I am the owner of a 2001 ford focus and have always had problems with it. On 10/28/2004 I stopped for gas with my two small children. After re-fueling, we all got back into the car to leave and the key wouldn't turn. My whole stering column had locked up-the steering wheel wouldn't budge, the shifter was locked as well as the brake pedel. Although many strangers tried to help me start my car, me adn my children were stuck at the gas pump for over an hour. After having my car towed the driver told me that this was his seond focus that day with the same problem and his company tows several a month.
2001 Ford Focus electrical complaints
Page 13 of 18: complaints 341 to 370 of 496, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Stranded in parking lot when key wouold not turn the ignition. Had to get toed to dealer to get fixed. Haven't got it fixed yet because it just happened today and I found all the other complaintes here. I am wondering why there is no recall because it is a serious failure. I was lucky and had a phone handy and if it had been my wife, something terrible could have happend and we may not had any way to get there.
Without warning, ignition locks up and key will not turn. The car cannot be started and must be towed in for repair. The same problem has occurred on three separate occasions over the life of the vehicle. Since the car cannot be started, the driver has been stranded until the car can be towed in and repaired. To repair the failure, the lock cylinder must be drilled out of the steering column and replaced completely.
The ignition swith lock has seized. This makes it impossible to turn the ignition to start the car.
The first problem that I started to have with my 2001 ford focus began less than a year after I bought it. The left rear window went out first, then about a week later the right rear window went out. I think the gears were faultily manufactured. When at a ford dealership for a recall, I was told I would have to pay about $350 per window to fix the problem, money I do not have because I have to save up to fix another problem with this car. The second problem is concerning the electrical system. Everything in my car powered by electricity flickers on and off. When I try to roll up my remaining windows or turn on the A/C, the radio will go static, the headlights flicker, the ABS light pops on, etc. I have talked to numerous focus owners who have had similar problems. They have been told by ford dealers that it is this or that and paid a lot of money to fix the problems, but the problems never went away. I am just waiting for my ignition to go out, that is another common problem I have heard of with this lemon of a car. The ford focuses need to be recalled, we should all get our money back! How many people is ford going to rip off and kill before they are finally held accountable? I cannot afford to fix all the problems I am having and will have in the future, especially since my warranty was conveniently up just a month before I started having these problems. I would like to be e-mailed back with some information on what I can do. Can I declare this car a lemon and make them buy it back from me? I have corresponded with ford via e-mail and it has gotten me nowhere. Please help us!!!
Ignition switch locked up and I cannot start the car because the key wont turn this is the second time it has done this I was lucky the first time it came loose and allowed the car to start
My steering wheel locked and I was unable to turn my key when trying to start my 2001 ford focus lx. I tried all the usual, pull the wheel this way, turn the key that way, even tapping the key, and nothing worked. I had to have it towed to the dealer to replace the ignitiion tumblers, or whatever, and it cost $300.
2001 ford focus ignition lock cylinder will not turn. This has happened numerous times. It failed last year, and left my wife stranded. It then worked perfectly. About a year later, it failed again. I now have to beat the key into the cylinder to get it to start.
The ignition lock failed to accept the ignition key. I manipulated the key for about 15 minutes before the lock would accept the key. It finally accepted the key after jarring the car by slamming the door. I can never be sure the car is available in an emergency.
2001 ford focus learches under normal driving. Electriclal issues lights dimming dach lights same under normal driving. 5 trips to the dealer no identifiable cause. Remedy was to replace battery cables @ 487.10 .
The ignition locked and the key became stuck, sometimes the ignition would not turn over at all.. The turn signals will not turn off.
While placing the key inside the ignition switch vehicle failed to start. When the key was removed from the ignition switch a loud noise was heard coming from the ignition. Consumer contacted a lock smith, and also will contact the dealer in the morning.
I bought a used 2001 ford focus in febuary of 2004. The ignition jammed and was replaced in march 2004. I went to the ford dealership and paid 300 dollars to get a new one. On september 27, 2004 my ignition got jammed again. I am sapposed to have a 12 month warrenty or 12,000 whatever comes first, so its in the shop now being repaired. I have read alot on this and it seems this is a common problem and is very expensive to replace.
While driving and upon stepping on the brakes front wheels moved back three to four inches. The bushings were too small. Upon turning the steering wheel left one could see the front wheels moving back. Consumer stated vehicle had been to the dealer fifteen times. Dealer put replacement parts five times. Tires had to be changed between ten to thirteen thousand miles, and tires were under warranty for 30000 miles. Also, ignition switch had been changed twice, but problem recurred.
