Ford focus key will not turn in ignition. I was stranded at night with 2 children for over an hour due to this problem! This has occurred more than a handful of times in the last 2 weeks which is unacceptable. This defective part should be recalled and replaced immediately!!
2004 Ford Focus electrical complaints
Page 5 of 7: complaints 101 to 130 of 183, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. When the contact inserted the key into the ignition, he was unable to start the vehicle. He was also unable to remove the key from the ignition. The dealer stated that they have had many similar complaints related to ignition failure for the ford focus. Depending on the severity of the failure, the repair could cost between $300-$600. Through online research, the contact discovered other complaints related to the ford focus and ignition failures. The failure and current mileages were 49,000.
Key stuck in ignition switch. Cannot turn. Cannot be removed.
Ignition switch frozen, the cost to repair/replace quoted by ford dealership was $361.00, the cost by a locksmith is $300-$350. 2004 ford focus z3.
Had to have the ignition lock on a 2004 ford focus replaced. Consumer states that he was informed that it is a frequent problem.
Key will not turn in ignition leaving me stranded at night. Seems to be a common problem with this car(ford focus) according to internet queries.
Went to start car to go to work and key would not turn the ignition on. Had to have the whole tumbler assembly repaired at a cost of just under $400.
I have owned my 2004 ford focus se for about 4 years now and out of no where the ignition in the car froze. When I put my key in the ignition the key doesn't go in the key hole smoothly once all the way in it wont turn. I was stranded at work for 3 and a half hours trying to get my car started finally a tow truck driver came and used a mallet hit my key while it was in the ignition to get the car started. I brought my car to a local ford dealership because I heard that ford did a recall on this part. Turns out that the dealership says I am fully responsible for the part...I did some researching online and found that hundreds of thousands of people have the same problem ford is not fixing this malfunction. I am deploying to iraq for the second time and I can not leave my family a working vehicle because of a defect ford has with the ignition system. I feel as if this is a problem that ford should face and should do an official recall on. This is poor service esp coming from a large vehicle company like ford.
I was getting into my 2004 ford focus and put the key in and tried to turn it. The key would not turn. The ignition switch is broken. I researched it online and found numerous consumers with the same problem. Ford is not issuing a recall for this problem and they should. I called ford and they said there is nothing they can do. I was left stranded at work and late for my second job because of the car trouble. I am having my car fixed today. I called a dealership and barely got two words out about the ignition and they knew exactly what I was talking about. They said that it has been happening to a lot of focuses. This has left many people stranded and in dangerous places. Ford needs to issue a recall and fix this issue so that they do not have any more unhappy customers.
2004 ford focus with ignition problems. Consumer states that the key got stuck in the ignition. Consumer also stated that the vehicle would not start. Consumer was informed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced.
Ignition cylinder locked up occasionally. After wiggling the key, it would always crank eventually. Cylinder would not turn and therefore car would not start. Cylinder is a "dealer only" part. Ford will not let others sell this part because then no one would buy their defective part.
My daughter went to start her 2004 ford focus and the key would not turn when inserted in the ignition. Steering wheel and ignition cylinder were locked up and could not be moved. This was the first occurrence of this problem. Vehicle was towed to a nearby ford dealership where the problem was diagnosed as "ignition cylinder binding." dealership drilled out cylinder and replaced at a cost of $425. Failure mileage was 67,947.
My horn stop working a little after I got the car back in 04. Ford has put about 5 new horns in still nothing. It works for a bit, then out of no were it stops. Then around 34,000 mi my car was in the shop for 33 days. At the time no one told me that my car was a lemon if its in the shop for that long under 36,000 mi then its a lemon. Then at 58,000 my engine starts to make a noise. So I take it to ford, yep it needs a new engine, so they put a new one in there. Well at 67,00 guess what, my ignition has locked up, so now I'm screwed. I can barley make my payments and now I can't even drive my car.....again.
The key will not turn in the ignition of my 2004 ford focus.
Event: ignition key would not turn and start the car. Consequence: handicap equipped car: event left my wife helpless in her car in a hazardous situation for more than an hour (winter cold) (3) towing service required, cylinder had to be drilled out, replacement costs at ford car dealership about 500 usd.
2004 ford focus ignition key lockout failure. Had to replace tumbler.
There were no events leading to this problem. It just happened out of no were. My key would not turn in the ignition.
