2000 Ford Focus complaints

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL 05V030000 FOR REAR DOOR LATCH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ,THEY FIXED THE REAR DOORS, BUT NOT THE FIFTH DOOR WHICH DID NOT OPEN. THE CONTACT SAID THAT THE RECALL COVERED ALL FIVE DOORS.*AK UPDATED 1/19/2007 - *NM

KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHEN PUT IN IGNITION. HAVE READ THAT 100'S OF PEOPLE WITH MY VEHICLE ARE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM, BUT FORD WILL NOT ADMIT WRONGDOING. *NM

FORD FOCUS 2000 IGNITION BROKE CAUSING MY KEY NOT TO GO IN RIGHT AND NOT TO TURN. I WAS FORCED TO CALL A LOCK SMITH AND HAVE THE LOCK REPLACED.

STEERING WHEEL NUT CAME OUT OF STEERING WHEEL WHEN WIFE WAS DRIVING 10 MPH AND TRIED TO MAKE A TURN. BECAUSE CONTACT DIDN'T HAVE WARRANTY FOR PART, HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS, AND WANTS TO KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING HE SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR. CONTACT WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT'S CAR WAS MARKED AS A TOTAL LOSS AS A RESULT OF A FIRE. THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. CONTACT HEARD OF SOME OTHER INSTANCES OF THAT HAPPENING. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE POWER WINDOW CONTROL, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED TO OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER INITIAL INSPECTION BY THE CONTACT, THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED TO OPERATE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE POWER WINDOWS WERE WORN, AND FAILED DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

THIS IS THE 5TH TIME MY IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED UP ON ME. I AM FED UP WITH HAVING TO REPLACE THIS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!! *JB

THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN 2-3 MILES, THEN PARKED. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER THE FIRE WAS SPOTTED. FLAMES WERE 12 TO 15 FEET HIGH BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND PUT IT OUT. *JB

I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS AND I AM EXPERIENCING THE IGNITION KEY LOCK. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPEN TO THIS CAR, BUT THERE ARE NUMEROUS CASES LOGGED ON THE INTERNET. FORD DENIED THE PROBLEM AND DOES NOT MAKE ITSELF RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. TEXAS IS A BIG STATE WITH MILES OF EMPTY ROAD AND IF THIS PROBLEM HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING ON THESES ROAD ON A WINTER OR A VERY HOT SUMMER A PERSON CAN DIE. *NM

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS HAS LESS THAN 26,000 MILES ON THE CLOCK AND THE IGNITION LOCK HAS JAMMED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. SECOND TIME WAS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. AAA CERTIFIED LOCKSMITH TOLD ME HE REPLACES HUNDREDS OF THESE LOCKS A YEAR, BECAUSE FORD IS STILL USING THE SAME DEFECTIVE OEM LOCK MADE IN GERMANY BY HUF. LOCKSMITH INSTALLED A STRATTEC #707592 WHICH HE SAID IS VERY RELIABLE AND IN FACT OEM EQUIPMENT ON OTHER FORD VEHICLES SUCH AS EXPLORER. HE SAID FORD DEALERS ARE STILL INSTALLING THE DEFECTIVE HUF LOCK AS A REPLACEMENT. *NM

TRIED TO START CAR, BUT IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN WITH KEY INSERTED. IGNITION REMAINS LOCKED EVEN WITH NEW KEY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A WHIZZING NOISE HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 5 MPH AND FASTER AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED TO EITHER DIRECTION. THE NOISE INCREASED OVER TIME. THE SERVICE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS THE WHEEL BEARINGS IN BOTH FRONT WHEELS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AFTER THE CONTACT RECEIVED TSB # 630347 (01B85) ABOUT THE SUSPENSION: FRONT: WHEEL BEARING.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PUBLIC PARKING AREA, ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE FRONT END OF THE PARKED VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO BE MOVED TEN FEET ONTO THE ROAD. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE MOVED ON ITS OWN HITTING ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP FOR BODY WORK. THERE WERE NO FURTHER EXAMINATION OR REPAIRS MADE.*AK

