2000 Ford Focus complaints

WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF PURCHASING THE 2000 FORD FOCUS THE AIR BAG SENSOR BROKE, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAL AND LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THE IGNITION LOCKED. THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED OR MOVED DUE TO THE LOCKED IGNITION. NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT THE BRAKES. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $280.27. THE IGNITION HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER. *NM

2000 FORD FOCUS - IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILS - IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN. HUNDREDS OF POSTS ON THE WEB COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. NO RECOURSE EXCEPT TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER - AFTER TOWING THE VEHICLE. *JB

DT:THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE DECK LID WIRE HARNESS, THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP IN 2001. THIS RECALL REPAIR DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM, THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHT FAILED AFTERWARDS. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER, THERE WERE SOME REPAIRS, BUT THE CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHAT REPAIRS WERE EXACTLY MADE AT THAT TIME. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT BECAUSE THE CONSUMER WAS PULLED OVER BY AUTHORITIES FOR NOT HAVING BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND PAID FOR THE REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET. THE NEXT OCCURRENCE RESULTED IN THE CONSUMER SMELLING SMOKE FOR WHICH SHE COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. SHE PULLED OVER FOR A MOMENT, AND BEGAN TO PULL OUT TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER, AND A PASSERBY HONKED THE HORN. THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FORM THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, AND WHILE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO PUT THE FIRE OUT, BLACK SMOKE BEGAN TO ERUPT FROM THE TRUNK. UPON INSPECTION, THE FIRE HAD EXTINGUISHED BY ITSELF AND THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE WIRING. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO WANTED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE FURTHER. THE DEALER SPLICED THE WIRES UP INTO THE AREA WHERE THE FIRE WAS ,AND NOW CONSUMER IS CONCERNED A FIRE MAY AGAIN OCCUR. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED FORD AT THIS TIME. *AK

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH, CAR HESITATED, RAN REAL ROUGH, THEN RAN NORMAL UNTIL I REACHED MY DESTINATION. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION CAR JUST DIED IN PARKING LOT, WOULD NOT TURN OVER, WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. HAD CAR TOWED TO HILLSIDE FORD (NEAREST FORD DEALER). THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THAT COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM UNTIL THEY PUT A STARTER IN THE CAR BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT TURNING OVER. WHAT THE STARTER HAS TO DO WITH THE CAR DYING IS BEYOND ME? SO I SAID OK, THEY CHANGED THE STARTER, CHARGING ME OF COURSE ($180 FOR STARTER), AND THEN REALIZED THAT THE CAR STILL DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. THIS IS WHEN THEY FIGURED OUT THAT THE BATTERY CABLES WERE ALL BURNT UP. SO THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE CHANGED (ANOTHER $90.00 FOR CABLES). SO AFTER THE STARTER AND THE BATTERY CABLES WERE CHANGED THE CAR WAS BACK TO RUNNING NORMAL. MY TOTAL BILL INCLUDING LABOR $618.00. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GET THE CAR DONE BECAUSE IT IS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION. AFTER FURTHER LOOKING INTO RECALLS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR MY CAR, I REALIZED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE BATTERY CABLES ON MY FOCUS, WITH MY ENGINE AND THE SAME YEAR (RECALL #: 02V288000). I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT ALL RECALLS ARE VIN SPECIFIC AND MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE LIST. THIS IS THE SAME THING THEY SAID WHEN THEY HAD A SILENT RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH THEY FINALLY AGREED TO TAKE CARE OF. *JB

GOT BACK IN MY ARE AFTER FILLING WITH GAS AND THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION LOCK BARREL. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THIS TO BE VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. $300-$500 TO FIX. *NM

DAUGHTER WAS ATTEMPTING TO START HER CAR AND COULD NOT GET THE KEY TO TURN. AFTER TRYING DIFFERENT KEYS. WE CALLED THE FORD DEALER WAS INFORMED THAT THE KEY CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A LITTLE RESEARCH INTO THIS SHOWS THIS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. AND AT 400 A SHOT FORD SHOULD SHOW A PROFIT. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON MARCH 1, 2000. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HER THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THERE IS NHTSA RECALL 99V346000 ON THIS ISSUE FOR THE 2000 FORD .FOCUS ZX3. THE CONSUMER OWNS A ZTS 2000 FORD FOCUS, WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. ALSO, THERE IS A FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM. VEHICLE EXPERIENCES HESITATION, LOSS OF POWER, SURGING, AND DYEING THIS PROBLEM FIRST STARTED ON JUNE 1, 2004. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS THEY TOLD HER THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE FILTER IN THE FUEL TANK. THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V482000. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT IS A ZTS. *AK

