Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||||
| 19009 | 01/01/2006 | 10019073 | Dtc p0316, p0300, p0301, p0302, p0303 and/or p0304 - service tip. *tt | 02/10/2006 | |
| 18581 | 04/01/2005 | 10017884 | Erratic instrument cluster gauges and/or warning indicators - service tip. *tt | 12/06/2005 | |
| 18379 | 01/01/2005 | 10013318 | Brake and anti-lock brake system lights on after hec (hybrid electronic cluster) replacement. *tt | 04/14/2005 | |
| 04174 | 09/06/2004 | 10013116 | Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illuminated - system lean diagnostic trouble codes (dtc's) - service tips. various models including 2004 f-series. *tt | 04/08/2005 | |
| 18411 | 02/01/2005 | 10012969 | Malfunction indicator lamp on with diagnostic trouble code p0133, p1131 or p2195. *tt | 04/05/2005 | |
| 17512 | 01/01/2004 | 10007344 | An intermittent malfunction indicator lamp (mil) on with diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0462 (fuel level sensor a circuit low) or p2067 (fuel level sensor b circuit low) caused by an improperly installed remote start system. *tt | 06/14/2004 | |
| 17282 | 10/01/2003 | 10004926 | Harsh transmission engagement with possible malfunction indicator lamp (mil) on and diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0705 (tr circuit failure). *tt | 01/20/2004 | |
| 031911 | 09/29/2003 | 10004040 | Hard start, no start, battery lamp flicker. *tt | 11/14/2003 | |
| 03181 | 09/15/2003 | 10004027 | Remote keyless entry (rke) - service tips. *tt | 11/14/2003 | |
| 03152 | 08/04/2003 | 10003185 | Diagnostic trouble codes (dtc) p0402 and/or p0403 or runs rough in wet weather conditions. *tt | 10/10/2003 | |
| 030301 | 02/01/2003 | 10002515 | Electrical - horn inoperative - vehicles equipped with 2.0l engine only. *tt | 09/04/2003 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||||
| 18413 | 02/01/2005 | 10012971 | Unable to remove ignition key - service tip. *tt | 04/05/2005 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||||
| 04147 | 06/01/2005 | 051612 | 10017923 | Service wiring harness replacement guidelines - service tips. *tt | 12/07/2005 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||||
| 17800 | 05/01/2004 | 10008562 | Intermittent no crank condition. there may also be no powertrain control module communication and/or the odometer may display all dashes. *tt | 08/05/2004 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 09/12/2012 | 55000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that all attempts to start the vehicle failed. the contact also mentioned that the ignition failed. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 55,000 and the current mileage was 61,000. | |||
| 09/12/2012 | 55000 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that all attempts to start the vehicle failed. the contact also mentioned that the ignition failed. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 55,000 and the current mileage was 61,000. mah | |||
| 09/12/2012 | 5500 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that all attempts to start the vehicle failed. the contact also mentioned that the ignition failed. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 55,000 and the current mileage was 61,000. dr | |||
| 01/16/2013 | 43000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that all attempts to start the vehicle failed. the contact also stated that the key was unable to be removed from the ignition and the contact had to use excessive force to retrieve the key. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and they stated that the vehicle needed to be taken to a dealer. the failure mileage was 43,000. the vin was unavailable. mah | |||
| 01/16/2013 | 43000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that he attempted to get the vehicle started but the engine would not start. the contact stated that he took tried to take the key out of the ignition but it would not budge. the contact had to put extreme effort in pulling the key out. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and they stated that the vehicle needed to be taken to a ford dealer. the failure mileage was 43,000. the vin was unavailable. ap | |||
| 12/01/2012 | 92000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. while driving approximately 65 mph, the contact attempted to activate the cruise control but the function had become inoperable. additionally, the brake lights would not function. the failure recurred intermittently. while parked, the contact was unable to shift the vehicle into park because the gear shifter had become stuck. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the technician advised the contact that the wiring harness in the tail gate mechanism was causing the failure and would have to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired because the part was no longer available through the manufacturer. the approximate failure mileage was 92,000. kmj | |||
| 11/20/2012 | 100000 | 1 | |
| Ignition switch will not turn preventing you from starting the car. my daughter got stranded at work at 11pm for 45 minutes until someone was able to help her get the key to turn. i took to a repair shop and they said a ford dealer would need to replace as the 2000-2003 focuses have a lot of ignition switch problems. the dealer wants $350 and will only warranty the part for 1 year!! *tr | |||
| 11/20/2012 | 100000 | ||
| Ignition switch will not turn preventing you from starting the car. my daughter got stranded at work at 11pm for 45 minutes until someone was able to help her get the key to turn. i took to a repair shop and they said a ford dealer would need to replace as the 2000-2003 focuses have a lot of ignition switch problems. the dealer wants $350 and will only warranty the part for 1 year!! | |||
| 10/03/2012 | 69900 | 1 | |
| The ignition key fails to turn. keys are fine and hitting the key worked a few times to get the key to turn. with this problem, a person can easily become stranded in unfavorable conditions. also, should anything happen where the engine dies while driving, the steering could become locked with no way to turn key. *tr | |||
| 09/11/2012 | 65000 | 1 | |
| I went to start the car and the key will not turn. the steering wheel is locked and will not move. i was unable to got to my doctors appointment.. *tr | |||
| 09/11/2012 | 65000 | ||
| I went to start the car and the key will not turn. the steering wheel is locked and will not move. i was unable to got to my doctors appointment.. | |||
| 08/28/2012 | 140000 | 1 | |
| Ignition key will not turn in lock. unable to start car. wife stranded. brought her other keys, same problem. finally got lock to turn by viloently wiggling and pounding on key. drove car home. internet search seems to indicate this is a very common problem. we are the original vehicle purchasers. *tr | |||
| 08/23/2012 | 75000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. while parked, the contact inserted the key into the ignition but was unable to start the vehicle because the ignition cylinder would not turn. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 75,000. kmj | |||
| 08/28/2012 | 140000 | ||
| Ignition key will not turn in lock. unable to start car. wife stranded. brought her other keys, same problem. finally got lock to turn by viloently wiggling and pounding on key. drove car home. internet search seems to indicate this is a very common problem. we are the original vehicle purchasers. | |||
| 08/23/2012 | 75000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. while parked, the contact inserted the key into the ignition but was unable to start the vehicle because the ignition cylinder would not turn. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 75,000. kmj | |||
| 08/23/2012 | 75000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. while parked the contact inserted the key into the ignition but was unable to start the vehicle because the ignition cylinder would not turn. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 75,000. da | |||
| 07/14/2012 | 133000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that she inserted the key into the ignition but could not start the vehicle. the contact mentioned that the steering wheel was locked and she verified that the vehicle was shifted into park. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 133,000. | |||
| 07/14/2012 | 133000 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that she inserted the key into the ignition but could not start the vehicle. the contact mentioned that the steering wheel was locked and she verified that the vehicle was shifted into park. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 133,000. kmj | |||
| 07/14/2012 | 133000 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that she inserted the key in the ignition but it failed to turn on the vehicle. the contact mentioned that the steering wheel was locked and she verified that the vehicle was shift into park. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 133,000. pm | |||
| 06/27/2012 | 75000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the vehicle could not be started. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repairs. the manufacturer was notified who offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 75,000. kmj | |||
| 06/27/2012 | 75000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated the ignition key will not start the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was notified who offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 75,000. mw | |||
| 06/20/2012 | 76000 | ||
| When i try to start my car, the key won't turn when i put it in the ignition. this happened three times just today. i can wiggle the key back and forth and luckily it's ended up working, but this is not the first time this has happened. i've read online that this is a problem with the focus. this should be recalled. | |||
| 03/15/2012 | 114000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the key could not be turned in the ignition. the dealer was notified of the failure who advised the contact that there were no recalls for the failure. the manufacturer was also contacted who offered no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 114,000. | |||
| 03/15/2012 | 114000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the key could not be turned in the ignition. the dealer was notified of the failure who advised the contact that there were no recalls for the failure. the manufacturer was also contacted who offered no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 114,000. kmj | |||
| 11/24/2010 | 80000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that while parking, the steering wheel seized while the power steering warning chime sounded. in addition, the key would sporadically fail to turn when inserted into the ignition. the contact stated that the vehicle would start after approximately thirty minutes of repeated attempts. the dealer was made aware of the failure but the vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. the failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 140,000. kmj | |||
| 04/22/2012 | 69000 | ||
| The ignition cylinder will not trun it is locked and the car will not start. key get stuck in the cylinder. steven l smith 18612 64th pl ne kenmore, wa. 98028 425 486 9208 ven 939 wa plate | |||
| 11/24/2010 | 80000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that while parking, the steering wheel seized while the power steering warning chime sounded. in addition, the key would sporadically fail to turn when inserted into the ignition. the contact stated that the vehicle would start after approximately thirty minutes of repeated attempts. the dealer was made aware of the failure but the vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. the failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 140,000. kmj | |||
| 04/22/2012 | 69000 | ||
| The ignition cylinder will not trun it is locked and the car will not start. key get stuck in the cylinder. steven l smith 18612 64th pl ne kenmore, wa. 98028 425 486 9208 ven 939 wa plate | |||
| 11/24/2010 | 80000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that while parking, the steering wheel seized while the power steering warning chime sounded. in addition, the key would sporadically fail to turn when inserted into the ignition. the contact stated that the vehicle would start after approximately thirty minutes of repeated attempts. the dealer was made aware of the failure but the vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. the failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 140,000. kmj | |||
| 04/22/2012 | 69000 | ||
| The ignition cylinder will not trun it is locked and the car will not start. key get stuck in the cylinder. steven l smith 18612 64th pl ne kenmore, wa. 98028 425 486 9208 ven 939 wa plate | |||
| 11/24/2010 | 80000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that while parking the vehicle the steering wheel will lock up causing a chime noise to sound. the ignition will not turn when the key is inserted to turn the vehicle on . the contact will attempt multiple times to turn the ignition when it will finally work after thirty minutes. the dealer was made aware of the failure and stated that they will correct the failure at the owners expense. the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. the failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 140,000.cv | |||
| 04/22/2012 | 69000 | ||
| The ignition cylinder will not trun it is locked and the car will not start. key get stuck in the cylinder. steven l smith 18612 64th pl ne kenmore, wa. 98028 425 486 9208 ven 939 wa plate | |||
| 11/24/2010 | 80000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that while parking the vehicle the steering wheel will lock up causing a chime noise to sound. the ignition will not turn when the key is inserted to turn the vehicle on . the contact will attempt multiple times to turn the ignition when it will finally work after thirty minutes. the dealer was made aware of the failure and stated that they will correct the failure at the owners expense. the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. the failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 140,000.cv | |||
| 04/22/2012 | 69000 | ||
| The ignition cylinder will not trun it is locked and the car will not start. key get stuck in the cylinder. steven l smith 18612 64th pl ne kenmore, wa. 98028 425 486 9208 ven 939 wa plate | |||
| 03/18/2012 | 85000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the ignition locked and prevented her from inserting the key to start the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, who did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 85,000. kmj | |||
| 03/18/2012 | 85000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the ignition became locked which prevented her from turning on the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance and referred her to nhtsa. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 85,000. pm | |||
| 01/01/2012 | 25000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that in an attempt to turn the key in order to start the vehicle, it refused to turn. a local mechanic replaced the ignition and reprogrammed the key and door locks. the vehicle was repaired. the dealer was notified, but denied any assistance with repairing the failure. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 25,000 and the approximate current mileage was 25,200. rvk | |||
| 01/01/2012 | 25000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that in the attempt to turn the key to start the vehicle, the key would refuse to turn. a local mechanic replaced the ignition and reprogrammed the key and door locks. the vehicle was repaired. the dealer was contacted, but denied any assistance with repair to the failure. the manufacturer was not contacted. the approximate failure mileage was 25,000 and the approximate current mileage was 25,200. nw | |||
| 12/22/2011 | 134000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the key could be inserted into the ignition would could not be turned to start the vehicle. neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure, nor was the vehicle diagnosed or repaired. the current and the failure mileages were 134,000. | |||
| 12/22/2011 | 134000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact placed the key into the ignition however, it would not move to turn the vehicle on. neither the dealer or the manufacturer were notified of the failure, nor was the vehicle diagnosed or repaired. the current and the failure mileages were 134,000. bw | |||
| 10/28/2011 | 107000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the vehicle refused to start. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where the ignition cylinder was replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 107,000. kmj | |||
| 10/28/2011 | 107000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that she was unable to start the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer and the ignition cylinder was replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 107,000. sm. | |||
| 09/08/2011 | 120000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the ignition was locked and the key would not turn to start the engine. the dealer was not contacted. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 120,000. | |||
| 09/08/2011 | 120000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the ignition was locked and the key would not turn to start the engine. the dealer was not contacted. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 120,000. kmj | |||
| 09/08/2011 | 120000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated the ignition was locked and the key will not turn to start the engine. the dealer was not contacted. the manufacturer was notified and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 120,000. mw | |||
| 05/31/2011 | 98441 | ||
| Key won't turn in ignition. luckily, my car was parked at home when this happened but could leave you stranded if away from home. i now have to leave my key in the ignition until i get the problem fixed. | |||
| 09/07/2009 | 84643 | ||
| Ignition key cannot be extracted from vehicle and we couldn't turn the engine off for a period then, couldn't restart it afterwards. | |||
| 05/31/2011 | 98441 | ||
| Key won't turn in ignition. luckily, my car was parked at home when this happened but could leave you stranded if away from home. i now have to leave my key in the ignition until i get the problem fixed. | |||
| 09/07/2009 | 84643 | ||
| Ignition key cannot be extracted from vehicle and we couldn't turn the engine off for a period then, couldn't restart it afterwards. | |||
| 05/31/2011 | 98441 | ||
| Key won't turn in ignition. luckily, my car was parked at home when this happened but could leave you stranded if away from home. i now have to leave my key in the ignition until i get the problem fixed. | |||
| 09/07/2009 | 84643 | ||
| Ignition key cannot be extracted from vehicle and we couldn't turn the engine off for a period then, couldn't restart it afterwards. | |||
| 05/19/2011 | 100000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition failed and locked abnormally. the manufacturer was contacted they advised there were no recalls for the failure and would provide no further assistance. the vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 100,000. | |||
| 05/19/2011 | 100000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle the ignition failed. the ignition locked and she was unable to start the vehicle. the manufacturer was contacted they advised there was not a recall for the failure, and would not assist with the repair. the vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and the current miles was 100,000. li | |||
| 04/14/2011 | 97000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the ignition was locked and would not allow her to turn the key inside the ignition for several minutes. after various attempts, the contact was able to turn the key in the ignition. the contact stated the failure recurred various times intermittently. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repairs or diagnostics. the approximate failure mileage was 97,000. | |||
| 04/14/2011 | 97000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. while parked the contact attempted to turn the key in the ignition and the ignition switch was locked. after various attempts the contact was able to turn the key in the ignition. the contact stated the failure occurred various times intermittently. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repairs or diagnostics. the approximate failure mileage was 97,000. ds | |||
| 12/24/2010 | 56000 | ||
| Key would not turn the ignition, stalled the car and then could not turn the car back on in the middle of rush hour traffic, on christmas eve none the less. | |||
| 03/13/2011 | 121000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford taurus. while the vehicle was parked there was a noise in the heater vents and the heat was not working. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer or a local mechanic for diagnostic testing. the approximate mileage was 121,000. | |||
| 03/13/2011 | 121000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford taurus. while parked the there was a noise coming from the dash board within the heater vents. the contact stated the heater was not working. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer or mechanic for diagnostics or repair. the approximate mileage 121,000. ds | |||
| 01/21/2011 | 54677 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. while the vehicle was parked and warming up unattended for 15 minutes the contact open the drivers side door and saw smoke coming from the drivers seat. the contact stated she also had the defroster on at the time. the contact stated she did not realize the heated seat was on and the seat was on fire. the contact stated she placed her fingers down in the seat and burned to fingers. the contact did not seek medical attention. the contact poured water on the seat. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and she was advised that there was no recall on the vehicle. the contact stated the dealer called the manufacture and they were not willing to pay for the repairs. the vehicle was still at the dealer for the repairs and she had not been advised as to what needed to be repaired or replaced. the failure mileage was 54,677. vwb | |||
| 12/03/2010 | 67000 | ||
| I have a 2003 ford focus zx3 at 37000 miles the alternator and battery went bad and had to be replaced at a cost of $700.00. now at 67000 miles they have both gone bad again and must be replaced at a new cost of $800.00. additionally i had a 2000 ford focus and at 55000 miles both the alternator and battery had to be replaced. also we have a 2006 ford focus and at 16000 miles it needed both an alternator and battery. it is worth noting that the car was three years old and out of warranty when the failure occurred, it is a very low mileage car, and is only drive 10 miles a day. we really like the focus as it is a great value and a fun car to drive but after having to replace 4 alternators in 18 months we are rethinking our love of this little car. i will be filing complaints for my other two foci as well | |||
| 11/24/2010 | 150000 | ||
| Tl. the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated while driving 65 mph with passenger side heated seat activated the contact smelled smoke. the contact then notice that papers that were placed on the seat were smoking. the contact then cut out the foam that was smoking in the seat and removed the entire passenger side seat. the contact called the dealer regarding the seat and the dealer advised the contact to call the manufacturer. the contact has not called the manufacturer. the contact stated the heated seat could have cause a fire and seriously injured someone. the failure mileage was 150,000. jo | |||
| 11/12/2010 | 97500 | ||
| The ignition was locked solid. the key could be inserted and removed but the ignition would not turn. replacement seems the only viable solution. it seems to be a design defect as so many cases of the lock-up have been reported. | |||
| 09/15/2010 | 62500 | ||
| 2003 ford focus ignition will not turn engine over nor unlock steering. | |||
| 08/09/2010 | 119623 | ||
| 2003 ford focus ignition lock-up. every time the key is removed from ignition and then reinserted, it is very hard to get it to unlock to turn and start. we have been stranded in parking lots during 110 degree weather while trying to get the key to turn. we will have to either replace the ignition or call a locksmith. this is an everyday problem now. | |||
| 06/21/2010 | 103000 | ||
| Key fails to turn after driving to work. 03 ford focus. can not start. will call for repairs and find cost. ford would not replace or offer solution due to mileage. | |||
| 04/18/2010 | 58900 | ||
| 2003 ford focus se ignition key would not turn to unlock steering wheel and start car while car was parked. ignition cyclinder removed & replaced with a better part by locksmith in 25 minutes at a cost of $317. this part should never fail. | |||
| 04/12/2010 | 75000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that abs indicator light and brake indicator light illuminated on the instrument panel and illuminated on an intermittent basis. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership for a diagnostic test where the contact was informed that there was corrosion around the circuit board of the instrument panel. the vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. the contact felt that the failure was a safety hazard because the circuit gave false warning indications. the current and failure mileages were approximately 75,000. | |||
| 03/15/2010 | 117525 | ||
| 2003 ford focus, zx3, 2.3 liter. the key will not turn in the ignition. this has happened about 6 times, leaving me stranded twice. we are calling a lock smith to re-key the ignition and doors again. | |||
| 03/07/2010 | 44025 | 1 | |
| Unable to turn key in the ignition. had occurred sporadically leading up to the date when it was then unable to be used at all, leaving family stranded. had to have vehicle towed to dealership to have ignition replaced. subsequent research revealed this is a common failure problem with this vehicle. *tr | |||
| 02/22/2010 | 25300 | 1 | |
| I am a woman who was left sitting when my ignition locked up and the key would not turn in my 2003 ford focus. i called triple a and had the vehicle towed to the dealer for repairs at a cost of $278.00 i have since discovered that this is a problem that apparently has not been fixed by ford and could easily happen again. of course, this would result in another large amount of out of pocket expense for a neglecting act of ford. it seems to be a common expensive problem that should have a recall. it's a dangerous thing for anyone to be left sitting without a functioning vehicle, let alone a woman by herself. *tr | |||
| 01/30/2010 | 40000 | 1 | |
| My 2003 ford focus with only 40,000 miles on it would not start. apparently the ignition has a defect leaving me stranded at work. as a soldier there are many people that rely on me to be at a certain place at a certain time. this is a safety issue and should be recalled. apparently the defect is widely reported for ford focus years 2000 to 2003. it could cost me dearly if i was stranded in weather, a remote location without a cell phone, or if my baby was sick and needed to be rushed to the er. *tr | |||
| 01/25/2010 | 1 | ||
| To whom it may concern,recently i was stranded on the road late at night when the ignition switch on my 2003 ford focus failed to turn over. i later found out this is an all too common problem with the ford focus. as a female stranded alone this could have led dire consequences! now i find that the ford dealership wants to charge me some$500 to repair the switch..to be put in jeopardy then charged an obscene amount for their design flaw is outrageous. please help. *tr | |||
| 01/20/2010 | 50000 | 1 | |
| Ignition in 2003 ford focus fails to work. know issue with ford focus which should be a recall issue due to potential safety factors. *tr | |||
| 11/20/2009 | 3 | ||
