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 | |
| 17341 | 11/01/2003 | 10008175 | Diagnostic trouble code (dtc) b1310 (power door unlock circuit failure) in the gem module. *tt | 07/22/2004 | |
| 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 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||||
| 18413 | 02/01/2005 | 10012971 | Unable to remove ignition key - service tip. *tt | 04/05/2005 | |
| 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 | |||
| 11/27/2012 | 118000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. the contact stated that after inserting the key in the ignition the vehicle failed to start. the contact tried approximately six times. the vehicle was later towed to the dealer for diagnosis. after diagnosis they advised him that the ignition failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure and current mileage was approximately 118,000. the vin was unavailable. | |||
| 11/27/2012 | 118000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. the contact stated that after inserting the key in the ignition the vehicle failed to start. the contact tried approximately six times. the vehicle was later towed to the dealer for diagnosis. after diagnosis they advised him that the ignition failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure and current mileage was approximately 118,000. the vin was unavailable. pmb | |||
| 11/27/2012 | 118000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. the contact stated that after placing his key in the ignition the vehicle failed to start. the contact tried approximately six times. the vehicle was later towed to the dealer for diagnosis. after diagnosis they advised him that the ignition failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure and current mileages were approximately 118,000. the vin was unavailable. tb | |||
| 02/01/2012 | 165000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. the contact stated while driving 70 mph, the vehicle stalled. the contact attempted several times to restart the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a mechanic who replaced the spark plugs, spark plug wires and the fuel rail however, the failure recurred. the contact stated the failure occurred when traveling shorter distances. the contact had to depress the accelerator in order to avoid the vehicle from stalling at every stop. the failure seemed to recur more frequently during hotter temperatures. the current mileage was 174,000. the approximate failure mileage was 165,000. kmj | |||
| 02/01/2012 | 165000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. the contact stated while driving 70 mph, the vehicle stalled, hesitated to loose power. the contact had to stop at a side and turn the vehicle on an off several times, before the vehicle can be driven again. the vehicle was taken to the mechanic who replaced the spark plugs, the spark plug wires and fuel rail. the failure recurred. the contact stated the failure happens when traveling shorter distances, and hesitated to ignite. the contact had to depress the accelerator in order to avoid the vehicle from turning of at every stop. the failure seemed to happen more often during hotter temperature. vin number: 1fafp33p0yw114692. the date of failure was february 2012. the approximate current mileage was 174,000. the approximate failure mileage was 165,000. yn | |||
| 05/04/2012 | 94000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start with the steering wheel locked. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis where the dealer advised that the ignition cylinder needed replacing. the manufacturer was contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 94,000. | |||
| 05/04/2012 | 94000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start with the steering wheel locked. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis where the dealer advised that the ignition cylinder needed replacing. the manufacturer was contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 94,000. kmj | |||
| 05/31/2011 | 28500 | ||
| The key would no longer turn in the ignition (but operated door and hatch without difficulty), creating an unsafe condition in which the car could not be driven and the owner was stranded with an inoperable vehicle. the local ford dealership required $400 for a replacement ignition cylinder. there is a known issue with poor quality ignition cylinders in this model year and they were subsequently redesigned by ford (perform a google search for ford focus ignition cylinder or see the discussion at http:forums.focaljet.comteam-tech497529-new-ignition-cylinder-help.html). given that this is a known defect, the issue should be covered by a technical service bulletin or recall instead of requiring a significant out-of-pocket payment by the owner. | |||
| 01/26/2011 | 62350 | ||
| Battery failure due to a short in the ignition switch. | |||
| 01/14/2011 | 97000 | ||
| We have a 2004 ford focus 2.3l. key wont turn in the ignition. the steering wheel is locked. we had to call a lock smith out to replace the ignintion cylinder assembly. the lock smith said that he replaces two to three every week on the ford focus model. lucky for us we were at home when the ignition failed. i read other stories where others were not so fortunate. it is unfortunate that ford still to this day dose not have a recall on this issue. even a curtosey alert would be better then sitting in the dark and having to do your own research to discover wht the fix is. | |||
| 05/12/2010 | 77139 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. while trying to start the vehicle the key would not turn in the ignition. after repeated attempts the key was banged on and the vehicle started. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed this was a known failure. the ignition switch was replaced. the failure has not recurred. the failure mileage was 77,139 and the current mileage was 77,673. sm. | |||
| 05/03/2010 | 92590 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. the contact was driving with the cruise control set at 80 mph. when she attempted to turn on the headlights, the vehicle began abnormally jerking as if she was repeatedly tapping on the brakes. the trans axle cooling system warning light illuminated when she turned the lights off and on. the cruise control then became inoperable. the vehicle had not yet been taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. the failure and current mileages were 92,590. | |||
| 04/10/2010 | 73000 | ||
| The deck lid wiring harness breaks due to fatigue from opening and closing the hatch. in my case, 6 wires in the harness had been completely severed. because of this, my tail light was out, the door ajar light was on and the brake lights were always on when the car was in drive. besides the danger of being rear ended because the brake lights are always on, depending on which wires break or have their insulation crack open, there are a number of bad situations: * all rear lights could turn off. * the trunk could open when you apply the brakes. * the trunk could open when you use a turning indicator. this is a known issue with the 2000 focus hatchback, but there was no recall for the deck lid wiring harness after that year. i just wanted to let you know that it happened on our 2004 focus hatchback, and it can leave owners and other drivers on the road in a potentially dangerous situation. to correct the issue, i spliced the broken wires back together. | |||
| 04/01/2010 | 31954 | ||
| The ignition lock cylinder failed suddenly without a gradual increase of symptoms. the cylinder would not allow the key to turn, unlock the steering wheel and allowing the car to start. a new ignition lock cylinder was installed and rekeyed at a price of $171.18 for the part and $142.50 for the labor. | |||
| 02/04/2010 | 1 | ||
| Ford focus 2004 ignition locked. opened car as usual, inserted key in ignition to turn and steering wheel appeared to be locked. tried to turn key and move steering wheel but both wouldn't move. called dealership and was told the ignition was locked and that it was a common problem. car now needs to be towed to be fixed. *tr | |||
| 01/28/2010 | 43205 | 1 | |
| First occurrence,without warning,(had never happened before) car shut off, ignition switch would not turn, resulting in vehicle no start condition. (original manufacturers key and ignition switch) contacted aaa auto club, tow truck dispatched, tow truck driver states garage has seen many 2003, 2004,2005 focus with this problem. also should be noted numerous similar complaints on file with all model years of this vehicle. ford dealer that sold me the car and extended warranty claims repair not covered by warranty. feel this is a serious safety issue as car can stall and fail to restart !!!!!!. also feel that i was sold an overpriced warranty which i am told will not cover repair !!! will retain old part for investigation and possible class action. note : vehicle mileage at failure 43,205. *tr | |||
| 03/15/2009 | 60000 | 1 | |
| Ignition completely locked up. i could not start car. i was stranded and had to get towed to a ford dealer. cost was $500 to fix. *tr | |||
| 08/05/2009 | 44000 | 1 | |
