2000 Ford Focus steering problems

Filed Sep 25, 2014 · Body, Engine · 160,000 miles · MI

Key wont go into ignition, wheel locked up, have to get locksmith to fix...barely affordable.

Filed Apr 10, 2012 · Steering · 132,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized without warning while driving on the highway. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unavailable and the current mileage was 132,000.

Filed Nov 19, 2011 · Steering · FL

I was on my way to work when thankfully I decided to stop at the gas station and get gas. As I was getting out of my car I lightly tapped the steering wheel and it popped off. I freaked out and looked at was happened all my steering wheel was hanging by was the wires to my horn and airbag. I had to get it towed back to my house. I called ford headquarters and took it to the dealership and asked if they could fix it for free since there are recalls on that car. They refused and stated its my responsibility to fix the car outside of the warranty stage. I understand that but it's not like it's something little that broke or something inside the engine. It's the steering wheel. You can't drive without that and that's never supposed to break. I'm so upset no body even tried to help me at ford. I'm never buying one again.

Filed Nov 16, 2011 · Steering · OH

Steering column locked up and will not allow key to turn in ignition, cannot get steering column to unlock no matter what is done.

Filed Oct 20, 2011 · Electrical, Steering · 168,005 miles · SC

The ignition on my 2000 ford focus is defective in that the key does not go all the way into the ignition. This problem appears to be systemic with the focus. The car is stranded in the path of oncoming cars and presents a danger to the public. Systemic issues across a large span of VIN numbers present a safety issue and a general public nuisance. Cars are stranded in intersections and places of business because of defective ignitions that are known to ford. These issues are on blog sites in large numbers. I trust the transportation and safety board will recognize the significance of this problem. I am requesting an investigation that I am sure will reveal public safety concerns by the sheer number of incidents of this ignition failure.

Filed Mar 14, 2011 · Steering · 125,196 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the front end of the vehicle began shaking severely. The contact was unable to maintain control of the vehicle as a tire blew and the contact barely missed crashing into a tree. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who replaced the tire and hub bearing. The repair did not correct the failure and the vehicle would continue to wobble excessively. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 125,196.

Filed Jan 4, 2011 · Electrical, Steering · 100,000 miles · WI

I have a 2000 ford focus. Without warning, the key could not be inserted into the ignition and rendered the vehicle useless this evening. It appears ford knows about this very common failure according to many owners (via online forums) with the same issue. Ford doesn't consider it a safety issue and hence not recall worthy. Consider this, when the failure occurred to my wife this evening after work, it was 6 degrees fahrenheit outside and dark too (and well into the negative digits with the wind-chill). This clearly seems like a safety issue in this regard for anyone...luckily our 5 & 3 year old children were in the safety of indoor daycare at the time (what would have happened with two small kids late at night in a parking lot with sub zero temps?) according to a professional locksmith, this is a known issue and he fixed the same thing on another focus this morning. He will be replacing the ignition cylinder with a non oem cylinder which will remedy the issue. The oem cylinder has known issues. The replacement cylinder (made by a different manufacturer does not) does not have the faulty mechanism the oem cylinder has. The steering wheel is also "locked" as a result of this failure to the ignition cylinder. I would "hope" that this failure wouldn't occur while the vehicle is driving down the road. Catastrophe could be the result.

Filed Aug 13, 2010 · Steering · 106,000 miles · MO

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. While stopped at a traffic light the contact noticed that the steering wheel had suddenly locked without warning and could not be moved in any direction, the contact also noticed that the key would not release from the ignition. Seconds later, the contact was able to remove the key from the ignition and restart the vehicle. After restarting the vehicle the contact noticed that the vehicle began to function normally. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and there were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 106000.

Filed Aug 26, 2009 · Steering · 180,000 miles · WA

The key will not turn in the ignition for no reason, steering wheel is locked and unable to turn key on a 2000 ford focus.

Filed Apr 23, 2009 · Steering · 55,000 miles · PA

Key will not turn in ignition. Apparently, this is a known defect with ford focus models from the year 2000. There is nothing that precipitates the problem- it just doesn't work all of a sudden. Luckily, the car was parked at my office building- but it could have happened anywhere. I called a locksmith and he came and replaced the ignition. He said that there is no guarantee that it won't happen again.