IGNITION FAILED ON 2000 FORD FOCUS ALSO TURN CANCEL SIGNAL 3 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY AND BROKEN AGAIN OUT OF WARRANTY THE IGNITION FAILED 3000 MILES AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE TURN CANCEL DURING AND AFTER. I HAVE 1 RELATIVE AND 1 FRIEND THAT HAS HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN. *NM

THE TRUNK LATCH HAS BEEN TROUBLE FROM THE DAY I GOT THE CAR (NOT CLOSING, IT WOULD TAKE 2 TO 3 TIMES TO GET IT TO CLOSE). NOW IT WILL NOT OPEN. *JB

A "GRINDING" NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. INSPECTED BRAKES - FOUND NO PROBLEM. WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE GRINDING NOISE TURNED INTO A CONSTANT "GROWLING"/ "RUMBLING" NOISE. RE-INSPECTED WHEELS/ BRAKES AND FOUND DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL TO BE LOOSE / WOBBLE (LUG NUTS WERE PROPERLY TORQUED). CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE HUB/ WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY HAD "SIGNIFICANT PLAY". WHILE THE CAR WAS JACKED UP THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL WOULD GO FROM "EASILY SPUN TO NEARLY LOCKED UP". THE "REAR BEARING RETAINING CAP RECALL" WAS PERFORMED ON THIS CAR YEARS AGO - WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR.*JB

STEERING WHEEL, IGNITION, AND GEAR SHIFT ARE ALL LOCKED. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. *JB

2 TIMES MY IGNITION FROZE AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO START THE MOTOR. AND I HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED BOTH TIMES; JULY 16,2002 AND AGAIN ON OCTOBER 13, 2006. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL # 03V482000, FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM: GASOLINE DUE TO THE VIN, WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE HESITATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, MAKING A CHUGGING OR COUGHING SOUND BEFORE THE ENGINE REACTED AND ACCELERATED.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 MY CAR LOST ALL HORSEPOWER AND WOULD BARELY DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD. I HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED AND NOW IT IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE IF YOU TRY TO EXCELERATE. WITH THIS OCCURING I AM LEFT WITH NOTHING TO DO BUT, SPEND "MORE" MONEY ON PROBLEMS EVERYONE IS HAVING WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR THE FORD CORPORATION TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT...SOMEONES LIFE COULD BE TAKEN WITH ALL THESE DEFECTS AND REOCCURING PROBLEMS. *NM

LIKE MANY PEOPLE, MY 2000 FORD FOCUS IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKING UP. IT'S HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE BUT CORRECTED ITSELF AFTER MANY TRIES. HOWEVER, IT LOCKED UP AGAIN THIS PAST SATURDAY AND HAS YET TO UNLOCK. *JB

FORD FOCUS 2000 STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I SPENT 4 HOURS FIVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE TRYING TO GET THIS THING UNLOCKED. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM, IT HAS LOCKED UP ON ME MORE THAN 50 TIMES. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED!!!! RECALLED BY FORD ASAP.*JB

2000 FOCUS WAGON KEY DOESN'T TURN IN IGNITION THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, WHICH COST ME MONEY IN TIME LOSS FROM WORK AND HAVING A LOCKSMITH COME AND FIX IT UNTIL I CAN GET IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR IT AGAIN!*JB

2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED. *JB

WITHOUT PREMONITORY WARNING OR OBSERVED MARGINAL BEHAVIOR, IGNITION LOCK FAILED AND KEY COULD NOT BE INSERTED FULLY OR TURNED TO START ENGINE. KEY FINALLY TURNED AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF RE-TRYING, BANGING ON STEERING COLUMN, ETC. LOSS: TIME SPENT RETRYING, AND INTANGIBLE ANXIETY CONCERNING HAVING TO LEAVE KEY IN IGNITION OVER A WEEKEND WHILE INVESTIGATING OPTIONS FOR REPLACEMENT DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS TO REDUCE COST RELATIVE TO REPLACEMENT IN THE FIELD. PROBLEM SOLVED BY PURCHASING NON-OEM AFTERMARKET IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AT AN INDEPENDENT AUTOMOTIVE LOCKSMITH, AFTER ONLINE LITERATURE SEARCH INDICATED THAT DESPITE 4 RELATED TSBS (14533,15421,02182,13968) AND THOUSANDS OF OWNER REPORTS, FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL - SO FULL-COST SERVICE WORK DONE AT A DEALER WOULD PROBABLY RESULT IN REPLACEMENT WITH ANOTHER INSTANCE OF THE FAULTY ORIGINAL PART. I PERFORMED ALL LABOR EXCEPT FOR SETTING NEW LOCK TO EXISTING KEY PROFILE. OLD PART RETAINED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY DID NOT GO IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE WAS PERMANENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER.