| Ignition and steering wheel completely locked up when i put the key in while heading out on my lunch break. i'm really disturbed that the nhtsa has not done anything to make the ford motor company fix this problem which is a chronic, well-documented safety hazard. my car is now completely immobile and had to be towed back to my residence. luckily my father is going to be able to fix it, but there are many people that don't have this option and have to spend hundreds of dollars to fix a problem caused by faulty materials knowingly used by ford. i will never buy a ford again. *tr | |||
| 07/10/2009 | 64000 | 1 | |
| There is a defect which causes the ignition lock to fail, making it impossible to turn the key or start the vehicle's engine. the form says it's invalid but i checked both places in the car and that is what it says. the form did not have, electrical system:ignition, as an option for component name which better describes the problem area. *tr | |||
| 02/27/2009 | 72352 | 1 | |
| 2004 ford focus - key will not turn in ignition. the first occurrence was 6/27/09 @ 1:15 am, leaving movie theater, had to leave vehicle there. again @ 7 am (finally got car cranked after 15 minutes). when got home this occurred again. repeated times. cannot crank vehicle with key in ignition. *tr | |||
| 05/28/2009 | 75000 | 1 | |
| 1. ford focus (2004) has for the past month had trouble with the key turning in the ignition. apparently it is a well known issue and ford refuses to acknowledge that it is a safety issue. however, i absolutely believe that being stranded somewhere at night is very much a safety issue - whether or not ford admits this possibility. 2. the key does not turn because of a defect in the ignition switch (or so i've read online). this problem has occurred thousands of times according to online complaints and petitions, without ford recognizing it and taking action. this problem renders the car completely unusable until fixed and the repair can be very costly and time consuming. it is most certainly a safety issue - what is safe about being unable to start one's car if one is on the side of the highway, at night in an unknown city, etc? 3. nothing has been done yet because i am waiting to see if ford customer service can explain why the company refuses to admit the issue and reimburse it's customers for their faulty design. *tr | |||
| 05/05/2009 | 50000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2004 ford focus that the ignition went out on, i would put the key in and the key would not turn, locked steering wheel. for a while, i would wiggle the key and it would finally turn over, until 2 weeks ago( 5-2009) when i had to have it towed after i got in my car and it would not start. the ford dealership looked at it the next morning and told me it would be $450.00 to fix and that this problem has happened to alot of focus owners, i don't understand why ford would not want to correct this problem, starting your car is the most important thing needed to drive so without being able to count on your ignition your car is useless and without ford recognizing this problem and fixing it, i believe alot of ford owners may not be in the future. you need to be able to start a car! *tr | |||
| 01/01/2007 | 50000 | 1 | |
| Ignition switch wont turn which prevents the car from starting this happens on a daily basis, for way over a yr now. tow truck driver told me this is common problem with this 2004 zx3 focus. he said to hit the key a couple of times with your hand and it will turn, and it does. only way the car will start. called my local ford dealer and was told 550.00 to replace. so still not replaced. *tr | |||
| 02/12/2009 | 91000 | 1 | |
| Upon leaving a grocery store the ignition key wouldn't turn. i was unable to start the car and called the local ford dealership. they responded by saying that they would charge $391 plus tax, and that if they damaged the steering column in the process i would be liable for the repair or replacement cost of the column as well. not willing to take my chances with such an expensive repair that would leave me with a new part that would possibly fail in the same manner, not to mention possible additional costs of repairing or replacing the column i conducted a brief internet search i found that this was an ongoing problem with 1999 through 2007 ford focus cars. i also learned that a competent locksmith could repair the switch for between $150 and $200. i was able to get my vehicle repaired for $152, and there was no possibility of damaging the steering column. the original part was removed by the locksmith, rebuilt the switch and replaced it thus repairing the vehicle. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2009 | 1 | ||
| For about a month now, the ignition and/or steering wheel locks up when i try to put the key in to start my 2004 ford focus. i initially spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how to start the car. now i realize i have to jiggle, turn, & finagle everything just right & i can get it the ignition to turn in a few minutes. it is ridiculous that i now think getting my car started in under 5 minutes is good. this happens 9 out of 10 times that i try to start the car. i have seen many similar complaints. seems like ford needs to fix this problem. i am not impressed. *tr | |||
| 12/13/2008 | 57000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. when the contact removes and re-inserts the key from the ignition, the ignition locks. he was unable to start the vehicle and it was towed to the dealer. he is in the process of having the ignition cylinder replaced. the manufacturer stated that they would not provide financial assistance because his vehicle exceeded the warranty. the vin was unknown. the failure and current mileages were 57,000. | |||
| 12/10/2008 | 120000 | 1 | |
| Got into the car put the key in the ignition and it would not turn. a locksmith hit it with a hammer and it turned, now to get it started i have to hit the key with a hammer but i don't know how long that will last. *tr | |||
| 10/15/2008 | 65000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2004 ford focus. intermittently i have had difficulty turning the key in the ignition. i place the key in the ignition but the ignition does not move. generally if i wait and try again several minute later the key will turn. tonight i left work and attempted to start my car. the key would not turn. i called home and attempted with spare key with similar results. i left car in parking lot until able to call service in morning. fortunately it was not an emergency and i was able to contact family to obtain alternative transportation. *tr | |||
| 10/12/2008 | 41000 | 1 | |
| Occasional erratic instrument display operation with periods of instrument panel outage. *tr | |||
| 10/01/2008 | 1 | ||
| I got in my car after lunch on day to return to work and when i put my key in the ignition, it would not turn. i kept trying for approximately 30 minutes and could not get it to turn. this is the second ford focus i have owned and the 2nd time this event has occurred. i had to pay $473.20 to have the car towed, the ignition lock replaced, and a new key fitted for the car. the lady at the ford dealership informed us before we took the car in that there was a possibility of the part being recalled since this happens often. when we took the car in and they began work on it we discovered this was not true. i am just thankful i was not coming back from court or it was late at night or else i would have been stranded on the road. *tr | |||
| 07/17/2008 | 31000 | 1 | |
| My car (2004 ford focus) was just about due for its 30,000 mile tune up when it first acted up. it stopped while driving on the freeway-no power, nothing. we took it to a local toyota dealer service center and had it checked and the 30,000 mile tune up done. no problems for 1 month. while driving it did the same thing when i exited my driveway. after stopping the car, taking out the key, then re-starting the engine it seemed to be ok so i headed out on the highway. fortunately while driving at the back of a line of traffic, including 2 fully loaded logging trucks, it happened when i had slowed down to about 50 mph. i got it over to the toyota service station and again they checked it out and couldn't figure it out. this time they couldn't get it to start for about 10 minutes. the service manager called me the next day to tell me that ford had a bulletin on fixing this type of issue, apparently the computer needed to be re-programmed! so i called the closest ford dealership 29 miles away and tried to discuss the situation with them. i called another ford dealer and was quoted 3 times as much. i called the ford customer service to make a complaint and got the same blase attitude about the situation. no one thought it was a safety issue and that owners needed to be notified. but 4 times in total, my life and my fiance's life were in danger. this is another issue of ford's negligence. remember the firestone tires??? *tr | |||
| 06/30/2008 | 40000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2004 ford focus that is having major issues with the ignition. the key will not turn in the ignition in order to start the car, and has left me stranded on several occasions. *tr | |||
| 05/22/2008 | 56000 | 1 | |
| Ignition switch frozen, the cost to repair/replace quoted by ford dealership was $361.00, the cost by a locksmith is $300-$350. 2004 ford focus z3. *tr | |||
| 09/22/2007 | 53000 | 8 | 06/19/2004 |