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE (FOUR DAYS AFTER FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER). *NM

2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3. UNABLE TO INSERT KEY INTO IGNITION. STRANDED FAR FROM HOME AT NIGHT. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND THE IGNITION REPLACED. *NM

12/03 -- REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE ON A 2000 FORD FOCUS; WINDOW NOT USED MUCH 9/7/05 -- REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED ON SAME CAR AS ROLLING DOWN TO CLEAR MORNING CONDENSATION OFF AND ON SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAVE NOT WORKED DUE TO A SO CALLED "SHORT" THE 2 REGULATORS WERE REPLACED; THE SHORT HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND OR REPAIRED AND IS A NUISANCE. *JB

DT: CALLER HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND WAS NOW HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE KEY, AND CURRENTLY IT WONT TURN AT ALL. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK *NM

DT: THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRINGS BROKE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED IT STOPPED THE CAR AND PUNCTURED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR BILL COST $1000. THE TIE ROD END WAS DAMAGED ALONG WITH THE STRUTS, UPPER BEARING PLATES, FRONT STABILIZER RINGS, TIRE, A NEW RIGHT SIDE AXLE, AND CONTROL ARM. THEY WERE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS THAT CAUSED THE AFOREMENTIONED FAILURES. IN 11/04 THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND THE CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED BY RECALL LETTER. RECALL REPAIRS HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE IN APRIL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. CONSUMER TOOK REPAIR BILL AND RECALL LETTER TO DEALER, AND THEY SUBMITTED IT TO FORD. HOWEVER, FORD SENT BACK A CHECK FOR $480 BUT NOT THE $1000 THE CONSUMER SPENT. THEY ONLY PAID FOR THE COILS AND SOME OTHER WORK, BUT CLAIMED THAT SOME OF THE OTHER REPAIRS WERE UNNECESSARY. THE CONSUMER WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT ATTEMPTING TO FORCE FORD TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE. *AK *JB

FORD REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL OR REPLACE THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY WHICH IS FAULTY. *NM

THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING GAVE OUT. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND ONE OF THE TOP 3 PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE ALONG WITH THE IGNITION LOCK BREAKING. THE REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS RECALLED, BUT FORD WON'T RECALL THE FRONT. I HAVE NEVER HAD, NOR EVER KNOWN ANYONE WHO EVER HAD A WHEEL BEARING GIVE OUT ON A CAR, AND CERTAINLY NOT ONE ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. *NM

FAILING FUEL PUMP FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TRAFFIC ONLY ONE YEAR AND FOUR MONTHS AFTER ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT. *JB

DT: 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE IGNITION KEEPS LOCKING UP ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED THEY FIXED IT, BUT IT CONTINUALLY HAPPENED. THIS HAPPENS BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE LAST TIME IT WOULDN'T RELEASE THE KEY. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THEY ARE REPLACING THE SWITCH, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED THERE WAS METAL IN THE FLOOR. *JB

KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THE HIGHWAY AND I TURNED OFF THE CAR TO CHANGE THE TIRE. WHEN RETURNING TO THE CAR TO START THE CAR THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD TO PAY FOR A TOW TRUCK AND A FORD DEALER BILL OF OVER $250 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE IGNITION.

MY DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL BROKE AND NEARLY CAME COMPLETELY OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE CAR WITH MY CHILDREN. THE CAR IS PARKED IN MY GARAGE BECAUSE I REFUSE TO SPEND ANYMORE MONEY TRYING TO GET IT FIXED.

I HAVE A FORD FOCUS 2000, MY COMPLAINT IS I HAVE PUT NEW PARTS ON THIS CAR , A NEW ENGINE, FUEL PUMP, PARTS ON THE FRONT END AND A LOT MORE. PLUS MAKING A CAR PAYMENT. WHEN I TAKE IT TO THE FORD SHOP I DON'T LIKE THE WAY I AM TREADED. I STILL HAVE ALL MY RECEIPTS FOR MY CAR I FEEL FORD SHOULD CARE ABOUT THEIR CARS AND THE BUYERS. *NM