Consumer was unable to turn the key in the ignition switch. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak
I have a 2001 ford focus lx sedan. The ignition lock mysteriously locks up about once a year and the car has to be taken to the dealer to be fixed. This will be the fourth time the ignition has locked up. Can you say "lemon law"? I have read literally hundreds and hundreds of posts on the internet about this problem. My ford roadside would not cover the tow and I had to use my insurance roadside assistance to tow it this time. Anyhow, the tow truck driver shows up at my house and states that "he has towed at least 50 of these cars," and every one of them was for the same exact problem. He stated that he never towed one for any other problems. Why is this not a recall yet??? The design is piss poor and something needs to be done about it! Please help us.
2001 ford focus - steering wheel locked & key won't turn.
I have had my car in 5 times to fix the ignition. The first two times I believe the a cylinder in the ignition was replaced, the third time the same part was replaced and I was given a new key. The four time the car started at the dealership and I was told I just didn't try to start my car properly and did I know how to start a stick shift (I have had a stick for the last 14 years). The fifth time they replaced the whole ignition system. Nothing happened to cause any of these problems I would just go out to start my car and the key would not turn all the way and the vehicle would not start and would have to be towed. All of these have happened in less than one year. Also periodically thought out this whole time the ignition would stick and the car would not start, after several attempts however it would work. The incident date I am using is this fifth time.
Ignition switch locked.as a result, key was unable to turn the switch in order to start the vehicle.
Ignition key inter lock failed . As a result, consumer was unable to start the vehicle.
My 2001 ford focus zx3's ignition switch failed. When you put the key into the ignition cylinder, it doesn't turn. I tried the usual things like jiggling the key while moving the steering wheel, and I tried a spare key.
I bought the car used the previous owner told me he had the ignition cylinder replaced. Well its a couple years later now and my ignitions cylinder is bad too. My key barely goes in and it does not turn the lock, and will not start my car. This is a known problem with ford and they refuse to issue a recall or even an extended warrantee on it. I have researched and it seems that every focus 2000-2002 that is around 3 years old has this problem. My car is currntly parked in a wendys parking lot where it happened. I dont have a lot of money and cannot afford the assinine amount of money ford wants to fix this problem (about 300$) and it seems they dont want anyone fixing it themselves either, the ignition clyinders do not come with keys and you have to but the keys and have them cut to your key and then have the ignition cylinder bored out to the shape of the key (this is as backwards as ive ever seen) so no one is capable of just buying a new cylinder and fixing it themselves!! So basically there are alot of po'd people that ford is refusing to help, and im adding my name to the list thank you.
Consumer placed the key in the ignition and it was locked. Ignition would not accept the key. She called the lock smith, and was told that they have at least one of this type of problem with the focus a week. Lock smith could not make the ignition accept the key. Had towed vehicle to the dealership.
Problems with ignition being jammed on 2002 ford focus. *mr the ignition lock cylinder would not turn and was seized. *sc
2001 ford focus - purchased 3/2001, has 31000 miles on it. Lock pin fell into ignition, key got stuck in ignition and would not turn. Estimated to cost me minimum $290 - up to $500+. The mechanic at ford dealership said that 2000 & 2001 focus cars are being towed in all the time with the same problem.
When driving at an undetermined speed, the consumer heard a popping noise coming from the rear driver's seat. The consumer noticed that, the instrument panel lights would flick on and off. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for inspection. Please provide any further details.
October 14 2003, without any warning the key stopped turning, vehicle had 64 035 km or 4 035 km over warranty -ignition cylinder assembly replaced (cost 554.41$ cdn) june 12 2004, again without any warning the key stopped turning in the switch. Vehicle mileage approximately. 89 000 km or roughly 5 000km after part warranty -ignition cylinder to be replace (estimated cost 341.51$ cdn)
I have driven my car for 3 years and about 45,000 miles. I attempted to start the car after having no issues, and the key would not turn in the ignition. After reviewing problems I have found this to be a common problem with the focus. *ak currently the car is not corrected. I have to replace the ignition cylinder which will cost me between 285 and 350 dollars. This part is not able to be replaced by a unsed part.
1. Ford focus ignition locks. 2. Could not turn key to start car. I was stranded on the 4th of july weekend. 3. Car had to be towed. Dealership service dept. Was closed. Locksmith had to replace ignition cylinder. Also, the ignition key was well worn even though it's a fairly new automobile.
Upon starting vehicle steering column locked up. Vehicle was towed the dealership, who replaced the ignition switch . This failure recurred twice, and the ignition switch was replaced twice.
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