| I was stranded over the weekend at a gas station in the middle of nowhere because my key wouldn't turn, it seemed locked in my ignition. i really needed my car to start to get out of there but couldn't and was approached by a mentally insane man asking me for a ride. nothing has been done to fix my car because they aren't open until monday. *tr | |||
| 09/18/2007 | 42000 | 2 | 10/01/2005 |
| The shifter, steering wheel and ignition key all lock up on my 2004 ford focus. i simply guide my car to where i want to park it. stop, put the car in park and turn off the car. when i go to start my car again, everything is locked up and takes a long time to get it unlocked. i almost have to break off the key to get it started. *tr | |||
| 10/05/2004 | 8242 | 15 | 03/05/2004 |
| Car stalls without notice. sent daughter to emergency room one time. stalls 2 different ways, while driving and sometimes when coming to a stop. total loss of control happens. has been in shop many, many times and they can't figure out problem. started when car was 7 months old. also, clutch prematurely went out. has been replaced 2 or 3 times. (car has 26,000 miles currently). also, thermostat has gone out many, many times- daughter has driven most of winter with no heat. *nm | |||
| 08/23/2006 | 48000 | 4 | 12/31/2004 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the ignition switch failed to turn when the key was inserted into the ignition, thus failing to start the vehicle. this was the 4th failure. metal shavings were seen falling out of the ignition when the key was removed. the service dealer had the vehicle towed to the service repair shop for investigation. the manufacturer was not notified. | |||
| 03/18/2006 | 1 | ||
| My high beam is always on. my low beam and fog light do not work. the low beam and fog light are independent switch. *jb | |||
| 06/15/2005 | 2000 | 25 | 04/17/2004 |
| Dt: contact owns a 2004 ford focus. while driving on the highway the car shut down without warning. no particular speed or circumstance. this incident happened several times on interstate. while going 70 to 75 mph. the car shut down, no battery, no lights, and it was very hard to steer. it happened at stop sign or at speeds of 35 to 45 mph .after putting vehicle in park then in neutral or park it will start back up. vehicle was taken back to dealership 3 times in the last 3 weeks. mechanic recalibrated the automatic transmission control module (pcm) ,and was told it would be okay. took it off the dealership and within 10 miles incident started happening again. flight recorder was installed on october 6, 2005 was told to push a button every time the vehicle shut off, but the problem was that there was electricity going to anything to make the flight recorder show the problem. *ak | |||
| 07/15/2005 | 27000 | 1 | |
| Dt: contact states daughter came home from work on 7-15-05 and she had not had any problems with the car prior to this. the next day on 7-16-05 she noticed the car had caught on fire while it was parked in the driveway. the fire had already gone out. she had the car towed to the dealership, and the mechanic said ford was coming on 7-19-05 to inspect the car. she talked to someone who had just retired from wayne assembly plant and he said they had been having a lot of problems with the fuel line coming off due to increased pressure on the ford focuses. she has never received any recall notices. she does not know where the fire originated. the car is at the clinton michigan ford dealership. *ak | |||
| 02/06/2005 | 19492 | 3 | 06/02/2003 |
| Vehicle hesitated/stalled when applying the accelerator pedal from a stop position. vehicle had been to the dealer on three separate occasions. the first time dealer replaced the coil assembly, spark plugs and spark plug wiring. within two weeks or less the problem recurred. the last two times dealer informed the consumer that they could not duplicate the problem.*ak | |||
| 07/25/2004 | 4800 | 04/21/2004 | |
| Car was purchased new in 4-04 at 4800 miles brakes groved, dealer said no problem; rotors cut & new pad at 10,000 and at 12000 grinding is back, also a flopping rubbing noise in front right which i think is because the rotor were cut too far and now there is too much play between pads and rotor, also electrical problems, lights, dash icons, door locks go on and off even without a key. gem module & battery replaced but instrument cluster does not work and is on national backorder. no speedometer, no odometer, gas gauge etc. while driving, door locks lock and unlock at will, dash occassionaly flashed on for 15 seconds and then goes out again. agency thinks it's the instrument cluster but because they can't get one to replace it, we can't be sure. the computer was kicking out codes for equipment that isn't even on the vehicle. dealer says never saw this problem before. | |||
| 05/19/2004 | 3 | ||
| Electrical system failed to illuminate properly. the interior and exterior lights failed. this caused poor visibility for the driver. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||
| 02/02/2004 | 48229 | 1 | 01/02/2004 |
| On the alternator plug there is three wires one wire broke off by itself and it has left the battery light on all the time i don't feel i should have to go and get the new plug for the alternator if it is defective as well. *nm | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||
| 04/14/2010 | 1 | 05/01/2004 | |
| 2004 ford focus. consumer states transmission gave out with a mileage under 20,000. consumer requests reimbursement. *tgw in july 2009, the vehicle needed a new battery. about a week after the new battery was installed, periodically the cluster lights would make a sound and the lights would blink on and off. it would happen twice in a matter of seconds, but did not happen everyday. the consumer followed instruction on what to do. the situation was a little better, but the cluster blinking, etc still occurred periodically. a week later, as the consumer backed out of her driveway, there were sounds coming from the vehicle and they seemed to get worse. the consumer had the vehicle towed to a transmission shop. upon inspection, the transmission plate which was located under the engine showed transmission fluid an d excessive amounts of metal fillings. the mechanic showed the consumer the damaged parts where the teeth in the gears were not working properly which caused the metal fillings in the transmission plate. *jb | |||
| 08/12/2007 | 32000 | 1 | 04/29/2004 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. the contact stated that the vehicle caught fire while parked. he has not contacted the dealer or manufacturer. the fire department arrived at the scene and are currently filing a report. the fire was caused by the electrical system of the driver side battery. the vehicle is no longer able to be driven. the contact researched other vehicles like his and noticed a pattern of fire related failures. the current and failure mileages were 32,000. | |||
| 04/01/2006 | 5 | 03/26/2004 | |
| 2004 focus belt tensioner broke and battery failed. *ts the front door had to be aligned and the door seal was replaced. the throttle cable had to be re-routed due to the cable binding. the front wheel bearings were replaced. the left rear motor assembly was replaced, the 3rd brake light lens and right side cv axle was replaced. the transmission started shifting erratically. the consumer attempted to make a turn, and the transmission would shift from 1st to 2nd gear until the engine revved up past 6000 rpm. the consumer was told there was a problem with the servo pistons. the transmission was eventually repaired. the battery failed 5 times. *jb | |||
| 05/24/2005 | 10000 | 4 | 04/16/2004 |
| I purchased my 2004 ford focus in april of 2004. the battery went dead in may 2005. i had the car towed to the ford dealer and the ealer replaced the battery. car was dead again july 4. the car was jumped and take to the dealer. dealer said they couldn't find a problem and charged the battery. it was dead again on july 9th. i had dealer come get the car and they said it was a bad cell in the battery and replaced the battery again. i was dead again on july 21st. had the dealer come get the car they jumped it and took it in. they charged the battery and still tell me they can't find anything wrong with the car. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 1 | ||
| 2004 ford focus. consumer states problems with turning the key in the ignition switch *tgw | |||
| 04/24/2010 | 1 | ||
| My ford focus svt 2004 ingintion key will not turn and the steering wheel is locked. i had problems starting 4 months ago and now it is worst. *tr | |||
| 02/28/2010 | 1 | ||
| I own a 2004 ford focus, i've had an issue with the ignition sticking for about 4 months, usually being able to jiggle it and get it to turn. now it is stuck completely, i've read tons and tons of articles about this being a problem, my car is now parked in my driveway because i don't feel this is my responsibility to fix. *tr | |||
| 11/26/2009 | 86000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. while attempting to start the vehicle the key would not turn in the ignition. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership. the current and failure mileages were 86000. | |||
| 11/14/2009 | 67787 | 1 | |
