1- this specific failure, there were no events leading to it, it just happened. The ignition switch just locked. Previously there were little events with the car leading up to its failure. 2- it stalled and wouldn't start, fuel wasn't getting to the engine and would lead to power failure. 3- after repeated trips to the garage and told there was nothing wrong with it. They did replace the plugs and wires and fuel pump again. Now the problem is the ignition switch.
2000 Ford Focus electrical complaints
Page 22 of 46: complaints 611 to 640 of 1,343, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Electrical system: ignition switch. My complaint is exactly the same as 10100616. A failed ignition switch that would not turn. Corrected by drilling out cylinder, and replacing. Certified lock smith price was $298.00. The local ford dealer quoted price was $400.00 lock smith said they have 1 - 2 of these with the focus every week.
About 8 months ago I purchased a 2000 ford focus. This past weekend my steering wheel locked up. I couldn't even get the key all the way into the ignition. I tried several times to start the car to no avail. I went online to find out if there were any other techniques I could try and came across several websites with disgruntled consumers who are also owners of the ford focus. They all are experiencing the same problem. I've been told by both the dealership and locksmith that the problem is the tumblers and a failed cylinder due to ford. Apparently ford used a substandard manufactured cylinder which rapidly deteriorates with use and eventually fractures thus locking the wheel. I was told at the dealership that the repair would be close to $400 so I opted instead to have a locksmith come out. That cost me $60. I'm told though that it's only a matter of time before it happens again and even a new cylinder will not prevent it from happening again because the part itself is defective. Apparently ford is well aware of this problem but will not do a recall which I find absurd. This is not only an annoying situation but also a dangerous one. I've had other ford owners tell me that they've had this problem happen to them while driving, at stop lights, in a parking lot etc. That is dangerous and something should be done about it. I am writing a personal letter to ford...and I plan to take this as far as I possibly can legally. Thank you. Amy kennedy winston salem, nc
(1) I parked my 2000 ford focus on a hill with the wheels turned (2) the key ignition would not turn even after playing around with it for 4 hours! I had to leave my vehicle behind. There was no advance signs that this problem was about to occur. While this is not a moving safety issue, this can be a very serious problem since it can strand you without any warning in an unsafe area. (I carry spare gas, jumper cables, car jacks, antifreeze, extra oil etc.. I even had enough tools to take apart the steering column and try hot wiring the car, but to no avail.) this is a serious mechanical defect. (3) I later bought an owners manual to try fixing the problem myself. But the first step to removing the broken ignition cylinder is to turn the key!! A catch 22.
Car is a lemon. Radio has failed multiple times. Door locks and ignition lock have failed multiple times. Current problem is car stalls at intersections. Emission light is on and stays on. Deal can not fix.*jb I consider the stalling at intersections to be very dangerous. If someone is moving forward assuming the car will move, and it does not because of the stall, a crash may result.
2000 ford focus ignition problem.***no answer required***. *mr ignition switch will not work. This is a very common problem and should be considered a safety issue. *tt
2000 ford focus ignition switch is stuck. Cannot start car. This is a huge problem for hundreds of consumers: see(http://www.autowhiz.com/messageboards/message.php?id=1784&page=12), due in my opinion to poor manufacturing. It is a potential safety issue. Apparently ford denies the problem, but there are hundreds of complaints on bulletin boards to document this situation. Please help us fix this situation. I believe it should/could come under a recall notice at no cost to the consumer. Thank you, bob lambert
Steering wheel ignition locks and will not allow the key to turn and start the car.
Key will not turn the ingintion switch on, and sometimes can barely be removed from switch.
Http://www.autowhiz.com/messageboards/message.php?id=1784&page=1 has many people that are having troubles with their ignition switches on 2000 and 2001 ford focus ford is aware of the problem but unwilling to make it right. I hope you can assist us in this matter more than ford is..in fact when I contacted ford directly they sent me an automated email on recalls on vehicles that I do not even own that did not address my complaint or the complaint of many others.
I own a ford focus 2000. After leaving the store late one evening, I placed my key in the ignitinon and it would not turn. I was very frustrated because this had happened a few years ago as well. After doing some research, it seems that this is a very common problem. This is a safety issue! Who will be to blame when something happens to the person stranded in the dark parking lot? The best part is, my car like many others- is at the dealer getting repaired. There goes my bill money.
There is no event leading up to failure that was recognizable. When you put key in the ignition, it seizes and will not turn to start the car. This has happened to me twice now!! In a year and a half. The first time it occurred was 6-27-03 and I had it fixed. The tumbler and ignition switch had to be replaced. I thought it may be a one off--I had bought the car used from the dealership. However, this has now occured again 1-25-05 and I will now have to pay again for something that should never have happened once--nevermind twice! I called ford and they were very uninterested and said there was no recall--but I bet there are other with this problem. It mean is takes 2 weeks to order the parts and fix so it is a hugh inconvenience because I have a small child and am pregnant again. I have to have the car towed to be serviced and am very upset and feel this needs loked into further since ford dont really seem to give a toss.
