My key will not turn over and my wheel is locked up. The problems started and I would just turn the wheel and sooner or later it would turn over. Now im stranded in my driveway with the wheel locked up and no turning the key over. Missed work and money. I searched the internet on this and the was over 300 diff people with this problem. I bought this car (ford) to save gas and money. I think this should be recalled if this many people are having this problem. I don't know why it hasn't yet.
2003 Ford Focus locks complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 82, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Late night 35 miles from home. Key would not turn in the ignition. Had to get a ride home. Returned the next day and had a locksmith replace the ignition lock with a strattec ignition lock.
The door handles on my 2003 ford focus have a recall on them, but only on certain ones and mine isn't one of them, although all four of my handles are broken. The first incident that happened with the door handles was I got out of my car at a store and left my four year old daughter in the car with it running to get a paper, and when I went to open the driver door, the door handle broke and all of the other doors were locked (because they automatically lock when you put the car in gear). I was 8 months pregnant at the time and was stranded at the store with my daughter locked in the car for about an hour. And then, on may 27th 2011, I went to leave my house and I usually keep the driver's side window down because the only doors that we can open are the driver's door and front passenger door and only from the inside. But on this day it had rained so I put the window up and when I went to leave my house I had already went outside and went through the whole "procedure" of getting the back door opened so I could put my 3 month old son in the car and I guess when I went back inside to get him, the drivers door got blown closed by the wind, because whenever I put him in and shut his door, I went around to the driver's door and it was shut and my 3 month old was stuck in the car!! It took 30 minutes for my husband to get to the house (because I had to call him home from work) and he had to climb in through the trunk and manover the carseat out of the way so he could wiggle in there and get the baby out. My son was covered in sweat from head to toe and was having a hard time breathing whenever we got him out because he already has breathing problems and he was in the car with all of the windows up for 30 minutes. I believe that the ford company should fix our door handles because if that isn't a safety issue, then I don't know what is!!
Key wont turn in ignition windows down in a bad neighborhood.
Key would not turn the ignition, stalled the car and then could not turn the car back on in the middle of rush hour traffic, on christmas eve none the less.
The key would not turn in the ignition of my 2003 ford focus zts, thus, the vehicle would not start. After a call to the local locksmith, I was surprised to hear "this is a common problem for a ford focus". When arriving, the locksmith proceeded to explain to me why the stock ignition switch of my car is a defective design, comparing to a new switch they were about to install. Upon further research online, I could not find any information about a recall for the defective item. I did find, however, plenty of complains of ford owners having the exact same problem. I am surprised such a critical component has not been recalled since it jeopardizes the reliability of the vehicle.
The key in my 2003 ford focus will not turn the ignition. We were stranded in the middle of nowhere. The key is fine..the actual ignition mechanism is locked and will not turn.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact stated that both of the rear doors failed. The rear driver side door would not open and the rear passenger side door would not close. The dealer advised the contact to speak with the manufacturer in regards to the failure. The manufacturer advised that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number: 05v030000 (latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch). The vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileage was 90,050.
2003 ford focus ignition lock-up. Every time the key is removed from ignition and then reinserted, it is very hard to get it to unlock to turn and start. We have been stranded in parking lots during 110 degree weather while trying to get the key to turn. We will have to either replace the ignition or call a locksmith. This is an everyday problem now.
My 2003 ford focus will not start due to the fact that ford has apparently used defective lock cylinders on the 2003 ford focus. I walked up to my local ford dealership and was told that it would cost 350 to repair the car. (not including charges for getting the vehicle to them) this has prevented me from driving a car that I am still making payments on.
I was stranded with my 2003 ford focus because they key would not turn in the ignition. I finally was able to get my car towed to a mechanic at 2am and was able to get a ride home. I am very fortunate nothing happened to me - who knows what could have happened that late at night. I had to get the ignition replaced which cost $400. It is ridiculous that this has not been recalled.
Ignition cylinder locked unable to drive ford focus 2003. Cost of ignition cylinder, new key (1), reset of computer = $480.00.
I have a 2003 ford focus and the ignition and the key suddenly won't turn in the ignition. I have looked this problem up online and it looks like a far too common problem. My wife is 8.5 months pregnant, and I thank god this didn't happen any later as it is our only vehicle. Please take prompt action against ford and make them issue a recall! Thank you.
Ign key will not turning key gets stuck left me stranded in a bad high crime area I under stand that this is a problem on all the focus why is a recall mot been done.
Ignition cylinder lock sticks, unable to turn key and start car.
Key won't turn in the ignition of our 2003 ford focus just happened today - no prior problem with ignition will most likely call a locksmith.
No previous indication of any problem, just went to my 2003 focus and could not turn the key. Went in the house and got the other key. It would not turn. The ignition column is permanently locked. Ford has known of this failure for 10 years and done nothing??? Why is there no recall for such an ongoing and known defect? I'm surprised I have not heard of deaths related to this as weather conditions, robbery or rape could certainly contribute to this fixable problem. Shame on ford.
The ignition of my 2003 ford focus se, locked up on me and left me stranded in a parking lot.
My 2003 ford focus has a ignition switch problem all of a sudden the key will not start the car it has left us stranded and has taken us as long as 30 minutes to start car. We have tried several remedies like silicone spray, tapping on key so it will start this problem has effected a host of focus owners with costly repairs and we will soon have to spend money to repair this obviously flawed design.
