2003 Ford Focus complaints

I PURCHASED A 2003 FORD FOCUS FOR MY DAUGHTER AND SHE WAS STRANDED AFTER DRIVING IT TO WORK WHEN SHE COULDN'T GET THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED TO USE HER KEY. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER IT IS COMMON IN FORD FOCUSES OF THIS YEAR. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE SHAFT NEEDING TO BE REPLACED FOR $500 AND THERE IS NOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE OF THIS MAKE/MODEL OF CAR. THIS IS RIDICULOUS SINCE FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ISSUED TO DATE. UNACCEPTABLE! *TR

2003 FORD FOCUS, EARLY MORNING SQUEAKING, MID DAY, VIBRATING, LATE AFTERNOON, CAR STARTS TO SHAKE EXCESSIVELY AND AS I DRIVE INTO MY DRIVEWAY A REALLY LOUD BANGING NOISE COMES FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR, SO LOUD IT SCARED ME, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND OPEN THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND NOTICE THAT THE METAL MOUNTS THAT HOLD THE ENGINE BROKE IN HALF AND A PIECE WAS STILL ON THE MOTOR. MY ENGINE WAS HANGING FROM THE LEFT SIDE, YOU COULD SEE IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY COMES OUT TO CHECK THE DAMAGES AND SAID IN HIS 22 YEARS OF VIEWING VEHICLES FOR CLAIMS HE'S NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. MY MILEAGE IS 59,528, I'M STILL PAYING FOR THIS CAR, UNTIL 2012. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TO A SIX YEAR OLD CAR WITH THIS LITTLE MILEAGE. I CALLED FORD TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS SITUATION. I WAS TOLD NO. I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO SEARCH FOR COMPLAINTS REGARDING 2003 FORD FOCUS, FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF MANY THINGS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SEVERAL REGARDING THE VIBRATING OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE RELATING TO MOTOR MOUNT PROBLEMS. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS INCIDENT CREATED A PROBLEM WITH THE AXEL AS WELL. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME A LOT OF MONEY. WAITING FOR AN ESTIMATE OF REPAIRS ON 5/9/09. *TR

HOPPED IN MY CAR LIKE NORMAL TO DRIVE MYSELF TO WORK. PLACED KEY IN IGNITION. WON'T TURN. HAD TO CALL OF WORK AFTER AN HOUR OF TOYING WITH IT AND CALLING MY MANAGER EVERY 15 MINUTES LETTING THEM KNOW... IT WON'T BUDGE.*TR

VALVE STEM FAILURE ON FORD FOCUS. *TR

2003 FORD FOCUS SE COM WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD ON WHOLE FRONT END DAMAGED AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER IMPACT. *TR

2003 FOCUS SE COM. WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD ON ACCIDENT FRONT END DAMAGED BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER IMPACT. *TR

THE IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE. MY DAUGHTER WAS STRANDED IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN NO WARNINGS OR SIGNS THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS IMPENDING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE WEARING BADLY AND THE TOP OF THE RUBBER WAS LEANING INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO PURCHASE A SUSPENSION BAR TO PLACE IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CHANGES ONE DEGREE. THE CONTACT WILL CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO INQUIRE ABOUT ASSISTANCE TOWARDS THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 5/7/09 *CN UPDATED 05/12/09.*JB

THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCK KEEPS FAILING ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3. I HAVE HAD A LOCKSMITH FIX IT TWICE NOW. THE COST TO ME SO FAR IS OVER $400. *TR

MY 2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCK WILL NOT TURN. FORTUNATELY FOR FORD, MY WARRANTY IS UP. I HAVE READ REVIEWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THE FORD FOCUS MODEL IN THE YEARS 2000-2003. I CANNOT DRIVE WITHOUT FEARING THAT THE IGNITION WILL LOCK UP ON ME AND I WILL BE STRANDED. THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS TO ME. I WAS LUCKY TO NOT HAVE HAD AN EMERGENCY TO ATTEND TO WHEN I WAS STRANDED UNABLE TO START MY CAR. *TR