I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR WHILE MY BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING IT. WE WERE GOING NORTH ON A CITY ROAD IN MISSISSAUGA ONTARIO CANADA, WHEN MY BOYFRIEND ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES. HE LOOKED OVER HIS SHOULDER TO SEE HIS BLIND SPOT, BUT HADN'T REALIZED THE TRAFFIC IN OUR CURRENT LANE HAD SLOWED TO A STOP. HE TURNED BACK AROUND AND REALIZED THE TRAFFIC HAD BEEN HALTED, SO HE HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE CAR. WITH NOT ENOUGH ROOM, WE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US AT 5 KILOMETERS PER HOUR. FROM SUCH A SMALL NUDGE, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, SMASHING MY WINDSHIELD, AS WELL AS MY FACE! I ENDED UP WITH A SLIGHT CONCUSSION, TYPE 2 WHIPLASH, AND MINOR BURNS TO MY FACE AND ARM. I FOLLOWED UP WITH PHYSIOTHERAPY, BUT MY NECK PAIN WILL NEVER GO AWAY. WE HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND THE AIRBAGS RESET. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR, OR THE REAR OF THE CAR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE.*JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS WITH 22,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE TWO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 9 MONTHS AGO WITH ABOUT 18,000 MILES. THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED LAST WEEK. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER TO PAY $129.00 OR TRADE THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. SHE REFUSED TO PAY THE $129.00 AND SHE DID NOT WANT TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE IN FOR ANOTHER FORD. SHE SENT AN E-MAIL TO FORD. AS OF RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN HER E-MAIL. THE DEALERSHIP PROVIDED HER WITH A RENTAL CAR. HOWEVER ,THEY TOLD HER THAT IF SHE DID NOT COME AND PICKUP CAR SHE WILL HAVE TO START PAYING FOR THE RENTAL CAR. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ON AUGUST 22, 2005 ,AND THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED RECALL REPAIRS THAT SHE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT SHE KNEW HER CAR WAS A LEMON. HOWEVER, SHE BROUGHT HER CAR IN TOO LATE. *AK

BATTERY CABLE WAS LOCATED IN A WAY THAT CAUSED ABRASION AGAINST BATTERY CASE. WEAR BY THIS ABRASION CAUSED FAILURE OF THE INSULATION AND A SHORT CIRCUIT. THIS RESULTED IN TOTAL ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND STARTED A SMALL, BRIEF ELECTRICAL FIRE OF THE CABLE INSULATION AND BATTERY CASE. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A FREEWAY, AND PUT THE OCCUPANT IN SIGNIFICANT DANGER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GARAGE. BATTERY AND BATTERY CABLE HARNESS ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. STATUS OF ALTERNATOR NOT YET AVAILABLE.*JB

AT APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES, I NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE WHILE TURNING. AFTER INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM, MY HUSBAND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SPRING COIL WAS BROKEN. IF I WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE I'M SURE IT WOULD HAVE PUNCTURED THE TIRE. WE TOOK IT AND HAD THE SPRING COILS IN THE FRONT BOTH REPLACED. *JB

DT: CONTACT STATED IGNITION LOCKED AND WILL NOT TURN. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IN 10-2000. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND A NEW IGNITION WAS PUT IN, AND HAD TO ORDER ANOTHER SET OF KEYS. CONTACT CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME TROUBLE WITH IT STARTING VEHICLE. IGNITION FAILED AGAIN. CONTACT DID NOT TALK TO A DEALER, BUT PLANED TO DO SO.. THE DEALER ,WHERE CONTACT BOUGHT THE VEHICLE HAD IT TOWED FOR HER IN 2000. SHE IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS THAT CAME ON PRIOR TO THE IGNITION LOCKING. *AK A YEAR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION REFERENCE NHTSA ODI # 10134021 THE AFOREMENTIONED ODI # IS THE THIRD IN A LINE OF SITUATIONS WHERE, IN MY OPINION, METAL FATIGUE HAS CAUSED A DEFECT. EXCESSIVE REGRIND MATERIAL IS BEING UTILIZED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PARTS, LEADING TO PREMATURE WEAR/FAILURE AKA PLANNED OBSOLESSENCE. THE RH AXLE SUPPORT BEARINGS WOULD POSSIBLY HAVE NEVER FAILED HAD GOOD WORKMANSHIP PRACTICES AND STANDARDS BEEN IN PLACE AND UTILIZED. BEING A "PROUD FORD OWNER" ONLY SINCE 1969 I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A RAPID / RAMPID PARTS FAILURE RATE. AS A SHOW OF GOOD FAITH, I EXPECT NOTHING LESS THAN FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO ABSORB ANY AND ALL COST OF REPLACING THE REAR AXLE IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. RESPECTFULLY, PAUL A. STADDEN

