2000 Ford Focus Complaint Log

BROKEN IGNITION-LOCK CYLINDER. *NM

I PURCHASED MY 2000 FORD FOCUS IN 2001 AND FEEL AS IF I HAVE SPENT MORE TIME IN THE SHOP FOR RECALLS AND REPAIRS THAN I HAVE DRIVING IT. IN MARCH 2003, I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR DIED WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAKE IT SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER AND REQUIRED A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS APPARENTLY RELATED TO THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE. THE CAR RAN FINE UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN IT AGAIN BEGAN TO HESITATE, SURGE, AND STALL (ESPECIALLY IF THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON, WHICH I NOW CANNOT RUN AND I LIVE IN TENNESSEE WHERE THE TEMPERATURES ARE REGULARLY IN THE 80'S AND 90'S). I TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY AND TOLD THEM I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD BEFORE WHEN THE RECALL WAS APPARENTLY FIXED. THEY SAID TO COME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT BUT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL OR WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY FIXED ONCE AND IT'S ONLY GUARANTEED FOR 12 MONTHS. THIS CAR IS A LEMON IF THERE EVER WAS ONE. I WILL NEVER AGAIN PURCHASE AN AMERICAN-MADE CAR IF THEY ARE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH RIPPING OFF CONSUMERS THE WAY THEY DO. *JB

WE HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS SE AND ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING (LATE AT NIGHT). IT WAS THEN DISCOVERED THAT EVERY TIME A NEW FUSE WAS PUT IN, IT WOULD JUST BLOW RIGHT AWAY. WE TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE DECK LID WIRE HARNESS HAD BROKEN WIRES AT THE BEND AREA CAUSING THE LOSS OF POWER AND LIGHTS WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO OTHER WIRES. THERE WERE MULTIPLE WIRES WHICH WERE DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THIS WAS ALL BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT IN THE DECK LID WIRE HARNESS. WE HAVE A COPY OF A NHTSA RECALL BULLETIN WHICH STATES THAT THIS DEFECT WAS UNDER A RECALL IN DECEMBER 2000. WE HAVE CALLED FORD AND ALSO SPOKE TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY ARE TELLING US THAT OUR CAR DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. IT IS VERY OBVIOUS TO ANYONE WHO WOULD SEE THE REAR DECK LID THAT THERE IS A VERY CLEAR DEFECT. THE WIRES ARE FRAYED AND MELTED TOGETHER. THE GENTLEMAN WHO REPAIRED OUR CAR SAID THIS IS DEFINITELY THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE WIRES ON THE DECK LID ARE STILL NEED OF REPAIR AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO THE BEND AREA TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. FORD IS TELLING US THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. THE REFERENCE NUMBER FOR THE NHTSA RECALL IS 00V411000. MFG. CAMPAIGN NO: 00S50. WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP IN GETTING THIS MATTER SETTLED TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE GARAGE BILL WHICH WAS CAUSED FROM THE DECK LID WIRE HARNESS DEFECT. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP WITH THIS. *NM

IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKS UP WHICH REQUIRES TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF ASSEMBLY. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE (3) VERY UNFORTUNATE TIMES, EACH REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE ASSEMBLY. IN THE RIGHT SITUATION IT COULD (AND ONE OF THOSE WAS) DANGEROUS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE THE IGNITION FAILED TO RELEASE THE KEY. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD POP AS THOUGH SOMETHING HIT UNDERSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING THEN PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT DETERMINED BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED AND THE SPRINGS WERE REPLACED.

