2003 Ford Focus: steering wheel locks up

Filed Feb 3, 2016 · Steering · 89,000 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2003 ford focus. While driving 55-60 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle crashed into a retaining wall. The contact stated that both air bags were deployed. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained an injury to the right knee, which did not require medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 89,000.

Filed Aug 10, 2015 · Electrical, Lights · 185,000 miles · NC

When riding down the road the doors will automatically lock by themselves. The steering wheel has locked several times over the years. When I bought the car used, it came with many keys. Well, this time when it locked, the steering wheel locked and the ignition locked and I had to get it towed from smithfield nc; approximately an hourly from my home. The mechanic can not get it unlocked because the steering wheel has to be turned to unlock it, vice versa, and the steering wheel is locked. Also the lighting is very poor with the head lights and I see this on all the vehicle for that year and make as I ride down the road. My car is parked because I cant afford to fix it. I have found many complaints about this steering and ignition lock issue. I am wondering why this vehicle has not been recalled for the issue. It is a hazard. I have contacted the ford manufacturer concerning the matter and was told that they can't assist me with it because my car has no warranty. Also, there was a recall on the real door lock. Ford dealership informed me that it was repaired by team ford dealership prior to me owning the vehicle; I informed him that the problem was still a issue getting the rear door to lock securely at times. He informed me that it could only have been fixed once under the recall. These issues have occurred repeatedly since I bought this vehicle in 2009. They all put me at risk of great danger.

Filed Apr 23, 2012 · Electrical, Steering · 80,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact stated that while parking, the steering wheel seized while the power steering warning chime sounded. In addition, the key would sporadically fail to turn when inserted into the ignition. The contact stated that the vehicle would start after approximately thirty minutes of repeated attempts. The dealer was made aware of the failure but the vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 140,000.

Filed Mar 2, 2010 · Electrical · 45,000 miles · NC

2003 ford focus zx5--key won't turn in the ignition, so can't start car. Steering wheel locked up and no amount of cranking, jiggling, etc., would allow me to turn the key in the ignition and start the car. Was an intermittent problem for about two months, then tonight I couldn't get the car started at all; neither could a kind stranger; neither could my husband. Snowing and cold. I had to leave the car in a grocery store parking lot overnight and hope it will be unharmed in the morning. Will probably have to have car towed to a dealership. Could have been worse: two weeks ago I was 120 miles from home for three days and would have been terribly stranded. I understand that ford will replace this defective part (ignition switch) with the same switch, which will also be defective, and that I can look forward to getting stranded again when the key will not turn in the ignition switch again. Cost will be between $350 and $400, plus time away from teaching school (not a good idea and frowned upon by administration). The $350-$400 will only buy me another faulty ignition switch. This is potentially a life-threatening situation. Others have been stranded in freezing, snowy weather nowhere near a repair shop, in extreme heat with small children in the car, in unsafe neighborhoods at night (see http://www.fordproblems.com/focus/key-wont-turn-in-the-ignition.shtml complaints). Ford should fix this problem at no cost through a recall and installation of a reliable ignition switch.

Filed Dec 21, 2009 · Steering · 85,000 miles · IL

2003 ford focus steering wheel lock. With the key inserted, the ignition cannot be turned on. Believe to be a tumbler problem. I have read hundreds of these problems in the last two days. This should be recalled.

Filed Dec 2, 2009 · Electrical · 55,000 miles · WA

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact attempted to start the vehicle and observed that the key would not turn inside of the ignition and suddenly, the steering wheel locked. A local mechanic stated that the ignition lock needed to be replaced. There were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 55,000. Updated 1/11/09 *cn the ignition lock had to be replaced because the key or the steering wheel would not move. The consumer stated she can feel the ignition starting to give her trouble again. Updated 01/14/10.

Filed Sep 20, 2009 · Steering · VA

Steering wheel locked, ignition locked and shift gear locked!!!!

Filed Dec 3, 2008 · Locks · 74,000 miles · NN

No initial indications of the problem until it happened, a sudden onset. One day, I got in my car, tried to start the engine, and the key would not turn. I tried turning the wheel to get the key to turn, and still no ability to turn the key in the lock and start the car. I tried a second key that is not used, just in case it was a worn key, but still no ability to turn the key in the column lock. Finally, after about 15 minutes of trying to jiggle and finagle the key to turn, it did. Since then, I have found that if the key is removed, and the steering wheel it turned until a positive clunk is heard and felt, indicating that the steering wheel lock has engaged, the problem repeats every single time. If I remove the key and make sure to not turn the wheel so that the steering wheel lock is not engaged then I can reliably insert the key and turn it in the ignition lock and start the car. I called ford to attempt to request a "good will repair" because I have been a good and long term ford customer (I have owned a ford pinto, a ford focus, a ford contour, and a ford escape before this ford focus) but the agent threw up a load of resistance. Now I am told that they will do nothing until I take it to a ford dealer and pay for an inspection to verify the problem. This "service" to verify what I can reliably reproduce every and any time, is unnecessary and will cost approximately half of what it will cost me to have my local garage effect the change and make the repair. I am just another one of thousands of people who suffer due to this design defect that ford must know about.

Filed Oct 20, 2008 · Steering · 71,000 miles · TX

I have a 2003 ford focus and was stranded and had to have my car towed because the steering wheel locked and I couldn't get the key to turn over. The care repair cost was $551 and the ignition and starter cylinder inside of the steering column had to be replaced. I believe this is a manufacturing flaw and ford motor co. Should pay for the repairs as a recall problem. It's my understanding that many 2000-2003 ford focus models have this flaw.

Filed Jul 1, 2008 · Engine, Steering · 73,000 miles · CA

I currently drive a 2003 ford focus hatchback 2.3l. After the engine is turned off the ignition and steering wheel lock completely. When attempting to turn on the vehicle, my car key will not turn and the wheel remains locked, in turn the vehicle becomes completely unusable. I call to ford road side assistant prompted me to quickly move the steering wheel left and right while turning the ignition forwards and backwards. I had been able to turn on the car up to 5 times using this system although once at the mechanic the car will no longer turn on, the mechanic must now drill a hole inside the steering wheel causing property damage. This started on my vehicle on sunday june 29th. This is a major safety concern as a car that does not allow the motorist to turn on the ignition can lead to possible crashes if the car becomes stalled in a highway etc.

Filed Apr 26, 2008 · Electrical · 44,700 miles · VA

When the car is parked, wheels turned, steering wheel locked, the ignition cylinder will not turn I.e. The key won't turn the ignition. This happened in the morning. When pushing in on the key, the key was able to turn the ignition. In the afternoon when the same situation occurred the key was not able to turn in ignition. I talked to two dealerships and they were both aware with the problem and the temporary solution. I talked to the tow truck driver and he said he as see this happen multiple times. He told me that ford stop using this type of ignition system however, chevrolet started using this system and he has seen the same problems occur with new chevrolets.

Filed Jan 26, 2008 · Locks · 65,000 miles · MI

On january 22, 2008 the key would not start the car, it would not turn to release the steering wheel lock. This had happened a number of time previously but we were able to turn it after considerable effort. This was an extremely cold day in michigan and could have been a serious problem if I did not get some help from my daughter. We called several locksmiths and finally one mobile locksmith came and replaced the lock.