2000 Ford Focus Complaint Log

TODAY, DURING A SNOWSTORM, I TRIED TO START THE CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT INSERT INTO THE IGNITION - THE WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO START THE CAR. I HAS TWO BABIES WITH ME, AND HAD TO CALL AAA. I HAVE CHECKED ON THE WEB AND THIS IS A HIGE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, YET THE FORD COMPANY WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. IT IS INCREDIBLY UNSAFE. THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE. I WAS STRANDED.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY THE CONSUMER WOULD BE UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM

IGNITION WILL NOT TURN. ONE MINUTE IT WAS WORKING FINE, AND THE NEXT, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. ALSO, ONE MINUTE MY AUTOMATIC LOCKS WILL WORK, THEN MY CAR TOTALLY UN-PROGRAMMED ITSELF. *JB

1.) BRAKE LIGHT FLICKERED, BUT BRAKES WORKED, ON 40 MILE COMMUTE FROM WORK TO HOME. 2.) BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY (PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR) AS I STOPPED CAR IN MY GARAGE. INSPECTION REVEALED FRONT DRIVER BRAKE LINE CUT OPEN BY INNER PLASTIC WHEEL WELL COVER-I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES. LOST ALL FLUID IN UPPER RESOVOIR. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. 3.)BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED, PLASTIC WHEEL WELL COVER WAS TRIMMED AWAY FROM BRAKE LINE.*AK

THE LATEST IN A LONG LINE OF PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 FORD FOCUS WAGON OCCURRED TODAY. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON YESTERDAY AND STAYED ON. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC TODAY WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING AND MY AIRBAGS MAY NOT WORK AS A RESULT. THE COST OF REPAIR WILL BE $640. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, ROTORS, IGNITION SWITCH, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ETC. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH A CAR BEFORE. THE FORD FOCUS IS A LEMON AND IS UNSAFE. *AK

CONSUMER PLACED THE KEY INSIDE OF THE IGNITION AND VEHICLE FAILED TO START. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE VEHICLE IGNITION FAILED TWICE. *TC

I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN TO IT AGAIN. APPROX. 2 YEARS AGO WE HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED BECAUSE THE MECHANISM HAD LOCKED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO TURN THE KEY. IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN AND THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO TO GET THE KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND WE THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OR SOMETHING DESIGNATED TO ASSIST WITH THIS PROBLEM. A 2000 MODEL SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS WITH ITS STEERING MECHANISMS. INFO BELOW IS APPROPRIATE TO LATEST INCIDENT. *AK

RECALL 03V482000 CONCERNING INTERMITTENT STALLING. MANUFACTURER IS NOT ALLOWING THE DEALER TO HONOR THIS RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS A BRANDED TITLE.*AK

2000 FORD FOCUS HAS A DEFECTIVE IGNITION. THE CAR WILL LOCK UP AT ANY TIME. PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED TWICE IN MY CAR, NOW THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. *JB

TRUNK LOCK MALFUNCTIONED, HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE LOCKING MECHANISM ($100) AFTER SEVERAL HOURS TRYING TO GAIN ACCESS INTO THE TRUNK, THIS PROBLEM IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET, THOUGHT IT NEEDS TO BE REPORTED HERE. THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE.*AK

FORD EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY ON REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE 2000 FORD FOCUS, BEACUSE OF PROBLEMS AND SAFETY ISSUES WHICH COULD LEAD TO BALL JOIONT SEPARATION WITH LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. MY VEHICLE IS NOW EXPERIENCING REAR WHEEL BEARING PROBLEMS, BUT FORD REFUSES TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED AT THEIR EXPENSE, BECAUSE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD HAS EXPIRED.*AK

UPON PLACING KEY INTO IGNITION, THE CHAMBER FAILS TO TURN TO START AND TURN AT ALL. HAD TO CALL AAA TO GET VEHICLE TOWED. DRIVER OF TOW TRUCK WAS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SPECIFIC TO A FORD FOCUS. HE WAS ABLE TO TAP THE STEERING COLLAR AND THE LOCK UNBOUND. THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE WHEEL NEEDING A SLIGHT TURN. THE CYLINDER APPARENTLY OVER TIME WEARS CAUSING THE IGNITION LOCK TO BIND. HE SAID IT MIGHT HELP PUTTING SOME WD 40 ON THE KEY BUT THE LOCK WAS A WELL KNOW PROBLEM THAT WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I HAVE SEEN MANY INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM, IN THE HUNDREDS. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V288000 CONCERNING BATTERY CABLES. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, AT ANY SPEED, HEADLIGHTS GOT DIMMER, AND THE RADIO CAME ON AND WENT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER SAW THIS RECALL ON NHTSA WEBSITE, AND BELIEVED BATTERY CABLE FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. *AK *NM