| I went to put my key in the ignition and the key would not turn while in the ignition. this has happened me approximately 3 times. after several attempts to start my car the key finally turns and the car starts. my fear is, that i may get stuck in a bad area when traveling and will be unable to start the car. *tr | |||
| 12/21/2009 | 85000 | 1 | |
| I am an owner of a 2003 ford focus that has had ignition problems for the last 1.5 years. the key will not turn in the ignition, leaving me stranded now three times. i have called ford motor company and reported this issue to them asking them for a good will repair, and to no avail. i am not the only owner of a ford focus to have this problem, and wish that the nhtsa would get involved and seek out ford motor company to force them to fix this problem and require them to reimburse the consumers that have had this repair performed. i would also like to see ford motor company forced to recall the vehicles for this problem, and fix it since this is a safety issue. i have had to leave a key in the ignition thus making it very easy for a thief to steal the vehicle. thanks for your attention to this matter. *tr | |||
| 12/12/2009 | 82000 | 1 | |
| I was preparing to run some errands on a saturday, but when i went out to start my car, the steering wheel was locked and i could not get the key to turn in the ignition. after around 15 minutes of working the steering wheel i was able to get the key to turn so i could start the car. this kept happening all day off and on, until finally the next day i was out at the grocery store with my mother and when we went to go home, the key would not turn no matter how much i moved the steering wheel. after spending an hour and a half trying everything i could to start the car, i finally had to call a tow truck driver who was able to start the car. the next morning the car would not start and i had to have someone help me get it to a mechanic. the mechanic told me that i needed a new key cylinder and new keys (which have to be programmed because the keys are coded) which would cost over $300. since this just happened out of the blue without any warning and can cause me to be stranded by not being able to start my car, i think that this is a safety issue that needs to be addressed. i tried contacting ford directly, but was basically told they could do nothing about this. from what i have read on this, it seems to be a fairly common problem with the focus (i have a 2003 ford focus zx5) and i believe something needs to be done. *tr | |||
| 12/03/2009 | 960000 | 3 | |
| I own a 2003 ford focus and the key would not turn in the ignition this happened to me 3 times already why is this not a recall???? it seems to be a big problem.... *tr | |||
| 12/07/2009 | 80000 | 1 | |
| I was going do the interstate in my ford focus zx3 when all of the sudden i lose all power, im in the middle lane surrounded by 18 wheelers and other cars, and they have to swerve to avoid my car because the alternator went out! this car is terrible! *tr | |||
| 08/01/2009 | 50000 | 1 | |
| 2003 ford focus ignition key and tumbler switch. i put the key in the ignition and it won't turn. i have been stranded numerous times. i understand the repairs are $400 +. *tr | |||
| 09/08/2009 | 107000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2003 ford focus. a few months ago the key would not turn in the ignition at times. usually after a few tries it would finally turn over. this past tuesday while at a grocery store my luck run out. now the key will not work at all. the ignition is locked up. i called the dealerships and they said this was a common problem with this car. if it is a common problem then why isn't something being done about it? the tow truck driver and the place i had my car repaired where also familiar with this problem with this car. what do consumer's have to do not be taken advantage of by the ford company. does someone have to be stranded out somewhere and killed before ford admits to a problem. i have always bought fords but after this i will never purchase another one. *tr | |||
| 09/06/2009 | 28000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2003 ford focus and the key will not start the car until it is gently tapped with a hammer (i learned how to do this by reading all the complaints about this problem on the internet) this is a safety problem for instance a person is alone in an unlit area after working the late shift they cant start their car cause the ignition mechanisms are defective ford recognizes the problem but for some reason has not been legally required to fix this defect by recalling all affected vehicles another safety issue is the fact that i have to carry a hammer in my car wherever i go the cops could say i am carrying it as a weapon. *tr | |||
| 08/29/2009 | 100000 | 1 | |
| My 19 year old son a full time college student, was stranded in a parking lot a distance from home because the key would not turn in the ignition. a few times he has had to, jiggle the key to start the car. and now it will not turn at all. the car is still stranded in a parking lot because it happened on the weekend. i am in fear for my sons safety, heading back to college 6 hours from home. *tr | |||
| 08/13/2009 | 111984 | 1 | |
| Been having problems for the last four months with the ignition cylinder sticking. on aug 13, 2009 i went to start the car and the cylinder was stuck. i have a new cylinder to replace the old one. *tr | |||
| 08/07/2009 | 40000 | 1 | |
| My brake lights and cruise control failed: the result of the wiring harness being constantly abraded in the hinge of the hatchback. all of the wires were exposed, and it caused not only a driving safety hazard, but a fire hazard as well. in the year 2000, this same problem caused a recall of the 2000 ford focuses, but i have written to ford and they deny any responsibility for my car. thank you for contacting the ford motor company customer relationship center regarding the wiring harness concern on your 2003 ford focus. your vehicle is not involved in any recalls or customer satisfaction programs at this time. is their response. i am having the problem corrected by my mechanic: he will lengthen the wires so that they cannot be caught in the hinge. ford only will replace the entire harness, which is the same as the one that failed. *tr | |||
| 07/30/2009 | 85000 | 1 | |
| Car parked at mall later at night. when to try and start car but the key would not turn in the ignition. this failure caused me to have my car towed to the dealership and the ignition switch replaced which cost $427.00. the ignition switch was faulty but was most likely replaced with the same type of switch which will fail again. i was also left stranded for several hours. luckily, i was not in a deserted area or the consequences could have been life threatening.*tr | |||
| 07/28/2009 | 1 | ||
| Ford focus ignition switch froze up in my 2003 ford focus. could not start car , turn wheel or take out of park. ford company would not pay for their faulting ignition. this is dangerous especially for women who travel alone. they need to recall this part........... *tr | |||
| 06/30/2009 | 100000 | 1 | |
| Intermittent problem with ignition on 2003 ford focus; the wheel locks and the key will not turn. this has been a safety issue because the first time it occurred i was pulled over on the side of the interstate. after persistently wiggling the wheel and key for twenty or so minutes, the ignition enabled the key to turn. being that the ignition failed while on the interstate and that i was unable to get out of the way in a safe manner is potentially fatal to passengers and drivers of the ford focus. the consequences of the ford focus faulty ignition have been unpredictable introductions to being stranded and extremely dangerous provocations. the second time my ignition failed, nearly a month afterwards, the ignition failed on the focus was a safety issue also. the wheel locked and the key would not turn while parked in a parking garage late at night. direct results of the faulty ford ignition put drivers and passengers in danger and moreover prevent them from leaving dangerous places. it took well over a half hour in the dangerous failure of my locks also: the third ignition failure also compounding in the security system to putter out. actions to correct the second incident were from a mechanic to use wd 40 and try using a separate key, but the problem was much more complex and dangerous than anticipated. using my spare key worked and the ignition no longer locked. these actions suggested by a mechanic remedied the problem, but only temporarily. the third time this has happened was yesterday, and i'm now getting estimates for replacing the ignition and the security system. in lieu of near death, i demand a recall. *tr | |||
| 04/20/2009 | 66100 | 1 | |
| The ignition switch lock keeps failing on my 2003 ford focus zx3. i have had a locksmith fix it twice now. the cost to me so far is over $400. *tr | |||
| 01/06/2009 | 43000 | 1 | |
| The passenger door handle had to be replaced. when my daughter opened the door something popped and you could no longer open the door - i failed an inspection and received a ticket because the door wasn't working properly. my nephew went to the junkyard to get the part because i couldn't afford to replace it new at the dealership. this happened oct of 2007. i own a 2003 ford focus. my daughter opened the back right side window and something again popped. the window wouldn't go up or down. a dealer said it would have to be replaced - again - that the plastic part that makes it go up and down popped. again off to the junk yard - $8.00 bucks what a deal. these things started right after my warranty expired - go figure. why are plastic parts being put into our vehicles - as a single mom i can not afford to replace all parts for the door handles and windows as they pop. we need to fix this problem. *tr | |||
| 02/21/2009 | 83000 | 1 | |
| Key ignition problem with 2003 ford focus. not very safe when my daughter cant get her key to start her car ford need to fix this asap. *tr | |||
| 02/19/2009 | 54448 | 1 | |
| Put key in ignition and it wouldn't turn over. spent 20 minutes trying to get it to turn. finally did. two days later, when i was supposed to go to a family funeral out of town, i had the same problem. afraid that i would have the same problem while traveling out of town, i took it to local car repair place. they couldn't fix it. i was able to work with the ignition again to drive it to the local ford dealer. there they replaced the ignition cylinder and reprogrammed keys. i was unable to attend family funeral. *tr | |||
| 02/12/2009 | 1 | ||
| I drove my car to work thursday morning and everything was working fine with the car and ignition. as i tried to crank my car to go to lunch that day, i noticed that i could insert my key into the ignition but could not turn it to start the car. the steering wheel was locked and would not release since the key would not turn. i had to call aaa for them to send a locksmith out to repair my ignition switch in my car. i have already heard so many people complain about this issue and not even three months ago, my mom who has the exact same make and model car as me, had the same thing happen to her. my brother has the same make and model car as me also and now i am worried he is going to have the same issue occur to him soon too. *tr | |||
| 09/18/2008 | 1 | ||
| Key on 2003 ford focus will not turn. started acting up 3 months of owning. no longer under warranty since it is 5+ years old. *tr | |||
| 12/22/2008 | 70000 | 1 | |
| The key will not turn in the ignition. dealer says it will cost $300-350 to fix. this is ridiculous. my daughter's roommate has a 2004 focus which the same thing happened last year, 2007. *tr | |||
| 12/13/2008 | 55000 | 1 | |
| Ignition switch locks and has left family members stranded.... ignition key continues to lock, dealer recommends replacement (cost est. $450.00). *tr | |||
| 11/09/2008 | 50000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact turned off the ignition and attempted to restart the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. suddenly, the gear shift locked and became inoperative. the contact exited the vehicle and the driver's side door automatically locked without assistance. the failure occurred without warning. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer and they replaced the ignition cylinder. the failure mileage was 50,000 and current mileage was 52,000. | |||
| 12/02/2008 | 83000 | 1 | |
| Ignition stays locked, fails to turn to start engine. problem is intermittent and happens without warning. occurred over a dozen times to me. can leave a person stranded. very costly fix, $150 for new ignition switch, plus labor, $200 to $350 total cost for fix. many, many, many complaints for same problem found on www.mycarstats.com and other forums. *tr | |||
| 11/08/2008 | 73000 | 1 | |
| I placed my key in the ignition of my 2003 ford focus and the key would not turn. after doing much research, i found that this is a recurring problem for focus owners, even after they have had the ignition cylinder replaced. not only is this a huge financial burden, it is also a major safety concern. living in chicago, if i become stranded and unable to start my car, i could be in a very dangerous situation (as could many other owners in different locations). *tr | |||
| 10/13/2008 | 23000 | 1 | |
| Had to have ignition lock cylinder replaced on an emergency basis in my 2003 ford focus; car wouldn't start (i.e., key wouldn't turn in the ignition) with either one of the two keys i have (both original keys). *tr | |||
| 10/09/2008 | 102000 | 1 | |
| Ford focus key will not turn in. i drive a ford focus zx5 2003. the ignition locked up and would not turn. as a result,i was stranded in a parking lot it has happened few times. i contacted ford customer service at no avail. they did not recognize to be an issue even though it #1 issue as many people have complaint about it. they told me that i had to pay for the repair as the vehicle is out of warranty. there was no reason for these ignitions to fail. i consider to be a safe issue. there is no public transportation so i have to rely on my vehicle for transportation regardless of circumstances. *tr | |||
| 10/01/2008 | 70000 | 1 | |
| The key in my focus would not turn in the ignition. this caused me to be stranded since i could not start my car. i recently learned this is a common problem with my car. in fact, a man in the service dept at my local ford dealership said this problem happens way more than it should. i live in a city with high crime. being stranded is a very scary situation. since this is a common problem with my type of car, the manufacturer certainly should recall and fix this part to prevent people like me from being left in dangerous situations. *tr | |||
| 09/17/2008 | 56013 | 1 | |
| Ignition lock cylinder on ford focus is defective. the mechanism locks and is unable to turn. this yields the vehicle inoperable, posing a significant safety risk if the owner needs to use the vehicle in an emergency or the vehicle stalls on the highway. this is an issue known by ford, as evidenced by the mechanics at landmark ford, tigard, oregon stating that it is a common problem and ford has quietly updated the cylinder. in addition, there are numerous internet forums with this same complaint. all owners of focus vehicles will have this failure, it is just a matter of time. the repair is $300+. a recall should be required of ford to address the issue. *tr | |||
| 08/28/2008 | 98125 | 1 | |
| Ignition is stuck and wont turn. left my wife and daughter with no way of getting home. *tr | |||
| 03/28/2005 | 59497 | 1 | |
| After placing the down payment of $1500 and completing the paperwork. not even a week later the car began to stall on the freeway and eventually stopped on me in the middle of rush hour traffic. the car was able to restart and i drove it to freeway ford here in houston, tx. each time they couldn't find what the problem was. i hadn't enjoyed the car over a month because the car was given me problems when i had it and it stayed at the dealership. i spoke to the service manager and the dealership assistant manager and neither had an answer. *tr | |||
| 03/27/2008 | 40546 | 1 | |
| Comments: the ignition of my ford focus 2003 locked @ 40,000 miles. key suddenly wouldn't turn. unable to start engine. had to have it towed to ford dealer by aaa tow. aa driver said he has had many such cases. had to get ignition cylinder replaced @ dealer for exorbitant $570.($347 labor) there are thundreds of these cases but ford will not address problem. i heard that there is a class action lawsuit. would like to get more info on how to join in lawsuit or other means to get ford to issue a recall and/or pay for this part failure. *tr | |||
| 07/12/2008 | 55000 | 1 | |
| The service engine soon light was on off and on for a about a week prior. then i parked my car one evening and the following morning i could not turn my key in the ignition, it was locked, and therefore also i could not change gears to neutral or get it out of park. i found the same problem at a website here is the url: http://www.fordproblems.com/focus/key-wont-turn-in-the-ignition.shtml hope this helps to make this a safety issue worthy of recall. i'm blessed this happened to me at my apartment, but what would happen were i to get stuck elsewhere. i plan to call a locksmith tonight to try and fix my problem. thank you. *tr | |||
| 06/11/2008 | 1 | ||
| We have a 2003 ford focus and apparently this type of vehicle has a reputation of having the ignition lock up and just wont start again. apparently ford dealership is aware of the problem but there is no recall on this item yet. my daughter and granddaughter have been stranded for 4 hours trying to get this fixed. *tr | |||
| 06/06/2008 | 110000 | 1 | |
| Keys would be hard to turn in the ignition the today keys would not turn in the ignition...left stranded. *tr | |||
| 07/12/2006 | 37172 | 1 | |
| With no warning and 1000k out of the bumper to bumper warranty, the key would not turn or start the car. i had the vehicle towed to the dealership, a new ignition cylinder cost $258.44 plus tow. consumers do not expect a car with 37k to fail on them like this. i could have been on a family outing with my son who is a diabetic. this problem has been extensively reported yet ford has not issued a recall. dependability or lack there of, is imperative to the safety of a vehicle. *tr | |||
| 04/25/2007 | 44700 | 1 | |
| When the car is parked, wheels turned, steering wheel locked, the ignition cylinder will not turn i.e. the key won't turn the ignition. this happened in the morning. when pushing in on the key, the key was able to turn the ignition. in the afternoon when the same situation occurred the key was not able to turn in ignition. i talked to two dealerships and they were both aware with the problem and the temporary solution. i talked to the tow truck driver and he said he as see this happen multiple times. he told me that ford stop using this type of ignition system however, chevrolet started using this system and he has seen the same problems occur with new chevrolets. *tr | |||
| 01/15/2007 | 51415 | 100 | 01/07/2007 |
| Electrical problem that shuts down the car. *tr | |||
| 03/30/2007 | 1 | 11/21/2004 | |
| My left tail signal light went out. when i went to change it according to the instructions in my manual i could not remove the taillight capsule from the housing. i went to coons ford fairfax, va to see if they could change it. i was told that the electrical output of my car melted the taillights to the lens on both sides of the car. the estimated repair is $500. i got on the phone and talked to someone at ford's main customer service line. after our conversation they gave me 15% off on my repair bill. after retrieving my car the other taillight died. someone on ford's assembly line did not wiring my car correctly. how is this my fault and why did i have to pay $421.20 for a mistake they made? for safety reasons i got the repairs done. i would like a full investigation of this matter. i have in my possession both broken taillights for anyone to check out.*ak | |||
| 09/01/2006 | 57000 | 30 | 08/15/2006 |
| Tl*- the contact stated that when driving the 2003 ford focus the vehicle shifted into neutral, then shifted back into drive. this would last anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. the contact stated that the dashboard lights and radio would flicker on and off, as well as the lighting system, including the headlights. the contact stated that the doors will also lock and she wasunable to exit the vehicle. when this happened she attempted to get out of the vehicle by manually hitting the unlock switch. the vehicle locks finally opened after approximately twenty minutes. the mechanic advised the contact to have electrical system reprogrammed, which was done in november 2006, but she continued to have the same problems. the vehicle stalled when exiting the interstate while driving at 45 mph. there were no warning lights before the vehicle lost power. the contact was unable to restart vehicle, and had vehicle towed to a mechanic. the mechanic informed contact he did not know why the vehicle lost power. the vehicle currently had 57000 miles. *ak updated 03/30/07. *jb | |||
| 08/08/2005 | 9000 | 5 | 05/13/2003 |
| Dt: the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the dashboard instruments fluctuated. at times while driving, the dashboard instruments stopped working. the service dealer could not duplicate the problem. *ak *jb | |||
| 04/15/2005 | 16000 | 4 | 11/08/2003 |
| Brakes turn to sponges and goes to floor dealer says cannot duplicate problem and kicks it out now three more problems have arisen motor shuts off at slow u-turn speed and trans downshifts hard into low gear causing a face plant in the steering wheel, lastly the air bag light comes on and then goes off after 3 hours of driving. | |||
| 09/05/2004 | 25770 | 8 | 08/12/2003 |
| Dt: tachometer in vehicle stopped working which resulted in a short. this caused the brake lights to go out. the brake lights had to be replaced 8 times since september. the solenoid in the ignition was defective and resulted in the vehicle shutting down. the vehicle was taken to a local dealer, who has replaced the solenoid. but due to the design of the vehicle he could not guarantee that this would not happen again. consumer reported this to ford 3 times. the alarm on the car was also not working. the alarm was not original equipment, but was something that consumer paid extra for the ford dealership to add on vehicle. ford will not repair or replace alarm because it was not manufactured by ford. *ak | |||
| 01/15/2004 | 10/13/2003 | ||
| Car stalls out in cold weather only. car was purchased on oct. '03 first occurrence was in jan. of '04. went through the dispute board and they would not grant new vehicle. dealership and ford engineer cannot find problem. car was brought in on 6/6/05 with the ford field engineer present who wanted to duplicate problem. told him it was not possible since it was not cold outside. problem still unresolved! | |||
| 02/23/2005 | 1 | ||
| While driving 4 mph, the consumer noticed smoke coming from under the hood. suddenly, it caught on fire. the consumer was able to pull over and the fire department extinguished the fire. the vehicle was towed to a dealer for inspection. the cause has not been determined at this time. please provide further details. *jb | |||
| 09/07/2004 | 6980 | 3 | 09/17/2003 |
| The temperature had become colder and the accelerator would not depress without force. the problem would occur whenever the vehicle sat overnight or for several hours. the consumer would depress the accelerator until it would move downwards. the vehicle would lunge forward. it would take 4-5 depressions until the accelerator would move downward. other problems were the brakes squealing and the vehicle suffered from not starting at times, either the panel lights would engage or the starter would grind. *ak *sc | |||
| 01/16/2004 | 7000 | 8 | 08/19/2003 |
| While driving at any speed, the vehicle stalled twice, but always started back up after a few minutes. on one occasion, the dealer replaced the starter and on the another occasion, the transmission was replaced. *ak the starter was found faulty, the transmission was inoperative and there was a vibration while going 40 mph due to shifting, the clock display was inoperative, and the engne light stayed on. *sc *jb | |||
| 05/22/2003 | 1 | ||
| The vehicle stalled while driving. the problem was due to a faulty power module, which was changed by the dealer. *jb | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||
| 07/28/2007 | 110000 | 2 | 11/03/2003 |
| The weekend of july 28th i had family in town. we were doing the attractions. the car started everytime we were going or leaving anywhere. went to go home and the car wouldn't start. we had the battery jumped and it wouldn't hold a charge. purchased a new battery and made it home. the next day replaced the alternator. car ran fine for 1 week. went to leave work on the 6th of august and it wouldn't start at all. the battery was completely dead. took the car to have the new battery and alternator tested. nothing wrong w/either one. took the car to ford dealership they spent 1 1/2 hours on it and said they couldn't find the problem. something is pulling on my battery causing it to die. took it back home and now it maybe the computer. have 110,000 miles on it. i wouldn't think this would start happening already. *tr | |||
| 04/29/2004 | 700 | 1 | 04/09/2004 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the starter failed. there were no warning signals for the failure. the vehicle was taken to the dealership who determined the flywheel and the starter had to be replaced. after the first incident, the contact took the vehicle to the dealer thirty times for the following failures: brakes rotors were replaced four times; battery and alternator had to be replaced; the transmission had to be replaced after the second attempt to repair it. the electrical wiring under the dashboard had to be rewired. the air conditioning was repaired three times with the replacement of defective valves; the rear door latches were repaired according to recall # 05v300000. the dealership had not corrected the noises from the steering column. the manufacturer was contacted and refused to cooperated in finding a suitable resolution. the last problem found by the dealership was the required replacement of the engine heads. the engine heads were attached to the vehicle frame. | |||
| 07/20/2006 | 5 | 09/08/2003 | |
| Several parts failures, including alternator, brakes, muffler,transmission, and ignition lock cylinder | |||
| 06/12/2005 | 100 | 01/18/2005 | |
| Numerous occasions where the battery light would flicker and flash and the car would stall. ford issued a tsb which cures this but it did not work with me or many other focus owners (just search www.focusfanatics.com or www.focaljet.com). ford says they cannot do anything until it does this with them, but it is so random there is never a set occasion when it will do this. the previous owner has been at the dealership many times before me for the same situation. the battery and alternator have been changed and the pcm flash has been done over 2 times. even the service rep at the selling dealership said this car really likes to be here for that problem. those were his own words. this is a safety hazard because it has stalled on my when i was in an off-ramp and i almost collided with the barricade an at an intersection. | |||
| 07/06/2004 | 24000 | 2 | |
| While driving vehicle shut down. consumer had the battery and the altenator changed, and the problem recurred. took the vehicle back to the dealer, and the vehicle was currently being serviced. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||
| 07/28/2007 | 110000 | 2 | 11/03/2003 |
| The weekend of july 28th i had family in town. we were doing the attractions. the car started everytime we were going or leaving anywhere. went to go home and the car wouldn't start. we had the battery jumped and it wouldn't hold a charge. purchased a new battery and made it home. the next day replaced the alternator. car ran fine for 1 week. went to leave work on the 6th of august and it wouldn't start at all. the battery was completely dead. took the car to have the new battery and alternator tested. nothing wrong w/either one. took the car to ford dealership they spent 1 1/2 hours on it and said they couldn't find the problem. something is pulling on my battery causing it to die. took it back home and now it maybe the computer. have 110,000 miles on it. i wouldn't think this would start happening already. *tr | |||