FOR THE SECOND TIME MY WIFE HAS BEEN STRANDED BECAUSE THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER ON OUR 2000 FORD FOCUS LOCKED UP AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN RESULTING IN THE CAR HAVING TO BE TOWED AND THE CYLINDER REPLACED AT A COST OF $349.00 TO ME. THE DEALER DENIES THAT ANY SERVICE BULLETIN WAS EVER ISSUED BY FORD CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IS NOT TRUE. *NM

2000 BLACK FORD FOCUS ZX3 MY KEY (SAME KEY THAT CAME WITH THE CAR) WILL NOT START MY CAR. . . .IT WILL NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. AND ALSO I CAN'T GET MY STEERING WHEEL TO UNLOCK TO MAKE MATTERS WORST. THIS PROBLEM DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN BUT IT HAPPENS MORE THAN IT SHOULD, AND THIS TIME I CAN'T EVEN GET IT TO START AT ALL. IT HAPPENS ABOUT 3 TIMES A YEAR AND I CAN GET MY CAR GOING IN ABOUT AN HOUR. BUT, THIS TIME MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY FOR 3 DAYS NOW. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE GAVE ME ADVICE BUT, IT DIDN'T HELP. AND THE LAST 2 TIMES THEY HAVE FAILED TO CALL ME BACK! *NM

BROKEN SPRING IN FRONT OF 2000 FORD FOCUS. LEADING TO OTHER UNSAFE CONDITIONS ON THE CAR. STRUT BEARINGS,CONTROL LINKS UNSTABLE STEERING VIBRATION. *JB

2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILURE. IGNITION SWITCH WON'T TURN WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER REPLACED. THIS CYLINDER WAS REPLACED IN 2003 AT THE COST OF $200 AND HAD TO RECENTLY BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS DEFECT LEAVES THE OWNER STRANDED. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE HAVING TO REPLACE THIS CYLINDER IN A VEHICLE - LET ALONE HAVING TO REPLACE ONE TWICE IN THE SAME VEHICLE. WHEN PAYING FOR MY SECOND REPLACEMENT IN JUNE 2006 THE CASHIER AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT ALL OF THE EARLY YEAR FOCUS MODELS SEEM TO HAVE THIS ISSUE. CASHIER SAID THAT THEY KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG WHEN THEY SAW A FOCUS BEING TOWED IN - IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. *JB

I WAS GOING ABOUT 15 MPH WHEN I HIT A SMALL POT HOLE IN THE ROAD. SOON AFTER I BEGAN TO HEAR A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I WOULD TAKE TURNS. AFTER BRINGING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAD SHATTERED. AFTER HAVING THESE FIXED AS THEY WERE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY BY THE MANUFACTURER I AM TOLD THAT COINCIDENTLY I HAVE NEW FRONT SUSPENSION AND ABS ISSUES WHICH THOUGH MOST LIKELY WERE CAUSED BY THE COIL STRING MALFUNCTION WILL NOT BE COVERED AS SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE AND I AM ON MY OWN. HAD THE DAMAGE TO THE COIL SPRING NOT OCCURRED THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO ISSUES WITH THE ABS OR FRONT SUSPENSION. *JB

LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING BROKE AFTER RIDING OVER A MANHOLE COVER AT LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND IT WAS PARKED IN THE NEAREST PARKING GARAGE. THE DAMAGED TIRED HAD TO BE REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH THE SPARE TO MOVE THE CAR BACK OUT OF THE PARKING GARAGE TO BE TOWED. THIS TIRE WAS ALSO DAMAGED (HOWEVER, THE DAMAGE WAS LESS SEVERE). THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THE COIL SPRING CLEAVED UNDER THE RUBBER SHIELDING AND DAMAGED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE TIRE WOULD HAVE PUNCTURED AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND POSSIBLY INJURY/DEATH. *NM

THE IGNITION LOCK CYL IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS LOCKED UP AND WILL NOT TURN. *NM

FRONT PASSENGER SPRING BROKE, SEPARATED FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET, EMBEDDED THE END OF THE SPRING INTO THE TIRE WHICH PUNCTURED IT. VEHICLE REQUIRED TOWING FOR REPAIR. I WAS NOTIFIED OF AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY" ON THE PROBLEM AND SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR REIMBURSEMENT. AFTER 5 MONTHS OF FOLLOW-UP, I FINALLY RECEIVED A CHECK FOR THE REPAIRS. *JB