THE IGNITION SWITCH RANDOMLY BROKE ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. MY KEY WILL NOT TURN THE SWITCH. I WAS STRANDED WITH MY 2 CHILDREN. I CONTACTED AAA AND THE LOCKSMITH THAT I SPOKE WITH WAS OUT OF STOCK ON THE IGNITION CYLINDER BECAUSE "THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. I USUALLY KEEP 4 OR 5 ON HAND." I CONSIDER THIS A PERSONAL SAFETY ISSUE AS THERE WAS NO WARNING OF IT OCCURRING. IT WAS ALL VERY RANDOM. I DROVE TO THE LOCATION. I DID MY BUSINESS. I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR. MY KEY WOULD NOT WORK. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR

THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEN MY DAUGHTER OPENED THE DOOR SOMETHING POPPED AND YOU COULD NO LONGER OPEN THE DOOR - I FAILED AN INSPECTION AND RECEIVED A TICKET BECAUSE THE DOOR WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY. MY NEPHEW WENT TO THE JUNKYARD TO GET THE PART BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT NEW AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS HAPPENED OCT OF 2007. I OWN A 2003 FORD FOCUS. MY DAUGHTER OPENED THE BACK RIGHT SIDE WINDOW AND SOMETHING AGAIN POPPED. THE WINDOW WOULDN'T GO UP OR DOWN. A DEALER SAID IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED - AGAIN - THAT THE PLASTIC PART THAT MAKES IT GO UP AND DOWN POPPED. AGAIN OFF TO THE JUNK YARD - $8.00 BUCKS WHAT A DEAL. THESE THINGS STARTED RIGHT AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED - GO FIGURE. WHY ARE PLASTIC PARTS BEING PUT INTO OUR VEHICLES - AS A SINGLE MOM I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE ALL PARTS FOR THE DOOR HANDLES AND WINDOWS AS THEY POP. WE NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN ON IN MY CAR. THE KEY WILL GO IN, BUT IT WILL NOT TURN. IT WAS HARD TO TURN FOR A WHILE, SEVERAL WEEKS I JUST WOULD KEEP TRYING AND JIGGLING IT, AND IT WOULD EVENTUALLY WORK, AND NOW IT JUST WON'T TURN ON AT ALL. I WAS STRANDED IN A DANGEROUS AREA UNTIL MY HUSBAND COULD COME TO PICK ME UP. I CALLED A LOCKSMITH TO REPAIR IT AND HE SAID HE GETS THIS ISSUE AL THE TIME WITH FORD FOCUS. *TR

MY KEY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION. *TR

I WAS SEATING IN A TACOBELL DRIVETHRU, WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY ENGINE HAD A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

2003 FORD FOCUS IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN. *TR

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN SERIOUS FRONTAL CRASH AND AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TR

ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WEAR DOWN FASTER THAN I CAN AFFORD TO FIX THEM. ROTORS ONLY LAST 1-2 MONTHS THEN BEFORE WARPING THEN I RIDE THEM OUT FOR ANOTHER MONTH (NO MONEY TO KEEP REPLACING) THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR 2 YEARS. I HAVE RECEIPTS AND MECHANICS PROOF. ITS CRAZY. I HAVE ALSO VERIFIED SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER CAR COMPLAINT WEB SITES WITH PEOPLE AND FORD FOCUS' - BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT MONTHLY. I CANT AFFORD THE REPAIRS BUT I CANT AFFORD TO HAVE MY BRAKES GO OUT COMPLETELY AND RISK THE HARM TO MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. PLEASE HELP *TR

WHEEL AND IGNITION LOCK UP. *TR

KEY IGNITION PROBLEM WITH 2003 FORD FOCUS. NOT VERY SAFE WHEN MY DAUGHTER CANT GET HER KEY TO START HER CAR FORD NEED TO FIX THIS ASAP. *TR