THE ENGINE BLEW ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS. A CONNECTING ROD BROKE AND CRACKED THE OIL PAN. ENGINE FLUIDS, INCLUDING OIL AND ANTI-FREEZE POURED OUT OF THE ENGINE. WHILE THERE ARE 130,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, IT WAS WELL-MAINTAINED. WE DID NOT EXPECT IT TO FAIL AFTER 6 YEARS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON DRY ASPHALT, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER 15 MINUTES, AND WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PUMP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED. THE FRON STABILIZER BAR AND FUEL FILTER WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 11/16/06. *JB

THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER LOCKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE SWITCH OR REMOVE THE KEY. SWITCH CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY A FORD RECALL.*JB

2000 FORD FOCUS; IGNITION CYLINDER FAILURE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE READINGS ON THE GAUGES SPIKED, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED BRIEFLY, THEN THE RPMS SEEMED TO SLOW AND THE VEHICLE STALLED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO A PARKING LOT, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER.

MY DAUGHTER TRIED TO START THE 2000 FORD FOCUS THIS MORNING AND COULDN'T INSERT THE KEY. IT WON'T INSERT ALL THE WAY AND WON'T TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED UP. WE HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP NOW AND THEY'VE QUOTED US MORE THAN $300 TO REPLACE THE FAULTY CYLINDER. THE FORD TECH SAID THIS HAPPENS QUITE FREQUENTLY! *NM

IN 2004 VEHICLE'S IGNITION KEY LOCK FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. VEHICLE IS TOWED TO FORD AUTHORIZED REPAIR AND THEY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IN 2006 VEHICLE'S IGNITION KEY LOCK FAILS AGAIN. VEHICLE IS TAKEN TO FORD AUTHORIZED REPAIR AND CORRECTED AGAIN. BOTH TIMES I WAS LEFT STRANDED SINCE THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO START THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. VEHICLE'S DASH LIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF. SEVERAL TIMES DURING NIGHTIME DRIVING THE LIGHTS FAIL. VEHICLE'S DOOR POWER DOOR LOCKS AND TRUNK LOCKS FAIL AND CANNOT BE OPENED WITH KEYLESS ENTRY. A FUSE CONTINUES TO FAIL POSSIBLY DUE TO A SHORT IN THE WIRING SYSTEM. *NM

(1) NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE - NO INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS OR ISSUES (2) IGNITION CYLINDER FAILURE CAUSING INABILITY TO START VEHICLE AND INABILITY TO OPERATE STEERING MECHANISMS TO DIRECT VEHICLE TO A LOCATION OUTSIDE OF TRAFFIC FLOW. VEHICLE WAS LEFT STRANDED AND UNABLE TO START IN A RELATIVELY SAFE LOCATION, HOWEVER, IF FAILURE HAD OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN RIGHT OF WAY (IF ENGINE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF TO SAVE FUEL DURING TRAFFIC JAM - FOR INSTANCE ) COULD HAVE PRESENTED SAFETY ISSUE. (3) REPAIRS IN PROGRESS - REQUIRED DRILLING OUT IGNITION CYLINDER AND COMPLETE REPLACEMENT.