THIS COMPLAINT IS CONCERNING CLARIFICATION OF OUR PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA REGARDING THE 2000 FORD FOCUS : #10104088 AND #10107840. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE MISINTERPRETATION OF DATA COLLECTED BY YOUR AGENCY AND POSTED FOR PUBLIC REVIEW. DEATHS ARE NOT POSTED, NOR ARE THEY INCLUDED AS INJURIES. THIS MISREPRESENTS THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT FAILURES REPORTED. *JB

FATALITY VEHICLE FIRE, DEC. 8 2004. MY HUSBAND IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2000 FORD FOCUS, SUBJECT TO NUMEROUS SERVICE VISITS TO BILL BROWN FORD, LIVONIA MI FOR: IGNITION, STEERING COLUMN, WHEEL BEARING, BRAKE, REAR WINDOW CONTROL, SEAT BELT &TRUNK LATCHES, OVERHEAD LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT. THE VACUUM LINE & FUEL PUMP & VALVE ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED 2/03, FOLLOWED BY STALLING. IN 6/03, A/C COMPRESSOR & MANIFOLD LINE REPLACED. FUEL LINE & PUMP FAILURE IN 8/03, RESULTED IN GASOLINE SPILL ON RESIDENTIAL STREET MINUTES AFTER PARKING. BOGGING FOLLOWED REPAIRS, PCM REPROGRAMMED & LEAKING PVC TUBE REPLACED 1/04. FUEL PUMP AGAIN REPLACED. IN 8/04, OUR 24 YEAR OLD SON TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEMATIC CAR. WE ARE UNCERTAIN AS TO WHETHER VEHICLE MALFUNCTION CAUSED A 35 MPH COLLISION WITH A FIRE HYDRANT. AN IMMEDIATE ENGINE EXPLOSION AND FUEL FED FIRE TRAPPED MY SON AND HIS PASSENGER. DESCRIBED BY POLICE AS A RELATIVELY MINOR CRASH WHICH WOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO CLAIM LIVES, THE SUBSEQUENT UNEXPLAINED ENGINE FIRE CLAIMED TWO YOUNG LIVES. A MALFUNCTIONING DRIVER'S AIRBAG WAS ALSO DETECTED. THIS INCIDENT WAS ORIGINALLY REPORTED TO NHTSA BY MY HUSBAND (#10104088). I AM SUPPLYING THESE ADDITIONAL FACTS FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION. PLEASE CORRECT YOUR POSTING OF "0" INJURIES AS THERE WERE 2 FATALITIES. PLEASE TAKE EFFECTIVE ACTION TO SAVE LIVES, AS THESE TROUBLE PLAGUED VEHICLES SEEM TO BECOME MORE LETHAL AS THEY AGE. CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT OF THIS INFORMATION IS REQUESTED. *NM *SC *JB

PLEASE LOOK INTO THE FUEL SYSTEMS OF THE 2000 FORD FOCUS. MY SON AND HIS FRIEND WERE KILLED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON 12/8 IN DETROIT, MI. EARLY THAT MORNING, THEY STRUCK A FIRE HYDRANT AND THE CAR EXPLODED (BACK OF THE ENGINE FIRE). EARLIER, IN THE SUMMER OF 2004, I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR HOME, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND GONE IN THE HOUSE. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER. I CAME OUT TO GO TO DINNER WITH MY WIFE...THE CAR WOULDN'T TURN OVER. WHEN I GOT OUT, I FOUND GAS SPEWED ALL OVER THE STREET. I HOSED DOWN THE AREA, AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO BILL BROWN FORD-LIVONIA, MI. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED, AND I WAS ASSURED THAT ALL WAS WELL. NOW, 5-6 MONTHS LATER, THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I AM NOT SUGGESTING THAT THE ACCIDENT (HITTING THE HYDRANT) WASN'T MY SON'S DOING. HOWEVER, THE SPEED AT WHICH THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED (EST. AT 35 MPH) SHOULDN'T HAVE RESULTED IN A FUEL LINE BREAK AND FIRE. PLEASE CHECK INTO THE INCIDENT. THE INCIDENT REPORT NUMBER (DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT) IS [XXX]. THE VIN NUMBER OF THE CAR IS [XXX]. THE SERVICE RECORD AT BILL BROWN FORD WILL NOTE A LONG HISTORY OF FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS, INCLUDING THE ISSUE NOTED ABOVE (GAS ON THE STREET). MORE THAN ANYTHING I WANT TO PREVENT ANOTHER TRAGEDY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *JB UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

