i have my lights on at night i have a bad poblem with the headlights flickering along with my dash lights. the dealer says it cant duplicate the problem but it happens every time i turn the lights on. my niece also has a 2000 focus and it does the same thing. i think there is a problem with the electrical system on this car along with the many other problems with this car. have you gotten any other complaints of this nature. it seems to be a ground problem. i have also noticed it on the road with other focuses that i see driving at night. please let me know if other people have complained about this problem thank you howard k. lamb. *ak
03/01/20021512/01/2001
 Car stalls or surges when going 50+ miles per hour/headlights flash on/off and other electrical components fail/engine light illuminates
02/13/20020
 While driving in the dark dashboard and rear lights will go off without a prior warning, and headlights will di. had taken vehicle to dealer and they found out that electrical wiring was corroded and had to be replaced to correct the problem. please provide more information. *ak
01/27/2002
 Rear brake lights have failed to operate and to communicate to other drivers vehicle was slowing or stopping. dealership has not examined vehicle to determine cause of problem. also, consumer was informed tha vehicle was not included in recall campaign 00v411000/wiring harness due to vin. please provide any additional information / documentation.*ak
01/19/2001
 Intermittent failure of signal lights/ brake lights/ speed control, and air conditioning. vehicle been in dealer shop on two occasions, and problem still reoccurring. feel free to provide any further information on this matter.*ak
2003/24/2000
 While driving at 55 mph and in fifth gear, vehicle will shut off and completely die. dealer has run vehicle through computer , but cannot detect any defects. this is a reoccurring defect. also, fuse box and main wiring harness melted, almost caused fire. *ak *ml
11/20/1999610/01/1999
 We drove off the lot without having the pdi performed on the car, whcich resulted in low fluids in the vechicle, especially the transmission fluid. the low fluid caused the transmission to slip, and revved the engine,which made the car ride and drive real hard. the 1st day we had problems with the battery, which was already dead in the car. and now we received on dec 12,1999 a letter stating that the car was recalled because it had problems with fluids leaking into the cruise control panel, and to contact the dealer as soon as possible. so we contacted the dealer and let them know of the recall, and ask when it was possible to bring the car in. we spoke with the service manager who stated to us that the parts were orderd for georgia locations, but none of the parts ever had reach their location.. now that leaves us a problem as of today dec 18,1999, with constantly calling to find out when the part would be available and not only that the car needs to be seen also for the blown lighter fuse,as well as the ignition signal failure needs to be serviced also. we need immediate attention to this matter because the holidays are coming and we cannot use our car the way it suppose to be used, if we are trying to drive it out of town, please help us in this tough situation, because no one else is trying to understand that when a car is purchased brand new, it should not have these many problems with it in this short period of ownerhip, thank you.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION
05/03/20101
 I have owned a 2000 ford focus for over 9 years. i have had 3 ignitions installed in this vehicle and it is currently sitting at the mechanics awaiting a 4th. as a single woman, i feel this is a safety issue as i don't know where or when this ignition will lock up and leave me stranded. the key will not turn after inserted in the ignition. the steering wheel will lock if turned and towtruck must be called to move the vehicle to a garage. the first time was at night after a baby shower, luckily friends were near to help me. another time it was in the parking lot after work, i had to walk several blocks to reach a phone to call for help. the third time was late at night on a city street...again i had to walk a couple of blocks in below freezing weather to reach a phone. and now this time i recognized the symptoms and was able to reach a garage before i was stranded. a quick google search will show you that many ford focus owners are experiencing this same problem. i have owned fords all my life, but this will be my last. i shiver to think of where i might be someday when it decides to quit working...again. i will list the last incident date at there have been four so far dating back six years. *tr
03/05/20101400001
 The ignition key won't turn in the ignition. to start the car. ford focus 2000. *tr
02/20/20101
 I drive a 2000 ford focus. i was about to leave work after my shift and i was unable to turn the key to start my ford focus. i have heard that this issue is common with the focus and that ford has still not issued a recall or fixed the issue. as we speak, a locksmith is having to remove the ignition and replace it. it is going to cost me close to $300. i am fortunate that i was somewhere safe with cell phone service. if this had happened any other time, i could have been in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone service and no hope. this is definitely a safety hazard and a recall should be mandatory for ford. *tr
11/21/2007106000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus zx3 hatch back. she stated the factory key for the vehicle would not turn in the ignition. the dealer gave her a second key that also did not work. the dealer advised her to place the old key in the ignition to start the vehicle momentarily then removing it, and replacing it with the new key. the key failed to turn the ignition on. there were no repairs made to the vehicle. the failure and current mileages were under 106,000.
06/23/20031200001
 Key ignition problem. key wouldn't turn / stuck in ignition. *tr
01/23/2009430001
 2000 ford focus. key would not turn in the ignition. car would not start. i had to be towed and had to have it fixed. 598.00, including the 125. tow charge. *tr
01/19/20101200001
 I am the owner of a 2000 ford focus zx3 my issue was that the key will not turn in car ignition and therefore i cannot start car. after researching this problem apparently it happens very often to owners of a ford focus and i'm lodging a complaint in the hopes that a recall will be made. *tr
01/15/2010600001
 I have a ford focus 2000 wagon with only 60,000 miles on it. within the past three weeks i have had to have it towed because i can not turn the key in the ignition. i am now waiting for it to be towed to my mechanic to fix the ignition. looking online i have seen numerous complaints about this problem and wonder why there has not been a recall for this ignition. *tr
01/11/2010160000110/08/2002
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. he stated that upon starting the vehicle, the key would not turn. the vehicle would not cut on and the key would not turn in the ignition switch. the vehicle was towed to his home. the dealer stated that he did not know the reason for the failure. no repairs were made to date. the current and failure mileages were under 160,000. updated 02/03/10 *bf updated 02/11/10.*jb
01/01/19011
 2000 ford focus key will not turn the ignition. *nj the consumer was quoted a price of $400.00 to get the vehicle started to get the cylinder repaired. if the dealer found the cylinder was completely ruined, it would be an additional $300.00. *jb
12/26/2009400001
 My daughter was away at college when her 2000 ford focus would not accept the key in the ignition. she was stranded with no way to get home. a mechanic at school worked on it for an hour and got the key in and suggested leaving it in permanently until it is fixed. we got the car home, took it to a ford dealer and they replaced the ignition cylinder for over $400. they had the parts available because they service this problem alot on ford focus'. our fear is that her car will suddenly shut off while driving down the dark farm roads that she has to take to her school. some reports i have read had that happen to them with ford focus. *tr
12/14/20091593501
 With key in the ignition the key will not turn, thus the car will not start. we had to walk a mile home last night because the car wouldn't start. we have discovered it will be 150 to 250 to have a locksmith look at the problem and upwards of 450 for the dealership. it's the week before christmas and we are poor and can not afford 450 to replace a possible defect. *tr
12/06/20091465001
 Ford focus ignition keylock will not turn. when inserting the key into the ignition the key will not turn at all. this is the second time this has happened to this 2000 ford focus se. this is a safety issue as it may strand a driver in an undesirable location or conditions. *tr
11/29/20091130001
 2000 ford focus ignition is stuck in the locked position wont turn on. stopped at a rest stop in the middle of the night in middle of now where and the temperature was in low 30's. came back to car ignition would not turn locked up. no phone service in the area and no pay phones, had to wait until the next person to stop, since was not a holiday i had to wait till morning which was 41/2 hour way when a local commuter stopped and was willing to give me a ride to nearest gas station 25 miles away. then i had to have my car towed to a local the gas station where it was fix the next day after the part arrived. after looking online and finding out this is a recurring problem and that it is very likely to happen again since it defect has never been fixed in the ignition makes me very worried that it may happen again. *tr
11/21/2009853631
 Yesterday afternoon my wife, daughter and i were on our way to my wife's sister house. earlier that morning i went out and there was nothing wrong with it. i put the key in the ignition and tried to turn but it wouldn't turn. i tried turning 8 different times with 2 different original keys that came with car but still wouldn't turn. finally on the 9th try it turned right on. we went her house for dinner but i had to leave after getting there because i forgot the dessert at home. i got into the car turned it on no problem, got home went inside came back out turned on the car no problem, went back to sister in law house was there about 3 hours went to leave will not turn. tried and tried for about a hour turning before giving up. sister in law has no car and lived to far away from my home to walk especially with a young child. so we had to call around for a ride. finally returned home almost 3 hours after we first tried to leave. now we are down to one car when we need two for both of us to get back and forth to work. i have not had anything fixed on it yet. i looked online and found out there are hundreds if not thousands of people with this same problem. there's two choices i have one is to take it to the ford dealer and pay $500.00 or more for a new ignition just for it to possibly have the same thing happen again because ford has not fixed the problem with the ignition yet or two pay $150.00 or more for a locksmith to come and fix it, with consequences unknown. so at the moment i don't know what to do. i could pay for a new one but it doesn't make sense if the problem with the ford ignition hasn't been fixed by ford, all that does is put off the problem for a year or maybe a few years just for the same problem to come back. the locksmith is cheaper but i don't know if them doing something to the ignition would damage my ignition or my security system. i think is wrong for ford to do nothing about a problem they knew about for years. *tr
11/10/20091530001
 I have a 2000 ford focus and my key won't turn in the ignition. this is the second time this happens leaving me stranded. this is ridiculous, ford must take action! *tr
09/06/20091450001
 2000 ford focus. key would not turn in the ignition. it left my 19 year old daughter stranded after work as a hostess at a restaurant. this could and has happened on two occasions. the key finally turned after nearly two hours of attempting to get it to work. we have discovered by banging on the key it helps sometimes. this is a costly repair that has been reported numerous times and other consumers say it happens repeatedly. *tr
10/15/2009800001
 Key will not turn in ignition and gets stuck. *tr
07/07/20091
 I have a ford focus 2000 model and the key would not turn in the ignition. this is a common problem among ford focus models of 2000-2003. due to this defect i got stuck on the highway and had to be towed. this is a serious defect and can cause serious accidents. *tr
09/18/200995000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the contact stated that when inserting the key into the ignition, it will not turn to start the vehicle. the vehicle has not been inspected to determine the cause of the failure. the current and failure mileages were 95000.
03/19/200990000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the contact is unable to place the key into the ignition without force. after adding oil into the cylinder the key can be placed into the ignition normally; however, after a short time the failure recurred. the dealer stated that the ignition cylinder would have to be replaced. the vehicle has not been repaired. the manufacturer stated that the ignition cylinder would have to replaced and because there are no current recalls no compensation would be offered. the failure mileage was 90,000 and the current mileage was 109,000.
08/14/20001300001
 Key won't turn 2000 ford focus. *tr
07/31/2009800001
 Ignition was working fine. twenty minutes later, the key would go in the ignition, but would not turn. my vehicle is in process of being repaired. i found out this is a chronic problem with 2000-2004 ford focus. mine is a 2000. aggravated that ford has not been made responsible to recall these vehicles. not only do i have an expensive repair, i missed a day of work because i was stranded. *tr
06/08/20091200001
 2000 ford focus - yet another failed ignition cylinder issue; the same faulty part issue that has been reported for nearly a decade now. stranded with towing costs and large replacement cost for part known by ford, et al, to be a defect problem...not normal wear-and-tear. in shop being replaced...concern of future stranded as part is still considered defective. *tr
05/23/200998000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the contact stated that the engine would not start when the ignition was turned. in addition, the steering column locked. he struck the key with a hammer until the engine was able to start. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. through research, the contact found numerous complaints regarding the same issue. the failure has occurred almost daily ever since the vehicle was purchased. the current and failure mileages were 98,000.
03/10/20091
 My car was parked in my garage and i went to start it, and the key wouldn't turn in the ignition. after a few tries, it finally turned. went to the store, parked and went in, came back out, and the same thing happened again. after 1/2 hour, it finally turned. this has been repeated about 15 times and it's beyond frustrating. the car runs fine otherwise. it's not been in any accidents, i keep it maintained, and it sits in the garage when it's not being driven. i tried to start it yesterday, and the key will not turn. i have tried numerous times today and it will not turn. i have an engagement in 2 hours and i need the car. after researching this on the internet, it seems to be a common problem in the ford focus, which is what i drive (2000 zts). i love this car, but this is going to be a deal breaker when i get ready to trade. *tr
04/07/20091300001
 I was left stranded in a parking lot with my 16 month old son after i returned to my car and the key would not turn in the ignition and i was unable to start my car. this happened without warning. when i parked my car everything was fine and i had no trouble removing the key. when i returned to my car after shopping for an hour at first i was unable to get my key into the ignition. i kept trying and was finally able to get the key in the ignition but the key would not turn and i could not start my car. my husband went to the car later to see if he could get it to work and he could not. this was the second time in 6 months that my ford focus has left me stranded and rather than pay for towing & repairs we decided to donate the car to charity (who would tow it for free) and buy ourselves a new car. *tr
03/25/2000880001
 Key will not turn in ignition. unsafe, leaves driver stranded. intended to buy new part, but researched first, finding this is a recurring problem among focus owners. *tr
01/17/20091100001
 The ignition tumbler in my 2000 focus se has failed to the point that now it won't turn unless i spend 10-15 minutes jiggling it and playing with it. this is a known problem that many focus enthusiast sites have report. ford has even redesigned the tumbler in newer versions in order to fix the problem, so they know the problem exists, but haven't issued a recall. the dealership wants $160-220 to fix the problem. a key tumbler should have a lifespan of much more than 9 years. that is shameful, ford. i wish i could've convinced my wife to get the civic instead. *tr
01/18/20091
 The key gets stuck in the ignition and will not turn and can not be removed. car must be towed and ignition replaced. this is not normal wear and tear, 110000miles i have had to make this repair 6 times at $200 each time. typically, this sort of problem should have come up only once if at all with my mileage. if ford is going to get my tax dollars, they should not build a low quality car. this car is one of the main reasons i will never buy an american car again. *tr
02/27/2009927141
 I was stranded unable to put the key into the ignition of my 2000 ford focus. i s/w a ford service rep who stated ignition cylinders wear out. my car only has 86k miles and is maintained and garage kept. this is a hazard to be unable to start your car! *tr
02/15/20091150001
 Key ignition will not turn. *tr
02/02/2009540001
 For the second time in the past two weeks the key will not turn in the ignition in my ford focus. the first time it happened it took me about 5 minutes of consistently jiggling the key and steering wheel simultaneously to get the key to turn. since this has occurred the second time i have had no success in being able to get the ignition to budge and my car is now unable to start. i have attempted many of the suggestions found online and nothing has worked. i am reporting this per the suggestion of a discussion board. *tr
01/08/2009600001
 2000 ford focus ignition cylinder failed twice in 4yrs. this last time i was stranded in the cold, by myself at 1am. missing work, spending money on tows, parts and labor adds up. not to mention the danger involved with being stranded, all because your key wont turn. *tr
11/08/2008900001
 Ignition switch locked up. the key would not turn in the lock. required tow in and dealership to replace the ignition switch @ $600. *tr
01/04/20091
 Car key won't turn ignition switch. tried both keys. each one is able to be put in the switch but the switch stays locked. *tr
01/03/2009589701
 On the ford focus, the key won't turn in the ignition. the ignition lock needs totally replaced. *tr
12/26/20081180001
 Never had any issues with the ignition but then all of a sudden my key wont turn and the wheel locks up when trying to start the car. have not fixed it yet. *tr
12/04/2008740001
 I have had issues with the key sticking in my ignition, but last night my key refused to start the car at all. leaving me stranded miles from home. the tow truck driver told me that he had towed 3 ford focuses in the last 2 days with the same problem. *tr
11/21/2008900001
 In our 2000 ford focus zx3, the key will not turn in the ignition about 50% of the time, which has the potential to leave my wife or i stranded out in the cold. so far, struggling/wrestling with the key will eventually work. in reading on the web, this is a very common problem on ford focus cars, but no recall has been issued. *tr
11/21/20081200001
 I went to the gas station to buy gas. after filling the tank i got in and when i tried to start the car it would not turn. not even to the acc position. i called for a tow truck and they came and got it. i called my local ford dealer and asked them about it and they told me its becoming very common for this type of car and to repair it i would have to replace the ignition cylinder and have it programmed... *tr
11/03/20081156281
 Ignition barrel and steering column locking mechanism. *tr
10/25/2008642351
 My key will not turn in the ignition, i have never had any problems before then all of a sudden it won't turn. my warranty has expired on my car, so i am left now with finding someone to fix it. this caused a huge problem for since i was stranded with my two small children 3year old and 4 month old! i am not a happy consumer right now! *tr
10/17/2008900001
 Approximately 4 years ago, i had to have the key port, tumbler and the entire key system replaced on my 2000 ford focus because the key would no longer work. the tumbler, apparently, became jammed somehow. the replacement cost was $350. the exact same malfunction occurred yesterday. this time around, the cost to fix the problem was $450. after a long discussion with ford customer service representatives they basically told me that there is nothing they can do for me because it is out of warranty. this is the second time this has occurred to me, with the same car. a little research reveled that this is common problem with this mode, just search the internet under, ?2000 ford focus, key goes in ignition, but won't turn?, and you will see many instances of the exact same problem other focus owners have been having. at this point, i am simply seeking reimbursement of the $450 that i had to spend, again, to correct a problem ford is clearly denying is a recall issue. *tr
09/29/20081000001
 For the first time (at 100k miles), my wife's 2000 ford focus' ignition lock has failed. luckily, it happens at home, but i have read many horror stories of others who were not so fortunate. evidently, this is another common problem with this vehicle but one that ford refuses to address. nhtsa should surely initiate a recall on this problem. *tr
08/20/2008484001
 2000 ford focus wagon. complaint: key won't turn in ignition. had it repaired by sv. station couple of weeks ago (still giving me problems) my son brought a focus at the same time i did and had the same problem not too long after he purchased his. my daughter called me today and said guess what. her father in law went to start my grandsons car and the key won't turn you guessed it, a 2000 focus. i started researching on the internet and couldn't believe all the complaints related to this problem. everybody that brought it to the ford dealers for repair were shelling out $500.00. outraged, that is what prompted me to register this complaint as far as i'm concerned this is as close to a scam as you can get. what a grand design for an easy profit! there are alot of people out there screaming recall and ford sits back and does nothing! thank you for your time. *tr
08/13/2008960001
 Ignition problem, key would not turn in ignition at all, replacing and will need to drill to pull out old ignition. shoddy parts quality is likely to blame. *tr
08/14/20081050001
 Had to replace the ignition on my 2000 ford focus wagon, and found out it is a common complaint and problem which will continue. i just don't understand why ford doesn't recall the part and have it fixed for their loyal customers. what a shame! this problem left my wife stranded over 25 miles from home. *tr
08/11/2008782341
 2000 ford focus key won't turn in the ignition. *tr
06/04/2008550001
 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. *tr
07/31/20088815151
 Key would not go into the ignition on my 2000 ford focus. *tr
07/18/2008593831
 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. *tr
07/15/2008800001
 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 *tr
06/28/20081080001
 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. *tr
05/01/20081031001
 2000 ford focus ignition key stuck. vehicle will not start. *tr
05/03/20081
 Key wont turn in ignition. its locked up put key in and tried to turn with no luck. *tr
01/14/20021
 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.... *tr
04/28/2008750001
 Ignition locks up and key will not turn. the steering column is locked. *tr
04/26/2008940001
 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. *tr
04/10/20081
 00 ford focus se key won't turn in the ignition wife was on her way home from work stop for gas got into the car key will not turn $200.00 to fix. *tr
10/12/200435000103/31/2001
 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. *tr
04/01/2008950001
 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. *tr
03/22/2008106/11/2000
 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. *tr
03/21/200851000103/09/2000
 Key won't turn ignition and could not start car. *tr
03/15/200874900103/02/2008
 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. *tr
03/05/20081
 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. *tr
03/14/2008100000212/27/2004
 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? *tr
03/06/20081120001004/20/2002
 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. *tr
01/18/2008109/01/2004
 2000 ford focus zx3 with ignition problem. consumer states that the key would not turn in the ignition. she says that the dealer charged her for the repair. she believes this is a manufacturing defect. *kb the dealer replaced the ignition lock cylinder. *jb
03/03/2008100000306/01/2006
 One day i got into my 2000 ford focus and had difficulty getting the key into the ignition. once it was in the key would not turn. it took about an hour of turning the wheel, jiggling the key, and tapping on the key to get it to engage the lock cylinder and start the car. this has happened several times before i left the key in long enough to research the problem. this issue is pervasive on this model and cost about $400 to fix. a simple search online shows thousands of consumers with 2000 ford focuses that have the same problem. this is not a coincidence it is a failure suitable for recall. *tr
07/03/200339084304/01/2002
 2000 ford focus with ignition failure key would not turn. consumer stated that the key would not turn. when the dealer fixed the problem she ended up paying for the repair. and then the problem recurred 6 weeks later. *kb
03/01/200865500103/27/2000
 The key suddenly won't fit into the ignition. this is a common problem with 2000 ford focus and it cost close to $500 to replace the ignition cylinder. ford should do a recall on this issue since i found out a lot of consumers have the same problem. *tr
02/26/2008302/01/2008
 The key gets stuck in the ignition and will not come out. this is a common defect,and ford refuses to recall the vehicle or fix it unless it is under warranty. i have not had it fixed and i will hotwire the car before i pay 400 dollars for a problem that will not exist. *tr
02/16/2007810001
 Ignition lock jammed. *tr
02/01/2008999601
 I parked my car one night in a parking lot. the car was parked for less than 10 minutes. when i came back my steering wheel was locked and i could not turn the ignition to start the car. the lights and radio work so the battery is not dead. two aaa roadside workers tried to turn the ignition and it did not work. *tr
01/30/20080203/14/2004
 Ignition locked up. *tr
12/01/2007406/01/2000
 I have had to replace my 2000 ford focus ignition 4 times in the 7 years i've had this car. the first was in 2001 then the last was 2007. i can not keep fixing this problem when it cost me over $500.00 i was quoted by ford. *tr
01/06/200894000104/01/2004
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. he stated the key would only tunr three quarters of the way when inserted into the ignition. in addition, he has sometime he has to shift the vehicle into neutral to turn the igniting. as a result, the vehicle would not start immediately. the failure and current mileages were 94,000.
12/29/2007137000106/01/2002
 Tonight (12/29/2007), for the fourth time (six times total), the ignition switch on my 2000 ford focus died, leaving me stranded yet again. this time, i was left stranded in 12 degree weather for seven hours. it is amazing i didn't get frostbite - or worse. i bought my focus in 2002, with 52,000 miles on it. the prior owner had replaced the ignition switch twice on the car - once about 12,000 miles (under warranty) and once about 42,000 miles. i replaced the switch at 58,000, 72,000 and 102,000 miles. car now has 137,000 miles and once again, i'm going to have to replace the damn ignition switch again, after being assured by the ford dealership that this would never happen again (it's been redesigned, the problem is fixed.)
12/19/20071
 Cracked ignition. jammed steering column. both were replaced. old part is available. *tr
12/16/2007109/04/2007
 My daughter who is 17 came out of work at 10 pm on a sunday night and her key wouldn't go in the ignition of her 2000 ford focus. thus she was stranded alone after dark in an empty parking lot. i feel that this is a safety issue. not everyone can afford a cell phone and if she hadn't had one she would have been in real trouble because there is nothing close to where she works. we stress about maintenance so she will not break down and she will be safe. this should be a recall. she has only had the car for three months and this is already the second problem she has had with this car. *tr
12/04/2007109/09/2003
 As i left work on the night of 12/4/07, i entered my 2000 ford focus and found that i could not turn the key in the ignition. the key would not fully enter the ignition cylinder and thus could not start the car. as such, i was stuck in the parking lot with no way to drive myself home without calling for a ride. luckily, i was able to find somebody, even though there was a strong winter storm at the time. i had the car towed to a dealership - the tow truck driver told me he sees this problem all the time with this car and gave me some tips for how to try to get the key to work (at least temporarily), but nothing worked and he towed the car. the dealership told me that they needed to completely replace the ignition lock cylinder, which i had them do. doing research online, i found that there are a large number of people that have this issue reoccur with their focus. i called fords customer care center, who informed me that there was nothing they could do to assist my repair (in the form of an extended warranty or goodwill repair) and referred me to this site to see if this issue merited a recall. *tr
02/26/200570000102/02/2004
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. when the key was placed in the ignition, it would not turn at all. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and the ignition was replaced. the cause of the malfunction was unknown. prior to the failure, the vehicle was experiencing difficulty starting and the key had to be turned several times. the trunk lock failed and needed to be replaced. the failure mileage was 70,000 and current mileage was 160,000.
11/23/2007102/25/2000
 For the second time, my 2000 ford focus ignition lock has failed in that the key won't turn and vehicle is immobilized. current mileage on vehicle is approximately 48,500 and ignition cylinder was drilled out and replaced by ford dealer at 28,000 miles and replacement part frequently stuck and now ignition cannot be unlocked. *tr
11/22/200789000104/01/2003
 I own a 2000 ford focus. on the morning of november 22, 2007 i parked my vehicle in my driveway, which in turn blocked the exit of my other vehicle from the garage. when i went to start my vehicle that night to go to work, the key wouldn't fit into the ignition. i was eventually able to jam the key into the ignition, but it would not turn forward. i had the vehicle towed to the dealership where it cost me $380 to replace the ignition and make new keys. fortunately, i was not having an emergency. if i had to take my son, who is 1 year old, to the emergency room, i wouldn't have been able to leave my house for an hour. i have research this issue and have become aware that this year vehicle is having a lot of these issues. *tr
11/03/2007109/03/2002
 I had to have the ignition cylinder replaced in my 2000 ford focus 4 times in the last 5 years and today it locked up again. it is a known problem with ford. it gives no warning. 1 minute it works fine ... the next time i go to start the key --- it is locked up and wont unlock. i am a single mom on disability and it is unsafe to have such an undependable car - i never know when it will start and when it wont. *tr
10/31/2007125002004/10/2001
 On 10/23/07 i inserted key into ignition of my ford focus and immediatley the lights and gauges went haywire-vehicle failed to start. to make a long story short ,after unpluging the battery cables and going back to the stranded car the next evening, it started . 2 days later my wipers came on by themselves and would not stop until i turned the car off and restarted. on 10/31/07 while driving my daughter home, the vehicle began accelerating and deccelertaing uncontrollably. i pulled of the highway and when i opened the drivers door, the seatbelt light began blinking and making a loud ticking noise. this had happened the night prior, but i thought maybe the button was depressed. my dome lights make a screeching noise and blink on and off. this is a serious problem that needs to be looked into. whenever something like this happens i am driving home late at night and of course the dealer is not open to help me . my car is almost paid off and i will not invest more than what it is worth, which is only about $2,500.too bad i have paid about $18,000 for it. i would also like to know why i have not received recalls for the following problems: 1. 1st month after purchase, electrical system running airbags, mirrors, doors etc. failed. 2. 37,000 miles- transmission failed 3. 42,000 miles- power door locks failed and soon after passenger doors stuck in the lock position. 4. all window tracks have failed. 5. wheel bearings replaced. 6. trunk latch failed 7. ignition failed and was replaced and is going again. 8. brought in for 1 recall (fuel filter) and still didn't correct problem with vibration and lurching. this is a vehicle that exceeds highway saftey ratings? something will be done about this if i must hire an attorney- i am out a lot of money and no vehicle. *tr
09/15/20071
 Key would not turn in ignition. incurred cost for towing car twice, ignition was replaced, and then new keys had to be programmed. *tr
09/01/2006127000106/29/2000
 I drove my 2000 ford focus about 2 miles to the gas station to run in for milk. when returning to the car 3 minutes later, the key would not turn in the ignition. luckily was able to walk home and get a ride back to the gas station with another key (hoping it wasn't the ignition problem i'd read so much about). that didn't help. the next morning i called the ford dealership, which was literally within view of the gas station. they told me i had to have it towed to their garage ($45!!! for less than a quarter mile) and then pay for a new ignition $400. *tr
06/01/20071
 Parked in a public parking space and came back to retrieve my car. could get the key in the ignition but could not turn it. turns out the ignition was faulty and had to be replaced by ford. everyone i've talked to with this make and model of car has had this problem, but ford has not addressed it. they charged 400 dollars to replace it. *tr
08/25/200720012/17/2004
 I was getting in my 2000 ford focus this morning to go to work; i put the key in the ignition and the key would not turn. i fiddled with in for about 10 minutes to no avail. as a result, i had to call off of work. that alone is a lose of money. i have not yet called ford about this problem, but according to other reports, it can cost anywhere from$100- $400 to fix this problem. i just thank god this didn't happen to me in a dangerous area. i could have been stranded in a very dangerous area. i have had problems with the key not turning before this incident, however, i could always eventually turn the key, after fiddling with it for a few minutes. *tr
08/18/2007118700208/13/2007
 I just bought a 2000 ford focus and the key is stuck in the ignition. the woman had the tumbler replaced last year (08/06). will have to take to the dealer and have it fixed. seems like this is a persistant problem with 2000 ford focus cars. *tr
08/07/2007103/07/2007
 Ignition is locked and will not turn to the start position ,i tried to wiggle the steering wheel to make sure the steering wasn't locked and its locked too. *tr
07/30/20071
 The key in my 2000 ford focus will not turn. my car is useless. after months of it being difficult and having to use force it finally won't turn at all. fortunately i am at home and not stranded. sounds like this is a common problem with these cars. i can't believe this isn't a recall issue. incredibly frustrating. sounds like i either pay a locksmith $150 or ford $400 to fix it. *jb
07/27/200773000101/01/2001
 Ignition will not turn. key will insert into ignition cylinder, but will not turn and therefore not start. vehicle was towed to dealership for $100. dealership quoted $300-400 for ignition cylinder replacement. *jb
07/27/200770000101/01/2001
 Ignition key will not turn. key can be inserted into ignition cylinder, but will not turn or start vehicle. vehicle was towed to dealership for service for $100. dealership replaced ignition cylinder for $300. *jb
07/26/2007840001
 The car was ok when i bought the vehicle, when my warranty was up, the key took a couple of turns before i could get it to turn fully, this happened rarely. then it became more frequent, and now it doesn't turn at all. my car is now being towed and hopefully the problem will be resolved. it is very unfortunate that this costs so much. i was going away in a couple of weeks and now i won't be able to because of this experience. i am very dissatisfied. *tr
07/12/200728000206/01/2003
 I own a 2000 ford focus with 31,000 miles on it. twice in the last 5 months the ignition jammed. the first time on a freezing cold day at a deserted urban parking lot late at night at february 24, 2007. the second time , on july 12, 2007. *ak
05/20/2007103/07/2007
 I just purchased this vehicle from a private party and i had the vehicle , a 2000 ford focus 4 door sedan, for about 4 months and the key did not working correctly in the cylinder. would have to jiggle the steering wheel and the key for about 30 minutes before it would turn over to start. just last week on 06/05/2007 the car no longer started, i could not get the key to turn to start. i called the local ford dealer, and they told me it was the ignition cylinder that needed to be replaced. i have an appointment, and i talked to the manager at the service department, and he said this was a countinous problem with this kind of vehicle. this wa s easily costing me $300 that i dont have... this problem needed to be recalled. by the way i had to have the vehicle towed to get it fixed. *ak
05/14/2007108000305/01/2000
 The ignition cylinder the 2000 ford focus locked and i was unable to turn the key. it first happened while i was at an atm at 11pm at night and was not able to turn the igntion for almost 30 minutes, which placed me in a very dangerous situation. two weekd later it happened again, but this yime was unable to turn it at all, and had to be towed to a ford dealership to have it fixed. the repair cost me, with towing was $550. i knew this has been a problem for other focus owners and felt ford should be recalling this porblem.*ak
04/29/2007204/26/2000
 Ignition locks so key will not start the car . i was left stranded in a parking lot. this is the second time this has happened , following the first time the ignition cylinder was replaced. *ak
05/06/20072
 I have a 2000 ford focus. the ignition switch will not turn, as a result, the steering wheel will not turn. i am unable to start the car. this is the second time this has happen to me. *tr
04/27/20071
 One day the ignition cylinder on my 2000 ford focus zx3 failed, and i was unable to start my vehicle because the key did not turn once inside the ignition. i was stranded without transportation. i had to get the vehicle towed to a service dealer to get the ignition replaced. *jb
03/29/2007180000205/10/2000
 Ignition key has failed twice- mechanically- the 1st time was at 54000 mi and cost $300 to replace - just happened again at180000. there were 34 similar reports in 2001 when 1st occasion happened but ford said it wasn't a problem. now i can't find anything on your site about it. car has just been towed to dealer so not sure what it will cost. but i have driven cars for 50 years and never had an ignition key problem before, never mind 2 on same vehicle. *jb
03/05/2007130000104/10/2006
 Tl*- the contact owns a 2000 ford focus with a current and failure odometer of 130000 miles. the contact stated that when she put the key in the ignition it wuld not turn. the contact tried several times and different ways to move the key in the ignition, she would make sure that the vehicle was in gear, but the ignition would not turn . the instrument panel would light up, and the vehicle would chime, but the ignition remained frozen. *ak
03/03/200781000607/15/2000
 The ignition cylinder in my 2000 focus zx3 broke (froze up) for the sixth time. i have replaced the ignition cylinder six times now in the same vehicle in seven years. it has cost me a little over $400 each time, except for the first time when it was covered under warranty. *jb
02/05/2007101/08/2007
 Ford focus with ignition lock up problems *writer please note for customer that complaint is being forwarded to ftc.* *cc *nm
04/26/200664000202/24/2005
 Recently the vehicle started to idle erratically sometimes dying, i took it to the dealership and they told me the bosch platinum spark plugs were not compatible with ford vehicles and sold me new spark plugs. the problem seemed to go away but about 30 days later it started again. frustrated with the dealers performance i checked the vehicle myself and found that the crankcase vent between the engine and firewall had a rubber elbow and hose that were collapsing after the vehicle started. i removed them and found the elbow had a hole and the hose seemed to be structurally weakened. i replaced both and no more problem. *jb
08/01/200445000205/11/2000
 Ignition cylinder on my 2000 ford focus has been replaced two times by a local ford dealer. in the first instance (approximately august, 2004, key could not be removed from the lock. this required towing the vehicle to the dealership for repair. the most recent incident (february, 2007) the key would not turn the ignition switch unless the tilt steering was bounced forward and back for approximately 10 minutes. *jb
02/05/2007101/08/2007
 Revised to fit web complaint form. webform requires manufacturer of ignition cylinder from ford. called ford at 1800-392-ford and shaun-central florida states proprietary information. ford is not a choice in the drop down menu at https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/equipment.cfm?tostep=4&cfid=1748899&cftoken=17655993 guessed on info to turn in following complaint. ignition locked up on ford focus. steering wheel locked. had to tow airline wrecker, dubs garage and locksmith told me extremely common for ford focus. petition for ignition cylinder recall at http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?focusic even when the part is replaced, it happens again. i just pray next time it happens (and from what i've read it will) i am in a safe, well lit area where my cell phone can get service; and not the beach or somewhere that tow trucks charge over $500. but mostly i pray ford is forced to fix this known issue and stop creating a financial burden on people just so they can profit from their faulty ignition cylinders. please do something about this issue. it's obvious that ford has no intentions to resolve their locking ignition since the part has to be ordered from them for at least $100 per incident and if the person has their vehicle fixed at ford it could cost up to $500. i have called ford locally and corporate, they state there is no recall for an ignition cylinder. what has happened to dealerships accountability that they are allowed to get away with such an action for 7 years? is the accountability only when there is death? is that why ford continues to install and sell the faulty ignition cylinder? what's to stop them from continuing if they profit from the problem? i think that personnel taking complaints should give the 800 number and/or exact website to register complaints to nhtsa and/or list this info on car dealers websites. *jb
01/26/2007750003
 Ignition is locked up again on my 200 ford focus. this has happened twice since i bought the car. it hasn't happened in a couple of years though. suddenly, it's happening again. *nm
01/22/200678114111/27/2000
 Key won't go into ignition all the way and will not allow me to turn my car on. contacted ford and they are aware of the problem but it is not a safety hazard so it is not under a recall yet. so i will now have to have my car towed to the dealership and fixed out of my pocket. *nm
01/20/20071
 This past weekend my ignition cylinder failed in my 2000 ford focus. researching the topic online revealed that this is a widespread problem that ford chooses to ignore, therefore they should be forced to address the issue. *nm
01/11/20071
 2000 ford focus ignition locks, preventing the car from being started. *nm
12/31/20061
 I parked my ford focus in a parking space at a taco bell. the wheels were slightly turned to the left and the key would not turn forwards or backwards in the ignition so i began wiggling the steering wheel back and forth, continuing to try the key. eventually, i'd turned the wheel so far that it stuck in the lock position, cranked to one direction. nothing worked. a half hour passed. i assumed that the direction of wheels and the steering wheel being turned like it was had something to do with the ignition not working. so i jacked up the front end of the car to try to straighten my wheels out by hand but they too were locked and were not going to budge. i continued to try different combinations of applying the brake, trying to turn the steering wheel, adjusting the tilt of the steering wheel column, and trying to turn the key. i called a taxi cab to take me back to work, 25 minutes late, minus 7 dollars. at work, i began to research this problem and found websites, such as consumeraffairs.com/automotive/ford_focus, where i began to learn tips to get the key to turn and suggestions for repair. i was able to avoid a tow truck fee by using one of the suggested quick fixes, which basically consists of pounding the key into the ignition with a hammer, preferably a rummer mallot. from that same site, i learned that the problem has been pinpointed to the german-made huf lock that ford puts in the ford focus. the best suggestion is to have an automotive locksmith replace it with a non-ford or non-huf part. going to a ford dealer is strongly discouraged. the part has not been recalled so it costs the consumer. for me, around $400. *nm
12/21/2006109/20/2004
 Ignition lock cylinder won't turn,front tires locked, car had to be towed in. dealership had to put the car on a jack to get it into the shop, removed steering column trim, had to drill out broken ignition lock cylinder assembly, had to set up new lock cylinder so the same keys would work. so not only am i stuck without a vehicle till after christmas, i had to pay a towing charge, plus the cost to have the car fixed. back car door latch on passenger side continually stuck and does not allow anyone to exit the vehicle from that side. rattling noise under the carriage is unexplainable - what is next? *nm
12/26/200672000209/15/2001
 Key would not turn when put in ignition. have read that 100's of people with my vehicle are experiencing same problem, but ford will not admit wrongdoing. *nm
12/09/200686000509/11/2000
 This is the 5th time my ignition cylinder locked up on me. i am fed up with having to replace this. this is ridiculous!!!!!!!!!! *jb
11/15/2006111/11/2006
 Steering wheel, ignition, and gear shift are all locked. the key will not turn in the ignition. *jb
11/05/20061
 2000 ford focus ignition cylinder locked. *jb
11/01/200653000107/01/2003
 Dt*: the contact stated the key did not go in the ignition cylinder. the nature of the failure was permanent. the vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who replaced the ignition cylinder.
10/19/200695000109/23/2006
 My daughter tried to start the 2000 ford focus this morning and couldn't insert the key. it won't insert all the way and won't turn. the steering wheel is locked up. we have to have the car towed to the dealership now and they've quoted us more than $300 to replace the faulty cylinder. the ford tech said this happens quite frequently! *nm
10/16/2006112/23/2004
 1. no events leading to failure. failed with no warning. 2. key would not turn in the ignition. left stranded 30 minutes from home town in the middle of the night. wait until morning to seek help. 3. still seeking the best solution to the issue. *nm
10/12/200660000112/15/2000
 Dt*: the contact stated the ignition locking mechanism failed to disengage from the locked position. both keys were tried, but the vehicle could not be started. the service dealer was contacted, but the manufacturer was not.
09/17/200632000205/01/2005
 Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the key would not fit into the ignition. after several attempts, the key was inserted into the ignition without further incident, and the engine started. the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop who determined the ignition needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not alerted. the consumer experienced the problem happened again. updated 12/15/06. *jb
09/25/2006607/03/2003
 Ignition lock in 2000 ford focus freezes, either locking the key in the ignition or refusing to unlock steering wheel, or start car. *nm
04/20/200671124112/14/2000
 Ignition lock failure (key could not be put into lock) due to ignition lock cylinder failure. this left car and driver in a dangerous situation where car was very difficult to retrieve by tow truck (turned-over front wheels locked, no steering possible). repair is extremely expensive. ford declined participation in repair cost. many complaints about this problem can be found on the internet (for example, http://cbs5.com/investigates/local_story_041015136.html, or class action law suit at http://www.fazmiclaw.com/focus.html, or excerpt ...ford has conceded that it has a problem with the ignition locks, but the company has not ordered a recall.). *jb
09/10/2006740001
 Key will not turn in ignition, steering wheel is locked. had to have ignition cylinder replaced. this appears to be a common problem in 2000 focus - perhaps a redesign of the cylinder is required. *jb
09/01/200664000104/20/2000
 Key fails to turn in the ignition cylinder. cannot start the car. *jb
08/25/2006100005
 2000 ford focus lx. *jb
08/17/200676000110/14/2002
 Steering column will not unlock. *jb
07/28/200649935209/05/2000
 2000 ford focus key would not turn into lock position. upon inspection mechanic determined the lock cylinder needed to be replaced. the lock cylinder has been replaced twice. *kb *nm***nar***
08/12/20062000401/02/2000
 My ford focus ignition switch wont turn. i stopped in the middle of the dessert about 400 miles from home to fill the gas. i had to pay $140 the tow truck to get to the nearest village, and $400 for a new ignition switch and night at a cheap hotel ($60) i have read a lot about these kind of crappy cars having the exactly same problem. please call it a recall :(. *nm
06/25/200656120102/18/2005
 Ignition cylinder completely locked up without any indication that a problem was imminent. vehicle could not be started. had to be towed to dealer for repair. after researching, have found this appears to be a common problem in the 2000 focus. could be a safety issue if car is needed in an emergency, or leaves you stranded. *jb
08/20/20052
 The ignition of my 2000 ford focus i was stuck at dallas airport after a job interview for about three hours in 90 degree heat. it was repaired and locked up again this time in front of my hours. *nm
06/22/200641751106/08/2000
 Broken ignition-lock cylinder. *nm
07/20/2006112/10/1999
 Ignition switch locked, battery light on, driver side seat belt locked up, plus all kinds of issues from day one. tons of manufacturer recalls. *nm
06/16/2006306/10/2004
 Ignition cylinder locks up which requires total replacement of assembly. it has happened three (3) very unfortunate times, each requiring replacement of the assembly. in the right situation it could (and one of those was) dangerous. *nm
07/18/2006103/03/2004
 I was driving my ford focus & the front coil spring broke while i was driving the front end of the car collapsed on the front tire. i was driving 65 miles and hour seconds before i fortunately slowed down to a stop...noticed a noise like a flat tire, something did not feel right just before it collapsed on the road, i again thank god, i decided to turn around to go back home & immediately upon that turn around the car collapsed. these recalls safety campaigns are risking my life, but terrifies me for my newly driving son behind the wheel. as if that is not bad enough, i now have to file this complaint also. electrical system ignition---unable to remove key....car was unable to be towed car locked up..steering everything. cost of repair was quoted from $382.00 from ford service dealer...meanwhile the huge inconvenience car parking fees..for being in a public parking lot.
07/06/200668000108/01/2004
 Our 2000 ford focus had an ignition problem that left my fiancee stranded at work in the night. the key was unable to be placed into the ignition. the car was not broken into and there was no prior damage to the ignition. it caused me to travel to her work over an hour away to pick her up and the car ended up being towed. if it would have been an automatic we would have needed a locksmith in order to get it into gear. as a result of this incident we replaced the car with a new toyota. this was the third incident in 4 months and it cost us over $1,000.00 to repair it. *nm
07/01/200430000208/01/2000
 Dt*: the contact stated that the ignition locked; the key could be placed in the ignition but it would not turn. a locksmith repaired it. on the first occurrence, the repairs were made at the owner's expense, however the contact expressed there should be a recall or reimbursement.
