Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. The contact stated that the passenger side tail light would not illuminate. She also experienced other electrical failures on the passenger's side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and the bulb was changed but the failure recurred. The manufactured was notified but they offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 224,000.
2000 Ford Focus electrical complaints
Page 2 of 46: complaints 11 to 40 of 1,343, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Very hard to put key into or remove from ignition, have not removed key in 8 years.
I was starting my car, on first start did not start when retried starting there was nothing tried again nothing opened hood and smoke was coming out from battery cover. Removed cover and battery cables and battery were very hot the positive and negative cables started melting. When had cooled enough to touch removed positive cable and when tried replacing cable there was a lot of sparking, called my mechanic who picked the car up inspected cables found them to be defective contacted ford and the said they knew of this problem but because of the date and manufacturing place of the car it is not covered under the recall for this problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. While parked, the contact inserted the key in the ignition but the key could not be turned. The vehicle was towed an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing however, the mechanic advised that the vehicle would have to be taken to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000. Updated 01/09/13
The battery cable coming from the positive terminal is melted. Upon investigation I found that this was a recall: the federal safety agency campaign #02v288000. However ford is claiming that my VIN is not part of the recall, even though it is specific for my model and year, and even though my car is experiencing the exact issue that the recall is for: faulty electrical wiring that can lead to a fire. I have not had a fire in my vehicle, but a melted cable is close enough for my liking. Battery terminal cables should not be melting, period.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. While parked, the contact placed the key in the ignition and was unable to turn the key. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The technician stated that the ignition would have to be replaced. The contact also noticed the front driver?s door handle was loose and about to fracture. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 99,000. ....updated 08-24-12 *bf the consumer stated the door handles broke. Updated 08/30/2012
The ignition switch jammed as I hear happens alot with these fords due to inferior parts . The dealer charged me with 3.5 hours shop time to fix this when ford has issued technical service bullitan # 02-18-2 which calls for 1.1 hours to fix as well as the $135.05 list price of the replacement cylinder kit. If this is such a common problem known to ford shouldn't it be subject to a ntsb recall?
Plastic insulation of electrical connector that connects right headlight bulb with wiring overheated, melted and caused smoldering fire that LED to damaging smoke deposits in headlight assembly. Fire stayed contained to headlight housing.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. The contact noticed that the battery wiring and case were melted. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number: 02v288000 (electrical system:battery:cables) but was advised by the dealer that the VIN was not included in the recall and offered no further assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. No repairs were performed. The current mileage was 42,650 and the failure mileage was 42,400.
The key lock cylinder in my car failed to turn over one day. I was stranded for 3 hours due to a faulty lock cylinder and had to pay $540 dollars to get the part repaired. I called the ford direct line for assistance and they refuse to accept responsibility for the issue. They acknowledged to me on the phone that they know this is a common issue, yet nothing can be done until a lawsuit, or recall is issued. I will never buy another ford vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. The contact stated that the automatic locks were defective and the rear driver side door could not be opened. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 103,000. Updated 02/03/12*lj the consumer stated all of the doors became sluggish. The fuse for the power door locks failed. The fuse was replaced and failed again. The driver's side door stopped opening and would not unlock. Updated 02/10/12
I have been researching the issue and while it doesn't fit within the traditional constraints of a safety complaint, it is indeed a safety hazard. The ignition column of the 2000 ford focus will "lock" as I was told by the service representative at a ford dealership. Luckily, this happened to me in my driveway. However, if this were to happen to someone in a remote area, they would be stranded by a problem that they have no control of or any idea that it may happen. The service rep told me that there was nothing I could have done to prevent this problem, and there was no way I could fix unless I came to a dealership. If someone has a family of four (such as the people I bought this from) and they are stranded in the middle of nowhere, basically a default with a key tumbler is to blame. This seems unfair to the consumer.
The ignition on my 2000 ford focus is defective in that the key does not go all the way into the ignition. This problem appears to be systemic with the focus. The car is stranded in the path of oncoming cars and presents a danger to the public. Systemic issues across a large span of VIN numbers present a safety issue and a general public nuisance. Cars are stranded in intersections and places of business because of defective ignitions that are known to ford. These issues are on blog sites in large numbers. I trust the transportation and safety board will recognize the significance of this problem. I am requesting an investigation that I am sure will reveal public safety concerns by the sheer number of incidents of this ignition failure.
Put the key in ignition would not turn. Tried for over 2 hours. Had car towed to ford dealer. Afterward saw online this problem happens alot on this model. This is a used car we bought for our daughter. She was stranded over 3 hours and 50 miles away. Ford knows of this problem and does not address it. This is unacceptable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. While driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed the battery cables had melted. After moving the battery cables the vehicle restarted and the contact was able to drive with constant deceleration. The check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel intermittently. The contact stated that the wires had completely burnt with time and he had the wires replaced. The failure continued. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated there was a recall under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 02v288000 (electrical system:battery:cables) but the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.
Engine compartment fire extending into passenger area, fire had started in the area of the driver side headlight.
I drove my 2000 ford focus zx3 to work and back with no problem. I parked it at my house and later that night when I went to take my car out the key would not completely fit into the ignition. The steering wheel is locked the key is almost completely in and I cant get it in any farther. I'm either going to have to take it to a dealer or a locksmith most likely. I'm lucky I wasn't out late or far from home.
