2000 ford focus. Bought at sanger ford outlet new. Problem: cable and wiring frayed. Result: aaa called. Dead battery. Towed. Inconvenience.
2000 Ford Focus electrical complaints
Page 35 of 46: complaints 1,001 to 1,030 of 1,343, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Electronic system-ignition switch trouble getting key in. Once key was in, ignition would not turn. Had to be replaced.
When placing the key in side the ignition vehicle failed to engage. Key didn't turn left or right. Vehicle had been in repair shop multiply times. Cause of failure was undetermined. Manufacturer was aware of the incident.
Could not remove key from ignition. Key would not turn in the ignition. Had to be towed to dealership and ignition swith replaced.
Has been to shop for 26 days in the past 4 months. Repeated failure of clutch (manual transmission), failure of brake pads, resulting in minor crash. Have had to had ball joints replaced. Cruise control was disconnected from accerator/brake. Key would not go into ignition and resulted in key ignition switch having to be replaced. Numerous recalls and trips to shop since bought brand new in august 2003
Went to church on sunday, came out to go home, put key in ignition, went half way, thought it was alarm, did everything to move the key, nothing. Had it towed to dealer. Advised by service dept, this problem is not covered under the extra care, and not covered under factory warranty over 36k miles. Vehicle about 36k miles. Estimate $500.00. This is the 2nd time vehicle in shop. Called out to ford, and they said everything is just fine with their cars, and that they are not aware of any complaints on this issue. Ford dealership, so quick to devour customers, and when trouble happens, can't find anyone who can help. My car is now sitting at the dealer, waiting for my authorization to pay $500. To fix it. I am without a car. What a nightmare, I'm just grateful, this incident did not happen far away from home with my kids in the car. Any advice on getting rid of this lemon without being a negative on my credit? Would sure appreciate it. I don't know who else to further this complaint, it seems like I'm stuck with it. Please help.
Ignition locked up and won't start. Dealer stated this problem was common and consumer should contact a locksmith to remedy the problem.
Consumer's vehicle experienced the same problem as mentioned in recall 02v288000 concerning battery cables. Dealer would not repair the vehicle because VIN number was not included.
I own a 2000 ford focus stz. I bought this vehicle for my wife and kids. The first incident with this vehicle was back in I think march. The ignition froze, leaving my wife stranded at work and the kids at the babysitter. She had to find a ride to the babysitter and then home. She then had to call a tow company and have the car towed to skyline ford in salem oregon. She was told that there have been quiet a few focus with this problem. The service tech knew immediately what was wrong with the car. We were 100 miles over the factory warranty!! We had to pay for the faulty part. The next problem was in the beginning of august. We went to get ice cream. The car stalled as we were leaving the ice cream store. The car would not start. It finally started after about 15 minutes. We were only about 10 minutes from home. All the way home the car acted like it was not getting enough gas. Upon arriving home, I opened the hood and noticed that the battery cable was melted. We called skyline, who could not get us in until saturday. It was 3 or 4 days. Now we are told that we have to pay $120 for a faulty part!! There was a recall on this car for faulty battery cables. We are told that if ford decides that there is a problem with the actual cable, then we will be refunded the $120. This is outrageous!! I wish that I had never purchased this car. It has really hurt my opinion of ford products.
Battery cable experienced the same defect as stated in recall 02 v 288 000, but this vehicle not covered under recall due to VIN.
When attempting to restart vehicle ignition locked without warning. Dealer notified.
Ignition lock system failed, rendering vehicle unusable.
Consumer was on 7th set of tires at 60,000, an alignment with each set. Radio had been replaced twice/ brakes had been completely replaced twice/ wheel bearings had been replaced,and ignition was replaced once after vehicle had been towed. Low and behold, consumer's focus was sitting in driveway needed to be towed for the same problem again. Car was getting horrible gas mileage, sometimes had brake failure which caused 2 accidents. Also, lugs:nuts had been replaced. The car would sometimes stall for no apparent reason, and was in need of an alternator.
When placing the key in the ignition vehicle fails to engage. Also, while driving on the highway vehicle will suddenly accelerate, then stall.
Consumer states while driving at 55 MPH vehicle started to stall, then caught on fire. Dealer notified.
While consumer's wife was driving vehicle caught on fire, smoke was coming out from the air conditioning vent. Dashboard melted, and windshield melted.
Consumer stated the ignition locked up. Dealer notified. Please provide any additional information.
Consumer states while driving engine and steering column may lock up. There is no warning. Dealer says ignition switch needs replacing.
Consumer put key into ignition but it would not turn or crank. Dealer diagnosed defective ignition switch cylinder as the cause.
Consumer states when turning corners vehicles stalls. Cause unkwown.
While driving vehicle stalled. Driver unable to start vehicle back up,due to a failure in the ignition switch, keys wouldn't turn.