06/29/20061
 The ignition lock cylinder of my 2000 ford focus would not turn leaving me stranded. *jb
06/26/20061
 My ignition and steering wheel has completely locked. i had no indication that this was going to happen. it has worked great ever since i bought the car in 2000. as i look at entries on the internet i see hundreds of ford focus owner with the same problem! seems like it is time for a recall! *jb
06/26/20062
 I have a 2000 ford focus. for the second time it has an ignition cylinder malfunction. this is an obvious defect in the car experienced by other focus owners in legion. ford doesn't consider this a safety issue, but i do since i was stranded for hours because i wasn't even able to turn the key to my car. this problem is over due in becoming a recall. *nm
05/15/20061
 Locked ignition cylinder. key goes in but either gets stuck or with not move. *nm
01/12/200681000210/31/2005
 I bought my 2000 ford focus in october 2005; in january i had to have the ignition cylinder replaced. this was after i had to have the fuel pump replaced after it went out. i was at school in another county when the ignition locked up. i had to get the car towed to the local ford dealership to get it replaced along with another key. i did not think any thing about it until i found a receipt from the previous owner who had the same part replaced a year earlier. that is the third ignition that has been replaced in my car counting the initial one that came in the car. well the third one that i know of. i have recently read hundreds of other complaints of focus owner's who have the same complaint. ford should issue a recall to correct the problem. *jb
06/23/20062
 Stopped car, 2000 ford focus, to enter gas station. came out and car would not start..ignition was locked up...key would not turn...blocking other cars...had to call tow truck and tow to auto repair facility...this is the second time in two years that the ignition cylinder on the ford focus has frozen up and not allowed key to turn, costing much money both times. there should be a recall...tow driver said that this happens to numerous focus cars in the course of his business. *jb
02/02/200665000102/08/2005
 This is about my 2000 ford focus. 1. key is fitted in to the ignition but will not start the car or come out of the ignition. 2. consequences are that i was stranded until the tow truck came to haul the car away. 3. i new ignition had to be installed for $400. *nm
06/11/2006702/15/2002
 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! *nm
06/08/20063
 The ignition lock cyl in my 2000 ford focus locked up and will not turn. *nm
06/01/20061
 My 2000 ford focus has less than 55 thousand miles which i just purchased 3 months ago. my ignition froze, key would not turn. thank goodness it was home in the garage. i could have been at the lake or anywhere and been stranded. the tow truck just hauled it off. this seems to be a recurring problem with ford focus i have learned. why is this not a recall problem. this will be my last ford. *jb
05/24/2006204/01/2002
 I own a 2000 ford focus. i inserted the key into the ignition and the key would not turn. i tried again several times, but did not work. had to end up getting the car towed to a mechanic where they replaced the ignition lock cylinder. did i mention this is the second time this has happened in the last three years? i did an online search with the words focus and ignition and got numerous other reports of similar incidents. do you even read these things? how long do you allow a company to get away with this type of thing? *jb
05/23/200659000106/18/2004
 I cannot insert the key into the ignition of 2000 ford focus. never had a problem like it before. called locksmith and was told this is a very common problem with my make/model. tumbler has to be replaced, at a cost of approximately $150.*jb
04/02/200659250104/07/2002
 I purchased a ford focus 2003, the car had 18,000 miles. i paid pacific coast ford seven thousand dollars cash for the car, two day later i brought it back because the car just shut down while i was driving it. they ran tests told me nothing was wrong with the car. a couple of days later it was back for the same reason. ultimately i had to bring it to lakewood transmission where after two attempts it was finally fixed it. i've had to get my ignition done two times and is ready for a third. mallionn ford fixed that for me. now three weeks ago i roll into a lady doing 5-10 miles an hour. the police are called but since there is no injuries or damage to either parties the police say they won't come. no police report. im driving home and my air bags deploy smashing out my windshield . a little ate you think. i cut one air bag out and continue to drive home. my car never shut down, the only thing that happened is the seat belt locked. i came home and took pic of the car not a scratch on my car one air bag still deployed the other you can see i cut it out and of coarse the smashed windshield . i contacted ford they said it was an insurance problem not theirs, how could it be there was no police report my car malfunctioned. *nm
05/19/2006108/16/2002
 I own a 2000 ford focus and among all the recalled parts i've fixed the car continues to have problems. the car jumps either when i press the gas or if the car is in idle. i've brought it to a mechanic and they thought it had to do with the oil leaking in my spark plugs which they fixed and gave me a tune up with all ford parts. of course now they suggest bringing it to the dealer and have ford run tests. i've probably have gotten something fixed on my car every 6 months for the past 3 years. also i've had to replace 3 windows due to the device that pulls it up and down broke. and now my key won't start the car. i can't start my ignition because of the key lock/pin is defective. what more do i have to go through for ford to recall or fix this car, get in an accident and get hurt myself. *nm
05/10/20062
 Ignition lock failure: had problems inserting the key into ignition and turning. problem worsened quickly so that the key could be inserted into the ignition but would not turn. ignition completely locked up. could not start the car and was stranded. tow required for repair. this is the second time this failure has occurred on my 2000 ford focus zx3. the first time ford replaced under warranty with similarly inferior parts. *nm
04/25/20061
 I own a 2000 ford focus. i have recently been having problems with my ignition sticking and just today it completely locked up. i found on the internet where this has happened to hundreds of people. is there any info regarding a recall on this problem?*jb
10/01/2004100000110/01/2000
 Dt*: the contact stated the ignition locked and will not turn with the key inserted. the ignition intermittently would not turn however if the contact waited for a short period of time the ignition would start. in october 2004 the ignition locked, a lock smith was contacted who temporarily corrected the vehicle. afterwards in november 2005 the ignition locked again where it has been parked ever since. the dealership was alerted and instructed the contact to alert the manufacturer for recall information. the manufacturer determined the vehicle was not included in any recalls concerning the ignition.
07/07/200342760203/15/2003
 Went to get into my car after working a night shift and put the key in the ignition of my car. the ignition would not turn and the key could not be removed from the ignition. had the car towed to the dealership and paid to have the ignition drilled out and replaced. almost exactly a year later the same thing happened with the ignition. had the car towed to a locksmith and paid him to replace the ignition. have heard of a lot of complaints about this!!! *nm
02/27/200682000107/29/2002
 On 2/27/06 i traveled 35 miles from tucson to green valley. there i stopped to get coffee. when i returned to the focus, i could not turn the ignition key. i was unable to contact a locksmith because it was a sunday. i had to spend the night in green valley. on the 27th i got a locksmith who worked on the ignition and could not get it to un-lock. i then had the car towed to jim click ford in green valley. as i was discussing the ignition problem with the service manager another focus owner showed up complaining of the same problem. my problem was solved by the replacement of the ignition lock assembly. the total bill for the towing and repair was $346.93. *jb
03/10/2006111000108/31/2005
 Dt*: the contact stated when the key was inserted into the ignition assembly; the ignition tumbler fractured which prevented the engine from being started. the vehicle was towed to a dealer for replacement of the ignition. afterwards, the same incident occurred and the vehicle was seen for another ignition replacement.
04/07/200658000107/01/2000
 Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the engine, the key would not turn in the ignition. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection. the dealer replaced the entire ignition cylinder and lock, a new key was provided. however, the problem has reoccurred.
03/30/20063
 I try to turn the key in the ignition and it will not turn. this has happened 3 times in the last 3 years. i also had to get it towed all 3 times to the dealer to be repaired. i have spent a little over $500 for these repairs. *nm
03/21/200674000212/23/2003
 Key and ignition cylinder on steering column getting hot. ignition locked up for the second time. repaired 1st time with motorcraft part. also maybe not relevant but it's like there is no braking system without the key in the ignition. upon loading car onto trailer, foot on brake took key out of ignition briefly and car rolled back missing ramps falling on end of trailer and damaged front bumper. *jb
03/15/2006203/10/2003
 The ignition won't turn so the vehicle won't start. it left me stranded at work and now down to one car for me and my wife. we have not been able to repair it yet due to the cost of a replacement part and to get it towed to a service station. *nm
03/15/200689990106/18/2000
 I bought my ford focus with 19 miles on it in june of 2000 from the time i bought it i had issues with the key getting stuck in the ignition or failing to turn, or requiring excessive pressure to get it to turn. after many minutes of work i was generally able to force the ignition to turn. eventually i could no longer force the system to work. i have asked several dealerships about this issue and they state it is a known problem but ford does not acknowledge responsibility. to repair this issue i must have the car towed to the dealership and have the ignition replaced. *nm
02/25/20061
 I have a 2000 focus. the problem with this is car is that recently the ignition cylinder locked up. i have been reading on forums, and have talked to my mechanic about this, and they say that this is a common thing on ford focus models 2000 and 2001. its incredible ford has not done a recall. i really need my car for work and other tasks i must do, but there's nothing i can do but wasted over 400 dollars to get it fixed. its ridiculous. i hope you all can do something about this. this is getting frustrating. *jb
02/04/20061
 1. i drove to a restaurant and turned off my car, which is a ford focus year 2000. later when i came back to start my car i could not get the key all the way into the ignition. 2. i tried so many things to get my key into the ignition, but i had to leave it there overnight in the parking lot and then had it towed the next day. 3. at the moment i am looking into either a locksmith or seeing if such a replacement will be under warranty. i have read that this is a common problem and it has to do with the ignition switch. *nm
02/02/20061
 Ignition will not turn. the vehicle must be towed and a new ignition cylinder installed before the vehicle can move. an internet search reveals that this is a very common problem with the ford focus. it is obviously very dangerous, especially in winter--people could be stranded in a dangerous location or exposed to extremes for a long period of time. *jb
01/30/200690000110/01/2005
 Put key into ignition but key will not move at all and vehicle will not start. *nm
01/16/200684420103/20/2002
 The ignition lock set for my 2000 ford focus zts had to be replaced. it cost $315. *nm
03/01/200434000208/05/2000
 Ignition cylinder froze on 2000 ford focus se requiring car to be towed to dealer to have lock cylinder replaced as the key could not be inserted into the lock. this was covered by warranty at the time. in december 2005, ignition would periodically freeze with key inserted requiring several attempts to turn the key to start the car. car was taken to dealer on january 17, 2006 and cylinder has to be replaced again at a cost of $453 since the car is now out of warranty. i've noted numerous complaints on the internet about other ford focus owners with the same problem. i called ford customer service and they would not do anything other than note the complaint. this is a safety issue if the lock fails when the car is needed in an emergency situation. since this is a recurring problem, why has ford not been required to fix the problem? *nm
01/08/2006420004003/15/2005
 Ignition lock failure. the first issue is that i tried to take the key out of the ignition and the entire ignition cylinder came out on the key. this happened several times randomly. the second issue is the failure for the key to turn in the ignition. it was initially an inconsistent problem that steadily got worse and worse until finally it just became a matter of chance and a battle of patience to get it started. this started happening at 40k miles which is ridiculous. the worst case took 30 minutes of twisting, jingling, turning the wheel, pushing the key in and out and fiddling with it until it finally turned. i have since had the cylinder replaced and a new key made for about $250 out of my pocket. after a little research i realized that i am one of thousands of people with the same problem, but ford apparently feels the problem doesn't exist. ford should make each one of their engineers drive a focus and count the number of days they come in late or miss work. *jb
09/17/20051
 2000 ford focus ignition seized. *ts *jb
11/18/20051
 Focus ignition locks up, contacted dealer about problem and they informed me this is a very common problem, ford knows about it but it is not a recall item. if ford is aware of a defect why is there no recall!! *jb
12/23/2005106880112/10/2005
 Ignition switch defective. the key wouldn't turn into the ignition lock. *nm
12/15/20052502/03/2000
 Since i have owned the vehicle i have had problems with the ignition. it would stick after i had removed the key, and the chime would sound when i opened the door. then starting about 2 or 3 weeks ago, my husband attempted to put the key in and it would not go into the ignition completely. he finally worked it in and we had trouble getting the key out and putting it back in since that day. the incident that happened on this date is that the key, even though it goes all the way into the ignition, it will not turn the cylinder. i cannot drive my car, and it must be towed to the dealership to have the cylinder replaced. *nm
12/12/2005410/10/1999
 Key keeps getting stuck in ignition, now the key won't even go into the ignition, will have to replace (right before christmas!) the ignition switch for $400, plus towing costs. *nm
12/12/2005104/23/2000
 I went to start my car and the key would not turn over. the ignition was locked up and nothing i did would release it. i try to move that steering wheel, step on the brakes, move the gear shift, nothing. it has done it before but i was able to get it to steering wheel to move and the car start. but not now. now it is being tow to get it fix. i also have had problems with the radio not working because the front of the radio becomes warped. and will not touch the prongs inside the radio. had it replace one time before and now i brought one to put in there. *nm
12/11/2005660002001/10/2003
 Brakes will not work when car first driven in morning. have to stand on the brakes to avoid hitting someone. ford will not fix this. this car is extremely dangerous along with the water leak, bad ignition key tumbler and poor gas mileage. it has been rotten from the get go. needs to be recalled! *nm
12/09/2005105/20/2005
 2000 ford focus ignition problems. *nm
07/28/200463000212/26/2000
 My key would no longer fit in the ignition leaving the car undrivable with the wheels locked which made towing near impossible. in the first instance the ford service department replaced the ignition and advised me i was starting my car incorrectly. they said i needed to fully depress the key in the ignition before turning it. it is not possible to do otherwise. 17 months later it has failed again. they have just replaced my second ignition in 2 years and i was now told that this is not a faulty part but due to the weather in northeast ohio. *nm
12/08/2005112/19/2003
 The replacement of the ignition on my 2000 ford focus should have been a recall. it has left me stranded on various occasions. i had to pay over two hundred dollars to correct a manufacturer failure within the ignition. *jb
12/06/20051
 My ignition locked up and left me stranded for a few hours. i could barely put the key in, and when i did get it in, it would not turn. it caused me to miss 4 hours of work. i called a ford service technician, and he told me this is a common problem with the focus. how come there is not a recall. i have researched the issue, and it seems like everyone that owns a ford focus, has had this issue happen to them. *jb
12/04/200586000106/07/2003
 Ignition defect. ignition mechanism failed - key will not turn move or engine over. *nm
11/27/20051
 I have a 2000 ford focus, and would like to make a complaint about the ignition switch locking up and preventing the car from turning on. i researched this, and it is a common problem among focus owners. ford may say that this is not a safety concern, but being the father of a 3 month old baby, i strongly disagree. luckily, the ignition locked up in our driveway. what if this were to happen in the middle of nowhere, during the winter. now, that is my safety concern. *jb
11/23/2005796142002/01/2005
 On occasion, ignition will not turn. happens at least one to two times per month on the average. in august, could not start car for 4 days. dealer says new ignition will cost around $300. *jb
08/15/200258000102/21/2000
 My car ran fine until one morning (first day of college, no less!) the key would not insert into the ignition. repeated attempts were made to insert it--jiggling, cleaning the key, blowing out the cylinder--with no luck. car had to be towed to the dealership where the ignition barrel had to be replaced. i was just a hair out of warranty so the expense came out of my pocket. the tow truck driver said this was a very common problem with focus'. what a pain!*jb
11/16/2004500001
 1. went to start car and the key wouldn't turn 2. ignition cylinder which i have learned is a major problem with this car. late for work 3. $411.00 for labor to drill out and replace and to purchase a new set of keys. *jb
11/15/200559000108/22/2005
 I purchased a used 2000 ford focus from a private owner, 2 days ago i was on my way home after work, i put the key in and it would not turn and the steering wheel in completly locked up. i looked it up on the net and have come to the conclusion that this happens regularly. i called the dealer at friendly ford to ask him what was up and he said i was on my own. the cost is $400.i called the ford company to file a complaint and they are well aware of the situation.why have you not filed a recall!!ford told me that it is up to you to get that done. i think it is a safety issue if you cannot turn your car on at 10 at night, by yourself. is anyone out there listening to the thousands of angry focus owners??i heard that the issue is now resolved in the new focus but what does that do for us???recall........recall...........recall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1. *nm
09/02/200215000207/07/2000
 I own a 2000 ford focus le with less than 23,000 miles. i have had to have the ignition cylinder replaced twice, once in 2002 and once in 2005. this was not a problem with the key, but with the cylinder itself. both times, the cylinder locked up and the key could not be turned. *nm
10/28/200560000103/02/2001
 2000 ford focus ignition cylinder would not turn when key was inserted. i had to have the car towed to a dealer, who charged $350 to drill out the cylinder and replace it with a new one. *nm
10/30/200569000111/26/1999
 Ignition switch failure in 2000 ford focus left me and my three children stranded in secluded area at dark. at this point nothing has been done to repair the problem although i have researched this issue and it is apparent that it seems to be a common problem for the ford focus. *nm
10/25/2005109/10/2000
 2000 ford focus ignition. key starts to get stuck in ignition no warning ignition locks and car will not start. to fix the problem ignition gets drilled out and costs $175.31. this seems to be a national problem with the make, model and year of this car and should be recalled. *nm
10/07/200565000409/10/2000
 Ignition sticks. won't let me turn key or sometimes even put key in ignition. *jb
10/08/200585300104/09/2001
 The ignition on my 2000 ford focus locked up. with some wd-40 and a few taps with a hammer, we were able to get the key to turn again, but i didn't take the key out of the ignition again for 2 days until i could get it replaced -- for fear i would get stranded somewhere again. after doing some online research i learned this is a common problem for other ford focus owners and wanted to report it with hopes that a recall might occur someday. *jb
09/15/2005401/22/2001
 2000 ignition issue - i can place the key in the ignition, however i can not turn the vehicle over. i have been told that my ignition switch would have to be replaced at an overwhelming $350.00. ford has been aware of this issue and has not done anything about it. *nm
09/09/200583451308/18/2005
 Within two weeks of purchasing the 2000 ford focus the air bag sensor broke, the brakes began to squeal and less than a month later the ignition locked. the car cannot be started or moved due to the locked ignition. nothing was done about the brakes. the airbag light was replaced at a cost to me of $280.27. the ignition has not been repaired or addressed by the dealer. *nm
09/15/2005107/17/2000
 Daughter was attempting to start her car and could not get the key to turn. after trying different keys. we called the ford dealer was informed that the key cylinder needed to be replaced. a little research into this shows this to be an ongoing problem with these cars. and at 400 a shot ford should show a profit. *jb
09/09/200560000204/01/2001
 2000 ford focus zx3. unable to insert key into ignition. stranded far from home at night. had to have the car towed to dealership and the ignition replaced. *nm
07/10/20041
 Ford refuses to issue a recall or replace the ignition lock assembly which is faulty. *nm
11/21/20031
 Key stuck in the ignition and would not turn. i had a flat tire on the highway and i turned off the car to change the tire. when returning to the car to start the car the key would not turn. i had to pay for a tow truck and a ford dealer bill of over $250 to replace the entire ignition.
08/30/2005
 I have a ford focus 2000, my complaint is i have put new parts on this car , a new engine, fuel pump, parts on the front end and a lot more. plus making a car payment. when i take it to the ford shop i don't like the way i am treaded. i still have all my receipts for my car i feel ford should care about their cars and the buyers. *nm
08/22/2005620002
 Car was starting & running fine ... stopped by my mother's house; came out, placed key into ignition, key refused to turn. tried all the regular tricks (turnign the wheel to the stops, pressing brake, cluthc, accelerator, etc. to no effect) called towing service - they could not make the key turn either and commented that this was common in ford focus. towed vehicle to balise ford - agreed it's a common failure but thye have a redesigned part from ford - that is not covered by ford's extended warrantly. over $300 to replace a part everyen admits to failing frequently!
08/18/200568180107/22/2002
 My 2000 ford focus zx3 ignition system will not turn. i tried everything to get it fixed. aaa sent a locksmith out and her told me that this is the 10th ford focus this week with the exact same problem. he said he has to replace the entire ignition system. he said he has done over 150 in the last year. i searched online an found over 5000 people with the exact same problem. i called ford and they acted as if they have never heard of this problem before. the ford focus is notorious for recalls but this problem is not on the list. i believe that it should be added. ford focus ignition system she be recalled. *nm
08/16/20050104/14/2005
 My car was not showing signs of any problems before the incident. my 2000 ford focus zx3 was parked in a local restaurant parking lot for about 3 hours. when i returned to my car, the key would not go into the ignition. we played with it enough to get it in half way and then the whole way, but the key will not turn. i called for a ride at 12:00am because a cop informed me it was most likely my tumbler or ignition switch. my car was towed the next morning from the parking lot. this was a difficult process considering my steering wheel was locked up and they had to drag my car to get it on to the flat bed. my ignition switch is currently being worked on, but we are unable to find the key code to set my tumbler. *nm
08/16/200554627107/01/2000
 Ignition lock cylinder failure. i could not get the key to go in the ignition. after 1/2 hour of pushing, pulling, rocking, tilting, in out, back forth, i got the key in. upon advice of my mechanic at woody sander ford in cincinnati, oh, i was told to leave the key in the ignition until i could deliver it to them for replacement. they say the problem is very common but ford won't recall because it isn't a safety issue. my web research supports that it is indeed very common and for many people a recurring problem. the car is 5 years old with 54,627 miles on it. the repair was just over $200.00. *jb
08/15/2005112/08/2004
 I have a 2000 ford focus and my key would not turn in the ignition. needless to say i was stranded with the two preschool children at night. i took it to get it fixed and it is costing my $510 to fix the problem. *jb
08/10/2005101001
 My wife had to drop off something at a friend's place out in the country. they would not be home for a couple days. she got out of the car, delivered the items, and got back in the car to start it up and come back home. we were all waiting for her to get home so we could leave for a camping trip. the key went into the ignition, but the key would not turn, car would not start - the same problem described here many times. she went to a neighbor's to call me, finally found someone that could bring her home and get me there to see what i could do(we only have one car). i could do nothing. in the morning i am going to see what i can do. this sucks because my family is all packed and ready to go camping - now this. *jb
08/08/200542000204/01/2000
 Ignition cylinder failure, stranded us and we'll have to have the car towed. could have been dangerous if this had happened a week earlier when we were in the back country of idaho. this is a known problem with 2000-2002 ford focus cars and ford has done nothing to acknowledge the problem. the ignition cylinder will have to be replaced (again). *nm
08/05/200563000108/20/2002
 Ignition started to stick and on 8/5/05 the ignition would not turn key broke off had to pay lock smith to come out and take key out that was 125 dollars. now i have to take the car to the dealer and have them fix the ignition but to get it there the car has to be towed. this has happened to a numerous amount of cars and ford will do nothing about it. *jb
08/04/2005280001
 Ignition key failure in 2000 ford focus se. after doing some investigation on the web, i learned that this is an extremely common problem with most if not all models of ford focus. i am having it serviced now but according to many other people, i can expect to have to do this several more times over the lifetime of the vehicle. *jb
02/25/200575233110/29/2000
 1) no known events lead up to the failure. 2) when heading to work in the morning one day, i had difficulty inserting the key into the ignition. once i got the key in the ignition, it would not unlock. i could not start my car and could not get to work 3) we had to pay $70 to have the vehicle towed to the nearest ford dealership in buffalo, mn. we then had to pay them to drill out ignition cylinder and remove it. then they built new cylinder and installed it. costing me $350. i understand also, from the ford roadside assistance (that had just expired) that this is also a very common problem for ford focus'. *nm
12/07/200409/18/2001
 Key would not work in ignition - car had to be towed to dealership to replace the lock assembly and tumbler. *nm
08/03/2005108/17/2001
 Key would not work in ignition - car had to be towed to dealership to replace lock assembly and tumbler. *nm
01/01/19012
 2000 ford focus ignition key cylinder had to be drilled out and replaced.***no answer required***.*mr the consumer experienced the same problem for a second time. the ignition fell apart and became lodged in the steering column. *jb
06/15/2005112/18/1999
 This is the 2nd time that the ignition has gone out on my 2000 ford focus. when the key was put in it wwas hard to turn on. this went on for about a week and then the key would not go into the ignition at all. therefore you are stranded where ever you are. car has to be towed. *jb
07/20/200403/01/2003
 My focus 2000 is in the shop due to a broken ignition cylinder. this is obviously a huge common problem and should be recalled.i could have been left stranded in the middle of the night in a dark parking lot. car had to be towed.
07/20/2005
 2000 ford focus steering and ignition locked. my son who is 17 yrs old was stranded and had to call us because the steering and ignition was locked.
05/06/20054500010
 I have a 2000 ford focus. i have had the ignition key cylinder lock leaving me unable to get the key into the ignition or turn the key to start the car. ford is well aware of the problem, as the service technician at my local ford dealer told me. with this being a known problem, ford still wants over $300 to fix a the problem. if this is a known defect, why is the consumer the one that has to pay for the problem???
07/19/200563673108/12/2000
 I have had my focus for five years, i am 1 month away from paying it off. initially after i bought the car, there were a few major issues that were fixed under the warranty. example- wheel bearings, breaks, etc. otherwise my car has had few problems outside of normal wear and tear. on friday, july 15, 2005 i had a difficult time getting my key to go in the ignition. but it went in, and started okay. on tuesday, july 19, 2005, i was unable to turn the key in the ignition, it was stuck. it was also difficult to get the key out of the ignition. i had to have the car towed to the dealership to be repaired. the driver of the tow truck asked me if the ignition was stuck. i told him yes, and he told me that was the usual problem whenever he had to tow a ford focus. marshall brothers lincoln mercury informed me it was the ignition cylinder that broke. i looked online, and there is an entire discussion board dedicated to this specific problem. http://www.autoforumz.com/ford-focus-ignition-locks-ftopict32011.html
07/17/200550000205/27/2000
 Ignition will not work properly on 2000 focus se, need to replace ignition tumbler assembly
07/12/2005
 I put my key in the ignition and it will not turn.
07/02/2005290001
 Dt: the vehicle had to be towed into the ford dealership july 2nd, 2005. the vehicle will not start due to the ignition. the service mechanic said ford was well aware of the problem. *jb
07/09/2005100000103/24/2000
 I arrived home on saturday morning, parked in the drive midway, took the key out and went into the house. later in the afternoon, i tried with no success to move the car all the way up into the drive. the ignition would not turn. i moved the wheel, which was lock, back and forth and even tried yanking it. it would not move. i called my friend to come and look at it. he was unable to move it and couldn't figure out why it had locked. there is no release on the vehicle, so i couldn't even move the steering wheel. every thing is locked in place. we pushed the car manually up into the driveway where it has been sitting with the windows down for 3 days. i looked into getting it fixed and found several websites with hundreds of complaints about this problem. the dealership i called for service said it would be roughly around $280 to fix but couldn't quote until the car had been in for inspection. i am really upset with ford for not recalling this item years ago. it is such a small fix for them but costs us alot. then when you get the reimbursement for you recall, they try to eliminate the labor costs, but isn't that part of the recall. my last reimbursement was much less than i actually paid for the service.
05/26/200447000203/17/2004
 Dt: 2000 ford focus lx, ignition froze. problem occurred before. this was the second time that consumer had the ignition cylinder replaced. the first time was on may 26, 2004. this problem gradually became worse. at first the ignition was a little hard to turn. within a week the consumer could not even turn the key in the ignition. the second time this occurred it included the same circumstances. there were no known other problems with this vehicle. *ak
07/05/200568000305/13/2003
 Dt: this morning when leaving for work consumer put key in ignition and ignition would not turning over and the engine would not start. the consumer tried to move steering wheel back and forth as this has worked twice before when this occurred. however, the steering wheel locked up along with the ignition. consumer had to have vehicle towed to a local dealership. the dealer informed consumer that the entire ignition would have to be replaced, and offered no explanation as to why this occurred. vehicle is currently at dealership awaiting repairs. *ak
06/19/2005107/26/2000
 Hi, on saturday evening (june 18, 2005) i drove my 2000 ford focus zts to edgerton confort inn in wisconsin with my wife and 6 months old child without any problems. on father's day morning (june 19, 2005) ready to enjoy breakfast with family and friends i was not able to turn on the car. the ignition key would only go in half-way and wouldn't do anything plus steering wheel was locked as well, eventhouth i didn't lock it the night before. i spent about an hour with friends trying different approaches to release the steering wheel without success. the closest town i could find a ford service center was in janesville, wi and on a sunday (father's day) i couldn't resolve much. i had to spent another extra night in the hotel to be able to resolve the next day. not a fun thing when you have a young child with you and not able to do much without a car. on monday, june 20, 2005, i got in contact with gordie boucher ford service center to arrange towing service. that cost me $73.50 to get my car from the hotel parking lot to the service center. at the service center i was told that my problem was a known problem by them, that it wasn't the 1st. time they see it happend to focus cars and that will cost me 3 hours of labor + part. (labor: 279.83; part: 98.47 = $378.30+tax) hotel/towing/ford service total was close to $500 the damaged part was the ignition tumbler which they had to drill out, rekey the new tumbler and replace it. old parts stayed at service center. this is apparently a known problem and i would like to voice my complaint with you because this should be taken care by a recall from ford motor company. also, you can read more about this from other owners on edmund's website: http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/webx?14@781.0bpndjtay7n.0@.eea50dc/0 please advice and thank you for your proving this venue to us, consumers. from illinois, edgardo munoz
06/27/2005101/17/2002
 I own a 2000 ford focus. my ignition locked. initally, my key would only go in half way, but would not turn. after finally getting my key in, it still would not turn. i have researched this exact indicent, and i have found this to be a common fairlure. there are over 150 postings on automotivetalk.net alone. i paid $65 to have the car towed and $310 to have it fixed at the dealer. clearly, this is a defective part, but ford has done nothing to compensate the out of pocket costs to the owners.
06/22/200508/10/2001
 We had occasional difficulty inserting the key into our 2000 ford focus, and then one day we were completely unable to get the key in. we have a key that is rarely used and that doesn't work either. we are stuck and will have to call a tow truck to take our car to the shop. my husband missed a day of work and we don't know yet how much this whole thing will cost us. i want to know why there is not a recall on this since it is obviously a problem for ford focus cars.
06/15/2005206/15/2004
 Dt: the consumer owns a 2000 ford focus. the ignition locks up. from what she has seen this is a common problem for the ford focus. the dealership stated that there were three other vehicles that they are fixing for the same problem. the manufacturer stated that there was no other complaints. *jb
04/01/2005681001
 I've had the car for over 3 years now and always had problems inserting the key into the ignition. one day, i drove the car to my friend's house and was ready to leave and inserted the key into the ignition. the key would not go into the ignition and therefore, i was unable to turn the key. the steering wheel was also locked. i had to call a locksmith and he had to drill into the ignition to remove it and replace it with a new one. he also had to program a new key. the locksmith told me that this is a common problem with the ford focus. i am surprised that there has been no recall as of yet for this problem. i feel that ford needs to take responsibility for their product and issue a recall. we as consumers should not have to foot the bill for this problem. by not solving this issue, this allows others to benefit from repair costs to these vehicles everytime they are stranded and have no one else to turn to except the only locksmith in the area who can charge whatever to repair the ignition.
06/08/20057200010/14/2000
 The ignition froze so that i could not turn the car on and the steering wheel was locked. i have since read many complaints about this failure.
06/01/200550000107/21/2000
 My car was driving/starting just fine until one night i tried to start my car and the ignitioon and steering wheel locked up and wouldn't turn. i had to have it towed to a dealership. they replaced the ignition cylinder in my car which cost about $300.
06/06/200578000107/30/2002
 Yesterday, all of a sudden my key did not want to turn the ignition to start the car. a couple of times i was able to get it started by playing with it and then when i needed the car a couple of minutes later it would not work. i am now finding alot of complaints on the internet in relation to ford focus 2000-2003 models have bad ignitions and subjects having to have the ignition replaced multiple times and ford not recalling them. websites: www.automotivetalk.net and www.edmunds.com, etc. i am a single mom, with only the ford focus to drive and i can't afford to be stalled out somewhere with my young child, because ford has decided not to fix a constant problem.
06/01/20051
 Key stuck in ignition, after repeatedly jiggling key, could turn on electrical, but could not turn on engine. finally could remove key with difficulty, but electrical stayed on even with key removed. tried repeatedly for more than an hour and a half, but could not turn engine on. had to have car towed to mechanic for repair. this same problem occurred once before in may 2002. at that time (2002) the key cylinder was replaced and the ignition cylinder was recoded under warranty by ford dealership.
05/25/200556000108/07/2002
 My ford focus 2000 zx3 was working fine. when i went to drive home from work the key jammed in the ignition. i could not get the key to turn. i tried and tried but it would not turn. i had to get my wife to pick me up. i tried it the next day, still jammed. i read on the internet that this is a common problem with ford focus models. i called the dealership and was told $350- $650 to replace it. very expensive i thought. i called aaa, they sent a lock smith and it cost me $185. not only is this a problem that should be added to the 12 already listed recall items on this model but the price at the ford dealer was well inflated!!!! i would like to see this item added to the recall list as it is a manufacturing default. i would also like to be rembursed for the locksmith charge.
05/12/200552000106/28/2003
 1: one incident of inserting key into ignition 2: total lock up of ignition,no injury loss of money to fix the problem 3: replace ignition, ignition drilled and new one instsalled, have old part.
01/15/200537000110/15/2003
 Ignition switch failure. car unable to start. had to be towed to dealer to have ignition switch replaced.
06/25/200345000104/11/2000
 I have a lot of problems with my ford focus. the inginiton froze up on me and i couldn't get the key out. it cost $500 to get it fixed,
05/04/200531455106/02/2000
 There was no prior problems with the key and the ignition , then on 5/4/05 the key went into the ignition and would not turn or start the car , i tried my second key and that also would not turn . i had to have the car towed to local dealer , total cost for repair and tow was a wooping $350.00 .the dealer did not seem surprised that my ford focus had this defect , the tow driver said it is common to have this problem with focus and i spoke to a few local locksmiths and they also say it is common for focus . i see on the internet that hundreds of people also endured this high expense for the same repair . it does not seem fair that there is a defect and ford does not have a recall for this issue , plese help all us owners and push for a recall .. thank you
05/02/200591400407/15/2000
 Ford focus 2000 ignition problems. first, the key would not insert fully into the ignition and would get stuck preventing it to turn. when the mechanic shook the key around a bit it would loosen up and would then insert fully allowing the car to be started. that was only a temporary solution. the second problem was when the key would insert fully but would not turn the ignition. after hearing that two of my friends who own ford focus' from the same year had the same exact problem, i began to research. i have found that this is not an isolated incident, or normal wear and tear. this seems to be a widespread problem within vehicles of this year, make and model. i feel that it is unfair that the consumer must pay for a problem that existed when the car was on the showroom floor. having an ignition replaced is not cheap considering the labor and part charges combined.
04/15/200560000108/10/2000
 Frozen ignition lock, tumblers fall into lock space and prevent key from entering. *ak
04/13/20056200020
 The ignition lock seized. consumer put the key into the ignition but it would not turn over. the floor shifts was still in park. consumer had the vehicle towed home because of this defect. *ak *bf *nm
09/13/200460000107/26/2002
 The ignition lock is hard to turn and hard to remove the key. you have to jiggle the key to get it to work. it has nearly left me stranded several times. i was quoted a price to fix it at $300. i have yet to fix it due to financal difficulties.*ak
03/01/2005103/01/2000
 'recall campaign' ford focus 2000, has had 6 recalls. *bf the tumbler in the ignition failed. *jb
02/15/200545500112/10/2000
 2000 ford focus - key will not go into ignition and start car
03/10/2005104/01/2002
 Ignition in 2000 ford focus has failed. we started to experience problems with turn the key--we often experienced problems with turning the key to on position. the problem has now progressed and we are unable to even turn the car on at all. we are told that the ignition will have to be replaced. we contacted the local ford dealership and we were told by their service department that they have seen this problem occuring more and more, and they have already had several cars of this make and model come in with this problem. we were also told that it will cost almost $400.00 to replace this part. i've researched this problem, and it seems there are people from all over the us who are having this issue. i contact ford customer service directly and they were of no assistance.
03/15/2005719693
 Ford focus ignition locks fail at very high rates. our's failed for the third time this week, stranding us and requiring a tow. our ford dealer again charged us more than $300.*ak the web is full of reports of these failures. search google: ford focus ignition lock
01/06/2004407/07/2000
 The ignition cylinder on my 2000 ford focus zx3 is a source of constant headaches. this is not a new problem to me...i've had my ignition cylinder replaced 4 times in 4 years on my car. it is always the same problem, and ford knows about the difficulty with this part....i am not the only focus owner with this problem. this part needs to be recalled.*ak
01/07/2005580001
 Vehicle: ford focus zx3. my: 2000, purchased in: san gabriel, ca currently in: dublin, oh. events: i went to my car one evening, sat in the driver's seat, pulled my key out and it would not go in the ignition cylinder. it was if something were stuck in it and the tip of the key was the only part that would go in. no amount of pushing seemed to help. the steering wheel was in the locked position and i even attempted to turn it to see if it would free whatever was stopping the key from going in.*ak consequences: i was stranded. the tires were turned to the left and the steering wheel was locked. to have it loaded onto a flatbed tow truck was impossible without causing more damage to the body of the car or wheels. it took over an hour to get it loaded on a tow truck. correction: i took the car to germain ford for service and they replaced the ignition cylinder in the steering column. the service technicians said they had seen this on other ford focus. other comments: i researched this online some and others have experienced the same issue.
03/04/20051
 Without warning or prior problems and while parked, the ignition and steering column locked up. i was not able to turn the key nor the steering wheel. all attempts to do so failed. had vehicle towed to ford dealership where the old ignition was drilled and a new one isntalled. the service manager comfirmed that this is a known issue with the ford focus.*ak
03/05/20051
 I parked my car one night, nothing unusual, no previous difficulties with the ignition. the next day i get in and can not insert key fully into the ignition. after jiggling it around, i could finally fully insert key but am unable to turn it to start the vehicle. *ak although no injury occured, this is an expensive repair (over $300 in addition to the towing fees). i have found numerous complaints of the same problem on the web and in my discussion with other focus owners; and think ford is to blame. i only have 2 keys on my key ring along with the remote keyless entry; therefore, this was nothing i've done to impair the daily performance.
01/15/20053
 I was leaving work late the other night and my key would not turn over in order to start my car. i had a friend pick me up and i called a locksmith the next day. i had my ignition replaced, then three days later i could not take my key out of the ignition. i once again called the locksmith he came back out and replaced my ignition once again, yet the key got stuck again. the third time i called him he told me this is a problem with focous and it was going to cost me an additional $250. to fix, on top of the $190. i had already spent to replace the ignition.*ak
02/27/2005105/29/2000
 My 2000 ford focus was working fine. about 5 minutes after parking the car, i returned to the car to start it up, and my key, which had just worked fine, would not start the car. the steering column and the ignition were locked. my key would no longer go all the way into the ignition cylinder, which seemed to be jammed in some way. i called aaa, who said they see this all the time in the ford focus. they banged on the column trying to release the cylinder, but to no avail. stranded, i took a $35 cab ride home and have to return today to have it towed off a downtown street to the dealers service center, which is closed on sunday and has no emergency number...i guess i just leave it there with the hopes that they will look at it tomorrow. i have no idea how i'll get to work tomorrow, how long this will take to fix, nor how much it will cost--- but i've read other similar complaints that this happens repeatedly with the ignition cylinder due to weak metals used in the manufacturing of the ignition cylinder. this is not due to normal wear and tear. this is a faulty part and should be recalled! *jb
02/24/200590000103/15/2000
 Ignition randomly locked up. i had some problems while driving. after i parked and turned off the car, removed the key, i could no longer turn the ignition cylinder with the key. had to replace ignition cylinder and key for a cost of $350. i have read many complaints of similar happenings by other focus owners. also received anecdotal evidence from tow truck driver and mechanic of frequency of this occurring with ford focuses. *nm
02/21/200541000103/15/2000
 Key goes in ignition, but won't turn. requires wiggling and multiple tries to get car to turn over and start. common problem on ford focuses. making appointment to have ignition replaced.
02/15/200590000104/10/2003
 I parked my car. upon coming back to the car the key would not work in the ignition at all. the dealer indicated that the tumbler mechanism failed and that this is a common defect. my car is a stick shift, and if i stalled the car in traffic and the ignition switch failed that time, i would have been put in a very dangerous situation.*ak
12/08/200410
 This complaint is concerning clarification of our previous complaints to nhtsa regarding the 2000 ford focus : #10104088 and #10107840. i am extremely concerned about the misinterpretation of data collected by your agency and posted for public review. deaths are not posted, nor are they included as injuries. this misrepresents the seriousness of the vehicle and equipment failures reported. *jb
02/07/20051
 Ignition lock failure on my 2000 ford focus. this i am told is a major problem by the dealer and aaa. please help. ford needs to recall these vehicles. thank you. *jb cindy drohan
02/07/2005504/17/2000
 1- this specific failure, there were no events leading to it, it just happened. the ignition switch just locked. previously there were little events with the car leading up to its failure. 2- it stalled and wouldn't start, fuel wasn't getting to the engine and would lead to power failure. 3- after repeated trips to the garage and told there was nothing wrong with it. they did replace the plugs and wires and fuel pump again. now the problem is the ignition switch. *ak
02/06/2005105/15/2004
 About 8 months ago i purchased a 2000 ford focus. this past weekend my steering wheel locked up. i couldn't even get the key all the way into the ignition. i tried several times to start the car to no avail. i went online to find out if there were any other techniques i could try and came across several websites with disgruntled consumers who are also owners of the ford focus. they all are experiencing the same problem. i've been told by both the dealership and locksmith that the problem is the tumblers and a failed cylinder due to ford. apparently ford used a substandard manufactured cylinder which rapidly deteriorates with use and eventually fractures thus locking the wheel. i was told at the dealership that the repair would be close to $400 so i opted instead to have a locksmith come out. that cost me $60. i'm told though that it's only a matter of time before it happens again and even a new cylinder will not prevent it from happening again because the part itself is defective. apparently ford is well aware of this problem but will not do a recall which i find absurd. this is not only an annoying situation but also a dangerous one. i've had other ford owners tell me that they've had this problem happen to them while driving, at stop lights, in a parking lot etc. that is dangerous and something should be done about it. i am writing a personal letter to ford...and i plan to take this as far as i possibly can legally. thank you. amy kennedy winston salem, nc *jb
02/02/200560500111/01/2004
 (1) i parked my 2000 ford focus on a hill with the wheels turned (2) the key ignition would not turn even after playing around with it for 4 hours! i had to leave my vehicle behind. there was no advance signs that this problem was about to occur. while this is not a moving safety issue, this can be a very serious problem since it can strand you without any warning in an unsafe area. (i carry spare gas, jumper cables, car jacks, antifreeze, extra oil etc.. i even had enough tools to take apart the steering column and try hot wiring the car, but to no avail.) this is a serious mechanical defect. (3) i later bought an owners manual to try fixing the problem myself. but the first step to removing the broken ignition cylinder is to turn the key!! a catch 22. *jb
01/30/200513
 Steering wheel ignition locks and will not allow the key to turn and start the car. *ak
01/30/2005500005
 Key will not turn the ingintion switch on, and sometimes can barely be removed from switch.*ak
01/26/2005480002
 There is no event leading up to failure that was recognizable. when you put key in the ignition, it seizes and will not turn to start the car. this has happened to me twice now!! in a year and a half. the first time it occurred was 6-27-03 and i had it fixed. the tumbler and ignition switch had to be replaced. i thought it may be a one off--i had bought the car used from the dealership. however, this has now occured again 1-25-05 and i will now have to pay again for something that should never have happened once--nevermind twice! i called ford and they were very uninterested and said there was no recall--but i bet there are other with this problem. it mean is takes 2 weeks to order the parts and fix so it is a hugh inconvenience because i have a small child and am pregnant again. i have to have the car towed to be serviced and am very upset and feel this needs loked into further since ford dont really seem to give a toss.*ak
01/21/200558000101/18/2000
 At 9:00 am my wife drove to work and parked her car in the employee parking lot. at approximately 6:00 pm when she was leaving the office, she was not able to get the key to go into the ignition switch. she was stranded. when i arrived at her office about 6:45 pm, i tried but was also unable to get the key into the ignition. on 1/22/05 8:00 am i called our local ford dealer who said to try some wd-40. if that doesn't work we would have to tow it in to let them take a look. tried wd-40, didn't work, had vehicle towed to ford dealer at 9:45 am same day. while at the dealer, i asked service mgr if this is a common problem - he said it happens once in a while and it is usually caused by having too many keys on the key ring. when i gave him my keys, we was surprised there were no other keys on the same key ring. dealer called monday 1/24 and said they have to drill out the old lock cylinder and replace - it will cost $285 + the tow was $75, total u.s. $360. our concern is we do not feel not safe driving a car that we cannot be confident that the key will work as intended. imagine the potential danger a person could be left in not being able to start their car. we were amazed to find out the large number of owners of this same vehicle that have had the same problem and there has not been a recall issued for this defective part. we plan on repairing this vehicle and replacing it as soon as practical. *nm
01/21/2005502/06/2004
 The ignition cylinder on my 2000 ford focus has locked up several times, but now it is completely gone. the key will not turn for anything. i have been informed that ford will charge around $450 to fix this problem. it is an ongoing problem with many focus owners. the car has done this before but it just did it for the first time in months last night, leaving my husband stranded. ford has corrected this problem on the 2005 models but what about the rest of us! my husband was late for work because of it and i myself had to leave work to go pick him up.
