2000 Ford Focus complaints

I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN, AS A RESULT, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. I AM UNABLE TO START THE CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME. *TR

2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. WHEN KEY IS INSERTED IN IGNITION SWITCH IT FAILS TO TURN AND CAR WILL NOT START. *TR

ONE DAY THE IGNITION CYLINDER ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 FAILED, AND I WAS UNABLE TO START MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE KEY DID NOT TURN ONCE INSIDE THE IGNITION. I WAS STRANDED WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. I HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER TO GET THE IGNITION REPLACED. *JB

I GOT INTO MY CAR TO GO ON A BUSINESS CALL AND THE KEY, WHEN INSERTED, WOULD NOT TURN THE CYLINDER. AFTER TRYING FOR SOME TIME TO GET THE KEY TURNED, I BEGAN A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN YET ANOTHER RECALL ON THE FOCUS (I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS CAR HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS). I FOUND THAT IT WAS NOT RECALLED, ALTHOUGH IT CERTAINLY WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. I FOUND MANY ACCOUNTS OF THIS PROBLEM AND MANY SUGGESTED REMEDIES. I CHOSE TO USE THE "HAMMER METHOD." THIS WORKED. IT TAKES FOUR HARD RAPS WITH A RUBBER MALLET ON THE END OF THE KEY (INTO THE CYLINDER) TO GET IT TO THEN TURN. IF I TAKE THE KEY OUT, EVEN ONCE, THE PROCESS MUST BE REPEATED. I PARK THE CAR WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, USING MY NON-CODED SPARE OR THE REMOTE UNLOCK TO GET INTO THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE - IF THERE WERE AN EMERGENCY OF SOME TYPE OR SOME TYPE OF PERSONAL THREAT AND I WERE UNABLE TO LEAVE QUICKLY DUE TO THIS IGNITION PROBLEM, WHERE WOULD I BE? ALSO, MY CAR (AS UNDESIRABLE AS I'M SURE IT IS DUE TO ITS MANY PROBLEMS) SITS AT RISK OF BEING STOLEN - THE KEY IS EASILY VISIBLE IN THE IGNITION IF I LEAVE IT THERE TO AVOID HAVING TO USE A HAMMER TO START THE CAT. I'M LISTING THE FAILURES AS 100 - I'VE HAD TO USE THE HAMMER AT LEAST THAT MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR, BUT I CAN RE-CREATE THE ISSUE ANY TIME BY SIMPLY PULLING THE KEY OUT. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE, VIBRATING, AND THE RIGHT WHEEL BEGAN TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING SEPARATED FROM THE HUB. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ON NOVEMBER 2001 REPAIRS RELATED TO RECALL#00V303000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE LEFT WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000. *AK

WAS DRIVING SLOWLY (LUCKILY), WHEN THE SPRING OF THE SUSPENSION BROKE ON OUR FORD FOCUS SE 2000 STATION WAGON. THIS LEAD TO SHREDDING OF THE FRONT TIRE. FORD REPLACED THE 2 FRONT SPRINGS FOR FREE INDICATING THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND CHOSE NOT TO FIX IT IN ADVANCE DESPITE THE RISK. NEVERTHELESS, THE SAME INCIDENT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT 75 MPH IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THIS WOULD HAVE LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT WITH POSSIBLE INJURIES/DEATHS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. ON APRIL 21, 2007 THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED ALONG WITH AN OIL CHANGE. AFTER DRIVING 50 MILES AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 65-70 MPH THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE, STALL, SURGE, AND LOSE POWER BEFORE FAILING COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, AND WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD SAFETY RECALL # 06E056000 CONCERNING FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLEWAS CURRENTLY AT THE FORD DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 154,000.*AK