I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER ON MARCH 2, 2006 AFTER I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH IT STALLING AND THEN IT WAS HARD TO RESTART. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER. THEN ON MAY 19, I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN TO HAVE A RECALL ON THE LOCKS FIXED AND TO ASSESS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. I WAS TOLD THAT THEIR WAS AN EVAP LEAK AT THE GAS CAP AND ONE WOULD BE ORDERED FOR ME. DURING THIS WAIT I EXPERIENCED A STRONG GAS SMELL SURROUNDING THE VEHICLE AND COMING UP THROUGH THE VENTS. THEN ON JUNE 4 (THE CAP STILL NOT REPLACED), I WAS GETTING POOR GAS MILEAGE. AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY I NOTICED A STRING OF GAS. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I WAS LOSING GAS. I WENT FROM HALF A GALLON TO E IN LESS THAT 8 MIN. UNTIL I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION AND THE CAR DIED. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND ROLLED TO SAFETY. THEN I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO IS CURRENTLY ASSESSING THE SITUATION....PLEASE HELP!!! PREVIOUS PROBLEMS INCLUDES, BUT IT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS (CUTS OUT, DIES, HESITATES{COIL PACK REPLACED}, THE KEY NOT FITTING INTO THE IGNITION {JAMMED THE KEY IN & WD40}. *NM

STICKY KEY. IGNITION LOCKS UP AND CANNOT TURN KEY. KEY LOCKS UP. *NM

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS HAS LESS THAN 55 THOUSAND MILES WHICH I JUST PURCHASED 3 MONTHS AGO. MY IGNITION FROZE, KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THANK GOODNESS IT WAS HOME IN THE GARAGE. I COULD HAVE BEEN AT THE LAKE OR ANYWHERE AND BEEN STRANDED. THE TOW TRUCK JUST HAULED IT OFF. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUS I HAVE LEARNED. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL PROBLEM. THIS WILL BE MY LAST FORD. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON DRY ASPHALT, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER 15 MINUTES, AND WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PUMP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED. THE FRON STABILIZER BAR AND FUEL FILTER WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 11/16/06. *JB

FORD 2000 FOCUS IGNITION LOCKED, AAA SAID THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH FOCUS AND NO RECALLS. *NM

IN JULY 2005 MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN WERE DRIVING MY 2000 FORD FOCUS LX ON THE FREEWAY AND WE WERE IN THE FAST LANE WHEN OUR CAR STARTED TO STALL AND WERE UNABLE TO GET GAS TO THE CAR. WE LATER TOOK IT TO BE CHECKED AND FOUND OUT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS NOT PUTTING FUEL INTO THE CAR AND WE HAD TO REPLACE IT. WE LATER FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD BEEN REPLACED ONCE BEFORE. SO WE HAD IT FIXED AND ON MAY 30 2006 ALSO DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY BY CAR BEGAN TO STALL AND NOT WANT TO MOVE WELL. SO ONCE AGAIN I TOOK IT TO BE LOOKED AT AND FOUND OUT THAT THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE WITH THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS ACTING UP AGAIN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE NOT FIXED IT YET DUE TO ALREADY FIXING IT WITHIN A YEARS TIME AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR AND FOUND OUT THE RECALL WAS NOT DONE ON MY CAR DUE TO THE VIN # NOT BEING INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL BULLETIN. *NM

I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS. I INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I TRIED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES, BUT DID NOT WORK. HAD TO END UP GETTING THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHERE THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. DID I MENTION THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS? I DID AN ONLINE SEARCH WITH THE WORDS FOCUS AND IGNITION AND GOT NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS. DO YOU EVEN READ THESE THINGS? HOW LONG DO YOU ALLOW A COMPANY TO GET AWAY WITH THIS TYPE OF THING? *JB