06/12/20024
 The ignition in my 2000 ford focus has been replaced three times in the last four years. nothing unusual was happening, one day i got in my car, drove the coffee shop came out and the key would not turn. that was the first time, six months later the same thing and about six months after that. the fourth time this happened i returned to the dealer and was told that it was my key this time not the ignition. *nm
01/14/200550100102/20/2004
 2000 ford focus, locked ignition. key won't go in and won't turn. many complaints about this problem for this car. *jb
01/11/200540500303/27/2000
 Went to start my 2000 ford focus after leaving store and ignition tumble would not turn. has happened once before. now everytime i go to start my vehicle i have to hit the key hard into the ignition for as many times as it takes to start. brought my vehicle to my ford dealer. now it's going to cast me over $300 to replaced this part and that they say ford is aware of the problem but will not recall this part. i spoke to service reps, managers and tech's. they all say the same....ford knows but wont recall it! so on top of my car payment i get to pay more than my monthly payment to fix a part that ford acknowledges as defective. excellent services and care for your customers. then again i am only an average person not a muli-million dollar company. *jb
01/12/200446000106/28/2000
 Ignition locked up, will not turn. *ak
01/05/20051
 Vehicle experienced an ignition problem. vehicle will not start due to defective ignition cylinder.*ak
01/02/20057507/29/2003
 The ignition on my 2000 ford focus zx3 will not turn. the problem has been ongoing for about 4 months. a ford technician said to lightly tap the key then try turning the ignition. this method has seemed to work. however, i have been having to tap harder and harder to the point of hurting my hand from hitting it so hard. i've read several ford internet forums where owners have had the same exact problem. if this is a known problem with ford focus ignitions there should be a recall.*jb
12/29/2004107/17/2003
 Ignition key wont work in the car it wont turn. my 19 year daughter was leaving work when she went to start the car it wouldn't work. it was dark and not a great neighborhood this is not an unusual probably with the ford focus it needs to be fixed by ford and fixed now! (2000 ford focus). *nm
02/24/20032
 Ignition key would not turn, when attemping to start the vehicle. replaced ignition lock and cylinder. r/r fuel delivery module. *bf *tc
12/24/20041
 After stopping at a local safeway supermarket i went to my car and was unable to turn the key in the ignition. i thought that maybe my wheel was locked so i attempted to pull on the wheel while turning the key but had no luck. i tried this for approximately 30 minutes before giving up. i contacted aaa on sunday december 26 and was told a locksmith will be out to unlock my wheel. about 10 minutes later i received a phone call from aaa explaining to me that they felt a locksmith would do no good with my vehicle since i own a 2000 ford focus and in aaa's experience my particular problem is a common defect and i should have it towed to a dealer because my ignition will most likely need to be replaced. i contact my local dealer monday the 27 and was told that they would be happy to fix the problem because they perform that repair all the time, but there is no recall so i would have to pay for the replacement. i checked online and found hundreds of other 2000and 2001 ford focus owners with the same problem, even some that had the steering mechanism lock while the car was in motion. this seems like a very serious problem. i have decided to have my own mechanic replace the ignition system, because durring research i also found that those that had the ignition system replaced at a dealer had a reaccurance of the problem.*ak
12/20/200478000511/07/2001
 The key to my vehicle has been increasingly difficult to use in my ignition over the past year. at times it would take up to 2 hours to get the key to work and the ignition started. the last time this happened, my wife and two children were stranded with no way of getting home. finally, after several attempts and a lengthy amount of time later, she was able to get the key turned and the car started. the ignition cylinder in my vehicle is now completely broken (or something similar). i am unable to use my vehicle at all now. after two days of attempting to turn the key, it has failed. the failure has not been corrected yet, but i am aware that a new ignition cylinder will need to be installed on the vehicle. this will consist of towing the vehicle to the dealership because there is no way of starting the car or unlocking the steering wheel.*ak
12/18/200462000403/11/2001
 Ignition will not turn. one minute it was working fine, and the next, the key will not turn. also, one minute my automatic locks will work, then my car totally un-programmed itself. *jb
12/11/2004311/19/2002
 2000 ford focus has a defective ignition. the car will lock up at any time. problem has been fixed twice in my car, now the problem has returned. *jb
12/12/2004107/12/2002
 Recall 03v482000 concerning intermittent stalling. manufacturer is not allowing the dealer to honor this recall because the vehicle has a branded title.*ak
02/06/2004306/17/2002
 The key would turn to the off position and the car wouldn't shut off. they replaced the ignition cylinder, but since it was fixed in february of 2004 it has since done the same things 2 more times. these 2 times, however, the car would turn off, but i couldn't get the key to go to the off position and i couldn't get the key out of the ignition. i took it to the dealership 2 times after they replaced the ignition cylinder (once in november 2004 and once in december 2004). they said they can't do anything about it because it won't duplicate the problem when i have it at the dealership. after i drive it there the key comes out of the ignition. it was fine all summer, and it seems to just do this in cold weather. however, i have also experienced that my radio is staying on after the car is turned off, and my seat belt light and and warning buzzer also don't work when i have this ignition problem.*ak
08/15/200440
 I have a 2000 ford focus and i have been having terrible problems with my ignition. several dozen times i have not been able to start my car or it has taken me a significant amount of time to be able to start the car. i told my local ford dealer about the problem and said it would cost about $300 to fix the ignition. however, he told me that i was the fourth person that had called him that very specific day reporting the same problem with other focus'. i have searched the internet and have found hundreds of other people posting complaints online and i think it is about time for a recall. *jb
12/04/2004305/16/2001
 The key will not turn in the ignition. ignition had to be replaced. this is the third time it has happened, and i had to have it towed each time.*ak
02/01/2004150005
 While driving the dash light began to flicker then the vehicle shut down suddenly while in gear. *nm campaign id number : 00v411000. the consumer was told that the power cable to the battery was the result of the problem. campaign id number : 02v288000. the consumer was told by the service department that this is a problem because the vehicle could explode. the warranty company turned the consumer down stating that the problem was not part of the warranty. the key gets stuck in the vehicles ignition and would not come out. the doors would not close properly and remained open while the vehicle was in gear. when the tire was removed the consumer noticed that the wheel was missing a lug nut. campaign id number : 00v303000 the air vent did not stay open when the a/c was on high. the brakes howled like a wounded dog from the time of purchase. pads and rotors needed to be replaced. *tc
12/03/20042
 My ignition locked leaving me stranded. i have towed the car to the dealership. upon looking through websites (www.edmunds.com, www.autowhiz.com), i see this is a common problem. there were over 200 responses with similar problems. someone from a local repair shop tried to get the key to turn and could not. he said he had worked for ford for 38 years and believed that the cylinder was the problem. he said that he had seen a number of early ford focuses (mine is 2000) have similar problems. i have had a lot of problems with the focus. there have been more than 12 recalls on the car. the dealerships and customer service are more often than not uncooperative. i've found that dealers do not want to honor the recalls, especially if a rental car comes with it. they did not want to replace the fuel pump which was recalled unless i exhibited problems even though the fuel pump had been recalled. focus owners are spending upwards of $350 on the ignition repair although it is clearly a manufacturer's defect.*ak
12/03/200457707101/10/2000
 I brought my 2000 focus brand new. yesterday, went to a meeting on the other side of the city. i was the last to leave and my key would only go half way into the ignition. no matter of wiggling would get it to budge. i had to call a tow truck and take it to the dealership. they replaced the ignition: total cost 394.41 with towing. learned from a friend that there has been a techical service bulletin on this for years. of course my car is out of warrenty. but i have filed a complaint with ford and asking for a good will' rembursment to cover costs. i think this should be sent to the major networks for investigation. *ak
10/18/200425000908/10/2000
 Once i place the key in the ignition of my 2000 ford focus zts it doesn't always turn. i have to play around with it for a minute or two before i get it to turn over and start my car. i fear soon that it won't work at all and i'll be stuck some place. i've known of many other people that have had this very same problem with their focus's. people have had a dealership fix it, only to have it start doing it again with in a month later and several hundred dollars less.*ak
12/01/20042
 Upon starting the vehicle it failed to start. the keys wouldn't turn in the ignition, and the steering wheel locked up. a lock smith informed the consumer that this was a common problem with these vehicle, and was caused by the ignition chip freezing up. he refused to replace the ignition because of past experiences. after the ignition was replaced the parts failed again because of the same failure.*ak
11/06/2004109/01/2002
 Key no longer turned ignition.. *nm
11/19/20041
 It was a rather normal day. i drove my 2000 ford focus to college, then home. on my way to a local restaurant everything was fine. when i was finished, i paid for my meal and exited the establishment. i stepped into my car, closed the door, and placed my key (which was in mint condition) in the ignition. the key would not turn either way. i giggled (carefully), but it appeared to be stuck. the car had to be towed, for a fee. the car had to be fixed, for a fee ($300). i was stranded without transportation. with no way to school or work, it was a most compromising situation. they replaced the metal ignition switch after tearing apart my steering wheel. it seems to work fine now, however; i believe the ford company should address this issue. i have researched for a specific recall, but i was unsuccessful. i found many consumers through the internet who have had to unfortunately deal with this problem. compensation for this inconvenience is surely desired, and to my other faithful ford customers (quickly losing faith!) i would say it is owed to us. *nm
11/23/200080000205/08/2000
 Key will not turn in ignition. this was fixed once before under warranty in 2001. but the car is not under warranty now. *n m
11/11/2003111/11/2003
 I purchased a ford focus wagon (2000) from rowan lincoln mercury in winter haven florida in november 2003. since that time this checked out vehicle has had the following repairs: a new ignition lock (twice), a new battery, new spark plugs & wires, new vacuum hose, and new alternator. now the transmission is going out on the vehicle. do i have any recourse against the dealership for selling me an obviously messed up vehicle? my contact with the dealership has been unanswered. the vehicle only had 36,000 miles on it when i purchased it. everyone that touches the car tells me that there is no good reason for the need of any of the repairs except the spark plugs, wires and battery. any advice as i am now facing another repair bill in excess of $1,000 for a car that is touted as being one of the most reliable on the road? *jb
11/10/200478550101/25/2000
 There were no events leading up to the failure, the night before my car was fine. i went to go to work and tried to put my key in the car and it wouldn't go in. i tried the spare key. i tried to wiggle the steering wheel. everything was locked. i called the dealer and asked if there was a recall, they said no. when i called aaa to have them tow me, they informed me that they have towed about 40 in the past two months just in our small area alone with the same problem. ford states this is not a safety issue, but with the research i've done and other people have been stranded in parking lots. it's a safety concern. the dealership replaced the ignition lock for a high costs and recognized that there is a problem with the focus. *jb
11/11/2004720001
 There were no events leading up to the situation, one day the keys would simply not work in the ignition. neither our everyday key or our spare key can even be inserted into the ignition. thus, we can not operate the vehicle. *jb
11/09/200470000101/16/2000
 On tuesday evening, after a meeting, i got in my car to drive home. the key would not go all the way in; i thought that my steering wheel was locked (which it was) but i could not get it unlocked. i tried rolling my car off to unlock the steering wheel and tugging hard on the wheel to no avail. i called aaa for a locksmith service because i could not get my key into my ignition. the locksmith that showed up told me without even looking that i had a 2000 ford focus and that he has this problem all the time. without even me having to tell him what was going on, he instantly knew the problem. the cylinder in my ignition had a broken tumbler resulting in my key not going in. i had to tow my car home costing me 25.00 because the locksmith told me that he could not perform the mechanics in the dark. he quoted me a price of 225 to replace the part, the local ford dealer wanted 350. my father purchased the part for about 70 dollars form a ford dealer, he purchased a new key cylinder to install into the steering column. this was all that could be done in order that my car would start. *jb
11/04/20046
 I attempted to turn my key to the on position when the key refused to turn. the steering wheel lock was engaged and would not allow me to turn my key to disengage it. it took roughly an hour of twisting the steering wheel and all sorts of trouble to finally get the steering wheel to unlock and allow to the key to turn. this was the sixth time this had occured, but the most severe incident to date.*ak
10/29/20041
 Last friday my 2000 ford focus would not start. i had to force the key into the ignition. when the key finally went into the ignition it would not turn at all. this was the second time i had this problem. the first time i was able to get the key to work after awhile. *akhowever, after 2 hours of trying to get the key to turn this time, i gave in and called a tow truck. they asked me if i was able to get the car into neutral. until now i had not check this. to my surprise the car would not budge out of park. it was then towed to my mechanic. on monday, the mechanic found out that my ignition switch was bad. ford are set up so that to remove the ignition you must turn to key a quarter of a turn. since my key would not budge they had to drill out my ignition. since the new part came from ford my mechanic said this may happen again. i had to pay $299.00 to fix a problem that may happen again. after this i did an internet search and found that many people with my make and model of car are having this problem. i even spoke with the dealership where i purchased the car. the mechanic there told me he has fixed several and was surprised it had not been recalled yet.
08/24/200475000208/16/2004
 Upon purchasing my vehicle used 4 days later i had to have my ignition replaced because the key would not come out of the ignition, only 2 months later i am having the same problem and the dealer i bought my car from only carried a 45 day warranty. *ak
10/23/20001
 Key won't turn, can't start car.*ak
10/23/2004360002
 1. nothing lead to the failure, it just happened. 2. i can't drive the car because the key won't turn. i can insert it fine, but it won't turn at all. i even tried another set of keys. i have a 2000 ford focus and i'm having a problem with the steering wheel locking up and the ignition key won't turn. i tried jilting the wheel to try to get it to unlock, but no luck. the car is only 4 years old. this should never be an issue. i think it is a design flaw.*ak
10/20/200473000110/18/2004
 After fueling my 2000 ford focus, i put the key back into the ignition, and both the steering wheel and the tumbler were locked. i have done research on this malfunction and i am convinced that these defect should be recalled. i have not yet recieved a bill of repair for this unneccesary inconveinience. there should have been a recall on the ignition three years ago.
10/15/200452000104/15/2003
 Parked my 2000 ford focus, and went to a meeting. when i came back out, my key would only go half-way into the ignition. after talking with the aaa tow guy, and ford service guy, this seems to be a rather common occurance with the ford focus. i understand that it has bad tumblers. am currently researching to see what others have done to fix the problem, have had it towed to a garage. *ak
10/15/200461543304/26/2000
 Ignition cylinder failed and was replaced. this is the third replacement of the ignition cylinder for this vehicle in a 36 month period. even after the second replacement the cylinder catches when attempting to start the vehicle. the dealership claimed to find no problem when returned for correction. this latest failure fortunately occurred in a parking lot and not on the street. failures have now occurred at milages and dates of: 4 october 2001- 18990 miles, 6 january 2004- 48926 miles, and 15 october 2004- 61543 miles. part was retained by dealership.*ak
10/16/20041
 Unable to insert key into cylinder ignition slot of my 2000 ford focus. *jb
10/13/2004311/15/2003
 Three times on my trip cross-country the ignition locked on my focus, refusing to allow the key to turn to start the engine as well as disabling the steering. a helpful aaa servicer got my car started in rural wyoming after allowing it to roll down a hill, but the same tactic on subsequent efforts failed to produce the desired result, and i ended by having the vehicle towed. internet research has revealed this to be a common problem among foci, although ford has declined to issue a recall on the ignition, which employs tumblers that routinely slip inside the ignition, stranding drivers and passengers roadside, sometimes for hours. ford has apparently declined to issue a recall because the problem is not a safety issue. i beg to differ that stranding motorists is indeed an unsafe practice.my ignition is currently being replaced and rekeyed at a cost exceeding $300, and i can only assume that i will eventually be stuck with the same problem due to the faulty design of the ignition. i have also been without transportation on three occasions and experienced costly delays in my cross country trip.*ak
10/13/2003790001
 Ignition-the key will not turn when entered into the ignition the cylinder needs to be replaced. when i contacted ford service deparment i was advised that this is a very common problem in these cars. ford motor company denies to recognize this as recall which i believe they should since they are having so many of these problems with this car.*ak
09/01/20041
 Upon trying to start the vehicle. the key would not turn. it took the consumer numerous tries to get the vehicle started. please provide additional information. *jb
10/12/200449854110/05/2004
 I just bought a used 2000 ford focus zx3 from fairfax honda, 11050 main street, fairfax, va, 888-455-7291 (seller: kazim raza) on october 5th, 2004!!! the dealer told me that i have a 2 months warranty on the car! this morning i was trying to start the engine but was unable to unlock the ignition lock. i have tried to move the steering wheel and used both keys but the lock does not move. also, both keys dont move smoothly into the lock. i contacted the dealer to request a technician come out and change the lock but he refuses to do so. he is saying the warranty only applies to the engine and power train. i am very concerned with this lock since my fear is that it may lock during driving which would cause a very dangerous situation. *nm
10/11/200444000206/08/2000
 Just had our second $350 ignition lock replacement in 2000 ford focus w/ 44000 miles on it. i talked to the service manager at sarasota ford who stated that honestly, you're the first one i've seen. well, i've been (belatedly) reading through web sites with loads of the same complaint!!! *nm
01/04/20043782607/02/2001
 Car would not accept key after turning off ignition. had to have towed to ford dealership. they said ignition lock broke and replaced it car only had 39000 miles on it. 284.39 cost of replacement plus towing charges. *nm
09/22/2004380001
 2000 ford focus se, key will not go into ignition. can not start car.*ak
09/14/200445150209/15/2000
 Purchased new sept 2000 @ 13 miles feb 2003 ignition switch froze, @ 25,375 miles replaced under 36/36k warranty. sept 2004 ignition switch froze @ 45,150 miles replaced by ford and paid by owner for $354.00. in each case i was stranded and had to pay for towing and a rental car. ford keeps replacing the switch with a faulty switch. this should be a recall. *jb
09/08/2004212/27/1999
 Faulty ignition cylinder, second replacement in 18 months. 1st time ignition would not turn & key stuck. 2nd time car would not turn over, service tech claims components inside were broken. *ak
08/30/200455000111/11/2002
 Went to work, parked car in company lot came out put key into ignition to start and key will not turn. steering wheel will not turn. had vehicle towed to dealership, no word from them yet. i have a baby what if this were to happen in the middle of winter while my baby was with me. it is very dangerous. *ak
08/29/2004109/12/2003
 I have a 2000 ford focus wagon and i can no longer get the key to turn in the ignition. i have giggled, i have tapped, i have tried to coax it to work, but now my car is stuck in my driveway with no way to start it. i have looked on-line and there are hundreds of complaints about this same problem - the key sticks [which it has done repeatedly to me] or stops turning in the ignition at all, thereby rendering the car unstartable and therefore undrivable. *jb
08/25/2004102/15/2002
 Ignition key locking up, defective ignition switch. *ak
08/26/2004520001009/01/2000
 More than 1 problem with the fuel system as a whole, the latest one being a fuel pump replacement. now my ignition is broken and in the shop. i've had to have my brakes replaced early along with all of the other recalls on the focus. *ak
08/12/200466000110/01/2002
 When getting into my car to go to work one day the key wouldn't go into the ignition all the way. my vehicle needed to be towed to the dealership in order to replace the entire ignition assembly. *ak
07/01/20047
 Problems with the vehicle motor going fast then slowing down. *mr when the vehicle was in motion, there was thump in the rear under the seat as if it were stopping and or losing power, the emission light had come on the dash board and would go off and on again, the floor would vibrate and rattle, the engine would cut off when at stop lights, the key would not turn in the ignition/stuck in cylinder. the stalling would occur especially when the fuel tank was below 1/2. *sc *jb
07/03/200435500110/11/2001
 Like many ford focuses, my ignition lock cylinder failed. my key ring is not excessively heavy, nor am i abusive with my vehicle--the spring assembly inside the ilc is just a poorly designed piece of crap, and rather than pay the quoted price i successfully replaced the problem by drilling out the old lock and replacing it with a new ilc. ford has issued a technical service bulletin on this problem and thousands of focus owners have suffered a similar breakdown. it's a crap part and should be replaced with a sturdier part at no expense to the consumer, and those of us who have suffered breakdowns to date should be compensated for our repair costs.*ak
03/05/200324741109/11/2001
 Came out of work after closing up at 9:30 pm. at first, key would only go into ignition half way.after a little jiggling key went in the rest of the way but would not turn at all, and steering wheel remained locked. after a half hour of tryng i gave up and had the car towed to the dealer(john lance ford - westlake, ohio) because their service department is open till midnight. on the ride there the towtruck driver told me he pick up several focus's a week with the same problem. heard the same thing from the service department dealer. dealer replaced ignition tumbler and steering column ignition lock at a total cost of $331.52 to me since it was not covered. i filed a complaint with the dealership and with ford since i feel this is a manufacturing defect that should be covered. i have never heard a response from either since. i feel this a safety issue since i was stranded at night, but i was lucky enough to have aaa and a cellphone. i feel sorry for those that don't. this is an unbelievably common problem with the 2000 focus and should be a recall, and we should all be reimbursed.*ak
07/19/200451350510/20/2001
 I own a 2000 ford focus. several times in the past year, the key would not turn to start the car. in the past i have been able to jiggle the key and sterring wheel to get it started. on 7/14/2004, the same thing occurred, but i never had any success with turning it at all. the steering wheel was also locked up. i investigated the problem on the internet and found this was very common on ford focus, especially 2000. i had the car towed and had repairs done at ed kelnley ford in layton, utah costng $461.01.*ak
08/23/2003694042
 Various problems involving 2000 ford focus.*mr recall campaign #02542 was issued for the vehicle in reference to defective battery cables. *cb
07/16/20045
 The ignition malfunctioned. as a result, the key got stuck which enabled the consumer to start the vehicle. *ak
10/24/2001120003
 When the key is placed in the ignition, the key will not turn and start the vehicle. the dealer examined the vehicle and replaced the ignition switch. this vehicle has had the ignition switch replaced three times since ownership. *la
07/15/200458000204/20/1999
 Ignition cylinder jammed and car cannot be started. cylinder must be replaced and tumblers removed to prevent repeat of situation in the future. *la
07/12/200490000408/18/2001
 Defective ignition switches even service wrighter say they should be recalled my 2000 ford focus has had 4 ignition switches installed, the latest on i installed 5-13-04 and today it was towed 65 miles for a new ong against a faulty design and should be fixed. ford will credit me for the new switch i put in cause they say the key ruined it but i say the switch ruined the key. so the change everything now that the next one is in ford when it brakes and i don't think its fair the consumer get stuck.the car had the original one, then about a year or so ago i changed it. then i changed it 2 months ago and now today 07-12-04 again all the service wrighters say the should be recalled too. *la
07/12/2004125000110/01/2000
 Ignition lock failed. unable to insert kit all the way and had to have car towed to dealer. *la
07/11/20040109/26/2000
 The key in my 2000 ford focus zx3 will not turn in the ignition. i have to take it to the dealership to fix. i have read so many accounts of this same problem i cannot believe there has not been a recall. (there have been so many already.) *la
06/23/200433000111/16/2000
 I went out to my car after work and tried to start my car. the key would not go all the way into the ignition so i could not turn the key. after trying a few times, i called ford roadside assistance and had it towed to my dealership, gaudin ford in las vegas on a wednesday night. the tow truck driver said that he's seen a lot of focuses with the same problem. they did not work on it on thursday as they had other cars in front of it. friday they figured out that the ignition cylinder was binding. they did not have the part in stock, so it had to be ordered. finally on tuesday it was done. it was under warranty as i had opted for the extended warranty plan, but i did have a $100 deductible. also, i had rental coverage, but was made to pay for the taxes on the rental car, about $20. *la
07/05/2004106/12/2002
 I have had my ford focus for two years. i will never buy another ford again. the time i have had my ford i've received about 3 or 4 recall notices for my car. just recently i had another problem. the ignition on my car completely locked, you couldn't even turn the key. after talking to the person that towed my car and was told that they have seen this on so many of the focus cars i did a search on the internet and found out it is a major problem. it cost me about $450 just to have them fix the ignition. this is a major concern and i feel there should be a recall on this. *jb
07/05/2004128500308/05/2001
 Over time, my ignition lock has been freezing up and not allowing my to start the car. now it will not work at all and am forced to replace ignition cylinder my self. there seem to be many reports of the same problem with other owners as well. ford needs to recall this car completely until they work out all bugs. *jb
06/29/200425000402/28/2004
 I have a 2000 ford focus. it has a recurring problem where the ignition cylinder locks up and the car cannot not be started, requiring towing to the nearest ford dealer. the ignition cylinder has had to be replaced june 2001, feb 2003, march 2004, and now for the forth time in june 2004. this is a serious and costly problem. if one were to stall in traffic on the highway, and then could not start, the car will be locked in park and would be dangerous. upon picking up the car this time, after putting in the key, the key got stuck and i pulled out the whole cylinder and key together. i was told i am not using my key properly! ford know they have a problem with focus ignitions and will not address or recognize it. in addition, the dealer is tired of dealing with this problem.*ak
06/29/200442000104/13/2004
 I am a victim of ford failing to do something about their ignition locking problem. my ignition locked up on me. this is a well documented and known problem. the design is flawed. the consumer is being taken for a ride. even the replacement part has the failed design. please do something!*ak
06/29/200452000102/14/2000
 Ignition cylinder locks, key gets stuck and will not turn or come out.*ak
06/26/200488000207/24/2001
 Put key in ignition and would not turn over car . locked in park position and could not get it to unlock the steering wheel. key would not turn. dealer claims that this is an ongoing problem with the ford focus, could you please tell me what if any thing i can do to prevent this from happening again, since the car dealer said it's not guaranteed not to happen again. this i s costing me $500.00 plus towing and i'm not even sure it is going to be okay. *jb
06/24/20043
 Key would jam in ignition. then yesterday the key wouldn't start veh. now i am having to tap on the end of key to get the ignition to start due to faulty cylinders in the ignition. i have found numerous complaints regarding this on the web. *jb
06/25/2004840001004/08/2002
 When inserting the key into the ignition the key will only enter half-way and the key cannot be turned or the key can be fully inserted, but cannot be turned. *ak
06/18/200470000103/25/2000
 As i tried to leave my house on 6/18/04, i found that my key would only go into my ignition a quarter of the way. despite trying several ideas suggested, my husband and i ended up contacting a locksmith who fortunately was able to fix the problem in our driveway instead of having it towed. he had to drill out the ignition and replace it with a new one. all together, it ended up costing us $170. my 2000 ford focus only has 70,000 miles on it, and i don't feel this type of problem should be occurring. i understand it is a consistent problem by reading items on the internet as well as the information presented by the locksmith. he said that he has worked on 6 focuses in the past year including one just last week. i am truly concerned about this possibly happening again. ford should be recalling the ignition and replacing them with ones that will last. *ak
02/18/200452000202/16/2002
 We own a 2000 ford focus 4dr lx. on 2/18/2004 and again on 6/20/2004, we put a key in the ignition, and it would not turn at all. we tried everyting, including jiggling the steering wheel. the first time, we had three keys for the car and found that one worked, but the others didn't. it was under an extended warranty (not ford's), which covered replacement of the entire ignition assembly. it is now in the shop again, 4 months later, under a parts warranty (less than 1 year/ 12,000 miles since the last time). there is absolutely no warning that this is about to happen. this time, we were out of town on a holiday sunday (fathers' day), no rental cars available anywhere, no place to stay. neither key worked (had two). we had it towed back to the dealership that worked on it the last time. it is there now. a tow truck driver said he sees this often/ this is a common problem, as do some of the websites listing complaints about his make/model car. this time it should be under ford's parts warranty, but we are concerned this will happen again and again. i am terrified that this will happen again and one of us will be stranded someplace and not able to get help. please investigate, and if you find that this is a chronic problem with the car, as it appears to be, please make ford recall this part and fix the problem. our car only has approximately 52,000 miles on it. we previously had problems with the front suspension and 3 major problems with the fuel system (had to be towed to the dealer 3 times). it is now outside the manufacturer's warranty, and it did not fall within the lemon law. we can't afford to replace the car now, nor should we have to, but we're going to try (but we don't know who will buy it, knowing that they could get stranded somewhere, too). thank you for your consideration.*ak
06/19/200454000201/09/2000
 No sign of anything wrong - then key will not turn in ignition and the steering wheel is locked up. *ak
06/08/2004620001
 My 2000 ford focus se was having problems with the steering wheel locking up and ignition key not turning, on 06/08/04 car was towed to pacific ford. ford said that it was not covered under extended warranty, that the problem is wear and tear. ignition cylinder was replaced, cost me $380.25. now key does not open driver side of door, will open trunk and passenger side of door . took back the car to pacific ford, now they are saying that is has to do with my cylinder lock on door (wear and tear)and if would cost me about $300.00 to have it replaced. did not have problem with any of the doors or trunk not opening up before they serviced the car. *jb
06/13/200457000208/01/2001
 The ignition cynlinder on my 2000 focus has collapsed for the second time, leaving me stranded without transportation. the key will not turn to crank up the car. i had this problem fixed by the dealership in 2002, but it just broke again. i have found hundreds of other complaints filed and posted online about this same problem and repeated occurances. now my dealership is charging me $250 to fix it again because the part is no longer under warrantee. this is disgusting. i would like reimbursement, and ford should issue a recall, as this is obviously an ongoing problem. *ak
05/12/2004550001
 Consumer was unable to turn the key in the ignition switch. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak
06/07/200470000307/15/2002
 Ignition key failed and locked the steering wheel on my 2000 ford focus zx3. *ak
04/13/2004440002
 It was hard for the consumer to start the vehicle due to ignition problem. in some cases the vehicle would not start at all. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak
06/07/200443000201/15/2004
 I had been having some slight problem getting my key to turn thought nothing of it until today (6/7/2004) went to store and got out went in came back out and low and behold my ignition would not accept my key. finally got key in the ignition and could not get it to move. it is frozen up completely. this is terrible how can there be so many complaints on this problem and nothing be done about it.ford has to know that they have a defective part on these cars...... is there not anything a person can do abouit this kind of thing? is there a certain number of recalls before there is something done ...if there is any thing a person can do to get ford to correct this defect and it is a defect i am certain after reviewing your complaint site it is amazing how many people have went through this same thing alot more than one time, some people said they had to fix theirs more than one but three and four times .. please help ! *ak
06/03/2004160002
 Owner says that the ignition locks up. it also locks the steering wheel. owner took the vehicle to the dealer who repaired the problem early on. now the vehicle is not under warranty and it will cost about 600.00 for repair. provide further details. *nm
05/31/200470400209/19/2000
 I had purchased a 2000 ford focus. i have had the car less then 5 years and the ignition cylinder had fail twice. ford motor co. has not admitted and fault in either occurrence. *ak
08/04/2003401/22/2000
 2000 ford focus ignition locked up. unable to turn key in the ignition, making it impossible to start the vehicle. this was the 4th occurrence of the same problem. each time the car had to be towed to the dealership. each time the cylinder had to be replaced. the third time it was done the service tech neglected to tighten the master nut on the steering column (which was replaced...too badly worn from removing the cylinder the previous times), and the steering wheel nearly came off in my hands while driving. the dealerships have replaced the cylinders at no cost to me thus far, but having to go thru this about every nine to twelve months is quite annoying, not to mention extremely inconvenient. this time i will ask that they save the old part and give it to me. *la
04/12/200461826108/01/2001
 The ignition cylinder of my 2000 ford focus was faulty. this recent repair was the second time i had to repair this faulty component. the key wouldn't even go into the ignition before the repair. the dealership cut me two new keys and rebuilt the ignition cylinder. i would like to know why this faulty component has not been recalled by ford? *la
01/01/19010
 When placing vehicle key in the ignition switch, consumer noticed that the key would only fit half way resulting in the consumer being unable to turn switch to start vehicle engine. the dealer and manufacturer were notified. *mr the dealer replaced the lock cylinder free of charge. *nm
05/25/200409/25/2000
 Ignition is getting stuck more and more often. the key won't turn, steering wheel is locked.
05/23/2004202/20/2000
 In march 2002, my 2000 ford focus lx had the steering wheel lock up and the ignition lock up so that i could not turn the key or start my car. it had to be towed to the dealership and they ended up having to drill out the ignition lock cylinder, rebuild it, and replace broken steering column parts. now yesterday, may 23, 2004, the same thing occurred - steering wheel locked, key would not turn, car would not start. i had to tow it again to the same dealership, and get the parts replaced again.*ak
05/16/20041
 Ford focus 2000 ignition key would not start car....big problem. *ak
05/15/200428000203/06/2003
 Second ignition key cylinder has gone out on auto w/less than 28,000 miles. both were expensive out of warranty repairs and occurred within one year. appears you have about 150 complaints re: the same problem. what does it take to get a recall? *ak
05/11/2004207/03/2000
 I had to have my ignition switch drilled out of my 2000 ford focus last year since the key would not even enter. less than one year later i had to get the switch replaced again since i could not turn it.*ak
09/08/200355000107/07/2000
 My key got stuck in my ignition, but i finally got it out but then could not insert key. had to get it towed and was told by tow driver that was his 4th pickup that week of the same type car and same problem. i had to get it fixed myself.*ak
04/25/200466800105/01/2003
 When i put the key in my ignition, it will not turn. i cannot unlock my steering wheel or start my car. *la
04/24/200472000109/25/2003
 Key can be inserted into ignition, ignition cylinder frozen, unable to turn key at all. towed to garage. replaced with new cylinder. tow truck driver told me this was the 4th focus that he has towed this week with the same problem.*ak
14781109/25/2000
 Vehicle failed after being repaired. ph the vehicle was side swiped in chicago where the sales dealer claimed to have made repairs. the vehicle was transported to florida where it failed. the vehicle was barely driven, and had only 10 miles on it when it was purchased. the consumer was unable to turn the ignition. the cylinder was replaced. *sc the left front strut and sway bar link was replaced. *jb
04/21/200460000310/07/2000
 2000 ford focus. my key has gotten stuck in the ignition and has had to be reparied three times in the past three years. each time i am stranded and need to be towed. once i paid $700.00 and this current fixing will be $450.00 at the dealer. *ak
04/09/2004206/11/2001
 2000 ford focus: 1/04 and 3/04 the ignition locked and would not turn; ignition cylinder replaced in 1/04 and second occurence blamed on worn key. had to pay for new key. on 1/04 service manager hit the key while in the ignition and released the cylinder. will see if key is the problem on second incident.
04/09/200432000105/01/2000
 First ignition key could not be inserted into ignition, after 30 minutes of finagling, it forcefully let me put it in (we were on vacation and not near home) now the key can not be removed from the ignition. i don't want to force it because then i probably can't get it back in, at least this way i can drive. i called the ford dealership and they said the tumblers are locked on and it would have to be replaced at $89.00 an hour for labor, $100+ for parts at 2-3 hours of labor, so that is a grand total of $350 to $420 for a problem that seems to be a common occurence. this needs to be a recall issue. my focus is 4 years old and only has 32000 miles on it, i have never heard of anything so absurd as this. interestingly enough, the locksmith can do it for 98.00 for parts and 20.00 for labor, which he said takes about 45 minutes. go figure, looks like ford has a real racket on repairs, i think they are crooks. i just had it in for fuel pump related inssues and the fuel pump has been recalled. it has been over 3 months waiting on parts to fix this recall - again, a bunch of crooks, when it's coming out of their pocket!*ak
04/05/2004460001
 The consumer was not able to remove the key from the ignition switch, when the vehicle was on park. dealer notified. *nm
03/26/2004206/01/2000
 I have to have my car towed twice to the dealerhip because the ignition would not turn. the dealership cut out the cylinder and replaces it with a new one.*ak
03/26/200046000104/08/2000
 Steering wheel is locked and key will not turn so car will not start. after doing research i have found that this is very common and may even happen again after being repaired - typical cost is $250 - 300. *ak.
03/24/200439500303/10/2000
 Ignition cylinder has had to be replaced for the 3rd time in less than 3 years. the last 2 two the cylinder and steering wheel have locked up, not possible to turn ignition key or turn wheel.
03/20/200429777111/26/2000
 I could not start the car while in a parking deck late at night! the car had to be towed to the dealership to have the ignition cylinder replaced. this is a problem ford knows about (there are 177 complaints on this web site) and tsb reports have been filed for this part for the 2000 and 2001 foci. *ak
03/20/200438500111/13/1999
 Ignition lock cylinder malfunction ford motor company is aware of faulty part. locks up, you can not start vehicle. *ak
101/02/2003
 When the keys are out of the ignition driver is able to shift gears. sometimes the key gets stuck in the ignition. *ak
1
 Vehicle is in the shop after recently being purchased for ignition repairs. *la *mr
02/13/200426000205/01/2000
 June 2003 & february 2004: ignition key would not turn ignition cylinder nor would the steering wheel unlock. ford dealer stated they have contacted the manufacturer numerous times due to this problem occuring alot and the dealer stated that the manufacturer was not concerned and would not be doing anything about this. dealership is standing behind initial repair in 2003 as starting date of 1 year warranty even though they do acknowledge that the same thing happened again in 2004. if this problem occurs again outside of the 1 year warranty with the initial fix, we will have to pay for it again. we feel this needs to be addressed and some action taken.
02/13/20041
 While driving vehicle stalled. driver was able to restart vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. however, mechanic was not able to resolve the problem. *ak
06/01/200330000404/07/2000
 Other than the recalls and the brakes squeaking constantly, everything was fine with my 2000 focus up until 1 month after the warranty expired. almost one month to the day, the instrument cluster stopped working. ford would replace it at a cost of at least $500, so i replaced it myself by ordering a part on line for a total of $45. a couple of months later, the ignition cylinder would not allow the key to fit all the way in and as a result the car was not able to start, resulting in a cost of around $300 to replace. i am beginning to see the stalling problem from the faulty fuel pump. now my automatic door locks and trunk release just stopped working and the car is making a very odd grinding noise when you turn. it would be one thing if i was the only one with these problems, but the facts are out there and many, many, many people are all having the exact same problems! i have written to ford main offices and my local ford dealership serveral times on these matters and i have never heard anything back. i honestly am never buying a ford vehicle again.*ak
02/03/2004108/19/2000
 I was unable to insert the key into the ignition and therefore unable to start the vehicle. neither of the two key i had would work. according to my limited web research, this is not an uncommon occurrence for ford focus owners. unfortunately, no recall currently addresses this exceptionally inconvenient $400-$500 repair.
02/04/200447000207/21/2003
 I tried to start my car and the key would not turn. the ignition was locked. i tried several times and it would not turn. i read on a ford focus forum online that several other focus owners have experienced this same problem and one tow truck driver hit the key in the ignition to get it started. i had to result to doing the same and it worked. the other problem now is that my key is now stuck in the ignition and will not come out. the dealer wants to charge $380+ and this is outrageous! there are thousands of complaints about this ignition lock problem. my concern is that this problem could have happened anywhere. thank goodness it happened at home close to internet resources. otherwise, i would have been stranded somewhere with 3 young children and no means of starting my car.*ak
08/18/200336000210/20/1999
 Key had trouble going in to ignition switch, when key finally did go in, key will not turn. car will not start. car towed to dealer, tow truck driver said my car was 5 or 6th this week with same problem! dealer informed problem was not under warranty and there was no recall for the problem. total cost was almost $600 including tow bill!*ak
01/18/2004108/15/2000
 Ingition stuck. key will not go in fully. steering wheel locked. the rarely used spare key doesn't work either. dealer expects to have to replace cylinder. *ak
01/18/200345000209/01/2000
 Attempted to insert key in the ignition and wouldn't go in all the way. even wiggling the key doesn't work. saw on the newsgroups that this is a common problem. how come ford hasn't acknowledge this problem? this is the most troublesome car i've ever owned!!! i used to be a royal ford customer. * cb
11/30/200457532207/09/2003
 The consumer was unable to turn the key in the ignition switch, or turn the steering wheel. the dealership was notified. *jb the ignition was replaced. ford suggested that the ignition switch was covered not the ignition cylinder. *sc the consumer stated that the key cylinder failed again. the consumer contacted ford to get a refund from january and was told that it was not their problem and the refund was denied. the vehicle part was changed as a goodwill effort by ford. *tc *jb
01/09/20045600003/25/2000
 Ford focus 2000 zx3 ignition lock cylinder became jammed unexpectedly. key enters lock but lock will not release, and so car will not start. results in stranded motorist with no warning signs beforehand, hence safety issue. requires either tow to repair shop or site visit from locksmith. many references to this problem on the web, and every dealer or locksmith i contacted had seen this problem multiple times.*ak
1
 Upon placing key in ignition switch consumer was unable to turn switch on. *ak
12/26/200338400104/17/2003
 Went to start my car but the key would not go into ignition. i tried every possible way to get the key in. i ended up calling two dealerships who both said it was a common problem with the 2000 focus. when i spoke with the mechanic i asked if there was a recall he said he was very suprised that there hadn't been one. i also asked if the new cylinder would have the same problem he replied that it was an updated model but that didn't mean anything- they still had the same problem.*ak
01/09/20041
 While driving 65 mph vehicle stalled. driver had the vehicle towed to the dealer for analysis, and mechanic could not resolve the problem.*ak
 Vehicle had a starting problem. while driving hit a deer, and a few minutes later the vehicle caught on fire. vehicle was totaled. *ak
11/18/200365000101/08/2000
 Recently had to have ignition replaced by a locksmith. i could not place the key into the ignition. something was wrong with the tumbler, i believe. the locksmith said this happened on several ford focus vehicles.*ak
08/17/2003112/18/2002
 My focus's ignition froze up and was unable to operate. the dealer said they had been replacing alot of ignition cylinders lately. the extended warranty i bought from ford did not cover the problem. every other ford i have owned has had to have the ignition replaced as well.*ak
12/18/2003108/01/2001
 We have had several problems with the car since we purchased it.our battery died at 25000 miles, had to be replaced no explanation given. the ignition tumbler had to be replaced be cause it broke, when i took it to the dealership they gave no explanation for it. *akalso we have had our brakes replaced twice within 1 year and need to have them done again(last done in july 2003).and we have been having a problem with the car stalling while driving at various speeds.