CONSUMER PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE AND KEY WOULDN'T TURN. CONSUMER CALLED FORD, AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION TUMBLER WAS BAD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK

KEY WOULD NOT WORK IN IGNITION - CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE LOCK ASSEMBLY AND TUMBLER. *NM

VEHICLE DID NOT START WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK

THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. IGNITION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT HAS HAPPENED, AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED EACH TIME.*AK

2000 FORD FOCUS. IGNITION LOCKS, PUT KEY IN IGNITION BUT KEY WILL NOT TURN, NO MATTER WHAT IS DONE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH THIS SAME VEHICLE.*AK

STEERING COLUMN IGNITION LOCK. KEY INSERTED AND WON'T COME OUT, CAN'T TURN KEY - NO STEERING, NO POWER.*AK

MY IGNITION LOCKED LEAVING ME STRANDED. I HAVE TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON LOOKING THROUGH WEBSITES (WWW.EDMUNDS.COM, WWW.AUTOWHIZ.COM), I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THERE WERE OVER 200 RESPONSES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. SOMEONE FROM A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TRIED TO GET THE KEY TO TURN AND COULD NOT. HE SAID HE HAD WORKED FOR FORD FOR 38 YEARS AND BELIEVED THAT THE CYLINDER WAS THE PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT HE HAD SEEN A NUMBER OF EARLY FORD FOCUSES (MINE IS 2000) HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE FOCUS. THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 12 RECALLS ON THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIPS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE ARE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT UNCOOPERATIVE. I'VE FOUND THAT DEALERS DO NOT WANT TO HONOR THE RECALLS, ESPECIALLY IF A RENTAL CAR COMES WITH IT. THEY DID NOT WANT TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS RECALLED UNLESS I EXHIBITED PROBLEMS EVEN THOUGH THE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN RECALLED. FOCUS OWNERS ARE SPENDING UPWARDS OF $350 ON THE IGNITION REPAIR ALTHOUGH IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.*AK

I BROUGHT MY 2000 FOCUS BRAND NEW. YESTERDAY, WENT TO A MEETING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CITY. I WAS THE LAST TO LEAVE AND MY KEY WOULD ONLY GO HALF WAY INTO THE IGNITION. NO MATTER OF WIGGLING WOULD GET IT TO BUDGE. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION: TOTAL COST 394.41 WITH TOWING. LEARNED FROM A FRIEND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A TECHICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS FOR YEARS. OF COURSE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRENTY. BUT I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD AND ASKING FOR A "GOOD WILL' REMBURSMENT TO COVER COSTS. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE MAJOR NETWORKS FOR INVESTIGATION. *AK

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN ON. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

FORD FOCUS CONCERNING THE REAR DOOR LATCH FAILURE THAT ALLOWS THE DOOR TO OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *BF WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BOTH REAR DOORS WOULD OPEN. THE REAR HATCH OPENED ONCE PER WEEK. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE 14 MONTH OLD LATCHES WERE WORN OUT. *SC *JB

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IT FAILED TO START. THE KEYS WOULDN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. A LOCK SMITH INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLE, AND WAS CAUSED BY THE IGNITION CHIP FREEZING UP. HE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION BECAUSE OF PAST EXPERIENCES. AFTER THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED THE PARTS FAILED AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE SAME FAILURE.*AK