WHILE ON A TRIP FROM SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA TO JACKSON, OHIO TO RETURN MY CAR TO ME AT WHAT I HOPE TO BE MY NEW HOME, MY FATHER ENCOUNTERED A RECURRENCE OF STALLING WHILE RUNNING BY MY VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM JUST TWO WEEKS BEFORE, WAS CHECKED OUT ON COMPUTER BY A REPAIR SHOP IN ORLANDO FLORIDA AND THEN LAST WEEK AT A REPAIR FACILITY LOCAL(IN SEBASTIAN). THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON IN ORLANDO WHERE THE FACILITY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM ON THE COMPUTER BUT THOUGHT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SEBASTIAN TO THE SECOND FACILITY. AT THE SECOND FACILITY THE COMPUTER AGAIN SHOWED NO PROBLEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS RESET AND THE CAR WAS RETURNED WITH INDIRECTIONS TO DRIVE IT TO TRY TO GET THE LIGHT TO TURN ON AGAIN. IT NEVER TURNED ON AGAIN SO THE CAR WAS RETURNED THREE DAYS LATER (MONDAY, 4/9/07) AND AGAIN HOOKED UP TO COMPUTER. NO PROBLEMS WERE SEEN AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED ON THE ROAD. THE MECHANIC THOUGHT PERHAPS SOME CARBON HAS BEEN DISLODGED AND RUN THROUGH THE SYSTEM SO A CLEANING WAS DONE. CAR WAS THEN DRIVEN ALMOST 400 MILES TO RIDGELAND, SC ON THE WAY AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY AHEAD AND THE CAR HAD TO SIT IN TRAFFIC FOR QUITE A WHILE. WHEN THE CAR WAS FREE TO ADVANCE, IT WAS TAKEN OFF THE ROAD FOR A LUNCH STOP. WHEN TAKEN BACK ON THE ROAD, THE CAR STALLED IN MOTION AND AFTER RESTARTING CONTINUED TO STALL.*AK

(1) HESITATION, LACK OF POWER, AND FINALLY UNABLE TO OBTAIN DRIVING SPEEDS. (2) FAILURE TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN DRIVING SPEEDS. (3) CALLED FORD AND ASKED ABOUT REPLACEMENT OF FUEL DELIVERY MODULE PURSUANT TO FORD RECALL CAMPAIGN #03N01, NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID # 03V482000. WAS TOLD THAT THIS SPECIFIC CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED ,AND WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BEGAN TO WOBBLE AND PRODUCED NOISES. THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING DETACHED FROM THE WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT SEARCHED ONLINE AND ENTERED THE VIN. THE SYSTEM STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL # 00V303000. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 100,000.*AK

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PROBLEMS REGARDING 2000 FORD FOCUS CONCERNING GAS MILEAGE DETERIORATION. ALL CARS LOST SOME FORM OF MPG ESTIMATES OVER YEARS OF USE, BUT THE FOCUS HAD TERRIBLE DETERIORATION. . I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY OWNERS OF 2000 FORD FOCUS' THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. ESTIMATED MPG HAD BEEN FROM 15 TO 22, WITH MINE FLUCTUATED FROM 10 TO 20. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS COULD BE FOUND THROUGH NORMAL MEANS. THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION REGARDING THE LOSS OF GOOD GAS MILEAGE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A PROBLEM WITH THE PROGRAMMING OF THE BRAIN BOX. ALSO, THIS CAR SUDDENLY DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE WINDSHIELD - THEY WEREN'T CRACKS THAT WERE FORMED FROM THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OR THE INSIDE SURFACE. THEY ACTUALLY FORMED IN THE GLASS, BETWEEN THE LAYERS. THEY CANNOT BE FELT ON THE OUTSIDE OR THE INSIDE OF THE GLASS.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSE AND BULBS BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN RECALL # 06E026000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 103,000.*AK