| On a saturday evening i drove to grocery store. after i had finished shopping i tried to start vehicle. i could not turn key in ignition and the steering column remained in the locked position. the vehicle had 67787 miles. i had car towed to ford dealer and they drilled out lock cylinder and replaced with a new one at a cost of $385.34. tow truck driver stated that he had towed the same model before with an identical problem. the service manager at dealer stated that he had several of the same model with identical problem. he also stated that the part had been updated a few times. i am 53 and have driven many vehicles, some with over 240,000 miles and have never before had this problem. i feel it was manufactured with a defect and it failed prematurely. *tr | |||
| 12/24/2007 | 99000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2004 ford focus. the ignition locks whenever the car is turned off. it is impossible to start the car again without hitting on the key itself. this has resulted in the key breaking off in the lock. the ignition lock appears to be a common problem with this make and model, and poses a significant safety risk.. i have had this problem for the past 2 years, but it has become much worse recently. there was no accident or damage to the car prior to this issue. the local ford dealers told me it would cost between $400-500 to fix, and it seems that many times, the new parts are also defective and the problem returns. as this appears to be a widespread problem among focus owners, please consider issuing a safety recall for this make and model. *tr | |||
| 12/08/2009 | 48000 | 1 | |
| 2004 ford focus ignition problem. could not put my key in the ignition and was stranded. *tr | |||
| 11/28/2009 | 66345 | 1 | |
| 2004 ford focus-- ignition key won`t turn leaving the driver stranded. *tr | |||
| 09/21/2009 | 61000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2004 ford focus zx5, i went into work, came out and found my ignition would not turn. the steering wheel was locked, the key would not budge, the brake wouldn't even push in all the way, as well as my car wouldn't come out of park. i looked up the problem online and saw it was a very common problem and i'm very displease that this would happen. i bought this car about a year ago from a dealership! i'm going to have to take my car to a locksmith or dealership and have the entire ignition system replaced. *tr | |||
| 09/01/2009 | 90000 | 1 | |
| My 17 year old daughter was left stranded one evening when the key wouldn't turn in the ignition of her 2004 ford focus so she couldn't get the car started. i had just signed up for a class at our local community college at a campus 25+ miles away. i was in class with my phone off, so i couldn't help her. it is a dangerous situation for a young girl to be stranded anywhere. in addition, we live in texas where we're up to 65 days of temperatures in the triple digits. this could be a major health concern for anyone who became stranded in the heat of the day. i understand this problem is quite common in 2000-2004 models. we were finally able to get someone to get the key to turn so she could drive home. however, once there, the same thing happened. we had to have the car towed to the dealership for service. then i learned that the part wasn't even covered under the warranty i had purchased. for whatever reason, ford doesn't consider this to be a safety issue and has failed to issue a recall. *tr | |||
| 08/03/2009 | 63000 | 1 | |
| 2004 ford focus key ignition is a faulty design in seemingly all focus models according to my dealer and many sources. this left me stranded in 100 degree weather with my pet and no idea what to do. the repair is quoted at $550 to replace it at the dealer and ford has done nothing to recall their poorly designed ignition. my dealer said every ford focus will eventually need this repaired, why then isn't ford accountable? *tr | |||
| 07/29/2009 | 53600 | 1 | |
| 1. there was no warning sign 2. my key wouldn't turn the ignition, i was stuck at my job 11:00 pm. 3. i had the car towed to the nearest ford dealerships and had the ignition replaced costing me $382.00. *tr | |||
| 07/17/2009 | 70000 | 1 | |
| I tried to start my 2004 ford focus zx3 one night only to find that the steering wheel and ignition were locked up. it felt as if the whole steering mechanism was frozen. i'm still researching how to deal with this issues since i can't drive my car. on-line resources have taught me that this is a common problem with the ford focus' yet there is no recall available and we are stuck paying hundreds of dollars to fix a manufacturer defect. *tr | |||
| 07/10/2009 | 64000 | 1 | |
| There is a defect which causes the ignition lock to fail, making it impossible to turn the key or start the vehicle's engine. the form says it's invalid but i checked both places in the car and that is what it says. the form did not have, electrical system:ignition, as an option for component name which better describes the problem area. *tr | |||
| 06/23/2009 | 31000 | 1 | |
| Our 17 year old daughter stopped at a seven-eleven store and when she tried to return home the ignition key in our 2004 ford focus would not turn. this left our daughter stranded and required her to wait for a tow truck. being a 17 year old girl stranded outside a seven-eleven was not a good feeling! i believe ford is aware of many complaints about their focus ignition locks. *tr | |||
| 06/17/2009 | 69000 | 1 | |
| 2004 ford focus. the key will not turn in the ignition and the ignition needs to be replaced. this has happened to tons of other people with the same car and issue and ford has not recalled it because they are cheap.*tr | |||
| 06/03/2009 | 109951 | 1 | |
| The vehicle ignition starter fails to start the vehicle. you must hit the key into the ignition in order to actually start the car. this occurs every time that i attempt to start the car. this is a common issue that recurs even after you replace the parts. this is a mechanical error that will constantly break down. *tr | |||
| 04/29/2009 | 69000 | 1 | |
| The key will not turn the ignition. this has happened several times. usually i can get it to work after about an hour or two of repeatedly putting the key in & out, but today i cannot get it working. i have been stranded in the dead of winter with my daughter out at midnight, on the side of a major busy highway (rt 94 west to chicago), and several other locations. it's usually late at night and freezing cold out when this happens to me. it is definitely a safety hazard for me as well as when i have my daughter with me. *tr | |||
| 04/10/2009 | 80000 | 1 | |
| Ignition system failed for 2004 ford focus 2 dr coupe. car now needs a new system which ford estimates at $450. google ford focus ignition and see hundreds of exact same complaint. ford will not recall since not safety issue, how about integrity. they know of the problem but will not fix it. california has a class action law suit, but what about me?? ford should be held accountable for this problem that they know exists for older models, especially in this time of need. no confidence left in ford, i will buy foreign cars from now on. please help!!! *tr | |||
| 03/30/2009 | 87100 | 1 | |
| My ignition lock froze up and i was unable to drive my car. key wouldn't turn and the steering wheel was locked. i had to have my car towed to a shop for repairs. i called ford and asked them to correct the problem and they declined. i own a 2004 ford focus zx5. i checked the internet and this is a common problem. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2009 | 72000 | 1 | |
| 2004 ford focus key gets stuck in the ignition and will not turn. it occurs frequently. *tr | |||
| 02/01/2009 | 44000 | 1 | |
| 2004 ford focus - ignition problems. came to find out this is a well known, documented problem. the ford focus' most common problem, according complaints from focus owners, is the key won't turn in the ignition, or the key gets stuck in the ignition. *tr | |||
| 12/18/2007 | 48000 | 1 | |
| The ignition lock and the key would not come out. had to be towed at midnight from the hospital in 18 degree weather. dealership said manufacture part at a cost of $455.00. brake noise no one can find. replaced the windshield wiper arm twice. will never buy ford again!!! *tr | |||
| 10/25/2008 | 1 | ||
| I have a 2004 ford focus whose ignition switch went out and had to be replaced. this cost me a couple hundred dollars. *tr | |||
| 11/07/2008 | 1 | ||
| 2004 ford focus - locked ignition switch-low miles. unable to drive or unlock steering wheel. hundreds of complaints on this situation. class action filed in ca. *tr | |||
| 11/04/2008 | 1 | ||
| The key will not turn in the ignition. this it turns out is a known issue for the ford focus yet so far ford has not recalled the faulty ignition. *tr | |||
| 10/24/2008 | 75000 | 1 | |
| My 2004 ford focus's ignition has failed. it just stopped working one day leaving me stranded at work for 2 hours. *tr | |||
| 10/30/2008 | 34000 | 1 | |
| My ignition has locked multiple times leaving my 3 year old daughter and myself stranded where i had to call someone to come and help start my car as the key wouldn't turn in the ignition. tonight the car would not start at all and i had to abandon it. *tr | |||
| 10/07/2004 | 1 | ||
| I have a 2004 ford focus zts. the car is only 4 years old and the locking cylinder won't turn anymore when the key is in the ignition. this car is far too new to be having a problem like this. *tr | |||
| 10/22/2007 | 1 | ||
| I'm a manager of a fleet of vehicles for the american red cross. i have had three (3) 2004 ford focus ignition lock up to were i could not turn the steering wheel. i had to get them towed and new ignitions put in. this has cost me close to 700.00 per vehicle. *tr | |||
