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.
2000 Ford Focus electrical complaints
Page 19 of 46: complaints 521 to 550 of 1,343, newest first, as owners wrote them.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The consumer had numerous repairs performed on her 2000 ford focus. *jb recall campaign#02v288000 & 00v411000. Repairs that have taken place within one year: 14 new tires because of a problem with the wheels, engine, transmission jerking, re-wired, battery, overheating and muffler.
Dt:contact states when she puts the key in the ignition it will not move.. She has reported the problem to the dealership. This has been happened since 2000, and it has gotten worse. . It just locks up and contact can't turn the ignition. It sometimes takes up to 5 minutes to get the ignition to turn over.
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.
Dt: the consumer owns a 2000 ford focus. The ignition locks up. From what she has seen this is a common problem for the ford focus. The dealership stated that there were three other vehicles that they are fixing for the same problem. The manufacturer stated that there was no other complaints.
Over a period of time my key was sticking in the ignition more frequently. It then got to the point that I couldnt get the key all the way in unless I messed around with the steering wheel for a while. Once I got the key in there was no guarantee that it would turn so I could start the car. I eventually ended up leaving my key in the ignition and covering up the steering wheel before I got out of my car. I have two kids, I can not afford to get stuck anywhere.I took my car to a repair shop where the mechanic proceeded to tell me that this was the 9th ford focus that he had repaired that month for the same problem. "a consumer had just picked one up this morning as a matter of fact", he said.so I had the problem corrected, he had to replace a part that was in the ignition. He had told me that the piece was like a puzzle and that when these cars were made the manufacturer had put the wrong size in. I do not have the old part, the repair center kept it.
I've had the car for over 3 years now and always had problems inserting the key into the ignition. One day, I drove the car to my friend's house and was ready to leave and inserted the key into the ignition. The key would not go into the ignition and therefore, I was unable to turn the key. The steering wheel was also locked. I had to call a locksmith and he had to drill into the ignition to remove it and replace it with a new one. He also had to program a new key. The locksmith told me that this is a common problem with the ford focus. I am surprised that there has been no recall as of yet for this problem. I feel that ford needs to take responsibility for their product and issue a recall. We as consumers should not have to foot the bill for this problem. By not solving this issue, this allows others to benefit from repair costs to these vehicles everytime they are stranded and have no one else to turn to except the only locksmith in the area who can charge whatever to repair the ignition.
Dt: the owner had to replace the ignition switch that locked up twice in less than one year. The key and cylinder had to be drilled out, and all parts replaced. There have been a couple of times that the key would not turn, but evidently it would. Then, one day the key would not turn at all, and the column had locked up. Vehicle was then towed to the garage. Everything has been replaced.
I am a college student and I have a 2000 ford focus. The steering wheel is locking and I can't start the car. My mother, father, boyfriend and I have tried over and over turning the key and the steering wheel but it does not work. This is the third time this has happened and my car is no longer under warranty. This is a major problem with the ford focus and somthing needs to be done, the car needs to be recalled. This is very unsafe, and the dealerships are not much of any help. Pleaseeeeeeeeeee help
Ignition failure, can not remove or turn key
2000 ford focus with z-tech engine caught fire drivers side battery compartment/wire harness
Dt: consumer stated ignition lock broke/froze. Key would not go in ignition, sometimes it would go half way in, and sometimes all the way in. But even when it went all the way in ignition would not turn. Vehicle was sitting in driveway when this happened. There were previous problems with ignition. But consumer was eventually be able to get ignition to work. This happened several times over the last two or three years. Had no problem in the last year until now. Vehicle was serviced regularly.
The ignition "froze" so that I could not turn the car on and the steering wheel was locked. I have since read many complaints about this failure.
My car was driving/starting just fine until one night I tried to start my car and the ignitioon and steering wheel locked up and wouldn't turn. I had to have it towed to a dealership. They replaced the ignition cylinder in my car which cost about $300.
Yesterday, all of a sudden my key did not want to turn the ignition to start the car. A couple of times I was able to get it started by playing with it and then when I needed the car a couple of minutes later it would not work. I am now finding alot of complaints on the internet in relation to ford focus 2000-2003 models have bad ignitions and subjects having to have the ignition replaced multiple times and ford not recalling them. Websites: www.automotivetalk.net and www.edmunds.com, etc. I am a single mom, with only the ford focus to drive and I can't afford to be stalled out somewhere with my young child, because ford has decided not to fix a constant problem.
Key stuck in ignition, after repeatedly jiggling key, could turn on electrical, but could not turn on engine. Finally could remove key with difficulty, but electrical stayed on even with key removed. Tried repeatedly for more than an hour and a half, but could not turn engine on. Had to have car towed to mechanic for repair. This same problem occurred once before in may 2002. At that time (2002) the key cylinder was replaced and the ignition cylinder was recoded under warranty by ford dealership.
Events, just normal driving. Sway bar link disconnected causing sharp rightward pull at highway speed. Continued smelling of electrical burning from dash panel with intermittent instrument failure, and airbag lights flashing. Smoke came from the vent systems a couple times, but no fire noticed as of yet. Nothing has been done to correct failure, costs too much for me to have ford diagnose the problem, $500+ for dash labour costs to pull it and inspect.
Was getting ready to drive home. Put my key in the ignition, and the key would not turn. Tried for two hours to turn the key, but no luck. I had to wait an additional 2 hours to get a ride home, with my car still in the parking lot. Called ford dealership. Told them my problem,and they knew without me telling them, the make and model of my car. They then referred me to a lock smith, who had to come out and replace it.
My ford focus 2000 zx3 was working fine. When I went to drive home from work the key jammed in the ignition. I could not get the key to turn. I tried and tried but it would not turn. I had to get my wife to pick me up. I tried it the next day, still jammed. I read on the internet that this is a common problem with ford focus models. I called the dealership and was told $350- $650 to replace it. Very expensive I thought. I called aaa, they sent a lock smith and it cost me $185. Not only is this a problem that should be added to the 12 already listed recall items on this model but the price at the ford dealer was well inflated!!!! I would like to see this item added to the recall list as it is a manufacturing default. I would also like to be rembursed for the locksmith charge.
Dt: transmission would not kick into gear. The key ignition is always getting stuck. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer numerous times and was told it was only her imagination. Finally, the transmission died and the warranty had ran out. The doors both front and back come open while driving. There is a recall on the rear doors but is also having problem with the front doors as well. Vehicle was taken to dealer 3 times for the ignition key alone. Car is currently in shop.
2000 ford focus ignition switch is jammed. Key will go in but will not turn. Found many complaints about this problem on other internet sites. Cost to repair 200 to 400 dollars according to these reports. Found a web article published in 2002 on how to fix the problem - http://www.motorage.com/motorage/data/articlestandard/motorage/472002/38913/article.pdf my car is still in the driveway where the problem occured. Emailed ford as I have been a long time ford buyer and have never had problem with an ignition switch - no response as of this date.
1: one incident of inserting key into ignition 2: total lock up of ignition,no injury loss of money to fix the problem 3: replace ignition, ignition drilled and new one instsalled, have old part.
Ignition switch has seized three times each time replaced by dealerships. Never warrantied. Please not the quantity of these failures. Due to the pats system, most mechanics will not touch it.
Ignition switch failure. Car unable to start. Had to be towed to dealer to have ignition switch replaced.
I have a lot of problems with my ford focus. The inginiton froze up on me and I couldn't get the key out. It cost $500 to get it fixed,
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