The ignition cylinder on my 2000 ford focus zx3 is a source of constant headaches. This is not a new problem to me...I've had my ignition cylinder replaced 4 times in 4 years on my car. It is always the same problem, and ford knows about the difficulty with this part....I am not the only focus owner with this problem. This part needs to be recalled.
2000 Ford Focus electrical complaints
Page 21 of 46: complaints 581 to 610 of 1,343, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The failure accurred in the ignition switch, the key would not go into the ignition switch thus not allowing us to start the car it had to be towed home.
Vehicle: ford focus zx3. My: 2000, purchased in: san gabriel, ca currently in: dublin, oh. Events: I went to my car one evening, sat in the driver's seat, pulled my key out and it would not go in the ignition cylinder. It was if something were stuck in it and the tip of the key was the only part that would go in. No amount of pushing seemed to help. The steering wheel was in the locked position and I even attempted to turn it to see if it would free whatever was stopping the key from going in.*ak consequences: I was stranded. The tires were turned to the left and the steering wheel was locked. To have it loaded onto a flatbed tow truck was impossible without causing more damage to the body of the car or wheels. It took over an hour to get it loaded on a tow truck. Correction: I took the car to germain ford for service and they replaced the ignition cylinder in the steering column. The service technicians said they had seen this on other ford focus. Other comments: I researched this online some and others have experienced the same issue.
The ignition tumbler failed. From what I have been able to ascertain, this is a common problem that ford has known about and has chosen not to issue a recall. The fact that vehicle has been recalled almost 12 times should indicate that there is massive engineering and design problems with this car.
Without warning or prior problems and while parked, the ignition and steering column locked up. I was not able to turn the key nor the steering wheel. All attempts to do so failed. Had vehicle towed to ford dealership where the old ignition was drilled and a new one isntalled. The service manager comfirmed that this is a known issue with the ford focus.
I parked my car one night, nothing unusual, no previous difficulties with the ignition. The next day I get in and can not insert key fully into the ignition. After jiggling it around, I could finally fully insert key but am unable to turn it to start the vehicle. *ak although no injury occured, this is an expensive repair (over $300 in addition to the towing fees). I have found numerous complaints of the same problem on the web and in my discussion with other focus owners; and think ford is to blame. I only have 2 keys on my key ring along with the remote keyless entry; therefore, this was nothing I've done to impair the daily performance.
I was leaving work late the other night and my key would not turn over in order to start my car. I had a friend pick me up and I called a locksmith the next day. I had my ignition replaced, then three days later I could not take my key out of the ignition. I once again called the locksmith he came back out and replaced my ignition once again, yet the key got stuck again. The third time I called him he told me this is a problem with focous and it was going to cost me an additional $250. To fix, on top of the $190. I had already spent to replace the ignition.
I have a 2000 ford focus zts. The ignition lock cylinder failed. After driving the car in the morning and parking it in a parking spot I came out and was unable to insert my key in the ignition. I was unable to insert the key into the ignition and the steering wheel was frozen in place. After trying repeatedly to get the key in or jiggle the steering wheel I had to have the car towed. I needed a new steering column, ignition, lock cy, and rekey lock cylinder. There has been a vehicle: all technical service bulletin issued on this problem but no recall. Ford is aware of the problem which is a plastic switch in the ignition that breaks and then causes the problems. I hope there is no car fire or deaths as a result of ford not fixing this problem.
Vehicle experienced problems with the ignition switch. Owner was unable to put the key in the ignition and turn the vehicle on. Owner had to have the vehicle towed to the dealership, and had the repairs done. *ak the consumer stated that he feels there should be a recall and he should be reimbursed for the cost of the repair.
Turning the key became progressively harder, and finally the cylinder locked completely. This should be a recall, it cost me $450.
My 2000 ford focus was working fine. About 5 minutes after parking the car, I returned to the car to start it up, and my key, which had just worked fine, would not start the car. The steering column and the ignition were locked. My key would no longer go all the way into the ignition cylinder, which seemed to be jammed in some way. I called aaa, who said they see this all the time in the ford focus. They banged on the column trying to release the cylinder, but to no avail. Stranded, I took a $35 cab ride home and have to return today to have it towed off a downtown street to the dealers service center, which is closed on sunday and has no emergency number...I guess I just leave it there with the hopes that they will look at it tomorrow. I have no idea how I'll get to work tomorrow, how long this will take to fix, nor how much it will cost--- but I've read other similar complaints that this happens repeatedly with the ignition cylinder due to weak metals used in the manufacturing of the ignition cylinder. This is not due to normal wear and tear. This is a faulty part and should be recalled!