I DROVE A 2000 FOCUS ZX3 FOR 3 YEARS WITHOUT A SINGLE PROBLEM. ON MARCH 2007 (90000 MILES) THE CAR STALLED AND DIED COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF A CALIFORNIA FREEWAY. AFTER 5 MIN I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND DRIVE TO MY MECHANIC (NOT A FORD DEALER). COMPUTER ANALYSIS SHOWED A FAULTY MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. HE REPLACED IT ($450). TWO DAYS LATER, THE CAR STALLED AGAIN IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA (20 MPH AND FULL TANK OF GAS). THE CAR RESTARTED AND I DROVE BACK TO SAME MECHANIC. HE DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND SUGGESTED I SHOULD DRIVE TO A FORD DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE AT NO COST BECAUSE OF FORD RECALL #03N01. AFTER THAT THE CAR STALLED (AND DIED) AGAIN WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT (5 MPH AND FULL TANK). FORD TECHNICIANS DROVE THE CAR FOR 150 MILES WHILE HOOKED UP TO A "FLIGHT RECORDER" AND FOUND NOTHING. I DROVE IT FOR 20MI WITH A "FLIGHT RECORDER" AND IT STALLED RIGHT AWAY. I TRIED RESTARTING IT AND IT STALLED AGAIN (4 TIMES IN A ROW). I WAS ABLE TO RECORD THE DATA USING FLIGHT RECORDER. FOR THE FIRST TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON (CODE P1237). THE FORD DEALER INSPECTION ALL THE ELECTRICAL WIRES LOOKING FOR A FAULTY CONNECTION GROUND. AFTER RE-WIRING THEY TEST-DROVE THE CAR AGAIN. THEY THINK THE CAR IS OK NOW. THIS HAS BEEN MY THIRD WEEK WITHOUT A CAR. I WAS RENTING A CAR IN ORDER TO GO TO WORK (PAYING TO GO TO WORK). I CAN'T AFFORD TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON MORE SURPRISES. I HAVE BEEN STRESSED EMOTIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY. EVEN IF THE CAR IS OK NOW,

IGNITION KEY HAS FAILED TWICE- MECHANICALLY- THE 1ST TIME WAS AT 54000 MI AND COST $300 TO REPLACE - JUST HAPPENED AGAIN AT180000. THERE WERE 34 SIMILAR REPORTS IN 2001 WHEN 1ST OCCASION HAPPENED BUT FORD SAID IT WASN'T A PROBLEM. NOW I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ON YOUR SITE ABOUT IT. CAR HAS JUST BEEN TOWED TO DEALER SO NOT SURE WHAT IT WILL COST. BUT I HAVE DRIVEN CARS FOR 50 YEARS AND NEVER HAD AN IGNITION KEY PROBLEM BEFORE, NEVER MIND 2 ON SAME VEHICLE. *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER MALFUNCTIONED. SEAT BELT DID NOT FUNCTION - PULLED ALL THE WAY OUT FROM THE DOOR PILLAR AND DID NOT RETRACT. CARWAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED.*AK

MY POWER DOOR LOCKS STARTED ACTING UP AND THEN STOPED WORKING WITHIN MIN. OF EACH OTHER.THEN THE PASSENAGER REAR DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK MANUALY SO I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP.THE FORD DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO BREAK DOOR AND REDRILL DOOR HINGERS TO CORRECT DOOR BECAUSE IT CAN NOT BE UNLOCKED!!!!

CAR ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT NOTICE WHILE CRUISING ON A HIGHWAY. HAD TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY WITH REMAINING SPEED INERTIA. AFTER 10 MINUTES CAR STARTED OK, AND THEN STALLED AGAIN IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. AFTER RESTARTING, THE CAR STALLED A THIRD TIME. NO "CHECK ENGINE" SIGNAL TRIGGERED. MECHANIC UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND UNABLE TO REPRODUCE FAILURE WHILE TEST-DRIVING THE CAR FOR 30 MILES. TWO DAYS LATER, CAR STALLED AGAIN WHILE YIELDING INTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY. HAD TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY, WAIT, RESTART CAR AND GET OFF AT THE NEAREST EXIST. *JB