The ignition switch (that is, where the key goes to start the car) would not turn. I was stuck and had to have the car towed. There had been no warning, that is, the key was never hard to turn, I never had to jiggle the steering column, or anything liked that. I just parked the car in front of a store, and five mints later, went out and found out they key would not turn. (I could remove and re-insert the key, it would not turn) . Further more, the dealer and aaa, of course, say to try jiggling the steering wheel. All that did was lock the front wheels in a turned position and made it very hard to move the car get it to a position to be towed. Having the wheels lock in a turned position, as is common, could be a hazard too. The aaa guy could not free (turn) the ignition switch it either. I had first cell-phoned called the dealer, they had no suggestions. I see I had the same problem so many other 2003 focuses have reported. The dealer guessed that the cause was that one of the pins in the lock just slipped out of place. The ford dealer had to replace the ignition switch. It was not cheap. I called ford motor company they would not pay for it, or part of it.
2003 ford focus. Went to drive the car got in put the key in the ignition and it won't turn. This is the second time it has happened. 3/4/10, the first time, it "finally", after about 10 minutes turned after putting the key in and out of the ignition. The second time on 3/5/10, it just wouldn't turn. The car is sitting, will have to call a lock smith to get it fixed.
Ignition key will not turn, and vehicle can not be started, removing key and inserting again and again would allow it to start this happened every time. Now it will not turn at all.
I was holiday shopping on the 23rd, just came back to my 2003 ford focus svt in the parking lot of the mall and the ignition would not turn. Tried and tried and tried. No luck, I'm stranded, it's snowing out and it's 10:00pm. Why most I rune a friends evening to come and pick me up because of a faulty ignition switch. $130 dollar tow and an estimate from my ford dealer to fix it for $490. I've already researched this a little and I can't believe there is not a service bulletin on this problem. How many people have to get stranded for this to get fixed? I just paid off the car and it has 91,000 miles on it.
I have a 2003 ford focus zx5 and the rear hatch latch does not always engage so have to slam it down a few times to get it to latch. I noticed the recall, but I live in nebraska and the recall does not apply there. I believe this needs to be expanded. Also the door latches are getting harder and harder to open, is there any recall on them. Also I have a problem with the steering column adjustment lever it will not stay, it releases as you are driving causing the steering wheel to bounce up and down. Not safe.
I own a 2003 ford focus zts that has 140,000 miles. I know my vehicle is out of warranty. The ignition has been giving me problems that scare me from time to time that I may get stranded. You put the key in, go to turn the key to start and the ignition acts locked. You try again and again but still nothing. This has left me trying to turn my ignition for up to 10 minutes so far. This started about 2 months ago, once a week. Now it happens everyday, not every time, but at least 2 out of 5 times I go to start my vehicle it happens. This is definitely getting worse very quickly. This seems to be a common problem with the 2000-2003 ford focus models. I have heard that even if I take my vehicle to a ford dealership to have the ignition replaced which will cost up around $500, that the new ignition will probably do the same thing due to ford not correcting the problem in the design of the ignition. I will try calling a locksmith due to the cost being less. I just wanted to let you know this is a common problem occurring and should be checked into as a recall matter. I do not have the patience to wait for that to happen nor do I have the confidence that I will be able to continue to get my vehicle started so I will get this problem fixed.
We drove our 2003 ford focus to the grocery store. Upon returning to the car, the key would not turn in the ignition and stranded my wife, 4 year old and 6 month old children and myself wondering what we could do.
The key was starting to stick then I could not get the in the ignition switch to start the car so my son that works for ford said to tap on the key then it should start so I did and it worked it is an on going thing I think that if ford knows there is a problem they should do a recall on it the car is a 2003 ford focus and is not under warranty like the other owners that have complained about the same problem so now I have to pay to get it fixed like all of the other owners it happens almost every day I go to get my car started it is very annoying.
I have a 2003 ford focus zx5 hatchback. It only has 80,000 miles on it, but we have had a huge problem that many others have had with this car. The ignition locks up frequently, and the key will not turn. This problem has left me stranded on many an occasion. It has happened to me 5 times. Each of those times, I have managed to get it working again by violently jamming the key and jiggling it in the ignition, or waiting a while before attempting to insert the key again. Today, however, none of these methods worked, and the ignition seems to be permanently stuck. After careful research on the internet, it seems that this is a common problem with ford focus 2001-2003. It has left many drivers across the country stranded in inopportune times and locations, as well as cost them hundreds of dollars each time that the wheel locks up. The sheer volume of people with the same problem indicates that this problem is quite common. It seems that the problem arises from substandard engineering on ford's part. Please look into forcing a recall.
2003 ford focus door latches broken. Doors flew open while driving vehicle on highway and local streets. Someone could have fallen out or another car could have hit the door when it flew open and have caused a serious crash. Ford had a recall on the 4 and 5 door focus but not on a 3 door which is mine. One door has been fixed $293 at a dealer and the other door needs to be fixed. I feel ford should reimburse me and fix the other door free of charge. This can cause a serious accident and ford knows they have had problems with these door latches. If someone gets killed ford will probably have a lawsuit against them.
I was stranded many miles from a highway because I could not get my ignition key turned, steeringwheel turned or automatic shifter moved. All blocked. Luckily, I was able to get a ride back to where I could use my cellphone. A friend checked the internet on the problem and he found the suggestion to hit the key. Later many taps this actually worked and I was able to drive home.
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