I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN THREE TIMES NOW. I GET A FLAT TIRE. PULL OVER, JACK UP THE CAR, TAKE OFF THE LUG NUTS, THEN FIND MYSELF UNABLE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL. IT IS LIKE THE WHEEL RIM HAS FROZEN OR SEIZED ONTO THE HUB. THIS HAPPENED MOST RECENTLY JUST YESTERDAY NIGHT. I WAS DRIVING ON A DARK HIGHWAY WHEN FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT (NAIL IN THE TIRE). I WAS ALONE, AND I'M A FEMALE - WITH GOOD UPPER BODY STRENGTH. IT WAS VERY SCARY WHEN, AFTER 30 MINUTES OF TRYING WITH ALL MY STRENGTH TO PULL THE WHEEL OFF SO I COULD PUT ON THE SPARE, A TRUCK PULLED OVER AND A STRANGE MAN OFFERED TO HELP. THIS GUY WAS BIG, LIKE ARNOLD SCHWARZENNEGER, BUT EVEN HE WAS UNABLE TO PULL THE WHEEL OFF! THANK GOD HE WAS A NICE PERSON AND NOT SOME FREAK RAPIST OR MURDERER. HE CALLED A TOW COMPANY FOR ME, WHO TOWED ME TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE THEY HAD TO USE A SMALL JACK-HAMMER LIKE THING TO REMOVE THE WHEEL. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN! AND THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM IN THE THREE YEARS I'VE OWNED IT. *NM

1. NO EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE. FAILED WITH NO WARNING. 2. KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. LEFT STRANDED 30 MINUTES FROM HOME TOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. WAIT UNTIL MORNING TO SEEK HELP. 3. STILL SEEKING THE BEST SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE. *NM

2000 FORD FOCUS SE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION, BECOMES LOCKED UP AND CAR WILL NEVER START. I HAVE TO LEAVE A KEY IN IGNITION CONSTANTLY SO THAT I CAN DRIVE IT AND NOT BE STRANDED. SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 CHILDREN WHO WOULD PREFER TO HAVE A SAFE CAR. *NM

BOTH DAUGHTER AND MYSELF OWN 2000 AND A 2001 FORD FOCUS BOTH HAVE FRONT END NOISE AND VIBRATION VERY LOUD AND SHAKY WERE TOLD IT IS THE BEARINGS IM CONCERNED AND OUTRAGED FORD DEALER SERVICE SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON OUR VEHICLES HELPPPPPPPPPPPP IM SCARED WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A WRECK. *M

I PURCHASED A 2000 FORD FOCUS SE NEW IN 2000. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN MINIMALLY SATISFIED WITH ITS PERFORMANCE DESPITE A STRING OF RECALLS. THIS WEEK, I WENT TO START MY CAR AND THE IGNITION LOCK SEIZED. I TRIED TO TURN IT MULTIPLE TIMES, BUMPING THE STEERING WHEEL TO RELEASE THE LOCK, AND EVENTUALLY THE KEY BROKE OFF IN THE IGNITION. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO A DEALER, WHO COULD NOT GET THE LOCK CYLINDER REMOVED WITHOUT DRILLING IT OUT. THE DEALER INSTALLED AN AFTERMARKET IGNITION AS PER FORD'S SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. THE TOTAL REPAIR, INCLUDING TOW, COST ME $500. I AM VERY UPSET THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO ME DESPITE NHTSA AND FORD'S KNOWLEDGE OF ITS PREVALENCE (BULLETINS AND COMPLAINTS). I ASK FORD TO INITIATE A RECALL AND REIMBURSE ME FOR MY REPAIR EXPENSE. IN THE LEAST, I ASK NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND FORCE A MANDATORY RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. TUDOR HAMPTON CHICAGO, IL. * NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE LOCKED POSITION. BOTH KEYS WERE TRIED, BUT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT.

I PURCHASED A CAR FROM MEGA MOTORS ON 10/3/06. ON 10/04/6 THE CAR CUT OFF ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXPRESSWAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST PROVED THAT THE SENSORS ARE OUT ON THE CAR AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT OF RANGE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO MEGA MOTORS ON 10/05/06 AND I ALSO PROVIDED THEM WITH A COPY OF THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT. THE COMPANY ISN'T DOING ANYTHING TO HELP ME, ALL THEY ARE TELLING ME IS THAT THEY CAN'T FIX THE CAR BUT I CAN COME PICK IT UP. I DIDN'T HAVE THE CAR TWO DAYS BEFORE IT MESSED UP ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. RUIZ AUTO SHOP SAID THAT THE CAR IS NO GOOD. I TRIED CALLING MEGA MOTORS AGAIN BUT THEY JUST KEEP ME ON HOLD FOR A REALLY LONG TIME. AS A PAYING CUSTOMER I FEEL LIKE I WAS IN DANGER FOR MY LIFE AND I CAN'T GET THE COMPANY TO PROVIDE ME WITH ANOTHER CAR NOR GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK, AFTER TWO DAYS OF HAVING THE CAR. I CONTACTED THE BBB AND FOUND THAT THIS COMPANY HAS HAD NINE COMPLAINTS SINCE 2003. *JB