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR STARTS TO SLOW DOWN, EVEN WITH ME PUSHING THE GAS. I PULLED OVER SAFELY AND THE CAR STALLED. I TURNED THE KEY OFF THINKING IT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE LAST TIME AND I WOULD JUST HAVE TO START IT UP AGAIN. NOT THIS TIME, IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS OUT OF GAS BUT WITH A HALF A TANK THAT COULD NOT BE IT. I LATER GOT THE CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE AND STARTED LOOKING AROUND. I FOUND A RUBBER HOSE THAT WAS BEING COMPRESSED IN WHEN EVER I TRIED STARTING THE CAR. LATER I FOUND THAT THE HOSE LEAD BACK TO THE GAS LINE. I THEN OVER TIME STARTED LOOKING THIS UP ON THE NET AND FOUND OUT THAT IT COULD BE A RECALL AND I AM WRITING TO LET YOU KNOW MY STORY. *JB

MY FORD VIN [XXX] IS HAVING THE SYMPTOMS AS PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V482000 AND MEETS THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THIS RECALL, BUT FORD SAYS THAT MY CAR DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR RECALL 03N01 BECAUSE THEY SAY THE RECALL IS NOT MANDATORY AND IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL. I'M DRIVING A 2000 FORD FOCUS ZTS AND AFTER RUNNING THE TANK LOW ON FUEL, THE ENGINE IS NOW HESITATING AND HAS A LOSS OF POWER. I REPORTED TO THE SERVICE TECH THAT MY CAR WAS HAVING THESE PROBLEMS AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PRECEDED THE CHANGE IN THE CAR'S PERFORMANCE. THEY SAID THEIR COMPUTER'S DIAGNOSTIC OF THE SITUATION DIDN'T INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE. *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I CANNOT INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION OF 2000 FORD FOCUS. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE IT BEFORE. CALLED LOCKSMITH AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY MAKE/MODEL. TUMBLER HAS TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $150.*JB

MY DAUGHTER PURCHASED A 2000 FORD FOCUS FROM A DEALERSHIP IN BATON ROUGE LA AND DID NOT REALIZE THAT IT WAS "RECONSTRUCTED" THE CAR WAS NOT MARKED AS THAT NOR WAS IT MARKED OR WRITTEN ANYWHERE THAT THERE WERE NO AIRBAGS. THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENTS WERE STUFFED WITH STYROFOAM AND PLASTIC BAGS SO AS TO HIDE IT. NONE OF THIS WAS NONE TO US UNTIL SHE HAD AN ACCIDENT. THE TITLE DOES SAY "RECONSTRUCTED" HOWEVER SHE WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS UNTIL THE ACCIDENT AND THAT IS WHEN WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE AIRBAGS AS WELL. SHE HAS NO IDEA WHAT RECONSTRUCTED EVEN MEANT. THIS DEALERSHIP SPOKE TO ME AS WELL AS OUR INSURANCE COMPANY AND NEVER DIVULGED ANY OF THIS INFO, HAD THEY DONE SO THE SALE WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. IF MY DAUGHTER HAD BEEN IN A HEAD ON COLLISION SHE WOULD BE DEAD AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AND MY 3 WEEK OLD GRAND-DAUGHTER. EVERY DEALERSHIP THAT I HAVE SPOKE TO AS WELL AS CHECKING INTO THE LAW STATE THAT 1. THE CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN MARKED "RECONSTRUCTED AND 2. A SEPARATE DISCLOSURE FOR THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE AND NONE OF THIS WAS DONE. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE WERE NO AIRBAGS (WHICH COST $3600 TO REPLACE BECAUSE THE ENTIRE DASH HAS TO BE REPLACED) THE INSURANCE HAS TOTALED THE VEHICLE AND MY DAUGHTER IS BASICALLY LEFT WITH NOTHING BECAUSE OF A FRAUDULENT DEALERSHIP. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION AND PICTURES TO SEND AS PROOF, PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH AND E-MAIL. *JB

