2000 Ford Focus complaints

I RECENTLY ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM WITH MY IGNITION. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO INSERT MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE KEY WOULD NOT INSERT ENTIRELY AND WOULD NOT TURN TO START THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED WHILE IN PARK. INITIALLY, I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN "EASY FIX", SO I TRIED TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE EXTREME LEFT OR RIGHT, BUT IT REFUSED TO COOPERATE. AFTER OVER AN HOUR OF ATTEMPTING TO INSERT MY KEY WITH FAILURE, I CALLED A LOCKSMITH. THE LOCKSMITH TOLD ME "THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN FORD FOCUSES". I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHY FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR MATTER. I'VE READ NUMEROUS STATEMENTS ONLINE FROM OTHER FORD FOCUS OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM (SEE HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T158426.HTML AND HTTP://WWW.TALKABOUTAUTOS.COM/GROUP/ALT.AUTOS.FORD.FOCUS/MESSAGES/27215.HTML). THE LOCKSMITH HAD TO UNINSTALL THE OLD INGNITION SWITCH AND RECODE AND INSTALL A NEW IGNITION SWITCH FOR $190. SINCE MY PURCHASE, FORD FOCUS HAS ISSUED THREE RECALLS (UPCOMING FOURTH RECALL) AND I'M SURPRISED THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONE OF THEM WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS. HOPEFULLY, FURTHER INVESTIGATION WILL TAKE PLACE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AND NOT LEAVE ANY FUTURE OWNERS STRANDED WHEN THEY ATTEMPT TO START THEIR CAR.*AK

WHILE STOPPING AT STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THEN, VEHICLE STOPPED. BUT THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. CONSUMER DROVE DRIVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK. IDLE SPEED SHOOTS WAY UP FOR A FEW SECONDS. CONSUMER HAVE TO STAND ON BRAKE TO KEEP CAR FROM MOVING INTO INTERSECTION. *AK

KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION. THIS WAS FIXED ONCE BEFORE UNDER WARRANTY IN 2001. BUT THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY NOW. *N M

IT WAS A RATHER NORMAL DAY. I DROVE MY 2000 FORD FOCUS TO COLLEGE, THEN HOME. ON MY WAY TO A LOCAL RESTAURANT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WHEN I WAS FINISHED, I PAID FOR MY MEAL AND EXITED THE ESTABLISHMENT. I STEPPED INTO MY CAR, CLOSED THE DOOR, AND PLACED MY KEY (WHICH WAS IN MINT CONDITION) IN THE IGNITION. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN EITHER WAY. I GIGGLED (CAREFULLY), BUT IT APPEARED TO BE STUCK. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED, FOR A FEE. THE CAR HAD TO BE FIXED, FOR A FEE ($300). I WAS STRANDED WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. WITH NO WAY TO SCHOOL OR WORK, IT WAS A MOST COMPROMISING SITUATION. THEY REPLACED THE METAL IGNITION SWITCH AFTER TEARING APART MY STEERING WHEEL. IT SEEMS TO WORK FINE NOW, HOWEVER; I BELIEVE THE FORD COMPANY SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I HAVE RESEARCHED FOR A SPECIFIC RECALL, BUT I WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I FOUND MANY CONSUMERS THROUGH THE INTERNET WHO HAVE HAD TO UNFORTUNATELY DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM. COMPENSATION FOR THIS INCONVENIENCE IS SURELY DESIRED, AND TO MY OTHER FAITHFUL FORD CUSTOMERS (QUICKLY LOSING FAITH!) I WOULD SAY IT IS OWED TO US. *NM

KEY NO LONGER TURNED IGNITION.. *NM

SPRING ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BROKE. COULD HAVE POPPED TIRE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *NM

THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE LIGHTS WERE TURNING ON AND OFF. THE CAUSE IS UNDETERMINED. *JB

I PURCHASED A FORD FOCUS WAGON (2000) FROM ROWAN LINCOLN MERCURY IN WINTER HAVEN FLORIDA IN NOVEMBER 2003. SINCE THAT TIME THIS "CHECKED OUT" VEHICLE HAS HAD THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS: A NEW IGNITION LOCK (TWICE), A NEW BATTERY, NEW SPARK PLUGS & WIRES, NEW VACUUM HOSE, AND NEW ALTERNATOR. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT ON THE VEHICLE. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE AGAINST THE DEALERSHIP FOR SELLING ME AN OBVIOUSLY MESSED UP VEHICLE? MY CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNANSWERED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 36,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT. EVERYONE THAT TOUCHES THE CAR TELLS ME THAT THERE IS NO GOOD REASON FOR THE NEED OF ANY OF THE REPAIRS EXCEPT THE SPARK PLUGS, WIRES AND BATTERY. ANY ADVICE AS I AM NOW FACING ANOTHER REPAIR BILL IN EXCESS OF $1,000 FOR A CAR THAT IS TOUTED AS BEING ONE OF THE MOST RELIABLE ON THE ROAD? *JB

2000 FORD FOCUS FUEL PUMP FAILURE. I WAS DRIVING MY FOCUS DOWN THE STREET, TWO MINUTES FROM GETTING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN THE FUEL PUMP GAVE OUT WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT THE SUBSTANCE IN THE AIR BAG BURNT THROUGH THE DRIVER'S JACKET SLEEVE AND CAUSED FIRST AND SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO THE ARMS. THE JACKET WAS MADE OF 78% POLYESTER AND 27%RAMS. *AK

I OWN 2 FORD FOCUS CARS. EACH HAS HAD THE IGINITION SWITCH LOCK UP. IGNITION KEY COULD NOT BE INSERTED WITHOUT FORCE AND EVEN THEN COULD NOT BE TURNED TO UNLOCK STEERING WHEEL OR PROVIDE POWER. STARTING ENGINE WAS NOT POSSIBLE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED USING CAR JACKS .... A TOWING SURCHARGE. THIS DEFECT IS NOT CONSIDERED A WARRANTY ITEM AND COST WAS SEVERAL HUNDERED DOLLARS TO REPAIR.*AK

I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS. EARLY THIS YEAR THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION, NOT THAT IT WOULDN'T START, BUT THAT I COULD ONLY GET THE KEY HALFWAY INTO THE LOCKING MECHANISM IN THE IGNITION ITSELF. I MISSED WORK THAT DAY BECAUSE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO START MY OWN CAR. CALLED THE LOCKSMITH AND HE TOLD ME THAT WAS HIS THIRD CASE IN TWO WEEKS--SAME CAR, ABOUT THE SAME YEAR. HE FIXED IT BUT SAID THAT IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN, IT WOULD NEED REPLACING. WELL IT DID HAPPEN AGAIN--NOV. 12TH TO BE EXACT. AGAIN, THE KEY WOULD NOT GO IN THE MECHANISM, EVEN AFTER FOLLOWING THE DEALERSHIP'S ADVICE TO TAP IT IN WITH A HAMMER. HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED. TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID IT WAS HIS FOURTH FOCUS BEING TOWED THAT WEEK AND GUESSED THE PROBLEM BEFORE I EVEN TOLD HIM WHAT IT WAS! WHEN WE GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP I ASKED HOW MANY CARS HAD BEEN AFFECTED. 20% WAS THE ANSWER--20% OF THE FOCUS MODELS FROM 2000-2003. WOULD THERE BE A RECALL I ASKED? NO, HE ANSWERED FLATLY. I HAD TO PAY NEARLY $300 IN REPAIRS FROM THEM HAVING TO DRILL IN AND REPLACE IGNITION, LOCK, AND KEYS, ALL FOR A DEFECT THAT AFFECTS 20% OF CARS BUILT IN THREE YEARS. FRANKLY I FIND THAT RIDICULOUS THAT THEY WON'T RECALL THESE CARS, AND I WANT OTHER FOCUS OWNERS TO BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE FORD DOESN'T SEEM IT NECESSARY TO TELL THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES REAR DOOR CHILD LOCKS WILL NOT DISENGAGE. CONSUMER REFERRED TO THE OWNERS MANUAL WHICH STATED THAT A SPECIAL KEY WAS NEEDED TO DISENGAGE CHILD LOCKS, HOWEVER DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE CONSUMER WITH A KEY FOR THAT PURPOSE. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT IN EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY PASSENGERS WILL BE TRAPPED. *AK

FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE, ONCE THE VEHICLE HITS 10, 000 MILES THE BRAKES BECOME DEFECTIVE, THE ROTORS AND THE PADS WORE OUT TO THE METAL. *AK

REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER OPENS UP BACK HATCH WHEN ON HIGHWAY. DID NOT USE REAR DEFROST. *JB

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, THE NIGHT BEFORE MY CAR WAS FINE. I WENT TO GO TO WORK AND TRIED TO PUT MY KEY IN THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T GO IN. I TRIED THE SPARE KEY. I TRIED TO WIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL. EVERYTHING WAS LOCKED. I CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL, THEY SAID NO. WHEN I CALLED AAA TO HAVE THEM TOW ME, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE TOWED ABOUT 40 IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS JUST IN OUR SMALL AREA ALONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD STATES THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT WITH THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN PARKING LOTS. IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK FOR A HIGH COSTS AND RECOGNIZED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK. CONSUMER CLAIMS INTERMITTENT STALLING WHICH STARTED FIVE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE. *AK

UPON TRYING TO START THE VEHILCE THE KEY STICKS AND WILL NOT TURN EITHER WAY. IT IS SOMETIMES HARD FOR THE KEY TO GO INTO THE IGNITION. *AK

ON TUESDAY EVENING, AFTER A MEETING, I GOT IN MY CAR TO DRIVE HOME. THE KEY WOULD NOT GO ALL THE WAY IN; I THOUGHT THAT MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED (WHICH IT WAS) BUT I COULD NOT GET IT UNLOCKED. I TRIED ROLLING MY CAR OFF TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND TUGGING HARD ON THE WHEEL TO NO AVAIL. I CALLED AAA FOR A LOCKSMITH SERVICE BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET MY KEY INTO MY IGNITION. THE LOCKSMITH THAT SHOWED UP TOLD ME WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING THAT I HAD A 2000 FORD FOCUS AND THAT HE HAS THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. WITHOUT EVEN ME HAVING TO TELL HIM WHAT WAS GOING ON, HE INSTANTLY KNEW THE PROBLEM. THE CYLINDER IN MY IGNITION HAD A BROKEN TUMBLER RESULTING IN MY KEY NOT GOING IN. I HAD TO TOW MY CAR HOME COSTING ME 25.00 BECAUSE THE LOCKSMITH TOLD ME THAT HE COULD NOT PERFORM THE MECHANICS IN THE DARK. HE QUOTED ME A PRICE OF 225 TO REPLACE THE PART, THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WANTED 350. MY FATHER PURCHASED THE PART FOR ABOUT 70 DOLLARS FORM A FORD DEALER, HE PURCHASED A NEW KEY CYLINDER TO INSTALL INTO THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS WAS ALL THAT COULD BE DONE IN ORDER THAT MY CAR WOULD START. *JB

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE SITUATION, ONE DAY THE KEYS WOULD SIMPLY NOT WORK IN THE IGNITION. NEITHER OUR EVERYDAY KEY OR OUR SPARE KEY CAN EVEN BE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. THUS, WE CAN NOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE. *JB

I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS. I NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES THE TRUNK WOULDNT LATCH SO I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND TRY IT AGAIN. THROUGH TIME IT EVENTUALLY WOULDNT LATCH SHUT AT ALL. I WAS THEN UNABLE TO LOCK MY TRUNK COMPLETELY. IN THE PROCESS OF ALL OF THIS SOMEHOW MY TRUNK HOOD GOT BENT. I ASSUME THAT SINCE THE LATCH WAS BROKEN,EVERYTIME I TRIED TO SHUT THE TRUNK IT BENT THE HOOD SLIGHTLY. TO FIX THE PROBLEM I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW TRUNK MECHANISM AND INSTALL IT MYSELF. I QUOTED THE COST TO FIX IT AT A REPAIR SHOP, AND IT CAME UP TO OVER $100. DOING IT MYSELF SAVED ME ABOUT $20.