| 04/29/2004 | 700 | 1 | 04/09/2004 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the starter failed. there were no warning signals for the failure. the vehicle was taken to the dealership who determined the flywheel and the starter had to be replaced. after the first incident, the contact took the vehicle to the dealer thirty times for the following failures: brakes rotors were replaced four times; battery and alternator had to be replaced; the transmission had to be replaced after the second attempt to repair it. the electrical wiring under the dashboard had to be rewired. the air conditioning was repaired three times with the replacement of defective valves; the rear door latches were repaired according to recall # 05v300000. the dealership had not corrected the noises from the steering column. the manufacturer was contacted and refused to cooperated in finding a suitable resolution. the last problem found by the dealership was the required replacement of the engine heads. the engine heads were attached to the vehicle frame. | |||
| 04/22/2006 | 17500 | 1 | 01/10/2006 |
| Engine compartment fire started behind battery and burned down the car. *nm | |||
| 06/14/2005 | 38000 | 1 | 11/23/2003 |
| Dt: 2003 ford focus. the ignition tumbler failed at 38,000 miles. randomly, the key was hard to put in and then it went out. the battery failed as well. the vehicle was no longer under warranty. both problems have not been fixed at ford. the battery went out yesterday and the consumer purchased a new one. the ignition tumbler started about 2 months ago. | |||
| 07/06/2004 | 24000 | 2 | |
| While driving vehicle shut down. consumer had the battery and the altenator changed, and the problem recurred. took the vehicle back to the dealer, and the vehicle was currently being serviced. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||
| 03/15/2010 | 1 | ||
| I just recently bought my 2003 ford focus. just this week the key would not turn in the ignition and my steering wheel would be locked. i was always able to get my car started after a few tries or 10 minutes or so. today i sat in my car for 40 minutes trying to get my key to turn; it would not. i had to leave my car at the school which i work at, since i am a teacher, and be picked up. i have just read online that many people have or are having this same issue and that there is no recall on the ignition yet. i am confused as to why. this is a safety hazard as it leaves you stranded and to not be able to get your car started is a big deal. if it was just my car, fine, i would get it fixed with no issue. but to read that hundreds or thousands of people and ford focus' are having this same issue is a little outrageous and something needs to be done. thank you. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2010 | 1 | ||
| I own a 2003 ford focus. we cannot get the key to turn in the ignition and has left me stranded numerous times. i have read this is a problem with many ford focus owners. this has been going on for a year on and off. i find this to be offensive that it has not been issued as a recall when i see the numbers of people having this very same problem. clearly it is a design flaw in the ignition. *tr | |||
| 03/04/2010 | 65000 | 1 | |
| 2003 ford focus. went to drive the car got in put the key in the ignition and it won't turn. this is the second time it has happened. 3/4/10, the first time, it finally, after about 10 minutes turned after putting the key in and out of the ignition. the second time on 3/5/10, it just wouldn't turn. the car is sitting, will have to call a lock smith to get it fixed. *tr | |||
| 03/01/2010 | 70413 | 1 | |
| Ignition key will not turn, and vehicle can not be started, removing key and inserting again and again would allow it to start this happened every time. now it will not turn at all. *tr | |||
| 03/02/2010 | 45000 | 1 | |
| 2003 ford focus zx5--key won't turn in the ignition, so can't start car. steering wheel locked up and no amount of cranking, jiggling, etc., would allow me to turn the key in the ignition and start the car. was an intermittent problem for about two months, then tonight i couldn't get the car started at all; neither could a kind stranger; neither could my husband. snowing and cold. i had to leave the car in a grocery store parking lot overnight and hope it will be unharmed in the morning. will probably have to have car towed to a dealership. could have been worse: two weeks ago i was 120 miles from home for three days and would have been terribly stranded. i understand that ford will replace this defective part (ignition switch) with the same switch, which will also be defective, and that i can look forward to getting stranded again when the key will not turn in the ignition switch again. cost will be between $350 and $400, plus time away from teaching school (not a good idea and frowned upon by administration). the $350-$400 will only buy me another faulty ignition switch. this is potentially a life-threatening situation. others have been stranded in freezing, snowy weather nowhere near a repair shop, in extreme heat with small children in the car, in unsafe neighborhoods at night (see http://www.fordproblems.com/focus/key-wont-turn-in-the-ignition.shtml complaints). ford should fix this problem at no cost through a recall and installation of a reliable ignition switch. *tr | |||
| 02/18/2010 | 67000 | 1 | |
| 2003 ford focus ignition. we tried 3 keys and the ignition will not turn. we did a little research and this seems to be a very common problem. over 116 so for that have submitted such complaints about this vehicle. recall necessary!!!!! *tr | |||
| 02/17/2010 | 75000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2003 ford focus sedan and the ignition locked up one day and wouldn't start. it wasn't the steering column locking and i had to call aaa thinking i'd need to get towed. the aaa guy actually told me this was a very common ford problem and that i was lucky i wasn't stranded too far. i was finally able to start the car by hitting the key with a small tool to unlock the ignition. i've tried leaving the key in the ignition to prevent the problem happening again, which makes me feel unsafe, but the problem occurs every time i take the key out and made me worried about being stranded or paying towing costs. i finally took the car to the ford dealer and it is going to cost me almost $500 to get the ignition replaced. *tr | |||
| 01/14/2010 | 63000 | 2 | |
| I'm unable to turn the key in the ignition switch, which left me stranded at work after 5:00pm at night. when this happens, the car becomes inoperable until repairs are made. this did happen to me once before around 09/2009. i had my car towed to a locksmith and they were able to fix it. they told me this was a known issue with my car. i looked this issue up online and there are thousands of people who are having the same issue with the ford focus. this issue should be rectified by ford through a recall. i called ford customer service and they said all we can do at this point is log your call. because of this issue i've been stranded twice in the pm. this is a safety issue that should be rectified by ford. *tr | |||
| 01/24/2010 | 63000 | 1 | |
| My daughter has been stranded several times in her 2003 ford focus. she cannot turn the key in the ignition. the dealer is going to charge $800 to fix this common problem and we do not have that kind of money. i have researched this online and have found that many people have had this same problem. please help. *tr | |||
| 01/18/2009 | 96000 | 1 | |
| No events to indicate a potential problem. the failure, occurring now sporadically and w/o warning, results in an inability to turn the ignition leaving us stranded for the unsafe and silly reason of being unable to turn the key. no old parts were available and close to 400 dollars later, the mechanic replaced the ignition. however, only one month after having it replaced, the ignition failed to start again (it is impossible to return the key) and alas, the problem continues. *tr | |||
| 09/22/2009 | 60000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. whenever the contact attempted to start the vehicle, the contact noticed that the ignition and steering wheel suddenly locked and could not be moved once the key was turned to the lock position. the key also could not be removed from the ignition. the dealer stated that the ignition needed to be replaced. the current and failure mileages were 60000. | |||
| 01/14/2010 | 60000 | 1 | |
| My ignition will not turn on my 2003 ford focus. this is a known defect (or so i have been told by ford), yet is not on any recalls. it needs to have the complete ignition replaced -- at my own cost! apparently the parts are poorly made and they fail. *tr | |||
| 12/03/2009 | 59000 | 1 | |
| Ford focus 2003 ignition problem. key will not turn in ignition. have been told no longer covered under warranty. ignition must be replaced at a cost of over $450.00. *tr | |||
| 07/17/2009 | 88000 | 1 | |
| The ignition lock on my 2003 ford focus locks up and the key will not turn in the ignition. it started out as just sticking a little bit but working after turning the steering wheel several times. it ended with it completely locking up. i had to have the car towed to a safe place and a locksmith came out and repaired the pins in the ignition tumbler. *tr | |||
| 12/15/2009 | 1 | ||
| The ignition lock of the ford focus completely jammed/locked without warning in a questionable part of town due to substandard manufacturing. i was stranded for over 3 hours. *tr | |||
| 12/16/2009 | 1 | ||
| My wife has a 2003 ford focus. she was in town at an appointment with my daughter. when she got in her car to return home the key wouldn't turn in the ignition. she was stuck. i see numerous complaints online from people with the same issue, even a class action suit in california. my concern is what if it was late and she was stuck, at night, in the middle of no where? i had to have the car towed to the ford dealership and have it repaired for $450. *tr | |||
| 12/16/2009 | 1 | ||
| I own a 2003 ford focus zx5 that has an issue with the key turning in the ignition. at random times and locations when returning to the car, i will find that i am no longer able to turn the key in the ignition. i must work at it (longest has been an hour) to get the key to turn. this creates really big problems when you are stranded with kids at different locations and you never know when it is going to occur. from my research on the internet, many other ford focus owners have experienced the same issue and the fix has been to replace ignition switch (something about tumblers not engaging) and the ford service teams are very aware of the issue and the repairs. what i don't understand is why consumers must pay for a wide reaching manufacturer's defect. *tr | |||
| 12/14/2009 | 120000 | 1 | |
| I had taken my vehicle to the supermarket and when i returned to my vehicle the key would not turn and the steering wheel was locked. i researched this and found that the ford focus has a large amount of complaints of this same nature. i have been unable to get the steering column unlocked and will have to have the car towed for repair. *tr | |||
| 12/07/2009 | 70000 | 1 | |
| Key in ignition will not turn, can not start car! will have to get it towed to ford dealer for $300+ repair. daughter could have been stuck anywhere. *tr | |||
| 10/10/2009 | 1 | ||
| 2003 ford focus ignition will not unlock with the key. i have had multiple problems with this. the first time was approx on the date listed below. after about 30 mins of jimmying the key in the ignition it finally unlocked. it has happened several more times since then and with about the same amount of time messing with it i was able to get it unlocked. today, though, it locked up again and no matter what i do it will not unlock. why is there no recall mandated on this issue since it seems to be a severe problem with the 2000-2003 ford focus. what if i were in an emergency situation and i could not get my car started? i have heard problems from fellow focus owners that even after replacing the ignition the same problem continued and all they get is a sorry from ford. this is unacceptable!!! *tr | |||
| 12/01/2009 | 55000 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact attempted to start the vehicle and observed that the key would not turn inside of the ignition and suddenly, the steering wheel locked. a local mechanic stated that the ignition lock needed to be replaced. there were no prior warnings. the current and failure mileages were 55,000. updated 1/11/09 *cn the ignition lock had to be replaced because the key or the steering wheel would not move. the consumer stated she can feel the ignition starting to give her trouble again. updated 01/14/10.*jb | |||
| 10/17/2009 | 75867 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact was attempting to exit the vehicle and the key would not release from the ignition. the contact also noticed that the gears would not shift into reverse. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer and there were no prior warnings. the current and failure mileages were 75867. | |||
| 07/07/2009 | 59000 | 1 | |
| On my 2003 ford focus the ignition is gone it won't work. i was told by yankee ford that this is a regular problem with this type of car. it's something to do with the locking chamber it cost 400.+ dollars to fix. it i think this is a safety recall because something bad could happen be it on the road or in a parking lot late one night ..........say if someone is getting out of work and there sitting trying to start their car and it won't and then they get mugged robbed of raped...all because of fords faulty ignition lock chamber..... *tr | |||
| 11/23/2009 | 147000 | 1 | |
| The ignition cylinder will not turn. *tr | |||
| 11/09/2009 | 119000 | 1 | |
| My 2003 ford focus zts left me (a female) stranded last night for two hours at night while waiting for a friend to give me a ride home because when i came out of the store my key would not turn in the ignition. i tried a number of things for two hours and finally had to leave it at the store overnight. i tried again this morning, but same thing, key would not turn at all no matter what i did! this morning i went on the internet to ask.com and found that this is a major problem with the ford focus. there are over 100 complaints from other focus owners of also being stranded. this is a serious safety issue!!!!! some woman/teenage girl is going to get abducted/raped and murdered because she is left stranded because the dumb key won't turn in the ignition!!!! of course, first thing i did was go to ford to see if there is a recall on the ignition and found out no, there is no recall on this stupid car part!!! the ford dealership said it would cost me probably between $300 and $500 to fix it!!!! and it's a manufacturers defect!!!!! i will never, ever buy another ford vehicle of any type and i will tell everyone i know that ford makes piece of | |||
| 11/10/2009 | 139000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2003 ford focus zts that has 140,000 miles. i know my vehicle is out of warranty. the ignition has been giving me problems that scare me from time to time that i may get stranded. you put the key in, go to turn the key to start and the ignition acts locked. you try again and again but still nothing. this has left me trying to turn my ignition for up to 10 minutes so far. this started about 2 months ago, once a week. now it happens everyday, not every time, but at least 2 out of 5 times i go to start my vehicle it happens. this is definitely getting worse very quickly. this seems to be a common problem with the 2000-2003 ford focus models. i have heard that even if i take my vehicle to a ford dealership to have the ignition replaced which will cost up around $500, that the new ignition will probably do the same thing due to ford not correcting the problem in the design of the ignition. i will try calling a locksmith due to the cost being less. i just wanted to let you know this is a common problem occurring and should be checked into as a recall matter. i do not have the patience to wait for that to happen nor do i have the confidence that i will be able to continue to get my vehicle started so i will get this problem fixed. *tr | |||
| 11/01/2009 | 91000 | 1 | |
| My 2003 ford focus stranded me on 11/1/2009 because the key would not turn in the ignition. this is a known issue with this car for years 200 - 2003 and ford has done nothing about it. it cost me $300 to get the lock changed out in order to drive the car. this should have been recalled as it is very dangerous to strand owners like this. *tr | |||
| 10/30/2009 | 112000 | 1 | |
| 2003 ford focus ignition wont turn resulting is a stranding situation, possibly in dangerous areas. *tr | |||
| 10/28/2009 | 92000 | 1 | |
| Upon leaving work last night, i put my key into the ignition and it would not turn. 4 people tried to turn the key, still without success. i tried to wiggle to steering wheel, the gear shift and lock and unlock the car before trying again. finally, my car had to be towed. the towing man stated that this is the most common complaint on all the ford focuses he tows, as do many websites i have recently located. overall, it seems that once i finished paying off my ford focus, it has been needing mechanic work ever since on various parts. i always get my routine oil changes and mileages check-ups. my car is now at the mechanic and i am awaiting an estimate. *tr | |||
| 08/16/2009 | 98000 | 1 | |
| I bought a 2003 ford focus from an auto dealer in august, 2009. i am having constant problems with the ignition cylinder - the key keeps getting stuck in it. i was told by the ford dealership here that they would charge $450 to have it repaired. researching this online, i've found that it is a common problem with the 2003-2004 ford focus cars! please consider a recall for the defect. *tr | |||
| 10/09/2009 | 72000 | 1 | |
| Ignition locks and i am unable to turn the key to start my ford focus 2003. i was left stranded with my sixth mo. old son while running errands at a gas station. i had to have my vehicle towed and had to have the ignition replaced for $290.00 in addition to towing fees. this is the first time it has occurred, but was informed that this is an ongoing problem with the ford focus and was warned by the tech that replaced the ignition, that there is a very good chance it would happen again. i live in a minnesota where winters are very cold, and am concerned i will be stranded again with an infant because of a manufacturing default. *tr | |||
| 10/07/2009 | 57000 | 1 | |
| On tuesday my car operated normally. wednesday morning i went to leave for work and my key would not turn. fortunately i was at home, however i could have been stuck somewhere. i could have had an emergency and not been able to use my car. i had to have it towed to a dealership, miss 3 days of work and am out $510. *tr | |||
| 10/02/2009 | 100789 | 1 | |
| I have been driving this car for almost 2 years with no ignition problem. i drove to work, and ran a few work related errands throughout the day. as i was preparing to leave work for the day i put my key into the ignition and it felt as if it were completely locked. more than 3 people tried to turn the key and offered different ideas as to what the problem was. triple a was called out and he explained this is a common problem with this model. he informed me the tumblers in the ignition have suddenly stopped dropping and recognizing my key. he then placed the key in the ignition, tapped in a few times to release the tumblers and it started. we then turned the vehicle off and struggled a bit to get the key out. it is now 2 days later and the situation has gotten worse and is affecting my transportation. i do not understand how it worked fine all day without a sticking feeling or a resistance to turn and now it is completely impossible to get in and turn the key with ease. it is simply stuck and no one can really explain why, other than poor quality within the ford motor company. *tr | |||
| 09/25/2009 | 75000 | 1 | |
| We drove our 2003 ford focus to the grocery store. upon returning to the car, the key would not turn in the ignition and stranded my wife, 4 year old and 6 month old children and myself wondering what we could do. *tr | |||
| 09/22/2009 | 35000 | 1 | |
| With no warning, the key will not turn in the ignition. this happened immediately after i purchased the car, and it's happening again five years later. *tr | |||
| 09/22/2009 | 50000 | 1 | |
| Key won't turn in ignition of 2003 ford focus. this happens fairly often, but after several tries the key will usually work. now the key won't work at all. had to leave the car behind. *tr | |||
| 09/16/2009 | 70000 | 1 | |
| Ford focus key/ignition problem. the key won't turn in the ignition. after doing some research on this problem i found that this is a common problem for the years 2000 - 2003. also found information that the oem parts used to fix this problem have the same defect. luckily my daughter was in the parking lot at her apartment. but this could have happened anywhere, i.e. highway, road, isolated area, etc... bottom line is that ford is aware of the defective part and has made no effort to correct the defective part, other than making the owner pay $400 plus dollars to put in another oem defective part. someone needs to investigate this part at ford. *tr | |||
| 08/01/2009 | 62000 | 1 | |
| The key was starting to stick then i could not get the in the ignition switch to start the car so my son that works for ford said to tap on the key then it should start so i did and it worked it is an on going thing i think that if ford knows there is a problem they should do a recall on it the car is a 2003 ford focus and is not under warranty like the other owners that have complained about the same problem so now i have to pay to get it fixed like all of the other owners it happens almost every day i go to get my car started it is very annoying. *tr | |||
| 08/25/2009 | 70000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2003 ford focus. i just hit 70k miles yesterday, and starting today my ignition is completely locked up. my car is in park, the tires are not turned, etc. i went back in the house to try and find a solution and upon searching i found site after site, complaint after complaint about 2000-2003 ford focus' locking up like this after 70k miles, and that it costs $500 to fix. my car is no longer under warranty. this is clearly a manufacturing defect but is not covered by ford and has not been recalled yet. i do not have the money to replace this and now my car is useless and can't even be moved. i can only move the steering wheel about an inch and a half either way and the key in the ignition does not move at all. *tr | |||
| 08/16/2009 | 147500 | 1 | |
| I have a ford focus 2003 in which the ignition key will not turn and everytime i need to start the car i have to rock the steering wheel real hard right to left. one occasion the car locked up on me while back but fortunately i was able to stop it as i was moving very slow. this ignition problem is a very real safety issue and steps need to be taken to make ford fix the problem before someone gets killed. you only have to go to the internet and put in the search window ford focus ignition problems and it will tell you all you need to know. in fact i found out in california there is a clss action suite against ford for this very same problem. i will probably have a locksmith fix the ignition as i don't want topay double to the ford dealer. *tr | |||
| 08/07/2009 | 123000 | 1 | |
| The key won't turn in the ignition and i was stranded at a walmart parking lot. *tr | |||
| 08/06/2009 | 106380 | 1 | |
| The ford focus 2003 problem, the key won't turn in the ignition, or the key gets stuck in the ignition. *tr | |||
| 07/24/2009 | 135000 | 1 | |
| The key won't turn in the ignition. this is a safety issue because i was parked on the side of the interstate to tend to one of my children and then the car would not turn back on causing me to have to call for a ride and a tow truck. the key will not turn at all. the ignition is locked. my family and i could have been killed getting out of the vehicle on the side of the interstate to move into another vehicle. very unsafe. i have been researching this today and it appears so be a common problem with the 2000-2003 ford focus. *tr | |||
| 07/08/2009 | 82600 | 1 | |
| Nothing lead up to the failure other than it happened a few times. i haven't been able to get it to a shop. the ignition key does not turn, it locks. i cannot start my car. i have been stranded at various locations. i got stranded with no cash, no food or water in the heat with no shade around. dehydration was a concern. i haven't fixed it yet, trying to figure out the best way. i have found numerous posts pertaining to this problem and that's how i came to file this complaint. *tr | |||
| 06/25/2009 | 48000 | 1 | |
| The key will not turn in my ignition on my 2003 ford focus. i have to jiggle and jiggle to get it finally turn. it is like it locks up. going to see a lock smith about possibly getting it fixed if i can not get ford to make a good faith repair on it. took my 20 minutes to get the key to turn in order to start my car. *tr | |||
| 06/21/2009 | 64460 | 1 | |
| 2003 ford focus zx3. ignition switch locking up and not allowing the steering wheel to unlock. this problem has occurred at least 6 time in the last 12 months. this problem has made me late for work each time. *tr | |||
| 12/01/2007 | 1 | ||
| Ignition key mechanism would jam and not turn -preventing turning the key and locking the steering wheel. unable to tow car (luckily all 2-3 times this happened i was close enough to dealer for flatbed tow). was able to remove the ignition key and the car was still running. last occurrence that was not under warranty and ford would not reimburse even though other focus owner had this problem - some up to 10 occurrences and ford said not a defect. i only had two keys on my key ring so not a weight issue. *tr | |||
| 06/15/2009 | 58450 | 1 | 12/31/2007 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. upon starting the vehicle, the contact was unable to turn the key in the ignition. the steering wheel would not budge; therefore, a tow truck was called. the contact previously experienced issues with the key becoming stuck in the ignition; however, she was always able to start the vehicle. the tow truck driver stated that the failure was identical to two other vehicles he towed the previous day. the manufacturer stated that there were no recalls and they had never heard of this type of failure. they were unable to assist and would not assume responsibility for any repairs. the failure mileage was 58,450 updated 07/08/09 *bf updated 07/08/09.*jb | |||
| 06/15/2009 | 101000 | 1 | |
| 2003 ford focus .we have had ignition problems since we bought the car 4 years ago ( was a used car) the ignition was replaced once. now we have trouble again. my wife got stuck at a shopping center. my son, a mechanic tried to help, but couldn't get the key to turn. she called aaa. when he arrived he hit the ignition very hard and the key turned. she was able to get home, but we expect to have more trouble. it has been happening almost everyday. if the car were to stall on the highway, and not be able to get the key to turn, it could be very dangerous and could cause a serious accident. this should a safety recall. everyone needs to be able to at least turn the key. we will have to go to ford to replace the ignition at the cost of $400- 500.. *tr | |||
| 06/09/2009 | 198156 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the key became stuck in the ignition. this was the second time that he has experienced an issue with the ignition. the ignition was previously replaced due to a separate issue. he called the manufacturer, but was unsatisfied with the outcome. the contact feels that the vehicle will be stolen if the keys are left in the ignition. the current and failure mileages were 198,156. | |||
| 06/02/2009 | 1 | ||