| 09/22/2008 | 1 | ||
| I bought a 2004 ford focus zx3 a year ago in august 2007. the car had never given me any problems until yesterday, september 22, 2008. i got out of school and went to lunch with a friend, i had to go to work so i decided to leave. when i went outside to turn my car on i couldn't turn the key in the ignition, i tried moving the stirring wheel while i turned the key in the ignition but it wouldn't budge. i called my friend and she came out to try to see if she could turn it on, it didn't work for her either. i then proceeded to call the dealership from where i got my car, they told my that i did still had warranty for my car so the told me that i had to tow it to them. they gave me a number so that i could call customer service for the warranty, they let me know that i did have insurance for a tow truck. they gave me the number of a tow truck and i had to call them so that they could pick-up my car and take it to the dealership. the tow truck came and got my car to take to the dealership. i called the dealership after my car got there the guy told me that they where not going to be able to check my car until tomorrow when the service guys got in. they called bck today and told me that they were able to fix my car and i had to pay a 50 dollar deductible to pick up my car. i have read some more statements from people that have had the same problem with their focuses but the most report have been with the 2000-20003 like i said my car is a 2004 so ford really needs to try to better there ignition locks because even after replacing the ignition lock it sometimes happens again. i didn't make it to work yesterday and if my friend wasn't with me i would have been stranded with out a car, hopefully i this doesn't happen again and ford does something about it soon! *tr | |||
| 09/15/2008 | 32000 | 1 | |
| Ford focus 2004 key ignition problems. the key wont turn in the ignition. i understand that this is in focus 2000-2003, but mine is a 2004 and i just spent $400.00 in repairs. i went to the dealer to get it repaired hoping ford would finally issue a recall, and i can get my money back. the one i have will probably break again in a few years, for another $400. this is terrible. i had the card towed. *tr | |||
| 08/29/2008 | 92000 | 1 | |
| My ignition switch on my ford focus 2004 would not turn over. i was only in a fast food restaurant for 5 minutes and when i came back out, the ignition lock and steering wheel would not turn. had to have car towed to local repair shop. went on internet and have researched thousands of ford focus locked cylinder complaints. when will this become a recall? i do not know how much money i will be out of but this is ridiculous for ford to not pay for this problem. *tr | |||
| 08/27/2008 | 41700 | 1 | |
| Ignition on my 2004 ford focus would not turn. this has happen before and i was able to get the car running. the latest i had to drill out the ignition to get the car home. *tr | |||
| 08/24/2008 | 86650 | 1 | |
| There were no difficulties leading up to the failure of my ignition. i put the key in the ignition of my 2004 ford focus and it would not turn. i had a mechanic look at it and he said it was the cylinder ignition switch. he checked online after seeing my car and found that this has been happening in focus' since 2000. i then did some research on my own and found the same thing. i called the ford company and they suggested i take my car to the dealership. i called another mechanic and he told me alot of focus' have this problem and that the dealership would have to fix it because they would have to make a new key and no one else could do that. i have not totally fixed the problem yet. the mechanic who saw my car put wd-40 in the ignition and banged a screw driver in it and then it turns on. i still have to do this. *tr | |||
| 08/09/2008 | 76000 | 1 | |
| 1. nothing led up to the failure. 2. failure occurs each time key is inserted into the ignition 3. parts need to be replaced. i drive a 2004 ford focus. my ignition cylinder has gone out. i spent 1/2 hour late at night trying to get home from work. the key wont turn. i fear for my safety. there are thousands of people that have this problem. this is scary! *tr | |||
| 08/19/2008 | 1 | ||
| Purchased 2004 ford focus on 8-5-08. on 8-19-08 the ignition locked in my drive way. ignition will not turn over at all. ford needs to fix this! *tr | |||
| 03/19/2006 | 37000 | 1 | |
| I couldn't start my car after putting gas in at a gas station. the key would not turn in the ignition. after trying for over 10 minutes, i called for help. my daughter went on line and found that ford focus have this problem and you need to tap the key to get it to turn. i tapped it and was able to start my car. this has been going on now for about 18 months and i decided to have it looked at today at the ford dealer. they said it is common in the ford focus but their was not a recall on it. they said i need to have it replaced for $375.00 w/o keys or $525.00 with new keys. i don't think i should have to pay for this defect, ford should replace it for free. *tr | |||
| 06/01/2008 | 1 | ||
| Ford focus key will not turn in ignition. i was stranded at night with 2 children for over an hour due to this problem! this has occurred more than a handful of times in the last 2 weeks which is unacceptable. this defective part should be recalled and replaced immediately!! *tr | |||
| 06/05/2008 | 49000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. when the contact inserted the key into the ignition, he was unable to start the vehicle. he was also unable to remove the key from the ignition. the dealer stated that they have had many similar complaints related to ignition failure for the ford focus. depending on the severity of the failure, the repair could cost between $300-$600. through online research, the contact discovered other complaints related to the ford focus and ignition failures. the failure and current mileages were 49,000. | |||
| 06/06/2008 | 49000 | 1 | |
| Key stuck in ignition switch. cannot turn. cannot be removed. *tr | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 1 | ||
| Had to have the ignition lock on a 2004 ford focus replaced. consumer states that he was informed that it is a frequent problem. *nj | |||
| 02/25/2008 | 1 | ||
| I was getting into my 2004 ford focus and put the key in and tried to turn it. the key would not turn. the ignition switch is broken. i researched it online and found numerous consumers with the same problem. ford is not issuing a recall for this problem and they should. i called ford and they said there is nothing they can do. i was left stranded at work and late for my second job because of the car trouble. i am having my car fixed today. i called a dealership and barely got two words out about the ignition and they knew exactly what i was talking about. they said that it has been happening to a lot of focuses. this has left many people stranded and in dangerous places. ford needs to issue a recall and fix this issue so that they do not have any more unhappy customers. *tr | |||
| 01/31/2007 | 39000 | 5 | |
| Ignition cylinder locked up occasionally. after wiggling the key, it would always crank eventually. cylinder would not turn and therefore car would not start. cylinder is a dealer only part. ford will not let others sell this part because then no one would buy their defective part. *tr | |||
| 12/11/2004 | 8 | ||
| My horn stop working a little after i got the car back in 04. ford has put about 5 new horns in still nothing. it works for a bit, then out of no were it stops. then around 34,000 mi my car was in the shop for 33 days. at the time no one told me that my car was a lemon if its in the shop for that long under 36,000 mi then its a lemon. then at 58,000 my engine starts to make a noise. so i take it to ford, yep it needs a new engine, so they put a new one in there. well at 67,00 guess what, my ignition has locked up, so now i'm screwed. i can barley make my payments and now i can't even drive my car.....again.*cn | |||
| 12/26/2007 | 1 | ||
| Event: ignition key would not turn and start the car. consequence: handicap equipped car: event left my wife helpless in her car in a hazardous situation for more than an hour (winter cold) (3) towing service required, cylinder had to be drilled out, replacement costs at ford car dealership about 500 usd. *tr | |||
| 12/03/2007 | 58000 | 1 | 07/13/2004 |
| My 2004 ford focus ignition lock cylinder failed (it wouldn't turn) leaving me stranded and requiring a tow and nearly $300 in repairs. i've since discovered that this problem is wide-spread and was identified by ford over 7 years ago and yet no steps have been taken to correct it. the fact that this defect can leave you stranded pretty much at random (anywhere at anytime) makes this a safety issue. among other things, not being able to turn the key also means i couldn't put the car in neutral to push it out of the way of traffic. that this has not been addressed is simply appalling. *tr | |||
| 11/13/2007 | 1 | ||