PUT KEY IN IGNITION AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. SPENT 20 MINUTES TRYING TO GET IT TO TURN. FINALLY DID. TWO DAYS LATER, WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO A FAMILY FUNERAL OUT OF TOWN, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AFRAID THAT I WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN, I TOOK IT TO LOCAL CAR REPAIR PLACE. THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. I WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH THE IGNITION AGAIN TO DRIVE IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. THERE THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND REPROGRAMMED KEYS. I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND FAMILY FUNERAL. *TR

I WENT SHOPPING GOT IN MY CAR AND PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND I COULDN'T TURN THE KEY BECAUSE THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED. *TR

2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3 IGNITION RANDOMLY FAILS. INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND IT WILL NOT TURN. YOU CANNOT START YOUR CAR FOR AN INDETERMINABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. MAJOR FLAW IN FORD IGNITIONS WITH NO REMEDY FROM FORD. *TR

I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK THURSDAY MORNING AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE WITH THE CAR AND IGNITION. AS I TRIED TO CRANK MY CAR TO GO TO LUNCH THAT DAY, I NOTICED THAT I COULD INSERT MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION BUT COULD NOT TURN IT TO START THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE SINCE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD TO CALL AAA FOR THEM TO SEND A LOCKSMITH OUT TO REPAIR MY IGNITION SWITCH IN MY CAR. I HAVE ALREADY HEARD SO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND NOT EVEN THREE MONTHS AGO, MY MOM WHO HAS THE EXACT SAME MAKE AND MODEL CAR AS ME, HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HER. MY BROTHER HAS THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL CAR AS ME ALSO AND NOW I AM WORRIED HE IS GOING TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE OCCUR TO HIM SOON TOO. *TR

RACK AND PINION DEVELOPED A LEAK. I BOUGHT MY CAR IN FEB 2004 AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE ON IT. LAST SPRING I NOTICED MY CAR WAS MAKING AN ODD SOUND AND I RAISED THE HOOD AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL VERY LOW AND FILLED IT UP. THE NOISE WENT AWAY. WHILE CHANGING THE BRAKES ON IT MY HUSBAND FOUND THE RACK AND PINION LEAKING FLUID. THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY GOOD UP TO 36,000 MILES AND AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I CURRENTLY HAVE ONLY 39,962 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT VERY LITTLE OBVIOUSLY SINCE IT IS A 2003 AND WHEN WE BOUGHT IT FEB 2004 IT ONLY HAD 19,221 MILES ON IT. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND AS I SAID I HAVE ONLY PUT APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES ON IT IN 5 YEARS. THERE SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION ON THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS LITTLE OF MILEAGE ON IT AND NOT DRIVEN THAT OFTEN, BUT THERE IS AND I HAVE NOT TO DATE BEEN ABLE TO GET IT FIXED AS THE TWO ESTIMATES I GOT TO GET IT FIXED IS BETWEEN 550 AND 600 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. NO ONE OTHER THAN THE RICH PEOPLE CAN AFFORD A MAJOR REPAIR SUCH AS THIS WHEN IT IS OBVIOUS THAT FORD HAS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE ON THE RACK AND PINION ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE. IT WILL BE A TOTAL PAIN IF THIS GOES OUT BEFORE I CAN AFFORD TO FIX IT SINCE IT IS HAS POWER STEERING AND WILL CONVERT TO MANUAL STEERING IF IT GOES OUT BEFORE I CAN AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO MAKE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR

2003 FORD FOCUS ZX5. IGNITION SWITCH WON'T TURN. CAN'T START CAR. *TR

THE CAR HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE LOCKS FOR A WHILE NOW. WE CAN NOT PUT THE KEY INTO THE DOOR TO UNLOCK IT BECAUSE IT WONT ALWAYS WORK. THE HANDLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS BROKE ONCE AND WAS REPLACED. NOW THE KEY FOR THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN TO START THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN TO START THE CAR. *TR

THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS HAS BEEN FAILING TO WORK PROPERLY. HALF THE TIME I HAVE TO JIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL AS I TURN THE KEY IN ORDER FOR MY START TO START. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING OFF AND ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW. THEN TONIGHT, I GOT STRANDED AT THE SUPERMARKET AND WAS STUCK FOR HOURS WAITING FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE DISPATCHER NOT ONLY SENT OUT THE WRONG PERSON TO ASSIST ME, BUT THE FIRST TOW TRUCK THAT CAME WASN'T PROPERLY TO TOW MY CAR DUE TO THE WAY I WAS PARKED SO I HAD TO WAIT FOR A SECOND TOW TRUCK (A THIRD PERSON). NOW MY CAR WON'T START AT ALL, THE WHEEL IS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP, AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO THE MECHANIC IS TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AGAIN. HOWEVER, UPON DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH, I FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. AND FRANKLY, THIS CAR IS MY FAMILY'S ONLY DECENT FORM OF TRANSPORTATION, SO WITHOUT IT WE'RE PRETTY MUCH STUCK. *TR

KEY WILL NOT TURN IN 2003 FORD FOCUS. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT APPEARS TO BE LINKAGE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

MY 2003 FORD FOCUS KEY WOULDN'T NOT TURN. IT FINALLY BROKE OFF INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH LEFT MY DAUGHTER STRAINED AT CAPTAIN D'S. WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. WE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING IT FIX WHEN YOU'RE ON A LOW BUDGET. *TR

KEY ON 2003 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT TURN. STARTED ACTING UP 3 MONTHS OF OWNING. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT IS 5+ YEARS OLD. *TR

WENT TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I TRIED EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN IN THE PAST, AND BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. NOT THIS TIME... *TR

MY 2003 FORD FOCUS SE HAS THE ISSUE WHERE THE IGNITION LOCKS. IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE I CAN GET THE KEY TO TURN. TWICE NOW I HAVE HAD TO GET IT TOWED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. IT GETS JAMMED ALL THE TIME NOW. PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS OF MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK & FORTH WORKED FOR AWHILE, BUT EVEN THAT DOES NOT WORK NOW. THE ONLY WAY TO START IT IS TO TAP ON THE KEY WHEN IT IS IN THE IGNITION WITH A MALLET OR HAMMER. THIS USUALLY WORKS AFTER A FEW TRIES. NOW I HAVE TO CONSIDER LEAVING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO START IT EASIER OR CARRY A HAMMER IN THE CAR. NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM YET. ACCORDING TO LOCAL FORD DEALER IT'LL COST $250-275 TO REPAIR. LOCAL (CHEAPER) MECHANICS CAN'T REPAIR IT SINCE THEY NEED TO GET A CODE FROM FORD TO PROGRAM THE PART SO THE NEW IGNITION CYLINDER WILL RECOGNIZE THE KEY. FROM SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. BASICALLY A BAD DESIGN AND/OR INFERIOR MATERIALS USED IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES I'VE OWNED ESPECIALLY ONES THAT ARE ONLY 5 YRS OLD. I AM SURPRISED THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART YET. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT DO I DO IN THE EVENT I NEED TO EVACUATE BECAUSE OF A NATURAL DISASTER OR TERRORIST? I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET AWAY SINCE I CAN'T START MY CAR ! AND TAPPING ON THE KEY WITH A HAMMER WILL WORK FOR ONLY SO LONG. AND OF COURSE FORD WILL JUST REPLACE WITH THE SAME CHEAP DEFECTIVE IGNITION CYLINDER THAT THE CAR ORIGINALLY CAME WITH ANY WAY. SO I'LL PROBLEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM I

I AM HAVING IGNITION ISSUES. MY KEY WILL NOT TURN. IT IS ON A REGULAR BASIS THAT THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT IN FOR REPAIR YET. I CALLED FOR AN ESTIMATE. *TR

THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION BARREL IS COMPLETELY STUCK, IMPEDING ANY USE OF ANY VEHICLE FUNCTIONS. HAS OCCURRED DAILY OR EVERY OTHER DAY FOR A FEW WEEKS. A FEW MINUTES OF JOSTLING MAY ALLOW IT TO WORK. A FEW TIMES IT HAS BEEN STUCK FOR HOURS UNTIL FINALLY WORKING. THIS MAY STRAND SOME TRAVELERS IN WINTER CONDITIONS, LIKE MYSELF. VERY STRESSFUL AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST $300-350 TO FIX. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. MY DAUGHTER'S ROOMMATE HAS A 2004 FOCUS WHICH THE SAME THING HAPPENED LAST YEAR, 2007. *TR

KEY WON'T TURN IN IGNITION! YOU CAN PLACE THE KEY AND THE SPARE KEY, IN THE IGNITION AND IT WILL NOT TURN. LOOKED UP ONLINE AND FOUND WEBSITE THAT STATED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. OUR KEY HAS TO STAY IN THE IGNITION BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT TAKE IT OUT. VERY DISAPPOINTED THIS IS A SAFETY NOT RECALL ! MY WIFE AND CHILDREN CAN BE STRANDED IN FREEZING WEATHER ! ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. *TR

MY IGNITION HAS LOCKED UP ON MY 2003 FORD FOCUS, I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT FIXED. IT STARTED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO AND SLOWLY HAS GOTTEN WORSE. MY CAR HAS NOT STARTED IN A WEEK. I CANNOT GET TO WORK ON MY OWN. *TR

MY CAR REFUSES TO START. YOU CANNOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO GET IT TO COME ON. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I SAW DOZENS OF COMPLAINS FROM PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AND SINCE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY MY DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HELP ME. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE HUNG UP ON ME TWICE. THE ONLY FIX IS TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I MANAGED TO USE A HAMMER TO HAMMER IT IN. *TR

IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS AND HAS LEFT FAMILY MEMBERS STRANDED.... IGNITION KEY CONTINUES TO LOCK, DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT (COST EST. $450.00). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SUDDENLY, THE GEAR SHIFT LOCKED AND BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

I WAS OUT DOING ERRANDS AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION EVEN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOOSE. I TRIED A FEW TIMES AND IT FINALLY TURNED. LATER THAT EVENING WHEN LEAVING THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AGAIN, EXCEPT THIS TIME IT DID NOT EVER TURN AND I ENDED UP HAVING TO BORROW A CAR FROM MY IN-LAWS. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING QUOTES TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND FIXED OR REPLACED. *TR

SO FAR, I HAVE ONLY HAD THE PROBLEM OCCUR ONCE AND AM STILL WORKING TO GET IT REPAIRED. NOTHING REALLY HAPPENED TO WARRANT THE PROBLEM HAPPENING. IT SEEMED TO JUST HAPPEN RANDOMLY. IN MY 2003 FORD FOCUS, THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED. SO FAR, I HAVE HEARD HUNDREDS OF CASES OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR, ALL FOR FOCUSES RANGING FROM YEAR 2000 TO 2003, AND THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMS TO FIX IT IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE MAINTENANCE DONE. SPEAKING WITH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY DID ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT WOULD NOT ISSUE A RECALL SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT BELIEVE IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. I EXPECT TO HAVE TO PAY A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH FORD REALIZES ITS AN ERROR ON THEIR PART AND THAT A DEFECT WITH THEIR CAR IS WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A COMPANY TO KNOWINGLY KEEP SOMETHING DEFECTIVE ON THE MARKET, EVEN WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD MY KEY FAIL TO WORK IN A LOCKED IGNITION OF MY 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE FIRST OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR WA PURCHASED IN 2004 AND NOW IT HAS RECURRED. THE FIRST WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT THIS IS NOT. APPARENTLY FORD IS QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AS SEVERAL FOCUS OWNERS HAVE FIXED THIS COMPLIANT ON LINE. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? WHY SHOULD FORD GET A BAIL OUT WHEN THEY LEAVE THEIR CONSUMERS WITHOUT ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIRING A PROBLEM OF THEIR MAKING? *TR