| My car key would always go in but no turn. once in a while if i jiggled it, it would turn over and be okay. but i was shopping and the car would not start at all, so i called aaa. they had me try a couple of things and it didn't work so it was towed to my car dealer. heir they said that the ignition went and they would have to replace it at the cost of $350. shocked because it was nothing that i could have broken. so i think that ford should recall this as a recurring problem that keeps happening and just fix the problem. my car is always in the shop every 3,000 miles for oil changes it is very well taken care of and i would like to keep it and in the future buy more ford products so i hope that this problem is taken into consideration and fixed. *tr | |||
| 05/23/2009 | 92735 | 1 | |
| My 2003 svt focus takes 2 to five minutes of jiggling the key to get the ignition to work. i have read several complaints on this issue and contacted my nearest dealership and have been told they can fix it at my cost and that there is not a recall on it. the car is very well taken care of and has left me stranded a couple of times because of the ignition not working properly. *tr | |||
| 05/13/2009 | 40000 | 1 | |
| The key will not turn in ignition to start the car. *tr | |||
| 05/09/2009 | 106500 | 1 | |
| Hopped in my car like normal to drive myself to work. placed key in ignition. won't turn. had to call of work after an hour of toying with it and calling my manager every 15 minutes letting them know... it won't budge.*tr | |||
| 05/04/2009 | 84000 | 1 | |
| The ignition key will not turn on my 2003 ford focus. i understand that this has been a common problem on this model of vehicle. my daughter was stranded in the vehicle because of this problem. there have been no warnings or signs that this problem was impending. *tr | |||
| 04/05/2009 | 1 | ||
| My 2003 ford focus ignition lock will not turn. fortunately for ford, my warranty is up. i have read reviews that this is a common complaint with the ford focus model in the years 2000-2003. i cannot drive without fearing that the ignition will lock up on me and i will be stranded. this is very hazardous to me. i was lucky to not have had an emergency to attend to when i was stranded unable to start my car. *tr | |||
| 04/03/2009 | 1 | ||
| The ignition switch randomly broke on my 2003 ford focus. my key will not turn the switch. i was stranded with my 2 children. i contacted aaa and the locksmith that i spoke with was out of stock on the ignition cylinder because this is common problem with the ford focus. i usually keep 4 or 5 on hand. i consider this a personal safety issue as there was no warning of it occurring. it was all very random. i drove to the location. i did my business. i got back into the car. my key would not work. this is a serious problem that the ford motor company needs to address. *tr | |||
| 03/17/2009 | 50030 | 1 | |
| The ignition will not turn on in my car. the key will go in, but it will not turn. it was hard to turn for a while, several weeks i just would keep trying and jiggling it, and it would eventually work, and now it just won't turn on at all. i was stranded in a dangerous area until my husband could come to pick me up. i called a locksmith to repair it and he said he gets this issue al the time with ford focus. *tr | |||
| 03/15/2009 | 1 | ||
| My key won't turn in the ignition. *tr | |||
| 02/28/2009 | 1 | ||
| 2003 ford focus ignition key will not turn. *tr | |||
| 02/27/2009 | 42000 | 1 | |
| Wheel and ignition lock up. *tr | |||
| 02/15/2009 | 42000 | 1 | |
| I went shopping got in my car and put the key in the ignition and i couldn't turn the key because the ignition was locked. *tr | |||
| 02/14/2009 | 1 | ||
| 2003 ford focus zx3 ignition randomly fails. insert the key into the ignition and it will not turn. you cannot start your car for an indeterminable amount of time. major flaw in ford ignitions with no remedy from ford. *tr | |||
| 12/04/2008 | 85193 | 1 | |
| My 2003 ford focus se has the issue where the ignition locks. it takes several attempts before i can get the key to turn. twice now i have had to get it towed because of this problem. *tr | |||
| 12/15/2008 | 55000 | 1 | |
| The key in the ignition will not turn in my 2003 ford focus. it gets jammed all the time now. previous attempts of moving the steering wheel back & forth worked for awhile, but even that does not work now. the only way to start it is to tap on the key when it is in the ignition with a mallet or hammer. this usually works after a few tries. now i have to consider leaving the key in the ignition in order to start it easier or carry a hammer in the car. nothing else has been done about the problem yet. according to local ford dealer it'll cost $250-275 to repair. local (cheaper) mechanics can't repair it since they need to get a code from ford to program the part so the new ignition cylinder will recognize the key. from searching on the internet, apparently this is a common problem with the ford focus. basically a bad design and/or inferior materials used in the ignition cylinder. i have never had this type of problem with any other vehicles i've owned especially ones that are only 5 yrs old. i am surprised that there hasn't been a recall on this part yet. it seems to me that this is a serious safety issue. what do i do in the event i need to evacuate because of a natural disaster or terrorist? i won't be able to get away since i can't start my car ! and tapping on the key with a hammer will work for only so long. and of course ford will just replace with the same cheap defective ignition cylinder that the car originally came with any way. so i'll problem have the same problem in a couple years again. *tr | |||
| 12/29/2008 | 40000 | 1 | |
| I am having ignition issues. my key will not turn. it is on a regular basis that this happens. i have not taken it in for repair yet. i called for an estimate. *tr | |||
| 11/01/2008 | 1 | ||
| The key will not turn in the ignition. the ignition barrel is completely stuck, impeding any use of any vehicle functions. has occurred daily or every other day for a few weeks. a few minutes of jostling may allow it to work. a few times it has been stuck for hours until finally working. this may strand some travelers in winter conditions, like myself. very stressful and potentially dangerous situation. *tr | |||
| 12/16/2008 | 126009 | 1 | |
| Key won't turn in ignition! you can place the key and the spare key, in the ignition and it will not turn. looked up online and found website that stated this is a very common problem. our key has to stay in the ignition because you can not take it out. very disappointed this is a safety not recall ! my wife and children can be stranded in freezing weather ! also very expensive to fix. *tr | |||
| 12/13/2008 | 1 | ||
| My car refuses to start. you cannot turn the ignition switch to get it to come on. after searching the internet i saw dozens of complains from people having the same problem. i simply cannot afford to make the repairs and since my car is out of warranty my dealership will not help me. ford customer service hung up on me twice. the only fix is to leave the key in the ignition. i managed to use a hammer to hammer it in. *tr | |||
| 11/27/2008 | 138630 | 1 | |
| My ignition has locked up on my 2003 ford focus, i am currently in the process of getting it fixed. it started about 3 weeks ago and slowly has gotten worse. my car has not started in a week. i cannot get to work on my own. *tr | |||
| 12/08/2008 | 71000 | 1 | |
| So far, i have only had the problem occur once and am still working to get it repaired. nothing really happened to warrant the problem happening. it seemed to just happen randomly. in my 2003 ford focus, the ignition switch locked. so far, i have heard hundreds of cases of this problem occurring with this particular car, all for focuses ranging from year 2000 to 2003, and the only thing that seems to fix it is to actually have maintenance done. speaking with ford customer service, they did acknowledge that it was a common problem, but would not issue a recall simply because they did not believe it was a safety hazard. i expect to have to pay a large amount of money to repair this problem, even though ford realizes its an error on their part and that a defect with their car is what is causing this problem. i think it is absolutely unacceptable for a company to knowingly keep something defective on the market, even with so many complaints. *tr | |||
| 12/06/2008 | 73000 | 1 | |
| The ignition locked up in the car. the ignition key wouldn't turn or do anything. this is a huge safety concern. i have a 12 week old baby and live in north dakota. i had my boyfriend's 11 year old daughter with as well. me, an infant, and a child stuck with a car that won't start in weather that is below freezing with the windchill. this is a huge safety concern. *tr | |||
| 11/22/2008 | 65200 | 1 | |
| The ignition switch on my 2003 ford focus se is stuck. the vehicle is now rendered unusable since it cannot be started. i consider this to be a safety related item because the vehicle is now stranded and will require the services of a locksmith or have to be towed to the nearest dealership to be repaired. i have read online where this appears to be a common problem with the ford focus manufactured in 2000 through 2003. *tr | |||
| 09/10/2008 | 82000 | 1 | |
| Approximately 2 months ago i began to notice a difficulty in turning the key when placed in the ignition. the problem began small, a little jiggle of the key and the ignition cylinder would turn and the car would start. the problem grew to the point in which i would have to forcibly knock the key in with the palm of my hand otherwise the key would not turn at all. i tried all kinds of ways to get the car to start, but hitting the key into the ignition cylinder seemed to be the only way to make it work. finally approximately 3 days ago i was leaving work, placed the key in the car, which not to my amazement did not turn in the cylinder. so as i had grown accustom to i gave the key a smack, but it would not turn. i sat in my car for close to an hour trying to giggle, shack, smack, jimmy, and play with the key any way i could think of but i could not get my car to start. now when you work midnights and you get off work when everyone else is going to work, finding a ride is not the easiest of things. after some extensive research i found that this is a highly common problem in ford focus'. *tr | |||
| 11/01/2008 | 50000 | 1 | |
| The ignition wouldn't turn with the key. very often it would turn with difficulty after some wiggling of the steering wheel. after a while it was nearly impossible once the key was removed. eventually we got the key to work and now we leave the key in and lock the doors with the remote. it used to happen as my wife would leave work in the dark which was very dangerous in some areas. i had to get an aftermarket replacement and repair it myself. i am a fully qualified mechanic though. *tr | |||
| 11/01/2008 | 68785 | 1 | |
| Ford focus 2003 - ignition failure, key will not turn my key will not turn in my ignition. this should be recalled. there are thousands of us (ford customers) who have this problem. i do not understand how this is not a safety precaution. please recall. americans are not encouraged to buy american-made cars; sadly but true. *tr | |||
| 10/28/2007 | 68000 | 1 | |
| My key will not turn. there for i can't start my car. i have two small children and i have been stuck places numerous times. i fear for my safety. at any time i could be stuck anywhere! the only thing i can do is carry a hammer with me, so that i can tap the key in the ignition and get the key to turn so i can start my car. i feel it is not safe to carry a hammer around but have no other choice to start my car. *tr | |||
| 10/10/2008 | 35000 | 1 | |
| Second time having problem with ignition on 2003 ford focus. the key won't turn and have been left stranded on the highway and missed days of work to get the replacement ignition switch. this is a problem that ford needs to acknowledge and recall. thousands of ford focus owners have had the same problem. not only is it costly and is a repair that is fords' responsibility to fix due to faulty ignitions but also a safety hazard. *tr | |||
| 10/07/2008 | 64850 | 1 | |
| Ignition locked leaving me stranded. finally got the car started only to find it locked up again the next time i tried to start it. *tr | |||
| 09/26/2008 | 87000 | 1 | |
| Ignition would not turn. the first time it occurred was back in july 2008. if i played with the steering wheel it would finally turn the key. the ignition had to be replaced. ford has had this problem with the focus since 2001. *tr | |||
| 09/17/2008 | 56013 | 1 | |
| Ignition lock cylinder on ford focus is defective. the mechanism locks and is unable to turn. this yields the vehicle inoperable, posing a significant safety risk if the owner needs to use the vehicle in an emergency or the vehicle stalls on the highway. this is an issue known by ford, as evidenced by the mechanics at landmark ford, tigard, oregon stating that it is a common problem and ford has quietly updated the cylinder. in addition, there are numerous internet forums with this same complaint. all owners of focus vehicles will have this failure, it is just a matter of time. the repair is $300+. a recall should be required of ford to address the issue. *tr | |||
| 09/09/2008 | 66000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2003 ford focus and had to spend $360 to have my ignition cylinder replaced as my steering wheel had locked and the key unable to turn and start the car when the car had just worked fine the previous day. luckily, it was still warm outside and i was not stranded in a remote place in a storm or in winter where harm could befall someone. i couldn't figure out what was wrong or what i needed to do, but i couldn't unlock the steering wheel. i even called the ford company who stated there was not anything they could do except that it should be taken to a dealer. i called a ford dealership whose service director did not seem surprised by what was wrong with my steering wheel, even saying that probably the ignition cylinder would need to be replaced and that the part would usually cost $350-400 to repair. he said that he had replaced quite a few for the focus. then i went online and found out that many people have had this same problem, over and over again, some having replaced this one part 4-5 times. for some reason this part has never been recalled even though it is a serious engineering flaw with possible serious ramifications in stranding people unexpectedly and without warning. something should be done and so i am turning to you to make the ford company own up to their design flaw concerning its car, the ford focus concerning its ignition cylinder. when the locksmith came and replaced the cylinder he demonstrated why the part was defective. it has something to do with the tumbler mechanism in the cylinder. *tr | |||
| 09/06/2008 | 37000 | 1 | |
| My teenage daughter drives a ford focus zx3 2003. after owning the car for only a few months, the ignition locked up and would not turn. as a result, she was stranded in a parking lot alone feeling very unsafe. the same thing has happened 3 times to my husbands f250 ignition. the ignitions had to be replaced by a locksmith each time. there was no reason for these ignitions to fail. *tr | |||
| 08/15/2008 | 1 | ||
| I do not know for sure what caused it, but my ignition on my 03 ford focus lx locked up and would not turn over. you could leave the key in and it would always start. but if you took the key out it would lock up and refuse to turn. i have not had it fixed yet and i think it is not fair that i should have to fix it when 9 out of 10 ford focus do this. i am taking it to a lock smith to have it fixed next week and i will be selling it and i will never buy a ford again. *tr | |||
| 08/16/2008 | 72500 | 1 | |
| Key won't turn in ignition. *tr | |||
| 08/04/2008 | 64000 | 1 | |
| The key will not turn in the ignition. *tr | |||
| 07/31/2008 | 1 | ||
| Being stranded without my car starting is my issue. have 2003 ford focus ignition key would not turn to turn car on-- stranded 5 times-- one time i was 45 miles from home-- had it towed and repaired cost $90 now it happened again and had to get a ride home from work hate to see what this bill will be if ford is aware of this problem with 2000 through 2003 vehicles why are they not doing anything to help the consumer out by recalling them . *tr | |||
| 07/18/2003 | 103000 | 1 | |
| I got into my car last night and could not start it, i have a 2003 ford focus station wagon se, the key won't turn in the ignition, i am stranded and cant get to the drug store to get my sons medication. i cant get to the grocery store and am afraid i wont be able to get to work on monday. *tr | |||
| 07/11/2008 | 59000 | 1 | |
| I left my car for 5 mins to grab something in my home and when i returned to start my car the ignition wouldn't even budge, now i am going to have to get the ignition replaced. *tr | |||
| 07/10/2008 | 60000 | 1 | |
| I was getting into my car and suddenly the key would go into the ignition but would not turn. i called a locksmith and i soon as they heard that it was a ford focus they didn't want to so anything because they stated that this is a dealership problem and they had to help me. they stated that this problem was very common with my type of vehicle and that i should check to see if there was a recall for it since it is a safety issue. when i called the dealership the person on the phone stated that they needed to check the vehicle and just to look at it they would charge me a fee of $87.00 to tell me that the key doesn't turn. after that they stated that they would give me an estimate as to how much i would have to pay to get it fixed. nothing has been done yet to correct the problem as i feel that it is completely ridiculous that they will not take responsibility for their faulty parts. *tr | |||
| 07/06/2008 | 80000 | 1 | 10/01/2004 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. after leaving the grocery store, the contact placed the key into the ignition but could not turn the key. she attempted to wiggle the key in the ignition to start the vehicle; however,the vehicle failed to start even after several attempts. the contact's friend owns a ford focus and instructed her to tap on the key while it is in the ignition. the contact heeded this advice and, after a few attempts, she was able to start the vehicle. she took the vehicle to the nearest dealer, where it is currently being repaired. the failure and current mileages were 80,000. updated 10/07/08. *lj | |||
| 07/04/2008 | 60000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2003 ford focus zx5 and i have had repeated key ignition problems. my key tends to not work in the ignition and has forced me into tough situations. the most recent was being stranded on the 4th of july in a city i am not from in a bad part of town after a fire works show. i also have had previous problems with the same matter and when i contacted ford about it they could offer no solution other than a steep price to fix a problem they caused which i believe to be robbery and unacceptable. i have researched consumer complaint sites and noticed that this has not only happened to me and that there is a class action suit against ford in california for such a problem. i have now lost my job because of no transportation to work due to fords mishap. *tr | |||
| 06/19/2008 | 95000 | 1 | |
| 2003 ford focus car key ignition problems the key will not turn in the ignition and left me stranded. i took it to the dealership to be fixed were they informed me that the ignition has to be rebuilt. *tr | |||
| 05/19/2008 | 77400 | 1 | |
| 2003 ford focus ignition locked so the key wouldn't turn. we had to have a locksmith come out to remove the ignition lock pins, which he reported commonly malfunction in this way. this is a commonly reported problem on 2000-2005 year ford focus vehicles, but ford will not issue a recall, even though it can result in drivers being stranded, unable to start their vehicles. *tr | |||
| 06/07/2008 | 47800 | 1 | |
| My 2003 ford focus was previously owned by one person, my own sunday driver grandmother and is currently only driven by myself and my mother. it had only 47,800 miles on it when the key would not turn in the ignition leaving my mother stranded at one place and me stranded across town waiting for a ride. the faulty ignition cylinder locked up randomly potentially making the car a roadside and/or traffic hazard. *tr | |||
| 05/28/2008 | 48500 | 1 | |
| Key would not turn in the ignition. this has happened several times. after some repeated attempts to start, eventually the key would work. this time, it has refused to budge. seems to be connected to the steering wheel being turned but that locks up too, so it can't resolve itself. research on internet such as consumer's report shows this to be a frequent complaint with this model. defective ignition! the other day it left me stranded with two small children. i would classify that as a safety concern! *tr | |||
| 05/13/2008 | 65000 | 1 | |
| Ignition key/cylinder had to be replace. key would not turn to start car. *tr | |||
| 05/09/2003 | 114860 | 1 | |
| I had a crack in the coolant reservoir that i took to get repaired. i drove my car there, turned the car off while waiting for the customer in front of me to pull up. i turned the car back on and pulled it up to where the serviceman was waiting. i turned the car off. i gave them my information. the serviceman then took my car, started it, and drove it into the service bay. they did the work on the car and then without warning the ignition would not turn over. they tried and tried. it wouldn't turn. i had absolutely no warning or anything that there was a problem. i went to the ford dealer and asked them how this happens, if it happened over time, or what. the guy told me that it could happen at any time and then it would cost $400 to get repaired. just out of the blue without warning he said that the ignition could go out! i took the car to another mechanic and he only had to repair the ignition switch at virtually half the price using ford dealer parts! it doesn't make any sense that something as vital as the ignition can just stop at any time! *tr | |||
| 02/26/2008 | 47000 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact attempted to start the vehicle, but was unsuccessful because the ignition would not turn. after 15 minutes of turning the key in the ignition various ways, the vehicle eventually started. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. the purchase date, transmission type, fuel type, and fuel system were unknown. the current mileage was 49,000 and failure mileage was 47,000. | |||
| 04/11/2008 | 5000 | 3 | 09/05/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. while parked in the backyard, the contact started the vehicle and the rear window blew out. the dealer repaired the window. a few days later, the locks on the passenger side door would not unlock. the dealer repaired that failure as well. afterwards, the ignition cylinder began to fail. the contact took the vehicle in for repair and had to pay $300. the current and failure mileages were 5,000. updated 05/21/08 *bf the consumer stated the trunk needed to be repaired as well. updated. 05/20/08. *jb | |||
| 04/10/2008 | 48400 | 1 | |
| Premature failure of ignition module, could have failed while driving causing serious injury. after talking to dealership and other ford sources, dealers fix at least a focus a week with the same issue, this is an extensive issue that needs to be addressed. *tr | |||
| 01/15/2008 | 107000 | 8 | 01/11/2004 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact is unable to remove the key from the ignition only in rainy weather conditions. he notified three different dealers that acknowledged the failure, but were unable to provide a solution. everyone refuses to repair the vehicle, including a locksmith. the manufacturer did not provide any assistance. the key remains in the ignition. the failure mileage was 107,000 and current mileage was 111,000. | |||
| 03/03/2008 | 139382 | 1 | 06/04/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact attempted to start the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. she called a mechanic and the ignition was replaced. the current mileage was 140,030 and failure mileage was 139,382. updated 04/22/08. *lj | |||
| 03/14/2008 | 2 | 04/03/2005 | |
| The key ignition is locked and won't turn on the car. *tr | |||
| 02/11/2008 | 90000 | 1 | 12/11/2004 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. in an attempt to drive the vehicle, the contact placed her key in the ignition and it would not turn. the vehicle had to be towed to a mechanic and they replaced the entire ignition. the vin was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 90,000. | |||
| 01/27/2007 | 92779 | 10 | 01/23/2003 |
| Defect in the key ignition; key would get stuck and car would not turn on at all. your would not be able to turn on the car at all. the keys would be 100.00 each and they had to be program. several repairs finally had to replace the hold ignition for a total of 411.62. this was a defect on the ford companies part; did a small survey and everyone with ford vehicles or ford focuses had the same problem; but had to pay of their pocket for the repairs when their warranty ran out. i believe ford owes me for the repair. the doors also get stuck and won't open. *tr | |||
| 01/20/2008 | 49100 | 3 | 09/16/2003 |
| The ignition on my 2003 ford focus keeps seizing up. the only way to get the key to turn is to tap it with a hammer. i ran a google search for ford focus steering lock and found thousands of complaints for this same problem. many of which said that ford does not recognize a problem and charged them for the repair. i have not taken the car in for service yet and am reluctant to waste my time with the dealer given the complaints i see and the fact i could have it done cheaper elsewhere. ford needs to recognize this and recall or reimburse. this is a dangerous situation in cold weather. from what i understand the ignition part was redesigned in 2005 and now functions properly. *tr | |||
| 01/20/2008 | 1 | 01/29/2005 | |
| Ignition switch won't turn. it's like the key is from the wrong car or something. i was stuck in 5 degree weather while waiting for a tow-truck driver to take my car to the dealership, which was closed anyway. the two-truck driver told me that he's personally seen about a hundred focuses (foci?) with the same problem, and that they are notorious among the tow-truck drivers for this problem. he was able to get the key to turn, and i was able to get home, but now i have looked on the web and seen that there are hundreds or thousands of owners with the same exact problem. there is a class-action lawsuit in california over it. *tr | |||
| 01/15/2008 | 1 | 10/26/2006 | |
| I am writing because i believe that there should be a recall for my car due to many complaints with the same problem with my car. my wife was shopping and when she went to start the car the steering wheel was locked and the key would not turn. we ended up having to have the car towed to our home. we went online and researched and saw that many people with the same car and year that we have has the same problem. our car is a 2003 ford focus and its an ignition lock problem. the average repair is between $300 - $500. i believe that it is a huge safety issue as my wife was stranded with our 7 week old and 4 year old in very cold weather with no way to start the car for any heat. its dangerous and the complaints are many. all you have to do is google it and you can see. i contacted ford to see if they will take care of the issue and they are supposed to get back to me by tomorrow at 2 to let me know. i believe that they should as again they know that this is a very common problem with this vehicle and have yet to ever issue a recall for it. thank you. *tr | |||
| 01/15/2008 | 60600 | 1 | 10/21/2006 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. while attempting to start the vehicle, it would not unlock or allow her to start the vehicle. a professional stated that the ignition cylinder does not unlock, which prevented the vehicle from starting. the vehicle is currently being repaired. he called the manufacturer and is waiting for a response. the current and failure mileages were 60,600. | |||