| 2004 focus has a defective ignition tumbler. over a course of a few days the key began to get stuck in the ignition and would only turn after several attempts. after a few days, it stopped working all together. i was stranded in a dark parking lot after work for nearly an hour until someone could get me. i then had to get a ride to work the following day (50 mi each way). before having the car towed to a garage, i contacted someone at a ford dealer who said this was a common problem. he suggested tapping on the key with a hard object (i used a pocket knife) while turning the key and it worked! so the car is now sitting in my driveway until i can get it started again to take it into the shop. estimated repair cost $450.00 and this doesn't include the cost to re-key. my husband also has 2004 ford focus (we bought them on the same day) and is also having problems with the ignition tumbler--how coincidental is that? sounds like a serious defect to me. i can't believe the ford company isn't taking any responsibility for this issue. i own 3 fords and will never buy one again! *tr | |||
| 10/01/2007 | 50000 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. while stopped, the vehicle stalled and shut off. the contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the key would not turn in the ignition. the failure occurred several times before, but the vehicle was able to be restarted. the vehicle had to be towed to a mechanic. the mechanic stated that the ignition cylinder needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired at the cost of $150 for the part. the purchase date and dealer information were unknown. the current and failure mileages were 50,000. | |||
| 07/18/2007 | 1 | ||
| Ford focus ignition key won't turn. *tr | |||
| 07/16/2007 | 36000 | 1 | 03/12/2004 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. the key failed to turn in the ignition to start the vehicle. the dealer stated that the ignition cylinder had failed. the vehicle is currently being repaired. the current and failure mileages were 36,000. updated 09/05/07. *jb | |||
| 05/02/2007 | 46700 | 1 | |
| 2004 ford focus. ignition got stuck key won't turn. *tr | |||
| 01/04/2007 | 32500 | 1 | 06/30/2004 |
| Ignition lock on 2004 ford focus failed (froze up). this is the same scenario that has been widely reported on the internet for which ford has not done a recall. ford did repair this under warranty at no charge to me, but since this problem appears to be chronic, i want to be sure that the incidence of the problem is recorded. *jb | |||
| 12/03/2006 | 40800 | 2 | 04/27/2006 |
| I have had my 2004 ford focus for about 6 months, and i had boughten it used. it has run very well with no problems at all up until recently. i have gone to start my car, and the key would get stuck and not turn over and the wheel would lock up. after several attempts, the car would start and run fine. yesterday it took me almost 2 hours to turn the key over to get my car to start. today i called a ford dealership, because they think that i need a new ignition. *nm | |||
| 11/30/2006 | 41945 | 1 | 11/01/2004 |
| Locking of ignition in ford focus. *jb | |||
| 11/10/2005 | 45000 | 2 | 04/05/2004 |
| Ignition started getting hard to turn, eventually it wouldn't turn at all. leaving me stranded out of town. had to spend 350$ to have it replaced. then it happened again 9 months later. and now it's beginning again, when i take the key out it keeps beeping like i haven't. *nm | |||
| 10/18/2006 | 1 | 05/05/2004 | |
| 2004 ford focus, now 2 years old with 54,000 miles. when leaving the store today my key would go into the ignition but would not turn and my wheel was in a locked position facing left. i had to have my vehicle towed to the dealership costing me $68 and an additional $98 for ford to look at it. i am sure it will be confirmed tomorrow that i will need my ignition cylinder replaced as have many focus owners. which will cost approximately $300. *nm | |||
| 06/27/2006 | 17000 | 1 | 02/24/2004 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the key came out of the ignition while in the start position. the vehicle was parked and turned off when the incident occurred. the steering wheel locked up and could not be moved when the vehicle was restarted. the vehicle was towed to the dealer who determined the ignition cylinder and transceiver module needed to be replaced. | |||
| 07/18/2006 | 84 | 2 | 02/14/2004 |
| 2004 ford focus. key does not turn in ignition. stranded in remote area. had to walk and hitch-hike home. found hudreds of similar complaints on internet. sudden, unexpected failure of such basic and fundametal safety/security equipment is inherantly dangerous. consumers should be warned that this is a common occurance and that it could be dangerous. *nm | |||
| 06/18/2006 | 2 | 01/04/2004 | |
| In october of 2004 the ignition cylinder locked on my 2004 ford focus and was unusable. it was towed to the dealership and they claimed to have fixed it. today is june 18, 2006 and the ignition cylinder locked on me again. my daughter drives this car and she works the graveyard shift. if this car were to leave her stranded at night because ford failed to issue a recall --i seriously consider this a safety issue!!!!!!!!!!!!! *nm | |||
| 04/14/2006 | 1 | ||
| Ignition jammed unable to start car,key would not turn at all. had to have car towed to dealership and they replaced ignition had the car for two days, now that i have new ignition the key is now getting stuck in the ignition. have not reported problem to dealership yet. *nm | |||
| 05/01/2006 | 26925 | 1 | 02/26/2004 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle the key would not turn unless the steering wheel is turned at the same time. the problem occurs intermittently and has not been taken to the dealer. the vehicle is a 2004 ford focus. *ak | |||
| 04/28/2006 | 31500 | 1 | 04/01/2004 |
| Dt*: the contact stated for the past four months, while attempting to start the vehicle, the key will not turn unless the steering wheel and the key are turned at the same time. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the lock assembly, ignition switch, and steering lock mechanism were replaced. this corrected the problem. updated 05/30/2006. *ak | |||
| 12/14/2005 | 37000 | 5 | 06/14/2004 |
| Key will not turn in ignition. *jb | |||
| 10/20/2005 | 53000 | 1 | 10/07/2003 |
| We own a 2004 ford focus zx3. it has around 50,000 miles on it. the car is primary used for commuting, 150 miles round trip each day. last week when going to leave work my husband inserted the key in the ignition but the lock would not turn. he had to slam on the key to finally get the key to turn so he could come home. it has progressively got worse and this morning the key is unable to turn at all. we've barely had the car two years. when looking online for a fix/recall notice i discovered that there are thousands of other americans who have experienced the same problem, some of them several times. at what point does ford accept the responsibility for using subpar materials and fix the thing on their tab? i am now sitting with a car in my driveway, unable to even be taken to the dealer without a tow truck. it is blocking my garage which houses our only other form of transportation. i am going to be out around $100 today for transportation costs and that doesn't even include fixing the focus. *jb | |||
| 09/10/2005 | 1 | ||
| I was able to get the key in and out of the ignition but was not able to turn the wheel or the key. everything was locked. had to get the 2004 focus towed and pay 300+ dollars for repair as the warranty is up (40k + mis.) *jb | |||
| 01/28/2005 | 5 | ||
| Type of automobile is a 2004 ford focus. on several occasionsx ignition locks up and cannot start car. i have researched the internet and found this is a common problem in the ford focus dating back to the 2000 model and yet ford has done nothing to correct the problem. this could be a dangerous problem for a mother with children if she were to travel at night and when returning to the car could not start her engine. it is not covered by insurance for repair or under warranty if expired and it is a manufacturing defect on the part of ford and the consumer should not be responsible for repairs that after researching has been evident since the release of the ford focus. it is time that ford did something about this instead of leaving it up to the consumer to repair. *ak | |||
| 12/07/2004 | 80000 | 1 | 12/20/1999 |
| 2000 ford focus zx3: the tumblers of the ignition are jammed. the key has a rough time going into the mechanism and often gets stuck on the way in or out. once in, the ignition will not turn at all. the car now has to be towed to be worked on. *jb | |||
| 10/24/2004 | 38000 | 1 | 03/08/2003 |
| Steering wheel locked up, can't start car. had to take a hammer and pound key to get started, as a tow truck operator told me all these ford focuss are doing this. *ak | |||
| 02/03/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving vehicle stalled. consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic did not resolve the problem. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||
| 04/02/2008 | 12980 | 3 | 05/01/2004 |
| Went to start car to go to work and key would not turn the ignition on. had to have the whole tumbler assembly repaired at a cost of just under $400. *tr | |||
