The recalls on vehicle had failed after mechanic indicated that the recalls were not needed in dry climate and refused to do them. Had taken vehicle back to dealership at least 3 times for repairs. The mechanic had supposed to have ordered parts each time but failed to do so. Needed parts for the battery cable (recall campaign #02v288000), the rear wheel bearings recall campaign #01i017000 and the ball joints. Parts were never ordered.
2000 Ford Focus electrical complaints
Page 36 of 46: complaints 1,031 to 1,060 of 1,343, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Ignition key does not turn. With only 55144 miles the ignition key should not be a problem. Dealer stated they have several cars with the same problem so is obviously a defective part. I feel the dealer should pay for this type of repairs, there are at least 50 other consumers complaining of the same problem right on this site. Please conduct and investigation as soon as posible, sooner or later someone will be injured as a result of this faulty ignition.
Ignition cylinder pin defect. Had to replace this item 5 times underwarranty.
Vehicle had 12000 miles when consumer attempted to start, but key would not turn. Dealer diagnosed problem as failed ignition switch and replaced it. At 40000 miles problem occurred again, and dealer diagnosed and replaced ignition switch.
The ignition housing locked up and as a result the vehicle could not be moved. The front axles on the right side fell off. The dealer refused to repair them. The front brake calipers fell off. The rear end slid while driving on a wet surface. *mr cb
The federal safety agency recall 02-v-288-000:certain passenger vehicles equipped with zetec engines, loose or broken attachments and misrouted battery cables could lead to cable insulation damage. This recall failed.
Went to turn car on, key would not go into ignition switch, then after a few tries it went in but the ignition would not turn. At all. Called five lock smiths, all refused to come out to attempt to fix my jammed ignition switch, all five stated they have this type of call on this car (2000 ford focus) all the time and that they can't fix it, I need to bring it to the dealership and have the ignition cylinder replaced. Had car towed to dealership - $80 - dealership said that the ignition cylinder needed replacing, that yes, it is a very common problem, that there is a service bulletin out on it but no recall (said to me they felt it should be recalled), and that it was going to run me about $475 to get it fixed!! I purchased the car used, contacted the prior owner, they said the same problem happened to them with the car around 15,000-16,000 miles ago and they had the ignition cylinder replaced at that time and that they were told by dealership that it was an "improved" cylinder and that it should not go bad again. Well, it's gone "bad" again, and now I'm having to pay to have something fixed that should last many thousands of miles. This is ridiculous. I've owned other brands of cars for 200,000+ and 300,000+ miles and never had to replace ignition cylinder on any of those cars, this car has 55,000 miles and it's the second time! I say defect!! :)
The turn signals on the dash appeared to work fine (left and right) but the rear turn signals did not work at all. The consumer stated he received a ticket.
The vehicle failed to start, the dealer rerouted the battery cables. *jb the vehicle also had suspension and transmission problems ph
The consumer inserted the key and could not turn the key. When the consumer tried to remove the key from the ignition, the key wouldn't turn or come out. The reason was due to the tumblers in the lock had dropped. The consumer was told the entire steering column assembly needed to be replaced. *scc
Consumer states cannot fully insert key into ignition cylinder due to it being defective. The is the 3rd cylinder replacement for this vehicle.
Key gets jammed in the ignition. Dealer notified.
Vehicle has a major electrical problem. While driving vehicle gauges will go "beserk". Door chime activates, all lights flicker on and off, transmission changes gears,and the vehicle stalls.
This morning my ignition cylinder went bad. Went to go start the car and it wouldn't turn.
While placing the key inside of the ignition switch vehicle will not start up at all.