THE KEYS FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION, AND WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THAT FUEL GAUGE WOULD INDICATE THAT FUEL TANK WOULD BE HALF OR MORE FILLED. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED FIVE OR MORE TIMES BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

MY MOM DROVE MY 2000 FORD FOCUS TO THE SHOP TO HAVE THE BRAKES DONE. SHE HAD NO PROBLEM INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND STARTING THE CAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION STICKING OR KEY NOT TURNING. WHEN AUTO MECH CAME OUT TO MOVE THE CAR, THE KEY COULD NOT BE INSERTED ALL THE WAY INTO THE KEYHOLE AND WOULD NOT TURN. 2 MECHS AND MY MOM TRIED GET TO THE IGNITION TO UNLOCK. WE THEN CALLED COURTESY FORD & WERE TOLD THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM W/ FOCUS' & WE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION LOCK. THIS COST WAS EST AT $260. IF THIS IS A "KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2000 FORD, WHY ARE WE HAVING TO PAY FOR REPAIRS?*AK

REAR DOORS DO NOT LATCH PROPERLY AND POWER LOCKS DO NOT WORK.*AK

THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF TWICE WHILE DRIVING. *NM CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V289000. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE WAS ALMOST KILLED THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION FAILED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE INFORMATION WAS NOT GIVEN AT TIME OF PURCHASE. *TC

FIRST PROBLEM STARTED WITH VEHICLE STALLING- FOUND OUT THAT FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY. PUMP WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF RECALL. SECOND PROBLEM STARTED WITH NO WARNING- REMOTE FOR DOOR LOCKS/HATCH BACK/ANTI-THEFT STOPPED WORKING AND AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ALSO STOPPED WORKING. EVEN AFTER REPLACING BATTERY IN BOTH REMOTES STILL DOES NOT WORK. AT THE SAME TIME KEYLESS ENTRY STOPPED WORKING I NOTICED THAT WHEN I TURN ON MY REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER THE REAR HATCH OPENS. I FEAR THAT THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF DRIVING DURING RAIN CAN'T USE REAR WIPER OR HATCH CAN OPEN AND ANYTHING IN REAR OF VEHICLE COULD FALL OUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF THIS IS A RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REMEDY IT. *JB

MANY PROBLEMS, THE RADIO STARTED SHORTING OUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE TO REPLACE MY TIRES AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR (10,000 MILES.) AT 37000 MILES AFTER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER RAN OUT, MY AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER FAN ONLY WORKED ON 4, 1, 2, AND 3 DID NOT. I TOOK IT TO FORD, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT WHICH COST ME $409.00. ( I THINK I WAS RIPPED OFF) LAST MONTH I TOOK A ROAD TRIP AND WHENEVER I WOULD CLIMB STEEP INCLINES THE CAR SPUTTERED AND EVENTUALLY DIED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF MY CAR OVERHEATING. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OR SO THE CAR WOULD START AND CONTINUE TO SPUTTER UP THE HILL. THIS MADE IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY RESULTING IN A NEAR COLLISION WITH A TRUCK. THIS WEEK, MY CAR WOULDN'T START AT ALL, THERE WAS SOME CORROSION ON THE BATTERY TERMINALS SO I CLEANED THEM W/A WIRE BRUSH. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CABLES LOOKED BURNED. THE CAR STARTED AFTER WE JUMPED IT, BUT DIED AFTER REMOVING THE CABLES. I HAVE SPENT MORE MONEY ON THIS CAR THAN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. MY LAST CAR WAS A FORD ESCORT, I STILL HAVE IT, IT IS 10 YEARS OLD AND HAS WELL OVER 100000 MILES ON IT WITH NO PROBLEMS. I HAVE 9 PAYMENTS LEFT ON MY FOCUS AND WILL BE SELLING IT AFTER THAT. *JB