BOTH OF MY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THE TRUNK LIGHT WORKS FOR BRAKING, AND THE TAIL LIGHTS WORK, BUT NOT FOR BRAKING. *JB

I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS AND AMONG ALL THE RECALLED PARTS I'VE FIXED THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS. THE CAR JUMPS EITHER WHEN I PRESS THE GAS OR IF THE CAR IS IN IDLE. I'VE BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY THOUGHT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE OIL LEAKING IN MY SPARK PLUGS WHICH THEY FIXED AND GAVE ME A TUNE UP WITH ALL FORD PARTS. OF COURSE NOW THEY SUGGEST BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER AND HAVE FORD RUN TESTS. I'VE PROBABLY HAVE GOTTEN SOMETHING FIXED ON MY CAR EVERY 6 MONTHS FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS. ALSO I'VE HAD TO REPLACE 3 WINDOWS DUE TO THE DEVICE THAT PULLS IT UP AND DOWN BROKE. AND NOW MY KEY WON'T START THE CAR. I CAN'T START MY IGNITION BECAUSE OF THE KEY LOCK/PIN IS DEFECTIVE. WHAT MORE DO I HAVE TO GO THROUGH FOR FORD TO RECALL OR FIX THIS CAR, GET IN AN ACCIDENT AND GET HURT MYSELF. *NM

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, COULD NOT TURN KEY TO START VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I'M THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CYLINDER THE FIRST TIME WITH OEM STOCK. FIRST TIME WAS $250. THIS TIME IS $283. FORD OWNS THIS PROBLEM. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD, AND NEITHER WILL ANYONE IN MY FAMILY, UNTIL THIS IS REIMBURSED. *NM

LOCKED IGNITION CYLINDER. KEY GOES IN BUT EITHER GETS STUCK OR WITH NOT MOVE. *NM

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY AND IGNITION IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS FOR OVER 6 MONTHS NOW. THE KEY ONCE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN THE LOCK, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN LEAVING ME STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES, ONCE IN BELOW FREEZING WEATHER WITH AN INFANT. UPON RESEARCH ONLINE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS I AM FINDING THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON OCCURRENCE, AND HAVE BEEN SUBSEQUENTLY TOLD BY TWO MECHANICS THAT IT IS A DEFECT IN THE IGNITION CONSTRUCTION THAT FORD REFUSED TO RECALL. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACE AND RE-KEYED AT A COST OF OVER $400. *NM

IGNITION LOCK FAILURE: HAD PROBLEMS INSERTING THE KEY INTO IGNITION AND TURNING. PROBLEM WORSENED QUICKLY SO THAT THE KEY COULD BE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION BUT WOULD NOT TURN. IGNITION COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. COULD NOT START THE CAR AND WAS STRANDED. TOW REQUIRED FOR REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3. THE FIRST TIME FORD REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WITH SIMILARLY INFERIOR PARTS. *NM

2000 FORD FOCUS SE. MOTOR MOUNTS STRIPPED OUT CAUSING ENGINE TO DROP AND FALL FORWARD TEARING OUT THE "TRIPOD" JOINT AND SAWING THROUGH THE COOLANT LINES. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN AND START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE BEGAN IN 2003. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW IGNITION LOCK IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESOLVED THE ISSUE. CURRENTLY, FIVE YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED AT HER PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

2000 FORD FOCUS ZTS EXHIBITING PROBLEMS SINCE OCTOBER 2005. TWO MECHANICS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY PROBLEM. IN MAY THE CAR STALLED WHILE CRUISING AND WAS UNABLE TO START. IT WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED WITH A FAILED STARTER SWITCH, WHICH HAD BEEN REPLACED OVER A YEAR BEFORE. IF THIS INCIDENT HAD HAPPENED ON A BUSIER ROAD IT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE BRAKES LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARRANT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED; SMOKE ERUPTED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION THE RIM WAS BLACK AND THERE WERE METAL PIECES ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN VERY SLOWLY 25 MILES TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL HUB DUE TO THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE BRAKES LOCKING UP.