12/15/2003110/15/2000
 Ignition lock has broken.*ak
12/11/20031
 200 ford focus zx3: ignition is locked in position. key will not turn. steering is locked up also. this has happend 2 times before. there is a website dedicated to addressing this issue. this needs to ba a recall because it is obviously a manufacturer defect that is affecting the ford focus. *ak
12/03/20031
 Ford focus 2000. squeaky brakes, ignition problems - locked up -? can't turn key. *la
11/15/200334000103/10/2000
 Last weekend after i parked my car i forgot to lock the doors after half hour i went out again and i could not even put the key into ignition i called ford dealer and they told me that i should try to move the steering wheel, so i tried many times, finally the key went in but it could not turn the key to start the car, nothing moves , no even the gearshift to shift to neutral and move the vehicle, so i went to the dealer and they told me it's a vehicle defect and also they told me they did have 2 more cases same as mine. so i asked them what i can do... they said i have to towed the car there and to check and fix it is around 400 dollars. my complain is because i think is very dangerous for a woman to have this kind of problem. the systems in their cars because if you are alone and you leave your vehicle in a parking lot said at night and you comeback what you are going to do if it is complete lock? you can be raped if you are alone late in a dark spot or anything can happen to you... now if ford knows this kind the cars have this problem why they do not do something about it ? they can recall the cars. please help me because i think is not fear i have to pay 400 dollar for a car defect and also because my warranty is over. thank you so much for help. samantha vidal. *la
11/11/200350350109/15/2000
 Ignition locked, was unable to insert key, after hour of trial. key finally got into the ignition, but could not turn to any direction. had to tow vehicle to dealership, let dealership fix it. total cost was over $450. *ak
11/15/200343000109/02/2000
 Hi, i own a 2000 ford focus and it has been nothing but trouble. i purchased the car brand new in 2000 and have had it in the shop so many times. i have had my rear passenger side window mechanism replaced by ford, then personally replaced the driver front window mechanism and the driver back mechanism due to cable breaks. i have had it in with the radio 3 times and it still does not work correctly. i have had to have the brakes replaced, the ignition block replaced, the struts and shocks. the trunk release has never worked. now it keeps breaking down on me if i drive for more than 1 hour non stop. this weekend i went to san antonio from corpus, it died on the highway 3 times going to sa and coming home 4 times & how safe is that! ford said they cannot do anything for me unless it is messing up when i bring it in while it is acting up, however it always happens when i am away from town. they told me that if they hook it up to the machine it will not tell them anything. also, on several occasions my accelerator has stuck and i cannot brake, i have to put the car in neutral and press on the brake hard while the rpm's are still revving and pull the emergency brake, the first time this happened i was pulling into a parking spot and went over the yellow divider. is there anything i can do? *la
09/15/2003106/05/2000
 Ignition would not turn so key is stuck inside. *la
11/07/200305/15/2000
 Technical bulletin no. 15421 my ignition switch failed, preventing me from being able to turn my key in the ignition. i had to call a locksmith who replaced the swith for $275. the locksmith said he had seen dozens of ford focuses with similar problems, something he blame on a defective set of tumblers within the switch.
11/10/200338000208/07/2000
 Ignition locked up. this is the second incident in 2.5 years. *la
11/10/2003107/27/2001
 Numerous problems with focus. bought car in 2001. since the day that i drove off the lot i had squeaky brakes. took to servicer and was told dust on brakes & it was normal. after three attempts, they changed pads & rotors. now i hear the squeak again. car cut off while going up a hill. was told by the servicer that it happened because the weather had recently gotten hot and it shocked the car. key wouldn't enter the ignition. had to have the car towed to servicer. car shuts off if under half a tank. servicer told me keep the gas over half a tank. sometimes i smell something burning while heat on in car. on 2 occassions saw smoke coming from the vents while a/c on ( didn't take to servicer for these problems because they never occured again). today 11/10/03 the check engine light came on and the car started shaking and stalling eventually cutting off. took to the servicer and explained the problem, without even mentioning the make and model of my car the technician said, you must have a focus. no longer under factory warranty and can't afford to pay for these defects that ford is very much aware of. also, the car no longer has value. tried to trade it in before factory warranty ran out last year, and was told car only worth $4,000 while i still owed $10,000, which means i would have had to come up with the $6,000 difference to be free from the car. the car was only 2 yrs old when i tried to trade it in! so, i feel i got ripped off with a lemon that i can't even get rid of. i am seriously considering calling the finance company and voluntarily giving the car back, but then my credit will show a repossession, which is not fair being that the consumers were never told about the history of problems with the focus before we bought them.*ak
11/04/200346000212/15/1999
 I had two problems occur concurrently on my 46,000 mile car--and the mechanics at the dealership i brought it to told me that they're seeing a large number of these same problems. 1) the ignition barrel goes stiff with little warning, and apparently leads to a jam, early in the useful life of the car. 2) the automatic door lock suddenly stops working, apparently due to the defective actuactor in one of the rear doors, so that the car no longer locks *la
01/27/2000566001001/21/2000
 1st recall,6/2000 shop for a/c problem,9/2000 shop for 7 days for ac problem,1/2002 shop 7days for engine work,recalls x 4 or 5 not sure about dates there has been so many on this car,problems with not starting ,gas gauge, tire replacement 3 sets in less then 3 years, hesitation,poor gas milage,brakes squealing, trunk does not close properly,10/2003 has been in shop for 3 weeks for possible engine work. dealer can not seem to find or repair the problem, i am not happy with this car it has had serious problems from day one there are more to mention can not list them all i need help. *ak
10/30/200349425101/28/2000
 Like many people who have sent complaints to this sight, i too have had several problems with my 2000 ford focus. the latest problem is what set me over the edge with ford though. i tried putting my key in the ignition to start my car today and it wouldn't go in. after several attempts, i gave up and called a towing company. once i got my car to a ford service center, i learned that the tumbler was bad and the whole ignition piece needed to be replaced. what was i to do? i need my car to run, so at a replacement fee of $430 dollars, my ignition was working once again. as soon as i got home, i called ford customer svs. and made my 2nd formal complaint about the car. i was dismissed as usual and decided to contact your site. after reviewing 50 plus complaints, i noticed that at least 5 also complained of the same problem that i had. how many cars does this have to happen to for this to become a recalled item? *la
10/24/200325000204/20/2001
 We have had the ignition freeze up on us three times in the past two years, the last time being yesterday. the first happened when the car had approximately 25,000 mi. (i can't find the original receipts, but it is on file at harrold ford in sacramento, ca). the second occurred when the car had a little over 40,000 miles (november of 2002). now the car has about 53,000 miles, and it has happened again. each time, we have been stranded and have had to have the car towed. the first time we were trapped in a parking garage at a med clinic with a very sick baby. the second time we were trapped for the entire weekend in lake tahoe before the car could be towed to a ford dealership on monday. given the frequency of the repairs required on this same exact item, it is hard for me to believe that this is not a design flaw. unfortunately, we have to pay about $150 per occurence to ford to fix it and aaa has to assume the cost for towing the vehicle and putting us up, if we are stranded out of town (we have a aaa plus membership). this does not seem right to me. has anyone else reported this same thing happening frequently on their focuses? i would recommend that this be investigated. *la
10/24/2003570001
 2000 ford focus zts: the ignition cylinder locked on my car and my key won't slide in. i am going to have to have the car towed and fixed to the tune of about $400. this is potentially a dangerous situation, and one that occurs frequently from what i've been reading. this could have happened at any time and in any place. i am 7 months pregnant...what if i had been stranded and needed to get to the hospital in an emergency? *la
10/17/2003106/20/2000
 The ignition/steering locked up in my ford focus station wagon. the car has only 18,000 miles on it; it is out of warranty; aaa and the towing people told me that this locking up of the ignition system in the 2000 ford focus is a frequent problem. the lady at aaa thought that there is a recall, but ford motor co. said that there is no recall. the ignition lock and the keys had to be replaced at a cost of more than $500. the work is being done by the dealer, pacifico ford. if it is true that there are lots of people who have this happening to their ford focus 2000, the automaker should do something to correct this defect. *la
10/09/20031
 Ignition locked without warning. *ak
04/01/2003
 In april of 2003, i went outside to start my car, the key went into the ignition and the chimes sounded (indicating electrical connection/activity); however, my key was not able to turn the ignition switch. i am being charged $273.00 for the problem, that is clearly a manufacturer's defect. if there is ever a recall or any legal justification with the lemon please let me know as soon as possible. thank you. *la
10/03/200369350109/20/2001
 Ignition core comes completely out when removing key. difficult to correctly realign into steering column. have read other complaints about same problem from multiple consumers. *jb
09/15/20031
 Consumer went out to start car and key would not turn, ignition was locked in place, it would not move. also, steering wheel was locked. consumer took vehicle to dealership, and they said they never heard off such occurrences. *ak
09/12/20032
 Consumer states that she is having problems with her vehicle's ignition switch again. she states that last year this time the key would go in the ignition but it would not unlock and turn. the mechanic repaired it, she had another switch put in. this year the same thing is happening. the key will go in the ignition, but it will not turn the auto on. it is like the switch is frozen in place. consumer states when she spoke with the mechanic about the part that is now defective, and the year's warranty is not up, the mechanic says he will have to charge her again. he does not want to honor her warranty on the part which he put on the vehicle. she states she still has a couple of weeks left before the warranty expires. *ph
09/02/200336743105/06/2002
 The consumer stated the dealer replaced the ignition switch. *jb the key would not turn in the ignition and as a result the driver was stranded. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where they replaced the ignition cylinder. *ts *nlm
08/22/20031
 Ignition locked up and won't start. dealer stated this problem was common and consumer should contact a locksmith to remedy the problem. *ak
08/04/200323748103/09/2001
 The consumer was unable to start the vehicle because the key failed to go into the ignition. dealership had to replaced the ignition cylinder. also, the left turn signal did not cancel once the turn was complete. the dealership replaced the turn signal switch. *ak. the dome light failed to come when the door was opened, the dealer replaced a burned out bulb. *jb
08/20/20031
 When attempting to restart vehicle ignition locked without warning. dealer notified. *ak
05/01/2000210/16/2000
 Consumer was on 7th set of tires at 60,000, an alignment with each set. radio had been replaced twice/ brakes had been completely replaced twice/ wheel bearings had been replaced,and ignition was replaced once after vehicle had been towed. low and behold, consumer's focus was sitting in driveway needed to be towed for the same problem again. car was getting horrible gas mileage, sometimes had brake failure which caused 2 accidents. also, lugs:nuts had been replaced. the car would sometimes stall for no apparent reason, and was in need of an alternator.*ak
07/17/20031
 Consumer stated the ignition locked up. dealer notified. please provide any additional information. *ph
885001
 Consumer states when turning corners vehicles stalls. cause unkwown. *ak
07/31/2003821901211/27/1999
 Constant squeaking noise when the brakes are applied. i've already replaced the rotors, brakes, brake pads, and drums on several occasions since buying this focus about 3 years ago. also my steering wheel locked on me one day in april of 2002 the key would not fit into the ignition to start the car i have no idea why this would happen from one day to another. i had my vehicle towed to the ford dealership and they didn't know what the problem was caused by. they said that they needed to update the lock cylinder. luckily i purchased the api extended warranty that cover the car for 100,000 miles. so the cost of the work done for this was $427.20. all but $50.00 of which was my deductible was cover by this warranty. the problems didn't stop here. i also have had to get the cd systems that came installed in the car replaced. the was a constant clicking noise with the cd player and 90% of the time the cd's wouldn't even play. i called the dealership and they said that they could replace it for me but that it wouldn't be coverer by the warranty so i would have to pay for it out of my pocket. i ended up having a new system installed but not from the ford dealership, i took it to circuit city. recently this month july 2003, my car has been staling and shutting off at stop signals and stop light also just shut completely off on the freeway thank god no accident occurred. i called the dealership to report this problem also my check engine light would come on and off several times and they said to bring it in and they would check the engine light but that i would have to pay $165. 00 just for them to check the light and it would be more $$$ to repair what ever problem it was. i was fed up by then. *ph
07/24/200308/23/2000
 Battery light goes on and off at will - no apparent pattern - car also shudders and stalls when idling in gear - does this on a daily basis several times a day and has done this since purchase! dealership could find no reason for this while under initial warranty - on second attempt to fix the computer was replaced (under 80,000 warranty) due to 'wrong chip for this car' - when car was picked up it was running - after parking at home could not restart car had it towed back to dealership and all car keys had to be re-programmed at our cost 'because you must have done something to them'! within 2 days car was once again flashing it's battery light and shuddering/stalling! *ak
10/04/200125321402/01/2001
 The ignition housing locked up and as a result the vehicle could not be moved. the front axles on the right side fell off. the dealer refused to repair them. the front brake calipers fell off. the rear end slid while driving on a wet surface. *mr cb *nlm
07/01/200337000403/07/2003
 Problem with the ignitioin cylinder. i have been informed by ford that no one has reported a problem with this, but i find that to be extremely contrary noting the excessive complaints on just this website alone. the key will not turn in the ignition. they are asking no less than $300, and i find if you multiply that estimation by the number of complaints they know nothing about, they have quite the racket going on.
07/09/200355140107/01/2003
 Ignition key does not turn. with only 55144 miles the ignition key should not be a problem. dealer stated they have several cars with the same problem so is obviously a defective part. i feel the dealer should pay for this type of repairs, there are at least 50 other consumers complaining of the same problem right on this site. please conduct and investigation as soon as posible, sooner or later someone will be injured as a result of this faulty ignition. *ak
02/11/2003105/03/2000
 Ignition cylinder pin defect. had to replace this item 5 times underwarranty. *ak
06/27/200355124105/17/2003
 Went to turn car on, key would not go into ignition switch, then after a few tries it went in but the ignition would not turn. at all. called five lock smiths, all refused to come out to attempt to fix my jammed ignition switch, all five stated they have this type of call on this car (2000 ford focus) all the time and that they can't fix it, i need to bring it to the dealership and have the ignition cylinder replaced. had car towed to dealership - $80 - dealership said that the ignition cylinder needed replacing, that yes, it is a very common problem, that there is a service bulletin out on it but no recall (said to me they felt it should be recalled), and that it was going to run me about $475 to get it fixed!! i purchased the car used, contacted the prior owner, they said the same problem happened to them with the car around 15,000-16,000 miles ago and they had the ignition cylinder replaced at that time and that they were told by dealership that it was an improved cylinder and that it should not go bad again. well, it's gone bad again, and now i'm having to pay to have something fixed that should last many thousands of miles. this is ridiculous. i've owned other brands of cars for 200,000+ and 300,000+ miles and never had to replace ignition cylinder on any of those cars, this car has 55,000 miles and it's the second time! i say defect!! :) *nlm
06/20/200348300102/01/2000
 This morning my ignition cylinder went bad. went to go start the car and it wouldn't turn. *nlm
06/01/200311/05/2002
 On june 1, 2003, my car had to be towed to the dealer for replacement of the ignition cylinder which was done on june 2, 2003 at stoneham motor co. i previously had the car towed to the dealer for the same problem and same repair on two other occasions -- february 11, 2003 and april 21, 2003. this was previously reported in a complaint to your agency (confirmation no. 10018431). the dealer attempted to replace the steering column so that i would not have this problem again, but was unable to accomplish this successfully. although a new ignition cylinder was installed, i understand that this problem may continue to occur repeatedly because of a design defect which does not require the key to be inserted fully. the tow truck driver told me that one consumer with a similar problem leaves his key in the ignition, thinking that if the car gets stolen that will solve the problem. he said that another consumer has a hammer in his car which he uses to tap the key before turning it. i have no complaint with the dealer who performed all three repairs at no charge, but i believe that the manufacturer should have some responsibility for this problem, both to me and my dealer. *nlm
06/09/2003583091
 After recall repairs were performed vehicle would not start. dealer stated it was not their problem. *ak
06/07/2003480001
 Engine check light comes on, and vehicle starts to shake ,and then shuts off. dealer notified. *ak
03/17/20021
 While driving at any speed and no warning the vehicle will shut off, causing consumer to pull over and it will be hard to get the vehicle back started.dealer notified. *ak
2
 Ignition switch would not turn when placing key into starter switch had broken. dealer had repaired vehicle twice. please provide further information.*ak
05/17/200347000208/04/2000
 Key will go into the ignition but ignition will not turn, second time. *jb
02/11/200327840
 On both february 11, 2003 and april 21, 2003, my car had to be towed to the dealer for replacement of the ignition cylinder in my ford focus 2000. i was told by the mechanic that the ignition design made the ignition cylinders prone to breaking, i believe because it does not require the key to be inserted fully. i have no complaints with the dealer who performed both repairs at no change, but from the mechanics comments, it appears that a design defect could exist. *nlm
 The key would not go into ignition. the dealer indicated that the cylinder had to be replaced. *nlm
04/21/20035700008/29/2002
 Key won't turn in the ignition, steering wheel is locked also. was told we would have to tow it to nearest dealership and pay for repairs. *nlm
04/07/2003248002
 Ignition cylinder locked up, car towed to dealer. they drilled it out and replaced under warranty. problem recurred after 18 months and 12000 miles. out of pocket $606 plus the tow. car has only 25000 miles, but is 4 months out of warranty. should be recalled! *jb
04/16/20031
 When the key was placed inside of the ignition, the key became stuck. *jb
03/23/2003309/01/2000
 The ignition did not turn off when the key was removed from the ignition. *jb the consumer suggested that wihout any warning, she was not able to insert the ignition switch. at least four dealerships said that this was a common problem with this make/model. the consumer experienced stalling and acceleration problems. *sc
03/29/200374000306/05/2000
 Key would not go into ignition. called emergency road service. they could not help. they told me this was a common problem and that they were considering a recall. with all of the complaints registered and the number of issues on the internet, i am surprised it has not been done. ignition already replaced once. this is starting to get to be ridiculous. finally tapped the key in the car starts but the key will not come out of the ignition switch resulting in a security problem. *jb
03/19/200339000110/09/2000
 Key would not go all the way into the ignition. i had to call a locksmith and was told this is a common problem with the ford focus. *jb
03/15/200337000
 Key hard to insert into ignition and will not turn. can not start the car. only 37,000 miles. if car stalls on a rail road track or a busy intersection will be doomed. this is unsafe. *nlm
380001
 Consumer was unable to turn the key in the ignition to start the vehicle. cause was unknown. *jb
02/09/2003103/01/2000
 Ford ignition cylinder defect. key will not insert all the way, it takes numerous tries, once inserted will not rotate to start position. *jb
03/06/200386750207/22/2000
 I own a 2000 ford focus. i had my ignition cylinder replaced in june 2002. then on march 2, 2003 it happened again. i have spent nearly $600 on this part in the last 9 months and i am still paying for my car. an ignition should usually out last the life of the car. i am very dissatisfied with the service i am receiving from ford and i know this will be a re-occurring problem. they also had to shave my key a little to make it work but it does not feel the way it used to and it really bothers me because i know it will happen again. *jb
02/22/2003405/31/2000
 Replaced ignition lock and cylinder twice on a 2000 ford focus. had to have the car towed. the steering wheel occasionally locks. have around 46338 miles on the automobile. the bill was $215.52. purchased the automobile from team ford in tarboro, north carolina. *nlm
02/19/20031
 The vehicle did not start, when consumer inserted the key in the ignition there was a clicking noise. *jb
02/17/20032
 The ignition was replaced twice, it took numerous tries before the vehicle started.*jb
02/20/2000
 2000 focus with ignition switch failure. car is just out of warranty (39000 miles). ford will not cover repair. also front sway bars loose.
03/01/20012500010/20/2000
 Ignition failed, had to be replaced, tires wear incredibly fast (4 sets of tires at 45000 miles), radio cut out, had to be replaced twice, brakes failed at least three times causing two accidents, dealership said they replaced them, but lied and never did, was forced to spend $500 having them replaced, trunk doesn't close, bad suspension, spun out on an exit ramp
12/24/2002101/22/2002
 Went to ne from mn for xmas. parked focus in parking garage. came out on xmas eve; put key in ignition, would not turn. when trying to get the steering wheel to turn; locked up. called ford motor and none of their suggestions worked. had to have focus towed to local dealer to repair and rekey ignition cylinder. total cost $260+ (which is low from what i hear). tow driver mentioned something very fishy,i've towed more than 12 focus's and every single one of them had this same ignition/key problem... ...ford wont recall until this ignition/key problem becomes a safety issue when someone freezes on the side of the road because they cannot start their car. interesting. ford must be required to recal for this problem. its a trap for dealers to make money off this problem. please follow up!
01/01/2000
 The key would not turn once in the ignition and was difficult to remove, the dealer replaced the ignition tumbler. the consumer has also replaced the brakes, tires and radiator deflector. *nlm
 Consumer states that the key will not come out of the ignition.dealer notified and repaired, 14,000 miles later problem reoccurred. ph
11/12/2002102/01/2001
 Consumer was exiting a parking garage and placed vehicle in reverse. without warning, car suddenly accelerated and rear tail spun around 2 times then hit a parked vehicle. consumer did apply brakes with no success. ph insurance company informed dealership that there were two recalls that dealt with a defective throttle and speed control which was not performed on the vehicle prior to the accident. other problems included weezing noise while turning. power steering racked failed and replaced. lack of power steering in steering wheel. rear brake pad replacement. rear wheel bearing noise. defective wheel bearings replaced. tire punctured and replaced. hesitation on acceleration. fuel pump and gasket replaced. tires rotted out. key stuck in ignition. replaced malfunctioned shifter assembly. trunk lid wouldn't latch. latch replaced. *tt
12/31/200238250003/20/2000
 The key would not turn the ignition was locked in place it would not move at all and the steering wheel was locked. i called roadside assistance and they told me it was a common problem, in fact, they told me what kind of car i had before i told them, and they said they no longer come out on that defect. they said there are a lot of problem with these models and they had many calls on the ford focus . i am just out of warranty period which is 36000. i don't feel this is my fault. i feel it is a defect with the product. i have had several other problems for which ford refuses to own up to, and i feel the public is being shammed with their claims that this is the #1 car they sell. the steering wheel is locked and i am stuck without being able to move my car. how could i expect this to happen, i feel this is a ford problem, i don't feel that i should have to pay (note: this happened jan 6, 2003, but your site only goes to 2002, therefore, i had to use dec 31, otherwise i could not continue).
12/31/2002302/26/1999
 The ignition switch on my car is not working. if it has to be replaced, it will be the third time since i bought the car. which was in febuary of 2002. if a locksmith shop can repair the problem, why is it that a ford dealership can't?
09/01/2001
 1 week after purchase took in for brakes and rotars, 3 months later same thing, two months following ignition locked along with a/c not wrking need another lining, right now ignition is trying to lock again needs calipers brakes rotars car is stalling mechanic just made me aware that the two tires on the right has four lug wheels two tires on the left has five lug wheels. the car sounds horrible no money to repair all these problems fell like i have to pay for something thats not even driveable ford will not do anything or dealer still covered under factory warranty i believe deep in my heart they sold me a lemon i know theres no way a car should have four, five lugs it means thta they salvage the car threw it back together and had it sitting waiting for the first sucker! me but i'm going to try to fight this all the way no matter what it takes. dt
11/12/2002111/01/2000
 No summary. dt
12/01/200103/01/2001
 I have had nothing but problems with this vehicle just last month the cable and motor in the rear passenger side door window burned up and now will cost over $600. to fix i can not get the front rack & pinion fixed because it will cost $1800.00. the transmission is going out now it slips out of gear sometimes not at all. i just got the brakes repaired for the third time in may and they are again squeaking. i have all of my receipts for work done to this car. i am now having to put power steering fluid in once or twice a week. the automatic locks on the doors lock and unlock all the time, and the electric instruments turn off by themselves. (radio) the driving lights go out at times and will not come back on. please help me, i am a single mother and have complained to courtesy ford they want to charge me diagnostic $90.00 for each item i am complaining about and then the amount it will take to fix all of the things wrong. this vehicle i just recently found out has had six different owners before me and one was rental car company. i do not know who the rest of them were. courtesy ford had said there was only one owner. they will not listen to me and now the focus' have a front suspension recall that may have been the problem the whole time with the brakes and the tire replacements and the power steering problems.!!! please help me. dt
108/01/2000
 Consumer stated the ignition cylinder was replaced.*yh
10/05/2002403/01/2000
 The engine on my ford focus has stalled while driving 4 seperate times since purchasing it 2 years ago, it happens when i let off the accelerator and push in the clutch while turning. i haven't had an accident yet only by pure luck on my part. the other problem is my ignition went bad when the keying mechanism in the ignition locked up not allowing my key to enter, after talking to the tow truck driver he said that he gets call all the time about focus ignitions going bad. it cost me almost $500 for the tow and repair work. dt
08/20/200203/01/2002
 I sent a form in yesterday but did not have the vin number. this car is in the shop right now. mr
10/16/2002103/01/2000
 This car has more recalls than i ever seen. the air bags deployed and gave me second degree burns. the brakes are shot and i have to pay for repairs even though i only have 29,940 miles. the keyless entry does not work even though its been fixed 2 times the ignition locked up and they change it the air conditioner leaks but they say its fine. mr
07/21/2002107/01/2000
 On sunday, 21 july 2002, the ignition switch on my focus went out. at first, the key would not go into the lock, then it would not turn. this raised three major concerns: one in the mid 90's, ford us recalled over 8 million cars and trucks that had faulty ignition switches. some of those defective switches resulted in vehicle fires. two although i wasn't moving when the defect happened, what if i had been driving and the defective switch had locked the steering wheel or left me stranded someplace less safe than my own driveway? three my focus has been recalled several times in the 27 months i've owned it, and this incident adds to my concerns over the vehicle's safety/reliability. dt
08/01/20021
 The consumer inserted the key and could not turn the key. when the consumer tried to remove the key from the ignition, the key wouldn't turn or come out. the reason was due to the tumblers in the lock had dropped. the consumer was told the entire steering column assembly needed to be replaced. *scc *jb
10/05/2002108/01/2000
 Entire ignition needed to be replaced. ford part xs4z*11582*aa cyl assy strg col ign lock. warranty expired at 36k miles - car is only 26 months old! mr
10/01/200205/01/2002
 The vehicle car will not go into park. the key was not coming out when in park. the dealer said because of a spill on the shifter it cause it to fail. while i was at the dealer another customer had the same problem. mr
10/15/2002
 Consumer states that ignition has locked up three times, each time vehicle had to be towed, because ignition does not recognize key. please provide any further information. mr
09/23/2002109/01/2000
 Unable to put key in ignition. 2 dealers said its happens all the time. towed to dealer and it has teaken 2.5 days to get done. there is a technical service bulletin out on this. nlm
02/21/2001
 Consumer states that the ignition keeps locking up. *mr
09/19/2002
 Consumer has hard time starting up vehicle. *mr
1011/01/2099
 Ignition tumbler breaks and steering wheel locks up. can not start car. happened around 29,000 miles first time and 60,000 miles the next time. i also have a problem with the car stalling. going around corners and up hills it is like the car has run out of gas. you then slow down and it will return to normal. also happens on the on and off ramps of highways. very dangerous.*ak
07/11/2002211/01/2000
 The problem with my ignition happen twice a year apart. i was not compensated for the repair because my car was not under warrant; however the ford relatioin departmetn and the dealership agreed that this is a defect. i was compensated the a year ago the first time it happen. i am requesting that i be refunded the amonut of 368.65. this was the fee for the repair. i also want for ford to buy the car back because there are manny reported defects.
08/09/2002308/01/2000
 When i get close to 1/4 of a tank of gasoline, my car begins to die or sputter. it has died several times and wont restart. the other day i was coming off an exit ramp from the highway and it died coming around the sharp turn. i was almost hit by several cars while trying to get the car started long enough to move it off the ramp. after about 20 or so times of turning the ignition and gunning the pedal, i got it moved into a safe area off the highway. it took about 45 minutes and a lot of conk outs to get it moved. i was stranded and very angry. i was even more angry when i got home and did a little research to find that this same complaint has been made to ford/nhtsa and never reported to the public. i have had 6 recalls this year on this damn car and i am very concerned for my safety now. i got the car because of its great ratings for saftety- now i am affraid everytime i put my son in the car of it blowing up on me. i want to get rid of it but i cant because i owe more on the loan then i can get for trade in (my guess is the value of the car has totally fallen because of all these recalls). i am so angry with ford and i am affraid for my safety while driving this car. please do something about this! thank you. oh and the gas gauge never reads correctly. i have to count my miles to make sure i am okay on gas between fill ups. the gauge will just drop to below e and the light comes on for no reason. then after a bit of driving it will go back to normal. very odd.*ak
08/24/2001308/01/2000
 Many, many problems and defects with this car...all problems have been replaced more than twice and still faulty. no safety defect listed. *ak
11/01/2000102/13/2000
 Consumer states the ignition lock cylinder was replaced.*jg
 When key was inserted into ignition switch ignition it failed to turn. 0wner indicated that sometimes ignition would turn, but vehicle would not start. owner was aware of other vehicles with same problem. please describe details.*ak
10/08/2000210/01/2099
 Engine will cut out when accelerating and rpms reach approximately 3200. this problem ocurred after recent recall work to replace injector pressure sensor. i discovered that it is particulary dangerous when attempting to accelerate and pass another vehicle on two lane road only to have your engine quit providing power.
09/22/20010
 Vehicle constantly stalls. sometimes she cannot take key out of ignition. then, sometimes cannot put key in ignition. also, fuel pump has been changed twice. when accelerating vehicle begins to vibrate.*ak
07/10/2002
 Vehicle would ntermittently not restart within 10 minutes or more after turning off vehicle. dealer contacted. feel free to provide any further information.*ak
09/01/2000407/01/2000
 Since purchased. on four separate occasions my car has stopped while driving. here is a brief rundown of additional physical problems ive had with the car, which include but are not limited to:3 months: the emergency brake went out. the brakes had to be replaced (2 times). the gas gauge stuck on empty (twice). i felt a constant pulsating on the clutch. the dealer told me that all new cars have that for up to 3 months while they get used to new chemicals running through their system. nearly 2 years later, the pulsating is still there. the car exploded. i parked my car on a hill, with the emergency brake up. then i heard some clicking and a large boom. i turned around to see sparks and smoke pouring out of my hood, a horrible smell engulfed the neighborhood, and my car (with the emergency brake up) was rolling down a hill towards an intersection. the oil pressure united had to be replaced. there was a problem with the clutch. the car trunk would not open. 6 months: the brakes had to be replaced again. they still squeaked excessively. they still sounded like they were scrapping. i took it back in to a dealership and they told me the 2000 ford focus had a brake problem and there was nothing that could be done about it. even after replaced, the brakes would take much pressure before coming to a stop and would squeak. the trunk would sometimes not shut. the emergency brake would not always work. the front tire kept going flat. ford said it was my driving. i paid to have it replaced and the new tire kept going flat. they said the new tire was defective and replaced it and the stem. w/in the first 2 years: on at least 11 occasions the car would not start until turned over a couple of times. the car has low pick up. the check engine light was stuck on. engine light was stuck on. the gas tank needed a new part. the stick will not always go into reverse. when the heat is on for over 15 or so minutes a heavy burning smell in car. bearings/shock problem.*ak
03/01/20024
 Consumer experiencing many problems with ignition, key will not turn when inserted in ignition switch. dealer replaced ignition. *tt
01/21/2001102/01/2000
 Brake pads and rotors had to be replaced two time already. i am very concerned with engine stalling and other troubling reports.*ak
04/04/20021
 Consumer states the ignition lock/switch mechanism failed, causing ignition key to get stuck and the steering wheel to lock. *yd
05/01/2001
 While driving at high speeds all lights on the dash started blinking. vehicle was shaking and engine died. please provide any further information. *ak
06/12/2002106/01/2000
 This car has had 4 recalls so far. in addition to the recalls i have had it in for other problems like the gas light failed to to work, the igntion part after turning car off would act like the key was still in. the biggest complaint i have is the brakes at 9000 miles i had it in to check the brakes and then 8000 miles later my roters went bad. i do not feel safe in this car at all.*ak
05/26/2002410/01/2001
 Ignition freezes after inserting key; after several attempts it turns over. *ak
06/03/2002208/01/2000
 On two ocasions the car stalled while stopped at intersection. car then restarted and continued on. both came within a week of each other. reporting because of article i saw in usa today dated 6-7-2002.*ak
401/01/2000
 Car stalled. towed to dealership (apple ford), replaced fuse. stalled again. this time entire fuel system replaced. gas guage read inacurate. another new fuel system. still read inacurrate. a new console. still reads inaccurate to this day. just gave up trying to get it fixed. *ak
06/02/2002102/01/2001
 Tonight my husband was driving from our home to pick up our son in south jersey. he was in 3rd gear and going approximately 30 mph car just died. a tow truck came. car unable to start. thankfully noone was with him and it was at night because a major accident could have happened. i see that 72 incidents of similar focus cars dying have previously been reported to the nhtsa. i would like my car added as the 73rd incident. oddly it was at 30,000 miles like it has been reported happening to the other focus cars.*ak
02/28/200202/01/2000
 Many safety recalls for this car. no safety defect stated. *ak
04/19/2002109/01/2001
 Ignition switch failed. key would not turn when placed into the ignition. dealer is currently replacing ignition switch and ignition column. ford was contacted and has denied any knowedge of previous problems. *ak
01/17/20021
 Consumer states unable to start vehicle due to fact that you cannot put key in the ingnition. dealer replaced part. nlm
02/15/2001101/01/2001
 No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak
08/15/2001308/01/2001
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
301/01/2000
 My whole is my problem. i lease this car for three years and they could not tell what the problem is. i spend more time at the dealership then i did on my job. i am still having problem with ford focus and they still don't know what the problem is.the customer service at adamson ford is very poor . this where my first time driving a american car. they did not want to get me out of the car and then i call the owner of adamson ford he did not call me back at all the only thing i could try to do is file lemon law but it will take so long for it to take action i drop the case. this should be taking off the market and people should get there money back. because i almost got hit two time by 18 wheeler with my baby girl in the back in a car seat they don't give a damn about that at all. this car is having problems right as i type you this letter. i am very up set on this car i have 12 months left and they still will have problem when i finish with it.i have many mor problems but i am at work and it will have to type them later today.please do something about this before it is to late and someone will get kill injured really bad. *ak
01/16/200206/01/2000
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
 While driving 50 mph vehicle loses power/ shutsdown and restarts. lost control of vehicle and hit a curb. this has happened more than one time. also, this was a safety hazard. *ak
08/01/2001602/01/2001
 Tires wearing out fast, accelerated speed, and engine kill, uneven suspension, indicator gauges and lights haywire. i was told by ford that i had wrecked the car and had to pay $883.00 for repairs + $350.00 for new tires.*ak
05/23/2001310/01/1999
 On 9/5/01 electricial system: battery/ ignition coil assembly had to be remove and install,sparks plugs replace,ignition wires repaired
05/01/20010
 Vehicle shutdowns without prior warning. dealership is aware of problem. *ak
08/21/2001110/01/2000
 Car stalled while at a stop signal, then re-started; after 25 yds car stalled again and fire appeared from under the hood. extinguished by towels and water. damage noted to be a melt-down at battery and both pos and neg cables. some melted and burned components adjacent. insurance fire investigator noted damage in starter area. *ak
07/14/2001110/01/1999
 First of i went out to start my car one day and the key would not turn the ignition was locked in place it would not move at all and the steering wheel was locked. so i took it into the dealership and they said they have had alot of problems with these and they had to work on alot of ford focus with the same problem . but i was just out of the warrenty period 36000 and i was at 45000 so they charged me for there work which was 500 dollars and its something that i could have never caused to happen and with the steering wheel lock the car was not able to steer at all lucky it didnt happen while i was driving but i dont think that it was something that should have ever happened.
07/24/200005/01/2000
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak (tiresize: 19560r15)
02/26/2000702/01/2000
 7 new stereos, 2 ignition cylinders, a few trunk latches, transmission trouble(dealer cannot duplicate), 20,000 miles i have to replace 4 tires and 4 brake pads, horrible grinding noise when stopping, shakes on the freeway when braking, misassembled interior rails, and many others. i am completely dissatisfied with this vehicle, i will never, ever buy another ford vehicle and i will certainly never reccomend a ford to anyone.
01/05/2001
 Vehicle stalls intermittently at any speed. before vehicle stalls dash lights come up. frequency is increasing. taken vehicle to dealer who cannot remedy situation. *ak
12/01/1999
 Car stalls repeatedly, and brakes whine loudly. we have had the car in the service center a total of 14 days on four separate occasions with no resolution. ford tells us that they can not find the problem and we should continue to service the car untill further notice. i am very upset at ford as a company, they are not standing behind their product, and they are endangering the lives of my family members. i at no time feel safe driving this car, it shakes, squeaks, and most importantly stalls at any given time while driving down the road. i have records for all service repairs and documented proof that they attempted to fix the identical problem to no avail. i have already taken further legal action against ford, but i hope this complaint will help me in my legal battle. *ak
106/13/2000
 The ignition cylinder lock was replaced. (attorney for client) *slc
02/01/20010
 Consumer was traveling on highway and vehicle cut off without prior notice. dealership was aware of problem.*ak
09/01/2000
 While trying to start vehicle it would not start or move. dealer cannot find cause. *ak
01/01/1999
 While driving vehicle stalls unexpectedly which may cause a crash. also while starting vehicle there is a no start condition. dealer cannot determine cause and not willing to assist consumer. please provide further information.*ak
12/27/2000
 Intermittently vehicle will stall and die without warning. dealer inspected vehicle . *ak
08/05/2000
 Brakes do not work and driver uses his clutch to slowdown vehicle. also, front brake drums, and front shocks broke/ vehicle stalls unexpectedly, and the cv axle broke. dealer cannot determine cause any of these problems. please provide further information. *ak
10/17/2000210/01/2000
 The car keeps stalling out. dealer has said it's your car, your problem, deal with it.*ak
3
 Vehicle will stop running while driving on highway. engine and electronics will shut off, causing loss of power brakes and steering. dealer has attempted to fix defect 3 times, but defect keeps occurring.*ak
10/26/2000612/01/1999
 On 6 differentt ocassions, in the same day, my car would decelerate while i was trying to accelerate. on the last 3 ocassions, the car shut down and the engine, oil & battery lights came on. this occurred while i was on major roads & the highway; i could have been injuried/killed. my car was towed to the dealership & the tow truck driver informed me that my focus was the fifth one this week he towed with these prblems.*ak
12/12/1999112/01/1999
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
04/07/2000304/01/2000
 Brakes to this date continue to be a problem; grinding, squeeling, etc; cruise control sticks, airconditioner leaks, sometimes ignition switch turns sometimes not, car vibrates excessively, car speeds up and slows down on its own, and stalls occassionally...received recall on rear drum axle but nothing from ford on anything else. i do not feel safe in this vehicle.
503/01/2000
 Radio volume goes up when shifting from park to reverse or reverse to drive or drive to park, after turning off ignition and removing key ,alarm still goes off as if key is still in ignition,you have to reinsert key and remove again to stop alarm outside door handles stay in open position sometimes after closing door
10/08/2000210/01/1999
 Engine will cut out when accelerating and rpms reach approximately 3200. this problem ocurred after recent recall work to replace injector pressure sensor. i discovered that it is particulary dangerous when attempting to accelerate and pass another vehicle on two lane road only to have your engine quit providing power.
10/20/2000
 Vehicle stalls on highway without prior warning. dealership is aware of the problem.*ak
05/15/2000
 Vehicle stalls intermittently. dealer notified, and informed consumer that nothing could be found. please fill free to provide further details. *ak
09/14/2000408/01/2000
 On four occasions since purchare vehicle completely stopped with dashboard lights flashing while driving in traffic. dealer replaced the battery, the alternator. each time returning the car which once again shut down while driving.*ak
09/02/2000408/30/2000
 Interior lights come on intermittently. brakes make noise when applied/ radio will come on intermittently, and dome lights work intermittently. *ak . right front light is brighter than left light. defroster malfunctions. front tires makes squeaking noise, key get stuck in ignition and truck lock when trying to get out. *yh
04/30/20001504/01/2000
 Ford focus stopped running while on busy highway, could have been killed
01/06/2000111/06/1999
 Ignition would not turn and the key stuck inside. yh
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER
04/23/2005127000103/25/2000
 Had ignition lock up. vehicle had to be towed. found out on internet a lot of people having the same trouble. *ak
01/25/200476000204/20/2000
 1/25/04 parked at meter in stamford ct, key wouldn't come out of ignition. got it out, then wouldn't go back in. 20 minutes of sweating/swearing, got key back in. had to leave it in the ignition (dangerous) until 2/12/04. car to dillon ford, who replaced key cylinder for $210. mileage 76,489. i saved broken ignition switch, if you want it. replacement was a ford motorcraftco. ignition switch sw-5997 xs4z-11582-aa. january 2005 broke again! broadway auto replaced key ignition lock cylinder again for $250.00. mileage 96,000. they gave me a copy of ignition switch lock cylinder: all technical service bulletins, interior- ignition lock cylinder hard to turn. posted 09/16/02. article no. 02-18-2 2000 ford focus l4-121 2.0l sohc vin p sfi copyright 2004 alldata 8.30 use lock cylinder repair kit (xs4z-11582-aa) this is the same cylinder that broke in my first replacement. i saved broken cylinder. both cylinders have the code s 38 kb on barrel. ford's aware of the problem, i.e., technical bulletin. ford's using the same inferior part to replace the defective key cylinder, making over $200 each time. nhts complaint site has 291 complaints electrical system: ignition switch; 277 complaints electrical system,ignition; 4 complaints electrical system anti-theft controller; 2 complaints electrical system: starter assemby. numerous complaints automotive talk.net 114 complaints topic: 2000 ford focus ignition lock cylinder. this is dangerous, highly proiftable for ford motor company. ford should reimburse for the over $500 spent so far on this problem.*ak
12/23/200435
 Key gets stuck in ignition and car won't crank . this just happened to me again and it's 17 degrees outside and icy. *ak
10/15/200461543304/26/2000
 Ignition cylinder failed and was replaced. this is the third replacement of the ignition cylinder for this vehicle in a 36 month period. even after the second replacement the cylinder catches when attempting to start the vehicle. the dealership claimed to find no problem when returned for correction. this latest failure fortunately occurred in a parking lot and not on the street. failures have now occurred at milages and dates of: 4 october 2001- 18990 miles, 6 january 2004- 48926 miles, and 15 october 2004- 61543 miles. part was retained by dealership.*ak
08/09/20031
 In aprox. 09-2003 my 2000 ford focus's ignition cylinder locked up due to manufacturer default. i know this because i personally know of hundreds of people that this has happened to.this should be recalled and new ones should be installed to prevent stranding.*ak
12/31/2002706/12/2000
 I bought my ford focus 2000, brand new in july of 2000. since then, i've had the wheel bearings replaced twice, the rear door stopped latching and i had to drive it to the dealer with my son holding the door shut, my alternator had to be replaced and still the lights get dim when i turn on the heater, the plastic and rubber door molding started coming loose and falling off right after i bought the car, the brakes have never stopped squealing, and now my key is stuck in the ignition and it won't come out. every time i take my car to a dealer, they always say the same thing oh, that is common with the ford focus. after reading all of the consumer complaints, i guess you could say these problems are common with the ford focus. i've had nothing but problems with this car and expect to experience many more because so far the track record for the ford focus is extremely poor. after reading the numerous complaints, i hope ford is forced into recalling the ignition cynlinder or switch whichever is to blame for the key to becoming stuck in the ignition and the wheel not locking while the car is in park. ts
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE
05/05/200885000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. while driving 50 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. when the contact attempted to restart the vehicle, the ignition pin inside the ignition cylinder failed. he was unable to control or move the steering wheel and the brakes did not function. the vehicle was pulled to the side of the road and towed to the dealer. the dealer stated that the ignition control was the cause of the failure. the failure previously occurred two years ago. the dealer refused to repair the vehicle for free because the work that was previously done was only for a year. they are now charging the contact the same price for the repair, but he refuses to have his vehicle repaired at the dealer. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 85,000.
