My ford focus svt 2004 ingintion key will not turn and the steering wheel is locked. I had problems starting 4 months ago and now it is worst.
2004 Ford Focus electrical complaints
Page 3 of 7: complaints 41 to 70 of 183, newest first, as owners wrote them.
2004 ford focus. Consumer states transmission gave out with a mileage under 20,000. Consumer requests reimbursement. *tgw in july 2009, the vehicle needed a new battery. About a week after the new battery was installed, periodically the cluster lights would make a sound and the lights would blink on and off. It would happen twice in a matter of seconds, but did not happen everyday. The consumer followed instruction on what to do. The situation was a little better, but the cluster blinking, etc still occurred periodically. A week later, as the consumer backed out of her driveway, there were sounds coming from the vehicle and they seemed to get worse. The consumer had the vehicle towed to a transmission shop. Upon inspection, the transmission plate which was located under the engine showed transmission fluid an d excessive amounts of metal fillings. The mechanic showed the consumer the damaged parts where the teeth in the gears were not working properly which caused the metal fillings in the transmission plate.
The ignition lock cylinder failed suddenly without a gradual increase of symptoms. The cylinder would not allow the key to turn, unlock the steering wheel and allowing the car to start. A new ignition lock cylinder was installed and rekeyed at a price of $171.18 for the part and $142.50 for the labor.
I own a 2004 ford focus, I've had an issue with the ignition sticking for about 4 months, usually being able to jiggle it and get it to turn. Now it is stuck completely, I've read tons and tons of articles about this being a problem, my car is now parked in my driveway because I don't feel this is my responsibility to fix.
The issue I would like to report is in regard to ford focus automobiles from 2000 to current date 2010. There is a know defect with the ignition switch which is made with inferior metal parts in the ignition lock. What happens is that metal shavings are produced inside the lock and after time these metal shavings cause the lock to jam. Thousands of people have been affected by this problem and have been stranded because they cannot turn the ignition key. Ford denies this problem. Just go to any locksmith or tow truck driver or google ford focus ignition on the internet. Everybody knows about the problem. Everytime this happens it costs the owner between $500 and $800 to have this fixed at a ford dealership. My 2004 for focus currently has this problem. This should be a recall by ford and I think this is the biggest scam since bernie madoff. Please do something about this. Thanks frustrated ford owner.
Ignition switch in lock position freezes and refuses to unlock when ignition key is inserted, causing an inability to start engine or unlock steering wheel to move vehicle. This problem strands motorists wherever they are when the ignition key was switched off and removed from the ignition.
Ford focus 2004 ignition locked. Opened car as usual, inserted key in ignition to turn and steering wheel appeared to be locked. Tried to turn key and move steering wheel but both wouldn't move. Called dealership and was told the ignition was locked and that it was a common problem. Car now needs to be towed to be fixed.
First occurrence,without warning,(had never happened before) car shut off, ignition switch would not turn, resulting in vehicle no start condition. (original manufacturers key and ignition switch) contacted aaa auto club, tow truck dispatched, tow truck driver states garage has seen many 2003, 2004,2005 focus with this problem. Also should be noted numerous similar complaints on file with all model years of this vehicle. Ford dealer that sold me the car and extended warranty claims repair not covered by warranty. Feel this is a serious safety issue as car can stall and fail to restart !!!!!!. Also feel that I was sold an overpriced "warranty" which I am told will not cover repair !!! Will retain old part for investigation and possible class action. Note : vehicle mileage at failure 43,205.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. While attempting to start the vehicle the key would not turn in the ignition. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership. The current and failure mileages were 86000.
On a saturday evening I drove to grocery store. After I had finished shopping I tried to start vehicle. I could not turn key in ignition and the steering column remained in the locked position. The vehicle had 67787 miles. I had car towed to ford dealer and they drilled out lock cylinder and replaced with a new one at a cost of $385.34. Tow truck driver stated that he had towed the same model before with an identical problem. The service manager at dealer stated that he had several of the same model with identical problem. He also stated that the part had been updated a few times. I am 53 and have driven many vehicles, some with over 240,000 miles and have never before had this problem. I feel it was manufactured with a defect and it failed prematurely.
I have a 2004 ford focus. The ignition locks whenever the car is turned off. It is impossible to start the car again without hitting on the key itself. This has resulted in the key breaking off in the lock. The ignition lock appears to be a common problem with this make and model, and poses a significant safety risk.. I have had this problem for the past 2 years, but it has become much worse recently. There was no accident or damage to the car prior to this issue. The local ford dealers told me it would cost between $400-500 to fix, and it seems that many times, the new parts are also defective and the problem returns. As this appears to be a widespread problem among focus owners, please consider issuing a safety recall for this make and model.
2004 ford focus ignition problem. Could not put my key in the ignition and was stranded.
2004 ford focus-- ignition key won`t turn leaving the driver stranded.
I have two issues with my ford focus (2004) first, I ran into a problem with the ignition switch and it will not turn. I left the key in for a couple of months when this initially happened but, it wore out my alternator and I had to have it replaced. I removed the key once the new alternator was installed. I had some minor success with inserting the key and had to bang on it with my hand to get it to turn. This worked successfully for 2 weeks. The ignition switch is now frozen. I am back to square one. Secondly, the trunk latch doesn't close properly and I have to use my remote to reopen the mechanism in order to get it to close. Very aggravating. I will not purchase another ford if these issues are not recalled.
I own a 2004 ford focus zx5, I went into work, came out and found my ignition would not turn. The steering wheel was locked, the key would not budge, the brake wouldn't even push in all the way, as well as my car wouldn't come out of park. I looked up the problem online and saw it was a very common problem and I'm very displease that this would happen. I bought this car about a year ago from a dealership! I'm going to have to take my car to a locksmith or dealership and have the entire ignition system replaced.