TIRE SEPARATION/CRACKING LINGLONG L688 TIRES 205 40 ZR 17. *NM

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, COULD NOT TURN KEY TO START VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE. *NM

RECENTLY THE VEHICLE STARTED TO IDLE ERRATICALLY SOMETIMES DYING, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THE BOSCH PLATINUM SPARK PLUGS WERE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH FORD VEHICLES AND SOLD ME NEW SPARK PLUGS. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO GO AWAY BUT ABOUT 30 DAYS LATER IT STARTED AGAIN. FRUSTRATED WITH THE DEALERS PERFORMANCE I CHECKED THE VEHICLE MYSELF AND FOUND THAT THE CRANKCASE VENT BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND FIREWALL HAD A RUBBER ELBOW AND HOSE THAT WERE COLLAPSING AFTER THE VEHICLE STARTED. I REMOVED THEM AND FOUND THE ELBOW HAD A HOLE AND THE HOSE SEEMED TO BE STRUCTURALLY WEAKENED. I REPLACED BOTH AND NO MORE PROBLEM. *JB

I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY IGNITION STICKING AND JUST TODAY IT COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. I FOUND ON THE INTERNET WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. IS THERE ANY INFO REGARDING A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM?*JB

FOR ALMOST ONE MONTH, LOUD HUMMING IN FRONT RIGHT AND BOTH REAR WHEELS AND LOUD REAR SQUEAKING ON BRAKING REVEALED, AFTER 4/20/06 INSPECTION, FAILED WHEEL BEARINGS IN OUR FORD FOCUS SE 2000 IN RIGHT FRONT AND BOTH REAR WHEELS. BOTH REAR CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING FLUID AND RIGHT BRAKE DRUM WAS FAILING. MANY OF THE FORD FOCUS VINS ISSUED DURING 2000-2001 MANUFACTURING YEARS HAD WHEEL-BEARING FAILURE ISSUES AND CONSEQUENT RECALLS. WE WERE INFORMED BY "MARIA" AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY, TODAY THAT OUR VIN WAS NOT ONE THAT HAD A WHEEL BEARING ISSUE. HOW, THEN, COULD THREE OF OUR FOUR SETS OF WHEEL BEARINGS FAIL? ULTIMATELY, FAILED WHEEL BEARINGS CAN LEAD TO WHEEL FAILURE AND DETACHMENT LEADING TO INJURY OR DEATH. WHY ISN'T THE NHTSA ADDRESSING THIS SERIOUS ISSUE WITH FORD, AS THE MANUFACTURER APPEARS TO BE SIDESTEPPING ITS ETHICAL AND LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. WE SPENT OVER $1,000 ON THIS REPAIR. NINE MONTHS AGO, OUR FRONT COIL SPRINGS FAILED, WHICH COULD ALSO HAVE LED TO A FATALITY. FORD ASSISTED US THEN, BUT IS DOING NOTHING TO HELP US NOW. PLEASE NOTE THAT BECAUSE ON ONGOING TEAMSTERS STRIKE, MOST FORD DEALER SHOPS WERE UNAVAILABLE TO SERVICE CUSTOMER SERVICE OR SUPPLY NEEDS AT THE TIME WE SOUGHT SERVICE. WE SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR OF WHEEL BEARINGS, REAR DRUMS AND CYLINDERS/LINING. WHEEL BEARING SERVICE REIMBURSEMENT IS ESSENTIAL. *JB