Constant squeaking noise when the brakes are applied. I've already replaced the rotors, brakes, brake pads, and drums on several occasions since buying this focus about 3 years ago. Also my steering wheel locked on me one day in april of 2002 the key would not fit into the ignition to start the car I have no idea why this would happen from one day to another. I had my vehicle towed to the ford dealership and they didn't know what the problem was caused by. They said that they needed to update the lock cylinder. Luckily I purchased the api extended warranty that cover the car for 100,000 miles. So the cost of the work done for this was $427.20. All but $50.00 of which was my deductible was cover by this warranty. The problems didn't stop here. I also have had to get the cd systems that came installed in the car replaced. The was a constant clicking noise with the cd player and 90% of the time the cd's wouldn't even play. I called the dealership and they said that they could replace it for me but that it wouldn't be coverer by the warranty so I would have to pay for it out of my pocket. I ended up having a new system installed but not from the ford dealership, I took it to circuit city. Recently this month july 2003, my car has been staling and shutting off at stop signals and stop light also just shut completely off on the freeway thank god no accident occurred. I called the dealership to report this problem also my check engine light would come on and off several times and they said to bring it in and they would check the engine light but that I would have to pay $165. 00 just for them to check the light and it would be more $$$ to repair what ever problem it was. I was fed up by then.
While driving vehicle began smoking, then caught on fire under the hood. Dealer diagnosed melted battery cable as cause.
Battery light goes on and off at will - no apparent pattern - car also shudders and stalls when idling in gear - does this on a daily basis several times a day and has done this since purchase! Dealership could find no reason for this while under initial warranty - on second attempt to fix the computer was replaced (under 80,000 warranty) due to 'wrong chip for this car' - when car was picked up it was running - after parking at home could not restart car had it towed back to dealership and all car keys had to be re-programmed at our cost 'because you must have done something to them'! Within 2 days car was once again flashing it's battery light and shuddering/stalling!
When I parked my vehicle to get gas and the pump wasn't working I proceed to insert my key to moved vehicle to another pump but the key wouldn't go in. I called my wife to verify if she can bring the spare key to try to start the car with it; her key wouldn't go in either. I proceeded to call the cust. Serv. Dept. At ford motor credit and informed the problem; they asked to try again to inserted the keys and had no results. We have no previous warnings. The customer service representative then told me we are to called a tow truck to towed the vehicle; at first he express we will have to pay for it and then he confirmed that I have extended guarantee and that towing was covered but that the problem with the ignition wasn't covered. The vehicle was towed to ford dealership closer to my area. After the service department at deland ford check the vehicle I was informed that the cost of repairs will be 350.00 for the ignition switch replacement. I indicated that at this moment I couldn't come up with that amount of money and that I understood that having my extended warranty this manufacturing defect will be covered. They indicated that is not covered and they suggested for me to apply for a line of credit to see if I was approved to fix the problem. I said will not apply for the credit and left the car there to see if we can come up with a satisfying agreement. At this moment I have not have any other communication withe the service dept. Or the ford motor credit office; I think that after investigating the amount of complaints for the same matter and the same results the most get into an agreement with the customer. If this is going to be a recall item; ford should be more receptable to the complaints and already make a recall for this vehicle. After searching, I have found almost a 100 complaints for the same reason, and unfortunately none has a good turn back. My vehicle still at the deland ford service area.
Problem with the ignitioin cylinder. I have been informed by ford that no one has reported a problem with this, but I find that to be extremely contrary noting the excessive complaints on just this website alone. The key will not turn in the ignition. They are asking no less than $300, and I find if you multiply that estimation by the number of complaints they know nothing about, they have quite the racket going on.
Keys got locked in the ignition because the ignition lock broke and tumbler bent per dealership.
I have had my car for one year and five months. I have replaced the fuel pump a month after purchase, twice within two months. My gas lines have fallen off the car, causing the neighborhood to be filled with fumes. Stalls while driving, not matter the speed,dealership said they fixed the issue, still ongoing. Car hesistates to go at times. Often the inside of the car smells like gas. Hard to put car in reverse and other gears, often pops out of gear. Recently replaced clutch cable, tech says the clutch is fine. Replaced the brakes and rotors after being told they were fine, two weeks later the rotors were gone. Brakes continue to squeak. Windshield is not sealed, you can hear air blowing in while driving. Had a burning smell from under hood was told there was no problem, only to get a recall, and my cables were melted. Brake lights always out, when I replace one the other goes out. I have contacted ford motor company, and dealership, both tell me I have to keep getting repairs. I asked ford motor company to buy the car back, and they refused. I feel this car is not safe, I hate driving it.
The ignition key was difficult to place into the ignition cylinder. Once placed inside, the ignition switch would not turn at all, it was locked up in place. An internet search revealed over 7300 hits on "ford focus and ignition problems". The cost of tow and repair was $350.
Fuel pump went out and it also made the fuel pump driver module to go out as well. Also there is a loose connection at the fuse junction box in the engine bay.
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