| 05/01/2006 | 120 | 2 | 05/01/2005 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the key has a tendency to stick inside the ignition when starting the vehicle. this prevents the ignition from turning. an authorized ford dealer recommended that she take a hammer and gently tap the key when inserted into the ignition in an attempt to lodge it out. the contact heeded the advice and the remedy worked temporarily. after a few weeks, the failure worsened and currently occurs three times per week. the steering column sticks whenever the vehicle is parked on a flat road surface with the steering wheel turned upright. the contact stated that is was difficult to turn the steering column. ford stated that nothing could be done. the powertrain was unknown. the failure mileage was 120 and current mileage was 67,000. | |||
| 12/27/2007 | 49810 | 3 | 04/16/2006 |
| I am having problem with my ignition. the key does not turn at all. the car has less than 50,000 miles but its already causing problem. *tr | |||
| 12/23/2007 | 5 | ||
| Over the past two years, we have had recurring challenges associated with removing the ignition key from the ignition cylinder/tumbler on our 2003 ford focus zx3. on december 23, 2007, i was no longer able to remove the key after hours of trying to jiggle or cajole the key and/or cylinder. i was forced to call for a tow truck. and i was without a primary car over christmas. the ford dealer has informed me that this is a well known problem. the resolution was replacement of the part and a substantial service charge. *tr | |||
| 12/22/2007 | 3 | ||
| Key fails to turn in ignition in 2003 ford focus. *tr | |||
| 12/18/2007 | 1 | 10/29/2006 | |
| I have a 2003 ford focus. i have the common complaint that my ignition needed to be replaced. the wheel became locked and i was unable to turn the key. i have found countless stories similar to mine on the internet and it's so common that the ford dealer and all the locksmiths that i have talked to in the last two days have known exactly what i was talking about. this problem needs to be addressed. thank you. *tr | |||
| 12/12/2007 | 55000 | 30 | 06/01/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the ignition switch locked up constantly and the contact can no longer drive the vehicle because the steering cannot be unlocked. the dealer stated that the ignition cylinder needed to be replaced at the cost of $375. the part is not under warranty and there is no recall. the current mileage was 57,000 and failure mileage was 55,000. | |||
| 12/12/2007 | 1 | ||
| The ignition lock has locked itself and as a result we have not been able to turn the vehicle on. from what i've gathered on the internet it was not an isolated incident. i talked to one of the local repair shops and was told it was cost around $500 to have the part replaced. *tr | |||
| 12/07/2007 | 1 | 07/19/2006 | |
| My 2003 ford focus, left me sitting on a friday evening because the ignition key cylinder would not allow me to turn the key. not only was the ignition key cylinder locked, but so was the gear shift and the steering wheel. i couldn't move the vehicle at all. it was dark and i was left sitting with one of my two children. i had to call for a ride, get the car towed and then pay to get it fixed. all along, ford knew that this was, as they stated on their website, a defect. obviously this is an ongoing problem for the ford focus. i have a friend who also had this problem. it's a issue that needs to be faced and probably be considered for recall, in my opinion. i feel that paying for this defect is unacceptable. i believe that ford should have this on recall and take care of replacing the ignition lock cylinder for it's customers! *tr | |||
| 11/21/2007 | 3 | 09/30/2003 | |
| I have had a few prior problems getting my key to turn in my ignition, which i was eventually able to fix myself. last night however, i was unable to get my key to turn in the ignition. i was left stranded in a less than ideal neighborhood after 30 minutes of trying to start my car. this ignition lock problem has happened the eve before thanksgiving which leaves me without a car on a holiday weekend. *tr | |||
| 11/12/2007 | 51256 | 1 | 03/13/2006 |
| When i put my key into my car it will not turn. while this may not be an obvious safety risk, it can lead to serious problems if you are stranded somewhere. ford knows about this problem with focus, yet has done nothing to correct it. i ended up stranded for over an hour as i waited for someone to pick me up, finally i banged the key out of frustration and i was able to turn it. this is a serious safety matter to me, as i am a single woman. ford needs to take responsibility and recall their defective ignition cylinders. i will now have to spend at least $400 to fix this, and it's something that there is no guarantee won't happen in the future, as it will be replaced with the same defective mechanism. *tr | |||
| 11/08/2007 | 76194 | 1 | 03/28/2007 |
| I am currently leasing a ford focus zx5, i've been driving this car without any problems for just over 6 months. after stopping at the grocery store with my 17 month old daughter, my key doesn't turn in the ignition!! not only is this frustrating it is dangerous. my daughter was crying from the cold that night and i had to walk home with her in my arms!! so in conclusion i feel that the fact that the ignition cylinder can go at any time without warning is a definite and unnecessary risk to safety. my daughter is now sick because of this! *tr | |||
| 10/08/2007 | 59000 | 22 | 02/07/2006 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. when attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition switch failed. it took the contact approximately 20 attempts to start the vehicle. the ignition cylinder is currently being repaired by a local mechanic. the contact filed a complaint with the manufacturer. the current and failure mileages were 59,000. updated 03/14/08. *lj | |||
| 10/27/2007 | 1 | ||
| After fueling, my daughter tried to start the car (2003 ford focus wagon), but the key would not turn. we got the car to the dealership where we purchased it, and the key cylinder had to be replaced by a locksmith. the total cost of the repair, plus the towing, cost over $200.00. meanwhile my daughter's car was stuck at the gas pump, where other customers wanted to fuel, but could not do so. i'm glad my daughter had not run over a nail, like i did the other day, having to pull over to the side of a busy interstate highway, and then have this problem occur. depending on where this kind of thing happens, this could be a very serious safety concern. not only with the vehicle, but with the place the vehicle is stranded when it occurs. i have found out that ford has known for quite some time about this problem, but they refuse to recall cars to fix this problem, and continue to use this defective part in their ford focus vehicles. the extended warranty i bought was the most expensive one, and yet it covers everything but the ignition switch, it seems. unless ford decides to reimburse me, i will never purchase another ford product. this is the fourth ford focus we have purchased. if i don't find satisfaction with this problem, it will certainly be the last. on top of all of that, my focus has had squealing brakes since the day i bought it, and ford has refused to repair this, as well, saying that it's normal. no way this noise is normal. i'm fed up with ford at the moment. *tr | |||
| 09/29/2007 | 2 | ||
| The ignition on my ford focus 2003 has locked up for the second time in 75,000 miles, and this is getting to be a huge problem to have replaced. ford actually has the balls to charge me for this defect in their craftsmanship, using substandard parts in their ignition switches, and making me pay to cover up their faulty workmanship when getting it repaired. *jb | |||
| 09/20/2007 | 65000 | 10 | 12/27/2004 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the ignition would not turn when she inserted the key. as of september 28, 2007, the dealer had not inspected the vehicle. the powertrain was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 65,000. | |||
| 09/24/2007 | 58000 | 1 | 08/01/2007 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. while attempting to shut off the vehicle in the parking lot, the ignition locked up and prevented the contact from turning or pushing the steering wheel. he took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and they informed him that the repair would cost $400. the current and failure mileages were 58,000. | |||
| 08/15/2007 | 100000 | 15 | 09/01/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the ignition locked, which prevented the key from being turned. the dealer was unable to determine the cause of failure. the current mileage was 108,000 and failure mileage was 100,000. updated 01-14-08. *kb the dealer stated the cylinder needed to be replaced. updated 12/12/07. *jb | |||
| 09/19/2007 | 42000 | 1 | 08/16/2006 |
| 2003 ford focus/ ignition won't turn it looks like this is a huge problem by all the different websites and blogs about it. this defect should absolutely be a recall and when i called the dealer to find out the fix and price they laughed and said $600 to $700 dollars. this is outrageous and i am appalled. *jb | |||
| 09/17/2007 | 71000 | 1 | 07/03/2003 |
| At approximately 5:00 p.m., my ignition locked up on me, with my car parked in a parking lot close to my home (thank goodness). i have just learned that this has been a major widespread issue, and that i am definitely not alone. *jb | |||
| 09/11/2007 | 1 | ||
| (1) not sure (2) steering wheel and ignition are locked and can not be moved anymore (3) new lock *tr | |||
| 03/10/2007 | 50 | 10/29/2005 | |
| Over the past few months, the ignition/lock mechanism has been failing. the wheel will not release and the key will not turn to the on position. sometimes if forced, the key will turn, but the lock has broken completely now. *jb | |||
| 07/12/2006 | 37000 | 1 | 06/01/2004 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. approximately two minutes after parking the vehicle, the contact was unable to turn the key to start the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the ignition cylinder needed to be replaced. the dealer made the replacement. there have not been any other failures. the current mileage was 55,000 and failure mileage was 37,000. | |||
| 06/01/2007 | 52000 | 2 | 11/01/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the key will not turn in the ignition. she has had to strike the key while it was in the ignition for it to turn and start the vehicle. currently, the key does not work at all while in the ignition. she has notified the dealer and the manufacturer and they stated that it would cost approximately $800 for the repair. the vehicle is not under a recall. the current mileage was 57,000 and failure mileage was 52,000. | |||
| 07/17/2007 | 47000 | 1 | 03/07/2005 |
| During the past week had been having trouble turning the key in the ignition, and a couple of days ago the ignition was completely stuck. after 4 hours of trying to get it too turn i had to have the vehicle towed and it was being repaired as of right now. i have had the vehicle less than 2 and a half years and have yet to even surpass 50,000 miles on it. this wa s a problem that is quite widespread among ford focus owners i felt the need to make my problem known also. *ak | |||
| 09/30/2006 | 38000 | 1 | |
| Parked car when arriving to work at 8 am. was leaving for lunch at 12 pm and ignition wouldn't turn at all. wheel locked. had to call tow truck. first truck arrived and they couldn't tow car since steering wheel locked and only a flat bed truck. then had to wait several hours for a wheel lift truck. was told by towing company that he had (8) ford focus' (same model), that week with same problem. he also told me that locksmiths do not want to touch the issue, since it is a manufacturer problem and that ford won't take responsibility for the issue. towed to dealer and was told that it would be $300 to replace ignition. warranty had just ended on vehicle. ford corporate honored a small portion of replacement cost, i ended up paying $100 (thanks to the dealers help), but this shouldn't have happened in the first place. obvious from this site that it's not just me that this is happening to. (and this problem is among many others i have dealt with on this stupid car). *tr | |||
| 06/27/2007 | 4 | 07/23/2006 | |
| Ignition lock failure on ford focus zx3, 2003. multiple occurrences. purchased car used at 39,000 mi; now at 47,000 mi. have owned for less than one year. *tr | |||
| 06/11/2007 | 35123 | 1 | 01/29/2003 |
| 2003 ford focus. steering wheel will not unlock after inserting key . *ak | |||
| 04/17/2007 | 40000 | 1 | 11/11/2006 |
| Ignition switch failed | |||
| 05/19/2007 | 1 | ||
| I went to start the car after work like always and the ignition was stuck in lock! i have been reading online all day about all the people that this happened to. please make ford recall this product or at least refund the consumer the cost to fix a product that is obviously defective. i have yet to get to see the final bill on the fix.*ak | |||
| 05/05/2007 | 62980 | 6 | |
| Key would'nt turn the ignition on my2003 ford focus zx5. happened at various times, till it would'nt work at all. had it repaired at dealership at a cost of $365.00. they replaced the ignition lock.ak | |||
| 05/01/2007 | 50000 | 1 | 03/13/2003 |
| My 2003 ford focus has a locked ignition that i found out is a very common problem since 2000. it was told that it would cost me $500.00 to fix it. *tr | |||
| 04/25/2007 | 1 | ||
| Ignition turned fine, parked car overnight and when i returned (very late that night) to leave the key would not turn. the ignition was locked. nothing would fix this. i spent nearly 30 minutes trying to turn the key without being able to start the car. the neighborhood was very scary, and my inability to drive away made me feel extremely uneasy, especially at such a late time of night. *jb | |||
| 01/26/2007 | 13471 | 2 | 09/19/2003 |
| I've had my 2003 ford focus wagon in twice for repair of the ignition lock. the first time i had the problem the steering wheel wouldn't release as the key wouldn't fit into the ignition. took it to the dealer and they removed the lock cylinder. it was cleaned and lubed and operating normally on 26 january 2007. about a month later i was having the same problem. this time i had to have it towed to the dealer. this car only has 13,000 miles on it! they had to drill out the ignition lock cylinder and replace it. i hope this time it will last longer than a month! this was a very costly service! $267.00 for labor and $99.91 for the part! i haven't seen any recalls on this yet but if they do have one i'm hoping to get my money back as this has been a very costly service to me - almost $600.00 total for both instances! *jb | |||
| 01/03/2007 | 37350 | 02/07/2004 | |
| I have a 2003 ford focus. the fault is that when i put the key in the ignition, the key will not turn at all. it is locked in place. it happened once this summer on this car and on a 2002 focus i sold to a friend whom works with me. i called the ford dealership to see if they have seen this problem, which they had. they told me i could tap it with a rubber hammer to get it to unlock. sure thing, it did. i checked for recalls, which none were found. i checked for tsb's, sure enough, there are numerous reports of this problem. this appeard to be a major defect. i believe this could be a serious safety problem if for instance someone went for a drive during the winter in the remote mountains and stoped to got for a walk. upon return, the defective ignition wouldn't work and they're stranded. ford didn't appear to want to listen to my complaints. look at the tsb's and you'll really get a good picture of the volume of ignation problems. | |||
| 01/20/2007 | 38500 | 1 | 10/21/2005 |
| My key stopped working, or would only work intermittently for the past month. i started carrying my spare key at all times so i wouldn't get stranded. i finally had a 2nd key made ($125 at dealership). the new key failed to work later the same day. more intermittent ignition problems for next 2 weeks. this past saturday both keys failed. when i could finally get the car to start i came home and started researching on web. found this is a widespread well-known problem. have appt. at dealership tomorrow for total ignition replacement, my time, my dime. it will be a few hundred dollars. i already work a full time and part-time job to make ends meet. i cannot afford this. i can't afford to be stranded someplace in the middle of the night, either. ford damned well knows about this, and just ignores their customers. this is the 5th ford i've owned in 20 years. it will be my last. *jb | |||
| 12/31/2006 | 8 | ||
| The ignition lock freezes and will not turn, which does not allow the car to start. this problem has happened on numerous occasions. the consequences have included loss of vehicle use, towing expenses, and unwanted stress. *nm | |||
| 12/29/2006 | 1 | 02/28/2000 | |
| The ignition started locking several months ago, but eventually would work after playing with the key to start. today, while out at a shopping center, it locked up completely, causing me to have to tow the car to the dealer. this car is a 2003 with only 13000 miles on it. | |||
| 11/04/2006 | 51000 | 150 | 05/15/2003 |
| Ignition cylinder locks when turning the key on a 2003 ford focus zx3. the car cannot be started most of the time. this is dangerous if the car stalls. *nm | |||
| 12/16/2006 | 70000 | 1 | 06/27/2006 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while parked, the steering wheel would not unlock. the vehicle was towed to the dealer who determined the ignition cylinder needed to be replaced. also, the trunk would not close. the dealer was not contacted. | |||
| 12/11/2006 | 1 | ||
| I have owned 2 ford focuses, a 2000 and now a 2003 model. both vehicles have had the ignition lock up and i was charged $400 to fix it. obviously, ford motor company is comfortable enough with this design flaw that there have been no recalls, and the consumer is left holding the bill. there are over 400 complaints about this logged on the following website: http://forums.focaljet.com/problems-service-recalls/416401-please-post-if-your-ignition-has-locked.html what does it take to get this company to admit they are putting out a faulty product? *jb | |||
| 12/05/2006 | 2 | ||
| Second occurrence of key being put in ignition, steering wheel locking up and inability to start car. vehicle had to be towed to dealership and repaired. first time (11/2004) under warranty, second time(12/5/06) charged $300, reduced to $80 under protest for a known problem. no wonder ford is going under! *jb | |||
| 12/03/2006 | 2 | 01/01/2006 | |
| I tried to leave my best friends house but my 2003 ford focus would not start. apparently i need a whole new ignition. so i began surfing the net for prices and quotes but instead i've stumbled upon hundreds of complaint from across the country. i was told the part i will need cost $70. plus $50 to tow the car since i cannot get the car started. so far i've only missed one day of work but i might miss many more because i can't afford to get the car fixed right now. when i spoke to the ford company they told me that my total bill will be around $230. i am so frustrated with this car. i'm not sure if i will even get the car fixed. i plan to invest in a new nissan. *jb | |||
| 12/01/2006 | 41000 | 1 | 06/11/2003 |
| Locking of ignition in ford focus. *jb | |||
| 12/01/2006 | 46000 | 12 | 09/11/2003 |
| I have had this issue come up a few times lately. when i put my key in my ignition, the key will not turn. from researching this on the internet, it is obvious that ford motor company has ignored the problem and refuses to recall a seriously faulty part. i have been told that it is not recalled because it is not a safety issue. when someone with a small child can not start their car in the dead of winter (stuck on the side of a road), i would classify that as a safety issue! the local ford dealership admitted to me that this is a problem that needs addressed. the tow truck driver told me that he tows over 30 focuses per year for this issue alone. the local dealership told me that they need to do an official diagnosis before they will determine the problem. what a rip off! they are trying to charge me $100 to diagnose an problem that everyone already knows. this is why ford is losing millions of customers and billions of dollars. they have lost me over a $90 ignition tumbler. *jb | |||
| 10/20/2006 | 20000 | 1 | 08/15/2006 |
| 2003 ford focus that i bought used with only 14,000 miles on and have used as my commuter car for 3 months. at roughly 20,000 miles the key would not turn the ignition switch once but after a little shaking it worked. around a month later it happened again but this time when it did engage it would not start the engine, i rolled started the car and got home but the next day the key would not turn the ignition switch at all - tried for three days will not turn, currently learning the details of how to replace an ignition switch from friends and nice folks on the internet but i have had to borrow a car for two days and will have to rent one at the end of the week and until i can buy and install a new part just to get to work. as other articles claim ford claims this probably isn't a safety concern but is rather annoying and costly to folks like myself who bought the focus hoping for a reliable fuel efficient commuter car. *nm | |||
| 10/22/2006 | 1 | 04/07/2004 | |
| Had no previous problem with ignition in my 2003 ford focus se. left my hometown for the day to shop 2 counties away. after shopping, went to start my car and the ignition would not turn. the key would go in, but would not turn at all. had to have the car towed and am waiting now for the problem to be fixed. i have read online about all of the complaints regarding this problem in the ford focus. this should definitely be a recall since the ignition is very obviously a defective part used in the car. *nm | |||
| 10/22/2006 | 86000 | 2 | |
| I have had ignition problems with my 2003 ford focus. first incident in july, 2006 and am now experiencing another. i have a small child and do not want to be stranded somewhere just because i can't get the key to turn in the ignition. i am now also dealing with (today) a solenoid malfunction in my transmission (3rd gear). this is the 2nd time this has happened to me as well. the car jerks like crazy and wouldn't go over 30 mph. thank goodness i was close to a side street to exit the highway. this is getting ridiculous that these issues are not being recalled. the ignition is a huge issue with enough people.... *nm | |||
| 10/14/2006 | 55000 | 3 | 05/09/2003 |
| Can't turn the key in the ignition, steering wheel locked, can't start the car. *nm | |||
| 10/09/2006 | 43000 | 2 | 03/01/2003 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the ignition locked resulting in the ignition cylinder key being replaced by the service dealer. while searching the nhtsa website, complaints were found where this occurred to vehicles and the ignition cylinder key was replaced multiple times. the contact expressed concern that this repair does not seem to be a permanent fix for the problem. also, there was an odorous smell when the heating fan was turned on and the smell occasionally occurred when the air conditioner was on. the vehicle has not been to the service dealer for the odorous smell. | |||
| 09/26/2006 | 46400 | 1 | 03/01/2003 |
| Dt*: the contact stated upon placing the key in the ignition, the key would not turn and the engine would not start. the contact applied pressure with a pair of pliers, which allowed the key to turn and start the engine. the dealer and manufacturer were notified. updated 10/25/2006 - *nm | |||
| 09/18/2006 | 48000 | 1 | 05/01/2005 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle's ignition would not turn. the dealer determined the ignition needed to be replaced and the contact expressed this was a defect in the vehicle. | |||
| 09/17/2006 | 44000 | 1 | 12/10/2004 |
| The vehicle is a 2003 ford focus with less than 45,000 miles, the ignition cylinder locked up without warning and the car refused to start. additionally, the car would not shift out of neutral, making a tow difficult. this is a well known problem, ford refuses to acknowledge the risk of drivers being stranded in unsafe places where they could be raped, robbed or murdered. fortunately, this happened to my wife and i in our apartment complex, however there are reports of other people not being so lucky. hixson ford charged us $289.69 to repair the ignition lock cylinder plus we paid $65 to tow the vehicle. below is a list of websites documenting similar complaints of the ford focus ignition locking up and rendering the car inoperable. some even complain of it happening while driving: http://consumeraffairs.com/automotive/ford_focus_ignition.html http://www.fazmiclaw.com/focus.html http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0706/347339.html http://cbs5.com/investigates/local_story_041015136.html http://www.petitiononline.com/focusic/petition.html http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.eea50dc http://forums.treemedia.com/fb/archive/index.php/t-493.html http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/cars/msg062031202524.html?20 http://www.complaints.com/directory/2004/december/12/7.htm http://www.complaints.com/directory/2005/july/5/17.htm http://forums.focaljet.com/problems-service-recalls/416401-please-post-if-your-ignition-has-locked-13.html thank you for any assistance you can provide. *jb | |||
| 09/01/2006 | 75000 | 1 | |
| Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle's ignition locked and the key could not be turned to start the vehicle. the problem began as being rough in turning the key but gradually worsened to not being able to turn the key in the ignition at all. the vehicle has not been to a service dealer. | |||
| 09/07/2006 | 50000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2003 ford focus, and like many other ford customers i have read about, i had my ignition lock jam up to the point where it cannot be started with the key. it will probably require a new cylinder, which, according to other complaints, will break just as easily. clearly ford should step up and take some credit for such an inconvenience. it's just fortunate that no one can become injured from this particular case of bad engineering. *jb | |||
| 08/06/2006 | 36000 | 7 | 02/01/2004 |
| I have a 2003 ford focus and the ignition fails intermittently causing the car not to start. the key will not turn. this is not safe i have a two year old child and in an emergency i may not be able to drive or we may get stranded. ford refuses to help. there is no recall to my knowledge at this time. this is a known problem and ford will not acknowledge the issue. *jb | |||
| 08/22/2006 | 52000 | 1 | 06/16/2003 |
| I own a 2003 ford focus and today i went out to my car to get some lunch when my ignition locked. i cannot start my car. i have had people look at it and there is nothing that can be done except bring it to the dealership. *jb | |||
| 07/28/2006 | 41000 | 1 | 02/18/2006 |
| 2003 ford focus (which is driven by teenager- female) ignition lock failure. basically when it fails you are stuck (can not start vehicle)! at the moment vehicle sits in the driveway. $400.00 price tag to fix a problem - that ford is very much aware of. i am not sure i want my teenage daughter driving a vehicle that may get her stranded somewhere unsafe! *nm | |||
| 07/23/2006 | 86788 | 12 | 08/25/2005 |
| Ignition locked and is impossible to start. sometimes the ignition locks for hours and sometimes days. it is absolutely ridiculous! this is a family car and it's unreliable! *nm | |||
| 07/20/2006 | 5 | 09/08/2003 | |
| Several parts failures, including alternator, brakes, muffler,transmission, and ignition lock cylinder | |||
| 07/14/2006 | 40000 | 4 | 01/14/2004 |
| The ignition key would not turn in any direction once inserted in the keylock, this leaving me on the parking lot for hours to wait for a tow-truck. the car has only 40k miles on it. the dealership wants to charge me $200 to replace the lock cylinder. that happened a few times in the past, but this time it was for real i guess. *jb | |||
