2003 ford focus lx sedan - my wife went to walmart on the way home from work, and upon returning to the car the key would no longer unlock the ignition switch. Despite many attempts (a locksmith was unable to come up with anything) we ended up having the car towed. The quoted repair price is roughly $400. There are seemingly endless accounts of this very situation with the ford focus ignition on forums all over the internet. There should be a recall or ford should extend the warranty coverage on this device.
2003 Ford Focus electrical complaints
Page 18 of 19: complaints 491 to 520 of 522, newest first, as owners wrote them.
We are a franchisee of an auto rental company. We have had a half dozen ford focuses that the ignition switches have failed on. These vehicles have mileage in the range of 40,000-45,000 miles. The ignition switch will just quit working. We have had to have the vehicles towed in every instance, and ford has refused to do anything about it or make any adjustments. It costs us over $400 every time. Something should be done about it. These have been 2003-2004 model vehicles.
Hatch release had to be replaced due to an electrical short. . Consumer was told that if it was not replaced, since connected to the electrical system, vehicle could catch on fire.*ak...also, replaced trunk release switch.
We bought a new ford focus in december of 2002. In march 2004, with about 20,000 miles on it, the ignition switch started to act up. When inserted into the ignition the key got stuck and would not turn on several occasions. After spending about 20 to 40 minutes of wiggling the key and knocking on the steering column it would finally turn. We brought it to the dealership in april after being stuck at night for almost 2 hours on a deserted parking lot. The ignition cylinder was replaced under warranty because the mechanic himself was not able to turn the key. Yesterday, on 25 feb 2005, the same problem started up again. The dealership checked it out but we are off warranty, so we will have to pay for it ourselves. It is a very frustrating thought that after spending all that money, it may happen again in several month. After reading all the complaints of other focus owners regarding the same issue, we are very disappointed that ford does not make any allowances to get the problem fixed permanently. We have owned our cars usually up to 10 years or so and never had to replace an ignition cylinder before on any of them.
While driving 4 MPH, the consumer noticed smoke coming from under the hood. Suddenly, it caught on fire. The consumer was able to pull over and the fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for inspection. The cause has not been determined at this time. Please provide further details.
Once the key is inserted into the ignition consumer is unable to start the vehicle, and is unable to turn the key. The steering wheel locks. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the ignition cylinder needed to be replaced.
Ignition switch/steering column housing unit.
When attempting to start the vehicle consumer noticed that the the ignition locked and key will not turn. Vehicle was towed to the dealer.
I put my key in the ignition and it would not start steering wheel locked and car would not turn on towed to dealer cost was 50 dollars w/ extended warrant also happened to my sisters 2003 ford focus .the ignition was replaced .
Nothing lead up to the failure, it just happened quite abruptly. I put my key in the ignition and it wouldn't turn forward. Also, the steering wheel is locked in place.
Bought a 2003 ford focus iin july 04 and on 1/4/05 (28,406 miles) went to start vehicle and key went into ignition hard and would not turn at all. Ignition had locked up. Nothing would work and wheels were locked. Had to be towed and technician had trouble due to wheels locking. Found many complaints on internet of this problem in the focus. Car was under warranty and it was fixed but if same faulty ignition cylinder is installed the problem will happen again and again.
Bought a 2003 used ford focus in july 04 and on tuesday, jan. 4 went to start vehicle and key would not go into ignition. Nothing worked wheels were locked. Had to be towed and tech had trouble due to wheels locked. Found many more complaints on internet about this trouble in focuses.
Ignition lock cylinder would not turn after the key was inserted the key was hard to get into the cylinder before it seized. I did some research and on the automotive talk net I was able to print out 35 pages of the same complaints with 3 to 4 complaints on each page. A few of the complaints said that tow truck drivers had told them they have had several calls with the same problem, as did the lock smith I called to fix mine. The cost was $200.00
The consumer heard a grinding noise coming from the rear brake drums. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak the rear drum brake pads were defective, parts and compound were missing, trim under the steering column was missing, the transmission was slipping in first, second and third gear, and the ignition was damaged. *sc
Three transmission failures and replacements. The engine, starter/ignition and 1 gear shift all replacements and other various problems. *bf four cd player replacements, the brakes failed, and 1 alarm failure. *sc the engine was also replaced.
