Tonight (12/29/2007), for the fourth time (six times total), the ignition switch on my 2000 ford focus died, leaving me stranded yet again. This time, I was left stranded in 12 degree weather for seven hours. It is amazing I didn't get frostbite - or worse. I bought my focus in 2002, with 52,000 miles on it. The prior owner had replaced the ignition switch twice on the car - once about 12,000 miles (under warranty) and once about 42,000 miles. I replaced the switch at 58,000, 72,000 and 102,000 miles. Car now has 137,000 miles and once again, I'm going to have to replace the [xxx] ignition switch again, after being assured by the ford dealership that this would never happen again ("it's been redesigned, the problem is fixed.") '!@#$%. The ford dealership has said that every single time I've had to replace it, after taking $300-$375 of my money each time, and several thousand miles later, I'm having to replace it again! The ford dealership will only warranty the ignition switch for a lousy 12,000 miles. What is particularly aggravating isn't the money so much as the cavalier attitude ford has that this is not a "safety issue." tell that to my still-cold body! You sit for seven hours in a car, stuck, unable to turn the heat on, in freezing temperatures. Is it going to take someone dying before ford owns up to this problem? *tr information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
2000 Ford Focus electrical complaints
Page 8 of 46: complaints 191 to 220 of 1,343, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Cracked ignition. Jammed steering column. Both were replaced. Old part is available.
My daughter who is 17 came out of work at 10 pm on a sunday night and her key wouldn't go in the ignition of her 2000 ford focus. Thus she was stranded alone after dark in an empty parking lot. I feel that this is a safety issue. Not everyone can afford a cell phone and if she hadn't had one she would have been in real trouble because there is nothing close to where she works. We stress about maintenance so she will not break down and she will be safe. This should be a recall. She has only had the car for three months and this is already the second problem she has had with this car.
Ignition switch failure on ford focus-left me and my daughter stranded at the doctor's office parking lot. The key would not turn.
My wife purchased a 2000 ford focus lx. She went out to her vehicle and the ignition key will not turn. We have turned the steering wheel left and right to get the ignition to turn. The steering wheel is also locked. I searched the web and found numerous complaints about the ignition switch and how some people have had to replace the part more then once. Why does ford not recognize this problem in a recall. I know this is 2007 but I thought ford was usually on top of things. Can anything be done? I have printed up numerous complaints on this topic. So what is being done if anything to correct this problem. I have been unable to find a recall from ford on this problem. Out of all the vehicles I have owned I have never had to replace an ignition switch or part!!!!!!!
As I left work on the night of 12/4/07, I entered my 2000 ford focus and found that I could not turn the key in the ignition. The key would not fully enter the ignition cylinder and thus could not start the car. As such, I was stuck in the parking lot with no way to drive myself home without calling for a ride. Luckily, I was able to find somebody, even though there was a strong winter storm at the time. I had the car towed to a dealership - the tow truck driver told me he sees this problem all the time with this car and gave me some tips for how to try to get the key to work (at least temporarily), but nothing worked and he towed the car. The dealership told me that they needed to completely replace the ignition lock cylinder, which I had them do. Doing research online, I found that there are a large number of people that have this issue reoccur with their focus. I called fords customer care center, who informed me that there was nothing they could do to assist my repair (in the form of an extended warranty or goodwill repair) and referred me to this site to see if this issue merited a recall.
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. When the key was placed in the ignition, it would not turn at all. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the ignition was replaced. The cause of the malfunction was unknown. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was experiencing difficulty starting and the key had to be turned several times. The trunk lock failed and needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 70,000 and current mileage was 160,000.
For the second time, my 2000 ford focus ignition lock has failed in that the key won't turn and vehicle is immobilized. Current mileage on vehicle is approximately 48,500 and ignition cylinder was drilled out and replaced by ford dealer at 28,000 miles and replacement part frequently stuck and now ignition cannot be unlocked.
I own a 2000 ford focus. On the morning of november 22, 2007 I parked my vehicle in my driveway, which in turn blocked the exit of my other vehicle from the garage. When I went to start my vehicle that night to go to work, the key wouldn't fit into the ignition. I was eventually able to jam the key into the ignition, but it would not turn forward. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership where it cost me $380 to replace the ignition and make new keys. Fortunately, I was not having an emergency. If I had to take my son, who is 1 year old, to the emergency room, I wouldn't have been able to leave my house for an hour. I have research this issue and have become aware that this year vehicle is having a lot of these issues.
