PURCHASED A USED 2000 FORD FOCUS FROM A REPUTABLE LINCOLN-MERCURY DEALER FOR MY SON. (HIIS FIRST CAR). AFTER DRIVING THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES, WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF, THE IGNITION KEY WILL NOT COME OUT. THE CAR HAS TO SIT FOR 20-30 MINUTES BEFORE YOU CAN TAKE THE KEY OUT. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS KNOWN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME THAT THEY HAVE MANUFACTURED FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDERS ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL. WHILE THE DEALER HAS OFFERED TO WORK OUT THE PROBLEM, THE FACT REMAINS THAT A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED TO ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM ON BEHALF OF CONSUMERS. *NM
2000 Ford Focus complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2000 record →
I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS LOCKED. KEY WILL NOT TURN. NO WARNING TO IMPENDING FAILURE. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A FORD SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIR. *NM
CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE 2000 FORD FOCUS DUE TO ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED WITH THIS VEHICLE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR THE REAR BRAKES, DRUMS AND SHOCKS WERE REPLACED. *JB
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THAT THE IGNITION HAS GONE OUT ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE KEY WAS PUT IN IT WWAS HARD TO TURN ON. THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO THE IGNITION AT ALL. THEREFORE YOU ARE STRANDED WHERE EVER YOU ARE. CAR HAS TO BE TOWED. *JB
DT: CALLER INDICATED HATCHBACK WIFE'S VEHICLE KEPTOPENING. THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PURCHASED IN A NORTHERN STATE. DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME.THE FIRST ONE WAS COVERED BY WARRENTY.THE SECOND ONE ISN'T.
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
2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION KEY CYLINDER HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT AND REPLACED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM FOR A SECOND TIME. THE IGNITION FELL APART AND BECAME LODGED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB
I JUST PURCHASED A FORD FOCUS SE STATION WAGON FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. THE CAR IS IN PRISTINE SHAPE WITH ONLY 54,000 MILES ON IT. THERE'S JUST ONE SLIGHT PROBLEM.... THE KEY DOESN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECORDED A NUMBER OF TIMES.(SEE COMPLAINT SECTION OF THIS WEB SITE) WHY NO RECALLS??????
MY FOCUS 2000 IS IN THE SHOP DUE TO A BROKEN IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.I COULD HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN A DARK PARKING LOT. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED.
DT: 2000 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING WHILE DRIVING AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE FOR ABOUT A MILE. STOPPED VEHICLE, GOT OUT, AND THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETECT FROM WHERE THE SMELL WAS COMING. A COUPLE DAYS LATER WENT TO PARK VEHICLE IN GARAGE AND NOTICED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE OUT OF PLACE. UPON INSPECTION NOTED A MELTING OF THE MOUNTS AND HOUSING, AND THE BULB HOLDER WAS LOOSE, SPRING WAS NOT EFFICIENT ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND JARRING. CONSUMER FELT THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE OVER SEVERAL RAILROAD TRACKS, AND FELT THIS COULD HAVE LOOSENED THESE PARTS. NO REPAIRS DONE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A PRICING OF THE REPAIRS, WHICH WAS $60 EACH HEADLIGHT, AND DEALER DID NOT SPECIFY WHY THIS OCCURRED. *AK
2000 FORD FOCUS STEERING AND IGNITION LOCKED. MY SON WHO IS 17 YRS OLD WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO CALL US BECAUSE THE STEERING AND IGNITION WAS LOCKED.
IG NITION ON A 200 FORD FOCUS LOCKED UP. IGNITION AND STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. APARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. UPON COMPLETING A WEB SEARCH FOR POSSIBLE REPAIR OPTIONS I SAW HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I'M CALLING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE I WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE RAPED AND PILLAGED OVER A FORD MD THAT THEY ARE UNWILLING ACKOWLEDGE OR HONOR.