03/22/200897000112/22/2002
 I recently was stranded 30 miles from my home due to my ignition locking up. my keys would not even budge and i had to have my vehicle towed and paid for the repair ($400). they replaced the ignition module. *tr
12/01/20062
 Tried to start car, but ignition would not turn with key inserted. ignition remains locked even with new key. *nm
08/21/200678000101/01/2000
 Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the engine, the keys would not fit into the ignition. the vehicle was towed to a dealer who determined the ignition module needed replaced. the manufacturer was alerted.
08/01/20051
 2000 ford focus developed problems with the ignition.***no answer required*** *mr the ignition switch had to be drilled out and replaced. *sc
07/19/2005
 Ig nition on a 200 ford focus locked up. ignition and steering wheel will not turn. aparently this is a common problem with this car. upon completing a web search for possible repair options i saw hundreds of complaints for the exact same problem. i'm calling to have the vehicle towed to the dealer where i will undoubtedly be raped and pillaged over a ford md that they are unwilling ackowledge or honor.
07/19/200563673108/12/2000
 I have had my focus for five years, i am 1 month away from paying it off. initially after i bought the car, there were a few major issues that were fixed under the warranty. example- wheel bearings, breaks, etc. otherwise my car has had few problems outside of normal wear and tear. on friday, july 15, 2005 i had a difficult time getting my key to go in the ignition. but it went in, and started okay. on tuesday, july 19, 2005, i was unable to turn the key in the ignition, it was stuck. it was also difficult to get the key out of the ignition. i had to have the car towed to the dealership to be repaired. the driver of the tow truck asked me if the ignition was stuck. i told him yes, and he told me that was the usual problem whenever he had to tow a ford focus. marshall brothers lincoln mercury informed me it was the ignition cylinder that broke. i looked online, and there is an entire discussion board dedicated to this specific problem. http://www.autoforumz.com/ford-focus-ignition-locks-ftopict32011.html
07/15/2005420001
 I own a 2000 ford focus zts and the key will not turn in the ignition. according to multiple postings on the web this is a constant problem for ford focus owners
09/18/2000780001
 2000 ford focus ignition cylinder. *ak
09/07/200478300307/06/2004
 Ignition system has failed for the 3rd time in 40,000 miles - i can insert the key into the ignition and turn it through the first three position, but cannont turn it into the start position. both previous failures where repaired at ford dealerships with the replacement of the ignition cylinder. *ak
08/25/2004600001
 Key will not turn in ignition. well known trouble by dealer. wanted $500 to repair. *ak
06/29/200475000109/25/2000
 The key would not go into the ignition. i had to have the car towed to the dealership and have the ignition replaced.*ak
06/15/20041009/05/2000
 I purchase my 2000 ford focus lx on september of 2000. since then ive had nothing but problems with this vehicle. i drove it for 10,000 mile and the ignition cylinder locked up and left me stranded. this also requird a new set of keys because the ignition cylinder strips them. i also had to replace brakes and tires 4 times in 3 years. the fuel pumped failed 3 times now also. i was at work yesterday and the car once again had a locked igniton cylinder. luckily for me the car is out of warranty. i had to get another set of keys made a year ago because they got stripped(again). i would not have a problem with this but they are 120 dollars for 2. but going back to yesterday, i recieved a phone call from the dealership saying that it will cost 500 dollars to fix the ignition cylinder. what is going on here when i can't find one person who as ever had to replace this part on their vehicle? i have a problem believing that ford can make something so defective!*ak
05/20/20042
 Well documented failure of the 2000 ford focus ignition cylinder. mine failed for the second time and ford only offered a 50/50 coverage option. *ak
03/15/200476000102/10/2002
 The complete ignition module requires replacement on my car. i was told by a ford motor co customer service representative that this particular problem is wide spread and would probably be covered by the company. i was told today that although there are quite a number of incidents with this particular part it is not yet a recall and therefore we must pay approximately $400 to repair it. i do not feel this is fair. i was also told that even though we have an extended warranty it is not the correct level of coverage and would also not be covered. *nm
102/05/2000
 Vehicle did not start. vehicle was towed to dealer, who replaced the ignition cylinder.*ak
01/17/20021
 I have a 2000 ford focus lx. the ignition cylinder fell or broke or whatever it is called. the net effect is that the key would not go into the ignition and had to be towed to the dealer. it was replaced under warranty on jan 17, 2002. 19500 miles approximately. the next time the ignition switch failed was december 4, 2002. same symptoms and the ignition switch was replaced again. again under warranty. approximately 33394 miles. now again november 5, 2003 the key is having trouble sliding in and out again. i'm sure i'll be up for another ignition switch replacement and re-keying soon.i really feel ford needs to fix this problem and then recall so that we can had reliable ignition switches.*ak thanks carol. *ak
3
 Consumer states cannot fully insert key into ignition cylinder due to it being defective. the is the 3rd cylinder replacement for this vehicle.*ak
05/05/200356000103/13/2000
 Ignition cylnder is stuck. *jb
04/01/2002
 In highway traffic vehicle shutsdown unexpectedly. dealer has replaced fuel pump, and computer board. problem keeps reoccurring. please provide any further information.*ak
09/01/2001
 While driving vehicle at approximately 40mph it would suddenly die out without any warning. would lose all power steering and brakes. taken to dealership each time and had speedometer repaired/ wiring harness replaced, and brain box of computer repaired. after each repair problem would reappear. manufacturer is buying back vehicle. *ak
06/06/2001
 To start vehicle key in ignition switch and ignition computer chip must be in sync with one another. when its not in sync, vehicle can stall out while driving in middle of traffic. had taken vehicle to dealership, and mechanic replaced computer chip and ignition switch/ key. stalling problem has reappeared.*ak
112/19/1999
 Engine stalls while driving, dealer does not know why this has happened and does not know how to correct it, possibly engine or computer related. *slc
03/01/20015
 Vehicle vibrated real hard when it started up and cut off. it has been to dealer 5 times. dealer has replaced computer, and changed ignition key and more. dealer has never said why, and didn't have a remedy to problem. consumer has tried lemon law, but vehicle was over the mileage at that time. consumer called ford, and was told to work it out with dealer. problem is still not resovled.*ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH
04/13/201080000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the contact stated the steering wheel became locked and he was unable to turn the key in the ignition. the dealer replaced the ignition switch to correct the failure. the failure had occurred one additional time following repairs. the failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 233,000.
01/18/20101498621
 The ignition switch, on our 2000 ford focus, quit working. this is the second time in less than a year. the last time, i had a locksmith repair it. now it isn't working again. i googled it and found that this is a problem with 2000-2003 models but no recall has been issued. i will call the locksmith for another costly repair but would like this issue looked at possibly for some kind of liability by ford motor company. thank you. *tr
09/09/20091200001
 This is the fourth time that the ignition switch has failed on the ford focus. the key will go into the ignition but will not turn leaving us stranded. we were lucky this time as the failure occurred at home. one of the previous times was in the middle of winter when my elderly mother was driving the car and was stranded in the country side without cell phone service. she was helped by a passerby that took her to a service station. this problem has been brought to the attention of the dealer and we have been told that it is our problem and poses no safety issues. fords attitude towards this problem has been that the ignition switch is a consumable part (e.g. tires, brakepads etc.) and you should be happily to get more than the 12000 mile warranty on the part. sooner or later someone will be stranded by this sub-standard part and it cause them harm or death. ford needs to be held accountable before this happens. *tr
05/14/20081070001
 I own a 2000 ford focus . i among several co-workers who car pool became stranded due to a failure in the key lock ignition switch. the key wouldn't turn. my kids had to sit after school for 2 1/2 hours till i could pick them up in another vehicle once i had my vehicle towed. additionally my co-workers were delayed to their families and several of their children missed important after schools activities. in review of other testimonials online this is a chronic problem with this ford vehicle and appears to be its number 1 complaint in customer satisfaction..if this is a chronic issue ford should fix this at no cost to the consumer..so now i tow it to them so they can replace with another failing part for 500.00...it's not right..it is a safety issue for my kids were left un attended for 2 1/2 hours. *tr
04/02/200880000309/15/2000
 1. there were two instances over the past 3 years where my car wouldn't start initially and it took 15 minutes to finally be able to turn the key. 2. i stopped at a gas station to fill up my car which is a 2000 ford focus zx3. i had may 7 year old daughter with me and when we went to leave my ignition locked up. after an hour i had to call someone to come get my daughter as it was 9pm and she had school in the morning. i had someone else come by to see if they could fix it but that was to no avail. finally after about 3 hours total i had to call a for a tow back to my house as the steering wheel was locked up and i could not even roll the car out of the way because i couldn't turn the wheel to get around the gas pumps. i searched online to see about a recall due to this cars history and to my amazement i found web forum after web forum of complaints about this issue. all you have to do is search the web for ford focus ignition lock and you'll see what i mean. this is definitely an issue and can be potentially very dangerous. being stuck and unable to put your car in neutral and move it to the left or right and out of the way, being stuck in extreme weather conditions...possibly with a child or even just being stuck for hours at a time. i read on instance were a women wasn't able to get towed for 6 hours and read another example of a man who had rented a focus only to have it lock up while at a rest area on the highway. it appears that ford is simply ignoring this fault and it's costing people $400-$500 every occurrence. some people have had to pay to have it replaced 3 times or more. please look into this and try to do something about it. it has been a serious issue. 3. i have get the car towed to a dealer to pay the $400 to have it fixed and hope it doesn't happen again or i can find a locksmith who can come to my house, drill out the ignition and replace it which is cheaper than the dealership but not by much. *tr
03/08/200897000106/27/2000
 I was left stranded at night when my key would no longer fit all the way into my ignition, leaving me unable to start my vehicle. the vehicle was parked in a flat parking lot. the key was not excessively worn nor was it bent. the vehicle started fine only an hour before. luckily, i was in an urban area with cellular service and i was able to contact roadside assistance. i was told that the vehicle would need to be towed. the tow truck driver was unable to load the car on the flatbed because the tires were turned and the steering wheel was locked. since i could not insert the key all the way, the steering wheel would not unlock allowing the wheels to straighten. i then had to contact a locksmith who advised he could replace the ignition cylinder. he advised that he would replace the part with a different model than the oem because if the oem model was installed, it could fail again. thank goodness my roadside assistance plan covered most of the cost for the failed tow attempt and the ignition switch replacement. a quick search on the internet reveals this is a widespread problem affecting thousands of cars of this year and model type. there were thousands of complaints returned in my search results. this is unacceptable!!! i do lots of state to state traveling and i could have been abandoned in an unsafe location with no cellular service in bad weather conditions! what if i have children or elderly passengers in the car??? this is extremely irresponsible to have a known problem go uncommunicative to ford owners. people rely on their vehicles to start and that the ignition switch could fail without warning is scary. i can think of a dozen of what if scenarios that could put drivers in danger. this part can be replaced quickly and relatively inexpensively (unless you go through the dealership it seems) with a different model ignition switch to prevent this from happening if ford would just communicate this known problem to its customers. *tr
02/17/200875000110/27/2003
 Ignition switch failure, went to leave and key will go in ignition but will not turn either way. i will have to get this replaced myself even though i found 466 complaints about the same problem with this make and model/ 20+% of the entire inventory so far have this problem. i guess someone will have to be killed in order to get a recall for this problem, any volunteers? *tr
01/05/20076303/07/2000
 There has been an ongoing problem with my ignition switch in my 2000 ford focus. the steering column seems to lock up on me and the key wont turn to unlock it. this problem has been ongoing for a while now. i know i am not the first person this has happen to. i just hope something can be done about this. ford wants almost 400.00 dollars to fix this problem and it isn't even a guaranteed fix. i don't think this is right for ford to charge that kind of money for something that will happen again down the road. *tr
01/18/2008780001
 2000 ford focus ignition switch failure. *tr
01/04/200853000104/07/2001
 Ford focus zx3 2000 - key gets stuck in the ignition and you are unable to start the car.*cn
12/29/2007137000106/01/2002
 Tonight (12/29/2007), for the fourth time (six times total), the ignition switch on my 2000 ford focus died, leaving me stranded yet again. this time, i was left stranded in 12 degree weather for seven hours. it is amazing i didn't get frostbite - or worse. i bought my focus in 2002, with 52,000 miles on it. the prior owner had replaced the ignition switch twice on the car - once about 12,000 miles (under warranty) and once about 42,000 miles. i replaced the switch at 58,000, 72,000 and 102,000 miles. car now has 137,000 miles and once again, i'm going to have to replace the damn ignition switch again, after being assured by the ford dealership that this would never happen again (it's been redesigned, the problem is fixed.)
12/06/2007550001
 Ignition switch failure on ford focus-left me and my daughter stranded at the doctor's office parking lot. the key would not turn. *tr
12/09/2007109/11/2000
 My wife purchased a 2000 ford focus lx. she went out to her vehicle and the ignition key will not turn. we have turned the steering wheel left and right to get the ignition to turn. the steering wheel is also locked. i searched the web and found numerous complaints about the ignition switch and how some people have had to replace the part more then once. why does ford not recognize this problem in a recall. i know this is 2007 but i thought ford was usually on top of things. can anything be done? i have printed up numerous complaints on this topic. so what is being done if anything to correct this problem. i have been unable to find a recall from ford on this problem. out of all the vehicles i have owned i have never had to replace an ignition switch or part!!!!!!! *tr
11/09/2007180002
 Key cylinder on 2000 ford focus has been replaced twice now. car has less than 80,000 miles on it. i can not believe a recall was not issued. went out the first time at 18,000 miles and at $356.00 a pop i believe the public is being taken for a ride. *tr
06/01/20038000603/01/2000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. when the key was turned in the ignition, the vehicle would not start and the steering wheel locked. the key that is used to start the ignition is also used for the doors. the key stopped working for the passenger side door and the trunk. the vehicle does not have power locks. the dealer stated that the ignition switch needed to be replaced, however, they did not suggest a remedy for the doors. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 17,000. update 01-15-08. *kb updated *jb
09/01/20071
 Ignition can not be turned with key inserted. *jb
08/29/200751000208/23/2000
 The first time i couldn't get the key into the ignition. then after 30 minutes i got it to go in. then when i parked, i couldn't get the key out. so i drove home. had to call a locksmith to come drill out the cylinder and put a new one in--$220. this had never happened before. even though no one was harmed by this defect on my 2000 ford focus with 51,000 miles on it, i was very inconvenient for me. what if i had been traveling alone at night away from the city and locksmiths and my car wouldn't start because the key wouldn't turn or go in? i would be stranded. that to me is a safety issue. a quick search online shows that there are thousands of focus owners who have had this same problem and ford has done nothing about it. there should be a recall. *jb
08/23/200776000107/01/2007
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. when the key was placed in the ignition, it would not turn. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and they replaced the ignition switch. the current and failure mileages were 76,000.
08/20/2007580002007/08/2006
 2000 ford focus ignition lock problem. i have replace the ignition lock cylinder in my year 2000 ford foucs, twice. each time i was stranded because the lock jammed and i could not start the car. my main complaint is that apparently no better part is available and i am forced to install another one of these defective locks just to get back on the road. being stranded double parked in new york city, or out in the countryside on the weekend is a serious problem. i don't want money compensation - i want the problem fixed, i will gladly pay for an new lock that will not fail in this way again. on every other car i owned the ignition lock out lasted the engine. *tr
09/20/200424420107/29/2000
 Ignition assembly failed. the car was parked and left to sit for a couple of hours. upon return, the key could not be fully inserted into the ignition. my 3-year-old son and i were stranded. car had to be towed about 7 miles to the dealer. dealer replaced the ignition assembly at a cost of about $348. the old part is not available. *tr
08/14/2007108000112/13/1999
 Failed ignition cylinder lock. upon entry into vehicle i proceeded to attempt to start vehicle. key would not turn in ignition. tried moving steering wheel slightly which sometimes allows ignition to turn. however this time, the steering wheel locked and key would still not turn. spent about 30 minutes trying to get key to turn. stranded, had to call for transportation and towing. cylinder lock replaced by dealer. expensive repair. no discount. known issue with focus vehicles widely reported within the internet community. *jb
08/10/200756187103/22/2000
 Our 2000 ford focus station wagon ignition lock froze so that we couldn't drive the car. when i spoke with a locksmith and said the words 2000 ford focus he said don't tell me, the ignition lock won't turn, will it. he indicated that he alone is called out on one or two ford focus ignition lock failures every week. while this was an incident in which nobody was injured and no property damage other than the lock having to be destroyed as part of the repair by being drilled out of the steering column. the locksmith charge for the service call and repair was $186.81. we spent two and a half hours stuck in a shopping center mall waiting for the repair. in my opinion since many of these ignition locks have failed based on a number of internet sites carrying reports of failures similar to ours, it is my opinion that ford should order a recall in order to replace sub-standard ignition locks, and should reimburse owners such as us for expense we've undergone having their dub-standard locks repaired or replaced. *tr
07/30/200782897105/08/2004
 Key will not insert into the ignition. repeated attempts with no success. *tr
07/25/2007104000111/10/2003
 I have been having issues out of my ignition/steering. the events leading to this issue has been the key going in the ignition and sometimes only going in half way...yesterday as i was in the middle of no where the key goes in the ignition but wont turn...the ignition/steering is locked on position. this seems to be a common problem with the ford focus because of faulty ignition (key area). to my knowledge and research ford has not issued any kind of safety recall because this is not deemed a safety matter...well my question is what if i was in the middle of no where, or in a unsafe area? i get in my car and the key will go in the ignition but the key wont turn so i can't start my car...what if someone was trying to mug me and i finally was able to get in my car but i couldn't get my car to start to safely get away because the key wouldn't turn the ignition switch so i could start my car??? this seems like a big safety issue. please help!!! *jb
07/17/200788000401/11/2006
 Key stuck in 2000 ford focus, unable to remove key from ignition, unable to turn key in ignition. thus, leaving 17 year old daughter stranded. pop a lock was called, and cost $275.00. *ak
07/03/2007143000102/09/2001
 Ignition lock will not turn in my 2000 ford focus
06/03/200780000103/22/2005
 The ignition key failed to turn when inserted into the steering column. my son was stranded, alone with no way to get home except from my driving to get him. fortunately, he was only five miles away from home, but he could have been stranded much further away and in a dangerous location. *tr
11/01/200555000210/28/2004
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the contact stated that on two separate occasions, the key failed to turn in the ignition. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the ignition cylinder, the tumbler, and the pass key point. the repair was performed on may 29, 2007. the engine size was unknown. the current mileage is 58,395 and failure mileage was 55,000. updated 07/06/07. *jb
05/20/2007750003
 Ignition switch wore out on 2001 focus, happened at about 75,000 miles. happened while ford mechanics were on strike. had to have lock smith repair. kept key in ignition at all times when started getting hard to use again. just this week the 2000 focus wagon ignition would not allow key to go in all the way. went on line to determine how to fix myself, saw hundreds of complaints about same problem. *ak
05/18/200780000109/01/2006
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the contact stated that it is difficult to insert the key into the ignition. once inserted, it is difficult to turn the ignition. the mechanic stated that the ignition switch locked due to a manufacturer's defect. the vehicle has not been repaired. the current mileage is 86,000 and failure mileage was 80,000.
05/10/200775000201/01/2000
 Ignition key will not turn, cannot start car and stranded. second occurrence after previously repairing same problem with a new lock cylinder from ford. *ak
05/04/2007901201006/01/2000
 2000 ford focus ignition switch failure. when key is inserted in ignition switch it fails to turn and car will not start. *tr
04/01/20069300010006/01/2003
 I got into my car to go on a business call and the key, when inserted, would not turn the cylinder. after trying for some time to get the key turned, i began a search on the internet to see if there had been yet another recall on the focus (i have learned that this car has had numerous problems). i found that it was not recalled, although it certainly was a known issue. i found many accounts of this problem and many suggested remedies. i chose to use the hammer method. this worked. it takes four hard raps with a rubber mallet on the end of the key (into the cylinder) to get it to then turn. if i take the key out, even once, the process must be repeated. i park the car with the key in the ignition, using my non-coded spare or the remote unlock to get into the car. this is a safety issue - if there were an emergency of some type or some type of personal threat and i were unable to leave quickly due to this ignition problem, where would i be? also, my car (as undesirable as i'm sure it is due to its many problems) sits at risk of being stolen - the key is easily visible in the ignition if i leave it there to avoid having to use a hammer to start the cat. i'm listing the failures as 100 - i've had to use the hammer at least that many times over the last year, but i can re-create the issue any time by simply pulling the key out. *jb
02/16/200774000102/16/2006
 I parked my car and took the key out as usual. when i got back in a few minutes later and tried to start it the ignition cylinder was inexplicably seized up. this left me stranded, in a snow storm, several miles from my home late at night. in researching the problem i'm seeing it's a common problem for my model of vehicle. if i had been made aware of the problem, as an owner, i could have been aware of the possibility of it happening. *jb
02/01/200770000108/27/2006
 Failure of ignition key to turn in ignition lock. left me stranded. called locksmith to have whole ignition drilled out and replaced. locksmith informed me that ford motor company has issued a technical service bulletin about the problem but has refused to recall the defective part. *jb
02/01/20071
 My 2000 ford focus ignition switch failed and from what i am reading on the internet the ford focus is known for this issue, and i am letting ricart ford know that i will not pay in anyway for this defected part. if i have to i will get my lawyer involved. *jb
02/01/200751000112/20/2005
 The ignition switch on my 2000 ford focus, tend to stick and you cannot remove the key without jerking hard on the key to remove . now the key is stuck in the switch and will not turn on. it stranded me 5 miles from home. *nm
01/23/20071
 Was stranded with baby when unable to insert key into ignition and start vehicle (2000 ford focus) which locksmith tells me is common defect in this make and model. ignition switch replaced with cost of $180. *jb
12/11/200632000209/30/2000
 The car has 32000 miles after 6 years. in december 2006 the ignition failed catastrophically and without warning. i could not insert the key. i called the dealer and was told that the car would have to be towed and that my extended warranty had expired. i was able the restart the car, but it failed again on december 11, 2006, stranding me. i had the car towed and the mechanic informed me that this problem is common on this model, to the extend that ford keeps the requisite parts in stock. he attributed it to a design fault. my concern is that if this problem indeed is common a driver could be stranded and helpless in a dangerous situation, with serious risk to safety and possibly life. if the mechanic's opinion that there is a design fault is correct, ford should recall the car. *jb
01/16/200751000110/06/2006
 Key locking up in ignition. car only has 50,000 miles. $500 repair bill plus towing charge and left me stranded in snow storm. *nm
01/07/2007110/01/2000
 1) i parked in a redzone to let my friend out of the vehicle and then i loaded something into my car. 2) i went to restart my vehicle and the ignition mechanism failed- couldn't insert the key properly and was unable to start the car. so it was late at night and i was unable to move my car to a safer location. luckily i had aaa in addition to two generous friends who were able to help me with the cost- $265!!! because i didn't have the money to pay the man up front. otherwise my car would've been ticketed and towed. 3) he drilled out the old ignition mechanism and replaced it. 2 hours of my life and $265 later!! *nm
12/15/2006665001009/15/2000
 On numerous occasions while attempting to start my 2000 ford focus the key will not turn. initially thinking it was a key issue i researched the internet to find numerous issues surrounding the 2000 ford focus and poor quality of the tumbler assembly leaving people stranded and/or keys stuck in the ignition. ford has also issued a service bulletin to their dealers in regard to this issue. i contacted my local dealership and also dealt with ford corporate looking for a solution. they say there isn't a safety issue even though they issued the service bulletin. at this time my only solution to have ford replace to prevent my family from being stranded. *jb
01/04/2007825081
 The ignition switch locked in my 2000 ford focus, first the key did not go in all the way and when it did, the switch did no turn. the repaid costs 400.00. *nm
12/28/20062
 Ignition switch failure. key will not turn when fully inserted in ignition switch. *nm
12/20/20061
 Ford focus 2000 ignition broke causing my key not to go in right and not to turn. i was forced to call a lock smith and have the lock replaced.
11/30/200611600211/10/2000
 I own a 2000 ford focus and i am experiencing the ignition key lock. this is the second time this happen to this car, but there are numerous cases logged on the internet. ford denied the problem and does not make itself responsible for this defective part. texas is a big state with miles of empty road and if this problem happen while driving on theses road on a winter or a very hot summer a person can die. *nm
08/10/200625000207/28/2000
 My 2000 ford focus has less than 26,000 miles on the clock and the ignition lock has jammed and had to be replaced twice. second time was after warranty expired. aaa certified locksmith told me he replaces hundreds of these locks a year, because ford is still using the same defective oem lock made in germany by huf. locksmith installed a strattec #707592 which he said is very reliable and in fact oem equipment on other ford vehicles such as explorer. he said ford dealers are still installing the defective huf lock as a replacement. *nm
05/16/200539000107/04/2000
 Ignition failed on 2000 ford focus also turn cancel signal 3 times under warranty and broken again out of warranty the ignition failed 3000 miles after warranty expired. the turn cancel during and after. i have 1 relative and 1 friend that has had the same thing happen. *nm
07/16/200240891203/01/2002
 2 times my ignition froze and the key would not turn to start the motor. and i had to have the ignition replaced both times; july 16,2002 and again on october 13, 2006. *jb
11/03/200653760408/07/2004
 Without premonitory warning or observed marginal behavior, ignition lock failed and key could not be inserted fully or turned to start engine. key finally turned after a few minutes of re-trying, banging on steering column, etc. loss: time spent retrying, and intangible anxiety concerning having to leave key in ignition over a weekend while investigating options for replacement during regular business hours to reduce cost relative to replacement in the field. problem solved by purchasing non-oem aftermarket ignition lock cylinder at an independent automotive locksmith, after online literature search indicated that despite 4 related tsbs (14533,15421,02182,13968) and thousands of owner reports, ford has not issued a recall - so full-cost service work done at a dealer would probably result in replacement with another instance of the faulty original part. i performed all labor except for setting new lock to existing key profile. old part retained. *nm
11/06/20062
 2000 focus wagon key doesn't turn in ignition this is the second time this has happened, which cost me money in time loss from work and having a locksmith come and fix it until i can get it to a dealership to repair it again!*jb
11/06/2006100
 Ford focus 2000 steering wheel locked, at any given time. i spent 4 hours five different people trying to get this thing unlocked. this is a major problem, it has locked up on me more than 50 times. this needs to be fixed!!!! recalled by ford asap.*jb
11/04/200612
 Like many people, my 2000 ford focus is having a problem with the ignition cylinder locking up. it's happened many times before but corrected itself after many tries. however, it locked up again this past saturday and has yet to unlock. *jb
10/27/200691241109/29/2000
 The ignition switch cylinder locked and i was unable to turn the switch or remove the key. switch cylinder had to be replaced. i understand this is a recurring problem and has not been addressed by a ford recall.*jb
10/26/200629658111/15/2000
 2000 ford focus; ignition cylinder failure. *nm
10/16/200674000108/28/2000
 (1) normal operation of vehicle - no indications of problems or issues (2) ignition cylinder failure causing inability to start vehicle and inability to operate steering mechanisms to direct vehicle to a location outside of traffic flow. vehicle was left stranded and unable to start in a relatively safe location, however, if failure had occurred while vehicle was in right of way (if engine had been turned off to save fuel during traffic jam - for instance ) could have presented safety issue. (3) repairs in progress - required drilling out ignition cylinder and complete replacement.
10/09/200660000106/01/2000
 I purchased a 2000 ford focus se new in 2000. since then i have been minimally satisfied with its performance despite a string of recalls. this week, i went to start my car and the ignition lock seized. i tried to turn it multiple times, bumping the steering wheel to release the lock, and eventually the key broke off in the ignition. i had to tow the car to a dealer, who could not get the lock cylinder removed without drilling it out. the dealer installed an aftermarket ignition as per ford's service bulletin on this problem. the total repair, including tow, cost me $500. i am very upset that this problem happened to me despite nhtsa and ford's knowledge of its prevalence (bulletins and complaints). i ask ford to initiate a recall and reimburse me for my repair expense. in the least, i ask nhtsa to investigate this problem and force a mandatory recall. thank you for your time. tudor hampton chicago, il. * nm
10/12/2006820001205/10/2006
 2000 ford focus se ignition switch failure. key will not turn in ignition, becomes locked up and car will never start. i have to leave a key in ignition constantly so that i can drive it and not be stranded. single mother of 2 children who would prefer to have a safe car. *nm
10/04/200680000109/07/2005
 I have had my 2000 ford focus for 1 year, purchased used from a dealer. it had 60,000 miles on it. although i realize that it's an older car it's in great shape. i'm now having ignition lock-up problems, like so many other focus owners i know. it's sitting in my driveway, and i'm going to have to have it towed because there's no other recourse. the key won't go all the way in for any of my keys, and the steering wheel is locked. *nm
09/18/200648000211/01/2001
 2000 ford focus ignition switch problem (~48,000 miles). for the 2nd time since we purchased the car, the ignition switch has failed. the first time it failed, we could not turn the key to start the car and could not remove the key. this time when it failed, the switch froze in the on position, and we were not able to shut the car off. since it is an automatic transmission, we were not even able to kill the engine. it happened at night, but fortunately, we were able to find an open service station... they were able stop the engine by pulling spark plug wires. not being able to shut off the engine sure seems a safety issue to me. i understand many other people are having repeated problems with ignition switches on ford focus models. this switch is currently being replaced again for a cost of ~$300.00. can anything be done to force ford to rectify this problem? *nm
09/18/2006605/05/2002
 My 2000 ford focus has repeated episodes of ignition key being unable to turn in the switch and occasionally not able to insert key into switch. i have had the tumbler assembly replaced and after eight months the new unit has failed. *jb
08/30/200640000212/20/2002
 Hello, we have a 2000 ford focus, and have had the lock cylinder freeze up for the second time in two years. ford says this is a defect, yet there is no recall. looking on the internet, there are many, buyers who are experiencing the same problem. shouldn't ford be forced to recall a defective product? i am not sure i have the correct agency, so please tell me who i would need to contact if not. if so, what can we do about this? sincerely,. *jb
08/08/200678000109/23/2002
 The ignition switch on my 2000 ford focus locked up this week, preventing me from turning the key. i could insert the key into the ignition, but it refused to turn. after trying for the better part of an hour, i had to have it towed to the ford dealership. ford put in a new ignition the following day, which is a completely different mechanism from the previous one. this leads me to believe they found the original part was flawed, and are now using an upgraded ignition switch to replace the ones that fail. it cost me $403.38 to have the new one put in. so far, ford has refused to issue a recall or extended warranty on the part. *jb *nm
07/31/2006901804
 2000 ford focus zts and the ignition cylinder has locked up 4 different times in the last 3 weeks. *jb
08/07/200675000608/01/2002
 The ignition switch on my 2000 ford focus is periodically locking up. i've had it happen where you put the key in and it won't turn. tonight, the key wouldn't even go in all the way, it would only take about 1/3 of the key and no more. it eventually took the key after about a half hour of trying. this seems to be a common complaint, but one that ford so far has refused to issue a recall on. *jb
08/03/2006105/05/2003
 Ignition switch on 2000 ford focus locked up, almost $600 to replace. *jb
08/01/200667950103/15/2004
 Toward the end of july, 2006, i started having difficulty being able to turn my key in the ignition. i would have to jiggle it a little for it to turn. on august 1st my key would not turn at all and have not been able to drive my car since. *nm
07/24/20063
 I have had to replace my ignition switch twice in the last year and a half. and now it has stopped working again. i think ford should resolve this issue at no cost to the consumer. the cost of repairs is approaching $900. *jb
07/31/200664000207/09/2006
 Steering column locked, key will not turn in ignition. *jb
07/19/200665000111/22/2002
 For the second time, we have had to replace the ignition switch in our 2000 ford focus. i was under the impression that ford made quality cars. evidently this is not the case. *nm
07/20/2006112/20/1999
 My 2000 ford focus zx3 ignition has locked up, and i'm unable to turn my key at all to get it started. another focus nightmare. my car has been giving me problems since day one. i have lord knows how many recalls, and i still have problems that should have been recalled and haven't been. i can't take this anymore. no one has money to waste on a new car that gives them problems. what's the purpose of the purchase? you lose out as a customer, dealing with ford vehicles. *nm
07/15/200653200108/11/2000
 My 2000 ford focus zx3 ignition is failing, as have many others from the research i've done. the same component is fitted into my wife's mazda tribute which also failed on her. ford should issue a recall on this very poor quality item. *nm
07/15/20069000112/15/2000
 Ignition cylinder locked solid. car could not be started. *nm
07/10/20061
 The key will go into the ignition but will not turn. the steering wheel will not unlock itself. i've been trying for an hour and am getting really fed up. *jb
07/02/20061
 My car's ignition switch went on me first at a grocery store, stranding me. after walking across the busy street to the ford dealership, as soon as i told them the make of the car they knew exactly what the problem was. i got the car to start by tapping the key while in the ignition (only a temporary solution). soon after my car ignition, luckily this time in the safety of my own driveway, went out completely. i had to get the car towed and am now facing a $500-800 cost to get the problem fixed. i am a student who is now saving up so i can get my car fixed and get back to life as usual. *jb
07/05/2006600003
 I have a 2000 ford focus which has needed the ignition switch changed three times in 60,000 miles. *jb
06/03/2006944005006/16/2000
 Sticky key. ignition locks up and cannot turn key. key locks up. *nm
06/10/2006205/12/2000
 2000 ford focus ignition lock cylinder failure. ignition switch won't turn when trying to start vehicle. vehicle had to be towed to ford dealership to have ignition lock cylinder replaced. this cylinder was replaced in 2003 at the cost of $200 and had to recently be replaced again. this defect leaves the owner stranded. i have never heard of anyone having to replace this cylinder in a vehicle - let alone having to replace one twice in the same vehicle. when paying for my second replacement in june 2006 the cashier at the dealership said that all of the early year focus models seem to have this issue. cashier said that they knew what was wrong when they saw a focus being towed in - ignition lock cylinder. *jb
06/15/200690000104/01/2004
 Dt*: the contact stated after parking the vehicle the ignition failed to release the key. there were no previous problems with the ignition. upon inspection the dealership determined the ignition switch needed to be replaced.