Key cylinder on 2000 ford focus has been replaced twice now. Car has less than 80,000 miles on it. I can not believe a recall was not issued. Went out the first time at 18,000 miles and at $356.00 a pop I believe the public is being taken for a ride.
I had to have the ignition cylinder replaced in my 2000 ford focus 4 times in the last 5 years and today it locked up again. It is a known problem with ford. It gives no warning. 1 minute it works fine ... The next time I go to start the key --- it is locked up and wont unlock. I am a single mom on disability and it is unsafe to have such an undependable car - I never know when it will start and when it wont.
On 10/23/07 I inserted key into ignition of my ford focus and immediatley the lights and gauges went haywire-vehicle failed to start. To make a long story short ,after unpluging the battery cables and going back to the stranded car the next evening, it started . 2 days later my wipers came on by themselves and would not stop until I turned the car off and restarted. On 10/31/07 while driving my daughter home, the vehicle began accelerating and deccelertaing uncontrollably. I pulled of the highway and when I opened the drivers door, the seatbelt light began blinking and making a loud ticking noise. This had happened the night prior, but I thought maybe the button was depressed. My dome lights make a screeching noise and blink on and off. This is a serious problem that needs to be looked into. Whenever something like this happens I am driving home late at night and of course the dealer is not open to help me . My car is almost paid off and I will not invest more than what it is worth, which is only about $2,500.too bad I have paid about $18,000 for it. I would also like to know why I have not received recalls for the following problems: 1. 1st month after purchase, electrical system running airbags, mirrors, doors etc. Failed. 2. 37,000 miles- transmission failed 3. 42,000 miles- power door locks failed and soon after passenger doors stuck in the lock position. 4. All window tracks have failed. 5. Wheel bearings replaced. 6. Trunk latch failed 7. Ignition failed and was replaced and is going again. 8. Brought in for 1 recall (fuel filter) and still didn't correct problem with vibration and lurching. This is a vehicle that exceeds highway saftey ratings? Something will be done about this if I must hire an attorney- I am out a lot of money and no vehicle.
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. In july of 2007, the door locks on the vehicle began to malfunction. The contact changed the fuse, but this did not correct the failure. The tail and brake lights also began to malfunction, followed by the rear hatch. The dealer advised him not to drive the vehicle because a fire had taken place in the wiring. The contact is currently awaiting the vehicle diagnosis. The current mileage was 42,338 and failure mileage was 42,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. When the key was turned in the ignition, the vehicle would not start and the steering wheel locked. The key that is used to start the ignition is also used for the doors. The key stopped working for the passenger side door and the trunk. The vehicle does not have power locks. The dealer stated that the ignition switch needed to be replaced, however, they did not suggest a remedy for the doors. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 17,000. Update 01-15-08. *kb updated
Key would not turn in ignition. Incurred cost for towing car twice, ignition was replaced, and then new keys had to be programmed.
Vehicle recalled in february 2001 to repair problem:"some of the affected vehicles have a rigid vinyl sleeve around the wiring at the hinge point of the rear decklid. During decklid opening and closing, movement is concentrated at this point and may cause one or more wires within the harness to fatigue and break. Depending on which wires break, it may result in the loss of license plate lamps, center high-mount stop lamps, stop lamps or tail lamps. Loss of this rear lighting could increase the risk of an accident." took vehicle in for repair but the following have failed since: right tail lamp, reverse lights. On 09/12/2007 a ford customer relations rep stated that my vehicle has never had any recalls. I have four of five of the notices they sent me.
I drove my 2000 ford focus about 2 miles to the gas station to run in for milk. When returning to the car 3 minutes later, the key would not turn in the ignition. Luckily was able to walk home and get a ride back to the gas station with another key (hoping it wasn't the ignition problem I'd read so much about). That didn't help. The next morning I called the ford dealership, which was literally within view of the gas station. They told me I had to have it towed to their garage ($45!!! For less than a quarter mile) and then pay for a new ignition $400.
