Ignition locked up and would not allow key to turn. Paid through my extended warranty to have it repaired. They installed a new key cylinder and now the new one is locking up. The local ford dealer heber springs ford said that ford is aware of the problem but there were not enough compaints yet to warrant a recall on the item.
2000 Ford Focus electrical complaints
Page 32 of 46: complaints 911 to 940 of 1,343, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Attempted to insert key in the ignition and wouldn't go in all the way. Even wiggling the key doesn't work. Saw on the newsgroups that this is a common problem. How come ford hasn't acknowledge this problem? This is the most troublesome car I've ever owned!!! I used to be a royal ford customer. * cb
I have had numerous problems with the ignition not wanting to turn with the 2 keys I have. 1 is original, the other was made by the dealer I purchased the car from. It appears to be an issue with the ignition key cylinder. Searching for information I have found numerous references to this problem, and there are over 150 current complaints that when searched for this part are returned on this site.* cb
Bad brakes, leaking transmission x 2 repairs, numerous electrical probs, one "accident", damage repaired at ford expense, bad tire, noise from front rt side, "surge" prob, car seemed to "stick" in a gear. I don't have my file with me but I know there is more.
My complaint is all the problems we have had with the focus. We have had numerous recalls and work done from the drivers seat collapsing, wiring harness replaced, bearings in front, and rear, brake assembly, sway bar, and have had to replace 3 sets of tires, and line up 3 times because they will not make good and the car eats tires. Now we have 52,000 miles on the car, and a pin has come loose and gone through the transmission, and case. Altough the dealer has been very good, we bought a new car so we would not have this hassle, and that is all we have had.
I purchased my vehicle in february of 2002. Just 2 weeks after purchasing, car shut down and locked up. Had towed to dealership and found out that there were several recalls to be fixed. There was no cost for that work. Then in about april of 2002 the button that turns the air on and off messed up and the air would not work. We went to ford and since I had no warranty, I was going to have to pay for the repairs, they quoted me at $170.00 to repair this so I order the part for 12.00 and fixed it myself. Then 11-4-02 I went to get into my car and start it, and once again it would not start. We had it towed again, causing us to pay for a rental and towing fees. The car was in the shop for 2 days and they said that the ground wires were shorting out????and they said it needed several other things also, but they are yet to get fixed due to financial reasons. I cannot stand this car!!!
The vehicle experienced a problem with the ignition switch. It was replaced on three separate occasions. Please provide further details.
Ignition switch lock up of my 2000 ford focus sw.
Zx3; after shutting off the engine, the driver noticed the steering wheel locked. When the driver tried to start the vehicle the key could not be inserted into the ignition, the steering wheel stayed locked. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealer. The ignition cylinder and battery were replaced. *ph *sc
The ignition did not turn off when the key was removed from the ignition. *jb the consumer suggested that wihout any warning, she was not able to insert the ignition switch. At least four dealerships said that this was a common problem with this make/model. The consumer experienced stalling and acceleration problems.
When trying to start the vehicle key would not turn in the ignition. Ignition switch was replaced.
Ford focus 2000 zx3 ignition lock cylinder became jammed unexpectedly. Key enters lock but lock will not release, and so car will not start. Results in stranded motorist with no warning signs beforehand, hence safety issue. Requires either tow to repair shop or site visit from locksmith. Many references to this problem on the web, and every dealer or locksmith I contacted had seen this problem multiple times.
While placing key inside of the ignition key will not turn. Vehicle was towed to the dealer for analysis, and mechanic noticed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced due to a worn out part.
Upon placing key in ignition switch consumer was unable to turn switch on.
While driving 65 MPH vehicle stalled. Consumer restarted vehicle, and drove it to the dealer. The mechanic noticed that wires and spark plugs needed to be replaced due to worn out parts.
The ignition switch did not allow the insertion of the key. Consumer took the vehicle to a mechanic, who found that ignition was defective.
Consumer attempted to start vehicle but key would not turn. The ignition was locked in place and it would not move. Also, steering wheel was locked. Vehicle was towed to the dealership, and technician replaced the ignition switch.
Went to start my car but the key would not go into ignition. I tried every possible way to get the key in. I ended up calling two dealerships who both said it was a common problem with the 2000 focus. When I spoke with the mechanic I asked if there was a recall he said he was very suprised that there hadn't been one. I also asked if the new cylinder would have the same problem he replied that it was an updated model but that didn't mean anything- they still had the same problem.
While driving 65 MPH vehicle stalled. Driver had the vehicle towed to the dealer for analysis, and mechanic could not resolve the problem.
Vehicle did not start. Vehicle was towed to dealer, who replaced the ignition cylinder.
Ignition locked without warning. The part was replaced, however the problem still persists.
With only one month to go before we could return this piece of crap lease, out goes the ignition switch. Never have I had a car where the key wouldn't go in, it was like a joke! So now we get to stick in a bunch of money for nothing. I can't believe with all of the problems and all of the complaints that ford has done nothing about this as far as recalls go. How many people need to be put out before something is done? My husband now has to take a day off of work in order to get me to work and to get the car fixed. Here I sit without a car now because it is the weekend and the dealerships are not opened. Oh what a joy it is having a ford vehicle!
Vehicle stalled while in motion. Sometimes vehicle had to get a jump start.
Vehicle had a starting problem. While driving hit a deer, and a few minutes later the vehicle caught on fire. Vehicle was totaled.
When the consumer put key into the ignition switch vehicle would not start.
Ford focus fuel pump fails to deliver fuel and car stalls. Dangerous! I was only less than half of a tank of gas full and my car stalled out on the very busy davis blvd in nrh tx. It repeatedly died when trying to restart the car to get it to a service station. I filled the car up and the car worked fine. Now we never let the car get below a haff a tank. Please resolve this issue we could have been killed! This was the most recent time this has happened. This problem and similar hesitation upon acceleration in turns and going uphill have happened numberous times and have left me feeling like I was going to be stranded or worse- in a wreck. I have also had the common ignition cilinder lock problem, a broken door actuator, a broken lumbar support, drasticaly leaking A/C onto the floor, a very noisy front stut noise when going over speed bumps, front car creaking from right front fender noise at highway speeds, and poor service reps that insult person and destroy car (broke things on car that were not broken when brought in for service). All of these things need addressing, but most of all the fuel/hesitation/stalling problem before someone is killed!
Key would not turn in ignition...cylinder locked up, bought a new one from a ford dealer and had it put in and the same problem occurred two weeks later. Also has stalling at different speeds like the gas is being shut off, and has problems with the front suspension griding when you hit bumps or go across dips in the road.
Recently had to have ignition replaced by a locksmith. I could not place the key into the ignition. Something was wrong with the tumbler, I believe. The locksmith said this happened on several ford focus vehicles.
Ignition won't turn. The tow truck driver said this happens on a lot of other focuses, and he thought it was a recall. When I call the dealer's service center he said he's done three others. He then told me the cost would be about $330. This should be a recall!
My focus's ignition froze up and was unable to operate. The dealer said they had been replacing alot of ignition cylinders lately. The extended warranty I bought from ford did not cover the problem. Every other ford I have owned has had to have the ignition replaced as well.
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