UP TO THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE WITH NO SINGS OF ANY PROBLEMS. I HAD JUST MERGED ON THE HIGHWAY. SUDDENLY, I HEARD A LOUD BANG. I THOUGHT A ROCK HAD KICKED UP AND STRUCK THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND MAKING A TURN, I HEARD A "CLUNKING" NOISE. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TO THE SHOP TO CHECK THE PROBLEM, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING HAD SNAPPED. TO REPAIR PROPERLY, BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND STRUTS WILL BE REPLACED AND THE FRONT END ALIGNED. ONLY NEW REPLACEMENT PARTS USED FOR REPAIR. I NEVER HEARD OF, OR EXPERIENCED THIS. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS WITH A CURRENT AND FAILURE ODOMETER OF 130000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WULD NOT TURN. THE CONTACT TRIED SEVERAL TIMES AND DIFFERENT WAYS TO MOVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, SHE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN GEAR, BUT THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN . THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD LIGHT UP, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD CHIME, BUT THE IGNITION REMAINED FROZEN. *AK

THE IGNITION CYLINDER IN MY 2000 FOCUS ZX3 BROKE (FROZE UP) FOR THE SIXTH TIME. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER SIX TIMES NOW IN THE SAME VEHICLE IN SEVEN YEARS. IT HAS COST ME A LITTLE OVER $400 EACH TIME, EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED: FORD FOCUS SE YEAR 2000. PURCHASED FROM OMAR CAR SALES IN FREMONT (510)-770-0107 I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY. WHEN I CAME OUT OF RALEY'S AT ABOUT 4:50 PM, I COULD NOT START MY CAR. IT WAS MAKING A CLICKING SOUND ONLY. (1) JUST HAD MAJOR WORK SOME OF THE TIMING BELT, A MOTOR MOUNT, AND SPARK PLUGS, ALL NEW FORD PARTS WERE USED AS REPLACEMENTS. THE CAR HAD BEEN IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BEFOREHAND. I HAD ONLY PURCHASED THE CAR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO FROM OMAR CAR SALES FOR $6,000.00, AND IT WAS RUNNING FINE TILL 3 MONTHS AGO, WHEN THE TIMING BELT WENT THEN GOT FIXED IN ONE WEEK. ONE MINOR PROBLEM WITH AN IGNITION SWITCH WAS FOUND WHEN I 1ST BOUGHT THE CAR, ALSO VERY MINOR. (2) BUTCH'S AUTOMOTIVE INC IN FREMONT, 510-793-9883 FOUND PROBLEM, (THE VALVE SEAT INSIDE THE ENGINE COLLAPSED AND FAILED, PISTONS CAME DOWN, RUINED MY ENTIRE MOTOR INCLUDING OIL ON PARTS IN PROCESS) I REPORTED IT TO NHTSA, THEY SAID I ALSO NEEDED TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP, AND MANUFACTURER OF WHICH I DID. NHTSA SAID THAT IF THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, TO FILE A COMPLAINT. I SPOKE WITH JOSE IN SERVICE AT FREMONT FORD WITHIN 24 HOURS. HE SAID CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER TRIED TO CLAIM THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY RECALLS. I THINK THERE ARE, AND IF NOT, I WOULD LIKE A DISCREET RECALL STARTED. (3) BUTCH SAID THE COST OF REPAIR WILL BE $5,200.00 FOR ALL THE DAMAGES ENGINE WISE, PLUS A RE-BUILT ENGINE BEING INSTALLED. I WOULD LIKE ALL COSTS REIMBURSED TO ME, AS THIS WAS A

THE STRUT AND SPRING OF MY 2000 FORD FOCUS BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS JUST IN A PARKING LOT BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT OIL WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. OIL BURNED WHICH COULD CREATE A POTENTIAL FIRE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE INSPECTED BY DEALER ON 3/14/07 AND REPLACED THE VALVE COVER GASKET ON 3/20/07. UPDATE *4/23/07 *TR