My sixteen year old daughter has been stranded three times because her key would not turn the ignition. The first two times she was close to home and was with a friend, so she called my husband and we met her and took turns jiggling the steering wheel and the key until, finally after about ten minutes, the key turned, so the second time, it took over an hour, but did not give up because of the first time. The last time, my daughter was alone,late at night and fortunately, she was able to call us on her cell, but we had to get up out of bed, to rescue her and after over two hours of trying to get that key to work, we gave up. We had to abandon the car and I guess we will have to call a locksmith, but have been told that they have to use the same ignition and it will most likely happen again.
Ignition locking mechanism not working - can not start car. Key will not turn at all. A known problem with ford focus 2000 - 2003. This problem should be investigated, ford seems to deny the problem and is lining their pockets still with the repair money ($400 +). One day somebody is going to get stranded and get seriously hurt. (thank god for that cell phone). It is absolutely ridiculous this has not been recalled. Crooked american car companies - I did not buy this car it was given to us with only 26,000 miles on it and it only proves I would not buy american cars. How sad for economy and lack of doing the right thing.
The key would not fit into the ignition and would not turn making the car unusable and stranding me for 5 hours while waiting for a locksmith. There was no warning this would happen. The ignition just stopped working. This is a well document defect in ford focus models. The locksmith replaced the ignition for $300.
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. The contact stated that while trying to start his vehicle the key would become stuck in the ignition and he would be unable to release the key. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who advised him that the tumblers had collapsed and the ignition needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were approximately 102,000. Updated 6/8/11 *cn updated 06/23/11
I have a 2000 ford focus. Without warning, the key could not be inserted into the ignition and rendered the vehicle useless this evening. It appears ford knows about this very common failure according to many owners (via online forums) with the same issue. Ford doesn't consider it a safety issue and hence not recall worthy. Consider this, when the failure occurred to my wife this evening after work, it was 6 degrees fahrenheit outside and dark too (and well into the negative digits with the wind-chill). This clearly seems like a safety issue in this regard for anyone...luckily our 5 & 3 year old children were in the safety of indoor daycare at the time (what would have happened with two small kids late at night in a parking lot with sub zero temps?) according to a professional locksmith, this is a known issue and he fixed the same thing on another focus this morning. He will be replacing the ignition cylinder with a non oem cylinder which will remedy the issue. The oem cylinder has known issues. The replacement cylinder (made by a different manufacturer does not) does not have the faulty mechanism the oem cylinder has. The steering wheel is also "locked" as a result of this failure to the ignition cylinder. I would "hope" that this failure wouldn't occur while the vehicle is driving down the road. Catastrophe could be the result.
My wife drove to the movies. After the movies she found she couldn't turn the key in the ignition. She jiggled it and tried for 20 minutes before calling me. The car is a 2000 ford focus. My wife and her friend were stranded in a bad part of town due to a malfunction. When I called my dad about it (he is a service manager for a chrysler/jeep dealership) he told me it's a terribly common problem for the 2000-2003 focus. I called ford. They told me the same thing. Says the fix them all the time. I asked why it wasn't recalled since my wife was left stranded and they wouldn't answer. I am just glad that my kids weren't in the car. It was only 20 degrees outside. Ford needs to fix this!
Ignition switch in 2000 ford focus locked up and would not turn. The consequences of this failure were that I missed a very important doctors appointment. Nothing has been done to fix this problem because I do not have the $400.00 the ford place said it would cost to fix it. Why has this part not been recalled? It has been an ongoing problem.
Ignition key will not turn on our 2000 ford focus. I have lubricated the lock mechanism for several years after learning of this problem, prior to having mine occur. Sometimes key will insert but not turn. Other times key will not fully insert. In both cases I am left stranded. Key problem is not affected by position of steering wheel, shift lever interlock position, etc. Problem appears to be within the key-tumbler mechanism. With such wide spread knowledge of this problem, why hasn't ford done a voluntary recall? This problem could occur during a life-threatening situation e.g. Rush to hospital., robbery attempt, etc. The reported frequency of incidents, as viewed on internet sites, would indicate a magnitude in excess of ford's previous SUV-tire failure rollovers. The key issue is more than an inconvenience, it is a safety issue!
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. The contact stated that when she tries to turn the key in the ignition it won't turn. She has to hit it with a mallet to get it to turn. The contact stated there are numerous complaints online about this failure. The manufacturer was contacted and they are aware of the failure but stated there is nothing they can do. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was about 30,000. The current mileage was 100,000.
Oem ignition / tumbler mechanism locked up... Preventing me from starting vehicle.
I tried to start my car and the key wont turn in the ignition. I have met 50 more people since yesterday who have also had this problem. I cannot afford to replace an ignition especially if it's a ford mistake. Ford should be held responsible for the defect.
I have a 2000 ford focus. After driving it to a gas station I pumped my gas and got back into the car to leave. I put my keys into the ignition and the key would not turn and the wheel was locked. I could not get it to turn at all. Several people tired to get it to turn including a tow truck driver and a mechanic. All said it is a common problem in ford focus'.
The key has gotten stuck in the ignition three time now. The first time we could not get the car started in a rough neighborhood, and had to leave it over night. The second time I had to remove the battery cable in order to shut the car off. This last time I also had to remove the battery cable to shut the car off.
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