| 06/01/2007 | 55000 | 2 | 10/01/2004 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. the contact stated that at any given time, the ignition locks up. as a result, she is unable to open the windows, doors, start the vehicle, or operate the vehicle in any capacity. ford advised her to shake the vehicle and move the steering wheel back and forth. ford also advised her husband to take a mallard and strike the ignition in an attempt to release the key. if none of those solutions worked, the contact was informed to bring the vehicle to the dealer because the part is probably defective. the contact heeded ford's instructions, but the failure still occurred. the manufacturer stated that they are aware of the issue, however, the plateau of concern is not great enough to issue a recall. the dealer stated that the cost to repair the vehicle is $432 and that the part is definitely defective. the vin and engine size were unknown. the current mileage is 58,000 and failure mileage was 55,000. | |||
| 03/09/2007 | 35900 | 2 | 10/10/2006 |
| I purchased a 2004 svt focus 10/06. in 12/06, the coil pack went bad, they fixed the vehicle under warranty. on 3/9/07 as i was leaving a friends house, the same symptoms happened to me as this past december, then went away very quickly. i made the decision to drive my vehicle home and call the dealership. i never made it home. about a 1/4 mile from my friends house, the vehicle began to shake and shutter very violently. i pulled over quickly and smoke started to come from under the hood. i lifted the hood and the coil pack that had been replaced was glowing red and shooting sparks and began to not only catch itself on fire, but started setting all the cables and other things on fire.at the same time the clutch also exploded and blew through the bellhousing. which there is a tsb issued by ford on. also, at this time, the vehicle was still trying to run all on its own, and the keys were in my pocket. i am unsure of the exact cause of the fire, but it was not done by anything that i was doing or had done to the vehicle. it currently has 35,900 miles on it and is still under warranty. side note, after the whole incident with the coil pack back in december, i just recently decided to pull up the history on my vehicle from ford's database. in december i was brought into the office at the dealership and almost blamed for abuse of the coil because it was so destroyed. yet, when i looked up my history it says that all that was replaced was a connector on the coil, not the coil itself. so, the coil was never actually replaced, but i was almost being blamed for destroying my coil. i am still fighting to get my vehicle fixed under warranty and being treated very poorly. i am a mechanic by trade and i'm being talked to and treated like a 5 year old anytime i try to get answers. they are still not taking responsiblity for the mechanical/electrical failure of their vehicle that they claimed to fix. *ak | |||
| 10/26/2006 | 35657 | 1 | 03/04/2004 |
| On october 26, 2006 at 8:00 am i tried to start my vehicle and the ignition key would not turn. i called the ford dealership and the service person said it sounded like an ignition lock and he said he was familiar with the repair. i was informed that they had no towing service. due to the fact that the dealership was approximately 12 miles away, i instead had it towed to a garage down the road. the garage installed a new lock cylinder. i was late for work and had to bum a ride to pick my car up after work. the garage charged me for 2 and 1/2 hours of work, the towing and the part, the total being $308.62. all this on a car only 2 and 1/2 years old. after the repair was done i called the ford dealership and they refused to pay for the repair, even though the car was still under warranty, because i did not bring it to them. i wrote to ford headquarters and they again refused to pay for it. *nm | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH | |||
| 02/21/2010 | 1 | ||
| The issue i would like to report is in regard to ford focus automobiles from 2000 to current date 2010. there is a know defect with the ignition switch which is made with inferior metal parts in the ignition lock. what happens is that metal shavings are produced inside the lock and after time these metal shavings cause the lock to jam. thousands of people have been affected by this problem and have been stranded because they cannot turn the ignition key. ford denies this problem. just go to any locksmith or tow truck driver or google ford focus ignition on the internet. everybody knows about the problem. everytime this happens it costs the owner between $500 and $800 to have this fixed at a ford dealership. my 2004 for focus currently has this problem. this should be a recall by ford and i think this is the biggest scam since bernie madoff. please do something about this. thanks frustrated ford owner. *tr | |||
| 01/19/2010 | 81350 | 1 | |
| Ignition switch in lock position freezes and refuses to unlock when ignition key is inserted, causing an inability to start engine or unlock steering wheel to move vehicle. this problem strands motorists wherever they are when the ignition key was switched off and removed from the ignition. *tr | |||
| 05/08/2009 | 50000 | 1 | |
| I have two issues with my ford focus (2004) first, i ran into a problem with the ignition switch and it will not turn. i left the key in for a couple of months when this initially happened but, it wore out my alternator and i had to have it replaced. i removed the key once the new alternator was installed. i had some minor success with inserting the key and had to bang on it with my hand to get it to turn. this worked successfully for 2 weeks. the ignition switch is now frozen. i am back to square one. secondly, the trunk latch doesn't close properly and i have to use my remote to reopen the mechanism in order to get it to close. very aggravating. i will not purchase another ford if these issues are not recalled. *tr | |||
| 04/13/2008 | 48000 | 1 | 03/10/2006 |
| Key will not turn in ignition leaving me stranded at night. seems to be a common problem with this car(ford focus) according to internet queries. *tr | |||
| 03/21/2008 | 60147 | 1 | 03/15/2005 |
| I have owned my 2004 ford focus se for about 4 years now and out of no where the ignition in the car froze. when i put my key in the ignition the key doesn't go in the key hole smoothly once all the way in it wont turn. i was stranded at work for 3 and a half hours trying to get my car started finally a tow truck driver came and used a mallet hit my key while it was in the ignition to get the car started. i brought my car to a local ford dealership because i heard that ford did a recall on this part. turns out that the dealership says i am fully responsible for the part...i did some researching online and found that hundreds of thousands of people have the same problem ford is not fixing this malfunction. i am deploying to iraq for the second time and i can not leave my family a working vehicle because of a defect ford has with the ignition system. i feel as if this is a problem that ford should face and should do an official recall on. this is poor service esp coming from a large vehicle company like ford. *tr | |||
| 11/12/2007 | 1 | ||
| 2004 ford focus with ignition problems. consumer states that the key got stuck in the ignition. consumer also stated that the vehicle would not start. consumer was informed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. *kb | |||
| 01/19/2008 | 67947 | 1 | 05/25/2004 |
| My daughter went to start her 2004 ford focus and the key would not turn when inserted in the ignition. steering wheel and ignition cylinder were locked up and could not be moved. this was the first occurrence of this problem. vehicle was towed to a nearby ford dealership where the problem was diagnosed as ignition cylinder binding. dealership drilled out cylinder and replaced at a cost of $425. failure mileage was 67,947. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2008 | 77000 | 3 | 04/05/2004 |
| The key will not turn in the ignition of my 2004 ford focus.*cn | |||
| 12/17/2007 | 46810 | 1 | 08/20/2005 |
| 2004 ford focus ignition key lockout failure. had to replace tumbler. *tr | |||
| 12/14/2007 | 1 | ||
| There were no events leading to this problem. it just happened out of no were. my key would not turn in the ignition. *tr | |||
| 11/04/2007 | 46000 | 1 | 04/02/2004 |
| Tl*the contact's son owns a 2004 ford focus. the contact stated that the ignition would not turn when the key was inserted. the dealer stated that the ignition switch failed and was a common occurrence. as of november 8, 2007, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. the vin was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 46,000. | |||
| 11/06/2007 | 48000 | 1 | 06/01/2004 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. the vehicle failed to start because the steering wheel locked up. the vehicle was towed to the ford dealer and is currently being repaired. the cause of the failure was the ignition switch. the contact discovered several complaints on this same defect, but no recalls were available. he considered this to be a manufacturer defect. the current and failure mileages were 48,000. | |||
| 10/10/2007 | 14155 | 2 | 04/01/2004 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. the contact was unable to turn the ignition when the key was inserted. the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. the failure recurred two days later. the dealer stated that the key cartridge caused the failure and they made the replacement. the contact stated that two of the three original keys have not worked properly since the replacement. the failure mileage was 14,155 and current mileage was 14,200. updated 01-14-08. *kb updated 12/12/07 | |||