Ignition randomly locked up. I had some problems while driving. After I parked and turned off the car, removed the key, I could no longer turn the ignition cylinder with the key. Had to replace ignition cylinder and key for a cost of $350. I have read many complaints of similar happenings by other focus owners. Also received anecdotal evidence from tow truck driver and mechanic of frequency of this occurring with ford focuses.
I could not insert my key more than half way into the ignition to start my 2000 ford focus zx3. I had it towed through ford to a dealership and expected the ignition problem to be fully covered under warranty (I had nothing to do with its failure).the dealership told me that it was not covered under my extended warranty and it would cost $585 to replace the ignition and re-key the car. This seems to be a very common problem with my model/year.
Key goes in ignition, but won't turn. Requires wiggling and multiple tries to get car to turn over and start. Common problem on ford focuses. Making appointment to have ignition replaced.
I have had this car since 2003 and it has been nothing but trouble. I have had it into the shop for many of the previously stated repairs- ignition lock, revving/ gas line sticking, broken windshield with no outside cause, cracked side mirrors from cold, etc. This week my rear window fell into the door and would not roll up. The estimate is close to $400. I have had other problems, so many I can't recall them all now. I would advise others to avoid ford products in the future- I certainly will.
I parked my car. Upon coming back to the car the key would not work in the ignition at all. The dealer indicated that the tumbler mechanism failed and that this is a common defect. My car is a stick shift, and if I stalled the car in traffic and the ignition switch failed that time, I would have been put in a very dangerous situation.
While driving any speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, who repaired the alternator. *ak the car cut off several times while backing our of the driveway. The car continued to stall while driving. *eh the fuel pump was replaced.
There was as ignition switch problem. When putting the key into the ignition it was very difficult. Once the key was in, it would not turn. The consumer took the vehicle back to the dealer, and currently the dealership was working on the defect. *ak the ignition had to be replaced. *sc
After placing the key into the ignition gear locked and the key would not turn. Vehicle was towed, and the ignition switch had to be replaced for a third time.*ak
While driving the dash light began to flicker then the vehicle shut down suddenly while in gear. *nm campaign id number : 00v411000. The consumer was told that the power cable to the battery was the result of the problem. Campaign id number : 02v288000. The consumer was told by the service department that this is a problem because the vehicle could explode. The warranty company turned the consumer down stating that the problem was not part of the warranty. The key gets stuck in the vehicles ignition and would not come out. The doors would not close properly and remained open while the vehicle was in gear. When the tire was removed the consumer noticed that the wheel was missing a lug nut. Campaign id number : 00v303000 the air vent did not stay open when the A/C was on high. The brakes howled like a wounded dog from the time of purchase. Pads and rotors needed to be replaced.
Intermittenly consumer would not be able to stick the key inside the ignition. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
I bought the a 2000 ford focus car in july 2004. It is today (feb 2005) the ignition has locked up on me. The key will go in but the key will no turn. The key ding signal works and every thing. I have read many consumer complaints from autotalk.com about the same exact problem and it is the igntion cylinder is the problem and the problem keeps reacurring every year.
I stopped in at a local restaurant and got a bite to eat. When I returned to my car I proceeded to put the key into the ignition but it jammed. I flipped the key and tried again and no luck. I then gave the key a good push and got the key in but it would not turn over. I called a local locksmith and told me it was a common failure on ford focus. I then took the car to a local ford dealership and got charged $450 to replace the whole ignition cylinder. I looked up other ford focus complaints and notice that this is a common problem nationwide.
This complaint is concerning clarification of our previous complaints to the federal safety agency regarding the 2000 ford focus : #10104088 and #10107840. I am extremely concerned about the misinterpretation of data collected by your agency and posted for public review. Deaths are not posted, nor are they included as injuries. This misrepresents the seriousness of the vehicle and equipment failures reported.
While driving 70 MPH consumer noticed a burning odor, and then the vehicle stalled. Vehicle was towed to a repair shop, and mechanic determined that a piece a metal cut and shorted the wiring harness connection to the headlight switch.
Ignition switch failure.
Since 2002 I have experienced many problems with the ignition, key will not turn when inserted in ignition switch. I have replaced that part twice, $500 dollars each time. It's been only one year since the last time that I got it fixed and again I'm having problems everytime that I try to start the ignition.
Ignition lock failure on my 2000 ford focus. This I am told is a major problem by the dealer and aaa. Please help. Ford needs to recall these vehicles. Thank you. *jb cindy drohan
When attempting to start the vehicle the ignition locked. As a result, the vehicle was unable to start, and had to be towed to dealership for repair.
On occasion for several months prior to the failure, the key was difficult to insert into the ignition switch. Then one night the key simply would not turn in the ignition and was difficult to remove. I was unable to start the car and had to have it towed to a repair shop. They replaced the entire ignition switch. They indicated that this is a problem they have seen frequently in these cars. I also have a friend with the same year, make and model vehicle and she had the same problem.
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