| 07/02/2006 | 26100 | 1 | 12/01/2004 |
| Drove the car to the grocery store. after shopping, i entered the car & placed the key into the ignition. the key would not turn, the key cylinder was frozen. it will have to be towed to the repair shop. the mechanic said this is a very common problem with the ford focus, apparently caused by weak and rapidly deteriorating key cylinder components. last week alone, the mechanic replaced 3 of them. i went home and researched on internet. judging from the literally thousands of posts on the internet from focus owners who have had the same problem, it appears to back up what the mechanic said. *nm | |||
| 06/27/2006 | 26000 | 1 | 04/26/2003 |
| I have a 2003 ford focus, which has had several problems with components. as a manual transmission, the car has had several instances where the gears would not enter properly, even while fully engaging the clutch. then on 6/27/06, the ignition refused to move--wouldn't turn or anything. i had to hitch a ride to work from a co-worker, who went out of their way for me, then call winner ford (dover, de) to find out if the chip in my key had gone bad, or what. they informed me during the conversation that this was a very common problem, and that i was unfortunately 1 month outside of my warranty. i asked why it was not recalled or covered, as there were so many problems with this piece, and she had no answer. i had to get towed, which caused damage to my car, then was informed that this work would cost over 200$ to fix the problem, with only a 1 year warranty on the part. when asked, the tech who worked on my car informed me that the same piece would probably go out again, and again, over the course of my ownership. i am now seriously considering trading in this car. this is a very serious concern, for both safety, and the honesty of the dealers. a dealer on site explained to me that these cars had been having this problem for quite some time. i am not one to sue over spilt milk, but some notification would have been nice. i'm a graduate student, with a very large bill for these classes, i cannot afford to dump 300$ (after towing) into a car that holds no resale value, and will probably show many more issues throughout the rest of my time with ford. i have no intention of ever buying a ford again. *nm | |||
| 06/06/2006 | 53000 | 2 | 01/15/2006 |
| Ignition tumblers lock up and key will not turn. vehicle must be towed. the part is dealer only and expensive to fix. this is second time this has happened to me in 6 months. after research i have found this is widespread problem, and ford denies that there is any problem. *jb | |||
| 06/03/2006 | 65300 | 1 | 01/01/2004 |
| Dad*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle the key would not turn in the ignition. an independent mechanic maneuvered the key until the vehicle started; it was then driven to the dealer for inspection. the ignition lock cylinder was replaced. the manufacturer has not been alerted. updated 06/23/06. *jb | |||
| 06/01/2006 | 56000 | 5 | 05/05/2005 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while stopped at a red light both frontal airbags deployed without warning causing the vehicle to rear end the vehicle in front. a police report was filed at the scene and seat belts were in use; no injuries were sustained. the vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop. the mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem. the dealership was alerted. on a separate occasion, the hatch back failed to close, vehicle failed to start, the interior lighting failed and the motor made a knocking sound. this occurred intermittently. the manufacturer was alerted. | |||
| 05/03/2006 | 79000 | 5 | 06/15/2003 |
| On more than one occasion my ignition has locked up. i have been unable to start my car had to have it towed. the lights do not come on but the radio works. i took key out of ignition then came back could not start car, had several people try. have been advised by person who works at dealership of this problem with ford focus car and also same info provided by tow truck driver. i am now without vehicle because not sure of cost to repair. has this happened to other people. *jb | |||
| 04/08/2005 | 1 | ||
| I purchased a used 2003 focus in january of 2004. the car only had about 42000 miles on it. i went to work one day and when i went to start my car the key would not turn. it gets stuck. the wheels lock and i have to jiggle it until it finally comes unstuck. i had to leave my car at work overnight once because of this and the ford dealer told me that it is a common problem but it is not a recall. this needs to be a recall. i will not pay over $200 for something that is happening to more people. *jb | |||
| 04/20/2006 | 54000 | 1 | 04/03/2003 |
| The ignition to my 2003 ford focus would not turn when the key was inserted. was towed to dealership (family ford in netcong, nj) and they said not under warranty or is a recall and charged me $514. after this i searched on internet and see several class action lawsuits and many forums describing the same problem. i also saw statements on the forums that ford is overcharging and should go to a locksmith to get it done for under $150. *nm | |||
| 04/15/2006 | 77000 | 1 | 10/14/2002 |
| I am the owner of a 2003 ford focus and i have several issues. in the last year i have experienced problems with the ignition locking and as well as the steering wheel, i contacted the dealer carey paul ford in decatur, ga and was told that i had to pay for repairs, which i did, after being stranded with my son. this cost me 260.00, i am a single mother and cannot afford to spend money on problems that the manufacturer clearly was aware of. the trunk on the vehicle just randomly opens at any given moment, you're riding along the road and the trunks just opens for no reason. this i find just annoying but would also like to have corrected. my latest issue is that on yesterday 04/16/06, while driving along the steering wheel just became loose and i could barely control the car, i made it to a firestone dealer that recommended that i take the vehicle to the dealer, which i will do first thing in the morning. i can't stop thinking that i or someone else on the road could have been seriously injured or killed. i can't understand how a manufacturer can continue to market a product as safe when clearly there are issues with it. i have found numerous web sites and personally spoken with focus owners with the same problems, what will it take to get ford to take responsibility for it's product. any feedback would be greatly appreciated. *nm | |||
| 04/12/2006 | 2 | ||
| On 4/12/06, the ignition in my 2003 ford focus jammed and was unable to start i was stuck i called the tow service who had me try different ways to start my car however it didn't work. when the driver arrived he hit the key 4-5 times then it unjammed and started up after he turned the car off he had to hit the key again to start the car when we arrived at the dealer in antelope valley, ca the service req informed me the i had to pay $430 to get my car repaired i asked why hasn't the car been recall he didn't have an answer but there are several reports of the same problem with this car i like for someone to look into the problem with this car. *nm | |||
| 04/07/2006 | 38000 | 1 | 03/01/2003 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the ignition intermittently failed to turn when the key was inserted. the ignition sometimes engaged when the key was jiggled, but eventually the ignition completely locked and would not turn. the dealership determined the tumblers were bad and the ignition needed new tumblers. | |||
| 03/17/2006 | 1 | 10/22/2003 | |
| I have an 03 focus with just over 40k mileage, and not even 3 years old yet, just out of warranty. this morning i tried to start the car and the key cylinder tumbler was mechanically frozen and the car would not start. i had the car towed to the dealership, paying $55.50. the dealership told me they would have to drill out the key cylinder and replace the whole unit since the tumblers froze. the dealership also mentioned they were aware of the same problem in other focuses. i believe i should not have to pay a dime and that this is purely a mechanical/warranty/recall issue. i do not know what i will have to pay for this, since the car is still in the shop, but they said i would bear a partial burden. *jb | |||
| 03/15/2006 | 63000 | 2 | 07/04/2004 |
| Ignition locking up. key will not turn or steering unlock. this is second time i have had to replace it. its a 2003 ford focus sedan. it has over 60k miles so no warranty. the entire ignition has to be replaced. the car has to be towed in. the side bar in the ignition fails locking it up. it will leave you stranded with no warning. *jb | |||
| 03/01/2006 | 38675 | 1 | 06/01/2002 |
| My 2003 ford focus with 38,700 miles on it recently needed to have the ignition cylinder replaced as it was corroded. i do not drive me car hard and follow the maintenance guide exactly. i looked online to see if other focus owners have similar problems and found dozens of unofficial complaints by other owners that their ignitions needed to be replaced when their cars had very low mileage as well. on top of this, my sister, who owns the same year and model focus as i do, also had to have her ignition replaced last year. i think ford and other focus owners should be aware of this problem and take steps to correct it. it can be very dangerous to not be able to start one's car, as happened to me. i was only lucky that i was not stranded in an unsafe area at the time. *nm | |||
| 02/07/2006 | 49076 | 1 | 09/30/2004 |
| I own a 2003 ford focus zx3 (std) with 49000 miles. the week of ~2/1/06 to 2/8/06 i began noticing that the key in the ignition was getting stuck and would require some jiggling before the key would turn in the ignition. this happened about 5-10 ten times throughout the week. on 2/8/06 i went out to my parked car and the key would not turn. i tried putting the car in/out of gear, turning the steering wheel sharply, reinserting the key, etc... the car was towed to an auto repair shop. the repair work included drilling out the broken ignition cylinder and replacing the ignition cylinder with a new one. the cost to me was $370. the tow truck operator and mechanic indicated to me that this is a common problem with the ford focus and that they have both towed and repaired quite a few of focuses for this problem. *jb | |||
| 02/25/2006 | 60212 | 1 | |
| Dt*: the contact stated when attempting to start to the engine, the ignition locked. the vehicle could not be started and a lock smith was called. the lock smith removed the old ignition and replaced it with a new one and the vehicle starts normally. | |||
| 02/22/2006 | 42000 | 2 | 06/20/2005 |
| My wife's ford focus has its ignition stuck. a few months back it got stuck but i was able to get it unstuck and start the car. since then the ignition hasn't seemed right. it is always a hassle getting the key to turn. my wife was trying to leave work one day and the key wouldn't turn. i went to help and the key never did turn. i now have to replace the tumblers inside the ignition. it seems that there are a lot of people with this same problem and even after replacing the ignition once it only last a year until they have to replace it again. it costs about $300 to replace. we ended up having to tow her car to my house where i then had to spend the money to fix it. i don't think i should have to do this if everyone is having this same problem. *jb | |||
| 02/16/2006 | 14000 | 1 | 03/01/2003 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the ignition locked up and the vehicle was taken to the dealership. the ignition tumbler was replaced. the ignition locked up again, and the dealership determined the key needed to be replaced because they would not work with the new ignition tumbler. also, the windshield has been replaced three times. the windshield cracked when hit by an object on the highway and overnight, with the source unknown. | |||
| 02/01/2006 | 47000 | 1 | 03/05/2003 |
| 1) i have a 2003 ford focus with an ignition lock problem. the key will not turn. i understand that there are many complaints on this issue and definitely feel it is a safety concern. *nm 2) stuck out in the cold in unsafe neighborhoods. 3) must replace the cylinder at a cost of approximately $300 | |||
| 01/08/2006 | 36233 | 2 | |
| The cylinder lock in my 2003 ford focus has failed me twice,and i have to have it replaced again. there is a lot of complaints and there a ford servicemen that have told me this is a big problem with this car. *jb | |||
| 01/02/2006 | 1 | 04/01/2005 | |
| 2003 ford focus ignition key would not turn. vehicle also shows sign of stalling. *ts ***no answer required*** *jb | |||
| 12/19/2005 | 30000 | 3 | |
| One day may car just didn't start, the ignition cylinder has been replaced- the car has under 49000- and it has already had several problems! the master cylinder( for the brakes) , the ignition cylinder, and several pieces have already had to be replaced on my 2003 ford focus!!! please recall this car! the parts put in the ford focus 2003 during the manufacturing are obviously defective!!!! at the consumers expense they must replace these parts and deal with all the consequences. the ford company should take responsibility for their mistakes! details on problems: 1- my car shuttered started smoking from the hood a bit- and smelled as if something had burned underneath the hood. ( the ignition light came on ) at almost 30000 miles. took it into the deal- they replaced a coil- name unknown. 2- this took several trips into the ford service dept- because it kept happening- before they would actually replace the coil!!! 3- the master cylinder ( brake system) malfunctioned within 30000 miles as well!!! and had to be replaced. 4- the ignition cylinder- with 49000 miles on the car- now has been replaced- no thanks to ford!!! 5- the trunk has never closed properly. i slam it once to close, then i pull up on it to check it's actually locked, it hasn't- maybe on the third time after slamming it shut- it will actually catch and close. these parts are all defective, and it's unjust to the consumers!!!!! *nm | |||
| 12/28/2005 | 38000 | 1 | 10/15/2004 |
| Yesterday i was unable to start my car. i put in the key but it would not turn. there was no warning, no clicking, no difficulties starting my car in the past. after several hours we finally got the car started and took it into the shop. they told me that it was the tumbler and the cost of the repair would be $226. not only did the dealership charge for the damaged part and labor but also to run the diagnostic test in order to find out what was wrong. it cost $79.00 just to have the diagnostic test. i was also informed that this is a common problem in this car. our car only has 38,000 miles on it! my husband called ford customer service number in order to find out what ford was doing to rectify the situation. he was informed that at this time all they could offer was a 12 month warranty on the new part but would not pay for the repair. i have had time do some research and find that there are many complaints of a similar nature. there where quite a few that had to replace this part more than once and in a few cases twice in one year. i consider this a safety issue. this situation could leave individuals stranded. there is no warning! i consider myself lucky because i had just returned from a trip over the mountains for the holidays. i could have been stranded anywhere that i may have turned off my car. it would have cost me to have my car towed to a town with a ford dealership, let alone the cost of lodging and the expense of missing time off work. *nm | |||
| 12/26/2005 | 24 | 09/01/2003 | |
| Starting approx. 7 month's after i purchased my brand new 2003 ford focus from jack byrne ford in mecanicville, ny i started to have problems with my car starting (feburary of 2004). i would place the key in the ignition and attempt to start the car. upon turning the key in the ignition - nothing would happen. the radio would turn on and so would the heat blowers and i would also get some dinging. but, the car failed to start. i have since brought the car to the dealership approx. 4 - 5 times. each time i had gone through an episode of the car not starting and then when it finally started i brought it to the dealership. the unfortunate part is i should have had it towed to the dealership so they can see first hand - how the ignition doesn't turn over. this has happened to me about 2 dozen times. each time ford would return the car to me and it would run for a couple weeks problem free. then sure enough it would start again. anyhow, this past weekend i was at a friends house with my two children - ages 6 and 3 month's. the car would not start. thank god i was at someone's house and i wasn't stuck out in my car in december in the cold with my children!! i appreciate that ford was kind enough to look at my vehicle and attempt to make a correction - but after researching this problem i feel like more should be done about this. i mean i bought a new car so i wouldn't have to deal with things like this. i would hate to feel like i wouldn't ever want to own a ford again. i think they need to rectify this situation and correct this problem. i would write a more aggressive letter - but at the moment the car is starting - so i am not feeling hostile!! please assist.*jb | |||
| 11/16/2005 | 39000 | 3 | 09/14/2005 |
| Ignition switch will not turn. obviously this is a very common problem and i am very surprised that ford would let this go on so long. *nm | |||
| 10/29/2005 | 2 | 08/20/2003 | |
| The ignition on my 2003 ford focus has failed twice. once over a year ago, and again now. the ignition will not turn when i insert the key. *nm | |||
| 10/07/2005 | 48112 | 1 | 11/18/2003 |
| I have a 2003 ford focus zx3, it has just a little over 48,000 miles. one morning (out of blue), the key lock would not turn over. luckily, i was home. as a result, i had it towed into a ford dealership. was charged an arm and a leg by the towing company (ford dealer recommended) and to make things worse, found out that my extended warranty did cover a (key/ignition cylinder) replacement compartment, would of been covered if it were the switch/electrical components of the switch. in the end, i had to pay over $500 for a part that apparently is geared or expected to fail on newer focuses (according to tow co., ford maintenance staff, and the random internet searches). i called ford directly, and at this point they do not have a recall because the government hasn't determined it to be a safety problem (they acknowledge a problem also). i guess if i were stuck up in the snow packed sandia mountains and my toes froze off, hey maybe they would consider it a problem. please, can you check into this, i hate to see other unsuspecting buyers, drivers, get hit with this unnecessary burden and out-of-pocket expense. any assistance you can provide, will be greatly appreciated. *nm | |||
| 10/07/2005 | 40000 | 1 | 10/18/2004 |
| I have a 2003 ford focus, and just recently my ignition went out. the key will not turn and the steering wheel is locked. i know various people who own a focus and have had the very same problem. it barely started to stick the day before it finally went out. i currently am looking into my options on how to fix the problem. i am having a very hard time getting to work and getting around in general. it is very hard especially with two children. luckily it didn't lock up on me while i was driving. *nm | |||
| 10/12/2005 | 56000 | 1 | 03/17/2003 |
| The ignition of our 2003 ford focus will not allow the key to turn. there was no warning that there was a problem until it was time to leave for work and the key would go into the lock, the bell would sound, but the lock would not turn. according to the dealer this is a common problem with the ford focus, and they suggest you either get the car towed to their shop, or, if you can, drive it to their shop to have it fixed. the price to fix the problem is approximately $350.00 and is only guaranteed for one year. the car is two and a half years old. *nm | |||
| 10/09/2005 | 4000 | 0 | 03/17/2003 |
| I have a 2003 ford focus with 44,000 miles on it. the ignition locks too frequently and has cost me not only money, but job related time and costs. i was told that it was not covered under warranty let alone as a recall. don't you need the ignition to ignite to use the car? *nm | |||
| 09/25/2005 | 46500 | 3 | 10/07/2004 |
| Ford focus needed ignition tumblers replaced because the old ones locked up about 4 hours from home. luckily i read that almost everyone with a focus has had the same exact problems; however, ford has not done anything to remedy the situation. i had a lock smith fix the problems whom aaa referred me to. i will never ever buy a ford again and am trying very hard to become part of a class action suit against ford for ignoring this problem. i also tell everyone i meet not to buy a focus or any other type of ford because of their poor quality. *jb | |||
| 09/02/2005 | 52000 | 1 | 05/20/2005 |
| I own a 2003 ford focus which has 52,000 miles on it. the ignition on the car has locked up completely and the ignition key will not turn the ignition at all. i have contacted the local ford dealership where i was told by their service dept. that this hasn't been issued as a recall by ford but they has several ford focus' coming in for ignition repair. ford assumes no liability at this point but they are happily charging approx. $500 for the ignition repair at their shop. i am very unsatisfied and feel that with the large # of ford focus owners who have experienced this same complaint, something should be done on a larger scale as it is obvious there is an issue with the mechanics of the ignition. a popular web site that offers advice to auto owners is www.edmunds.com and there is a large posting of complaints on this website pertaining to this matter. this can be found at the following web address: http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.eea50dc please reply and let me know if any assistance is available. sincerely, patrick miller. *nm | |||
| 06/14/2005 | 38000 | 1 | 11/23/2003 |
| Dt: 2003 ford focus. the ignition tumbler failed at 38,000 miles. randomly, the key was hard to put in and then it went out. the battery failed as well. the vehicle was no longer under warranty. both problems have not been fixed at ford. the battery went out yesterday and the consumer purchased a new one. the ignition tumbler started about 2 months ago. | |||
| 09/04/2005 | 39000 | 2 | 03/31/2003 |
| This is the second time in 1 year that i have had to have my ignition lock cylinder replaced in my 2003 ford focus zx3. *jb | |||
| 08/09/2005 | 37000 | 0 | 04/28/2005 |
| Ignition locked up towed to hilltop ford in maysville kentucky. was told ignition locked up and column would have to be replaced at a cost of $755.69. the warranity went off just 1,000 miles before this happened. was told they have had many of these problems a car was coming in for the same thing when we left. | |||
| 07/20/2005 | 46000 | 3 | 08/13/2003 |
| The ignition has locked three (3) times on a 2003 ford focus in less than a two year time period. it appears that the ignition switch and/or components are substandard since the part has been replaced on two previous occasions. the ignition locked for the third time on july 20, 2005. the vehicle is currently at a local ford dealership for a repair or replacement of the ignition. the car was under warranty the first two (2) instances of this problem. however, the warranty has expired and this appears to be an ongoing problem. | |||
| 05/12/2005 | 1 | 02/28/2003 | |
| I bought a 2003 ford focus brand new in february 2003. the car had about 300 miles on it. yesterday the ignition switch went out costing me over $250. this is not normal wear and tear! i went into a restaurant and came out. i was stranded. i've searched the internet for similar situations/complaints and other people had similar situations. i understand batteries going dead or wear and tear on brakes. i've never had this happen before. i've never owned a ford before either! is there something wrong with ford? is this statement true?: fixed or repaired daily. | |||
| 04/11/2005 | 1 | 08/07/2004 | |
| On april 11, 2005, as i was leaving work in the evening, i placed the key in the ignition and could not turn the key. the following day, i spent some time on the telephone with several mechanics and key makers trying to determine the problem. i finally understood that it was a faulty ignition cylinder. on april 14 i had the car towed into bohn ford inc. at 401 n. carrollton avenue, new orleans, la 70119. (504) 485-2646. while the car was at the dealership, i searched the internet and learned from one website that there were at least 137 other people who had the same problem that i had. i found a second website with another list of people who were sharing their experiences of the faulty ignition cylinder lock. two people who posted onto the website mentioned the po5. i understood from them that the car could have been fixed for $24.58. the car had to be under six years old and under 75,000 miles. the staff at the bohn ford dealership was very considerate and understanding of my situation; however, when i requested a po5, they told me that while they were sure that i qualified , their office was not authorized to apply for a po5 at this time. my total bill came to $396.69 to drill out, code, and replace the ignition cylinder lock; and to cut, erase, and program two pat keys. the ignition cylinder lock problem on the ford focus can be traced at least as far back as 2001. therefore i urge you to begin a recall on the ignition cylinder lock. *jb | |||
| 02/27/2005 | 43000 | 6 | |
| We are a franchisee of an auto rental company. we have had a half dozen ford focuses that the ignition switches have failed on. these vehicles have mileage in the range of 40,000-45,000 miles. the ignition switch will just quit working. we have had to have the vehicles towed in every instance, and ford has refused to do anything about it or make any adjustments. it costs us over $400 every time. something should be done about it. these have been 2003-2004 model vehicles. *ak | |||
| 04/16/2004 | 38430 | 2 | 12/27/2002 |
| We bought a new ford focus in december of 2002. in march 2004, with about 20,000 miles on it, the ignition switch started to act up. when inserted into the ignition the key got stuck and would not turn on several occasions. after spending about 20 to 40 minutes of wiggling the key and knocking on the steering column it would finally turn. we brought it to the dealership in april after being stuck at night for almost 2 hours on a deserted parking lot. the ignition cylinder was replaced under warranty because the mechanic himself was not able to turn the key. yesterday, on 25 feb 2005, the same problem started up again. the dealership checked it out but we are off warranty, so we will have to pay for it ourselves. it is a very frustrating thought that after spending all that money, it may happen again in several month. after reading all the complaints of other focus owners regarding the same issue, we are very disappointed that ford does not make any allowances to get the problem fixed permanently. we have owned our cars usually up to 10 years or so and never had to replace an ignition cylinder before on any of them. *jb | |||
| 02/15/2005 | 1 | ||
| Once the key is inserted into the ignition consumer is unable to start the vehicle, and is unable to turn the key. the steering wheel locks. the vehicle was towed to a dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the ignition cylinder needed to be replaced. *ak | |||
| 01/31/2005 | 54188 | 5 | 02/28/2003 |
| Ignition switch/steering column housing unit. *ak | |||
| 12/01/2004 | 12 | 03/01/2003 | |
| Three transmission failures and replacements. the engine, starter/ignition and 1 gear shift all replacements and other various problems. *bf four cd player replacements, the brakes failed, and 1 alarm failure. *sc the engine was also replaced. *jb | |||
| 01/04/2005 | 28406 | 1 | 07/23/2004 |
| Bought a 2003 ford focus iin july 04 and on 1/4/05 (28,406 miles) went to start vehicle and key went into ignition hard and would not turn at all. ignition had locked up. nothing would work and wheels were locked. had to be towed and technician had trouble due to wheels locking. found many complaints on internet of this problem in the focus. car was under warranty and it was fixed but if same faulty ignition cylinder is installed the problem will happen again and again.*ak | |||
