Driving home from family vacation. Ignition key/lock failed not letting us start out car after stopping for a rest. Leaving us stranded three hours from home on a sunday night. Massive reports of this happening to the ford focus 2000-2003 but why haven't they recalled it?
2000 Ford Focus electrical complaints
Page 3 of 46: complaints 41 to 70 of 1,343, newest first, as owners wrote them.
My year 2000 ford focus zx3 had been experiencing some ignition issues. I could put the key into the ignition, but it would not turn at all. This was especially the case if the wheel was locked. Usually after some jiggling of the key it would turn and I could start the car. The first time this happened was in august of 2004. It began to happen about twice a month. The dealership claims they are the only ones who can fix the issue, by re-making the key and programming the now the key won't turn at all. In shopping around dealerships they believe the price will be around $300 if the cylinder is not damaged (by their own key?) for $500, plus the cost to tow the vehicle to them so they can program the key. A local locksmith has told me that this is a common issue with the ford focus. If so, why has it not been recalled?
2000 ford focus ignition doesn't work. Key won't turn in ignition.
There are no indicators that the problem is about to occur. Key stuck in ignition of 2000 ford focus. Repaired once already. Problem occurring again. Ignition switch was replaced the first time after being stranded when the key would not turn in any direction. Initial repair bill was around $400.
I have a 2000 ford focus. In 2003 when it was still under warranty the ignition locked up and I couldn't turn the key. That happened at the ford dealership while getting other recalled parts replaced. Yesterday 5-25-10 at 9:00pm I returned to my car and the ignition was locked up and I couldn't turn the key. Ford refuses to cover it as defect even though there are numerous complaints and it left me stranded at night time.
I have owned a 2000 ford focus for over 9 years. I have had 3 ignitions installed in this vehicle and it is currently sitting at the mechanics awaiting a 4th. As a single woman, I feel this is a safety issue as I don't know where or when this ignition will lock up and leave me stranded. The key will not turn after inserted in the ignition. The steering wheel will lock if turned and towtruck must be called to move the vehicle to a garage. The first time was at night after a baby shower, luckily friends were near to help me. Another time it was in the parking lot after work, I had to walk several blocks to reach a phone to call for help. The third time was late at night on a city street...again I had to walk a couple of blocks in below freezing weather to reach a phone. And now this time I recognized the "symptoms" and was able to reach a garage before I was stranded. A quick google search will show you that many ford focus owners are experiencing this same problem. I have owned fords all my life, but this will be my last. I shiver to think of where I might be someday when it decides to quit working...again. I will list the last incident date at there have been four so far dating back six years.
2000 ford focus se wagon key gets stuck in the ignition switch and does not turn leaving the driver and/or passengers stranded.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. The contact stated the steering wheel became locked and he was unable to turn the key in the ignition. The dealer replaced the ignition switch to correct the failure. The failure had occurred one additional time following repairs. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 233,000.
Ford focus 2000. 63,000 miles. Key would not go all the way into ignition (original key) also tried second key (original key, not used much). Fortunately, car was in my driveway. Had car towed to dealership. Ignition replaced. There had been no indication of a pending problem.
The ignition key won't turn in the ignition. To start the car. Ford focus 2000.
Key will not turn to on position.
I drive a 2000 ford focus. I was about to leave work after my shift and I was unable to turn the key to start my ford focus. I have heard that this issue is common with the focus and that ford has still not issued a recall or fixed the issue. As we speak, a locksmith is having to remove the ignition and replace it. It is going to cost me close to $300. I am fortunate that I was somewhere safe with cell phone service. If this had happened any other time, I could have been in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone service and no hope. This is definitely a safety hazard and a recall should be mandatory for ford.
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus zx3 hatch back. She stated the factory key for the vehicle would not turn in the ignition. The dealer gave her a second key that also did not work. The dealer advised her to place the old key in the ignition to start the vehicle momentarily then removing it, and replacing it with the new key. The key failed to turn the ignition on. There were no repairs made to the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were under 106,000.
Ignition key won't turn in ford focus 2000 zx3. It left me stranded in college had to tow my car home.
Key ignition problem. Key wouldn't turn / stuck in ignition.
2000 ford focus. Key would not turn in the ignition. Car would not start. I had to be towed and had to have it fixed. 598.00, including the 125. Tow charge.
The key won't release from the ignition also the ignition won't turn off and if the car was on fire or motor caught on fire you could not turn off the ignition to shut the car off.
The ignition switch, on our 2000 ford focus, quit working. This is the second time in less than a year. The last time, I had a locksmith repair it. Now it isn't working again. I "googled" it and found that this is a problem with 2000-2003 models but no recall has been issued. I will call the locksmith for another costly repair but would like this issue looked at possibly for some kind of liability by ford motor company. Thank you.
I am the owner of a 2000 ford focus zx3 my issue was that the key will not turn in car ignition and therefore I cannot start car. After researching this problem apparently it happens very often to owners of a ford focus and I'm lodging a complaint in the hopes that a recall will be made.