On june 1, 2003, my car had to be towed to the dealer for replacement of the ignition cylinder which was done on june 2, 2003 at stoneham motor co. I previously had the car towed to the dealer for the same problem and same repair on two other occasions -- february 11, 2003 and april 21, 2003. This was previously reported in a complaint to your agency (confirmation no. 10018431). The dealer attempted to replace the steering column so that I would not have this problem again, but was unable to accomplish this successfully. Although a new ignition cylinder was installed, I understand that this problem may continue to occur repeatedly because of a design defect which does not require the key to be inserted fully. The tow truck driver told me that one consumer with a similar problem leaves his key in the ignition, thinking that if the car gets stolen that will solve the problem. He said that another consumer has a hammer in his car which he uses to tap the key before turning it. I have no complaint with the dealer who performed all three repairs at no charge, but I believe that the manufacturer should have some responsibility for this problem, both to me and my dealer.
Turned off car, got out, put in gas, got back in car, key would only go in half way.
The federal safety agency 00-v-411-000 vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A deck lid wire harness can fatigue and develop broken wires in the bend area of the wire harness. Consumer has the same problem. However this vehicle was not part of recall due to VIN.
After recall repairs were performed vehicle would not start. Dealer stated it was not their problem.
Engine check light comes on, and vehicle starts to shake ,and then shuts off. Dealer notified.
Consumer concerned about the amount of recalls on vehicle. *mr the consumer had to replace the cable shifter when the vehicle was only 2 years old. The alternator had to be replaced, the door lock actuators, tires, sun roof control.
While placing the key inside of the key ignition vehicle will not start.
While driving at any speed and no warning the vehicle will shut off, causing consumer to pull over and it will be hard to get the vehicle back started.dealer notified.
Ignition switch would not turn when placing key into starter switch had broken. Dealer had repaired vehicle twice. Please provide further information.
Key will go into the ignition but ignition will not turn, second time.
Put key in ignition and key would not turn in ignition switch. Had to replace ignition cylinder. 8nlm
Placed key in ignition would not turn. Many tsb's on same problem. Have extended warranty. Ignition switch covered with no specific part # listed. Dealer says part # for defect not covered. Had fixed. Research with the federal safety agency lists 7 tsb's and many complaints for same defect. Referred to ford customer service they said nothing could be done. Extended warranty does not list specific part #s when purchased but when warranty work is requested it becomes part number specific. Also if there are so many tsb's and customer complaints why doesn't ford do something about this.
-2000 ford focus lx - bought used on april 14th. Both interior and exterior of car in excellent condition, ran extremely well, one owner repo, clean title. -was rear-ended in very low speed, low impact collision, no frame buckling, bending, or damage to car other than scratched rear bumper - truck lid will not latch now. Multiple mechanics and appraisers - unable to find problem. -while driving, dash gauges and car speakers will suddenly stop working (speedometer goes to 0, odometer goes blank, fuel gauge goes to 0) and then spontaneously come back on with no after effects. Car stalled while stopping after one of these episodes. Occasionally when car is started, the odometer will spontaneously reset without prompting (not the main one, the resetable one). -random codes being thrown to computer - car has had two diagnostics run in two weeks, the first for two codes: 1. A mechanical issue, 2. For electrical difficulties in the dashboard - the car was thoroughly inspected and no defects were found. Seven days later the computer reported an "evaporative system leak" - once again the car was thoroughly inspected and no defects were found. After the first diagnostic, a rear brake light went out - after removing the light and "fiddling" with the wiring, the mechanic got its normal function to resume. -the car has 36,000 miles, I had the brakes inspected the day after the car started shaking violently when I pressed the brake pedal. The rotors are warped terribly and I will have to have the entire brake system replaced, including the rear drums - I do not consider this normal, especially in such a young car. -it has had two recalls filled in the last month, one for a pinch bolt and the other for a wheel bearing. No other recall campaigns were open. These problems have continued since the recalls were completed. -I've owned this car for less than a month. The cars pre-purchase inspection came up clean. The car is no longer under any kind of factory warranty.
On both february 11, 2003 and april 21, 2003, my car had to be towed to the dealer for replacement of the ignition cylinder in my ford focus 2000. I was told by the mechanic that the ignition design made the ignition cylinders prone to breaking, I believe because it does not require the key to be inserted fully. I have no complaints with the dealer who performed both repairs at no change, but from the mechanics comments, it appears that a design defect could exist.
The key would not go into ignition. The dealer indicated that the cylinder had to be replaced.
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