I HAVE HAD MY FOCUS FOR FIVE YEARS, I AM 1 MONTH AWAY FROM PAYING IT OFF. INITIALLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, THERE WERE A FEW MAJOR ISSUES THAT WERE FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY. EXAMPLE- WHEEL BEARINGS, BREAKS, ETC. OTHERWISE MY CAR HAS HAD FEW PROBLEMS OUTSIDE OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. ON FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2005 I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING MY KEY TO GO IN THE IGNITION. BUT IT WENT IN, AND STARTED OKAY. ON TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2005, I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT WAS STUCK. IT WAS ALSO DIFFICULT TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. THE DRIVER OF THE TOW TRUCK ASKED ME IF THE IGNITION WAS STUCK. I TOLD HIM YES, AND HE TOLD ME THAT WAS THE USUAL PROBLEM WHENEVER HE HAD TO TOW A FORD FOCUS. MARSHALL BROTHERS LINCOLN MERCURY INFORMED ME IT WAS THE IGNITION CYLINDER THAT BROKE. I LOOKED ONLINE, AND THERE IS AN ENTIRE DISCUSSION BOARD DEDICATED TO THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.AUTOFORUMZ.COM/FORD-FOCUS-IGNITION-LOCKS-FTOPICT32011.HTML
THE IGNITION CYLINDER SEIZED FOR NO APPARANT REASON. I WAS OVER AN HOURS DRIVE FROM HOME. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK THERE WAS NO WAY TO START THE CAR, THE KEY WOULD JUST NOT TURN. AFTER A COSTLY REPAIR, ALMOST $500CDN I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. IT TURNS OUT I'M NOT ALONE. HTTP://WWW.AUTOWHIZ.COM/MESSAGEBOARDS/MESSAGE.PHP?ID=1784 THIS IS JUST ONE SITE WITH MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM. EVEN THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE FORD DEALER SAID SHE THINKS THERE COULD EVENTUALLY BE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO FIX SO MANY OF THEM.
I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS. I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER LOCK LEAVING ME UNABLE TO GET THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION OR TURN THE KEY TO START THE CAR. FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AS THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TOLD ME. WITH THIS BEING A KNOWN PROBLEM, FORD STILL WANTS OVER $300 TO FIX A THE PROBLEM. IF THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, WHY IS THE CONSUMER THE ONE THAT HAS TO PAY FOR THE PROBLEM???
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE POWER LOCKS DO NOT WORK ON 2000 FORD FOCUS. THIS APPLIES TO ALL THE 4 DOORS AND THE TRUNK. THEY GET JAMMED, AND CONSUMER CANNOT GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. THE KEY WILL NOT OPEN THEM. THEREFORE THE TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN. IF LOCK THEM MANUALLY THEY ALSO GET JAMMED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SEEN A LOT OF THIS. IT IS AN ACTUATOR INSIDE THE DOOR, AND IT WILL COST $610.00 JUST TO TEST TO SEE WHICH DOOR IT IS IN. SHE HAS JUST BEEN HAPPENING SINCE LAST WEEK ON 7-11-05. SHE DID REPLACE A FUSE ,AND THE FUSE BLEW WITHIN ONE DAY. THE DEALER TOLD HER IF SHE PUT ANOTHER FUSE IN, IT WOULD ALSO BLOW RIGHT AWAY. SHE HAS NOT TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER.SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER AROUND MARCH-05; RECALL TCH AND WAS HAVING THE LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK DOOR FIXED TODAY.*AK
CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN TO WORK WHEN ENGINE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND EVENTUALLY STALLED. DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND COLLIDED WITH CONCRETE MEDIAN BARRIER. ACCIDENT CAUSED AESTHETIC DAMAGE TO FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS. THE CAR WAS RARELY DRIVEN AFTER THE ACCIDENT SINCE IT WOULD ONLY DRIVE FOR A FEW MILES BEFORE STALLING AND I DIDN'T WANT IT TO CAUSE ANOTHER ACCIDENT. I COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED. I HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED FORD'S RECALL #03N01 - FUEL DELIVERY MODULE ON THE VEHICLE [XXX] WHEN DOING RESEARCH ABOUT HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STALLING. THIS WAS FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.ESCORTFOCUS.COM/HTML/FOCUS_111903.HTML . THE RECALL WAS ISSUED IN NOV. 2003 BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. I HAVE A SCREEN CAPTURE OF THE MY FORD VEHICLE HOME WEBSITE WHERE IT LISTS RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE. I USE THIS AS MY PRIMARY SOURCE FOR VEHICLE RECALLS AND IT DOES NOT AND HAS NEVER LISTED THIS RECALL. BY THEIR OWN ADMISSION, FORD HAS INSTRUCTED DEALERS TO ONLY FIX THIS PROBLEM IF THE CUSTOMER REPORTS HAVING AN ISSUE. BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL AND WASN'T HAVING ANY ISSUES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. I FEEL FORD IS RESPONSIBLE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENT SINCE IT OCCURRED DUE TO A DEFECT. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS ZTS AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE POSTINGS ON THE WEB THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM FOR FORD FOCUS OWNERS
IGNITION WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY ON 2000 FOCUS SE, NEED TO REPLACE IGNITION TUMBLER ASSEMBLY
DT: THE TURN SIGNAL DO NOT CANCEL AFTER A TURN. THE SPRING BROKE THREE TIMES. THE TRUNK DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP HAS TAKEN CARE OF BOTH ISSUES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. IN COLD WEATHER THE IDLE SPEED WAS TOO HIGH. WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE IT BACKED OUT LIKE A ROCKET. THIS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON APRIL 9, 2000. THE CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT WITH THE BACK DOOR OPEN. IT HAPPENED SO FAST HE DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO PUT ON THE BRAKES. THE CAR DOOR HIT THE GARAGE POST. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT. CONSUMER STATED HE HAD MENTAL INJURIES AND LOST HIS JOB. VEHICLE WAS STILL IDLING HIGH IN COLD WEATHER.*AK
DT: THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP JULY 2ND, 2005. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START DUE TO THE IGNITION. THE SERVICE MECHANIC SAID FORD WAS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB
I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WILL NOT TURN.
MY WIFE WAS LEAVING WORK AT NIGHT ALONE. SHE GOT IN OUR 2000 FORD FOCUS AND TRIED TO START IT. THE KEY WOULDNT TURN. I GUESS IT IS AN IGNITION CYLINDER FAILURE. IF MY WIFE WAS IN DANGER OF HER LIFE OR HURT SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET ANYWHERE. I AM OUTRAGED THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL
DID A RIGHT TURN TO GET ON THE FREEWAY AND LOST MOST POWER. HOBBLED ALONG THE SHOULDER AT 20 MPH FOR 1/2 A MILE, THEN IT STALLED. WAITED 1 MINUTE, RESTARTED AND THEN IT RAN FINE. NO CHECK-ENGINE NOR OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON UNTIL IT STALLED. OCCURED AFTER DRIVING 3 MILES IN JULY (PARITALLY WARM) WITH ABOUT 2 GALLONS OF GAS. DROVE TO KEMP FORD AND ASKED SERVICE DEPT ABOUT ANY RECALLS. SEEMED TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS. SUGGESTED POSSBLE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS LOST POWER THREE TIMES PREVIOUSLY AT THE SAME LOCATION FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS, AND THEN RECOVERED.
2000-2001 FORD FOCUS WAGON - IGNITION CYLINDER FAILURE. WAS IN A VERY HOT PARKING LOT AND KEY WOULD GO IN BUT NOT TURN. THIS IS A REOCCURING PROBLEM WITH ALL FOCUS MODELS.