| 07/04/2007 | 77000 | 4 | 02/28/2004 |
| Without any warning the ignition switch of the 2004 ford focus began to stop functioning properly. i am currently able to turn the key if i spend a few minutes manipulating the steering wheel while simultaneously turning the key.*ak | |||
| 05/17/2007 | 38000 | 20 | 04/03/2004 |
| We purchased a brand new 2004 ford focus, 3 years ago. of course the warranty just ran out (we're at about 38,000 miles). over the past 2 weeks, we've had problems getting the key into the ignition, and once in the ignition, the key wont turn. the first time it happened, it took just a couple of attempts and then it turned. it has progressively gotten worse, and has taken up to 5 minutes to get the key into the ignition and to turn. exactly 2 weeks and 2 days after the problem arose, i went to start my car and this time it took 10 minutes to get to key into the ignition and to turn. that same night i was attempting to leave a friends house, and again the key has trouble going into the ignition, and once in it wont turn, the steering wheel is locked, and i'm stuck. my husband has another key to the car, so we tried alternating the keys. we sat in the driveway for 30 minutes, trying both keys alternately, and the key just wouldn't turn. we had to get a ride home and are without a car now. our mechanic said the same thing happened to someone else with the same car last week, and it cost them $420 for parts/repairs. we have to wait until next week when we can affords the repairs. i have read numerous consumer complaints about the same problem with the same car (ford focus, several years/models) some of them even had to replace the same part more than one time. this is obviously a faulty part, and ford should be conducting some sort of recall to fix the part. *tr | |||
| 02/27/2007 | 46000 | 3 | 06/01/2005 |
| Yesterday i got into my car (a 2004 ford focus), put the key in the ignition, and the key would not turn. today i took the car to the dealer and the problem was repaired. the key cylinder had malfunctioned. in doing some research i have discovered that this is a very common problem with the focus, but ford motor company has refused to recall the affected models even though this is a potential safety issue. the dealership did repair the problem, but i had to pay over $200 for it. *nm | |||
| 01/30/2007 | 1 | ||
| The key for my 2004 ford focus station wagon isn't working right. i turn it back and forth in the ignition and it take 5 minutes to start the car. it isn't on recall but should be. there are lots of the same issues on the internet. *jb | |||
| 11/07/2006 | 43500 | 1 | 01/07/2005 |
| Ignition cylinder failed to turn during start up. key would bottom out in cylinder as required, but upon attempting to rotate in any direction the key would not move. could not get key to rotate after repeated attempts to do so over a 12 hour period. after researching the problem on the internet and talking with the dealership service rep where i purchased the vehicle, it seems this problem is very prevalent with this particular model from its inception in 2000. the particular failed ignition cylinder installed in the vehicle listed has had numerous issues in the past, but each time resolved the problem within minutes. not this time. it had to be repaired through destructive disassembly, ie the cylinder lock needed to be drilled and replaced. *nm | |||
| 10/27/2006 | 42000 | ||
| I noticed when i first purchased my 2004 ford focus that it had intermitint problems with the key not turning the igintion over. i recently was stranded because my key didnt turn over and i took it the shop who confirmed it was my ignition lock that froze. the cost $265... | |||
| 09/17/2006 | 75201 | 1 | 06/30/2004 |
| Ignition switch failure.. fortunate that the event happened while at home. i travel frequently as an employee of the department of homeland security. this could have been very detrimental if this had occurred while on duty. ford's extended warranty that we purchased in good faith, refused to cover the component. while the plan clearly states that the ignition switch is covered. ford's cost for repair is over $365.00. *jb | |||
| 09/05/2006 | 50000 | 1 | 01/05/2006 |
| I have a 2004 ford focus lx and the ignition locked froze. the key wouldn't turn, therefore not allowing my vehicle to start no matter what. the car only has 50000 miles on it and is fairly new. after doing some research on the web, this is a common problem in ford focus vehicles. there is even a class action suit going on in california. ford doesn't recognize this as a recall because it's not a safety issue. if my car doesn't start in the wrong place at the wrong time, especially with my kids, this is definitely a safety issue. this is happening to thousands of people and most of them say that they had to get this problem fixed more than once within a 3 year time period. *jb | |||
| 07/02/2006 | 300 | 08/11/2005 | |
| About two weeks ago i tried to start my 2004 ford focus, but the key would not turn in the ignition. after about 10 tries it finally worked. this afternoon i went to my car to pick up my wife from work and the key would not turn at all. i have tried for over two hours and no results. after some research on the internet i find that this is not an isolated case but rather the norm. even further research revealed that there is no recall from the ford company, in fact they are actively denying that there is a problem. *nm | |||
| 05/11/2006 | 62580 | 1 | 03/07/2004 |
| The ignition cylinder locked on my 2004 ford focus making it impossible to start; it froze the steering column as well. it occurred late in the evening and left me stranded 50 miles from home. i have since read many reports of the same occurrence to owners of the ford focus of various years and trims. this problem seems to occur spontaneously without any forewarning and is of great potential danger to the driver. focus owners report repairing the problem repeatedly and ford adamantly denies the defect. *jb | |||
| 04/13/2005 | 1 | ||
| Driver placed the key inside of the ignition switch and the key failed to come out of ignition. driver contacted the dealer for an appointment. *ak | |||
| 03/30/2005 | 40000 | 1 | 03/01/2004 |
| I parked my car to go work one evening,and i came back and it fails to work.neither of my keys will turn the ifnition.my keys go in and out of the the ignition switch only. my car has 40k miles on it,and it needs a recall immediately.i do not have money to fix right now,so i am stranded.*ak | |||
| 01/13/2005 | 1 | ||
| The ignition switch and steering column was locked. the owner will contact manufacturer. | |||
| 12/01/2004 | 1 | ||
| Consumer placed the key inside of the ignition switch and it failed to turn the vehicle on. consumer had to hit the ignition switch hard in order for the key to come out. consumer contacted the dealer for inspection and appointment.*ak | |||
| 10/07/2004 | 1 | ||
| While placing the key inside the ignition switch ignition failed to start up the vehicle, and the key failed to be removed from the ignition. consumer took vehicle to dealer for inspection, and mechanic stated this vehicle was not on recall, and the warranty expired. consumer had to pay for parts and labor. *ak | |||
| 09/10/2004 | 47000 | 1 | 07/05/2003 |
| Consumer was unable to start vehicle. it was towed to the dealer, who replaced the ignition lock and cylinder.*ak | |||
| 05/31/2004 | 30810 | 4 | 10/15/2002 |
| Lock cylinder will not operate to start car. key will not turn. i purchased car used with 24161 miles as used with balance of new car warrentey. first happened at 30810 miles , 35500 miles,40211 miles, and at 42152 miles. the car is unusable when this happens. *jb | |||
| 04/13/2004 | 64400 | 1 | 07/15/2000 |
| Ignition cylinder / lock seized and prevented vehicle from starting.*ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY | |||
| 08/15/2005 | 20000 | 1 | |
| Dt*: the contact stated the starter assembly continued to fail, not allowing the key to turn or release the steering wheel from the locked position. the service dealer and manufacturer were contacted. the problem has not been resolved. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 10/24/2006 | 35000 | 4 | 08/15/2006 |
| 08/15/06 i purchased used 2004 ford focus. 10/24/06 car dies on me while driving. it dies and an exclamation point indicator comes on in the dash. this is a very abrupt halt whenever it dies. it almost feels as though someone hits you from behind. took car to dealer for repair. they said that they could not duplicate the problem, however they replaced the tr sensor for the automatic transmission. 11/06/06 picked car up and on the way home it died on me twice. took car back to the dealer. this time they say that they found wires that appear to have been chewed by an animal. they replaced these wires and the car has not died again since. **this is a very dangerous situation to have your car just die in the middle of the freeway while driving. *jb | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||
| 03/23/2005 | 28001 | 1 | 10/17/2004 |
| Instrument cluster is bad and the guages will not work. part is not available and my vehicle has been down for a month and 1 week as of right now. service manager has given part to area rep for ford, and that was a week ago. *ak | |||