THE IGNITION LOCKED UP IN THE CAR. THE IGNITION KEY WOULDN'T TURN OR DO ANYTHING. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE A 12 WEEK OLD BABY AND LIVE IN NORTH DAKOTA. I HAD MY BOYFRIEND'S 11 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WITH AS WELL. ME, AN INFANT, AND A CHILD STUCK WITH A CAR THAT WON'T START IN WEATHER THAT IS BELOW FREEZING WITH THE WINDCHILL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

BACK TIRE SITS IN AND KEEPS GOING THROUGH TIRES AND HAD THE BEARING REPLACED AND DRUM ON BOTH SIDES AND SHOCKS AND IT STILL DOES IT AND THE REAR END JUMPS TO THE SIDE ITS BAD. *TR

NO INITIAL INDICATIONS OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT HAPPENED, A SUDDEN ONSET. ONE DAY, I GOT IN MY CAR, TRIED TO START THE ENGINE, AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I TRIED TURNING THE WHEEL TO GET THE KEY TO TURN, AND STILL NO ABILITY TO TURN THE KEY IN THE LOCK AND START THE CAR. I TRIED A SECOND KEY THAT IS NOT USED, JUST IN CASE IT WAS A WORN KEY, BUT STILL NO ABILITY TO TURN THE KEY IN THE COLUMN LOCK. FINALLY, AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF TRYING TO JIGGLE AND FINAGLE THE KEY TO TURN, IT DID. SINCE THEN, I HAVE FOUND THAT IF THE KEY IS REMOVED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL IT TURNED UNTIL A POSITIVE CLUNK IS HEARD AND FELT, INDICATING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK HAS ENGAGED, THE PROBLEM REPEATS EVERY SINGLE TIME. IF I REMOVE THE KEY AND MAKE SURE TO NOT TURN THE WHEEL SO THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS NOT ENGAGED THEN I CAN RELIABLY INSERT THE KEY AND TURN IT IN THE IGNITION LOCK AND START THE CAR. I CALLED FORD TO ATTEMPT TO REQUEST A "GOOD WILL REPAIR" BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN A GOOD AND LONG TERM FORD CUSTOMER (I HAVE OWNED A FORD PINTO, A FORD FOCUS, A FORD CONTOUR, AND A FORD ESCAPE BEFORE THIS FORD FOCUS) BUT THE AGENT THREW UP A LOAD OF RESISTANCE. NOW I AM TOLD THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING UNTIL I TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALER AND PAY FOR AN INSPECTION TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM. THIS "SERVICE" TO VERIFY WHAT I CAN RELIABLY REPRODUCE EVERY AND ANY TIME, IS UNNECESSARY AND WILL COST APPROXIMATELY HALF OF WHAT IT WILL COST ME TO HAVE MY LOCAL GARAGE EFFECT THE CHANGE AND MAKE THE REPAIR. I AM JUST AN

IGNITION STAYS LOCKED, FAILS TO TURN TO START ENGINE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. OCCURRED OVER A DOZEN TIMES TO ME. CAN LEAVE A PERSON STRANDED. VERY COSTLY FIX, $150 FOR NEW IGNITION SWITCH, PLUS LABOR, $200 TO $350 TOTAL COST FOR FIX. MANY, MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS FOR SAME PROBLEM FOUND ON WWW.MYCARSTATS.COM AND OTHER FORUMS. *TR

NO EVENTS LED TO THIS IGNITION WILL NOT TURN - HAPPENS EACH TIME I ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR - AT TIMES IT WILL TURN WITH ENOUGH JIGGLING - HAS LEFT ME STRANDED WITH NO RIDE TAKING IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT, BUT THIS IS A KNOWN FORD FOCUS PROBLEM. *TR