DT: ON SUNDAY THE OWNER'S WIFE MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN OFF OF MENTOR ONTO HART STREET. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF LIKE THE KEY HAD BEEN TURNED OFF AND THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CLASSIC FORD BUT HAS NOT BEEN LOOKED AT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY YET. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. BOTH THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE AT THE SCENE. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETE FIRE DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE OWNER FEELS THE FIRE WAS THE RESULT OF A FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *NM
I ARRIVED HOME ON SATURDAY MORNING, PARKED IN THE DRIVE MIDWAY, TOOK THE KEY OUT AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE. LATER IN THE AFTERNOON, I TRIED WITH NO SUCCESS TO MOVE THE CAR ALL THE WAY UP INTO THE DRIVE. THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. I MOVED THE WHEEL, WHICH WAS LOCK, BACK AND FORTH AND EVEN TRIED YANKING IT. IT WOULD NOT MOVE. I CALLED MY FRIEND TO COME AND LOOK AT IT. HE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE IT AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY IT HAD LOCKED. THERE IS NO RELEASE ON THE VEHICLE, SO I COULDN'T EVEN MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. EVERY THING IS LOCKED IN PLACE. WE PUSHED THE CAR MANUALLY UP INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHERE IT HAS BEEN SITTING WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN FOR 3 DAYS. I LOOKED INTO GETTING IT FIXED AND FOUND SEVERAL WEBSITES WITH HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP I CALLED FOR SERVICE SAID IT WOULD BE ROUGHLY AROUND $280 TO FIX BUT COULDN'T QUOTE UNTIL THE CAR HAD BEEN IN FOR INSPECTION. I AM REALLY UPSET WITH FORD FOR NOT RECALLING THIS ITEM YEARS AGO. IT IS SUCH A SMALL FIX FOR THEM BUT COSTS US ALOT. THEN WHEN YOU GET THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR YOU RECALL, THEY TRY TO ELIMINATE THE LABOR COSTS, BUT ISN'T THAT PART OF THE RECALL. MY LAST REIMBURSEMENT WAS MUCH LESS THAN I ACTUALLY PAID FOR THE SERVICE.
DT: THE BRAKES MAKE A NOISE LIKE IT IS A DUMP TRUCK STOPPING. WHEN THE CONSUMER HITS THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY. HE CHANGED THE BRAKE SHOES TWICE AND THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN AND THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY TO REPLACE THE LINING AND MAGNETS. THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES HAS ALWAYS OCCURRED, BUT IT IS NOT EVERY TIME YOU HIT THE BRAKES. THIS VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT IS NOT COVERED. CONSUMER HAS CALLED THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND HAS A REFERENCE NUMBER, 6397393. *NM
THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS, DESPITE ALL EFFORTS. MY HUSBAND WAS STRANDED FOR HOURS. A LOCKSMITH HAD TO BE CALLED TO COME FIX IT, COSTING US MONEY.
2000 FORD FOCUS STATION WAGON. THE REAR TAIL GATE LATCH KEPT POPPING OPEN-WOULD NOT CLOSE.
ON INTERSTATE 95 WITH CRUISE SET AT 70M.P.H. MY CAR EXCELERATED TO 95 M.P.H. I COULD NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE AND THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR TO 60 M.P.H. BY PRESSING THE BRAKES AS HARD AS POSSIBLE THEN I TURNED THE KEY OFF WHICH STOPPED THE EXCELERATION BUT ALSO IMPAIRED THE STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND MY SON PUSHED US OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.
HAD MY OIL CHANGED. DROVE TO WAL-MART. I SMELLED SOMTHING BURNING, STOPED AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD DIDNT SEE ANYTHING, THOUGHT MAYBE SOME SPILT OIL WAS BURNING. WENT INSIDE WAL-MART AND RETURNED TO CAR AND STARTED IT AND BEGAN TO DRIVE HOME. CAR STALLED AND SOME GUYS YELLED AT ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I GOT OUT SAW FLAMES COMMING OUT OF THE WHEEL WELLS OPENED THE HOOD AND PUT OUT FIRE AND PUSHED MY CAR OFF THE ROAD.
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. COULD NOT REMOVE OR TURN KEY. HAD TO HAVE CYLINDER REPLACED IN BOTH VEHICLES THAT WE OWN. QUITE COSTLY AND VERY INCONVENIENT.
IGNITION CYLINDER FAILED. HAD TO HAVE REPLACED. HAVE TWO SUCH VEHICLES AND EXPERIENCED FAILURE ON BOTH. QUITE COSTLY.