DT: 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE REAR TIRES WEARING OUT ON FEBRUARY 12, 2003. BOUGHT TWO NEW TIRES FOR THE REAR. THE NEXT DAY I HAD A FOUR WHEEL TIRE ALIGNMENT. MARCH 31, 2003 TWO MORE NEW TIRES BLEW OUT, AND ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2003 WAS HAVING PROBLEM WITH ALIGNMENT, TWO TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TIRE COMPANY SAID REAR END WAS OUT ALIGNMENT AND THEN WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT AGAIN. IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER 2003 A NEW SET OF FOUR NEW TIRES WERE BOUGHT. THEN, IN JUNE 2004 TWO NEW TIRES WERE BOUGHT. THE CONSUMER WENT TO A NEW TIRE COMPANY AND IT TOOK THEM FOUR TIMES OF DRIVING CONSUMER'S CAR TO GET IT ALIGNED. WAS LOOKING ON THE INTERNET ABOUT RECALLS AND I FOUND INFORMATION ON SILENT VEHICLE RECALL. CALLED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS SILENT RECALL, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT ASSIST CONSUMER ON THIS SILENT RECALL. THEN ,CALLED FORD WORLD HEADQUARTERS, THEY WERE STILL NOT TELLING ANYTHING ON THIS SILENT RECALL. CONSUME R FOUND TSB 03135 ON A CANADIAN WEBSITE BUT COULD NOT PULL UP ANY INFORMATION. *AK

2000 FORD FOCUS TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED PROBLEMS.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN 5 TIMES DUE TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *JB

CAR WAS STARTING & RUNNING FINE ... STOPPED BY MY MOTHER'S HOUSE; CAME OUT, PLACED KEY INTO IGNITION, KEY REFUSED TO TURN. TRIED ALL THE REGULAR TRICKS (TURNIGN THE WHEEL TO THE STOPS, PRESSING BRAKE, CLUTHC, ACCELERATOR, ETC. TO NO EFFECT) CALLED TOWING SERVICE - THEY COULD NOT MAKE THE KEY TURN EITHER AND COMMENTED THAT THIS WAS "COMMON" IN FORD FOCUS. TOWED VEHICLE TO BALISE FORD - AGREED IT'S A COMMON FAILURE BUT THYE HAVE A REDESIGNED PART FROM FORD - THAT IS NOT COVERED BY FORD'S EXTENDED WARRANTLY. OVER $300 TO REPLACE A PART EVERYEN ADMITS TO FAILING FREQUENTLY!

DT: THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED AND WILL NOT LET YOU TURN THE KEY. CONTACTED A FORD DEALER, THEY SAID THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM WIDELY, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 20, 2005. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START IT.*AK

DT: CALLER SAID THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A CLANKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE WAS ON A ROAD THAT HAD NO EMERGENCY LANE TO PULL OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CALLER'S HOUSE, AND WAS STILL LEAKING OIL. A MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE BLEW OUT. MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS, AND CALLER'S WARRANTY EXPIRED. DEALER SAID TO BRING TO BRING VEHICLE BUT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS HERSELF. CALLER HAD A TUNE UP 2 WEEKS AGO. *AK

IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILURE. I COULD NOT GET THE KEY TO GO IN THE IGNITION. AFTER 1/2 HOUR OF PUSHING, PULLING, ROCKING, TILTING, IN OUT, BACK FORTH, I GOT THE KEY IN. UPON ADVICE OF MY MECHANIC AT WOODY SANDER FORD IN CINCINNATI, OH, I WAS TOLD TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION UNTIL I COULD DELIVER IT TO THEM FOR REPLACEMENT. THEY SAY THE PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON BUT FORD WON'T RECALL BECAUSE IT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. MY WEB RESEARCH SUPPORTS THAT IT IS INDEED VERY COMMON AND FOR MANY PEOPLE A RECURRING PROBLEM. THE CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD WITH 54,627 MILES ON IT. THE REPAIR WAS JUST OVER $200.00. *JB