06/12/200682366204/17/2000
 For the second time my wife has been stranded because the ignition lock cylinder on our 2000 ford focus locked up and the key would not turn resulting in the car having to be towed and the cylinder replaced at a cost of $349.00 to me. the dealer denies that any service bulletin was ever issued by ford concerning this problem and that is not true. *nm
05/18/20061000402
 Ignition switch failed, could not turn key to start vehicle. vehicle had to be towed. this is the 2nd time this has happened. i'm the original purchaser of the vehicle. the dealer replaced the cylinder the first time with oem stock. first time was $250. this time is $283. ford owns this problem. i will never buy another ford, and neither will anyone in my family, until this is reimbursed. *nm
05/05/200679400103/15/2000
 2000 ford focus zts exhibiting problems since october 2005. two mechanics unable to identify problem. in may the car stalled while cruising and was unable to start. it was towed to mechanic. mechanic diagnosed with a failed starter switch, which had been replaced over a year before. if this incident had happened on a busier road it may have resulted in a serious accident. *nm
04/29/2006520004
 Ignition switch failed, could not turn key to start vehicle. vehicle had to be towed. this is the fourth time this has happened since i've owned the vehicle. *nm
04/16/2006458005012/18/1989
 The ignition switch/lock cylinder is difficult to turn key. there is a tsb listed with this company for after the switch/cylinder locks up creating an expensive tow etc. i have seen several web sites listing numerous problems with the ignition locking up. i was fortunate enough to take car in prior to total lockup. apparently the ignition switch/lock cylinder is faulty to the point of excessive wear on the keys. i tried a different key and it worked better. i believe an ignition lock cylinder should have a longer life expectancy than a few years. i have seen posts for cars as new as 2003 with the same problem. i understand the car company has finally bought a revised/improved lock cylinder. *jb
02/28/20043
 Ignition lock fails without any warning. the ignition key just wont turn and the lock has to be repaired. the dealer repaired it the first time for no charge the other two repairs were on me. the paper work says that the ignition tumbler had to be drilled out and the new tumbler rekeyed and installed. at least one of these failures occurred less than a year from a previous failure. *jb
03/16/2006760001
 I could not insert my key into the ignition switch. i also could not turn the steering wheel or move the car into neutral gear. the service tech at ford said it was a very common and widespread problem with the focus and that they repair many more ford focus ignitions than any other model of ford cars. this should be a recall repair and the owner of the ford focus (i) should not be financially liable for the repair. i would like for ford motor company to reimburse me for the cost of the repair $269.32 and the fee i paid to the towing company $35.00 a total of the two is $304.32. *jb
03/24/2005107/17/1973
 After finishing work, i went out to my car and the key would not turn. i tried for an hour to get the key to turn but it never did. since i am new to the area, and i do not know anyone, i ended up having the car towed to the ford dealership. they told me the ignition switch would have to be drilled out and replaced. i was billed $325. *nm
03/23/200678450103/01/2000
 I have a 2000 ford focus and have had nothing but problems with the car. i've had most (8 of 12) of the recall services done to the car. now the key won't turn because the ignition is jammed. i searched the web and found literally hundreds of posts on websites regarding the same problem with all years of the ford focus. on many sites, people are describing the same problem of the ignition problem and paying $350+ at the dealers to get it fixed. these same sites have many people hoping that nhtsa will force ford to do a recall on the ignition. it is a defect when it's this common. people describe tow truck operators saying they tow a number of ford focus to the dealer for the ignition problem each month. please do something!! *jb
02/22/2006307/20/2003
 I had my ignition switch replace once already, having to pay 300.00 the first time, and know just the other day i went to visit my brother, and when i got ready to leave, my key would not start, my brother had left before me, so i was stranded, me and my boys for 45 minutes in 20 degree weather, i was so upset, i can not believe ford is not doing a recall, im selling this piece a crap of a car, and will never again by a ford car, and im going to spread the word on how horrible there service and cars are. *jb
03/22/2006550006
 I drove home from school parked my 2000 ford focus lx in the driveway and on my way out to work found that my ignition would not turn and my steering wheel was locked into place. after 2 days of having to find an alternative way to work i called a locksmith who said they have several complaints about this happening a week and to lightly tap on the key while it is in the ignition, after trying that i found it works but has to be done everytime i want to start the car. *jb
03/20/200699000108/08/2004
 1) ignition stuck, and can't start vehicle. 2) stepdaughter was stranded, by side of road. car had to be towed home, and then dealer. 3) drilled ignition tumbler from and re-keyed. re-keyed new ignition cylinder. *jb
03/22/20065
 My ignition is jammed and will not turn the car on. i have read numerous complaints regarding this problem and think that it should be a recall. i have not fixed the problems because i have put too much money into this lemon of a car already! i need a recall to pay for ford's mistake! *nm
02/01/200543000102/14/2000
 Couldn't turn the key in the ignition to start the car. had car towed and the ignition switch replaced at a cost of more than $300. the car is 5 years old with only 43,000 miles on it. *nm
01/27/200650129206/10/2000
 Our year 2000 ford focus has a faulty ignition cylinder that frequently jams. my wife has been left stranded twice as a result. we recently saw a public advocate program that indicated these cars from year 2000-20005 are having an epidemic of the same problem but ford is refusing to replace the parts if they are not under warranty. our car is still under warranty because we bought the very expensive 7 year warranty. a great majority of people buying at this price point wouldn't be able to afford that kind of warranty or the +$500 repair. *jb
02/12/200692000201/31/2001
 Ford focus se ignition key switch lock-up. this is the second time i have had this problem -- key won't turn, steering wheel is locked, and the gear shift won't move. the first time, i was able to manipulate the key and finally start the car. this time, it is sunday and i am stranded. a locksmith told me that ford is the only one who has parts and it will be a very expensive repair. so tomorrow, i will have to rent a car to keep a doctor's appointment and have the focus towed to the dealership to have the ignition replaced. i understand that this is a very common problem with ford (i just checked the internet) and they refuse to recall these cars to fix this very dangerous problem. thankfully, i was in a well-lighted, safe area of the city. i shudder to think of what may have happened if i had been stranded in a high-risk area. the founder of ford motor company built the company on reputation and high standards with customer satisfaction always in mind. what has happened to this greedy organization now run by mr. bill ford who cares nothing about the safety and quality of its cars as his ancestors did? recall this car now -- enough is enough!. *jb
11/10/2005820002
 Dt*: the vehicle's check engine light illuminated. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer to be inspected. the dealer determined that there was a recall on the vehicle regarding the fuel tank assembly (nhtsa recall, #06v025000). the parts needed to repair the vehicle were not available at the local dealership. the manufacturer confirmed that the parts were not available. the fuel pump has been replaced twice. the ignition switch has been replaced three times. updated 3/9/2006 - *nm
02/04/200660007/06/2000
 This is the third time that i will have to get my ignition switch replaced on my 2000 ford focus because it will not turn. the first time the switch was drilled out on warranty. the second time the key would not turn and the replaced it under the repair warranty. it happened again a little over a year later. this time i was told by the tow truck driver to hit it with something. i have used this method to turn the key every day for the last 2 years. this worked until now. *nm
10/25/200027510010/01/2000
 Dt: the consumer stated there were multiple problems with the vehicle. the brakes make noises and pulsated when the pedal was depressed. the vehicle was taken to the service dealer where the brake light switch and ignition cylinder switches were replaced. the dealer also turned the drums, replaced the brake pads and resurfaced the front rotors. there was a vibration in the front end when braking. the lower ball joint, right wheel bearings, right front sway bar link, bone socket, steering rack column and tie rod ends were replaced in an attempt to remedy the problem. the tail light covers retained moisture and condensation built up. the dealer replaced the tail light covers and fuses that were blown due to the moisture. lastly, the contact noticed the rear seat was loose and upon inspection the dealer discovered an anchor and hinge problem. the back hinge and pillar were replaced. *jb
12/16/20052
 This particular problem has happened to way too many people. i firmly believe it is a safety concern. *jb
01/02/200685000111/25/1999
 Dt: the contact stated the ignition locked up while attempting to start the vehicle. after driving the vehicle to a designation the locksmith replaced the ignition switch. the dealership found on the internet several other year model vehicles with ignition switch problems. *ak. *ak
12/22/2005104/11/2002
 Dt: the contact stated the key would not go into the ignition. the vehicle was towed to the dealership, and they stated the ignition was worn out. they repaired the vehicle, but the contact has not taken possession of the vehicle. *ak
12/20/2005650001
 Steering wheel locked and key would not turn in ignition. had to have the vehicle towed to repair shop. cost to repair is $250. not happy at all!*jb
12/21/2005109200310/12/2005
 The ignition and column. i put the key in the ignition, it beeps, but the steering stays locked. i've tried to wiggle and jamming the key into the ignition because that's what a ford dealership suggested me to do. he also gave me a quote over the phone $350. now how often is that. i see that a lot of people own this type of vehicle are having the same exact problem i'm having and ford doesn't consider it a recall or defect. i think they should since ford is suppose to be a reputable car. *jb
12/21/2005300001
 Ignition cylinder is malfunctioning. key will not insert all the way and will not turn ignition cylinder. *jb
12/18/2005138000105/23/2005
 Steering wheel and ignition switch are locked up and i can not start my car. *jb
12/17/200590000100
 I have a 2000 ford focus. over the past month my key would not turn in my ignition but with some play it would turn. on saturday dec 17, 2005 i tried to start my car while on a family trip and my key wouldn't turn. i now have to spend $300 to get it fixed at my local ford service shop. i also have to pay to get my car towed 40 miles to my hometown. the part that is failing is the ignition lock cylinder. my brother had his replaced last month for the same thing and i have to change my wife soon because her focus is also doing the same thing. *jb
12/14/200554000203/02/2000
 The ignition of my ford focus zx3 once refused to accept the key, and had to be replaced, at my expense. that second tumbler is failing now also, and will need to be replaced again. i just found out from a website (www.automotivetalk.net/showmessages.php?id=1275) that this is a huge, recurring problem. one person quoted a tow truck driver as saying that this is the fourth one of these with this problem that i've towed to ford this week! one of the post writers suggested that we contact you at the nhtsa to report an obvious defect, with hopes of a much deserved manufacturer's recall. thank you! *nm
12/11/200565203502/01/2005
 I bought a 2000 ford focus used in february 2005. on december 11, 2005 my ignition cylinder would not turn for the first time. the next day i had to be towed home because the car wouldn't start. i took it to a ford dealership and had the ignition cylinder replaced for $283. *nm
12/03/200593000110/26/2002
 My son took the car to lowe's and when he came out of the store the key would go in but would not turn. upon my investigation the parts guy at mike bass ford told me that they get 2-3 focus's a week in for the same problem, the ignition tumbler is a whopping $86 and some change plus labor, plus tow. that is outrageous!*jb
03/18/2003206/05/2000
 Key would not turn in the ignition switch. dealership stated that the ignition lock cylinder was broken due to wear and tear and cold weather. dealership removed broken cylinder and installed new ignition cylinder in march 2003. problem has recurred november 2005. *jb
11/24/200572000202/08/2000
 My 2000 ford focus ignition switch has failed the 2nd time in a little over a year. when i insert the key in the ignition it will not turn regardless of what i do. with the first incident (10/15/2004) i had the vehicle towed to the ford dealership and ended up paying $115.42 out of pocket--the remaining $155.09 was covered under the extended warranty. the dealership replaced the lock cylinder. today, 11/24/05, my husband experienced the same problem. this time i am going to call a locksmith to do the work -- apparently this is a very common problem in the focus (many fellow focus owners on a website recommended a locksmith over going to a dealership to save both time and money). this problem has been costly, inconvenient and unsafe--as we have been left stranded. please make this a recall! *jb
11/23/200546000112/16/2000
 Upon trying to start my car, i found that the keys (both of them) would not fit into the ignition, thus preventing me from starting my car. this happened for the second time (the first time--2 days ago--i got it in after 3 or 4 tries), and now i can't drive my car. i have noticed that this is a recurrent problem with ford focus vehicles, and a recall needs to be issued. i will now have to take it to the shop to get the ignition switch fixed. *jb
10/20/20053
 Ignition switch would stick, since day of purchase...two months later, broken!! all the tumbler springs went out....$300!! to fix and one hour late to work. passenger outer tie rod boot is shot and the tie rod will not come off!!! $45 to replace!!! seat belt tensioner does not work properly at all!!!! *nm
11/06/20052
 I own a 2000 ford focus zx3. the ignition keeps jamming and has finally completely failed, leaving me stranded miles from home. i've searched the internet and i've found that this is a known problem for the ford focus. i am thankful that it was me that was stranded and not my wife with the children. the ignition switches are defective. i would like to ask that a recall be put on this issue. i now have to have the car towed to the repair shop to be repaired because ford used a defective part in manufacturing. thank you, d. lish. *nm
11/05/200560000305/05/2002
 I am a katrina evacuee working in dallas and i own a 2000 ford focus zx3, and the notorious freezing ignition cylinder flaw (cannot turn key at all) left me stranded at 5:00 pm in front of an albertson's for 3 hours until a tow truck sent by geico came and got the car, brought it to the closest ford dealer, and brought me home. amidst all of the destruction i personally am dealing with, the last thing i need is to have a well known defect leave me stranded in another state...oh yeah, i have the flu to boot, so to say the least, i'm kind of cranky. ford need to recall this part. as if i do not have enough to pay for (my house took 11 feet of water in nola), given this is not an official recall, the repair will cost me at least $250 out of pocket. please initiate a recall. boris palacios. *jb
11/02/2005406/05/2002
 I went to a store and turned my car off, the same way that i always do. once returning and trying to start the car, the ignition switch would not move at all. the key would go in all the way, but it would not turn. this has happened to me several times, but normally it will start after messing with it for a few minutes. this time i sat there for an hour trying to get it to work, to no avail. i called my roadside assistance, and had it towed home. i was told both by my insurance company, and the towing company, that it is a repeated issue with the focus. the towing company said the only time he has had to ever tow a focus is when it has been in an accident, or if the key will not turn. i have noticed many other complaints about this same issue through nhtsa, and feel something should be done about it. i have called several mechanics and lock smiths, and i am told by all that i have to take it to the dealership to have it fixed. i have no choice but to pay the high price to have a dealer fix an issue that should have been fixed a long time ago on all the car's made that year. it is obviously a defect if so many people are having this problem, and not just once but repeatedly. *jb
10/26/20051
 My daughter took the ford focus to college for a couple of weeks and was not able to get the key in the ignition. after speaking with several representatives at aaa (trying to get it towed from a parking garage), they all said that this is a known problem with the ford focus. they were sure that there had to be a recall or that ford should pay for this to be fixed. i've contacted ford and this was in their reply - 'ford and the national highway traffic and safety administration (nhtsa) work together to proactively identify areas of concern through investigation of consumer and dealer feedback.' this is why i'm filing a complaint with you. as for a safety issue, my daughter's safety is my main concern. luckily this happened while she was still parked in the garage at school and not in a parking lot at a mall or a store. the tumblers collapsed and the ignition switch needed replaced and two new keys had to be made and programmed. (if oem is original equipment from manufacturer, then it is yes.) *jb
10/23/200592000105/18/2004
 2000 ford focus ignition switch will not turn. *nm
03/14/200432079307/12/2000
 Dt: the contact stated the ignition switch failed three times within a year and a half. the first time, she went to start the car, the ignition would not turn over. the car was towed and repaired. the second failure was approximately one year later and the same thing happened. the car was towed and repaired for the second time. the third failure happened this week, went to start the car and it would not start again. it is being repaired now. the dealership stated it could possibly be the starter along with the ignition switch. *ak in dec 2001 the consumer was involved in an accident due to a problem with the tires and the rear axle. the transmission cooler lines were replaced. the brake lights and heater did not work. the egr tube was replaced. the wiper arm was broken. the engine light stayed on all time. the driver side mirror had to be replaced. updated 01/11/06. *jb
10/17/2005110/17/2000
 Ignition locks up. this is the second time i've had to replace this ignition. this time its costing me $397. apparently many other focus 2000 users have the same problem. *nm
10/12/2005700001510/07/2003
 The ignition switch in my 2000 ford focus has repeatedly failed, leaving my family and myself stranded multiple times. the switch was replaced once at @ 20k miles, and is now beginning to fail in the exact same way. this is a very, very common problem with these cars, and the ford mechanics confirm this fact. unfortunately, the ford service managers i have dealt with deny any problem exists. i consider this a safety issue, as we have been stranded at night in dangerous situations. *nm
10/07/2005607961
 Ignition lock failure. once the key is inserted it will not turn. i have gotten the switch to work in the interm but it still needs to be replaced. *nm
10/09/20051
 Having trouble inserting my key into the ignition. also, ignition switch does not pop out when key is removed until i press it in with my finger. my brother, who also owns a 2000 ford focus has had his ignition switch replaced twice for the same problem. expect to pay $250 at the dealer to have it fixed. *nm
09/26/2005103/15/2005
 1) my ignition switch broke 2) would not turn when the key was inserted 3) had a dealer replace the ignition switch. the tech also made a comment that, on this model, they all broke, and ford had made a better switch that was being used in the replacement. *nm
10/01/2005110/12/2002
 The ignition will not allow the key to turn. *jb
09/28/2005109/15/2000
 I have an ignition problem. the key goes in but will not turn. steering wheel is locked. when i checked the problem on the internet i realized that it is a common problem of all ford focus cars. when i went to the dealer they told me that ignition cylinder needs to be replaced, however a new key is not provided for the new ignition cylinder. as a result i have to take my old keys with the new cylinder to the locksmith to have him to recode it and that will be another expense for me. i read on the internet that this is only a temporary solution. same problem occurs again according to those that complained on the internet forums. the web address is below and i put my complain to that forum as well. http://www.automotivetalk.net/showmessages.php?id=1784 so it should be recall for this ignition problem by the ford company. *jb
09/27/200565000509/10/2002
 Regarding my 2000 ford focus - have had most of the issues listed on your site. recently, my trunk lid is not closing easily. it seems to be doing the same as my back door latch (rust issue?). also, my ignition key is regularly stuck going in or coming out of the ignition. this is even more frustrating...*nm
09/25/200582000108/01/2002
 Dt: the contact owns a 2000 ford focus station wagon. the contact stated while attempting to start vehicle the key would not turn to start the vehicle. it was as if the computer was not reading the key. the consumer contacted aaa, and they stated that this happened frequently with this type of vehicle. the consumer contacted the dealership this morning ,and they were going to inspect the vehicle to determine the cause of the problem. the manufacturer stated this was not a safety defect in the vehicle and would not issue a recall.*ak updated 11/29/05. *jb
09/26/200567000112/29/2004
 Without any warning of any kind, the ignition switch on my 200 ford focus zx3 failed, leaving with an automobile. *jb
09/19/200535000102/20/2001
 2000 ford focus - ignition lock cylinder fails - ignition key will not turn. hundreds of posts on the web complaining about this issue. no recourse except to replace the cylinder - after towing the vehicle. *jb
09/18/2005830001
 Got back in my are after filling with gas and the ignition key would not turn in the ignition lock barrel. had to have it towed home. internet search revealed this to be very common problem with this car. $300-$500 to fix. *nm
09/13/200112300309/04/2000
 Dt: 2000 ford focus. the ignition keeps locking up on the vehicle. the vehicle was taken it to the dealership. they stated they fixed it, but it continually happened. this happens before the vehicle is started, the last time it wouldn't release the key. the dealership states they are replacing the switch, when the vehicle was returned there was metal in the floor. *jb
08/20/200576000106/27/2005
 Dt: the ignition cylinder locked and will not let you turn the key. contacted a ford dealer, they said they have seen this problem widely, but there was no recall. this happened on august 20, 2005. had vehicle towed to dealer because it would not start it.*ak
08/01/2005108000101/15/2000
 I have a 2000 ford focus. the ignition switch has locked. key will not turn. no warning to impending failure. car had to be towed to a ford service center for repair. *nm
07/26/200555000212/21/1999
 Dt: caller had ignition switch replaced about a year ago and was now having the same problem again. it was hard to turn the key, and currently it wont turn at all. dealer said there was nothing they could do. manufacturer has not been contacted yet.*ak *nm
07/23/2005807/21/2005
 Purchased a used 2000 ford focus from a reputable lincoln-mercury dealer for my son. (hiis first car). after driving the car approximately 100 miles, when trying to turn the engine off, the ignition key will not come out. the car has to sit for 20-30 minutes before you can take the key out. after researching the problem, ford motor company has known for an extended period of time that they have manufactured faulty ignition cylinders on this make and model. while the dealer has offered to work out the problem, the fact remains that a recall needs to be issued to alleviate this problem on behalf of consumers. *nm
07/26/2005200207/01/2000
 Dt: contact stated ignition locked and will not turn. this was the second time this happened. the first time it happened in 10-2000. vehicle was towed, and a new ignition was put in, and had to order another set of keys. contact continued to have the same trouble with it starting vehicle. ignition failed again. contact did not talk to a dealer, but planed to do so.. the dealer ,where contact bought the vehicle had it towed for her in 2000. she is going to have to have it towed. there were no lights that came on prior to the ignition locking. *ak a year after the vehicle was purchased the brakes and rotors had to be replaced. *nm
06/22/200563500210/01/2001
 Dt: contact stated for the second time in little over a year the ignition switch will not turn. while on the highway and stopping at a rest stop could not restart vehicle. contact felt this was a safety issue. she noticed a problem with this in 2-04 and a in 6-05. she had the switch replaced both times. dealer acknowledged that this was a problem with the ford focus, and that ford recently developed a different kind of switch. she contacted ford to see if there was a recall, and there was no recall.*ak
07/26/200570203209/07/2000
 Ignition switch has to be replaced for the second time.the first one was covered by warrenty.the second one isn't.
07/22/20055400007/22/2005
 I just purchased a ford focus se station wagon from a private party. the car is in pristine shape with only 54,000 miles on it. there's just one slight problem.... the key doesn't turn in the ignition. this problem has been recorded a number of times.(see complaint section of this web site) why no recalls??????
07/12/200564000310/14/2003
 My wife was leaving work at night alone. she got in our 2000 ford focus and tried to start it. the key wouldnt turn. i guess it is an ignition cylinder failure. if my wife was in danger of her life or hurt she would not have been able to get anywhere. i am outraged that this is not a recall
07/11/2005110000108/18/2000
 2000-2001 ford focus wagon - ignition cylinder failure. was in a very hot parking lot and key would go in but not turn. this is a reoccuring problem with all focus models.
07/09/2005100000103/24/2000
 I arrived home on saturday morning, parked in the drive midway, took the key out and went into the house. later in the afternoon, i tried with no success to move the car all the way up into the drive. the ignition would not turn. i moved the wheel, which was lock, back and forth and even tried yanking it. it would not move. i called my friend to come and look at it. he was unable to move it and couldn't figure out why it had locked. there is no release on the vehicle, so i couldn't even move the steering wheel. every thing is locked in place. we pushed the car manually up into the driveway where it has been sitting with the windows down for 3 days. i looked into getting it fixed and found several websites with hundreds of complaints about this problem. the dealership i called for service said it would be roughly around $280 to fix but couldn't quote until the car had been in for inspection. i am really upset with ford for not recalling this item years ago. it is such a small fix for them but costs us alot. then when you get the reimbursement for you recall, they try to eliminate the labor costs, but isn't that part of the recall. my last reimbursement was much less than i actually paid for the service.
07/26/200446000108/10/2003
 Ignition cylinder failed. had to have replaced. have two such vehicles and experienced failure on both. quite costly.
03/21/200575000108/10/2003
 Ignition switch failure. could not remove or turn key. had to have cylinder replaced in both vehicles that we own. quite costly and very inconvenient.
01/01/19011
 2000 ford focus ignition problem.***no answer required***. *mr ignition switch will not work. this is a very common problem and should be considered a safety issue. *tt *nm
06/26/200565000101/01/2000
 The ignition lock cylinder failed on my ford focus (2000 model). the steering wheel locked up and i was unable to turn the key to start the car. i had to have the car towed to the dealer where they replaced the defective part for an improved ignition lock cylinder kit for a cost of $456. clearly, the original part was defective. i read dozens of other complaints about the same problem for other ford focus drivers. many had to replace the ignition lock cylinder multiple times. ford should pay for these repairs.
06/15/2005106/15/2004
 Dt: the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the problem with the vehicle is that once consumer sticks the key into the ignition the key would get stuck and would not turn. after numerous attempts it would eventually start before, but now it will not start at all. *ak
06/26/200560000203/01/2002
 This will be the second time i've had to replace the ingnition switch after a failure. it locks up/breaks and the key will not turn. the repair again is costing me $300 for something i feel should be recalled. it was not covered under my extended warranty when i was at 40k miles. i'm out of warranty now at 60k miles 2 years later. i have found so many other complaints on the internet in various places to know this problem is widespread. several employees at my dealership and tow truck drivers are even aware of it and admit that it's a big problem. this time my dealership is using a different part that *should* not have the same problem. i am patiently waiting for a recall to happen and to be reimbursed for these repairs. if it's a matter of ford not feeling that it is a safety issue, i would strongly disagree. i live in a dangerous city where i can be stranded with this problem at any given moment. luckily this time i was only out shopping locally during the day. ford has lost me as a customer unless they can show good faith and fix this problem for everyone.
06/26/2005209/01/2001
 Dt: contact states the key will not turn to start the ignition. vehicle had to be towed, and the service dealer had to drill the ignition cylinder lock, install a new key cylinder, and remake keys to fit into this new key cylinder.*ak
04/04/2004554081
 Ignition lock up necessitating tow and costly repair.
06/22/2005111673103/07/2000
 Dt:contact states when she puts the key in the ignition it will not move.. she has reported the problem to the dealership. this has been happened since 2000, and it has gotten worse. . it just locks up and contact can't turn the ignition. it sometimes takes up to 5 minutes to get the ignition to turn over. *ak
05/16/200509/08/2001
 Over a period of time my key was sticking in the ignition more frequently. it then got to the point that i couldnt get the key all the way in unless i messed around with the steering wheel for a while. once i got the key in there was no guarantee that it would turn so i could start the car. i eventually ended up leaving my key in the ignition and covering up the steering wheel before i got out of my car. i have two kids, i can not afford to get stuck anywhere.i took my car to a repair shop where the mechanic proceeded to tell me that this was the 9th ford focus that he had repaired that month for the same problem. a consumer had just picked one up this morning as a matter of fact, he said.so i had the problem corrected, he had to replace a part that was in the ignition. he had told me that the piece was like a puzzle and that when these cars were made the manufacturer had put the wrong size in. i do not have the old part, the repair center kept it.
01/05/2004522252
 Dt: the owner had to replace the ignition switch that locked up twice in less than one year. the key and cylinder had to be drilled out, and all parts replaced. there have been a couple of times that the key would not turn, but evidently it would. then, one day the key would not turn at all, and the column had locked up. vehicle was then towed to the garage. everything has been replaced. *ak
06/16/2005
 I am a college student and i have a 2000 ford focus. the steering wheel is locking and i can't start the car. my mother, father, boyfriend and i have tried over and over turning the key and the steering wheel but it does not work. this is the third time this has happened and my car is no longer under warranty. this is a major problem with the ford focus and somthing needs to be done, the car needs to be recalled. this is very unsafe, and the dealerships are not much of any help. pleaseeeeeeeeeee help
06/14/20051
 Ignition failure, can not remove or turn key
06/11/200592000409/15/2000
 Dt: consumer stated ignition lock broke/froze. key would not go in ignition, sometimes it would go half way in, and sometimes all the way in. but even when it went all the way in ignition would not turn. vehicle was sitting in driveway when this happened. there were previous problems with ignition. but consumer was eventually be able to get ignition to work. this happened several times over the last two or three years. had no problem in the last year until now. vehicle was serviced regularly.*ak
05/27/2005140000105/25/2000
 Was getting ready to drive home. put my key in the ignition, and the key would not turn. tried for two hours to turn the key, but no luck. i had to wait an additional 2 hours to get a ride home, with my car still in the parking lot. called ford dealership. told them my problem,and they knew without me telling them, the make and model of my car. they then referred me to a lock smith, who had to come out and replace it.
04/10/2000150703/13/1999
 Dt: transmission would not kick into gear. the key ignition is always getting stuck. consumer took vehicle to the dealer numerous times and was told it was only her imagination. finally, the transmission died and the warranty had ran out. the doors both front and back come open while driving. there is a recall on the rear doors but is also having problem with the front doors as well. vehicle was taken to dealer 3 times for the ignition key alone. car is currently in shop. *tt
05/17/2005106/15/2000
 2000 ford focus ignition switch is jammed. key will go in but will not turn. found many complaints about this problem on other internet sites. cost to repair 200 to 400 dollars according to these reports. found a web article published in 2002 on how to fix the problem - http://www.motorage.com/motorage/data/articlestandard/motorage/472002/38913/article.pdf my car is still in the driveway where the problem occured. emailed ford as i have been a long time ford buyer and have never had problem with an ignition switch - no response as of this date.
01/11/2004135000308/10/2001
 Ignition switch has seized three times each time replaced by dealerships. never warrantied. please not the quantity of these failures. due to the pats system, most mechanics will not touch it.
05/04/200531455106/02/2000
 There was no prior problems with the key and the ignition , then on 5/4/05 the key went into the ignition and would not turn or start the car , i tried my second key and that also would not turn . i had to have the car towed to local dealer , total cost for repair and tow was a wooping $350.00 .the dealer did not seem surprised that my ford focus had this defect , the tow driver said it is common to have this problem with focus and i spoke to a few local locksmiths and they also say it is common for focus . i see on the internet that hundreds of people also endured this high expense for the same repair . it does not seem fair that there is a defect and ford does not have a recall for this issue , plese help all us owners and push for a recall .. thank you
05/01/200530
 Replaced the ignition swith twice key gets stuck and some cases steering locks.
02/01/2005120000302/01/2003
 When key is put in ignition the key will not turn to allow the vehicle to start. also once the key is in it will not come out.*ak
04/22/200540000209/01/2001
 On two separate occasions the ignition switch would not turn, to allow the consumer to start the vehicle. jb
04/15/200560500108/18/2000
 Defective ignition switch cylinder, failed cylinders resulted from a sub standard manufactured cylinder which rapidly deteriorates with use and eventually fractures and jams. ford is well aware that these fragile cylinders are made of sub standard materials and are breaking and jamming at an alarming rate. *ak
04/19/2005103/18/2005
 My wife was driving the car and stopped to get a drink. when she got back into the car, the key would not go into the ignition. after i looked at it, the key went in a bit further, but was not enough to turn the ignition. the key still will not go in all the way or turn.*ak
04/19/200532000705/06/2004
 Have a 2000 ford, focus se. occasionally the cars ignition will lock up. sometimes the ignition will turn and gauges, radio will work, but car will not start. it will not make any sounds, just does not start. having difficulty even turning ignition switch. been in shop several times, but dealer could not find any problems until 04-19-05 when the ignition tumbler needed to be replaced. never have seen this before on a 4-5 year old car. not covered under any warranty. this failure very often has left me and my 3 year old sitting in the car in extreme temperatures unable to start vehicle. currently, i am stuck with a $250 bill, that the ford mechanic stated probably had nothing e to do with the vehicle not starting!!!*ak
03/16/20051250002
 Consumer would be unable to turn the key inside the ignition switch. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak consumer adds ignition is stuck when attempting to start vehicle. both rear doors will not open due to vehicle not starting. clock spring and steering lock assembly were replaced. *tt
03/31/2005240001
 When starting the vehicle steering wheel would not unlock with the ignition key. vehicle was towed. dealership was notified. consumer had the steering wheel lock repaired. *ak
04/04/200545125201/31/2001
 Ignition cylinder locked up. the keys won't turn in the ignition cylinder. had to call the locksmith as per locksmith ,its a known issue with ford focus 2000/2001 models. ignition cylinder replaced to fix the problem. check this for similar issues: http://www.automotivetalk.net/showmessages.php?id=1275
03/29/200580000306/01/2001
 When key is inserted in the ignition the key won't turn. consumer took vehicle to dealer numerous times, and dealer fixed it, but problem recurred. *ak
03/15/200578000203/13/2005
 Consumer is unable to remove key from ignition without excessive force being used, regardless of length of time vehicle is driven . dealership removed the ignition chamber, inspected it, but found no problem. also, they have lubricated it. the problem recurred. *ak
03/28/2005630001
 Key won't full slide into the ignition lock cynlider. as a result can't start the car. it apears, one or more tumblers have fallen out of place. auto has approximately 62,000 miles. when i had a lock smith look at the lock, i was informed that is was a fair common problem with the 2000-2002 ford focus model. *ak
03/20/20037800005/11/2002
 Ignition cylinder seized and needed to be replaced, car has 78,000 miles and i feel that this is a poor design. cost of repairs was $185.00 and i had to replace the ignition key as well. i have old part for inspection if needed.
10/04/20041
 Vehicle was unable to start when the consumer put the key into the ignition switch. consumer was concerned because this could be dangerous if there was an emergency , and vehicle was unable to start.*ak
08/15/200464000103/04/2002
 I went shopping at wal-mart and when i came out, my ignition was locked up. i was unable to do anything and called the ford dealership to tow it in and fix it. i was charged for all parts, labor, and tow bill. when i reasearched this online, i found several others had the same problem and based on their experiences this happens over and over. ford would accept no responsibility and would not look into a recall. my car is a 2000 ford focus. incidinte date is a guess.
03/14/200541097303/14/2001
 Ignition switch failure 3 times at mileages 41097, 60405, 75504. vehicle had to be towed each time. ignition switch was drilled out and replaced each time. ignition switch bound up and would not turn with key inserted. *ak
03/17/200565000112/11/1999
 Ignition lock has failed for the second time, this time at approximately 65000 miles. i am without a car, and my wife is 36 weeks pregnant.*ak
03/16/200598000101/15/2003
 Ignition key switch will sometimes fail to turn after the key is inserted. i have contacted the dealership and was informed that this is a problem with the focus. the service manager informed me that the problem will get progressively worse and that that he has had many people have to have their vehicle towed because of this. he also said that ford is aware of the issue but is not repairing them and that it is a $250 repair. he stated it could happen when the car is running and the key will not come out, or could cause the ignition not to work at all. i've owned many cars. i've never had the igition key cylinder wear out. *ak
01/25/200476000204/20/2000
 1/25/04 parked at meter in stamford ct, key wouldn't come out of ignition. got it out, then wouldn't go back in. 20 minutes of sweating/swearing, got key back in. had to leave it in the ignition (dangerous) until 2/12/04. car to dillon ford, who replaced key cylinder for $210. mileage 76,489. i saved broken ignition switch, if you want it. replacement was a ford motorcraftco. ignition switch sw-5997 xs4z-11582-aa. january 2005 broke again! broadway auto replaced key ignition lock cylinder again for $250.00. mileage 96,000. they gave me a copy of ignition switch lock cylinder: all technical service bulletins, interior- ignition lock cylinder hard to turn. posted 09/16/02. article no. 02-18-2 2000 ford focus l4-121 2.0l sohc vin p sfi copyright 2004 alldata 8.30 use lock cylinder repair kit (xs4z-11582-aa) this is the same cylinder that broke in my first replacement. i saved broken cylinder. both cylinders have the code s 38 kb on barrel. ford's aware of the problem, i.e., technical bulletin. ford's using the same inferior part to replace the defective key cylinder, making over $200 each time. nhts complaint site has 291 complaints electrical system: ignition switch; 277 complaints electrical system,ignition; 4 complaints electrical system anti-theft controller; 2 complaints electrical system: starter assemby. numerous complaints automotive talk.net 114 complaints topic: 2000 ford focus ignition lock cylinder. this is dangerous, highly proiftable for ford motor company. ford should reimburse for the over $500 spent so far on this problem.*ak
03/13/2005460001
 The failure accurred in the ignition switch, the key would not go into the ignition switch thus not allowing us to start the car it had to be towed home. *ak
03/10/200568000112/14/2000
 The ignition tumbler failed. from what i have been able to ascertain, this is a common problem that ford has known about and has chosen not to issue a recall. the fact that vehicle has been recalled almost 12 times should indicate that there is massive engineering and design problems with this car.*ak
02/26/2005101/01/2000
 I have a 2000 ford focus zts. the ignition lock cylinder failed. after driving the car in the morning and parking it in a parking spot i came out and was unable to insert my key in the ignition. i was unable to insert the key into the ignition and the steering wheel was frozen in place. after trying repeatedly to get the key in or jiggle the steering wheel i had to have the car towed. i needed a new steering column, ignition, lock cy, and rekey lock cylinder. there has been a vehicle: all technical service bulletin issued on this problem but no recall. ford is aware of the problem which is a plastic switch in the ignition that breaks and then causes the problems. i hope there is no car fire or deaths as a result of ford not fixing this problem. *jb
02/26/20051
 Turning the key became progressively harder, and finally the cylinder locked completely. this should be a recall, it cost me $450.
02/21/200559200105/12/2000
 I could not insert my key more than half way into the ignition to start my 2000 ford focus zx3. i had it towed through ford to a dealership and expected the ignition problem to be fully covered under warranty (i had nothing to do with its failure).the dealership told me that it was not covered under my extended warranty and it would cost $585 to replace the ignition and re-key the car. this seems to be a very common problem with my model/year.*ak
12/22/2004570001
 Intermittenly consumer would not be able to stick the key inside the ignition. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak
02/14/2005207/17/2004
 I bought the a 2000 ford focus car in july 2004. it is today (feb 2005) the ignition has locked up on me. the key will go in but the key will no turn. the key ding signal works and every thing. i have read many consumer complaints from autotalk.com about the same exact problem and it is the igntion cylinder is the problem and the problem keeps reacurring every year. *ak
02/14/200550000107/03/2003
 I stopped in at a local restaurant and got a bite to eat. when i returned to my car i proceeded to put the key into the ignition but it jammed. i flipped the key and tried again and no luck. i then gave the key a good push and got the key in but it would not turn over. i called a local locksmith and told me it was a common failure on ford focus. i then took the car to a local ford dealership and got charged $450 to replace the whole ignition cylinder. i looked up other ford focus complaints and notice that this is a common problem nationwide.*ak
02/03/20051220002
 Ignition switch failure. *ak
01/15/200340000208/28/2002
 Since 2002 i have experienced many problems with the ignition, key will not turn when inserted in ignition switch. i have replaced that part twice, $500 dollars each time. it's been only one year since the last time that i got it fixed and again i'm having problems everytime that i try to start the ignition. *jb
01/07/200561490112/15/2002
 Vehicle experienced problems with the ignition switch. owner was unable to put the key in the ignition and turn the vehicle on. owner had to have the vehicle towed to the dealership, and had the repairs done. *ak the consumer stated that he feels there should be a recall and he should be reimbursed for the cost of the repair. *tc
11/10/2004120000105/31/2000
 On occasion for several months prior to the failure, the key was difficult to insert into the ignition switch. then one night the key simply would not turn in the ignition and was difficult to remove. i was unable to start the car and had to have it towed to a repair shop. they replaced the entire ignition switch. they indicated that this is a problem they have seen frequently in these cars. i also have a friend with the same year, make and model vehicle and she had the same problem. *ak
02/05/2005780002
 When attempting to start the vehicle the ignition locked. as a result, the vehicle was unable to start, and had to be towed to dealership for repair. *ak
02/07/2005373541
 Electrical system: ignition switch. my complaint is exactly the same as 10100616. a failed ignition switch that would not turn. corrected by drilling out cylinder, and replacing. certified lock smith price was $298.00. the local ford dealer quoted price was $400.00 lock smith said they have 1 - 2 of these with the focus every week.*jb
02/03/200555000807/06/2000
 2000 ford focus ignition switch is stuck. cannot start car. this is a huge problem for hundreds of consumers: see(http://www.autowhiz.com/messageboards/message.php?id=1784&page=12), due in my opinion to poor manufacturing. it is a potential safety issue. apparently ford denies the problem, but there are hundreds of complaints on bulletin boards to document this situation. please help us fix this situation. i believe it should/could come under a recall notice at no cost to the consumer. thank you, bob lambert *jb
01/30/200513
 Steering wheel ignition locks and will not allow the key to turn and start the car. *ak
01/30/200544200101/14/2005
 Http://www.autowhiz.com/messageboards/message.php?id=1784&page=1 has many people that are having troubles with their ignition switches on 2000 and 2001 ford focus ford is aware of the problem but unwilling to make it right. i hope you can assist us in this matter more than ford is..in fact when i contacted ford directly they sent me an automated email on recalls on vehicles that i do not even own that did not address my complaint or the complaint of many others. *ak
01/25/20051
 I own a ford focus 2000. after leaving the store late one evening, i placed my key in the ignitinon and it would not turn. i was very frustrated because this had happened a few years ago as well. after doing some research, it seems that this is a very common problem. this is a safety issue! who will be to blame when something happens to the person stranded in the dark parking lot? the best part is, my car like many others- is at the dealer getting repaired. there goes my bill money. *ak
10/07/20041162551
 The consumer is unable to take the key out of the ignition switch intermittently. the dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. the cause was not determined. please provide more information. *nm
11/21/2004750001
 Intermittently the consumer was unable to turn the key inside the ignition switch. the dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. the cause was not determined. please provide more information. *jb
01/15/200551523105/11/2003
 Ignition switch jammed and won't turn. left me stranded. appears to be a major problem with ford focus. *jb
12/19/2004370002
 Intermittently the consumer would be unable to turn the key in the ignition switch. the vehicle was towed. the dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. the cause was not determined. please provide more information. *nm
01/11/20041000002
 When vehicle is turned off then restarted it fails to start because the keys wouldn't turn the ignition. this is an ongoing problem. the manufacturer is aware of the problem, and has redesigned this part in the later model vehicles. the ignition switch has been replaced twice at$300.00.*ak
11/15/2004190002
 Consumer was concerned that the ignition switch had to be replaced twice within 19,000 miles. this caused the ignition switch to lock up and unable to turn the engine on. both times the vehicle was towed to a local repair shop. dealer and the manufacturer were not notified.*ak
12/31/20042
 2000 ford focus -- ignition key assembly, he ignition core fell out of my daughters focus for the second time. this assembly is being warrenty replaced this second time since it was done at local dealership, however the dealership says other adjacent components were damaged (costing ~ $650). had the ignition assembly been fixed correctly the first time, there is no way the adjacent components could have failed. the dealership lithia ford of tri-cities (509-735-2511) , has refused to honor warrenty repair of the adjacent components, which is rather disturbing. i am writing this complaint so hopefully ford will someday be pushed into recalling this defect in addition to the 11 other defects on this particular vehicle. *ak
01/02/200536480101/15/2000
 There was as ignition switch problem. when putting the key into the ignition it was very difficult. once the key was in, it would not turn. the consumer took the vehicle back to the dealer, and currently the dealership was working on the defect. *ak the ignition had to be replaced. *sc *jb
12/06/20042
 Vehicle did not start when the key was inserted in the ignition. consumer took vehicle to dealer for the second time, and results showed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced again.*ak
12/23/2004900003
 After placing the key into the ignition gear locked and the key would not turn. vehicle was towed, and the ignition switch had to be replaced for a third time.*ak *nm
12/20/20041
 Today, during a snowstorm, i tried to start the car and the key would not insert into the ignition - the wheel was locked and there was no way to start the car. i has two babies with me, and had to call aaa. i have checked on the web and this is a hige problem with this car, yet the ford company will not issue a recall. it is incredibly unsafe. the car was inoperable. i was stranded.*ak
12/14/200448810204/25/2002
 Consumer placed the key inside of the ignition and vehicle failed to start. consumer had the vehicle towed to dealer, and mechanic determined that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. *ak the vehicle ignition failed twice. *tc
10/01/20039900
 I have been very patiently waiting for ford to issue a recall on their ignition system. it is very pathetic. both of my ford focus vehicles have these problems. i used the cars in a normal fashion for over 4 years. at the end of year 3 the keys in both my focus cars stopped working correctly leaving stranded at work one time. i had to call a locksmith who told me that this is a common problem with the focus and that the replacement cylinder will likely fail again as it is a problem with the overall design of the ignition system from ford. i paid over $300 for this problem and now am experiencing this hell again in year 4.5. i am very dissatisfied with ford now and have not heard of any recall. both my cars continue to experience these key problems and are becoming almost unusable at this point. *jb
12/10/200460000103/12/2000
 Upon placing key into ignition, the chamber fails to turn to start and turn at all. had to call aaa to get vehicle towed. driver of tow truck was well aware of the problem specific to a ford focus. he was able to tap the steering collar and the lock unbound. this is not an issue with the wheel needing a slight turn. the cylinder apparently over time wears causing the ignition lock to bind. he said it might help putting some wd 40 on the key but the lock was a well know problem that will require replacement. searching the internet, i have seen many instances of this problem, in the hundreds. *jb
12/07/20041
 Consumer put the key in the ignition to start the vehicle and key wouldn't turn. consumer called ford, and the dealer stated that the ignition tumbler was bad. consumer had the vehicle towed to repair shop for repairs. *ak
12/04/200498000201/01/2000
 2000 ford focus. ignition locks, put key in ignition but key will not turn, no matter what is done. this is the second time this has occurred with this same vehicle.*ak
06/14/200222000307/14/2000
 Ignition key fails to turn in lock cylinder. steering wheel cannot be moved or unlocked when vehicle is parked. vehicle has been stranded and towed to ford dealer for repair 3 times ( at 22000, 37254 & 43000 miles) now. inoperative lock cylinder was drilled out and replaced in each case. i was charged $287.00 for the second repair (plus towing) because it was not covered under warranty.*ak
12/02/2004540001
 Consumer was unable to start vehicle. the ignition switch would not turn on. dealer was contacted. *ak
11/20/20042
 Ignition switch locked up. *ak
11/27/20043
 I own a 2000 ford focus lx and i have had to replace the ignitions switch twice due to my ignition locking and making it impossible for me to start my car. on saturday,novmeber 27,2004, i began to have this problem again, i had to have my car towed to my home that evening. i have been told by a locksmith, the tow guy and other people with the same complaint and even a person who works for ford. *ak
11/28/2004106/08/2000
 I parked my car in the garage but i am unable to start it now. the ignition will not turn and it is locked into one position. i cannot operate the vehicle because the ignition is locked. i plan to call the locksmith and/or dealership about this on monday. *ak
11/27/200468000109/24/2004
 I recently encountered a problem with my ignition. when i attempted to insert my key into the ignition, the key would not insert entirely and would not turn to start the car. the steering wheel was completely locked while in park. initially, i thought this was an easy fix, so i tried to jerk the steering wheel to the extreme left or right, but it refused to cooperate. after over an hour of attempting to insert my key with failure, i called a locksmith. the locksmith told me this is a common problem in ford focuses. i'm curious as to why ford has not issued a recall on this particular matter. i've read numerous statements online from other ford focus owners with the same problem (see http://www.automotiveforums.com/t158426.html and http://www.talkaboutautos.com/group/alt.autos.ford.focus/messages/27215.html). the locksmith had to uninstall the old ingnition switch and recode and install a new ignition switch for $190. since my purchase, ford focus has issued three recalls (upcoming fourth recall) and i'm surprised this problem is not one of them with the large number of complaints from others. hopefully, further investigation will take place to repair this problem and not leave any future owners stranded when they attempt to start their car.*ak
11/19/2004205/01/2000
 I own 2 ford focus cars. each has had the iginition switch lock up. ignition key could not be inserted without force and even then could not be turned to unlock steering wheel or provide power. starting engine was not possible. vehicle had to be towed using car jacks .... a towing surcharge. this defect is not considered a warranty item and cost was several hundered dollars to repair.*ak
11/12/20042
 I have a 2000 ford focus. early this year there was an issue with the ignition, not that it wouldn't start, but that i could only get the key halfway into the locking mechanism in the ignition itself. i missed work that day because of not being able to start my own car. called the locksmith and he told me that was his third case in two weeks--same car, about the same year. he fixed it but said that if it happened again, it would need replacing. well it did happen again--nov. 12th to be exact. again, the key would not go in the mechanism, even after following the dealership's advice to tap it in with a hammer. had to get the car towed. tow truck driver said it was his fourth focus being towed that week and guessed the problem before i even told him what it was! when we got to the dealership i asked how many cars had been affected. 20% was the answer--20% of the focus models from 2000-2003. would there be a recall i asked? no, he answered flatly. i had to pay nearly $300 in repairs from them having to drill in and replace ignition, lock, and keys, all for a defect that affects 20% of cars built in three years. frankly i find that ridiculous that they won't recall these cars, and i want other focus owners to be aware of the problem since ford doesn't seem it necessary to tell them about this issue.*ak
05/01/20031
 Upon trying to start the vehilce the key sticks and will not turn either way. it is sometimes hard for the key to go into the ignition. *ak
11/09/2004690001
 The keys failed to turn in the ignition, and was unable to start vehicle. dealership will be notified.*ak
10/29/200431072210/31/1999
 My ignition suddenly jammed, not accepting my key without considerable playing. even after getting the key in, it then wouldn't come out without jiggling and force. after lubricating the lock i can get the key in but the ignition will no longer turn, which left me stranded. i have since learned that this is a common problem on the 2000 ford focus due to poor design of the ignition. i have remove the tumblers from the lock so i can continue using the car. 8jb
10/25/2004307/10/2000
 I have a 2000 ford focus zx3 which i bought new. i have had to replace the ignition twice and this morning the ignition failed again. this vehicle is no longer under warranty and i last replaced the ignition nine monthes ago. the car has also started to stall when there is a quarter tank of gas or left in the tank. it runs rough at stop lights, then will start sputtering and then stall out. just before it completely shuts off, the battery warning light will come on. *ak
10/21/200456000101/06/2000
 The ignition lock cylinder failed in my 2000 ford focus zx3, leading to inability to start the car. apparently this is a widely known but unacknowledged issue with the focus line. *ak events leading up to the failure: normal use of the ignition to start and stop the car. failure: the tumblers in the ignition switch broke or jammed such that i was unable to insert my ignition key more than 50% into the ignition switch, thereby making me unable to start the car or even unlock the steering wheel. i had to have the vehicle towed to my house in order to get it out of a shopping mall parking lot. remediation of failure: i am either going to remove the tumblers in the ignition switch as detailed in http://www.automotiveforums.com/t158426.html or i will have to pay the ~$300 cost to get a new one from a dealer who won't acknowledge this as a problem.
10/15/200452000104/15/2003
 Parked my 2000 ford focus, and went to a meeting. when i came back out, my key would only go half-way into the ignition. after talking with the aaa tow guy, and ford service guy, this seems to be a rather common occurance with the ford focus. i understand that it has bad tumblers. am currently researching to see what others have done to fix the problem, have had it towed to a garage. *ak
10/18/200441311305/03/2000
 My 2000 ford focus has had the ignition switch replaced twice alredy because the key gets stuck in the switch and the car cannot be turned off. it happened again today, this is a problem that has been experienced by thousands of focus pwners as evidenced by the many automotive forums that i have visited looking for info on this problem. ford needs to recall these vehicles and correct this problem.*ak
10/15/200461543304/26/2000
 Ignition cylinder failed and was replaced. this is the third replacement of the ignition cylinder for this vehicle in a 36 month period. even after the second replacement the cylinder catches when attempting to start the vehicle. the dealership claimed to find no problem when returned for correction. this latest failure fortunately occurred in a parking lot and not on the street. failures have now occurred at milages and dates of: 4 october 2001- 18990 miles, 6 january 2004- 48926 miles, and 15 october 2004- 61543 miles. part was retained by dealership.*ak
10/15/2004605/28/2001
 1st incident:steering wheel locked and the key would not turn , the car was towed . and the ignition switch was completely replaced. 6 months later (today), the steering wheel locked and the key would not turn. after 3 hours of poking and prodding , my brother finally got it released. 2n incident: while driving on a busy road , the car seemed to stall while driving , it wa sort of sputtering , then it was going in and out , i had my foot pressed all the way to the floor and the car would not go over 35 mi per hour. we thought it could have been bad ga , so we bought a cleaner , and it seemed to work better , we eventually bought a new fuel filter, we weren't aware there was a recall on the fuel pump. 3rd incident : breaks , vibrating , screeching, grinding , had to have them replaced . 400.00 the car has too many problems, and with all the recalls , i am not sure why it hasn't been pulled off the market , when a baby toy is deemed dangerous ,it is recalled all together , i would think that a defected @ 3000.00 pound vehicle traveling 65 mi per hour , would be more dangerous to not only the buyer , but innocent bystanders. they need to recall the whole car, i am so angry over the undue stress i have experienced with this vehicle!!!! *jb
10/16/2004344401
 I have had my 2000 ford focus without many problems. i just arrived at my destination, turned off my car, and then tried to turn the car on again and could not get the key in the ignition. the wheel was also locked. i had the car towed to a ford dealership. they said that they would have to replace the ignition switch and it would cost $375. *jb
10/09/200453345208/11/2004
 2000 ford focus ignition key will not turn, steering column and ignition switch froze. seems to be a common problem with this vehicle due to faulty design. reference: http://www.automotiveforums.com/t158426.html ford should recall and replace ignition switches as i can no longer trust this vehicle to be reliable enough to transport my wife and daughter safely. *nm
10/04/20041
 2000 ford focus zx3. i'm having a problem with the steering wheel locking up and the ignition key won't turn. had to tow it to the dealer to change the ignition cylinder.*ak
10/04/2004202/04/2002
 Ignition key cylinder. keys either ware out or cylinder goes bad first.. time cylinder had to be replaced in march of 2004. this time october 4. 2004 dealer said key was worn out i have two keys the spare is almost new and that one would not work either dealer did not have answer to that one. is this a common problem with 2000 ford focus if so i need some kind of proof to show dealer to get my money back. please help me if you can or point me in the right direction . thank you albert j. bernier. *ak
09/20/20032
 Consumer was unable to insert the key inside the ignition. vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that ignition switch needed to be replaced , and replaced it. however, the problem recurred. *ak
09/25/2004640002
 Consumer stated ignition locked. as a result, consumer was not able to turn the vehicle off. *ak
09/28/2004203/16/2000
 Ignition locked up in june, 2003 and again september, 2004. both times, the ignition had to be drilled out, a replacement ignition switched installed, the car had to be rekeyed. when ignition locked, unable to turn key. car was in park both times incident occurred.*ak
09/13/200494000105/15/2000
 Ignition switch failure. key would not turn in the ignition switch. *jb
09/15/20041
 The consumer placed the key inside of the ignition switch, but the switch failed to turn. the consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic informed the consumer that the ignition switch needed replacement. please fill in additional information. *jb
09/12/200487000101/01/2000
 The ingition cylinder of my 2000 ford focus completely locked up. ford has done nothing to compensate for the cost incurred during repair. this is a highly documented defect and should be covered by a recall.