DT: THIS MORNING WHEN LEAVING FOR WORK CONSUMER PUT KEY IN IGNITION AND IGNITION WOULD NOT TURNING OVER AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AS THIS HAS WORKED TWICE BEFORE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ALONG WITH THE IGNITION. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE ENTIRE IGNITION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, AND OFFERED NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS OCCURRED. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP AWAITING REPAIRS. *AK
DT: CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT INTO FULL THROTTLE POSITION AND COULD NOT BE DEACTIVATED BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ONLY WAY TO SHUT IT OFF WAS TO TURN THE KEY OFF. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL DISABLED. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED A SERVICE DEALER. *AK
DT: 2000 FORD FOCUS LX, IGNITION FROZE. PROBLEM OCCURRED BEFORE. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT CONSUMER HAD THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON MAY 26, 2004. THIS PROBLEM GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE. AT FIRST THE IGNITION WAS A LITTLE HARD TO TURN. WITHIN A WEEK THE CONSUMER COULD NOT EVEN TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED IT INCLUDED THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. THERE WERE NO KNOWN OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK
RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. BEARING ON THE UPPER TI ROD FROZE UP
HI, ON SATURDAY EVENING (JUNE 18, 2005) I DROVE MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZTS TO EDGERTON CONFORT INN IN WISCONSIN WITH MY WIFE AND 6 MONTHS OLD CHILD WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. ON FATHER'S DAY MORNING (JUNE 19, 2005) READY TO ENJOY BREAKFAST WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN ON THE CAR. THE IGNITION KEY WOULD ONLY GO IN HALF-WAY AND WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING PLUS STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AS WELL, EVENTHOUTH I DIDN'T LOCK IT THE NIGHT BEFORE. I SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR WITH FRIENDS TRYING DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO RELEASE THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE CLOSEST TOWN I COULD FIND A FORD SERVICE CENTER WAS IN JANESVILLE, WI AND ON A SUNDAY (FATHER'S DAY) I COULDN'T RESOLVE MUCH. I HAD TO SPENT ANOTHER EXTRA NIGHT IN THE HOTEL TO BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THE NEXT DAY. NOT A FUN THING WHEN YOU HAVE A YOUNG CHILD WITH YOU AND NOT ABLE TO DO MUCH WITHOUT A CAR. ON MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2005, I GOT IN CONTACT WITH GORDIE BOUCHER FORD SERVICE CENTER TO ARRANGE TOWING SERVICE. THAT COST ME $73.50 TO GET MY CAR FROM THE HOTEL PARKING LOT TO THE SERVICE CENTER. AT THE SERVICE CENTER I WAS TOLD THAT MY PROBLEM WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY THEM, THAT IT WASN'T THE 1ST. TIME THEY SEE IT HAPPEND TO FOCUS CARS AND THAT WILL COST ME 3 HOURS OF LABOR + PART. (LABOR: 279.83; PART: 98.47 = $378.30+TAX) HOTEL/TOWING/FORD SERVICE TOTAL WAS CLOSE TO $500 THE DAMAGED PART WAS THE IGNITION TUMBLER WHICH THEY HAD TO DRILL OUT, REKEY THE NEW TUMBLER AND REPLACE IT. OLD PARTS STAYED AT SERVICE CENTER. THIS IS APPARENTLY A
I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS. MY IGNITION LOCKED. INITALLY, MY KEY WOULD ONLY GO IN HALF WAY, BUT WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER FINALLY GETTING MY KEY IN, IT STILL WOULD NOT TURN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS EXACT INDICENT, AND I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON FAIRLURE. THERE ARE OVER 150 POSTINGS ON AUTOMOTIVETALK.NET ALONE. I PAID $65 TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND $310 TO HAVE IT FIXED AT THE DEALER. CLEARLY, THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART, BUT FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO COMPENSATE THE OUT OF POCKET COSTS TO THE OWNERS.
THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILED ON MY FORD FOCUS (2000 MODEL). THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO START THE CAR. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART FOR AN "IMPROVED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER KIT" FOR A COST OF $456. CLEARLY, THE ORIGINAL PART WAS DEFECTIVE. I READ DOZENS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM FOR OTHER FORD FOCUS DRIVERS. MANY HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER MULTIPLE TIMES. FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS.