I ATTEMPTED TO TURN MY KEY TO THE "ON" POSITION WHEN THE KEY REFUSED TO TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WAS ENGAGED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO TURN MY KEY TO DISENGAGE IT. IT TOOK ROUGHLY AN HOUR OF TWISTING THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALL SORTS OF TROUBLE TO FINALLY GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO UNLOCK AND ALLOW TO THE KEY TO TURN. THIS WAS THE SIXTH TIME THIS HAD OCCURED, BUT THE MOST SEVERE INCIDENT TO DATE.*AK

I BOUGHT A USED FORD FOCUS 2000 IN JULY 2002, SINCE THEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED A LOT OF TIMES. I CANNOT START THE CAR AND HAVED TO TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND REPLACE THE LOCK CYLINDER TWICE. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE REPEAT EVERY YEAR OR SO. THE LASTEST INCIDENT WAS YESTERDAY. SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS OVER, I HAVE TO PAY BY MYSELF TO REPLACE THE LOCK CYLINDER. I AM WONDERING WHY FORD DOESN'T LET CUSTOMER KNOW THIS PROBLEM AND PROVIDE LIFE-TIME WARRANTY. *AK

LAST FRIDAY MY 2000 FORD FOCUS WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO FORCE THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. WHEN THE KEY FINALLY WENT INTO THE IGNITION IT WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME I HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO WORK AFTER AWHILE. *AKHOWEVER, AFTER 2 HOURS OF TRYING TO GET THE KEY TO TURN THIS TIME, I GAVE IN AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THEY ASKED ME IF I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. UNTIL NOW I HAD NOT CHECK THIS. TO MY SURPRISE THE CAR WOULD NOT BUDGE OUT OF PARK. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. ON MONDAY, THE MECHANIC FOUND OUT THAT MY IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD. FORD ARE SET UP SO THAT TO REMOVE THE IGNITION YOU MUST TURN TO KEY A QUARTER OF A TURN. SINCE MY KEY WOULD NOT BUDGE THEY HAD TO DRILL OUT MY IGNITION. SINCE THE NEW PART CAME FROM FORD MY MECHANIC SAID THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAD TO PAY $299.00 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. AFTER THIS I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I EVEN SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE MECHANIC THERE TOLD ME HE HAS FIXED SEVERAL AND WAS SURPRISED IT HAD NOT BEEN RECALLED YET.

MY IGNITION SUDDENLY JAMMED, NOT ACCEPTING MY KEY WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE PLAYING. EVEN AFTER GETTING THE KEY IN, IT THEN WOULDN'T COME OUT WITHOUT JIGGLING AND FORCE. AFTER LUBRICATING THE LOCK I CAN GET THE KEY IN BUT THE IGNITION WILL NO LONGER TURN, WHICH LEFT ME STRANDED. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 2000 FORD FOCUS DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF THE IGNITION. I HAVE REMOVE THE TUMBLERS FROM THE LOCK SO I CAN CONTINUE USING THE CAR. 8JB

WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER 'S SIDE DOOR OPENED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE DOOR LATCH WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LATCH. *AK *NM

2000 FORD FOCUS DRIVER'S SIDE BACK DOOR DOESN'T STAY CLOSED. VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE DOOR TO STAY SHUT. DOOR HAS OPENED WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. THE VEHICLE HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT. OUR SCHOOL HAS 3 2000 FORD FOCUS VEHICLES THAT ARE USED WITH A FAMILY PROGRAM AND DOES TRANSPORT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER WHO REPLACED DRIVERS REAR DOOR LATCH AND CABLE. *AK

REAR DOOR PROBLEM EXPERIENCED WITH 2000 FOCUS DOOR LATCHES. *BF WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY THE RIGHT REAR DOOR FLEW OPEN. A PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THAT SEAT AND WAS LUCKILY WEARING THE SEAT BELT. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DOORS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD TO SLAM THE DOORS SEVERAL TIMES FOR THEM TO CLOSE PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH. *NM

UPON TRYING TO SHUT THE REAR LEFT DOOR IT WILL NOT SHUT, THE LATCH DOES NOT CATCH. CONSUMER HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY SLAM THE DOOR TO GET IT SHUT. *AK