IGNITION LOCK FAILURE (KEY COULD NOT BE PUT INTO LOCK) DUE TO IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILURE. THIS LEFT CAR AND DRIVER IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO RETRIEVE BY TOW TRUCK (TURNED-OVER FRONT WHEELS LOCKED, NO STEERING POSSIBLE). REPAIR IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. FORD DECLINED PARTICIPATION IN REPAIR COST. MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET (FOR EXAMPLE, HTTP://CBS5.COM/INVESTIGATES/LOCAL_STORY_041015136.HTML, OR CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AT HTTP://WWW.FAZMICLAW.COM/FOCUS.HTML, OR EXCERPT "...FORD HAS CONCEDED THAT IT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION LOCKS, BUT THE COMPANY HAS NOT ORDERED A RECALL."). *JB

THE IGNITION SWITCH/LOCK CYLINDER IS DIFFICULT TO TURN KEY. THERE IS A TSB LISTED WITH THIS COMPANY FOR AFTER THE SWITCH/CYLINDER LOCKS UP CREATING AN EXPENSIVE TOW ETC. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL WEB SITES LISTING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION LOCKING UP. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO TAKE CAR IN PRIOR TO TOTAL LOCKUP. APPARENTLY THE IGNITION SWITCH/LOCK CYLINDER IS FAULTY TO THE POINT OF EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE KEYS. I TRIED A DIFFERENT KEY AND IT WORKED BETTER. I BELIEVE AN IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER SHOULD HAVE A LONGER LIFE EXPECTANCY THAN A FEW YEARS. I HAVE SEEN POSTS FOR CARS AS NEW AS 2003 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THE CAR COMPANY HAS FINALLY BOUGHT A REVISED/IMPROVED LOCK CYLINDER. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED THROUGH LANDSCAPING WOOD AND SUSTAINED MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER. NO INJURIES WERE INCURRED AND THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE IGNITION CYLINDER AND LOCK, A NEW KEY WAS PROVIDED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED.

MY CAR A 2000 FORD FOCUS HAD A FRONT SPRING BREAK IN (2) PLACES CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE STRUT AND THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL GOODYEAR STORE AND HAD BOTH SPRINGS AND STRUTS REPLACED ALONG WITH A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE COST WAS $800 FOR ALL. I HAVE SAVED THE SPRINGS TO RETURN FOR EXAMINATION. BOTH SPRINGS HAVE A SLEEVE ON THEM ABOUT (6)INCHES AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM. THE AREA AROUND THE SLEEVE HAS COLLECTED DIRT AND CAUSED CORROSION (RUST) TO EAT THROUGH THE SPRING TO THE POINT IT BREAKS. THIS COULD VERY WELL BE A SAFETY ISSUE DEPENDING ON HOW FAST YOU WERE DRIVING WHEN IT OCCURS. I WAS GOING 25 IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA WHEN IT BROKE. I WOULD LOG TO LOG THIS COMPLAINT AS I AM SURE FROM LOOKING AT THE DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT OTHERS WILL ALSO BE EXPERIENCING THE SAME DAMAGE. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I SHOULD PROCEED. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES IF DESIRED. REGARDS GARY YOUNG

I PURCHASED A FORD FOCUS 2003, THE CAR HAD 18,000 MILES. I PAID PACIFIC COAST FORD SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS CASH FOR THE CAR, TWO DAY LATER I BROUGHT IT BACK BECAUSE THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. THEY RAN TESTS TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER IT WAS BACK FOR THE SAME REASON. ULTIMATELY I HAD TO BRING IT TO LAKEWOOD TRANSMISSION WHERE AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS IT WAS FINALLY FIXED IT. I'VE HAD TO GET MY IGNITION DONE TWO TIMES AND IS READY FOR A THIRD. MALLIONN FORD FIXED THAT FOR ME. NOW THREE WEEKS AGO I ROLL INTO A LADY DOING 5-10 MILES AN HOUR. THE POLICE ARE CALLED BUT SINCE THERE IS NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO EITHER PARTIES THE POLICE SAY THEY WON'T COME. NO POLICE REPORT. IM DRIVING HOME AND MY AIR BAGS DEPLOY SMASHING OUT MY WINDSHIELD . A LITTLE ATE YOU THINK. I CUT ONE AIR BAG OUT AND CONTINUE TO DRIVE HOME. MY CAR NEVER SHUT DOWN, THE ONLY THING THAT HAPPENED IS THE SEAT BELT LOCKED. I CAME HOME AND TOOK PIC OF THE CAR NOT A SCRATCH ON MY CAR ONE AIR BAG STILL DEPLOYED THE OTHER YOU CAN SEE I CUT IT OUT AND OF COARSE THE SMASHED WINDSHIELD . I CONTACTED FORD THEY SAID IT WAS AN INSURANCE PROBLEM NOT THEIRS, HOW COULD IT BE THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT MY CAR MALFUNCTIONED. *NM