STEERING COLUMN AND IGNITION LOCKED UP FOR THE SECOND TIME ON 2000 FORD FOCUS. LEFT STRANDED AND HAD TO TOW VEHICLE AGAIN. *NM

MY HUSBAND WENT TO THE STORE WITH DAUGHTER ON A RAINY DAY. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW CAME CRASHING DOWN. IN TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WE FOUND THAT THE 2 BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE WINDOW UP HAS 2 PLASTIC ARMS WHICH HAD BROKEN. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THE ISSUE AND HAS SAID THAT AT THIS POINT THERE IS NO RECALL. SO THEY ARE GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE THAT A BROKEN WINDOW IN THE SNOW BELT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SO I'M BRINGING THIS ISSUE TO YOU. THANK YOU R.BATTLES. *NM

I HAVE HAD MY 2000 FORD FOCUS FOR 1 YEAR, PURCHASED USED FROM A DEALER. IT HAD 60,000 MILES ON IT. ALTHOUGH I REALIZE THAT IT'S AN OLDER CAR IT'S IN GREAT SHAPE. I'M NOW HAVING IGNITION LOCK-UP PROBLEMS, LIKE SO MANY OTHER FOCUS OWNERS I KNOW. IT'S SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED BECAUSE THERE'S NO OTHER RECOURSE. THE KEY WON'T GO ALL THE WAY IN FOR ANY OF MY KEYS, AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT FIT INTO THE IGNITION. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT, AND THE ENGINE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB

IGNITION LOCK IN 2000 FORD FOCUS FREEZES, EITHER LOCKING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OR REFUSING TO UNLOCK STEERING WHEEL, OR START CAR. *NM

2000 FORD FOCUS ZTS, STARTED TO SMOKE FROM THE FUSE BOX, WITHIN 3 MINUTES THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE AND CAR WAS TOTALLY IN FLAMES. NO WARNING SIGNS, NOTHING ODD ABOUT HOW THE CAR RAN. JUST RIDING ALONG AND SMOKE STARTS AND I PULLED OVER ASAP AND THE CAR WENT INTO FLAMES. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT WHAT EVER PROBLEM IT WAS...THE CAR IS DESTROYED. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE, THE SMOKE CAME FROM THE FUSE BOX ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC WAS SMELLED AND AS I STATED BEFORE THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. I HAD JUST ENOUGH TIME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND AWAY FROM IT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ALL FOUR POWER LOCKS FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND CHANGED #63 20 AMP FUSE LOCATED AT THE BACK OF THE FUSE PANEL. AFTER CHANGING THE FUSE, ALL OF THE DOORS EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S SIDE COULD LOCK. IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE TO BE DRIVEN WITH THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT NOTIFIED, BUT THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THEM SOON.

2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM (~48,000 MILES). FOR THE 2ND TIME SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED. THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED, WE COULD NOT TURN THE KEY TO START THE CAR AND COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY. THIS TIME WHEN IT FAILED, THE SWITCH FROZE IN THE ON POSITION, AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF. SINCE IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WE WERE NOT EVEN ABLE TO "KILL" THE ENGINE. IT HAPPENED AT NIGHT, BUT FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO FIND AN OPEN SERVICE STATION... THEY WERE ABLE STOP THE ENGINE BY PULLING SPARK PLUG WIRES. NOT BEING ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE SURE SEEMS A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. I UNDERSTAND MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION SWITCHES ON FORD FOCUS MODELS. THIS SWITCH IS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED AGAIN FOR A COST OF ~$300.00. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE TO FORCE FORD TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM? *NM

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS HAS REPEATED EPISODES OF IGNITION KEY BEING UNABLE TO TURN IN THE SWITCH AND OCCASIONALLY NOT ABLE TO INSERT KEY INTO SWITCH. I HAVE HAD THE TUMBLER ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND AFTER EIGHT MONTHS THE NEW UNIT HAS FAILED. *JB