FORD FOCUS WITH IGNITION LOCK UP PROBLEMS *WRITER PLEASE NOTE FOR CUSTOMER THAT COMPLAINT IS BEING FORWARDED TO FTC.* *CC *NM

I PARKED MY CAR AND TOOK THE KEY OUT AS USUAL. WHEN I GOT BACK IN A FEW MINUTES LATER AND TRIED TO START IT THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS INEXPLICABLY SEIZED UP. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED, IN A SNOW STORM, SEVERAL MILES FROM MY HOME LATE AT NIGHT. IN RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I'M SEEING IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MY MODEL OF VEHICLE. IF I HAD BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AS AN OWNER, I COULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF IT HAPPENING. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2000 FORD FOCUS WITH 98,000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 30 MPH SHE HEARD A DRAGGING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES. THE SMOKE AND DRAGGING GOT WORSE, THEREFORE, THE CONTACT RETURNED HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS RAISED, AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED ORIGINAL COIL SPRINGS WERE SENT BACK TO FORD TO ASSIST IN POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT, HOWEVER THE FORD FOCUS WAS NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL NOTICE PROVIDED. UPDATE 05/04/07 *TR

FOLLOWING A MINOR ACCIDENT, NO DAMAGE, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BROKE THE WINDSHIELD AND DASHBOARD. FOR 12 MONTHS AFTERWARD THE PASSENGER FLOOR WOULD FILL WITH WATER DURING RAIN SHOWERS. I TOOK IT TO BE REPAIRED 4 TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS FINALLY ON THE 5TH TRIP THE BODY SHOP FIGURED OUT THAT THE GLUE OR FILLER THAT WAS PLACED BETWEEN THE WELDED STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS DURING ASSEMBLY AT THE FACTORY HAD CRACKED LEAVING A TINY HOLE THAT WAS SIPHONING WATER INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THEY APPLIED SEALANT TO THE SEAM BETWEEN THE PASSENGER DOOR PANEL AND ROOF AND SO FAR NO MORE LEAKS. *JB

RECENTLY THE VEHICLE STARTED TO IDLE ERRATICALLY SOMETIMES DYING, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THE BOSCH PLATINUM SPARK PLUGS WERE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH FORD VEHICLES AND SOLD ME NEW SPARK PLUGS. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO GO AWAY BUT ABOUT 30 DAYS LATER IT STARTED AGAIN. FRUSTRATED WITH THE DEALERS PERFORMANCE I CHECKED THE VEHICLE MYSELF AND FOUND THAT THE CRANKCASE VENT BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND FIREWALL HAD A RUBBER ELBOW AND HOSE THAT WERE COLLAPSING AFTER THE VEHICLE STARTED. I REMOVED THEM AND FOUND THE ELBOW HAD A HOLE AND THE HOSE SEEMED TO BE STRUCTURALLY WEAKENED. I REPLACED BOTH AND NO MORE PROBLEM. *JB