Parked in a public parking space and came back to retrieve my car. Could get the key in the ignition but could not turn it. Turns out the ignition was faulty and had to be replaced by ford. Everyone I've talked to with this make and model of car has had this problem, but ford has not addressed it. They charged 400 dollars to replace it.
Ignition can not be turned with key inserted.
The first time I couldn't get the key into the ignition. Then after 30 minutes I got it to go in. Then when I parked, I couldn't get the key out. So I drove home. Had to call a locksmith to come drill out the cylinder and put a new one in--$220. This had never happened before. Even though no one was harmed by this defect on my 2000 ford focus with 51,000 miles on it, I was very inconvenient for me. What if I had been traveling alone at night away from the city and locksmiths and my car wouldn't start because the key wouldn't turn or go in? I would be stranded. That to me is a safety issue. A quick search online shows that there are thousands of focus owners who have had this same problem and ford has done nothing about it. There should be a recall.
I was getting in my 2000 ford focus this morning to go to work; I put the key in the ignition and the key would not turn. I fiddled with in for about 10 minutes to no avail. As a result, I had to call off of work. That alone is a lose of money. I have not yet called ford about this problem, but according to other reports, it can cost anywhere from$100- $400 to fix this problem. I just thank god this didn't happen to me in a dangerous area. I could have been stranded in a very dangerous area. I have had problems with the key not turning before this incident, however, I could always eventually turn the key, after fiddling with it for a few minutes.
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. When the key was placed in the ignition, it would not turn. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they replaced the ignition switch. The current and failure mileages were 76,000.
2000 ford focus ignition lock problem. I have replace the ignition lock cylinder in my year 2000 ford foucs, twice. Each time I was stranded because the lock jammed and I could not start the car. My main complaint is that apparently no better part is available and I am forced to install another one of these defective locks just to get back on the road. Being stranded double parked in new york city, or out in the countryside on the weekend is a serious problem. I don't want money compensation - I want the problem fixed, I will gladly pay for an new lock that will not fail in this way again. On every other car I owned the ignition lock out lasted the engine.
I just bought a 2000 ford focus and the key is stuck in the ignition. The woman had the tumbler replaced last year (08/06). Will have to take to the dealer and have it fixed. Seems like this is a persistant problem with 2000 ford focus cars.
Ignition assembly failed. The car was parked and left to sit for a couple of hours. Upon return, the key could not be fully inserted into the ignition. My 3-year-old son and I were stranded. Car had to be towed about 7 miles to the dealer. Dealer replaced the ignition assembly at a cost of about $348. The old part is not available.
Failed ignition cylinder lock. Upon entry into vehicle I proceeded to attempt to start vehicle. Key would not turn in ignition. Tried moving steering wheel slightly which sometimes allows ignition to turn. However this time, the steering wheel locked and key would still not turn. Spent about 30 minutes trying to get key to turn. Stranded, had to call for transportation and towing. Cylinder lock replaced by dealer. Expensive repair. No discount. Known issue with focus vehicles widely reported within the internet community.
Our 2000 ford focus station wagon ignition lock "froze" so that we couldn't drive the car. When I spoke with a locksmith and said the words "2000 ford focus" he said "don't tell me, the ignition lock won't turn, will it." he indicated that he alone is called out on one or two ford focus ignition lock failures every week. While this was an incident in which nobody was injured and no property damage other than the lock having to be destroyed as part of the repair by being drilled out of the steering column. The locksmith charge for the service call and repair was $186.81. We spent two and a half hours stuck in a shopping center mall waiting for the repair. In my opinion since many of these ignition locks have failed based on a number of internet sites carrying reports of failures similar to ours, it is my opinion that ford should order a recall in order to replace sub-standard ignition locks, and should reimburse owners such as us for expense we've undergone having their dub-standard locks repaired or replaced.
Ignition is locked and will not turn to the start position ,I tried to wiggle the steering wheel to make sure the steering wasn't locked and its locked too.
The key in my 2000 ford focus will not turn. My car is useless. After months of it being difficult and having to use force it finally won't turn at all. Fortunately I am at home and not stranded. Sounds like this is a common problem with these cars. I can't believe this isn't a recall issue. Incredibly frustrating. Sounds like I either pay a locksmith $150 or ford $400 to fix it.
Key will not insert into the ignition. Repeated attempts with no success.
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