My 17 year old daughter was left stranded one evening when the key wouldn't turn in the ignition of her 2004 ford focus so she couldn't get the car started. I had just signed up for a class at our local community college at a campus 25+ miles away. I was in class with my phone off, so I couldn't help her. It is a dangerous situation for a young girl to be stranded anywhere. In addition, we live in texas where we're up to 65 days of temperatures in the triple digits. This could be a major health concern for anyone who became stranded in the heat of the day. I understand this problem is quite common in 2000-2004 models. We were finally able to get someone to get the key to turn so she could drive home. However, once there, the same thing happened. We had to have the car towed to the dealership for service. Then I learned that the part wasn't even covered under the warranty I had purchased. For whatever reason, ford doesn't consider this to be a safety issue and has failed to issue a recall.
Ignition completely locked up. I could not start car. I was stranded and had to get towed to a ford dealer. Cost was $500 to fix.
Ignition and steering wheel completely locked up when I put the key in while heading out on my lunch break. I'm really disturbed that the federal safety agency has not done anything to make the ford motor company fix this problem which is a chronic, well-documented safety hazard. My car is now completely immobile and had to be towed back to my residence. Luckily my father is going to be able to fix it, but there are many people that don't have this option and have to spend hundreds of dollars to fix a problem caused by faulty materials knowingly used by ford. I will never buy a ford again.
2004 ford focus key ignition is a faulty design in seemingly all focus models according to my dealer and many sources. This left me stranded in 100 degree weather with my pet and no idea what to do. The repair is quoted at $550 to replace it at the dealer and ford has done nothing to recall their poorly designed ignition. My dealer said every ford focus will eventually need this repaired, why then isn't ford accountable?
1. There was no warning sign 2. My key wouldn't turn the ignition, I was stuck at my job 11:00 pm. 3. I had the car towed to the nearest ford dealerships and had the ignition replaced costing me $382.00.
I tried to start my 2004 ford focus zx3 one night only to find that the steering wheel and ignition were locked up. It felt as if the whole steering mechanism was frozen. I'm still researching how to deal with this issues since I can't drive my car. On-line resources have taught me that this is a common problem with the ford focus' yet there is no recall available and we are stuck paying hundreds of dollars to fix a manufacturer defect.
There is a defect which causes the ignition lock to fail, making it impossible to turn the key or start the vehicle's engine. The form says it's invalid but I checked both places in the car and that is what it says. The form did not have, "electrical system:ignition," as an option for component name which better describes the problem area.
2004 ford focus - key will not turn in ignition. The first occurrence was 6/27/09 @ 1:15 am, leaving movie theater, had to leave vehicle there. Again @ 7 am (finally got car cranked after 15 minutes). When got home this occurred again. Repeated times. Cannot crank vehicle with key in ignition.
Our 17 year old daughter stopped at a seven-eleven store and when she tried to return home the ignition key in our 2004 ford focus would not turn. This left our daughter stranded and required her to wait for a tow truck. Being a 17 year old girl stranded outside a seven-eleven was not a good feeling! I believe ford is aware of many complaints about their focus ignition locks.
2004 ford focus. The key will not turn in the ignition and the ignition needs to be replaced. This has happened to tons of other people with the same car and issue and ford has not recalled it because they are cheap.
The vehicle ignition starter fails to start the vehicle. You must hit the key into the ignition in order to actually start the car. This occurs every time that I attempt to start the car. This is a common issue that recurs even after you replace the parts. This is a mechanical error that will constantly break down.
1. Ford focus (2004) has for the past month had trouble with the key turning in the ignition. Apparently it is a well known issue and ford refuses to acknowledge that it is a safety issue. However, I absolutely believe that being stranded somewhere at night is very much a safety issue - whether or not ford admits this possibility. 2. The key does not turn because of a defect in the ignition switch (or so I've read online). This problem has occurred thousands of times according to online complaints and petitions, without ford recognizing it and taking action. This problem renders the car completely unusable until fixed and the repair can be very costly and time consuming. It is most certainly a safety issue - what is safe about being unable to start one's car if one is on the side of the highway, at night in an unknown city, etc? 3. Nothing has been done yet because I am waiting to see if ford customer service can explain why the company refuses to admit the issue and reimburse it's customers for their faulty design.
I own a 2004 ford focus that the ignition went out on, I would put the key in and the key would not turn, locked steering wheel. For a while, I would wiggle the key and it would finally turn over, until 2 weeks ago( 5-2009) when I had to have it towed after I got in my car and it would not start. The ford dealership looked at it the next morning and told me it would be $450.00 to fix and that this problem has happened to alot of focus owners, I don't understand why ford would not want to correct this problem, starting your car is the most important thing needed to drive so without being able to count on your ignition your car is useless and without ford recognizing this problem and fixing it, I believe alot of ford owners may not be in the future. You need to be able to start a car!
Ignition switch wont turn which prevents the car from starting this happens on a daily basis, for way over a yr now. Tow truck driver told me this is common problem with this 2004 zx3 focus. He said to hit the key a couple of times with your hand and it will turn, and it does. Only way the car will start. Called my local ford dealer and was told 550.00 to replace. So still not replaced.
The key will not turn the ignition. This has happened several times. Usually I can get it to work after about an hour or two of repeatedly putting the key in & out, but today I cannot get it working. I have been stranded in the dead of winter with my daughter out at midnight, on the side of a major busy highway (rt 94 west to chicago), and several other locations. It's usually late at night and freezing cold out when this happens to me. It is definitely a safety hazard for me as well as when I have my daughter with me.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2004 Ford Focus?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history