REVISED TO FIT WEB COMPLAINT FORM. WEBFORM REQUIRES MANUFACTURER OF IGNITION CYLINDER FROM FORD. CALLED FORD AT 1800-392-FORD AND SHAUN-CENTRAL FLORIDA STATES PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. FORD IS NOT A CHOICE IN THE DROP DOWN MENU AT HTTPS://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/IVOQ/EQUIPMENT.CFM?TOSTEP=4&CFID=1748899&CFTOKEN=17655993 GUESSED ON INFO TO TURN IN FOLLOWING COMPLAINT. IGNITION LOCKED UP ON FORD FOCUS. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. HAD TO TOW AIRLINE WRECKER, DUBS GARAGE AND LOCKSMITH TOLD ME EXTREMELY COMMON FOR FORD FOCUS. PETITION FOR IGNITION CYLINDER RECALL AT HTTP://WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/MOD_PERL/SIGNED.CGI?FOCUSIC EVEN WHEN THE PART IS REPLACED, IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I JUST PRAY NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS (AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ IT WILL) I AM IN A SAFE, WELL LIT AREA WHERE MY CELL PHONE CAN GET SERVICE; AND NOT THE BEACH OR SOMEWHERE THAT TOW TRUCKS CHARGE OVER $500. BUT MOSTLY I PRAY FORD IS FORCED TO FIX THIS KNOWN ISSUE AND STOP CREATING A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON PEOPLE JUST SO THEY CAN PROFIT FROM THEIR FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDERS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT FORD HAS NO INTENTIONS TO RESOLVE THEIR LOCKING IGNITION SINCE THE PART HAS TO BE ORDERED FROM THEM FOR AT LEAST $100 PER INCIDENT AND IF THE PERSON HAS THEIR VEHICLE FIXED AT FORD IT COULD COST UP TO $500. I HAVE CALLED FORD LOCALLY AND CORPORATE, THEY STATE THERE IS NO RECALL FOR AN IGNITION CYLINDER. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO DEALERSHIPS ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH SUCH AN ACTION FOR 7

FRONT PASSENGER SPRING BROKE, SEPARATED FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET, EMBEDDED THE END OF THE SPRING INTO THE TIRE WHICH PUNCTURED IT. VEHICLE REQUIRED TOWING FOR REPAIR. I WAS NOTIFIED OF AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY" ON THE PROBLEM AND SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR REIMBURSEMENT. AFTER 5 MONTHS OF FOLLOW-UP, I FINALLY RECEIVED A CHECK FOR THE REPAIRS. *JB

IGNITION CYLINDER ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES BY A LOCAL FORD DEALER. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE (APPROXIMATELY AUGUST, 2004, KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE LOCK. THIS REQUIRED TOWING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT (FEBRUARY, 2007) THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH UNLESS THE TILT STEERING WAS BOUNCED FORWARD AND BACK FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES. *JB

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND FROM WHAT I AM READING ON THE INTERNET THE FORD FOCUS IS KNOWN FOR THIS ISSUE, AND I AM LETTING RICART FORD KNOW THAT I WILL NOT PAY IN ANYWAY FOR THIS DEFECTED PART. IF I HAVE TO I WILL GET MY LAWYER INVOLVED. *JB

FAILURE OF IGNITION KEY TO TURN IN IGNITION LOCK. LEFT ME STRANDED. CALLED LOCKSMITH TO HAVE WHOLE IGNITION DRILLED OUT AND REPLACED. LOCKSMITH INFORMED ME THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT HAS REFUSED TO RECALL THE DEFECTIVE PART. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT CALLED FORD MANUFACTURER ON 02/05/07, AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THE SAFETY RECALL 03V482000 APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE . THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT DOING RECALL REPAIRS ANYMORE. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION OF THE FILTER IN THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM) CAN REDUCE, AND EVENTUALLY BLOCK THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL EVEN WHEN SHE GAVE THE DEALER THE RECALL NUMBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME FAILURE AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. ON 2/5/07 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. WHEN MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AT 25 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, SPUTTERED AND STALLED. SOMEONE ALMOST HIT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE IT STALLED. SHE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2004 INTERMITTENTLY, AND USUALLY HAPPENED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. ALSO, THE THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, AND EACH TIME SHE HAS HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE ENGINE.

THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS, TEND TO STICK AND YOU CANNOT REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT JERKING HARD ON THE KEY TO REMOVE . NOW THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE SWITCH AND WILL NOT TURN ON. IT STRANDED ME 5 MILES FROM HOME. *NM

THE CAR WAS HAVING TROUBLE STARTING WE REPLACED THE BATTERY CHECKED THE CABLES HAD THE STARTER TESTED THE GUY SAID IT WAS THE NUETRALIZATION SWITCH. HE GOT BACK INTO START THE CAR AND IT LOCKED UP. IT IS NOW STILL SITTING THERE FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT. *NM

IGNITION IS LOCKED UP AGAIN ON MY 200 FORD FOCUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. IT HASN'T HAPPENED IN A COUPLE OF YEARS THOUGH. SUDDENLY, IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN. *NM

KEY WON'T GO INTO IGNITION ALL THE WAY AND WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO TURN MY CAR ON. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IT IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD SO IT IS NOT UNDER A RECALL YET. SO I WILL NOW HAVE TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FIXED OUT OF MY POCKET. *NM

WAS STRANDED WITH BABY WHEN UNABLE TO INSERT KEY INTO IGNITION AND START VEHICLE (2000 FORD FOCUS) WHICH LOCKSMITH TELLS ME IS COMMON DEFECT IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL. IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED WITH COST OF $180. *JB

THIS PAST WEEKEND MY IGNITION CYLINDER FAILED IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS. RESEARCHING THE TOPIC ONLINE REVEALED THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT FORD CHOOSES TO IGNORE, THEREFORE THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *NM

THE CAR HAS 32000 MILES AFTER 6 YEARS. IN DECEMBER 2006 THE IGNITION FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. I COULD NOT INSERT THE KEY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE TOWED AND THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I WAS ABLE THE RESTART THE CAR, BUT IT FAILED AGAIN ON DECEMBER 11, 2006, STRANDING ME. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON ON THIS MODEL, TO THE EXTEND THAT FORD KEEPS THE REQUISITE PARTS IN STOCK. HE ATTRIBUTED IT TO A DESIGN FAULT. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THIS PROBLEM INDEED IS COMMON A DRIVER COULD BE STRANDED AND HELPLESS IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION, WITH SERIOUS RISK TO SAFETY AND POSSIBLY LIFE. IF THE MECHANIC'S OPINION THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FAULT IS CORRECT, FORD SHOULD RECALL THE CAR. *JB

KEY LOCKING UP IN IGNITION. CAR ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES. $500 REPAIR BILL PLUS TOWING CHARGE AND LEFT ME STRANDED IN SNOW STORM. *NM

2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCKS, PREVENTING THE CAR FROM BEING STARTED. *NM

1) I PARKED IN A REDZONE TO LET MY FRIEND OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THEN I LOADED SOMETHING INTO MY CAR. 2) I WENT TO RESTART MY VEHICLE AND THE IGNITION MECHANISM FAILED- COULDN'T INSERT THE KEY PROPERLY AND WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR. SO IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT AND I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE MY CAR TO A SAFER LOCATION. LUCKILY I HAD AAA IN ADDITION TO TWO GENEROUS FRIENDS WHO WERE ABLE TO HELP ME WITH THE COST- $265!!! BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY THE MAN UP FRONT. OTHERWISE MY CAR WOULD'VE BEEN TICKETED AND TOWED. 3) HE DRILLED OUT THE OLD IGNITION MECHANISM AND REPLACED IT. 2 HOURS OF MY LIFE AND $265 LATER!! *NM

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START MY 2000 FORD FOCUS THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. INITIALLY THINKING IT WAS A KEY ISSUE I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND NUMEROUS ISSUES SURROUNDING THE 2000 FORD FOCUS AND POOR QUALITY OF THE TUMBLER ASSEMBLY LEAVING PEOPLE STRANDED AND/OR KEYS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. FORD HAS ALSO ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO THEIR DEALERS IN REGARD TO THIS ISSUE. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND ALSO DEALT WITH FORD CORPORATE LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION. THEY SAY THERE ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THEY ISSUED THE SERVICE BULLETIN. AT THIS TIME MY ONLY SOLUTION TO HAVE FORD REPLACE TO PREVENT MY FAMILY FROM BEING STRANDED. *JB

THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS, FIRST THE KEY DID NOT GO IN ALL THE WAY AND WHEN IT DID, THE SWITCH DID NO TURN. THE REPAID COSTS 400.00. *NM

DRIVING ON RT 80 AT 65 MPH THE PASSENGER FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO RUB ON THE TIRE AND DAMAGE IT. HOWEVER, THE BF GOODRICH SIDEWALL WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE CAR TO BE DRIVEN SLOWLY TO A FORD DEALER ABOUT 1.5 MILES AWAY. BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE THEN REPLACED PER THE EARLIER NHTSA AGREEMENT WITH FORD. THE COIL SPRINGS WERE LEFT WITH DEALER. AS THE COIL FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A HIGH SPEED BLOW OUT, IN MY OPINION, FORD SHOULD REPLACE ALL 2000 TO 2003 FOCUS FRONT COIL SPRING IN STEAD OF FREE REPLACEMENT WHEN THEY FAIL PER FORD'S 03M02 CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM. *JB

I PARKED MY FORD FOCUS IN A PARKING SPACE AT A TACO BELL. THE WHEELS WERE SLIGHTLY TURNED TO THE LEFT AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS IN THE IGNITION SO I BEGAN WIGGLING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH, CONTINUING TO TRY THE KEY. EVENTUALLY, I'D TURNED THE WHEEL SO FAR THAT IT STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION, CRANKED TO ONE DIRECTION. NOTHING WORKED. A HALF HOUR PASSED. I ASSUMED THAT THE DIRECTION OF WHEELS AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEING TURNED LIKE IT WAS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE IGNITION NOT WORKING. SO I JACKED UP THE FRONT END OF THE CAR TO TRY TO STRAIGHTEN MY WHEELS OUT BY HAND BUT THEY TOO WERE LOCKED AND WERE NOT GOING TO BUDGE. I CONTINUED TO TRY DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF APPLYING THE BRAKE, TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, ADJUSTING THE TILT OF THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, AND TRYING TO TURN THE KEY. I CALLED A TAXI CAB TO TAKE ME BACK TO WORK, 25 MINUTES LATE, MINUS 7 DOLLARS. AT WORK, I BEGAN TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND WEBSITES, SUCH AS CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_FOCUS, WHERE I BEGAN TO LEARN TIPS TO GET THE KEY TO TURN AND SUGGESTIONS FOR REPAIR. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A TOW TRUCK FEE BY USING ONE OF THE SUGGESTED QUICK FIXES, WHICH BASICALLY CONSISTS OF POUNDING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION WITH A HAMMER, PREFERABLY A RUMMER MALLOT. FROM THAT SAME SITE, I LEARNED THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN PINPOINTED TO THE GERMAN-MADE HUF LOCK THAT FORD PUTS IN THE FORD FOCUS. THE BEST SUGGESTION IS TO HAVE AN AUTOMOTIVE LOCKSMITH REPLACE IT WITH A NO

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. KEY WILL NOT TURN WHEN FULLY INSERTED IN IGNITION SWITCH. *NM

IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WON'T TURN,FRONT TIRES LOCKED, CAR HAD TO BE TOWED IN. DEALERSHIP HAD TO PUT THE CAR ON A JACK TO GET IT INTO THE SHOP, REMOVED STEERING COLUMN TRIM, HAD TO DRILL OUT BROKEN IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER ASSEMBLY, HAD TO SET UP NEW LOCK CYLINDER SO THE SAME KEYS WOULD WORK. SO NOT ONLY AM I STUCK WITHOUT A VEHICLE TILL AFTER CHRISTMAS, I HAD TO PAY A TOWING CHARGE, PLUS THE COST TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED. BACK CAR DOOR LATCH ON PASSENGER SIDE CONTINUALLY STUCK AND DOES NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THAT SIDE. RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE CARRIAGE IS UNEXPLAINABLE - WHAT IS NEXT? *NM