I recently purchased a used 2003 ford focus from menlove dodge toyota in bountiful in late september. Verything was going fine, until one day my wife comes home an hour late from work saying that the keys for our car would turn in the ignition, she had to enlist the help 2 other co-workers & finally got it started after an hour of trying it. O I went out to take a look at the ignition and sure enough the key would not turn until after a bout 20-30 tries. So then I got to thinking, with this car having less than 50,000 miles on it I should have it looked at. After talking to other people & doing research on the internet, it appears to be a very common problem, which ford apparently fails to acknowledge. This is a very serious problem as what if you were driving on the freeway & your car stops running, your going 65 MPH, the steering wheel locks because the key wont turn to the on position again. I called to get a quote on getting this fixed and was told it would cost me in the ball park of 200-300 dollars for a defect that is obviously a know problem by ford. Have found a message board that other for focus owners have posted information on with the same complaint. My felling is, with so many ford focus owners out there with the same problem, ford needs to step up and admit there is a problem & issue a recall on these ignitions. Here is the url to the site I referred to: http://www.autowhiz.com/messageboards/message.php?id=1784&page=1
The temperature had become colder and the accelerator would not depress without force. The problem would occur whenever the vehicle sat overnight or for several hours. The consumer would depress the accelerator until it would move downwards. The vehicle would lunge forward. It would take 4-5 depressions until the accelerator would move downward. Other problems were the brakes squealing and the vehicle suffered from not starting at times, either the panel lights would engage or the starter would grind. *ak
Ignition switch on an 03 ford focus zx3 locks up. It was fine one day and the next it wasn't. The car will start but it takes time and fiddling with the key in the ignition before it clicks and unlocks and starts.
2003 ford focus -- ignition locks and cannot be released to start the car. Dealer (smith ford in lordsburg, nm) has to tow in to work on and last time even replaced the ignition. I am told that this small dealer has had 3 different focus' with the same problem.
My ignition locked. I had to have it towed to the dealership to be repaired.
2003 ford focus ignition cylinder locked up. Key will not turn, leaving me with towing costs to get it to the dealership.
I started my car normally and drove to the store. When I came out from the store I got in my car, inserted my key in the ignition and attempted to start my car. The car would not start and my sterring wheel stayed in a locked position. I toggled my key in the ignition to no avail my car would not start. I ended up have to call a tow truck , who was the driver saw the model car immediately tapped on the ignition cylinder with a ball peen hammer and was able to start the car. What he said is this is common in ford focus.
Consumer put the key into the ignition and the key will not turn. Vehicle had to be towed to the dealer, and consumer was told that although the vehicle was under warranty it did not cover what was wrong with the vehicle.
While driving and upon stopping the vehicle consumer was unable to get the key out of the ignition.
1. Several times within the past 3 or 4 days, the key in the ignition would not turn. After taking the key out and try again a couple time, it would turn. However, today as I put my key in, it did not turn; tried fixing it and turning it for several hours. No luck. Must call mechanic or locksmith. Car not functional at this point.
Ignition switch becomes locked and will not turn.
2003 ford focus ignition ceased to function. Ehicle needed to be towed and serviced by ford. Esearch on internet indicates this is an extremely widespread problem among ford focus owners, with many owners needing to repair or replace the ignition several times over the course of a few years.
While driving vehicle shut down. Consumer had the battery and the altenator changed, and the problem recurred. Took the vehicle back to the dealer, and the vehicle was currently being serviced.
When attempting to start ignition switch locks intermittently.
While driving at any speed, the vehicle stalled twice, but always started back up after a few minutes. On one occasion, the dealer replaced the starter and on the another occasion, the transmission was replaced. *ak the starter was found faulty, the transmission was inoperative and there was a vibration while going 40 MPH due to shifting, the clock display was inoperative, and the engne light stayed on. *sc
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