| 01/04/2004 | 1 | ||
| Bought a 2003 used ford focus in july 04 and on tuesday, jan. 4 went to start vehicle and key would not go into ignition. nothing worked wheels were locked. had to be towed and tech had trouble due to wheels locked. found many more complaints on internet about this trouble in focuses. *ak | |||
| 10/25/2004 | 36915 | 40 | 09/25/2004 |
| I recently purchased a used 2003 ford focus from menlove dodge toyota in bountiful in late september. verything was going fine, until one day my wife comes home an hour late from work saying that the keys for our car would turn in the ignition, she had to enlist the help 2 other co-workers & finally got it started after an hour of trying it. o i went out to take a look at the ignition and sure enough the key would not turn until after a bout 20-30 tries. so then i got to thinking, with this car having less than 50,000 miles on it i should have it looked at. after talking to other people & doing research on the internet, it appears to be a very common problem, which ford apparently fails to acknowledge. this is a very serious problem as what if you were driving on the freeway & your car stops running, your going 65 mph, the steering wheel locks because the key wont turn to the on position again. i called to get a quote on getting this fixed and was told it would cost me in the ball park of 200-300 dollars for a defect that is obviously a know problem by ford. have found a message board that other for focus owners have posted information on with the same complaint. my felling is, with so many ford focus owners out there with the same problem, ford needs to step up and admit there is a problem & issue a recall on these ignitions. here is the url to the site i referred to: http://www.autowhiz.com/messageboards/message.php?id=1784&page=1*ak | |||
| 09/09/2004 | 19000 | 1 | |
| The consumer heard a grinding noise coming from the rear brake drums. the dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak the rear drum brake pads were defective, parts and compound were missing, trim under the steering column was missing, the transmission was slipping in first, second and third gear, and the ignition was damaged. *sc *jb | |||
| 11/12/2004 | 25000 | 2 | 02/14/2004 |
| 2003 ford focus -- ignition locks and cannot be released to start the car. dealer (smith ford in lordsburg, nm) has to tow in to work on and last time even replaced the ignition. i am told that this small dealer has had 3 different focus' with the same problem. *jb | |||
| 10/31/2004 | 30000 | 1 | 02/13/2003 |
| My ignition locked. i had to have it towed to the dealership to be repaired. *jb | |||
| 10/22/2004 | 25221 | 2 | 05/03/2004 |
| I started my car normally and drove to the store. when i came out from the store i got in my car, inserted my key in the ignition and attempted to start my car. the car would not start and my sterring wheel stayed in a locked position. i toggled my key in the ignition to no avail my car would not start. i ended up have to call a tow truck , who was the driver saw the model car immediately tapped on the ignition cylinder with a ball peen hammer and was able to start the car. what he said is this is common in ford focus.*ak | |||
| 09/08/2004 | 23000 | 3 | 05/30/2004 |
| Ignition switch becomes locked and will not turn.*ak | |||
| 08/14/2004 | 1 | ||
| 2003 ford focus ignition ceased to function. ehicle needed to be towed and serviced by ford. esearch on internet indicates this is an extremely widespread problem among ford focus owners, with many owners needing to repair or replace the ignition several times over the course of a few years.*ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER | |||
| 02/17/2010 | 132000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact attempted to start the ignition. however, the engine failed to start. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the failure was contributed to the security system; pass security switch. the repair part was ordered. the vehicle has not been repaired due to the unavailability of the part. the contact had concern of the safety issue involved. the failure mileage was 132,000. | |||
| 02/17/2008 | 72000 | 1 | 01/28/2008 |
| I have a 2003 ford focus and my key wont start my car. when you place the key in the ignition the key wont turn. *tr | |||
| 07/05/2007 | 24282 | 30 | 11/01/2005 |
| (1)from the time i bought the car 1-1/2 years ago, the ignition switch would sometimes freeze, disabling the car from being started. at first, i just had to turn the wheel in the car and then the ignition switch would work. (2)about a month ago, the ignition switch completely froze. i had to have the car towed to my home. i was told by one of the tow truck men who came to tow my car that this ignition switch was a factory defect in almost every american-made car. (3)i wrote to ford in detroit and filed a complaint. they did not even grace my complaint with a response. i then got an estimate of the cost to repair from the service director at capistrano ford. he told me it would be $260 to $280. i had to wait until this month as i am on social security disability income and had already allocated my money going out for june. on july 3 i was finally able to have my car towed to the dealer. when i spoke to the service manager, he informed me that i was quoted wrong on the cost of repair and that it would be $403 to repair. i complained, reached the director of the service department again and told him of my complaint regarding the higher pricer. the service director told me he could knock off $70 of the bill by taking the cost out of his technician's hide. i disputed that as being unfair, and told him that ford (in detroit) should be paying for this, not his technician. he told me he would try to knock off even more of the cost. later in the afternoon, the service manager called to tell me my car was ready. when asked how much the charges were, he told me $50 bucks! he told me they had decided to charge the service to ford in detroit and did the work as a courtesy service with a $50 deductible. again, this ignition switch is known by tow truck people to be a factory defective part in just about every american-made car. my car is only 4 years old and has less than 25,000 miles on it. please recall this ignition switch on every american-made car. *tr | |||
| 03/01/2007 | 50000 | 25 | 08/31/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the ignition key gets stuck in the ignition or the key fails to start the vehicle completely. the failure occurs intermittently. the dealer stated that she needs a new key or a new ignition. the engine size was unknown. the current mileage is 55,000 and failure mileage was 50,000. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||
| 03/07/2008 | 60000 | 1 | 11/24/2003 |
| Placed key into 2003 ford focus and cannot turn key in ignition. the ignition is locked up. car has only 60,000 miles!!! *tr | |||
| 11/12/2007 | 51256 | 1 | 03/13/2006 |
| When i put my key into my car it will not turn. while this may not be an obvious safety risk, it can lead to serious problems if you are stranded somewhere. ford knows about this problem with focus, yet has done nothing to correct it. i ended up stranded for over an hour as i waited for someone to pick me up, finally i banged the key out of frustration and i was able to turn it. this is a serious safety matter to me, as i am a single woman. ford needs to take responsibility and recall their defective ignition cylinders. i will now have to spend at least $400 to fix this, and it's something that there is no guarantee won't happen in the future, as it will be replaced with the same defective mechanism. *tr | |||
| 10/18/2007 | 66715 | 5 | 08/15/2004 |
| While in dangerous situation my ford focus again had a key fail in the ignition. i had taken it to ford, while still under warranty, and asked for it to be replaced and they said, oh, it's ok, just jiggle it. that does not work. eventually it will come free, usually, but now it seems to be permanently stuck. no, there is no tension on the steering wheel from a partly turned front wheel. if this happened to my wife or daughters in a dangerous neighborhood, i would just go berserk. *tr | |||
| 09/09/2007 | 24000 | 3 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the steering wheel has to be unlocked for the vehicle to start. on september 09, 2007, after many attempts, she was finally able to place the key in the ignition and unlock the steering column. on september 14, 2007, the contact had to leave the vehicle at her job because the steering column failed to unlock. the vehicle was towed to her residence. she scheduled an appointment with the dealer for september 22, 2007. the purchase date was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 24,000. *updated 12/12/07 *bf the consumer stated the igniton module was repalced. updated 12/12/07 | |||
| 03/17/2007 | 60000 | 10 | 12/29/2004 |
| 2003 ford focus - an apparent known defect yet still not a recall or reimbursable expense to fix. we are unable to start the car. the key goes into the ignition, but won't turn the switch... ford's fix is to replace the cylinder at over $300.00 and a new security key at $150.00. | |||
| 01/08/2006 | 60000 | 50 | 01/10/2004 |
| The key goes into ignition but will not turn at all to start the car. this is a continued problem. in minnesota when it is 30 below, there is no excuse to not be able to start your car and failure to do so could result in serious adverse events on consumer health. i do not feel safe traveling in the vehicle and plan to sell is very soon. *jb | |||
| 09/16/2005 | 30000 | 4 | |
| Dt: the consumer had problems with the vehicle since purchase. the vehicle caught on fire on september 16, 2005. the motor was off, and it burst into flames. the fire department came and they said it look like it started from the wiring harness. the vehicle stalled before it caught on fire. was having the same problem two weeks before, and took it to dealer. they replaced some ignition items. also, was having latches, brakes, and engine problems. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH | |||
| 02/09/2013 | 168000 | 1 | |
| Ignition switch won't turn. happened in bad part of town. this is a serious safety issue. *tr | |||
| 12/15/2012 | 1 | ||
| Ignition switch failed to turn. internet research indicates defective switch. tapping key with hammer allowed the switch to work properly and continue to work properly as long as the key is not removed. once the key is removed, the ignition switch again freezes and will not turn. *tr | |||
| 05/05/2010 | 53600 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated when he placed his key in the ignition, the ignition switch locked and would not turn over. the dealer was contacted and advised him to bang on the steering column to allow the key to turn the ignition. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the ignition switch was replaced. the failure mileage was 53,600 and the current mileage was 53,850. | |||
| 05/15/2010 | 54000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition switch became stuck and she was unable to start the vehicle for three hours; she also noted that the steering wheel would not move. the steering column had to be taken apart so that the steering wheel would move so the wheels could line up in order for the vehicle to be towed home. the contact had not called the manufacturer at the time of the complaint. the failure mileage was approximately 54,000. | |||
| 11/25/2009 | 66450 | 1 | |
| The ignition switch on my ford focus wagon (2003) jammed. ford charged me $430 to fix it, even though the part is defective and needs to be replaced in many, many vehicles. *tr | |||
| 09/21/2009 | 140000 | 1 | |
| Ignition switch will not turn. *tr | |||
| 08/14/2009 | 1 | ||
| The ignition switch on out 2003 ford focus continually jams and will not allow the key to turn and start the car. this can be remedied on occasion by hitting the key while in place, but the time it takes to get it unjammed varies. we're afraid this may happen while my wife and child are out somewhere and there is no one to help them, thus leaving them stranded. we've looked online and discovered this is an inherent problem with this model. this happens at least twice in any given day; sometimes it's more often than that. the only real solution we have at the moment is to leave the key in the ignition, but this makes the car prone to being stolen, thus leaving us with no transportation. we tried contacting ford directly and were told to call back on monday. as we understand it from our online research, this problem continues even after replacing the ignition switch. as far as we know, there is no recall about this, although a class action suit has been filed in california regarding this issue. *tr | |||
| 08/10/2009 | 44899 | 1 | |
| The ignition switch will not turn on my 2003 ford focus. this car only has 45000 miles and has been treated gently. i've read 100's of posts online about this same issue and yet ford is reluctant to recall this or even offer a discount. *tr | |||
| 06/01/2009 | 82000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the ignition switch would lock up on several occasions. the ignition would not turn when the key was inserted, which prevented the vehicle from being started. the manufacturer would not assist or assume liability under warranty since there were no recalls. the failure and current mileages were less than 82,000. | |||
| 02/02/2009 | 54000 | 1 | |
| 2003 ford focus zx5. ignition switch won't turn. can't start car. *tr | |||
| 01/29/2009 | 1 | ||
| The ignition switch on my 2003 ford focus has been failing to work properly. half the time i have to jiggle the steering wheel as i turn the key in order for my start to start. this has been happening off and on for a couple of months now. then tonight, i got stranded at the supermarket and was stuck for hours waiting for roadside assistance. the dispatcher not only sent out the wrong person to assist me, but the first tow truck that came wasn't properly to tow my car due to the way i was parked so i had to wait for a second tow truck (a third person). now my car won't start at all, the wheel is completely locked up, and the only way to get it to the mechanic is to call a tow truck again. however, upon doing a google search, i found that i am not the only one with this problem. and frankly, this car is my family's only decent form of transportation, so without it we're pretty much stuck. *tr | |||
| 12/15/2008 | 1 | ||
| My 2003 ford focus key wouldn't not turn. it finally broke off into the ignition switch which left my daughter strained at captain d's. we had to have it towed home. we are having a hard time getting it fix when you're on a low budget. *tr | |||
| 10/05/2008 | 65000 | 1 | |
| On 5 different occasions the key / ignition switch has stuck and not allowed me to start my can. this problem has left me stranded 2 times where i was unable to receive help for more than 8 hours. i contacted a ford dealership and was told that this was a common problem and that there was no safety recall for this and it would cost $400 to $600 to repair it. i did find a locksmith to repair it for $250.00 and was told by the tech that he repairs this problem on the ford focus 2 to 3 times a week. *tr | |||
| 04/23/2008 | 50000 | 1 | |
| Place key into the ignition and the key would not turn. there is only 50k on the car. *tr | |||
| 03/10/2008 | 1 | ||
| Ignition switch won't turn in my 2003 ford focus. left me stranded in the parking lot at the airport. *tr | |||
| 02/21/2008 | 38000 | 1 | 09/14/2005 |
| I got in my car and placed the key in to start yesterday and the key would not turn. the ignition had locked up. after several tries i was able to turn the key, it happened again, however, this morning. i was trying to return home and unable to start my car, i had to wait in my car for an hour until someone could bring me the key (it is currently 22 | |||
| 01/25/2008 | 62000 | 50 | 04/19/2007 |
| Key will not turn in the ignition of my 2003 ford focus. *tr | |||
| 01/19/2008 | 71000 | 1 | 06/10/2003 |
| Ignition switch would not turn. left stranded. *tr | |||
| 12/27/2007 | 46500 | 1 | |
| The ignition on our 2003 ford focus failed. i was out of town visiting relatives in omaha and stopped at the omaha sams club. when i came out of the store to go home, the ignition would not turn. it was frozen so the key could not move it at all. as a result, i was stuck at a store. i called relatives and we arranged for a tow truck to take it to the ford dealership. the ignition cylinder was replaced and we were billed $339.00 for the repair. i have never heard of this type of failure on any vehicle yet it is supposedly a common problem with the ford focus. *tr | |||
| 01/08/2008 | 1 | ||
| The entire steering wheel and ignition cylinder locked on my 2003 ford focus ztw. apparently, this is a big problem, requiring replacement of the cylinder. this has left me stranded without a car. *tr | |||
| 01/04/2008 | 8000 | 5 | 10/25/2003 |
| My mother purchased a new 2003 ford focus from lofink's ford in carthage, ny late in 2003 several times over the first three years she had the car, there was a problem with the ignition switch/steering column. she was unable to turn the key to start the vehicle. she repeatedly tried the key/steering wheel and was eventually able to get the key to turn. when she reported this to the dealership within the warranty period, she was told that sometimes this happened, that she should just jiggle the key/etc. she relocated to belton, tx in jun 07 to be near me, her daughter. on 30 sep 07 the car had the same issue, except that no amount of jiggling the key/steering column would allow the key to turn. the car was towed to johnson brothers ford in temple, tx. the dealership diagnostics read as follows: ignition system diag found ignition switch binding replaced ignition switch, retest sytem ok. the ignition switch would not turn had to drill out ign lock cylinder to remove. this cost: $474.67 which was not covered because the car had 16,505 miles on it at that time and was out of warranty. i pursued this issue with the repairing dealership, the selling dealership, and ford motor company (in writing) to no avail, requesting a good faith reimbursment. today the switch failed again and the car is now being towed for repair.*cn | |||
| 12/20/2007 | 75000 | 50 | 08/15/2003 |
| Ignition switch lock barrel failure. this is an ongoing well-known problem about the ford focus that ford seems happy to ignore. *tr | |||
| 01/06/2007 | 1 | ||
| Key gets stuck in ignition. *tr | |||
| 11/21/2007 | 63951 | 1 | 04/03/2007 |
| Ignition key would not turn. i was stranded away form home, had to call a tow truck and have the care towed to the dealer. internet research shows that this is a common problem with the 2000-2003 ford focus cars and ford has not issued a re-call, although they have issue a tsb 05-21-17 in reference to the ignition switch problems. *tr | |||
| 11/12/2007 | 51256 | 1 | 03/13/2006 |
| When i put my key into my car it will not turn. while this may not be an obvious safety risk, it can lead to serious problems if you are stranded somewhere. ford knows about this problem with focus, yet has done nothing to correct it. i ended up stranded for over an hour as i waited for someone to pick me up, finally i banged the key out of frustration and i was able to turn it. this is a serious safety matter to me, as i am a single woman. ford needs to take responsibility and recall their defective ignition cylinders. i will now have to spend at least $400 to fix this, and it's something that there is no guarantee won't happen in the future, as it will be replaced with the same defective mechanism. *tr | |||
| 08/30/2007 | 82000 | 1 | 01/31/2007 |
| 2003 ford focus. *tr | |||
| 10/15/2007 | 92500 | 1 | 11/08/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the key would not turn when it was inserted in the ignition. he had to shake the steering wheel and move it for 15 - 30 minutes before the vehicle would start. he took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the ignition cylinder switch needed to be replaced at the cost of $512. the current mileage was 93,000 and failure mileage was 92,500. | |||
| 10/18/2007 | 50000 | 1 | 02/15/2005 |
| In july 2007 the ignition key locked up and could not be turned to start the engine. i managed to get it to turn (no, it was because the steering wheel was holding) and drove it to the ford dealership. they had to replace the key cylinder for nearly $400. despite numerous complaints and a 100,000-mile warranty, this service was not covered. the mechanic suggested that the keys were worn out and that i needed to make a new key to prevent future failure. i did so and only use the new key to start the car. now, only 3 months later, the ignition periodically sticks as if it is about to start locking up again. if i push the key in firmly, it will turn normally. this is a poor quality mechanism and ford should recall this before it happens to someone on a 40-below winter night. i will never buy another ford because of this issue. | |||
| 09/25/2007 | 1 | 04/14/2003 | |
| Without warning, and with no prior occurrence, the key would not turn in the ignition of my 2003 focus. a friend rescued me and drove me back to work the next morning. i contacted my local ford dealer, where i had purchased this car brand new - along with a 7 year extended warranty. first, the service department rep tried to play dumb' when i stated that i'm having the ignition problem and he later told me that it's not covered by my warranty. i have pulled out and read the warranty. ignition switch is covered by my basecare policy. (i will bring it in hand when i have the car serviced in 2 days.) meanwhile, another person at the service desk hinted that i may be able to tap it with a hammer so that it will turn and could drive to the dealer and not have to be towed. sure enough, a tap of the hammer allowed me to turn the key. i will leave the key in the ignition through the weekend and am struggling with the thought that a replacement from ford will be another defective part. whether my warranty covers it or not, i don't want another bad ignition switch! from all that i have read, it seems that a locksmith would replace it with a better quality device than ford dealers service departments are using. *tr | |||
| 02/03/2005 | 40000 | 6 | 09/01/2004 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start when he turned the ignition. she called her insurance company and they advised her to strike the ignition with something, however, the vehicle was able to start moments later. the failure began in 2005 and has occurred six times. the contact took the vehicle to the mechanic and they stated that the ignition switch needed replacing. the current mileage was approximately 60,000 and failure mileage was 40,000. | |||
| 08/30/2007 | 32900 | 1 | 12/30/2003 |
| Ignition cylinder total failure. key would not turn at all. search term ignition cylinderford focus on the net and you will be amazed how big of a problem this. why a safety issue. well, what would happen if i stopped the car somewhere and was stuck in the desert in the 112 degree heat, which by the way is the temperature that existed when it happened in mesa az. i was lucky the car was home. *tr updated 12/12/07 *tr | |||
| 08/27/2007 | 1 | ||
| My car was running fine then suddenly the ignition switch won't turn. tumbler broke $350 at dealership. common problem with these cars, yet dealer won't warranty. *tr | |||
| 09/19/2006 | 1 | ||
| Ignition switch failure. *jb | |||
| 12/04/2006 | 1 | 12/31/2003 | |
| Ignition key switch would not turn to start key. i had to replace the lock assembly on 2003 ford focus i bought brand new 12/31/2003. told by scott reynolds of reynold's ford that even one of his mechanic's wife had same problem as a number of people have.*jb | |||
| 06/30/2007 | 76000 | 1 | 10/20/2006 |
| 2003 ford focus ignition switch failed, causing the tires, steering wheel and ignition to lock. therefore, car became inoperable. a subsequent tow damaged the car before being taken to repair shop.*ak | |||
| 03/01/2006 | 2 | 03/14/2001 | |
| One evening stopped at the store, turned car off, went back to start car, ignition would not turn over. called towing company, they were able to turn it over. informed me i needed to get the ignition switch replaced. looked around found an lock smith that could do it, charged an arm and leg. the problem is recurring and will need to be replaced again. ford is not responding to the problem, i am not the only one, a petition has been issued with over 900 signatures with the same problem. ford needs to resolve this issue with a recall. *tr | |||
| 01/05/2007 | 25700 | 30 | 05/01/2006 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. the contact stated that the ignition switch would lock up and the key was unable to be turned. a mechanic diagnosed the vehicle as needing a new ignition cylinder. the ignition cylinder has been replaced. the engine size was unknown. the current mileage is 39,035 and failure mileage was 25,700. | |||
| 05/07/2007 | 43000 | 3 | |
| The ignition won't work. i cannot turn the key in the ignition. i have had trouble turning it before, but usually after turning the steering wheel or jiggling the gear shift it would work. nothing is working today.*ak | |||
| 12/01/2005 | 43000 | 3 | 07/01/2005 |
| The key stuck in the ignition switch on my 2003 focus pzev. when it finally released it would no longer turn. i had the veihicle towed by aaa and had a aaa locksmith come to repair the ignition which i was told is not covered under my warrenty, at a cost of $300. the locksmith said it is a common problem on the focus. one month later the locksmith had to come back out to repair it again. a year later i must turn the key back a notch to remove it from the ignition. it will cost me another $300 to have the repair repeated. the locksmith says that the problem is with the part itself and will continue to happen. | |||
| 02/16/2007 | 42500 | 3 | 09/01/2005 |
| I have owned 3 ford focus: one 2000 and two 2003. all three vehicles have had an ignition cylinder failure which cost in excess of $300 each time. the key will not turn in the ignition and this happens without warning. on three occasions i have been stranded and had to call aaa to get be to a garage for repair. i have cited only the most recent incident in this complaint. this is a known problem and i fail to see why a recall was never issued. ford should be held accountable. *nm | |||
| 01/15/2007 | 2 | ||
| Key will not turn inside the ignition. this happened several weeks ago as well, but i was able to jiggle it loose. this time it is stuck and 40 minutes of jiggling, wd40, and frustration did not work. i am still working on what to do about it. *nm | |||
| 01/11/2006 | 42000 | 21 | 03/16/2004 |
| The key insertion cylinder (located next to the steering wheel): it will eventually lock into place and will not turn -- making it impossible to turn the key and drive. the safety hazard: when my 2003 ford focus lost power and needed to be restarted on the road, the key insertion cylinder locks into place, making it dangerous to turn the wheel -- because the steering wheel locks when the key cylinder is in the key insert/begin position. there are several horror stories, on the internet, about ford focus vehicle owners who have been stranded because of a faulty key ignition cylinder; or their car will not turn off because their key is stuck in the start position. ford dealerships will only cover this item if it warranted, but neglect the product design and refuse to consider a product recall. this typical item cost over $250 with labor. eventually, even with a new key cylinder, the problem will start to exist again, costing the consumer and creating a serious hazard for our citizens on american roadways. the problem is current in my vehicle and i am authorizing the national highway traffic safety administration to use my vehicle as an investigative tool. *jb | |||
| 01/06/2007 | 72010 | 4 | 12/08/2004 |