MY CAR WAS NOT SHOWING SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE THE INCIDENT. MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WAS PARKED IN A LOCAL RESTAURANT PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR, THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO THE IGNITION. WE PLAYED WITH IT ENOUGH TO GET IT IN HALF WAY AND THEN THE WHOLE WAY, BUT THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. I CALLED FOR A RIDE AT 12:00AM BECAUSE A COP INFORMED ME IT WAS MOST LIKELY MY TUMBLER OR IGNITION SWITCH. MY CAR WAS TOWED THE NEXT MORNING FROM THE PARKING LOT. THIS WAS A DIFFICULT PROCESS CONSIDERING MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP AND THEY HAD TO "DRAG" MY CAR TO GET IT ON TO THE FLAT BED. MY IGNITION SWITCH IS CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON, BUT WE ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE "KEY CODE" TO SET MY TUMBLER. *NM

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 IGNITION SYSTEM WILL NOT TURN. I TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET IT FIXED. AAA SENT A LOCKSMITH OUT AND HER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS THE 10TH FORD FOCUS THIS WEEK WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID HE HAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE IGNITION SYSTEM. HE SAID HE HAS DONE OVER 150 IN THE LAST YEAR. I SEARCHED ONLINE AN FOUND OVER 5000 PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD AND THEY ACTED AS IF THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. THE FORD FOCUS IS NOTORIOUS FOR RECALLS BUT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ON THE LIST. I BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE ADDED. FORD FOCUS IGNITION SYSTEM SHE BE RECALLED. *NM

I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS AND MY KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS STRANDED WITH THE TWO PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AT NIGHT. I TOOK IT TO GET IT FIXED AND IT IS COSTING MY $510 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB

2000 FORD FOCUS DIED WHILE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. *MR *SC CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT POSSIBLY THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TT

2000 FORD FOCUS DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT AND REPLACED. *SC

THE IGNITION INTERLOCK FAILED ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO THE IGNITION, SO THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEELS SO THAT WHEN IT WAS TOWED ($80) OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE IT ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. THEY HAD TO DRAG IT UP ONTO THE FLAT BED OF THE TRUCK. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THAT HE ALONE TOWS ONE FOCUS PER WEEK DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I LIVE IN A LARGE TOWN AND CANNOT TELL ME THAT THERE ARE NOT HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. I WAS QUOTED THE REPAIR COST OF $260 INSTANTLY WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER, HOW OFTEN DOES THAT HAPPEN. I CAN SEE WHY FORD DOES NOT RECALL THIS ITEM, IT IS TOO MUCH OF A MONEY MACHINE!! HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF REPAIR HAVE TO BE MADE BEFORE THEY RECALL THIS? *NM

FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, MY CAR BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, THEN STALLED, SMOKE BEGAN EMANATING FORM UNDER THE HOOD, THEN THE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. I'M VERY LUCKY I WAS NOT INJURED. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. *JB

MY WIFE HAD TO DROP OFF SOMETHING AT A FRIEND'S PLACE OUT IN THE COUNTRY. THEY WOULD NOT BE HOME FOR A COUPLE DAYS. SHE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, DELIVERED THE ITEMS, AND GOT BACK IN THE CAR TO START IT UP AND COME BACK HOME. WE WERE ALL WAITING FOR HER TO GET HOME SO WE COULD LEAVE FOR A CAMPING TRIP. THE KEY WENT INTO THE IGNITION, BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN, CAR WOULD NOT START - THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED HERE MANY TIMES. SHE WENT TO A NEIGHBOR'S TO CALL ME, FINALLY FOUND SOMEONE THAT COULD BRING HER HOME AND GET ME THERE TO SEE WHAT I COULD DO(WE ONLY HAVE ONE CAR). I COULD DO NOTHING. IN THE MORNING I AM GOING TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO. THIS SUCKS BECAUSE MY FAMILY IS ALL PACKED AND READY TO GO CAMPING - NOW THIS. *JB

IGNITION CYLINDER FAILURE, STRANDED US AND WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS IF THIS HAD HAPPENED A WEEK EARLIER WHEN WE WERE IN THE BACK COUNTRY OF IDAHO. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2000-2002 FORD FOCUS CARS AND FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THE IGNITION CYLINDER WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED (AGAIN). *NM

IGNITION STARTED TO STICK AND ON 8/5/05 THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN KEY BROKE OFF HAD TO PAY LOCK SMITH TO COME OUT AND TAKE KEY OUT THAT WAS 125 DOLLARS. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HAVE THEM FIX THE IGNITION BUT TO GET IT THERE THE CAR HAS TO BE TOWED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF CARS AND FORD WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. *JB