I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WHICH I BOUGHT NEW. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION TWICE AND THIS MORNING THE IGNITION FAILED AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I LAST REPLACED THE IGNITION NINE MONTHES AGO. THE CAR HAS ALSO STARTED TO STALL WHEN THERE IS A QUARTER TANK OF GAS OR LEFT IN THE TANK. IT RUNS ROUGH AT STOP LIGHTS, THEN WILL START SPUTTERING AND THEN STALL OUT. JUST BEFORE IT COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF, THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON. *AK

KEY WON'T TURN, CAN'T START CAR.*AK

UPON PURCHASING MY VEHICLE USED 4 DAYS LATER I HAD TO HAVE MY IGNITION REPLACED BECAUSE THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION, ONLY 2 MONTHS LATER I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALER I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM ONLY CARRIED A 45 DAY WARRANTY. *AK

1. NOTHING LEAD TO THE FAILURE, IT JUST HAPPENED. 2. I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE KEY WON'T TURN. I CAN INSERT IT FINE, BUT IT WON'T TURN AT ALL. I EVEN TRIED ANOTHER SET OF KEYS. I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS AND I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP AND THE IGNITION KEY WON'T TURN. I TRIED JILTING THE WHEEL TO TRY TO GET IT TO UNLOCK, BUT NO LUCK. THE CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. THIS SHOULD NEVER BE AN ISSUE. I THINK IT IS A DESIGN FLAW.*AK

THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILED IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3, LEADING TO INABILITY TO START THE CAR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN BUT UNACKNOWLEDGED ISSUE WITH THE FOCUS LINE. *AK EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: NORMAL USE OF THE IGNITION TO START AND STOP THE CAR. FAILURE: THE TUMBLERS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH BROKE OR JAMMED SUCH THAT I WAS UNABLE TO INSERT MY IGNITION KEY MORE THAN 50% INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, THEREBY MAKING ME UNABLE TO START THE CAR OR EVEN UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOUSE IN ORDER TO GET IT OUT OF A SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT. REMEDIATION OF FAILURE: I AM EITHER GOING TO REMOVE THE TUMBLERS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AS DETAILED IN HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T158426.HTML OR I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE ~$300 COST TO GET A NEW ONE FROM A DEALER WHO WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A PROBLEM.

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN MAY 2000. IN JANUARY 2002 THE LOCK STUCK SEVERAL TIMES. IN SEPTEMBER 2003, THE LOCK BEGAN TO STICK AGAIN. WE TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. WE WERE TOLD WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OURSELVES BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (OVER 3 YEARS OLD BUT WITH ONLY ~26,000 MILES). WE ENDED UP PAYING ~$75. OCTOBER 16, 2004 THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CAR NOW HAS 32,937 MILES ON IT. AFTER A CALL TO THE SAME DEALER WE ARE INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WAS ONLY WARRANTED FOR 12 MONTHS. IF ONLY THE PART HAD BROKEN A MONTH SOONER! WE ENDED UP CALLING A LOCKSMITH WHO DRILLED OUT THE LOCK AND REPLACED IT FOR $116. THE LOCKSMITH TOLD MY WIFE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS AND TWO OTHER FORD MODELS. THE LOCKSMITH REPAIRS ABOUT FOUR FORDS A MONTH. I DID SOME QUICK MATH ON THE PROBLEM. USING OUR COUNTY OF LANCASTER PA, I TOOK AN ESTIMATED POPULATION OF 250,000. I NEXT ASSUMED ONE CAR FOR EVERY TWO PEOPLE. FINALLY, I GUESSED THAT 5% OF CARS SOLD ARE THESE FORD MODELS WITH IGNITION LOCK PROBLEMS. IF YOU ASSUME THERE ARE FOUR FORD DEALERSHIPS IN THE COUNTY, FOUR LOCKSMITHS IN THE COUNTY, AND FOUR INDEPENDENT GARAGES&AND ASSUME EACH BUSINESS REPAIRS FOUR CARS PER MONTH, YOU GET A FAILURE RATE OF OVER 9%. I FIND IT UNACCEPTABLE THAT I PAID FOR TWO REPAIRS FOR A PROBLEM THAT CLEARLY IS SPECIFIC TO THIS CAR AND LIKELY A RESULT OF FAULTY DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE.