At 9:00 am my wife drove to work and parked her car in the employee parking lot. At approximately 6:00 pm when she was leaving the office, she was not able to get the key to go into the ignition switch. She was stranded. When I arrived at her office about 6:45 pm, I tried but was also unable to get the key into the ignition. On 1/22/05 8:00 am I called our local ford dealer who said to try some wd-40. If that doesn't work we would have to tow it in to let them take a look. Tried wd-40, didn't work, had vehicle towed to ford dealer at 9:45 am same day. While at the dealer, I asked service mgr if this is a common problem - he said it happens once in a while and it is usually caused by having too many keys on the key ring. When I gave him my keys, we was surprised there were no other keys on the same key ring. Dealer called monday 1/24 and said they have to drill out the old lock cylinder and replace - it will cost $285 + the tow was $75, total u.s. $360. Our concern is we do not feel not safe driving a car that we cannot be confident that the key will work as intended. Imagine the potential danger a person could be left in not being able to start their car. We were amazed to find out the large number of owners of this same vehicle that have had the same problem and there has not been a recall issued for this defective part. We plan on repairing this vehicle and replacing it as soon as practical.
Consumer received recall 02v288000 concerning battery cables. When driving at night, at any speed, headlights got dimmer, and the radio came on and went off intermittently. Consumer saw this recall on the federal safety agency website, and believed battery cable failure was the cause of this problem. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified. *ak
Coming home from work my engine light came on , I took it to a friend and he check it and said it was as cylinder misfire he reset he code(?) and said that he didn't guarantee that it wouldn't come back on . It work fine the rest of the day , but when I was again coming home from work the next day it came on again ,I immediately turn around and took it to the garage where I get repairs done . He also said it was a cylinder misfire and suggests I replace my spark plugs and wires , he also cleaned something else and something iac ( you can tell I don't know squat about cars)I paid 149.00 for this service . A day and half later I was back in the garage with the same problem (engine light on) this time he says it something with my transmission code and to call the co. And see if there is or was a recall on it . Some thing about flashing the computer. I have only had this car since august 2004 and have trouble with all this and with the key not working but the car was still under a 30 day warranty and the car salesman took care of that problem. I am just wondering what next ,how much , money does not grow on trees around here. After reading all the complaints on this here website I wonder why I even bought a ford focus. I also have very squeal brakes constantly , and my rear passenger tire has a problem and my son won't even let me drive my car till I get it check out there is more money. My car only has 44,000. Miles on it.
The ignition cylinder on my 2000 ford focus has locked up several times, but now it is completely gone. The key will not turn for anything. I have been informed that ford will charge around $450 to fix this problem. It is an ongoing problem with many focus owners. The car has done this before but it just did it for the first time in months last night, leaving my husband stranded. Ford has corrected this problem on the 2005 models but what about the rest of us! My husband was late for work because of it and I myself had to leave work to go pick him up.
The consumer is unable to take the key out of the ignition switch intermittently. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. The cause was not determined. Please provide more information.
The ignition in my 2000 ford focus has been replaced three times in the last four years. Nothing unusual was happening, one day I got in my car, drove the coffee shop came out and the key would not turn. That was the first time, six months later the same thing and about six months after that. The fourth time this happened I returned to the dealer and was told that it was my key this time not the ignition.
Intermittently the consumer was unable to turn the key inside the ignition switch. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. The cause was not determined. Please provide more information.
Ignition switch jammed and won't turn. Left me stranded. Appears to be a major problem with ford focus.
2000 ford focus, locked ignition. Key won't go in and won't turn. Many complaints about this problem for this car.
Went to start my 2000 ford focus after leaving store and ignition tumble would not turn. Has happened once before. Now everytime I go to start my vehicle I have to hit the key hard into the ignition for as many times as it takes to start. Brought my vehicle to my ford dealer. Now it's going to cast me over $300 to replaced this part and that they say ford is aware of the problem but will not recall this part. I spoke to service reps, managers and tech's. They all say the same....ford knows but wont recall it! So on top of my car payment I get to pay more than my monthly payment to fix a part that ford acknowledges as defective. Excellent services and care for your customers. Then again I am only an average person not a muli-million dollar company.
Consumer placed the key inside of the ignition and vehicle failed to start. Consumer had the vehicle towed to dealer, and mechanic determined that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. *ak the vehicle ignition failed twice.
Intermittently the consumer would be unable to turn the key in the ignition switch. The vehicle was towed. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. The cause was not determined. Please provide more information.
Ignition locked up, will not turn.
When vehicle is turned off then restarted it fails to start because the keys wouldn't turn the ignition. This is an ongoing problem. The manufacturer is aware of the problem, and has redesigned this part in the later model vehicles. The ignition switch has been replaced twice at$300.00.
Vehicle experienced an ignition problem. Vehicle will not start due to defective ignition cylinder.
Consumer was concerned that the ignition switch had to be replaced twice within 19,000 miles. This caused the ignition switch to lock up and unable to turn the engine on. Both times the vehicle was towed to a local repair shop. Dealer and the manufacturer were not notified.
While going 65 MPH, a vehicle pulled off the ramp in front of the consumer. The consumer applied the brakes and they failed to work. The consumer lost control of the vehicle. *sc all of the lights on the vehicles digital meters where blinking. The vehicle flipped three times and landed on the roof. Prior to the accident the vehicle had electrical and brake problems. All the digital figures on the dash would blink on and off. *tc
2000 ford focus -- ignition key assembly, he ignition core fell out of my daughters focus for the second time. This assembly is being warrenty replaced this second time since it was done at local dealership, however the dealership says other adjacent components were damaged (costing ~ $650). Had the ignition assembly been fixed correctly the first time, there is no way the adjacent components could have failed. The dealership lithia ford of tri-cities (509‑735‑2511) , has refused to honor warrenty repair of the adjacent components, which is rather disturbing. I am writing this complaint so hopefully ford will someday be pushed into recalling this defect in addition to the 11 other defects on this particular vehicle.
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