I have a ford focus 2000 wagon with only 60,000 miles on it. Within the past three weeks I have had to have it towed because I can not turn the key in the ignition. I am now waiting for it to be towed to my mechanic to fix the ignition. Looking online I have seen numerous complaints about this problem and wonder why there has not been a recall for this ignition.
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. He stated that upon starting the vehicle, the key would not turn. The vehicle would not cut on and the key would not turn in the ignition switch. The vehicle was towed to his home. The dealer stated that he did not know the reason for the failure. No repairs were made to date. The current and failure mileages were under 160,000. Updated 02/03/10 *bf updated 02/11/10.
2000 ford focus key will not turn the ignition. *nj the consumer was quoted a price of $400.00 to get the vehicle started to get the cylinder repaired. If the dealer found the cylinder was completely ruined, it would be an additional $300.00.
My daughter was away at college when her 2000 ford focus would not accept the key in the ignition. She was stranded with no way to get home. A mechanic at school worked on it for an hour and got the key in and suggested leaving it in permanently until it is fixed. We got the car home, took it to a ford dealer and they replaced the ignition cylinder for over $400. They had the parts available because they service this problem alot on ford focus'. Our fear is that her car will suddenly shut off while driving down the dark farm roads that she has to take to her school. Some reports I have read had that happen to them with ford focus.
For the third time since I've owned the car, the rear tail 'running' lights have blacked out. At the same time, dashboard lights do not function. The federal safety agency campaign 00v411000 covers this for about 75,000 focuses identical to mine, but for some reason, mine is not covered by the recall. I've had the same problem three times. Each time, the wiring harness and fuses have to be replaced. Once, the multifunction switch needed replacing, too. The repairs have cost me nearly $1,500. I contacted ford the third time, but the representative said there was nothing ford could do to help with repair costs, as my specific VIN did not fall under the recall. My concern is the random nature of the tail light loss. It happens when I'm driving home at night, and I need to put my hazards on any time I drive after dark. It is extremely dangerous, and I am afraid of being struck from behind.
With key in the ignition the key will not turn, thus the car will not start. We had to walk a mile home last night because the car wouldn't start. We have discovered it will be 150 to 250 to have a locksmith look at the problem and upwards of 450 for the dealership. It's the week before christmas and we are poor and can not afford 450 to replace a possible defect.
Ford focus ignition keylock will not turn. When inserting the key into the ignition the key will not turn at all. This is the second time this has happened to this 2000 ford focus se. This is a safety issue as it may strand a driver in an undesirable location or conditions.
2000 ford focus ignition is stuck in the locked position wont turn on. Stopped at a rest stop in the middle of the night in middle of now where and the temperature was in low 30's. Came back to car ignition would not turn locked up. No phone service in the area and no pay phones, had to wait until the next person to stop, since was not a holiday I had to wait till morning which was 41/2 hour way when a local commuter stopped and was willing to give me a ride to nearest gas station 25 miles away. Then I had to have my car towed to a local the gas station where it was fix the next day after the part arrived. After looking online and finding out this is a recurring problem and that it is very likely to happen again since it defect has never been fixed in the ignition makes me very worried that it may happen again.
Yesterday afternoon my wife, daughter and I were on our way to my wife's sister house. Earlier that morning I went out and there was nothing wrong with it. I put the key in the ignition and tried to turn but it wouldn't turn. I tried turning 8 different times with 2 different original keys that came with car but still wouldn't turn. Finally on the 9th try it turned right on. We went her house for dinner but I had to leave after getting there because I forgot the dessert at home. I got into the car turned it on no problem, got home went inside came back out turned on the car no problem, went back to sister in law house was there about 3 hours went to leave will not turn. Tried and tried for about a hour turning before giving up. Sister in law has no car and lived to far away from my home to walk especially with a young child. So we had to call around for a ride. Finally returned home almost 3 hours after we first tried to leave. Now we are down to one car when we need two for both of us to get back and forth to work. I have not had anything fixed on it yet. I looked online and found out there are hundreds if not thousands of people with this same problem. There's two choices I have one is to take it to the ford dealer and pay $500.00 or more for a new ignition just for it to possibly have the same thing happen again because ford has not fixed the problem with the ignition yet or two pay $150.00 or more for a locksmith to come and fix it, with consequences unknown. So at the moment I don't know what to do. I could pay for a new one but it doesn't make sense if the problem with the ford ignition hasn't been fixed by ford, all that does is put off the problem for a year or maybe a few years just for the same problem to come back. The locksmith is cheaper but I don't know if them doing something to the ignition would damage my ignition or my security system. I think is wrong for ford to do nothing about a problem they knew about for years.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. His vehicle failed state inspection for poor exterior lighting functionality. He contacted the dealer in reference to recall # 00v411000 (electrical system:wiring). Upon contact he was advised that since his vehicle identification number was excluded from the recall, he was ineligible for a free remedy. The vehicle was taken to another dealer and was in the process of being repaired at an expense of $179.00. The manufacturer was notified, but no assistance was provided. The failure and current mileages were 165,000.
I have a 2000 ford focus and my key won't turn in the ignition. This is the second time this happens leaving me stranded. This is ridiculous, ford must take action!
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2000 Ford Focus?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history