| Ford focus 2003 for several occasions the ignition lock key cylinder had not worked, i was not able to turn the key and get the car to start. consequences, first i was not able to take my child to the emergency room until another vehicle arrived, another consequence, i was late to work, then it was in the middle of the night on a dangerous area of town, risking my life. finally it got stuck at the airport and had to call a tow truck. *jb | |||
| 08/19/2006 | 31000 | 1 | 10/15/2004 |
| Ford focus 2003: the ignition mechanism stopped working with no warning. the key could not be fully inserted into the ignition or turned. subsequently, the car could not be started. at first, the key could be tapped into the ignition, but that only worked a few times. eventually i had to have the whole tumbler mechanisms replaced in the ignition. *nm | |||
| 05/12/2006 | 0 | 45 | 05/05/2003 |
| My car is only three and a half years old and for the last 8 to 10 months i have been having problems with the ignition switch. if i turn the car off it is very, very hard to get the key to turn over. i took it to a locksmith who said that they have been getting a lot of people who own ford and mercury vehicles coming in with the same kind of problems. they also said that ford has redesigned their switches several times and still come up with the same problems that i am experiencing. i was wondering why no kind of recall has been issued. *jb | |||
| 12/24/2006 | 1 | ||
| Ignition lock of ford focus 2003 broke and we were unable to move the car away from a driveway that was blocked since it was not possible to turn the ignition key. one mechanic was paid to try to start the car but he was not successful (but he was still paid). eventually, we learned from the www that this was a wide-spread problem. a locksmith was called who replaced the lock and was paid. in addition to the financial expense, transportation to and from the location of the car and the time spent were significant costs. *nm | |||
| 12/11/2006 | 76000 | 1 | |
| Dt*: the contact stated the ignition switch jammed and the switch would not turn. the service dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. | |||
| 11/17/2006 | 36558 | 1 | 05/01/2003 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the engine with the keys in the ignition, the ignition locked and would not turn. after several attempts, the ignition turned and the engine started. the vehicle was inspected by a dealer, who determined the ignition switch needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was alerted. updated 01/19/07. *jb | |||
| 11/24/2006 | 1 | ||
| The steering wheel locked up and i couldn't turn the ignition key. i had to call aaa to send a locksmith to replace my ignition switch. he said that this happened a lot with focuses. i researched the problem and discovered that this is a common problem in ford focus, but ford has not addressed the problem. *jb | |||
| 11/05/2006 | 8 | ||
| Steering wheel locks and car will not start. i am finding out this is a common problem with the ford focus. this could leave us stranded. it happens more often as times passes. as this seems to be a common problem, i feel the repair should be covered by ford. *jb | |||
| 10/30/2006 | 1 | ||
| My 2003 ford focus will not start because the key will not turn. i've tried a number of tactics to get the car to start but failed. after much research online, i've learned that this is a very common problem any my problem has all the same symptoms. luckily, the problem has occurred at home and as only left me with one very inconvenient problem; however, it could have happened where personal safety could have been an issue. *jb | |||
| 10/26/2006 | 49000 | 1 | 09/01/2003 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the key would not turn the ignition. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the ignition switch. updated 11/30/06. *jb | |||
| 10/14/2006 | 48500 | 1 | |
| 2003 ford focus ignition is locking up with the key in it multiple times. *nm | |||
| 09/30/2006 | 49980 | 1 | 02/15/2005 |
| 1st- trunk latch does not disengage, i have taken it to the dealership in my nearest town. after 3-4 times of adjusting and oiling, it still does not release correctly, when you push the dashboard release, open the trunk it closes the latch on its own, you cant close the trunk unless you repress the dash release, which is difficult with arms full, or pull the safety release provided for not getting locked in the trunk, this has been going on since i purchased my car. 2nd- my ignition froze up yesterday morning. no for warning. hadn't had any problems. now i have to get back to my car and get it to the garage. being newer to the area and no other vehicle at my disposal it is definitely going to cost me not to mention the repair cost. 3rd- oh my god--- i just read about the back door problems people have been having, i transport very precious cargo back there, my grand children, being that there are 3 of them two have to be by the door. i will have the service area check my doors when they fix the ignition. why wasn't i told about this. *nm | |||
| 08/12/2006 | 45500 | 1 | 06/16/2003 |
| Failure of the ignition switch on my 2003 ford focus se. key switch just stopped turning. replacement of switch: part $89, towing: $60, labor $250...getting the steering wheel fixed later, after it was not installed properly: $100. i have done a search on this failure...there are many hundreds of complaints on the ford focus enthusiasts sites. *nm | |||
| 09/21/2006 | 60000 | 1 | 02/20/2003 |
| (1) no event lead up to the failure; it was unexpected (2) the ignition switch failed on the vehicle,which resulted in us not being able to start the car. (3) the car has been towed to the dealership. we are awaiting to here the results from the diagnostic testing. *nm | |||
| 08/12/2006 | 57038 | 1 | 08/09/2003 |
| My complaint is about the ignition cylinder locking up on my 2003 ford focus. the ignition locked up on me as i was leaving my mother's house august 12, 2006. when i inserted my key i found that it would not turn at all and the steering column had locked up as well. leaving me stranded, i called a tow truck who towed my car to the local ford dealership in which i purchased my car. the tow truck driver told me i was the fourth focus he had towed that week with this same problem. this happened on a friday night, so i had to wait until monday morning to find out what was wrong and get my car back. this left me stranded all weekend, which meant i missed work all weekend. i am very upset that i had to pay for this to be fixed on my car, especially knowing that ford has known about these faulty ignition switches for years. my main concern for this problem and reason i am so upset is that ford has said this is not a safety issue and will not issue a recall on the problem. i say to them that this is a safety problem. what if your car stalls out on train tracks and you can't get it to start up again? i think that would be a safety issue. what about if you live near the coast and you have to evacuate due to a hurricane or some other natural disaster? what if this problem happened to someone in new orleans during katrina? are you going to tell them it is not a safety issue? are they supposed to wait for the ford dealership to come and drill out the ignition cylinder before they can evacuate? i think that ford should be ashamed of themselves and they should do the right thing and issue a recall on this problem. i know i will never be buying another ford again. *jb | |||
| 09/05/2006 | 38000 | 1 | 11/15/2003 |
| I have a 2003 ford focus station wagon. the ignition key will not turn. it freezes up. i have tried another key and attempted to turn the steering wheel as far as possible to the right or left with no success. *nm | |||
| 08/07/2006 | 4 | 01/15/2003 | |
| Ignition switch that manufacturer knows is bad. *nm | |||
| 07/31/2006 | 6 | 04/05/2004 | |
| I was left stranded when my ignition key would not work in my 2003 ford focus. called a locksmith and he said it take about $300.00 to repair it. my wife had to drive 1 hour to come and get me and i lost a day of work, which i could not afford to lose. *nm | |||
| 07/01/2006 | 1 | 12/29/2004 | |
| Owner of a ford focus/2003. ignition switch locked up and had to get my car towed ($45.00) as well as pay for repairs ($183.00). called ford headquarters and talked with a representative about being reimbursed. i also mentioned the problem i was having with my gauges. upon starting car, gauges are all out of wack, swinging back and forth and landing on zero. after being on the road for about 15 or 20 minutes they will positioned at the right place. the representative seem to only care to hear about one of the problem (ignition switch) and not the other one. i was put on hold for a while and when rep return she told me to call company that was repairing my focus and they will help me in this matter. i called the company and the guy that eagerly took my money stated that he will do a claim for me and he stated that i will get some of my money but not all of it back. in checking the recalls i see ignition switch lockup is one of them. i only have had my car for a little over a year. my windshield is cracked and insurance says i must pay $250 before they fix it, when turning on air conditioner, driving seem difficult (hard to pull), liftgate water leaks, and upon purchasing my car, brakes were squeaking; i mentioned this to the dealer and he told me not to worry about it that the brakes were new and had to be broken in. well they are still squeaking after a year in a half. i need all of these things fixed on my car, right now i am a month behind in car payments (good record on making my payments), had to use the money to get the ignition switch repaired. *jb | |||
| 07/06/2006 | 36000 | 1 | 02/06/2003 |
| Ford focus 2003 key cylinder freezes. cost to customer ~ $300 repair. this happens frequently according to several ford dealer service department managers i spoke with. *jb | |||
| 06/19/2006 | 61000 | 1 | 08/16/2003 |
| The lock cylinder broke leaving me without a vehicle. the key would not turn, and neither would the wheels. there were no signs of failure previous to the incident. i paid $450 for a new lock cylinder on a car that has 60,000 miles on it. *nm | |||
| 05/08/2006 | 36500 | 1 | 10/10/2003 |
| In both my 2003 ford focus and my daughters 2000 ford focus the ignition switch had froze up and had to be replaced including new keys made with the computer chip at about 430.00 each. two different tow truck drivers said they have seen a lot of this. also the ford dealership said they were surprised that there hasn't been a recall due to the large number that they have had to repair. *jb | |||
| 06/01/2006 | 50000 | 1 | |
| Ignition barrel will not rotate. cannot start car or turn steering wheel. *nm | |||
| 05/03/2006 | 55000 | 3 | 10/18/2003 |
| Ignition switch lock ups, can't turn the key. *jb | |||
| 05/07/2006 | 26000 | 1 | 03/15/2006 |
| Ignition switch failure in a 2003 ford focus. i inserted my special secure lock key and the ignition would not turn. when the tow truck operator came she informed me she tows focus' all the time with the identical problem. i went online to several forums and found that this is a consistent problem. there should be a recall on this part as it costs $525 dollars to repair!!!*jb | |||
| 04/26/2006 | 50000 | 1 | 06/08/2005 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle the key failed to turn. the dealership determined the ignition switch needed to be replaced. | |||
| 04/18/2006 | 2 | ||
| The ignition switch on our 2003 ford focus has locked up for the second time. the first incident was in a movie theatre parking lot 600 miles away from home. we had it towed to a dealership and the part replaced. the most recent took place at home last night. we haven't gotten it fixed yet. *nm | |||
| 02/20/2006 | 89000 | 1 | 05/01/2005 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the ignition would not turn to start the vehicle. a local independent repair shop was contacted to come inspect and repair the vehicle. the repair personnel replaced the ignition and the vehicle immediately started. updated 03/17/06. *jb | |||
| 02/21/2006 | 45000 | 2 | 12/15/2004 |
| Dt*: the contact stated when the key was inserted into the key switch it would not turn. the vehicle was towed to a dealer for inspection. it was determined the key ignition switch needed replaced. on the first occasion the key ignition was replaced. this repaired the vehicle for a short period of time. now the key ignition switch has failed again. the vehicle was started by an independent repair person and driven to the contacts home, where repairs are being made. | |||
| 02/01/2006 | 43000 | 5 | 10/18/2003 |
| Starting about 2 weeks ago (43,000 mile) the steering wheel started to lock and the key would not turn to start the car. as many have stated on their complaints and on automotivetalk.net this is a recurring problem that needs to be recalled. i have to take it in and get it replaced. from all the reading i did it will cost me between $250 and $450. there should be a recall or a law suite! *nm | |||
| 01/24/2006 | 1 | 06/15/2005 | |
| 2003 ford focus zx3 ignition cylinder/switch locked without warning while my wife was out alone at night. i had to call and have car towed with a fee to the ford dealer. i'm sure this will cost even with the extended warranty. the tow truck driver informed me that he saw a very high number of these defects. nhtsa really needs to do something about ford's apparent lack of concern for their consumers!! *ak | |||
| 12/23/2005 | 46000 | 10 | 08/19/2003 |
| 2003 ford focus ignition cylinder/switch locking up. the ignition locked up without warning and continued to do so for a few days then worked fine for a few days and then locked completely 4 days later. i got the ignition cylinder/switch replaced on 12/31/05 for $200.44. both the dealer and ford admitted that it is a problem and far too many people have had the same complaint via automotivetalk.net. there are 100's of complaints the same as mine!!! *jb | |||
| 12/18/2005 | 40000 | 1 | 06/13/2003 |
| Ignitions switch failure at 40,000 miles. known and common problem with vehicle. 2003 ford focus zx3. *nm | |||
| 12/16/2005 | 45000 | 1 | 11/26/2004 |
| Key will not turn in the ignition of 2003 focus. the wheel is now locked and i can't drive the car. i'm probably going to have to get this towed and pay $200-$300 dollars to get it fixed for what seems like a simple problem and i know this happens to many other focus owners. this is not acceptable because i'm 6 months pregnant and my safety is at issue. *nm | |||
| 12/06/2005 | 1 | 02/28/2003 | |
| 2003 ford focus with faulty ignition switch. the switch was lock in placed with no hope of turning the key. as the service manager at our local dealer explained, they know that they have a problem with the ignition switch tumbler set as they have replaced many of them and have been sent a tsb on replacing them with a better assembly made of steel as compared to the original made of pot metal. *nm | |||
| 11/06/2004 | 98000 | 2 | 11/14/2002 |
| Ignition cylinder has failed twice since i bought the car in 11/02. the car is a 2003 ford focus. the ignition cylinder freezes and prevents the car from starting. i have had this cylinder replaced twice in one year. the first time on 11/6/04 and the second time in 11/27/05. *nm | |||
| 11/20/2005 | 41000 | 5 | 09/09/2003 |
| I only owned the car for about 2 months before the problems started i was told that there was nothing wrong. the transmission wouldn't change gear, they say this is normal. also, the windshield was never sealed in they told me that it could be fixed. the front wheels click when driven. the brakes went out quick. the back hubs are sealed from rust. and now i can't even get my disabled child to the doctors because the ignition has gone completely out. the locksmith said i was lucky i was parked. *jb | |||
| 10/23/2005 | 2 | ||
| Ignition switch at 45,000 miles, ford focus. *nm | |||
| 08/15/2005 | 62500 | 1 | 10/30/2003 |
| Ignition switch went out while my wife was at work. had to get the ignition switch replaced. ford dealer wanted at min. of $100 plus parts independent mechanic replaced it for $65 plus parts. *jb | |||
| 09/29/2005 | 35 | 11/18/2002 | |
| I have a focus ford 2003. i had problems with my ignition, my key will not turn to start my car, i took it to replace the ignition cylinder. after few months it did happen again. i just tapped the top of the key and will turn, but today it did not turn at all. i think is not right to pay extra for that expense, when the first think a car is supposed to do is start!!!*jb | |||
| 09/02/2005 | 38001 | 3 | 10/27/2004 |
| Can't turn car on , ignition switch lock. asking 350.00 to repair this defect. *jb | |||
| 08/30/2005 | 43500 | 1 | 09/24/2003 |
| With just 43,500 miles on the car my ignition locked up and i could not turn the key to start the engine. the car had to be towed to a dealers repair shop to be fixed. *jb | |||
| 09/09/2004 | 38000 | 2 | 10/02/2003 |
| Dt: 2003 ford focus. the consumer stated the key in the ignition switch lock got stuck. the vehicle will not go anywhere. this happend when the vehicle stopped and then started again. the dealership doid not know why this happened. this problem was first noticed on september 9, 2004. then it happened again on august 20, 2005. both times.gnition switch was replaced. the vehicle had to be towed both times. there were other times when the vehicle was very hard to start but it did start.*ak | |||
| 07/20/2005 | 3 | 02/15/2003 | |
| Our 2003 ford focus has had to have the ignition switch replaced twice. parked the car, turned off the car, came back to start later and the ignition swith would ot turn. first switch was replaced in july 2004 and the second one in march 2005. today while driving the car on a city street the steering wheel became so loose it is not safe to drive and will have to be towed for the third time to the dealer to be repaired. the first ignition swith was covered under warranty. we had to pay for the second switch. apparently this is a common failure on the ford focus and i believe a recall should be done. of major concern is this is the third failure on a steering column in a new vehicle. | |||
| 04/22/2005 | 52000 | 1 | |
| Upon starting the vehicle, the key failed to turn in the ignition, and the steering wheel locked up. dealership indicated that the ignition froze. this was a common occurrence with these vehicles. *ak | |||
| 04/17/2005 | 36500 | 1 | 12/17/2004 |
| 2003 ford focus lx sedan - my wife went to walmart on the way home from work, and upon returning to the car the key would no longer unlock the ignition switch. despite many attempts (a locksmith was unable to come up with anything) we ended up having the car towed. the quoted repair price is roughly $400. there are seemingly endless accounts of this very situation with the ford focus ignition on forums all over the internet. there should be a recall or ford should extend the warranty coverage on this device.*ak | |||
| 12/23/2004 | 38000 | 3 | |
| When attempting to start the vehicle consumer noticed that the the ignition locked and key will not turn. vehicle was towed to the dealer. *ak | |||
| 02/01/2005 | 40000 | 1 | 01/08/2003 |
| I put my key in the ignition and it would not start steering wheel locked and car would not turn on towed to dealer cost was 50 dollars w/ extended warrant also happened to my sisters 2003 ford focus .the ignition was replaced . *ak | |||
| 01/20/2005 | 39800 | 1 | 05/26/2004 |
| Nothing lead up to the failure, it just happened quite abruptly. i put my key in the ignition and it wouldn't turn forward. also, the steering wheel is locked in place. *nm | |||
| 12/18/2004 | 35178 | 100 | 07/15/2004 |
| Ignition lock cylinder would not turn after the key was inserted the key was hard to get into the cylinder before it seized. i did some research and on the automotive talk net i was able to print out 35 pages of the same complaints with 3 to 4 complaints on each page. a few of the complaints said that tow truck drivers had told them they have had several calls with the same problem, as did the lock smith i called to fix mine. the cost was $200.00*jb | |||
| 11/01/2004 | 1 | 10/05/2002 | |
| Ignition switch on an 03 ford focus zx3 locks up. it was fine one day and the next it wasn't. the car will start but it takes time and fiddling with the key in the ignition before it clicks and unlocks and starts. *ak | |||
| 11/04/2004 | 1 | ||
| 2003 ford focus ignition cylinder locked up. key will not turn, leaving me with towing costs to get it to the dealership.*ak | |||
| 09/26/2004 | 13000 | 1 | |
| Consumer put the key into the ignition and the key will not turn. vehicle had to be towed to the dealer, and consumer was told that although the vehicle was under warranty it did not cover what was wrong with the vehicle. *ak | |||
| 09/20/2004 | 40000 | 1 | |
| While driving and upon stopping the vehicle consumer was unable to get the key out of the ignition. *ak | |||
| 09/18/2004 | 36000 | 1 | |
| 1. several times within the past 3 or 4 days, the key in the ignition would not turn. after taking the key out and try again a couple time, it would turn. however, today as i put my key in, it did not turn; tried fixing it and turning it for several hours. no luck. must call mechanic or locksmith. car not functional at this point.*ak | |||
| 06/04/2004 | 24000 | 1 | |
| When attempting to start ignition switch locks intermittently.*ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY | |||
| 04/29/2004 | 700 | 1 | 04/09/2004 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the starter failed. there were no warning signals for the failure. the vehicle was taken to the dealership who determined the flywheel and the starter had to be replaced. after the first incident, the contact took the vehicle to the dealer thirty times for the following failures: brakes rotors were replaced four times; battery and alternator had to be replaced; the transmission had to be replaced after the second attempt to repair it. the electrical wiring under the dashboard had to be rewired. the air conditioning was repaired three times with the replacement of defective valves; the rear door latches were repaired according to recall # 05v300000. the dealership had not corrected the noises from the steering column. the manufacturer was contacted and refused to cooperated in finding a suitable resolution. the last problem found by the dealership was the required replacement of the engine heads. the engine heads were attached to the vehicle frame. | |||
| 12/01/2004 | 12 | 03/01/2003 | |
| Three transmission failures and replacements. the engine, starter/ignition and 1 gear shift all replacements and other various problems. *bf four cd player replacements, the brakes failed, and 1 alarm failure. *sc the engine was also replaced. *jb | |||
| 01/16/2004 | 7000 | 8 | 08/19/2003 |
| While driving at any speed, the vehicle stalled twice, but always started back up after a few minutes. on one occasion, the dealer replaced the starter and on the another occasion, the transmission was replaced. *ak the starter was found faulty, the transmission was inoperative and there was a vibration while going 40 mph due to shifting, the clock display was inoperative, and the engne light stayed on. *sc *jb | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 11/30/2004 | 45000 | 3 | |
| Hatch release had to be replaced due to an electrical short. . consumer was told that if it was not replaced, since connected to the electrical system, vehicle could catch on fire.*ak...also, replaced trunk release switch. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||
| 03/16/2007 | 54000 | 1 | 12/01/2005 |
| Tl*- contact stated while driving the 2003 ford focus lx he saw smoke coming from underneath the hood. the contact pulled to the side of the road and noticed that the vehicle was on fire. the fire department stated that the fire could have started from some faulty wire underneath the hood. the contact could provide pictures if needed. the failure mileage and current mileage were both 54,000.*ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||
| 04/29/2004 | 700 | 1 | 04/09/2004 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the starter failed. there were no warning signals for the failure. the vehicle was taken to the dealership who determined the flywheel and the starter had to be replaced. after the first incident, the contact took the vehicle to the dealer thirty times for the following failures: brakes rotors were replaced four times; battery and alternator had to be replaced; the transmission had to be replaced after the second attempt to repair it. the electrical wiring under the dashboard had to be rewired. the air conditioning was repaired three times with the replacement of defective valves; the rear door latches were repaired according to recall # 05v300000. the dealership had not corrected the noises from the steering column. the manufacturer was contacted and refused to cooperated in finding a suitable resolution. the last problem found by the dealership was the required replacement of the engine heads. the engine heads were attached to the vehicle frame. | |||
| 07/01/2006 | 1 | 12/29/2004 | |
| Owner of a ford focus/2003. ignition switch locked up and had to get my car towed ($45.00) as well as pay for repairs ($183.00). called ford headquarters and talked with a representative about being reimbursed. i also mentioned the problem i was having with my gauges. upon starting car, gauges are all out of wack, swinging back and forth and landing on zero. after being on the road for about 15 or 20 minutes they will positioned at the right place. the representative seem to only care to hear about one of the problem (ignition switch) and not the other one. i was put on hold for a while and when rep return she told me to call company that was repairing my focus and they will help me in this matter. i called the company and the guy that eagerly took my money stated that he will do a claim for me and he stated that i will get some of my money but not all of it back. in checking the recalls i see ignition switch lockup is one of them. i only have had my car for a little over a year. my windshield is cracked and insurance says i must pay $250 before they fix it, when turning on air conditioner, driving seem difficult (hard to pull), liftgate water leaks, and upon purchasing my car, brakes were squeaking; i mentioned this to the dealer and he told me not to worry about it that the brakes were new and had to be broken in. well they are still squeaking after a year in a half. i need all of these things fixed on my car, right now i am a month behind in car payments (good record on making my payments), had to use the money to get the ignition switch repaired. *jb | |||
| 10/26/2003 | 1150 | 40 | 09/15/2003 |
| Check battery light comes on when driving slowly or stopped. when driven for more than 45 minutes speedometer jumps wildly and dash lights go on and off. electrical buzzing noise from dashboard. dealer reports that they can not find the problem. *la | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK | |||
| 02/19/2008 | 1 | 07/25/2003 | |
| Took the car to the dealer the same day the left tail light turn signal went out. according to the service manager, they could not remove the bulb because when the bulb shorted, it melted plastic around the bulb. i had to buy an entirely new tail light and socket assembly for over $100. i was told by him that this happens a lot on the focus wagons and he had replaced 6 of them that day. when i expressed my anger and disbelief at the cost and asked why this wasn't a recall item, he said not to blame him because he didn't design it. i am angry about the cost, but also whether this is a potential safety hazard. it was 5 degrees the day this happened and such a short circuit may have safety implications. *tr | |||
| 07/02/2007 | 73281 | 1 | 02/20/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. while checking the brake light bulbs, the contact noticed that the wires were cracked. the dealer stated that the wire harness needed to be replaced. the current and failure mileages were 73,281. | |||
| 11/01/2005 | 41500 | 2 | 10/21/2005 |
| Dt: the contact stated the vehicle was leaking water into the trunk which houses the brake light module, and the rear license plate lights. this caused the wiring module to corrode. after the repairs were made the vehicle is still had the same problems.*ak | |||