09/12/20042
 My ignition cylinder locks, i.e. i put the key in the ignition and it will not turn. i had the ignition cylinder replaced 9 months ago. now the same problem has occurred. cannot start my car.*ak
06/09/2004105/06/2000
 Key to my ford focus would not turn in the cylinder and was unable to start my car. had to have car towed and a new ignition cylinder installed. towing, parts and labor costs $400.*ak
09/10/20041
 Consumer placed the key inside the ignition switch and key would not start the vehicle. it was towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that ignition switch needed to be replaced, and replaced it. *ak
09/06/200475000106/15/2000
 Ignition lock broken. steering wheel is locked and key cannot go all the way into the ignition. cannot start car. *ak
09/03/2000105000105/20/2000
 Went to start the car, and key would not go into the ignition all the way. was eventually able to get the key in by wiggling and forcing, but will not turn now to start the car. called the local ford dealer, and was informed that this was a known issue with the 2000 ford focus, and that my ignition cylinder would need to be replaced. was quoted $350. *ak
08/30/200449000104/01/2004
 While starting the vehicle key would not turn the ignition switch. vehicle was towed to a repair shop, and mechanic had to replace the ignition switch cylinder. dealer was not notified. *ak
01/05/2002606/09/2000
 I have several defects in my 2000 ford focus 4 door. first one is my left passinger door does not latch closed, 2nd is my cylinder lock in the ignition failed and i had to have it replaced , 3rd when it rains the front passinger floor fills to top with water, 4th the cd player turns off and blinks buy itself, 5th my check engine light stays on after repetedly taking it to machinic to see why and having it reset even though there is no reason it should be on and last the only way i have heat or ac is on level 4 -1, 2 and 3 do not work . *ak
07/27/200470560101/18/2002
 After having a difficult time of turning the ignition switch on consumer could not shift the vehicle into park. every attempt would cause a grinding nose. consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer, who replaced the entire ignition cylinder. *ak
08/21/2004203/21/2000
 Ignition problem. tried to start car with key but will not start. at first, the key would not go in but finally got key in but car didn't start. my key was damaged alittle from the ignition. since mechanics are on strike in st. louis, maybe hard to get fixed. called suntrup ford and they said not covered and not recalled so i would have to pay the cost to fix.*ak
08/17/20041
 Consumer went out to start the vehicle and the key would not turn the ignition and locked in place. no matter how much consumer tried the key would not move. vehicle was towed to the dealership, and the technician replaced the cylinder at consumer's expense. *ak
08/14/200424000206/15/2000
 Ignition locks on focus are faulty. i have had mine replaced every 25 months since i have owned my vehicle. ford refuses to cover the ignition lock even though the service managers all know about this being faulty. ford claims ignorance, that they are unaware of this being a common problem, i have performed the most rudimentary research that shows otherwise and if i really spend time, i only imagine what i will find. thanks!*ak
08/20/200234000208/01/2000
 Upon starting the vehicle key sticks in the ignition followed by the steering wheel locking up. if the consumer managed to remove the key, the steering wheel was still locked. vehicle was towed to the dealership, who replaced the ignition assembly. the failure recurred, and the key broke in the ignition. the ignition assembly has to be replaced again. *ak *nm
07/28/2004598552
 The consumer had ignition switch replaced and it went out again. dealer replaced the ignition a second time without informing the consumer that the warranty had expired. the ignition switch was defective again.*ak
08/03/200456000105/12/2001
 Consumer complained about ignition switch failure to start the vehicle. dealer was notified. *ak
08/02/20045700010
 Approximately 10 times now, i have tried to start my 2000 ford focus, and the key either will not insert completely or it will not turn in the switch.*ak
07/09/2004610002
 It was hard for the consumer to turn the key in the ignition switch. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak
07/29/200446000102/26/2000
 I have 46,000 miles on my focus and the ignition switch will let me insert the key but will not let turn the ignition on, i have personally read hundreds of forums posts with this problem occuring..... i should not have to pay $300+ to have this repaired. the extremly bad part is that my wife was trying to start the car up at the time.... she had noticed someone following her to the car and when she got in the car and locked the door behind her, he started trying to break in, and lone and behold she tried to start the car but the igntion would not turn. thankfully i was only a few blocks away and she called me in a panic, when i arrived to where she was i seen the man trying to get in the car, he seen me coming up to the only car in the parking lot (my focus) and started running he jumped over a fence and i could not catch him...... whats to stop this from happening again? i have seen numerous posts on forums about people who have taken their car in had the ignition fixed only for them to come across this problem again. i cannot keep my family safe all the time. i guess i just need to trade my focus in for a reliable vehicle! *ak
07/27/2004119000109/06/2000
 I own a 2000 ford focus coupe with 119000 miles. although this is high mileage, my normal drive is 30-60 miles. on 7-27-04 i attempted to start the car and was unable to get the key to turn in the ignition. the tow driver from aaa was also initially unsuccessful, but after consulting with a locksmith he said that the lock tumblers were stuck; he got it to turn by hitting the butt of the key. this was obviously not something to continue doing, so i took the car the next morning to ford of upland, where the service writer told me they had seen many focuses with the same problem. i asked if there had been a service memo from ford and he said no. not wanting to risk the car having a disabled ignition while an hour from home, i had the dealer install a new ignition for $318. however, i told him that this was the first time i'd ever seen a problem with an ignition switch on any car i've owned, including the last three cars i've owned, which all lasted over 160000 miles, and that even though my car had a lot of miles, because of my long average trip, the number of starts was equivalent to a car with 40000 miles driven locally. i then did an internet search and found literally dozens of similar complaints, some by people who had had multiple ignition replacements. also, in a previous problem with this car, ford had denied that there was any problem with the fuel pump when i inquired about a problem with the car dying on hard right turns, only to see a recall two months later, so my suspicion is that they are also well aware of this ignition problem (the dealer said as much).*ak
07/28/20042
 The ignition was locked in place and it would not move at all. also, steering wheel was locked. dealerships replaced twice the ignition switch at consumer's expense. *ak
07/25/200442000107/15/2000
 Ford focus ignition will not accept key. known manufacturer issue. manufacturer will not cover expense of repair.*ak
07/22/20041310891
 The ignition switch was defective. the consumer inserted the key in the ignition and the ignition key failed to turn. provide further details. *jb
02/10/200460000211/09/2001
 1. really hard to turn key and sometimes hard to put key inside the ignition. 2. failure of the ignition switch lets you sit wherever you are 3. replace of ignition switch. *jb
07/16/20041
 At first could not get key into ignition, then after wiggling it in, ignition will not turn with key in it. this is on a 2000 ford focus. had to have vehicle towed. i understand now that this is a common problem with focus now by hearing from the tow truck driver and others with focus'. this should definitely be a recall issue as so many others have had this happen. *jb
07/16/200469340301/19/2000
 At 6 months, the ignition switch (and all door locks, tailgate lock) was replaced due to the inability to remove the key from the ignition. 10/29/03 - igntion switch replaced due to broken tumbler assy - cost almost $300 07/16/04 - unable to turn key in ignition - again - same as problem on 10/29/03. *jb
06/30/200455000102/01/2000
 I own a 2000 ford focus that has recently developed a problem with the ignition. when the key is inserted in the ignition, the ignition switch will not turn to start the car or to the auxillary power position. the problem has not stranded me or my wife, but it has been a concern. the problem has been irregular as to when it occurs and usually corrects itself with patience and several attempets. i am submitting this problem because our neighbor has the same car and was stranded. she had to have her car towed to the dealership and $600 dollars of work done to solve the problem. the mechanica at the ford dealership told her that he has seen a lot of these problems and that he expects ford to issue a recall.*ak
07/12/20041
 Consumer placed key inside of the ignition switch and key would not insert properly inside the switch, and vehicle failed to start. consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic stated that this warranty expired. *ak
07/12/20041
 Consumer went out to start the vehicle and key would not turn. the ignition was locked in place, it would not move at all, and the steering wheel was locked. vehicle was towed to the dealership, technician replaced the ignition switch.*ak
07/07/200440000201/23/2000
 Ignition lock failure. yet another person with a bad ignion, tumblers fell inside lock could'nt get the key back into ignion. we had the car towed.*ak
07/02/200468000109/01/2000
 2000 ford focus, second incident involving the faulty ignition tumbler, stranded on vacation. have replaced the ignition/linkage once already, now car disabled by same situation. sitting in car trying to get ignition to turn over while 80 mile an hour winds rocking the car side to side. had no choice but to sit there and fret. car works fine if you can start it. *nm
07/02/200451000111/24/2000
 Initially, the key would not go into the ignition switch all the way. when the key finally did go in, the switch would not turn. in the process the steering wheel locked. tow truck was called, and vehicle towed to nearest dealership, olympic ford in marysville, wa. tow truck driver stated that they had 4 ford focus' with the identical ignition issues to tow that week alone. reported that this was a rampant failure in recent weeks. as result, husband was left stranded over 35 miles from home.*ak
07/01/20042
 When the consumer placed the key in ignition switch, the switch did not turn. the vehicle is now on its 2nd ignition switch. please provide further information. *jb
06/30/20043
 Once the key was in the ignition the ignition switch failed to turn. three times in two years ignition cylinder had to be replaced. *ak
06/28/20041
 Vehicle will not start when the ignition switch is turned. vehicle had to be towed to dealer due to malfunction of the ignition switch. *ak
06/26/200496000307/10/2000
 We have had three separate occasions where the ignition switch locks up and will either fail to accept the key or fail to rotate to start the car. the first two occasions were during the warranty period the third was outside of the warranty period. this ignition failure seems to happen every 12-18 months. although this may not be a safety problem, it clearly is a manufacture defect.*ak
06/25/2004840001004/08/2002
 When inserting the key into the ignition the key will only enter half-way and the key cannot be turned or the key can be fully inserted, but cannot be turned. *ak
06/19/2004135000105/20/2002
 Without any warning, my the key will not go in the ignition. consequently, i cannot start my car. because i have seen entirely too many posts about this, i contacted ford at the 800 number. all i got was apologies and if i get it repaired to keep the receipt for reimbursement in the event there is a recall. i wonder why there hasn't been one already when it is listed as one of the top two problems with the ford focus.*ak
06/22/20041
 Consumer attempted to start vehicle but key would not turn. ignition was locked in place, it would not move, and the steering wheel was locked. dealership replaced less than three months ago the switch, but problem recurred. *ak
05/10/200460000108/01/2000
 It was hard for the consumer to get the ignition key released from the ignition switch . dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak lock/ignition core failed to respont to key and the consumer was stranded at night. the key would not turn in the ignition eventually the key would not even go in the ignition. the consumer could not start the vehicle nor turn on the power to roll up the power windows. the consumer stated that online resources have shown this to be common to ford focus. *tc
06/19/200454000201/09/2000
 No sign of anything wrong at all - then the key will go into the ignition - but the key will not turn and the steering wheel is locked up. *ak
06/15/20042
 While placing key inside the ignition switch, the vehicle would neither start nor move. the driver had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic replaced the cylinder switch inside of the ignition. please fill in additional information. *la
06/09/200485852105/18/2000
 My wife went to the the store and when leaving started to put the key into the ignition switch. the key only went half way in, she could not get it to go any further. as a result we had to have the car towed to the local dealer for repairs.the dealer informed us that the switch will have to be drilled out and replaced and rekeyed to our keys. i will ask for the parts back. the estimate is $400.00. i have since done some research and found that this is a very common complaint.*ak
05/03/2004
 Consumer stated intermittently ignition key locked up in the ignition switch, and would not turn left or right when starting the vehicle or turning the vehicle off. dealer was notified. *ak
06/08/200432768207/09/2000
 In july, 2002, i had warranty work on my 2000 ford focus to replace the ignition switch. at the time, key would not go into the lock, or would not turn at all. dealer made warranty repair. fewer than 2 years later, the ignition switch is going out again. this time, the key can be removed in any position. i think that this is both a safety and a security problem. ford will not honor the original warranty work past 12 mos./12,000 miles. the car came with a 36/36,000 warranty. does this mean the parts they put for repairs are 1/3 the quality of the original?*ak
06/03/20042
 When placing the key inside the ignition switch consumer is unable to turn the key. this causes the steering wheel to lock, and consumer is unable to start the vehicle. consumer contacted the dealer, and was informed that the ignition cylinder needed to be replaced, and dealer replaced it. however, problem recurred. *ak
06/02/20041
 The consumer noticed that it was difficult to insert the key into the ignition switch to start the vehicle. the dealer has been contacted. please provide details. *nm
05/31/20042
 While having the key inside the ignition switch it would not turn. consumer was not able to start the vehicle. consumer contacted the dealer, and was informed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. *ak
05/22/2004470001
 Ignition switch won't allow key in all the way. *ak
05/17/2004203/11/2000
 The ignition switch locks up and you can't get the key in. this happened in 2001 and now this month. the first time it happened it was covered under warraty. i have talked to many people as well as the dealersip and they say this is a common problem. if this is a common problem it should be a recall. i wanted someone to look into this problem as i have also found many people complaining about the same problem on the internet. when they fixed it the first time it must have been with the same manufacture part because it happened again. i have never had a car have this problem and to have this problem twice is just strange.*ak
06/01/20043
 Once the key is in the ignition switch it fails to turn. this would be the third time in two years that the ignition cylinder had to be replaced. *ak *sc *jb
05/15/200435118107/07/2003
 Car was driving fine, went shopping and when i came out of the store, the key would not go completely into the ignition. my husband jiggled the key around hard and finally got it in, but key would not turn at all. i just found out thiat this is a very common problem. *ak
05/03/20042
 While placing the key inside of the steering wheel vehicle did not start. consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. *ak
04/30/200416500109/20/2000
 Ford focus zx3 2000 - like hundreds of other focus owners, i have had to have my focus towed because the key will not fit all the way into the ignition - cost to me is $225 +$75 towing on a flat bed. there were no events leading up to this - the car just will not start. ford refuses to cover or lower any costs, despite the fact that this is a known problem happening to numerous focus owners. i had a volkswagen golf for 11 years before i sold it to buy a focus. i won't make that mistake again. also, the fuel pump psuedo recall is another great rip off. i received a notice about possible faulty fuel pump in the 2000 focus. when i inquired about having this problem fixed (my car is sputtering) they told me it would cost me $75 to check it out and if i can't prove it's the fuel pump that is causing the problem, i will have to pay for repairs. my car is less than 4 years old and has 16,500 miles on it. too many recalls to even remember. great product, customer service, ford! *ak
12/18/200238000002/15/2002
 Ignition switch failed, had to have car towed to dealership and replaced for $300. i've seen that many people have had this problem and i want to be included in that number with the hope that ford will recall and reimburse me.
04/27/200270000102/28/2003
 I own a 2000 ford focus zx3. today when i went to start my car to drive home my key would not go all the way into the ignition. i played with it and got it to go in but then the key would not turn and i could not start my car. i did some research on this problem and it seems it is a common one among focus owners. ford needs to recall the ignition switch cylinder for these cars considering the amount of problems they have caused.*ak
04/04/200465000105/12/2000
 Driver is not able to turn the key in the ignition. *ak
04/18/200440100304/01/2003
 Ignition cylindar froze, rendering the key unable to be turned. towed to have fixed and cylindar was replaced with new ford part. this is the 2nd cylindar since i bought the car...the 1st time the key was stuck and wouldn't come out of the cylindar. two days after getting the car fixed, it happened a again where the cylindar froze. the tumblers are of an inferior and defective design and it is unlikely there is a permanent remedy without a design improvement.*ak
2
 The key would get stuck in the ignition switch . vehicle was towed to the dealership for repair, and technician replaced the ignition cylinder, which was the second repair for the same part.*ak
04/17/20041
 Ford focus ignition mine has locked up twice the first time it started to work again the second time i put the key in and it wouldnt turn .i am now watching a locksmith fix it. this seems to be a very big problem with these cars should'nt there be a recall to fix it?? *ak
04/15/200452000103/08/2000
 My key will not turn the ignition in my 2000 ford focus. this is a known problem through the dealer reps, but no recall? there is over 200 reports alone on this site about the incident.*ak
04/12/200455000108/01/2000
 Ignition switch would not take my key then after an hour of trying to get the key to fit the key did finally go in then it would not turn to start the car and still had not so i have to have the car transfered to the dealer that i have to pay for. the dealer tells me there has been a lot of this happening and that it should be a recall. after all the ford focus has had so many this one should added a long with all the other problems.*ak
07/14/20061
 While placing the key in the ignition switch vehicle locked up. consumer tried to restart the vehicle, but was not able to restart it. vehicle was taken to dealer for inspection. consumer informed mechanic that ignition switch had been replaced twice. *ak the vehicle was involved in an accident, no other information was provided in the police report. updated. *jb
400002
 Intermittently the key sticks in the ignition which causes the vehicle not to start. the ignition was replaced once before in may 2003 for the same problem. *ak
03/30/2004390001
 Consumer was not able to remove the key from the ignition switch when the vehicle was in park. dealership indicated ignition switch wa sdefective and had to be replacced. *ak
03/20/2004820001
 Consumer was unable to insert the key into the ignition switch. consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealership, and mechanic did not resolve the problem. *ak
410001
 Consumer complained about an ignition switch problem. consumer put the key in the ignition switch but it will not turn. later, vehicle was towed to the dealer for repairs. *ak
03/18/200450000108/15/2001
 Key will not turn inside ignition. completely locked. car will not start.*ak
03/17/20041
 Ignition switch locked up and i could not start my vehicle. i had to have it towed to the garage to have it replaced. it locked up one other time but by turning the steering wheel a little it came unlocked by itself. that was not the case this time. *ak
03/17/200465000108/27/2000
 The key will not go into the ignition. according to the dealer, the ignition tumbler is broken and needs to be replaced. our extended warranty ran out 5000 miles ago and ford will not pay the costs to repair the ignition. ford said there is no recall right now, but keep the receipts in the event there is one. why not just voluntarily recall the focus? why wait to be ordered to do so? the estimate is $350 to fix the ignition. they can't replace the recalled fuel pump until they fix the ignition either. we only know about the recall on the fuel pump because my husband's focus had problems with it. the folks at ford responsible for notifying owners about a recall did not have our new address, despite the fact that we send ford two car payments every month. we just replaced some $300 part to keep our window on about six months ago. this car is a lemon and ford should be ashamed of itself. *nm
03/06/200434000409/01/2000
 My 2000 ford focus will not start. it has 34,000 miles on it. the key will go into the ignition, but will not turn the cylinder. i have tried different keys and the same happens. when i attempt to remove the keys, the ignition does not release them without force. i have done a lot of searching online and it seems to be a large ongoing problem since ford has introduced the focus. why has this not been recalled and why does ford escape responsibility for producing such a lemon vehicle with so many problems. as consumer, we buy vehicles with the good faith that the vehicle will last for decades. why is ford aloud to go without fixing every defect they have designed in the focus? *jb your job should be to send a message to automotive dealers that any vehicle like the focus lemon will not be tolerated by the american public and that manufacturers cannot hide the defects in vehicles. *jb
03/12/20041
 Returned to car after 1 hour of not driving, the key would only go about 3/4 of the way into the ignition. i tried all three keys that the dealer had given me, and none of them would go into the ignition. called aaa, paid $175 to have a locksmith replace the springs in my ignition where the key goes, said that this could happen again, and in that case, the entire ignition would have to be replaced. aaa covered $50 of the cost. is there a recall for this? this is not the first complaint of the same type on this site! what is ford doing to help this? i refuse to continue to pay $125 every time my key won't go into the ignition. i was lucky enough to be home when this happened, but what if i wasn't?*ak
12/26/20036400003/19/2000
 Ignition switch will not turn. i can insert the key into the ignition, but the lock will not turn. the entire iginition switch had to be replaced and re-keyed.
09/05/2003480001
 Keys do not come out of ignition when vehicle is turned off. shifter also moves when car is supposed to be in park. car will lock up on you before you can get your children out from back due to keys not coming out of ignition. was in shop for repair for matter was not remedied. brought back for an estimate for second repair and was told to replace shifter assembly. *ak
01/29/200449209110/14/2002
 Ignition switch would not operate, leaving me stranded. there was no way to repair the vehicle on site, so it had to be towed to a ford dealer. total cost to repair was $214.02 plus $45.50 for towing. *ak
02/22/200468000108/04/2000
 Ford focus ignition lock. three times in the past six months the ignition lock has jammed on our 3 yr. old focus with 60,000 plus miles. the last time was day before yesterday. eventually we have always managed to start the car, but only after many, many minutes. once my wife would have been stranded at work alone after an evening shift, and once we would have had to have our son drive 150 miles to get us. obviously there are circumstances where being stranded would be dangerous as well as extremely inconvenient. we are now having the ignition lock replaced at a cost of well over $200. from looking at the internet, it is obvious that this is a known problem. we feel that ford should be required to correct it.*ak
02/21/20040208/15/2003
 My 2000 ford focus will not permit me to turn the key in the ignition. this problem occurs frequently on the 2000 and 2001 focus, as noted at: http://www.autowhiz.com/netscape/boards/showmessages.php?id=1275. since these cars are widely purchased for young adults to use, ford should recall and replace these cylinders. *jb
02/11/2004910002
 Consumer stated ignition switch was defective. consumer indicated that the previous owner had the ignition switch replaced once. when the key was placed in the ignition and turned nothing happened. *ak
02/12/200456000103/28/2003
 It was difficult for the consumer to turn key in the ignition switch. on numerous occasions consumer was unable to start the vehicle. the dealership was notified, but was unable to resolve the problem. *ak problems with vehicle tires/ tires have cuts in tread.*mr
08/06/2003300005002/08/2001
 Ignition switch locks up & won't turn. see many more complaints on identical issue with 2000 ford focus at ww.automotivetalk.net/showmessages.php?id=1275. we all can't be crazy and we're all going broke over the same problem? shouldn't ford take care of their own defaults? help?*ak
11/20/20035200006/01/2000
 While vacationing in michigan, i found my self locked out of the car. my key wouldn't even go into the ignition. i tried and tried then called the nearest ford dealership. they said i could have it towed to their facility and they may get to it tomorrow . i'm on vacation! they advised me to get a locksmith to fix it. so i called someone from the phone book. he came and broke apart my ignition and gave me a key. now my ignition is loose and the key only goes in part way. the key won't unlock the drivers door...it just keeps relocking it as fast as i unlock it. which brings me to my other complaint....i had the dealer replace the door-lock switch twice because it would lock/unlock several times in a row when i started the car. it still does it.
02/10/200428000210/10/2001
 Ignition lock cylander jammed, inserted key, cannot turn key. had to replace lock cylander. this is the second such incident in six months.*ak
02/09/200415
 Ford focus 2000 ignition locks for the 15th time. i went to dealer and they charged me $450 to fix my well known problem. people from the dealer told me that it is common that people bring their ford focus to repair the ignition. i would not recomend buying car from ford. i had a ford escort once that i had to replace the computer because i went on reverse for more than 150 yards. it seems like i never learn.*ak
01/22/200438550108/15/2003
 Ignition switch failed. key would only advance halfway. finally able to insert key, but could not turn to unlock steering column.*ak
02/04/200426000102/21/2001
 Ignition switch failure. *jb
01/31/200482800106/09/2000
 The key would not turn after pulling it out of ignition. it was below zero that day. it was night time and i was stranded several miles from my home. i called home to have the spare sent along with a ride and the spare would not work either. i had to leave my car where it was for 2 days until i could pay a locksmith to put in a new ignition switch (keyed and installed). *jb
02/04/2000108/17/2000
 I placed my key in the ignition and it would not turn to the start position.*ak
01/28/2004342001
 On an extremely cold day i was unable to turn the key in the ignition of my 2000 ford focus zts. i had to contact roadside assistance and wait for a tow truck to bring my vehicle to the dealer. the dealer in turn replaced the faulty ignition lock cylinder.*ak
01/17/2004790001
 Ignition switch locked without warning. *ak
01/27/20041
 Ignition lock has broken twice, stranding me and requiring a tow to the dealer and over $300 in repair costs.a search of the web shows that this is a very common failure on 2000 and 2001 ford focus.*ak
01/09/200449400304/28/2000
 The securikey ignition cylinder is subject to repeated failures. initially the ignition will not turn until the steering wheel is wiggled. then after a time, the unit fails completely. this does pose a problem when attempting to restart the vehicle after a panic stop, where the engine stall/stops. especially un-nerving in traffice. 1st failure 9/30/2001 at 18,990 miles. lock cylinder was replaced. 2nd complete failure 1/9/2004 at 49,400 miles. currently the vehicle is experiencing the same problems and i am returning it to the ford service shop for another repair. the manager of the same shop stated that this is a common problem with this model year, 2000 ford focus, but that one replacement usually fixes the problem. i suspect there are no return visits since the prudent consumer would probably dump the vehicle in favor of a more reliable auto.*ak
01/15/2004111000205/17/2000
 2000 ford focus zx3. 111,000 miles. could not get key to go into ignition smoothly. when i finally did, it would not turn. finally got started and had dealer repair. dealer replaced ignition lock. service advisor said this was a frequent problem with this model and suggested i contact ford. same night, new lock also failed. dealer had to replace a second time. ford customer relationship center said they could not help me recover repair expense. internet searches clearly identify this as a known problem by ford with numerous complaints and failures as early as 10 to 15 thousand miles. ford should reimburse customers for this known defect just as they did with the fuel pump on this same model. *la
01/01/2004600002001/01/2002
 I have been having consistent difficulties and problems with the ignition switch/ ignition lock cylinder on my 200 ford focus. sometimes the key will not go in all the way, other times it will not turn. this has caused me to be stranded several times. i went to my ford dealership and was told that they have replaced tons of them. also, this is clearly a common problem when researching it online and at various newsgroups. *la
01/18/20041
 Ignition locked up and would not allow key to turn. paid through my extended warranty to have it repaired. they installed a new key cylinder and now the new one is locking up. the local ford dealer heber springs ford said that ford is aware of the problem but there were not enough compaints yet to warrant a recall on the item.*ak
01/18/200430000105/15/2001
 I have had numerous problems with the ignition not wanting to turn with the 2 keys i have. 1 is original, the other was made by the dealer i purchased the car from. it appears to be an issue with the ignition key cylinder. searching for information i have found numerous references to this problem, and there are over 150 current complaints that when searched for this part are returned on this site.* cb
100003
 The vehicle experienced a problem with the ignition switch. it was replaced on three separate occasions. please provide further details. *jb
01/15/2004103/03/2000
 Ignition switch lock up of my 2000 ford focus sw. *cb
360001
 When trying to start the vehicle key would not turn in the ignition. ignition switch was replaced. *ak
01/13/20041
 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.*ak
01/10/2004510001
 The ignition switch did not allow the insertion of the key. consumer took the vehicle to a mechanic, who found that ignition was defective. *ak
01/06/200432406109/30/2003
 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. *ak the vehicle also had brake problems. *nm
12/25/20031
 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.*ak
01/05/200460140106/22/2000
 Ignition switch overheated and malfunctioned. *ak *mr
01/06/20041000003
 Ignition locked without warning. the part was replaced, however the problem still persists. *ak
01/03/20041
 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!*ak
11/02/20031
 When the consumer put key into the ignition switch vehicle would not start. *ak
10/23/2003300001001/01/2000
 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!
12/25/200362000108/14/2003
 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.*ak
12/19/200346000112/10/2000
 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! *la
10/11/200389000112/31/2000
 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 $300.00. 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 $300.00 to fix the problem.*ak
11/25/200345000108/24/2002
 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. *ph *sc *jb
11/14/200370000104/20/2001
 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. *la
11/30/2002107/10/2000
 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 $405.00 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. *la
11/14/2003108/01/2002
 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. *la
11/12/200337521303/08/2001
 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. *la
11/04/20031
 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. *ak
10/29/200336000102/22/2003
 The starter swicth on my ford focus broke. *la
10/11/20032
 When key was inserted in the ignition key would not go all the way into the ignition switch. consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealership. mechanic replaced ignition switch. *ak
3
 The key ignition cylinder was replaced on three separate occasions. ford was not willing to assist in the repairs of this problem. the warranty expired three months ago. *ak *scc *jb
10/16/20031
 Ignition switch locked up. turned car off in normal manner, returned and unable to turn key, unlock sterring column, etc.. *la
10/15/20031
 Upon attempting to start vehicle key would not turn. the ignition switch was locked, and it would not be moved. vehicle was towed to independent mechanic, who replaced the inside cylinder. *ak
10/10/200330565107/10/2000
 Upon leaving work, entered car and inserted key into ignition. key would not turn. spent about 45 minutes jiggling and tapping key in attempts to start car. this was is my first encounter with this problem. the aaa tow truck driver made mention of the famous ford ignition system upon arrival at my request. when asked what that meant, he stated that a number of ford products are having similar problems. i paid for the car to be towed home as it was late at night. the next day, a co-worker informed me that his wife had the same problem with her focus too. i have endured recalls with this car, and am shocked that an ignition system may not have issues sorted out. if this is a trend that merits an investigation. i hope consumers can be relieved of most of their repair costs. meanwhile i probably have quite a repair bill to look forward to. *la
10/10/200331000102/20/2000
 Put key in ignition and it will not turn at all. steering wheel and shift lever are locked and vehicle had to be towed to dealer with wheels off ground. dealer say no recall or service bulletins have been issued but this is not true as i found several service bulletin on this web site. *la
10/04/200336800112/30/1999
 Ignition cylinder locked at 36,800 miles. it is my understanding that this is a common occurrence. i have owned several cars and driven hundreds of thousands of miles and never has an ignition cylinder lock. ford should recall these things and repair them without charge. *jb
09/24/200362000103/11/2000
 Key would not go into the ignition. stranded. had to have vehicle towed and ignition lock cylinder had to be replaced
560001
 Upon entering the vehicle key would not turn the ignition. vehicle had to be towed to the dealer. *ak
09/16/2003104/15/2003
 Key ignition and steering wheel is locked, cannot turn key to start car. when i called the ford help line, i was told that this was new, nothing they've heard of before. however, when i called the dealership they referred me to the mechanic asked me what i drove. i said ford focus. he asked what year, i said 2000. then he said that key ignition is a common problem with the 2000 focus and that they've had to fix several focus' for that specific reason alone. ford needs to do a census of how many of their dealership have logged in this problem because the complaints are all over the internet, too many to ignore!!! this needs to be a recall issue. *jb
06/01/200172700203/13/2000
 Ignition lock fails to turn when key is inserted. steering remains locked and car will not start. first time this occurred was june 2001 while car was under warranty. lock was drilled out and replaced. ignition has locked up for the second time today with no warning. will have to have the car towed 30 miles to dealer. *jb
09/10/200322000105/17/2000
 The ignition switch on our 2000 ford focus locked up. the key would not turn in the ignition and stranded my wife and children. the ignition switch had to be replaced by the ford dealership. the car is 4 months out of warranty and only has 22,000 miles. after complaining to the dealer, they reduced the repair price to ~1/2 of estimate and told me to hold the receipt in case there is a recall. *jb
08/06/2003978251
 Key would not go into ignition, car towed to dealer they replaced at cost of 350+ would not cover under extended warranty. *ph
09/11/20031
 Electronic system-ignition switch trouble getting key in. once key was in, ignition would not turn. had to be replaced. *ph
09/05/20032
 When placing the key in side the ignition vehicle failed to engage. key didn't turn left or right. vehicle had been in repair shop multiply times. cause of failure was undetermined. manufacturer was aware of the incident.*ak
08/21/200326000111/18/2002
 Could not remove key from ignition. key would not turn in the ignition. had to be towed to dealership and ignition swith replaced.*ak
08/01/200320000208/20/2000
 Has been to shop for 26 days in the past 4 months. repeated failure of clutch (manual transmission), failure of brake pads, resulting in minor crash. have had to had ball joints replaced. cruise control was disconnected from accerator/brake. key would not go into ignition and resulted in key ignition switch having to be replaced. numerous recalls and trips to shop since bought brand new in august 2003*ak
09/01/200336000203/24/2003
 Went to church on sunday, came out to go home, put key in ignition, went half way, thought it was alarm, did everything to move the key, nothing. had it towed to dealer. advised by service dept, this problem is not covered under the extra care, and not covered under factory warranty over 36k miles. vehicle about 36k miles. estimate $500.00. this is the 2nd time vehicle in shop. called out to ford, and they said everything is just fine with their cars, and that they are not aware of any complaints on this issue. ford dealership, so quick to devour customers, and when trouble happens, can't find anyone who can help. my car is now sitting at the dealer, waiting for my authorization to pay $500. to fix it. i am without a car. what a nightmare, i'm just grateful, this incident did not happen far away from home with my kids in the car. any advice on getting rid of this lemon without being a negative on my credit? would sure appreciate it. i don't know who else to further this complaint, it seems like i'm stuck with it. please help.*ak
08/14/200342200107/15/2000
 Ignition lock system failed, rendering vehicle unusable. *ak
08/14/20032
 When placing the key in the ignition vehicle fails to engage. also, while driving on the highway vehicle will suddenly accelerate, then stall. *ak
08/11/2003669551
 The key could not be inserted into the ignition. the dealer stated the ignition switch needed to be replaced. the switch was not covered under the extended warranty. in addition to not being able to start the vehicle, the power windows could not be rolled down. *ak *nlm *jb
276041
 Consumer states while driving engine and steering column may lock up. there is no warning. dealer says ignition switch needs replacing.*ak
508651
 Consumer put key into ignition but it would not turn or crank. dealer diagnosed defective ignition switch cylinder as the cause.*ak
391231
 While driving vehicle stalled. driver unable to start vehicle back up,due to a failure in the ignition switch, keys wouldn't turn.*ak
06/20/20031
 When i parked my vehicle to get gas and the pump wasn't working i proceed to insert my key to moved vehicle to another pump but the key wouldn't go in. i called my wife to verify if she can bring the spare key to try to start the car with it; her key wouldn't go in either. i proceeded to call the cust. serv. dept. at ford motor credit and informed the problem; they asked to try again to inserted the keys and had no results. we have no previous warnings. the customer service representative then told me we are to called a tow truck to towed the vehicle; at first he express we will have to pay for it and then he confirmed that i have extended guarantee and that towing was covered but that the problem with the ignition wasn't covered. the vehicle was towed to ford dealership closer to my area. after the service department at deland ford check the vehicle i was informed that the cost of repairs will be 350.00 for the ignition switch replacement. i indicated that at this moment i couldn't come up with that amount of money and that i understood that having my extended warranty this manufacturing defect will be covered. they indicated that is not covered and they suggested for me to apply for a line of credit to see if i was approved to fix the problem. i said will not apply for the credit and left the car there to see if we can come up with a satisfying agreement. at this moment i have not have any other communication withe the service dept. or the ford motor credit office; i think that after investigating the amount of complaints for the same matter and the same results the most get into an agreement with the customer. if this is going to be a recall item; ford should be more receptable to the complaints and already make a recall for this vehicle. after searching, i have found almost a 100 complaints for the same reason, and unfortunately none has a good turn back. my vehicle still at the deland ford service area.*ak
450161
 Keys got locked in the ignition because the ignition lock broke and tumbler bent per dealership.*ak
07/15/2003110/05/2002
 The ignition key was difficult to place into the ignition cylinder. once placed inside, the ignition switch would not turn at all, it was locked up in place. an internet search revealed over 7300 hits on ford focus and ignition problems. the cost of tow and repair was $350.*ak
2
 Vehicle had 12000 miles when consumer attempted to start, but key would not turn. dealer diagnosed problem as failed ignition switch and replaced it. at 40000 miles problem occurred again, and dealer diagnosed and replaced ignition switch.*ak
02/15/20031
 Key gets jammed in the ignition. dealer notified.*ak
06/16/20031
 While placing the key inside of the ignition switch vehicle will not start up at all. *ak
06/14/200350000103/23/2000
 Turned off car, got out, put in gas, got back in car, key would only go in half way. *nlm
06/09/20031
 While placing the key inside of the key ignition vehicle will not start.*ak
12/16/200238559110/05/2001
 Put key in ignition and key would not turn in ignition switch. had to replace ignition cylinder. 8nlm
05/09/20036750002/26/2000
 Placed key in ignition would not turn. many tsb's on same problem. have extended warranty. ignition switch covered with no specific part # listed. dealer says part # for defect not covered. had fixed. research with nhtsa lists 7 tsb's and many complaints for same defect. referred to ford customer service they said nothing could be done. extended warranty does not list specific part #s when purchased but when warranty work is requested it becomes part number specific. also if there are so many tsb's and customer complaints why doesn't ford do something about this. *jb
04/12/200367000110/03/2000
 Ignition switch won't work, key won't turn, had to replace. *jb
04/14/2003450001
 Ignition switch locked up and will not turn. has to be replaced. *jb
03/14/20034025602/19/2001
 Ignition won turn and rewire and replaced passenger door power latch. *nlm
03/26/200339000104/02/2000
 Ignition switch will not turn. i noticed in researching the internet that many others had the same failure. i did not see a recall. this is the latest failure of many: brakes, fuel gauge, bad struts. now at 39000, i am 3000 miles out of warranty. *jb
03/12/20031
 The ignition switch failed, the dealer charged the consumer $350.00 to replace.*jb
03/11/200042000109/06/2001
 Key had trouble going into the ignition switch, when it finally did go in, it will not turn. car will not start. car needed to be towed to the dealer and was informed it was not under warranty nor was there a recall on it.*jb
03/01/20033
 The ignition switch failed without warning, which caused the vehicle to stall. the ignition switch was replaced 3 times. *jb
02/28/2003430011
 The ignition switch locked up.*jb
02/24/200356000202/07/2000
 The ignition switch failed which caused the vehicle to stall.*jb *ts
3
 The ignition switch/ steering column was replaced 3 times.*jb *ts
02/11/20033000006/01/2001
 My complaint deals with the 2000 ford focus . i purchased this vehicle in june of 2001 with 100 miles on the odometer. since then i have had to bring my car back for a few recals. one of the recals was the rear suspension where my car lost control and i veered off the road....luckily noone was hurt. the reason why i am writing this complaint is because i understand that there is a investigation on the focus for various problems. i wanted to add to the investigation by saying that i just spent 340 bucks on my ignition switch because it wouldn't turn which i understand is a common problem and i also had problems with my car stalling in the middle of the thruway. i almost crashed into an eighteen wheeler! i have had the fuel pump replaced and my car still idols very rough and occasionaly stalls out when i am stopped. ford should be embarrased by this and should take all focus's off the road! i read that there were hundreds of ford focus' with the exact same problem but no recal was issued
02/05/2003420001
 Could not put key in ignition and steering wheel locked. needed to have car towed to dealer. dealership had a brand new replacment part they told me was defective and they had to go to another dealer to get part. ignition switch was completely replaced at a cost of $260 +/-. 40,000 miles on car and is a 2000 wagon model.
01/21/20024600008/05/2000
 Ignition lock cylinder will not turn. ford has refused to pay as my 36,000 mile warranty has expired. i am going to contact everyone i can think of to try to get this taken care of. i would appreciate being contacted if any class action law suits are filed against ford for violation of lemon laws.
01/24/2003
 Consumer states the ignition switch it is not working properly, key go only half way and it takes longer time to put it inside the switch. dealer has been notified and wont fix. please provide further information. ts
 Consumer notice once placing vehicle key in the ignition switch consumer was unable to start engine. please provide further information. ts
 Consumer states after putting key in ignition switch consumer was unable to turn switch to start the vehicle. consumer contacted a lock smith. dealer was notified and notice ignition cole need to be replace. vehicle is on it's third repair. please provide further ph information.
12/31/2002302/26/1999
 The ignition switch on my car is not working. if it has to be replaced, it will be the third time since i bought the car. which was in febuary of 2002. if a locksmith shop can repair the problem, why is it that a ford dealership can't?