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS WITH 22,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE TWO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 9 MONTHS AGO WITH ABOUT 18,000 MILES. THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED LAST WEEK. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER TO PAY $129.00 OR TRADE THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. SHE REFUSED TO PAY THE $129.00 AND SHE DID NOT WANT TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE IN FOR ANOTHER FORD. SHE SENT AN E-MAIL TO FORD. AS OF RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN HER E-MAIL. THE DEALERSHIP PROVIDED HER WITH A RENTAL CAR. HOWEVER ,THEY TOLD HER THAT IF SHE DID NOT COME AND PICKUP CAR SHE WILL HAVE TO START PAYING FOR THE RENTAL CAR. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ON AUGUST 22, 2005 ,AND THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED RECALL REPAIRS THAT SHE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT SHE KNEW HER CAR WAS A LEMON. HOWEVER, SHE BROUGHT HER CAR IN TOO LATE. *AK

THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. *JB THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED. FORD SUGGESTED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS COVERED NOT THE IGNITION CYLINDER. *SC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE KEY CYLINDER FAILED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD TO GET A REFUND FROM JANUARY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND THE REFUND WAS DENIED. THE VEHICLE PART WAS CHANGED AS A GOODWILL EFFORT BY FORD. *TC *JB

I PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE BUT I AM UNABLE TO START IT NOW. THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN AND IT IS LOCKED INTO ONE POSITION. I CANNOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE IGNITION IS LOCKED. I PLAN TO CALL THE LOCKSMITH AND/OR DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ON MONDAY. *AK

I OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS LX AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITIONS SWITCH TWICE DUE TO MY IGNITION LOCKING AND MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO START MY CAR. ON SATURDAY,NOVMEBER 27,2004, I BEGAN TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN, I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO MY HOME THAT EVENING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A LOCKSMITH, THE TOW GUY AND OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND EVEN A PERSON WHO WORKS FOR FORD. *AK

I RECENTLY ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM WITH MY IGNITION. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO INSERT MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE KEY WOULD NOT INSERT ENTIRELY AND WOULD NOT TURN TO START THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED WHILE IN PARK. INITIALLY, I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN "EASY FIX", SO I TRIED TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE EXTREME LEFT OR RIGHT, BUT IT REFUSED TO COOPERATE. AFTER OVER AN HOUR OF ATTEMPTING TO INSERT MY KEY WITH FAILURE, I CALLED A LOCKSMITH. THE LOCKSMITH TOLD ME "THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN FORD FOCUSES". I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHY FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR MATTER. I'VE READ NUMEROUS STATEMENTS ONLINE FROM OTHER FORD FOCUS OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM (SEE HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T158426.HTML AND HTTP://WWW.TALKABOUTAUTOS.COM/GROUP/ALT.AUTOS.FORD.FOCUS/MESSAGES/27215.HTML). THE LOCKSMITH HAD TO UNINSTALL THE OLD INGNITION SWITCH AND RECODE AND INSTALL A NEW IGNITION SWITCH FOR $190. SINCE MY PURCHASE, FORD FOCUS HAS ISSUED THREE RECALLS (UPCOMING FOURTH RECALL) AND I'M SURPRISED THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONE OF THEM WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS. HOPEFULLY, FURTHER INVESTIGATION WILL TAKE PLACE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AND NOT LEAVE ANY FUTURE OWNERS STRANDED WHEN THEY ATTEMPT TO START THEIR CAR.*AK

WHILE STOPPING AT STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THEN, VEHICLE STOPPED. BUT THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. CONSUMER DROVE DRIVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK. IDLE SPEED SHOOTS WAY UP FOR A FEW SECONDS. CONSUMER HAVE TO STAND ON BRAKE TO KEEP CAR FROM MOVING INTO INTERSECTION. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP. *AK