My 2004 ford focus ignition lock cylinder failed (it wouldn't turn) leaving me stranded and requiring a tow and nearly $300 in repairs. I've since discovered that this problem is wide-spread and was identified by ford over 7 years ago and yet no steps have been taken to correct it. The fact that this defect can leave you stranded pretty much at random (anywhere at anytime) makes this a safety issue. Among other things, not being able to turn the key also means I couldn't put the car in neutral to push it out of the way of traffic. That this has not been addressed is simply appalling.
2004 focus has a defective ignition tumbler. Over a course of a few days the key began to get stuck in the ignition and would only turn after several attempts. After a few days, it stopped working all together. I was stranded in a dark parking lot after work for nearly an hour until someone could get me. I then had to get a ride to work the following day (50 mi each way). Before having the car towed to a garage, I contacted someone at a ford dealer who said this was a common problem. He suggested tapping on the key with a hard object (I used a pocket knife) while turning the key and it worked! So the car is now sitting in my driveway until I can get it started again to take it into the shop. Estimated repair cost $450.00 and this doesn't include the cost to re-key. My husband also has 2004 ford focus (we bought them on the same day) and is also having problems with the ignition tumbler--how coincidental is that? Sounds like a serious defect to me. I can't believe the ford company isn't taking any responsibility for this issue. I own 3 fords and will never buy one again!
Tl*the contact's son owns a 2004 ford focus. The contact stated that the ignition would not turn when the key was inserted. The dealer stated that the ignition switch failed and was a common occurrence. As of november 8, 2007, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 46,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. The vehicle failed to start because the steering wheel locked up. The vehicle was towed to the ford dealer and is currently being repaired. The cause of the failure was the ignition switch. The contact discovered several complaints on this same defect, but no recalls were available. He considered this to be a manufacturer defect. The current and failure mileages were 48,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. The contact was unable to turn the ignition when the key was inserted. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure recurred two days later. The dealer stated that the key cartridge caused the failure and they made the replacement. The contact stated that two of the three original keys have not worked properly since the replacement. The failure mileage was 14,155 and current mileage was 14,200. Updated 01-14-08. *kb updated 12/12/07
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. While stopped, the vehicle stalled and shut off. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the key would not turn in the ignition. The failure occurred several times before, but the vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle had to be towed to a mechanic. The mechanic stated that the ignition cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired at the cost of $150 for the part. The purchase date and dealer information were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 50,000.
I was stranded over the weekend at a gas station in the middle of nowhere because my key wouldn't turn, it seemed locked in my ignition. I really needed my car to start to get out of there but couldn't and was approached by a mentally insane man asking me for a ride. Nothing has been done to fix my car because they aren't open until monday.
The shifter, steering wheel and ignition key all lock up on my 2004 ford focus. I simply guide my car to where I want to park it. Stop, put the car in park and turn off the car. When I go to start my car again, everything is locked up and takes a long time to get it unlocked. I almost have to break off the key to get it started.
Ford focus ignition key won't turn.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire while parked. He has not contacted the dealer or manufacturer. The fire department arrived at the scene and are currently filing a report. The fire was caused by the electrical system of the driver side battery. The vehicle is no longer able to be driven. The contact researched other vehicles like his and noticed a pattern of fire related failures. The current and failure mileages were 32,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. The key failed to turn in the ignition to start the vehicle. The dealer stated that the ignition cylinder had failed. The vehicle is currently being repaired. The current and failure mileages were 36,000. Updated 09/05/07.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. The contact stated that at any given time, the ignition locks up. As a result, she is unable to open the windows, doors, start the vehicle, or operate the vehicle in any capacity. Ford advised her to shake the vehicle and move the steering wheel back and forth. Ford also advised her husband to take a mallard and strike the ignition in an attempt to release the key. If none of those solutions worked, the contact was informed to bring the vehicle to the dealer because the part is probably defective. The contact heeded ford's instructions, but the failure still occurred. The manufacturer stated that they are aware of the issue, however, the plateau of concern is not great enough to issue a recall. The dealer stated that the cost to repair the vehicle is $432 and that the part is definitely defective. The VIN and engine size were unknown. The current mileage is 58,000 and failure mileage was 55,000.
Without any warning the ignition switch of the 2004 ford focus began to stop functioning properly. I am currently able to turn the key if I spend a few minutes manipulating the steering wheel while simultaneously turning the key.
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