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IS THAT ONCE CONSUMER STICKS THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK AND WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS IT WOULD EVENTUALLY START BEFORE, BUT NOW IT WILL NOT START AT ALL. *AK
1) AT HIGHWAY SPEED, ABRUPTLY SHIFTS INTO LOW GEAR AND DECCELERATES HARD. ODOMETER DISPLAYS "======", WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON. 2) ENGINE ABRUPTLY STALLS, WITH IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. AGAIN ACCOMPANIED BY OTHER ODD EVENTS. 3) NO ACCIDENT YET, BUT DANGEROUS. 4) HAPPENS SPORADICALLY, GETTING MORE FREQUENT.
DT: CONTACT STATES THE KEY WILL NOT TURN TO START THE IGNITION. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, AND THE SERVICE DEALER HAD TO DRILL THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK, INSTALL A NEW KEY CYLINDER, AND REMAKE KEYS TO FIT INTO THIS NEW KEY CYLINDER.*AK
THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE INGNITION SWITCH AFTER A FAILURE. IT LOCKS UP/BREAKS AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. THE REPAIR AGAIN IS COSTING ME $300 FOR SOMETHING I FEEL SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I WAS AT 40K MILES. I'M OUT OF WARRANTY NOW AT 60K MILES 2 YEARS LATER. I HAVE FOUND SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET IN VARIOUS PLACES TO KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. SEVERAL EMPLOYEES AT MY DEALERSHIP AND TOW TRUCK DRIVERS ARE EVEN AWARE OF IT AND ADMIT THAT IT'S A BIG PROBLEM. THIS TIME MY DEALERSHIP IS USING A DIFFERENT PART THAT *SHOULD* NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM PATIENTLY WAITING FOR A RECALL TO HAPPEN AND TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THESE REPAIRS. IF IT'S A MATTER OF FORD NOT FEELING THAT IT IS A "SAFETY" ISSUE, I WOULD STRONGLY DISAGREE. I LIVE IN A DANGEROUS CITY WHERE I CAN BE STRANDED WITH THIS PROBLEM AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. LUCKILY THIS TIME I WAS ONLY OUT SHOPPING LOCALLY DURING THE DAY. FORD HAS LOST ME AS A CUSTOMER UNLESS THEY CAN SHOW GOOD FAITH AND FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR EVERYONE.
IGNITION LOCK UP NECESSITATING TOW AND COSTLY REPAIR.
WE HAD OCCASIONAL DIFFICULTY INSERTING THE KEY INTO OUR 2000 FORD FOCUS, AND THEN ONE DAY WE WERE COMPLETELY UNABLE TO GET THE KEY IN. WE HAVE A KEY THAT IS RARELY USED AND THAT DOESN'T WORK EITHER. WE ARE STUCK AND WILL HAVE TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE OUR CAR TO THE SHOP. MY HUSBAND MISSED A DAY OF WORK AND WE DON'T KNOW YET HOW MUCH THIS WHOLE THING WILL COST US. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS SINCE IT IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM FOR FORD FOCUS CARS.
DURING A ROUTINE DRIVING, THE FRONT RIGHT SPRING OF MY 2000 FORD FOCUS, SIMPLY BROOK. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT SHOCK WAS TILTED TO THE RIGHT. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH SPRINGS AND SHOCKS. I WAS VERY LUCKY IT OCCURED WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY AT 25 MILES PER HOUR, OTHERWISE I COULD BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. ON NOVEMBER 2004 FORD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THESE FRONT SPRINGS SAYING THAT " PORTION OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS MAY NOT HAVE RECEIVED ADEQUATE CORROSION PROTECTION WHICH MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FRACTURE OF THE SPRING." I HAVE CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WANTED ME TO PAY FOR THE EXPENSES, SAYING THAT IT IS NOT A RECALL. ANY REQUESTS FOR A REFUND WERE DENIDED. PLEASE, I NEED YOUR HELP. THANK YOU.
CONSUMER WOULD BE UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER ADDS IGNITION IS STUCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE. BOTH REAR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN DUE TO VEHICLE NOT STARTING. CLOCK SPRING AND STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. *TT
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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