609/01/2000
 The consumer could not start the vehicle due to ignition switch failure. the dealer installed new key lock assembly and repaired the vehicle several times, but the ignition problem reoccurs. *yh *scc
06/01/20022
 This will be the third switch this car has had and a few other people i talked to. the same problem seems to me there must be a problem the dealer said it's only guarnteed 12 months or 12 thousand miles don't seem right to me. dt
11/19/2002
 The consumer place the key inside of the vehicle and it wouldn't start. the vehicle had three ignition switch put on prior. please fill in additional information. dealer is aware of the problem. ts
11/05/2002
 When consumer starts their vehicle. the ignition switch and steering wheel will lock up, and keys will get stuck in the ignition. had vehicle towed. dealership replaced the ignition switch. ts
 Consumer states of having problems with the ignition swich. dealer was contacted. mr
10/05/2001
 Ignition switch is not working properly. at times consumer is not able to put key into ignition, other times vehicle will not start or able to put out of gear. contacted dealer, and dealer is not willing to do anything. please provide further information. *ak
09/13/20024
 When driving vehicle and turning off ignition will lock itself, preventing key from being turned to restart. vehicle has been repaired 4 times, and problem still occurring.*ak
06/10/2000204/01/2000
 Multiple problems: replaced cd player once, three brake jobs, multiple trunk latch repairs, replaced transmission at 40000, 3 recalls, ignition switch locked up. the 2000 focus is clearly a lemon! *ak
09/09/2002
 When putting key into the igntion key will not turn, it will not come out of locked position. contacted dealer.*ak
01/15/20011
 Ignition switch locked up on start up of vehicle. dealer replaced ignition switch.*jb consumer states the key has always been hard to fit and turn. *jg
09/03/2002
 When removing key form ignition, it stuck. even a locksmith could not remove key.contacted dealership. this was a common problem.*ak
07/03/2001
 Consumer was unable to turn key in ignition, it had stuck.contacted dealer. ignition switch cylinder had broken. replaced part.but problem reoccurred.*ak
01/26/2002
 Consumer unable to turn key in ignition switch as a result of key cylinder locking up. contacted dealer.replaced parts 3 times; but problem reoccurred. *ak
08/02/2002
 Ignition locked up, and consumer could not turn the key. contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything. *ak
08/17/2002
 While attempting to start vehicle ignition locked up key would not turn. please provide any further information.*ak
12/12/2000101/01/2000
 I have had to many problems with this car for it to have been bought new in 2000. this problem with the ignition switch is unbelievable. when we talked to the dealership they referred us to a locksmith. the locksmith told us that he knew exactly what the problem was because he had done over 300 of these in the last year or so. when we had a tow truck to come and tow it to the dealer,he told us that he tows 2 or 3 of these cars a day for the same problem. i think it is absolutely upsurd and totally unfair that ford hasn't recalled this part. also, i had to replace the front rotors and pads on this car dec. 2000, and i am being told that my brakes need to be done again. something needs to be done about this car. especially the 2000 model. i have been on the internet and have found a number of other people having the exact same problems and more with this car. *ak
08/03/2002
 Unable to start vehicle,couldn't turn key in ignition. contacted dealer. ignition switch was broken.*ak
06/30/2002105/01/2000
 The key would not go into the switch, when it finally did i was unable to turn it- the tow truck driver said he'd seen seversl of these focus' having this problem- vehicle was towed to dealer on sunday- they worked on it monday and until 2 pm tuesday - charged full cost for labor and part- there is quite a history being built in your files of this problem. in the past there would almost never be a problem with keys not turning in ignition switches. i will also contact ford about this but wanted to get this onto your list first. *ak
07/25/2002
 Consumer was having problem with turning key in the ignition. key will sometimes get stuck. dealer notified. *ak
07/31/2002
 While parked put key in and it would not turn. tried another key, and would it not turn. dealer notified, repaired.*ak
07/13/2002
 Ignition switch locked up , unable to start vehicle, contacted dealer.*ak
06/30/2002102/01/2000
 I cannot start my 2000 ford focus because the ignition key will not turn in the steering column - i called the dealer where i bought it - the service department gave me an estimate of $350 over the phone and said to save the receipt since this may become a recall - in the meantime i am unable to use the vehicle to drive to work until i can come up with at least $350.*ak
06/07/2002101/01/2000
 Key would not go all they way in ignition cylinder. cylinder replaced.*ak
06/15/2002111/01/2000
 Key would not go into ignition. when i finally got it in, it would not turn. car had to be towed to dealer. dealer tried to tell me it was because the locks had not been lubricated on a regular basis (car with 30k miles).*ak
06/02/2002
 Sometimes key will not fit in ignition. took to dealer, and they stated that ignition is off track. please provide any further information.*ak
05/31/2002101/01/2000
 Key ignition would not start car.*ak
 While trying to park ignition switch locked and prevented from turning the steering wheel.*ak
 While entering key into ignition switch the key would not enter all the way through. had a locksmith fix the problem.*ak
05/10/2002202/01/2000
 Ignition switch failure . switch had to be replaced on vehicle for the second time. the first incident was during the 36,000 mile warranty period. this vehicle is one of four 2000 ford focus hatchbacks that our company owns. they have all had the ignition switch replaced at least once and there is another one that has been replaced twice. this was the first one that wasn't under 36,000 miles when it was replaced. after pointing this out to ford they informed us that they are not having a problem with the ignition system. i checked the nhtsa site for complaints on the ignition system and there are many people having the same problems that we are having .*ak
05/02/2002
 When placing key into the ignition switch key will not go all the way in the ignition so that the vehicle can start, cause unknown. please give any further details.*ak
08/22/20012
 Unable to start vehicle , couldn't put keys into the ignition. had to have vehicle towed.dealership replaced igintion cylinder 2 twice.*ak
05/28/2001204/19/2000
 Consumer states ongoing problem with engine stalling while driving at any speed, dealer was notified. nlm dealer replaced coil pack and fuel pump 6 times. vehicle is under warranty however warranty is not valid. the wheel bearings failed causing the rear wheel to fall off. the main belt broke. the transmission cooling lines broke. ignition switch had to be replaced. the rear brakes squeak especially when there is moisture in the air. *tt
03/28/2002101/01/2000
 Ford 2000 focus ignition lock failure - locksmith websites talk about this and offer special parts to fix it - why doesn't ford take ownership of this latent defect that is ruining quality. this is just the icing on the cake of the 2000 focus and its laundry list of recalls (4 more in the works as i understand it). this is a prevalent mechanical failure and is actionable. if there is a class action suit on this contact me to join.*ak
04/04/2002109/01/1999
 Ignition key would not turn ignition. had to call in locksmith to replace. ford dealerships not helpful. apparently this is common problem with focus. locksmith said he has worked on 100's of ford focus with same problem. car rental agency said same thing about their ford focus fleet. ignition key either locks up in ignition or fails to turn.*ak
111/01/1999
 Ignition cylinder failed and had to be replaced, the dealership had 4 other focus' with the same problem, my normal mechanic had also seen 4 other focus' with this problem, i reported it to ford company's customer service center but they just said they'd look into it. also, my cruise control does not work, nor do the electrical locks. i don't know if the ignition cylinder could have went out during operation, luckily it didn't for me. my cruise control stopped working after i received a recall notice on the cruise control and took it in for the necessary repairs.
03/22/200208/01/2000
 When i tried to insert my key into the ignition, it refused to go in, almost like it was the wrong key. i called the ford dealership and they advised me to call ford roadside assistance for a tow to their dealership. the tow truck driver told me she had towed serveral focus' in the last month with the same problem. bob turner ford kept my car from friday to monday saying they had to put in a new ignition system. i wasn't charged because my focus is still under warranty.*ak
02/13/2002302/09/2002
 One week after purchasing the vehicle, the key that came with the car would not start the car. consumer had vehice towed to dealer. dealer pulled off wheel and went into the ignition, and fixed a part. *ak consumer stated that the second key was made and that key would not start the vehicle, vehicle was towed to the dealer, dealer said it was a security lock and they fixed the ignition. vehicle stalled for the third time but consumer managed to start the vehicle. *yd
04/09/2001201/27/2001
 3 months after purchase of vehicle, consumer tried to turn key in ignition and steering wheel was permanently locked. mechanic had vehicle towed and replaced steering wheel. however, problem still occurs. *ak *yd
02/27/2002112/01/1999
 Consumer was having a difficult time entering key into ignition. mechanic stated that vehicle had a lock switch that had malfunctioned. *ak consumer contacted customer service and was told that this condition was a familiar one with the ford focus and that the engineers have not received enough complaints to consider the problem a recall. dealer replaced ignition lock cylinder and offered to pay 60% of cost. *tt
12/22/2001
 On 3 different occasions vehicle has been having problem with igniton switch turning off. vehicle had to be towed because it would not start back up.*ak
12/03/2001104/01/2000
 Tried to put key into the ignition, key wouldn't go it. had car towed to dealer and it took a week to get fixed. had to argue to get a loaner car in the meantime and no one at ford was helpful at all and insisted that this was not a big problem. shortly before this happened, the steering and rack and pinion had to be replaced because of a fluid leak. last week, when attempting to start the car (it had not been started all weekend), the engine wouldn't turn over and the dealer had to replace the fuel pump. today while driving to work, the steering wheel became very loose and pulled away from the steering column. took the car immediately to the dealer and they put it back on. have had nothing but problems with this car. lots of recall work and all these other issues too. car is at dealer for service on average every four months. this was my first new car, but now i will never buy another ford and am getting rid of this one asap. *ak
10/25/2001
 Key will not turn in ignition, dealer determined ignition switch needs to be replaced.*ak
3
 Steering wheel and ignition switch locked up while, repair/replace ignition switch three times. automatic transmission shifter will not come out of park position, trunk will not close properly, front brake disk pads had to be replace, because the pads separated from the backing plate.
08/10/2000312/31/1999
 The steering wheel and ignition switch locked up, on another occasion the steering wheel locked up in the right position while the drivr was backing into a driveway, the rear wheel bearings had to be replaced due to road noise, the ignition switch came out of the steering column when the drivers attempted to remove the key from the ignition. nlm
07/17/20011
 Faulty ignition switch caused the key to not insert or once insert the key could not be removed from the ignition, this problem also caused the vehicle to stall. nlm
07/19/2001102/01/2000
 Vehicle stalls without warning at various speeds. losing all power and steering wheel locks up. dealer notified 4 times. first 3 times they did nothing, fourth time they said they replaced air intake valve. the morning after we got the car out of the shop it stalled again while driving 55mph. we are tired of getting the run around and are hesitant to contact dealer again concerning this problem. 2nd problem- put key into ignition and key wouldn't turn. car had to be towed to dealer where they kept it for a week. i was told it had to do with the ignition cylinder and key had to be coded. these are only 2 of the many problems we have had with our vehicle, but it is ridiculous for a new car to have so many malfunctions and problems.*ak
06/06/2001
 To start vehicle key in ignition switch and ignition computer chip must be in sync with one another. when its not in sync, vehicle can stall out while driving in middle of traffic. had taken vehicle to dealership, and mechanic replaced computer chip and ignition switch/ key. stalling problem has reappeared.*ak
03/06/2001101/01/2000
 The ignition cylinder failed causing the key not to come out of the ignition. nlm
01/22/2001201/01/2000
 Right rear wheel bearing caused car to swerve violently at 55mph, driver slowed to 20mph to avoid being pulled off road. driver tried to slowly drive to repair station but car kept wobbling on road so stopped and had car towed into garage..ignition /lock system failed in january and left driver stranded. car could not be started. in another problem that occured in october 2000 the fuel assembly recall was not properly repaired and caused car accelerator to not function. the car would only go 1-3mph at full acelleration. this was very dangerous in traffic. i do not have paperwork on this incident but problem was corrected at bergstrom ford, neenah, wi 54956*ak
110/01/1999
 Consumer has had ignition switch looked at by three different ford dealerships but they all state there is nothing wrong with it, but it sticks and somtimes will not release keys after the vehicle is in park and turned off. *jb
11/01/19990
 When putting key in ignition vehicle locks up, and there is no power to start vehicle. lights comes on and the dealership is aware of problem.*ak
 While puting key in ignition switch it would not turn, and key would not fit all the way. please provide further information.*ak
03/01/20015
 Vehicle vibrated real hard when it started up and cut off. it has been to dealer 5 times. dealer has replaced computer, and changed ignition key and more. dealer has never said why, and didn't have a remedy to problem. consumer has tried lemon law, but vehicle was over the mileage at that time. consumer called ford, and was told to work it out with dealer. problem is still not resovled.*ak
03/22/20010
 When trying to start engine ignition switch will not turn, and consumer will not be able to start engine. sometimes while driving will make a lot of noise.*ak
03/17/2001106/02/2000
 Ignition and steering locked up, key would not turn, vehicle was parked. *ak there was noise in the right side of the vehicle due to rear outside mirror failure. the transmission slips on accel. there was vibration in steering at 45 mph and up. the high sqealing on rainy days when turning left or right was caused by drive belt malfunctioning. the ignition locked due to cylinder assembly problem. *yh
02/17/2000210/01/1999
 Key could only be inserted half way into the ignition. *ak
1
 Ignition switch went out one week after ownership. *mjs
01/11/2001
 Key failed/could not be inserted into ignition. key in half way , but could not be released. when finally it was released, it could not be reinserted fully. had vehicle towed to dealership. mechanic was ordering new parts for ignition. *ak
10/06/2000105/27/2000
 Was pulling into driveway with turn signal on when vehicle shut down. wheels locked up. vehicle was towed to dealership. mechanic could not locate cause of shut down. contacted manufacturer & was informed it was a hot ignition switch problem. *ak making right hand turn into driveway started decrasing speed from 35 mph to make turn, noticed that the stereo went silent ,lost dash ligh s including signals and steering wheel difficult to turn. *yh
08/15/20002
 Iginition switch keeps locking up intermittently. dealer notified, and replaced two ignition switchs on two separate occasions, but problem still occurs. feel free to provide any further details on this matter. *ak
11/01/20005
 Ignition switch went out, causing vehicle not to start. dealer has been contacted. *ak brakes also failed, consumer had taken vehicle to dealer for soft brakes, however dealer found no problems and one month later brake failure occured. *slc
09/16/2000109/01/2000
 According to towtruck driver, this was the ninth ford focus in one week here in tucson, arizona, to have ignition problems. the ignition/lock cylinder fails, preventing ability to start vehicle. *ak
08/19/20004
 Consumer rented a car from budget rental. vehicle locked up, and driver was not able to turn off or start vehicle. when this happened, electrical doors would not open. consumer had to climb out of window, and car just died. this has happened on 4 different ford, focuses that consumer had rented. consumer feels this is very dangerous because it could lock up on the highway. *ak
06/01/2000
 Ignition switch, made out of plastic, broken and consumer was unable to start vehicle. dealer notifed, and repaires were made after waiting 18 days before parts were available. feel free to provide further details. *ak
07/27/2000103/01/2000
 Key was used fine to enter into the vehicle. but, key was entered into ignition to start engine, but it was not able to go all the way through. security system worked against its own original key,and will not operate anything in vehicle. vehicle was towed to the dealer, and dealer has no remedy of defect. per consumer there are few other vehicles at dealer awaiting to be repaired. vehicle is inoperative without remedy. there were no prior warnings before the vehicle stopped accepting the original key. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY
03/14/200432079307/12/2000
 Dt: the contact stated the ignition switch failed three times within a year and a half. the first time, she went to start the car, the ignition would not turn over. the car was towed and repaired. the second failure was approximately one year later and the same thing happened. the car was towed and repaired for the second time. the third failure happened this week, went to start the car and it would not start again. it is being repaired now. the dealership stated it could possibly be the starter along with the ignition switch. *ak in dec 2001 the consumer was involved in an accident due to a problem with the tires and the rear axle. the transmission cooler lines were replaced. the brake lights and heater did not work. the egr tube was replaced. the wiper arm was broken. the engine light stayed on all time. the driver side mirror had to be replaced. updated 01/11/06. *jb
04/07/200460000411/18/2000
 In the last six months the transmission has started to leak fluid (paid to fix that), i get a letter about a recall for the fuel pump take it in and get that fixed on the way to work straight from the dealership one of the guys i work with comments on my brake lights staying on, my brake lights will now not go off and my cruise control will not go on (paid to fix that), then a few weeks later the front wheel fell off! i was pulling into my parents driveway and the wheel just fell off then spent the entire day getting it on a tow truck and getting it off at the dealership. then the technician kept asking me what i hit. repeatedly i told him what happened and he finally said that that couldn't have happened unless i hit something (paid to fix that), now i get in my car to get me something to eat and my key will not turn. *ak
03/26/200046000104/08/2000
 Steering wheel is locked and key will not turn so car will not start. after doing research i have found that this is very common and may even happen again after being repaired - typical cost is $250 - 300. *ak.
11/10/200339000103/10/2000
 Engine starter failed and had to be replaced. *jb
11/20/2001202/01/2000
 Starter just stopped working, burned the fuse assembly. *ak
05/21/2000112/01/1999
 This vehicle is clearly one of multiple problems and should be investigated. engine cooling, transmission braking and starter issues. ford protecting self as usual.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY - RELAY
104/19/2000
 Vehicle stalled while in motion. sometimes vehicle had to get a jump start. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY - SOLENOID
04/14/200447375001/08/2004
 The key is stuck in the ignition, prohibiiting the removal of the key and proper safety of the vehicle. it is no impossible to look the car without the keyless remote, and there is no an extremely high chance of the car being stolen.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
12/01/2009880003
 For the third time since i've owned the car, the rear tail 'running' lights have blacked out. at the same time, dashboard lights do not function. nhtsa campaign 00v411000 covers this for about 75,000 focuses identical to mine, but for some reason, mine is not covered by the recall. i've had the same problem three times. each time, the wiring harness and fuses have to be replaced. once, the multifunction switch needed replacing, too. the repairs have cost me nearly $1,500. i contacted ford the third time, but the representative said there was nothing ford could do to help with repair costs, as my specific vin did not fall under the recall. my concern is the random nature of the tail light loss. it happens when i'm driving home at night, and i need to put my hazards on any time i drive after dark. it is extremely dangerous, and i am afraid of being struck from behind. *tr
10/28/2009165514
 Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. his vehicle failed state inspection for poor exterior lighting functionality. he contacted the dealer in reference to recall # 00v411000 (electrical system:wiring). upon contact he was advised that since his vehicle identification number was excluded from the recall, he was ineligible for a free remedy. the vehicle was taken to another dealer and was in the process of being repaired at an expense of $179.00. the manufacturer was notified, but no assistance was provided. the failure and current mileages were 165,000.
05/25/200950000105/12/2000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. while driving approximately 25 mph on normal road conditions, the instrument panel failed to illuminate and the parking lamp and tail lamps were nonfunctional. the contact replaced the fuse on five separate occasions and the failure recurred. the vehicle's power lock system also failed to operate. she discovered the failure was contributed to the deck lid harness. the vehicle has not been inspected by a certified technician. nhtsa campaign id number 00v411000 - electrical system;wiring is related to the failure; however, the vin number was excluded from the recall. the contact is aware of the safety risk involved. the failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 50,300. updated 11/06/09. *lj the consumer stated while driving, she noticed the dashboard was not lit and she was unable to read the speedometer. the headlights were working. the consumer replaced the fuse and the dashboard lit up properly. however, a short while later the fuse blew again. the consumer also discovered the tail lights and parking lights were not working as well. also, the power door locks failed. the consumer discovered 4 wires had been completely severed, and all the others had bare patches where the insulation had rubbed off. the consumer stated a recall had been issued for the exact problem, but her vin was not included. updated 11/10/09.*jb
05/27/20091880001
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the contact took her vehicle for routine inspection and was informed that the deck-lid wire harness fatigued and developed damaged wires in the bend area of the wire harness. the manufacturer stated that the vin was excluded from nhtsa campaign id number 00v411000 (electrical system:wiring); therefore, they would not assume any responsibility for the repairs. she is in the process of having the vehicle repaired. the failure and current mileages were 188,000. updated 06/03/09 *bf updated 06/04/09.*jb
02/23/200680000102/02/2000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. the contact stated that the rear tail lights failed on his vehicle. there is a safety recall # 00v411000 (electrical system:wiring). the recall repairs were performed two years ago. the manufacturer stated that the recall does not apply to his vin. the contact is currently experiencing loud noises and vibrations in the engine. the failure occurred at speeds of 60 mph and greater. there is also a related service bulletin for the failure. the vin is unavailable. the current mileage is 107,000 and failure mileage was 80,000.
03/28/200610
 I own a 2000 ford focus. for about 18 months i have been experiencing a fuse blowing which runs my brake lights. i continue to replace the fuse, but now it won't hold anymore. there is a recall #02313: deck lid wire harness fatigue, but my vin didn't get recalled. my car is experiencing these recall 'symptoms' and should be covered! *jb
01/11/2006111136111/01/2004
 Dt: the contact stated the deck lid wiring harness wires of the electrical system fatigued and broke. there was nhtsa recall campaign 00v411000, regarding the electrical system wiring. the vehicle had the same problems as indicated in the recall; however, it was not included in the recall due to the vin. the vehicle was seen by a dealer, and the deck lid wiring harness was replaced. *ak ford was unwilling to pay for repairs. the contact agreed that it was the exact same problem as the other 2000 ford, focus, but they would not comply as it was made shortly after they ended the recall date for this particular problem. *ak
06/30/2005211/15/2002
 My 2000 ford focus would not start on 6/29/05 so i had it towed to town & country ford on 6/30/05. prior to the tow truck leaving, i checked the lights, horn, etc to make sure all worked before ford worked on the car. they did. when they service man johnny gardner called me that afternoon to tell me what was wrong with the vehicle he stated the ground scrap wire , and ignition switch need to be repaired i told him that was impossible about the ignition switch when i had it repaired 1 month earlier. johnny then changed the story stating just the ground scrap wire needs to be repaired. i had them fix that part and went to pick up the car. while driving down the street a car swerved into my lane and when i went to blow my horn it did not work. i slowed down and my brakes made a hard grinding noise. i immediately called town & country ford asking them why was my car horn not working, and the brakes were making a grinding noise. they replied i could bring the car back and pay to have it fixed. i took the car to an independent auto repair shop who stated the horn could not be fixed because someone unhooked the componets under the hood, and to fix it ford can only get the parts. they also told me that the axle on my right brake wheel was split. prior to taking this car to town & country ford i had no brake problems. i was told by town & country ford to check my replace the relay switch to the horn. i did and the headlights, interior lights, and windshield wipers do not work. the car will not go in reverse. my car was fine prior to town & country ford's work. *jb
09/07/200535000204/20/2000
 12/03 -- rear driver side window regulator broke on a 2000 ford focus; window not used much 9/7/05 -- rear passenger side window regulator failed on same car as rolling down to clear morning condensation off and on since i've had the car, the driver side window and rear driver's side window have not worked due to a so called short the 2 regulators were replaced; the short has never been found or repaired and is a nuisance. *jb
02/01/2004150005
 While driving the dash light began to flicker then the vehicle shut down suddenly while in gear. *nm campaign id number : 00v411000. the consumer was told that the power cable to the battery was the result of the problem. campaign id number : 02v288000. the consumer was told by the service department that this is a problem because the vehicle could explode. the warranty company turned the consumer down stating that the problem was not part of the warranty. the key gets stuck in the vehicles ignition and would not come out. the doors would not close properly and remained open while the vehicle was in gear. when the tire was removed the consumer noticed that the wheel was missing a lug nut. campaign id number : 00v303000 the air vent did not stay open when the a/c was on high. the brakes howled like a wounded dog from the time of purchase. pads and rotors needed to be replaced. *tc
04/17/20041
 When turning the vehicle off consumer smelled smoke coming from inside of the vehicle. consumer towed the vehicle to the dealership for inspection, and mechanic determined that the wiring harness melted. *ak
540002
 While driving vehicle stalled. when this occurred vehicle lost power. also, at 54,000 miles brake light continuously stayed on, even if the brake pedal hasn't been depressed. recall 03v482000 was issued for fuel system, and recall 00v411000 for the wiring harness . however, this vehicle was not involved in the recalls due to vin. *ak
04/07/200460000411/18/2000
 In the last six months the transmission has started to leak fluid (paid to fix that), i get a letter about a recall for the fuel pump take it in and get that fixed on the way to work straight from the dealership one of the guys i work with comments on my brake lights staying on, my brake lights will now not go off and my cruise control will not go on (paid to fix that), then a few weeks later the front wheel fell off! i was pulling into my parents driveway and the wheel just fell off then spent the entire day getting it on a tow truck and getting it off at the dealership. then the technician kept asking me what i hit. repeatedly i told him what happened and he finally said that that couldn't have happened unless i hit something (paid to fix that), now i get in my car to get me something to eat and my key will not turn. *ak
03/31/2004106/01/2000
 On wednesday march 31 2004 my husband noticed that our parking lights and dashboard lights were not coming on. then we discovered that they would work only if the rear defroster was on. we took the car to our mechanic who suspected a short and discovered broken and exposed wires in the hatch. he rewired the car. i went on line and found that 2000 ford focuses had been recalled for this type of problem (nhtsa campaign id number: 00v411000). i called ford's customer service hotline and was told that this recall did not apply to my vehicle's vin number but to hold on to my receipt in case the recall was broadened. when i asked him why my car wasn't included even though other ford focuses had the same problem he said that it was probably just a coincidence. *jb
01/12/20041
 While driving 65 mph vehicle stalled. consumer restarted vehicle, and drove it to the dealer. the mechanic noticed that wires and spark plugs needed to be replaced due to worn out parts.*ak
10/20/200389000104/01/2000
 While driving on interstate 5, in the greater seattle area, the electrical system in our 2000 ford focus failed. dash lights, including the air bag light came on inappropriately. i began immediately to move from the left traffic lane to the right to exit the interstate. before i was completely off of the exit, the car died. i sat for a couple of minutes then was able to restart the car and travel a couple of miles to a safe parking lot before the car again died. the car was cutting out, dash lights flashing on and off, the speedometer would peg out at 140 mph (traveling at 35), etc. the car was unable to restart. we towed the car to the ford dealership where we purchased the car new in 2000. they diagnosed the problem as a faulty, melted heater switch, along with the wiring harness burning up near the alternator, causing complete failure of the alternator. wiring was completely replaced at the alternator. also the car needed a new alternator and heater switch. the car still has less than 90,000 miles on it, this should not happen with a 3 year old vehicle! what investigations are ongoing with wiring issues? why is ford not being held accountable for this. after being a ford man for 50 years, i will never buy another ford car. the dealerships service departments and customer service departments are condescending and disrespectful. it is time they are made to produce a product that is not dangerous. *la
07/10/2003109/03/2000
 2000 ford focus. bought at sanger ford outlet new. problem: cable and wiring frayed. result: aaa called. dead battery. towed. inconvenience. *ph
08/06/2003
 Consumer states while driving at 55 mph vehicle started to stall, then caught on fire. dealer notified. *ak
06/13/20031
 Nhtsa 00-v-411-000 vehicle description: passenger vehicles. a deck lid wire harness can fatigue and develop broken wires in the bend area of the wire harness. consumer has the same problem. however this vehicle was not part of recall due to vin. *ak
4
 The vehicle experienced problems with the wiring, transmission-(jump out of gear), fuel gauge level is inoperative, and the motor would race. the shifter and cable was removed, and the center console was removed to replace the shifter assembly. the dealer could not duplicate the fuel gauge problem. mr scc
10/30/20031
 Vehicle is having the same defect with the wire harness as stated in recall number 000 v 411 000, but their vin number is not included. ts brake lights inoperative at times also abs light comes and dash and dome light go off intermittently. trunk release inoperative. latch assembly replaced. *tt
 Consumer called compliaining about having problems with the wiring harness wich affects the back up lights and the cruise control on the vehicle. dealer and manufactured were contacted and direct consumer to our hotline. mr
07/04/2002
 Vehicle was going 40mph and shut down without warning. after vehicle pulled over consumer heard a boom explosion noise, and vehicle caught on fire. the battery/ alternator, and cable wires were burned. the dealer gave no explanation to what the fire was caused by. please provide more information. *ak
08/01/20020
 After parking vehicleovernight next morning it would not start. after getting vehicle started consumertook it to dealer, and was told that wiring had melted, causing battery not to charge. consumer heard something on tv that nhtsa was investigating such problem.*ak
07/16/2002
 Electric system wiring causing lights/ windows, and door locks to go out. dealer notified.*ak
1
 Vehicle caught on fire while idling at a stoplight, ford consumer affairs stated that the fire was caused by the wiring harness that touched the engine, melted the insulation, causing current to flow through the ground wire, and an imbalance shorted the battery cable. *slc
02/13/20020
 While driving in the dark dashboard and rear lights will go off without a prior warning, and headlights will di. had taken vehicle to dealer and they found out that electrical wiring was corroded and had to be replaced to correct the problem. please provide more information. *ak
08/21/2001110/01/2000
 Car stalled while at a stop signal, then re-started, then stalled again and fire was seen coming from under the hood. extinguished by towels and water. damage noted to be a melt-down at battery and both pos and neg cables. some melted and burned components adjacent. insurance fire investigator noted damage in starter area.*ak
04/01/2001303/12/2000
 While consumer was driving gas tank cover blew off the tank and gas was spilling every where.*ak consumer states vehicle has experienced problems with the sending unit and gas gauge. wheel bearings on the left rear failed. transmission fluid leaks, consumer states this is causing slippage and shifting problems. vehicle experiences a burning oil smell. wiring harness failure. light failure (consumer did not specify). gas leaks. failed suspension parts (consumer did not specify). tires wear prematurely (consumer did not give tire information). splash shields broke. brocking wires in central locking system. *slc
110/01/1999
 Consumer has had to take vehcile in for 2 safety recalls, headlights needed to be replaced due to seals being cracked and worn, as well as selt belt replacement because the mechanism would not stay buckled (oov-411 and 00v-418). *jb
01/12/20012
 There were no parts available for recalls oov-218 and 00v-411. nlm
01/02/200111/01/1999
 Received recall notice (00v-303) october 2000, part(s) not available to correct campaign, received recall notices (00v-218) & (00v-411) december 2000, appointment made for january 2nd to correct all 3 campaigns, waited four hours at dealership, claimed vehicle, invoice showing parts necessary to correct recall campaigns (00v-218) & (00v-411) not there. cj
11/05/20000
 Car had been sitting for about 6 hours when it bursted into flames. consumer had car towed to impound yard. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD
09/24/2004500001
 Vehicle was idling in a parking lot and a fire started under hood. the entire vehicle was quickly engulfed, and the car was left unrecognizable within 5 minutes. three other vehicles were damaged.*ak
07/09/200450000104/30/2004
 While driving 40 mph vehicle caught on fire under the hood. local fire department arrived to extinguish the fire. consumer questioned o whether past recall repairs were done properly. *ak the electrical gauges had gone up and the oil light stayed on. the vehcile was out of control. recall# 00v411000. *sc
05/19/20041
 Vehicle was parked and consumer noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood. vehicle caught on fire inside of the engine compartment. fire department was called and extinguished the fire. vehicle was towed to the driver's home by the insurance company. *ak
12/05/2003128371
 A fire started under the hood while driving. vehicle was towed to dealer.*ak
01/27/2003446451
 Here's a serious safety defect that needs to be corrected. since i bought my 2000 focus zts (with less than 45,000 miles on it) it has had all the recall services done (six, if i recall correctly) and two windshields replaced too (due to edge cracks developing). this week a serious new problem surfaced: a wire sheared off within a connector that goes to the ignition coil, part of the main engine harness. i was traveling and all of a sudden the engine simply died. if this happened in traffic or on the highway, a serious accident would have resulted. luckily, i was on a quiet street. this is a manufacturing defect that ford should acknowledge and correct at no charge to the owner. to make the matter worse, the dealer tells me that the connector that failed is not available from ford as a replacement part -- the whole main engine harness has to be replaced, with more than eight hours of labor required, plus the cost of the harness. it will end up costing close to a thousand dollars. if the connector were available it would cost under three hundred dollars to repair.
08/18/2002105/01/2002
 My father checked the battery area, after reading an article in the dallas morning news. no safety defect listed. *ak
01/26/20020
 Vehicle stalled out, and consumer left it where it was. then, he went back 3 hours later only to find that vehicle had burned up. he was told by the fire department that there was a vehicle fire. *ak
 While traveling on highway another motorist flagged him down to inform that there was fire coming from underneath the vehicle. he pulled over , lifted hood up, and vehicle was on fire.*ak
07/06/20011
 Vehicle caught on fire due to an electrical wiring harness that may have shorted out, which was located next to the battery.*jb)claim#25-5541-145)
01/15/20021
 The fire department indicated that vehicle caught on fire due to an electrical shortage.*jb(claim#55-s443-496)
109/15/2000
 While driving check engine light came on and vehicle died, consumer noticed flames and smoke coming from battery, fire department stated that wire grounded with the battery started the fire. *tt
01/15/20021
 The fire department indicated that vehicle caught on fire due to an electrical shortage.*jb(claim#55-s443-496)
07/06/20011
 Vehicle caught on fire due to an electrical wiring harness that may have shorted out, which was located next to the battery.*jb)claim#25-5541-145)
02/12/2002104/01/2001
 Dealership treated us like criminals(my wife and i) they gave us a rental, and harassed us about the rental even though by maine lemon laws, they are supposed to provide us with one. they threatened the police with us for theft of the rental. i noticed on your web-site yesterday that one day prior to our fire nhtsa started an investigation pertaining to vehicle fires on 2000 focus. we have attained the services of an attorney in this matter. thank you for all your help.*ak
02/07/200203/01/2000
 This car burned up on highway while driving.also, i am not sure of some of the questions on engine type etc.*ak
01/27/2002
 Rear brake lights have failed to operate and to communicate to other drivers vehicle was slowing or stopping. dealership has not examined vehicle to determine cause of problem. also, consumer was informed tha vehicle was not included in recall campaign 00v411000/wiring harness due to vin. please provide any additional information / documentation.*ak
05/23/2001310/01/1999
 On 9/5/01 electricial system: battery/ ignition coil assembly had to be remove and install,sparks plugs replace,ignition wires repaired
09/01/2001
 While driving vehicle at approximately 40mph it would suddenly die out without any warning. would lose all power steering and brakes. taken to dealership each time and had speedometer repaired/ wiring harness replaced, and brain box of computer repaired. after each repair problem would reappear. manufacturer is buying back vehicle. *ak
11/01/1999
 This focus 2000 allready have 7 recalls yesterday the wiring of the car cause a fire and destroy all the front of my car please tell me what i should do thank you olga rivera. *ak
07/11/2001109/01/2000
 07/11/01 10 month old car would not start. had been parked for 5 1/2 hours. had vehicle towed to dealership. they informed us that the main wiring harness(said consisted of 12 wires) appeared to have been eaten by an animal. that the repair, not replacement, would be $325. not covered under warrenty. (it says nothing in our warrenty about this not being covered), we okayed the repairs. on 07/13/01 i contacted the dealership they informed me that they had fixed the wires and the car still would not start. he told us that he jumped it and hooked it up to the diagnostic center and it gave him a code 13, but he didnt know what that meant or why the car woulnt start. on 07/17/01 we were told that the computer was dead, it would be an additional $950 not covered.on 07/20/01 the mang. of dayton called me and said get your car off our lot, return our loaner or we will report it stolen. when we got there are car was not put back together, they had written the word f*cker on the cars computer, and gave us the. *ak
403/01/2000
 Smell like fireworks comes from under hood and in passenger area after trips of 20 miles or more, 2 dealers fail to find cause. *ak
05/07/2001110/01/2000
 Vehicle caught fire while driving. smoke & fire first noticed in rear seat area. total loss with fire moving from back to front. *ak
01/27/2001111/01/1999
 While traveling at 45 a truck pulled in front of consumer's vehicle, and consumer hit the truck. upon impact, none of airbags deployed.*ak the wire harness, motor mount, front and rear wheel bearings had failed and were replaced. *yh
09/05/2000112/01/1999
 While vehicle was in park postion and turned off, the vehicle caught fire on its own . the entire engine compartment was in flames. while on fire the car started and rolled forward over a curb into a building (not causing damage to building). it looks as though it was not electrical because many of the wires and fuses inside the vehicle had not been shorted out. it is being investigated by the manufacturer. this is a seriuos problem that needs to be looked at, it spontaneously caught fire on its own . the vehicle is planned to be totalled.*ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
04/01/200842670107/28/2000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. while driving 20 mph, the contact smelled a burning odor coming from the dashboard. he examined the vehicle and noticed two wires were melted in the wiring harness. the contact believes that the failure originated from the rear deck lid. two wires were fused together due to fatigue, one wire being 7.5 amps and the other being 15 amps. the manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 00v411000 (electrical system:wiring). the current mileage was 42,679 and failure mileage was 42,670.
01/30/200552000107/14/2004
 While driving 70 mph consumer noticed a burning odor, and then the vehicle stalled. vehicle was towed to a repair shop, and mechanic determined that a piece a metal cut and shorted the wiring harness connection to the headlight switch.*ak
02/02/2004
 Speed control switch for heating and air conditioning fan broke and needed to be replaced.
06/01/200330000404/07/2000
 Other than the recalls and the brakes squeaking constantly, everything was fine with my 2000 focus up until 1 month after the warranty expired. almost one month to the day, the instrument cluster stopped working. ford would replace it at a cost of at least $500, so i replaced it myself by ordering a part on line for a total of $45. a couple of months later, the ignition cylinder would not allow the key to fit all the way in and as a result the car was not able to start, resulting in a cost of around $300 to replace. i am beginning to see the stalling problem from the faulty fuel pump. now my automatic door locks and trunk release just stopped working and the car is making a very odd grinding noise when you turn. it would be one thing if i was the only one with these problems, but the facts are out there and many, many, many people are all having the exact same problems! i have written to ford main offices and my local ford dealership serveral times on these matters and i have never heard anything back. i honestly am never buying a ford vehicle again.*ak
01/10/200234000112/21/2002
 At idle the head lights, dash board lights, and internal dome light flicker with cycle of engine. ford certified mechanic does not acknowledge the problem, nor a remedy to the flickering. flickering still exists! *la
08/11/2003
 While consumer's wife was driving vehicle caught on fire, smoke was coming out from the air conditioning vent. dashboard melted, and windshield melted. *ak
02/12/2002004/03/2001
 Car burned in my driveway. we just found out it came from under the dashboard, a problem with the wiring(electrically)in the heating system.
01/28/200353100106/20/2000
 I went to warm up my ford focus zx3 as usual on tuesday morning, but when i turned on the heater/deforoster nothing happened. i then got it serviced and was told that the heater/defroster switch had melted. my concern is that there could of been/ still can be a fire if the electrical system is faulty enough to melt the switch.
03/15/2002
 Wiring under dashboard started smoking, causing car to stall and ignition to locked up. *ak
03/03/2002
 Under dash wiring harness started smoking, causing car to stall. also, ignition locked up.*ak
03/03/2002
 Under dash wiring harness started smoking, causing car to stall. *ak
 Under dash harness started smoking causing vehical to stall and ignition to lock up.*ak
03/27/2002105/01/2000
 Myon 3/27/02 car burned down in my yard . i really need some help to resolve this this the third time i have filled out this form with no response at at all. *ak
05/01/2001
 While driving at high speeds all lights on the dash started blinking. vehicle was shaking and engine died. please provide any further information. *ak
 While ignition was turned on and vehicle was placed in park a fire started under the dash due to faulty wiring. *ak
08/01/2001602/01/2001
 Tires wearing out fast, accelerated speed, and engine kill, uneven suspension, indicator gauges and lights haywire. i was told by ford that i had wrecked the car and had to pay $883.00 for repairs + $350.00 for new tires.*ak
08/31/2001108/01/2001
 On aug 31, 2001 at approxametly 1:40pm, while on my way to work my speedometer, and tachometer topped out. and all dash electrical systems began flashing. my car began excelerating and stopping on its own, and i imedeiately noticed smoke pouring from under the hood and from the vents. i pulled into parking lot at work, i poped the hood and called the fire department, becuase there were flames coming from the battery area. the fire depr't came and put out the fire, the car was towed to the nearest ford dealer (purvis ford, fredericksburg va). i have only had the car 28 days and have not paid a payment as yet when this occured. if you can contact me at work perferably, or home, please enter the following code when calling our house (540-834-0455-1492). any thing you can do to help is appreciated as no one will look at my vechile (indlucing ford and the dealer where purchased.) thank you.*ak
02/27/2001
 00 v 418 000/seat hinge: 00 v 411 000/wire harness: 00 v 303 000/rear wheel hub nuts: 00 v 218 000/fmvss 201: while vehicle was in the dealer shop for is routine check up consumer was informed of four recalls, and ,was unwilling to give a appointment for repairs, consumer called on two other occasions, and still dealer, hertige ford, burington, vt; phone# 802/865-8150 refused to help in these recall repairs. seeking help from nhtsa in these matter.*ak
112/24/1999
 Vehicle has experienced an electrical module failure which causes the vehicle to reek of fire, have the horn blowing, power failure, and overheating. *slc
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
02/01/200111/01/1999
 Vehicle recalled in february 2001 to repair problem:some of the affected vehicles have a rigid vinyl sleeve around the wiring at the hinge point of the rear decklid. during decklid opening and closing, movement is concentrated at this point and may cause one or more wires within the harness to fatigue and break. depending on which wires break, it may result in the loss of license plate lamps, center high-mount stop lamps, stop lamps or tail lamps. loss of this rear lighting could increase the risk of an accident. took vehicle in for repair but the following have failed since: right tail lamp, reverse lights. on 09/12/2007 a ford customer relations rep stated that my vehicle has never had any recalls. i have four of five of the notices they sent me.
07/01/200581000105/22/2001
 Rear deck lid brake light incredibly sensitive to vibration with push in bulbs. just closing trunk causes brake light to fail. dealer claims this is not a recall. *nm
06/18/2006112/18/2004
 We have a 2000 ford focus se and about two weeks ago the headlights stopped working (late at night). it was then discovered that every time a new fuse was put in, it would just blow right away. we took it to a private automobile repair shop and they discovered that the deck lid wire harness had broken wires at the bend area causing the loss of power and lights which resulted in damage to other wires. there were multiple wires which were damaged and needed to be repaired. this was all because of the defect in the deck lid wire harness. we have a copy of a nhtsa recall bulletin which states that this defect was under a recall in december 2000. we have called ford and also spoke to our local ford dealer and they are telling us that our car does not have a recall for this defect. it is very obvious to anyone who would see the rear deck lid that there is a very clear defect. the wires are frayed and melted together. the gentleman who repaired our car said this is definitely the cause of the problem. the wires on the deck lid are still need of repair and something needs to be done to the bend area to prevent this from happening again. ford is telling us that they are not responsible and it is not their problem. the reference number for the nhtsa recall is 00v411000. mfg. campaign no: 00s50. we would appreciate any help in getting this matter settled to prevent further damage. we would also like to be reimbursed for the garage bill which was caused from the deck lid wire harness defect. thank you in advance for your help with this. *nm
09/19/200522000103/01/2001
 Dt:the consumer received a recall on the deck lid wire harness, the recall repair was performed at a ford dealership in 2001. this recall repair did not repair the problem, the brake lights and license plate light failed afterwards. the consumer returned to the dealer, there were some repairs, but the consumer did not know what repairs were exactly made at that time. several months later, the brake lights went out because the consumer was pulled over by authorities for not having brake lights. the consumer returned to the dealership and paid for the repairs out of pocket. the next occurrence resulted in the consumer smelling smoke for which she could not determine the cause. she pulled over for a moment, and began to pull out to drive to the dealer, and a passerby honked the horn. the consumer noticed smoke coming form the trunk compartment. the consumer shut the engine off, and while looking for something to put the fire out, black smoke began to erupt from the trunk. upon inspection, the fire had extinguished by itself and the smoke was coming from the wiring. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, who wanted to inspect the vehicle further. the dealer spliced the wires up into the area where the fire was ,and now consumer is concerned a fire may again occur. the consumer has not contacted ford at this time. *ak
12/01/200103/01/2001
 I have had nothing but problems with this vehicle just last month the cable and motor in the rear passenger side door window burned up and now will cost over $600. to fix i can not get the front rack & pinion fixed because it will cost $1800.00. the transmission is going out now it slips out of gear sometimes not at all. i just got the brakes repaired for the third time in may and they are again squeaking. i have all of my receipts for work done to this car. i am now having to put power steering fluid in once or twice a week. the automatic locks on the doors lock and unlock all the time, and the electric instruments turn off by themselves. (radio) the driving lights go out at times and will not come back on. please help me, i am a single mother and have complained to courtesy ford they want to charge me diagnostic $90.00 for each item i am complaining about and then the amount it will take to fix all of the things wrong. this vehicle i just recently found out has had six different owners before me and one was rental car company. i do not know who the rest of them were. courtesy ford had said there was only one owner. they will not listen to me and now the focus' have a front suspension recall that may have been the problem the whole time with the brakes and the tire replacements and the power steering problems.!!! please help me. dt
05/10/2001202/01/2001
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
05/02/2001109/01/2000
 Ford blue oval certified dealer performed recall 00v41100 . onwer notice rattle in trunk lid when opening or closing , mechanic had left both tag light bulbs out and they where moving around in trunk lid. owner made repair and notify dealer when taking vehicle back for other repairs.

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