EXITING THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS A LOUD POP FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WELL. BELIEVED I HAD HIT SOMETHING BUT THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE MIRROR. SOUND CONTINUED WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED FROM HARD LEFT TO HARD RIGHT. JACKED CAR TO SEE IF SOMETHING WAS STUCK BEHIND TIRE AND WHEN WEIGHT WAS LIFTED FROM SUSPENSION SPRING WHICH WAS BROKEN SHIFTED AND MADE CONTACT WITH TIRE. IF I HAD HIT A BUMP WHEN/OR AFTER SPRING BROKE IT WOULD HAVE PUNCTURED TIRE CAUSING LOSE OF CONTROL. *NM

I GOT INTO MY CAR TO GO ON A BUSINESS CALL AND THE KEY, WHEN INSERTED, WOULD NOT TURN THE CYLINDER. AFTER TRYING FOR SOME TIME TO GET THE KEY TURNED, I BEGAN A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN YET ANOTHER RECALL ON THE FOCUS (I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS CAR HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS). I FOUND THAT IT WAS NOT RECALLED, ALTHOUGH IT CERTAINLY WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. I FOUND MANY ACCOUNTS OF THIS PROBLEM AND MANY SUGGESTED REMEDIES. I CHOSE TO USE THE "HAMMER METHOD." THIS WORKED. IT TAKES FOUR HARD RAPS WITH A RUBBER MALLET ON THE END OF THE KEY (INTO THE CYLINDER) TO GET IT TO THEN TURN. IF I TAKE THE KEY OUT, EVEN ONCE, THE PROCESS MUST BE REPEATED. I PARK THE CAR WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, USING MY NON-CODED SPARE OR THE REMOTE UNLOCK TO GET INTO THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE - IF THERE WERE AN EMERGENCY OF SOME TYPE OR SOME TYPE OF PERSONAL THREAT AND I WERE UNABLE TO LEAVE QUICKLY DUE TO THIS IGNITION PROBLEM, WHERE WOULD I BE? ALSO, MY CAR (AS UNDESIRABLE AS I'M SURE IT IS DUE TO ITS MANY PROBLEMS) SITS AT RISK OF BEING STOLEN - THE KEY IS EASILY VISIBLE IN THE IGNITION IF I LEAVE IT THERE TO AVOID HAVING TO USE A HAMMER TO START THE CAT. I'M LISTING THE FAILURES AS 100 - I'VE HAD TO USE THE HAMMER AT LEAST THAT MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR, BUT I CAN RE-CREATE THE ISSUE ANY TIME BY SIMPLY PULLING THE KEY OUT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN REVERSE COMING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT 1MPH A NOISE WAS HEARD RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. THE PART WITH THE RUBBER SEAL IN THE COIL SPRING RUSTED CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO SUGGESTED CONTACTING THE NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

I TRY TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WILL NOT TURN. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. I ALSO HAD TO GET IT TOWED ALL 3 TIMES TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. I HAVE SPENT A LITTLE OVER $500 FOR THESE REPAIRS. *NM