DT: WITHOUT WARNING DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE . RING THAT SITS ON TOP OF COIL SPRING THAT SUPPORTS THE CAR BROKE. HAS NOT GONE TO DEALER YET. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PART HAD BEEN RECALLED. HOWEVER SINCE THE CONSUMER HAD THE PART REPAIR AT A NON-FORD DEALER THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR THE REPAIRS. *NM

WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 FORD FOCUS, I CAME TO A FOUR WAY STOP AND THE CAR CEASED TO WORK, AS IF I HAD TURNED OFF THE KEY...NO SPUTTERING, JUST STOPPED. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT LURCHED FORWARD, DIED AGAIN, JUST AS BEFORE. AS I LOOKED OUT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, I OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I EXITED THE CAR AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE WHEEL WELLS. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. PEOPLE BEGAN SPRAYING WATER ON THE CAR FROM GARDEN HOSES, TWO PEOPLE STOPPED WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND NOTHING PUT OUT THE FLAMES. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, WITHIN 10 MINUTES, THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. PIECES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WERE MELTING AND FALLING OFF THE ENGINE ONTO THE GROUND. POLICE ARRIVED TO DIRECT TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO WENDLE FORD, AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY REMOVED THE VEHICLE TO THEIR PREMISES THE NEXT DAY. I STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS PROBLEM IN A FIVE YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. AS I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER INCIDENTS OF FIRE IN THIS VEHICLE, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE FORD MOTOR COMPANY INVESTIGATE WHY THIS IS HAPPENING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! *JB

DT: 2000, FORD, FOCUS. CONTACT STATES THE WHEEL BEARING WAS HOWLING. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 47,000 MILES ON IT. HEARD THIS NOISE FOR ONE MONTH. HE THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES, BUT IT WAS NOT THE TIRES. TOOK VEHICLE TO AN AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, AND SHOWED HIM A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WHICH DID DID NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE. *AK

BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE DURING NORMAL USAGE. THE SPRINGS, STRUTS AND ONE STRUT BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

IGNITION KEY FAILURE IN 2000 FORD FOCUS SE. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATION ON THE WEB, I LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MOST IF NOT ALL MODELS OF FORD FOCUS. I AM HAVING IT SERVICED NOW BUT ACCORDING TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE, I CAN EXPECT TO HAVE TO DO THIS SEVERAL MORE TIMES OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

KEY WOULD NOT WORK IN IGNITION - CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE LOCK ASSEMBLY AND TUMBLER. *NM

1) NO KNOWN EVENTS LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE. 2) WHEN HEADING TO WORK IN THE MORNING ONE DAY, I HAD DIFFICULTY INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. ONCE I GOT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I COULD NOT START MY CAR AND COULD NOT GET TO WORK 3) WE HAD TO PAY $70 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP IN BUFFALO, MN. WE THEN HAD TO PAY THEM TO DRILL OUT IGNITION CYLINDER AND REMOVE IT. THEN THEY BUILT NEW CYLINDER AND INSTALLED IT. COSTING ME $350. I UNDERSTAND ALSO, FROM THE FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE (THAT HAD JUST EXPIRED) THAT THIS IS ALSO A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR FORD FOCUS'. *NM

KEY WOULD NOT WORK IN IGNITION - CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE LOCK ASSEMBLY AND TUMBLER. *NM

1) NO KNOWN EVENTS LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE. WE HAD NO WARNING. WE DID NOTHING UNUSUAL. 2) WE WERE DRIVING AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. WE HADN'T RUN OVER ANYTHING AND THE CAR APPEARED FINE. UPON TAKING IT TO BE LOOKED AT WE FOUND THAT WE NEEDED A NEW SPRING. WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 2000 FOCUS AND ALSO THAT THE FORD TAURUS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE TAURUS WAS GIVEN A SAFETY RECALL. I WAS INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC THAT HAD THE SPRING PUNCTURED MY TIRES SIDEWALL, I WOULD HAVE BLOWN A TIRE AND COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH, EVEN AT LOWER SPEEDS IS UNDESIRABLE. 3) THE MECHANIC PUT IN A NEW SPRING, BUT THINKS THAT THE OTHER SPRING MAY BE MORE VULNERABLE NOW HAVING BEARED THE EXTRA LOAD. ALSO, HE SAYS OUR STRUTS MAY HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED AS WELL... I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY SO HE REPLACED THE SPRING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND THAT IS ALL FOR NOW. *NM