2001 Ford Focus: steering wheel locks up

Filed Dec 19, 2012 · Engine · CA

2001 ford focus. Consumer request reimbursement for repairs and investigation for possible recall. *smd the consumer is requesting an investigation into the common problem of valve seat breakage in fords older engines. The breakage was due to intake valve seats that were made of a powered metal that shattered easily. The consumer wrote to ford requesting reimbursement for the damage caused to her engine. On september 17, 2012, roughly two miles after exiting the highway, the consumer came to a complete stop at a red light. When the light turned green, she engaged the gas pedal, and the vehicle began to make an unusual noise and jerked loudly and violently. She was able to drive the vehicle abut two more feet, before the steering seized. The vehicle would not go into neutral and it died completely and had to be pushed to a parking lot on the side of the road. The vehicle was then towed to a mechanic and a diagnosis revealed, one of the pistons, cylinder #1 was extremely damaged, due to the valve seat failure which shattered the piston and broke off pieces of the piston skirt and bent the connecting rod. There was no damage to the cylinder wall, as pieces of the piston skirt were found in the oil pan and pieces of the piston crown were found in the bottom of the intake manifold.

Filed Dec 17, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 106,000 miles · CA

I was stopped at a red light, when the light turned green and I engaged the gas pedal the car began to clank and jerk loudly and violently. I drove' the car about two feet before the steering seized up, the car could not be put into neutral, died completely, and had to be pushed to the side of the road. One of the pistons, cylinder # 1, was extensively damaged, due to the valve seat failure which shattered the piston, broke off pieces of the piston skirt, and bent the connecting rod. No damage was done to the cylinder wall, but pieces of the piston skirt were found in the oil pan, and pieces of the piston crown were found in the bottom of intake manifold. Valve seat breakage in the older model focus, is so common that aera engine rebuilders association issued two bulletins (tb 1725 & tb 1939) to alert the industry to this issue. These bulletins state that the 'intake valve seats are made of a powdered metal that shatters easily'. On october 29, 2012, after the vehicle had been repaired, I phoned ford to request a refund for the cost of the parts and was informed, that since there was no recall no refund could be issued. The valve seats have subsequently been modified from the faulty powdered metal type, this shows that ford is and was aware of this issue. Internet entries that outline this problem on the 2001 model can be found at numerous websites, including: http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/focus/2001/.

Filed Aug 16, 2011 · Electrical · IL

I put the key in the ignition to start the car and the key would not turn and my steering wheel locked up. I spoke a friend about it and she stated she has the same problem she has a ford focus please tell me what to do if it was an emergency I would not be able to leave or pull off in the event of something happening.

Filed Dec 30, 2009 · Electrical, Locks · 90,245 miles · CA

I inserted the key into the ignition of my 2001 ford focus zx3 and the steering wheel locked up and the ignition would not turn.

Filed Apr 29, 2009 · Airbags, Steering · 113,000 miles · NY · crash · 1 injury

My daughter was driving 2001 ford focus se wagon approximately 45mph when she described steering locked up in turn then she heard tires squealing and vehicle jerked hard left causing her to go off the road, hit a rock wall and flipped the car end over end. The air bags did not deploy. She landed upside down but was able to exit vehicle through broken window. She received cuts and bruises and was taken to emergency room for x-rays where they said she had no serious injuries and was released. On scene investigation by police and tow truck operated suggested ball joint failure or other steering/suspension failure. Car was totaled.

Filed Oct 14, 2008 · Steering · 68,000 miles · VA · crash · 1 injury

While in curve driving 50 MPH steering locked up, not sure if car cut off but I was unable to straighten out wheel resulting in accident where I hit telephone crushing pelvis, and breaking my left arm.. I spent 37 days in hospital and now have plates and screws in my pelvis and arm. It has been a month since the accident and I am now in a wheel chair for 2 months healing time before I can start therapy to begin walking, and doctors say I will have to have a hip replacement in the next 2 to 5 years. Help me please ford is responsible for this I am 24 years old..

Filed Feb 22, 2008 · Steering · 93,750 miles · SC

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. In an attempt to drive the vehicle with the key in the ignition, the steering wheel locked and the key would not turn. The failure occurred twice. The dealer stated that the steering column needed to be replaced. The current and failure mileages were 93,750.

Filed Oct 23, 2007 · Electrical · 84,000 miles · OH

Ignition switch locked up beyond a mere steering lockup and could not be started. I had to pay to have the vehicle towed to the local ford dealership. Vehicle has 84k miles. I hope I won't be paying for a repair that is likely to break again soon.

Filed Mar 28, 2007 · Electrical · MA

My ignition and steering wheel locked when I was trying to leave work. After having the car towed to a garage, I found out it is going to cost me about $400 to replace the ignition switch. My problem is the gentleman who towed my car told me this was the third focus he towed this week for the same problem. The mechanic told me that this is a common occurrence in focuse's. I worked really hard to pay for the car and expect better service from ford. If this a common occurrence, I feel it should be a recall.

Filed Nov 9, 2006 · Steering · 12,893 miles · NC

I have a 2003 ford focus. Now I am having a problem with steering wheel lock-up. My search on the internet has shown that this is apparently a very common problem with the focus. This problem will occur out of the blue and now I am beginning to think that it isn't just my key. There is a problem with this lock design. Ford needs to recall this.

Filed Sep 10, 2006 · Electrical · 97,000 miles · MO

*this is a safety issue!* when leaving work my car would not start, the starter would not engage and accessories would not come on...I went inside for 10 min to try to arrange a ride home...when I came back to the car I decided to try one last time and the car started right up no problem. While driving home (at about 8.30pm local time...fully dark outside) at approx. 50 MPH the car died including most accessories, most notably, the headlights. When I tried to steer the car to the side of the road, the steering wheel locked. This all happened very quickly, I was braking and there seemed to be some power assist to the brakes but not full braking power. I was headed straight at a large tree when the car suddenly came to life again and I managed to just miss it. I limped the car about a 1/4 (at 10 MPH) to my brothers apartment and it died 2x again on the way. After several days trying to diagnose the problem I discovered that wiggling the key in the ignition induces the car to die. Upon researching this problem I found that this has been reported on a wide scale basis and it concerns me that a recall has not been issued. I was very lucky not to be injured or killed by this problem and many many people are unaware of this risk (as was I until only a few days ago). I have found no way to get the matter corrected via the manufacturer as the current replacement part is almost identical to the original and is noted for short lifetime and for failing in the same manner.

Filed Apr 11, 2006 · Electrical · 63,000 miles · NY · 1 injury

Ignition key difficult to insert then ignition mechanism and steering wheel locked.