AFTER FUELING MY 2000 FORD FOCUS, I PUT THE KEY BACK INTO THE IGNITION, AND BOTH THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TUMBLER WERE LOCKED. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS MALFUNCTION AND I AM CONVINCED THAT THESE DEFECT SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE NOT YET RECIEVED A BILL OF REPAIR FOR THIS UNNECCESARY INCONVEINIENCE. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THE IGNITION THREE YEARS AGO.

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR OPENED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE , AND PULLED OVER. THE CONSUMER CLOSED THE DOOR AND THE DOOR OPENED ON ITS ON AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LOCKING MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH REAR DOORS WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB

IGNITION CYLINDER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THIS IS THE THIRD REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION CYLINDER FOR THIS VEHICLE IN A 36 MONTH PERIOD. EVEN AFTER THE SECOND REPLACEMENT THE CYLINDER "CATCHES" WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED TO FIND NO PROBLEM WHEN RETURNED FOR CORRECTION. THIS LATEST FAILURE FORTUNATELY OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON THE STREET. FAILURES HAVE NOW OCCURRED AT MILAGES AND DATES OF: 4 OCTOBER 2001- 18990 MILES, 6 JANUARY 2004- 48926 MILES, AND 15 OCTOBER 2004- 61543 MILES. PART WAS RETAINED BY DEALERSHIP.*AK

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS HAS HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED TWICE ALREDY BECAUSE THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE SWITCH AND THE CAR CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. IT HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY THOUSANDS OF FOCUS PWNERS AS EVIDENCED BY THE MANY AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS THAT I HAVE VISITED LOOKING FOR INFO ON THIS PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE WHICH SOUNDED AS IF IT CAME FROM REAR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE LOOSE. *JB

PARKED MY 2000 FORD FOCUS, AND WENT TO A MEETING. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT, MY KEY WOULD ONLY GO HALF-WAY INTO THE IGNITION. AFTER TALKING WITH THE AAA TOW GUY, AND FORD SERVICE GUY, THIS SEEMS TO BE A RATHER COMMON OCCURANCE WITH THE FORD FOCUS. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAS BAD TUMBLERS. AM CURRENTLY RESEARCHING TO SEE WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. *AK

1ST INCIDENT:STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN , THE CAR WAS TOWED . AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED. 6 MONTHS LATER (TODAY), THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER 3 HOURS OF POKING AND PRODDING , MY BROTHER FINALLY GOT IT RELEASED. 2N INCIDENT: WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD , THE CAR SEEMED TO STALL WHILE DRIVING , IT WA SORT OF SPUTTERING , THEN IT WAS GOING IN AND OUT , I HAD MY FOOT PRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 35 MI PER HOUR. WE THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD GA , SO WE BOUGHT A CLEANER , AND IT SEEMED TO WORK BETTER , WE EVENTUALLY BOUGHT A NEW FUEL FILTER, WE WEREN'T AWARE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP. 3RD INCIDENT : BREAKS , VIBRATING , SCREECHING, GRINDING , HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED . 400.00 THE CAR HAS TOO MANY PROBLEMS, AND WITH ALL THE RECALLS , I AM NOT SURE WHY IT HASN'T BEEN PULLED OFF THE MARKET , WHEN A BABY TOY IS DEEMED DANGEROUS ,IT IS RECALLED ALL TOGETHER , I WOULD THINK THAT A DEFECTED @ 3000.00 POUND VEHICLE TRAVELING 65 MI PER HOUR , WOULD BE MORE DANGEROUS TO NOT ONLY THE BUYER , BUT INNOCENT BYSTANDERS. THEY NEED TO RECALL THE WHOLE CAR, I AM SO ANGRY OVER THE UNDUE STRESS I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS VEHICLE!!!! *JB