IT WAS A RATHER NORMAL DAY. I DROVE MY 2000 FORD FOCUS TO COLLEGE, THEN HOME. ON MY WAY TO A LOCAL RESTAURANT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WHEN I WAS FINISHED, I PAID FOR MY MEAL AND EXITED THE ESTABLISHMENT. I STEPPED INTO MY CAR, CLOSED THE DOOR, AND PLACED MY KEY (WHICH WAS IN MINT CONDITION) IN THE IGNITION. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN EITHER WAY. I GIGGLED (CAREFULLY), BUT IT APPEARED TO BE STUCK. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED, FOR A FEE. THE CAR HAD TO BE FIXED, FOR A FEE ($300). I WAS STRANDED WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. WITH NO WAY TO SCHOOL OR WORK, IT WAS A MOST COMPROMISING SITUATION. THEY REPLACED THE METAL IGNITION SWITCH AFTER TEARING APART MY STEERING WHEEL. IT SEEMS TO WORK FINE NOW, HOWEVER; I BELIEVE THE FORD COMPANY SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I HAVE RESEARCHED FOR A SPECIFIC RECALL, BUT I WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I FOUND MANY CONSUMERS THROUGH THE INTERNET WHO HAVE HAD TO UNFORTUNATELY DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM. COMPENSATION FOR THIS INCONVENIENCE IS SURELY DESIRED, AND TO MY OTHER FAITHFUL FORD CUSTOMERS (QUICKLY LOSING FAITH!) I WOULD SAY IT IS OWED TO US. *NM

I OWN 2 FORD FOCUS CARS. EACH HAS HAD THE IGINITION SWITCH LOCK UP. IGNITION KEY COULD NOT BE INSERTED WITHOUT FORCE AND EVEN THEN COULD NOT BE TURNED TO UNLOCK STEERING WHEEL OR PROVIDE POWER. STARTING ENGINE WAS NOT POSSIBLE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED USING CAR JACKS .... A TOWING SURCHARGE. THIS DEFECT IS NOT CONSIDERED A WARRANTY ITEM AND COST WAS SEVERAL HUNDERED DOLLARS TO REPAIR.*AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT THE SUBSTANCE IN THE AIR BAG BURNT THROUGH THE DRIVER'S JACKET SLEEVE AND CAUSED FIRST AND SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO THE ARMS. THE JACKET WAS MADE OF 78% POLYESTER AND 27%RAMS. *AK

2000 FORD FOCUS FUEL PUMP FAILURE. I WAS DRIVING MY FOCUS DOWN THE STREET, TWO MINUTES FROM GETTING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN THE FUEL PUMP GAVE OUT WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

1. WENT TO START CAR AND THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN 2. IGNITION CYLINDER WHICH I HAVE LEARNED IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. LATE FOR WORK 3. $411.00 FOR LABOR TO DRILL OUT AND REPLACE AND TO PURCHASE A NEW SET OF KEYS. *JB

CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 19,000 MILES. THIS CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO LOCK UP AND UNABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE ON. BOTH TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

DT: CALLER INDICATED HATCHBACK WIFE'S VEHICLE KEPTOPENING. THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PURCHASED IN A NORTHERN STATE. DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK

I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS. EARLY THIS YEAR THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION, NOT THAT IT WOULDN'T START, BUT THAT I COULD ONLY GET THE KEY HALFWAY INTO THE LOCKING MECHANISM IN THE IGNITION ITSELF. I MISSED WORK THAT DAY BECAUSE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO START MY OWN CAR. CALLED THE LOCKSMITH AND HE TOLD ME THAT WAS HIS THIRD CASE IN TWO WEEKS--SAME CAR, ABOUT THE SAME YEAR. HE FIXED IT BUT SAID THAT IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN, IT WOULD NEED REPLACING. WELL IT DID HAPPEN AGAIN--NOV. 12TH TO BE EXACT. AGAIN, THE KEY WOULD NOT GO IN THE MECHANISM, EVEN AFTER FOLLOWING THE DEALERSHIP'S ADVICE TO TAP IT IN WITH A HAMMER. HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED. TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID IT WAS HIS FOURTH FOCUS BEING TOWED THAT WEEK AND GUESSED THE PROBLEM BEFORE I EVEN TOLD HIM WHAT IT WAS! WHEN WE GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP I ASKED HOW MANY CARS HAD BEEN AFFECTED. 20% WAS THE ANSWER--20% OF THE FOCUS MODELS FROM 2000-2003. WOULD THERE BE A RECALL I ASKED? NO, HE ANSWERED FLATLY. I HAD TO PAY NEARLY $300 IN REPAIRS FROM THEM HAVING TO DRILL IN AND REPLACE IGNITION, LOCK, AND KEYS, ALL FOR A DEFECT THAT AFFECTS 20% OF CARS BUILT IN THREE YEARS. FRANKLY I FIND THAT RIDICULOUS THAT THEY WON'T RECALL THESE CARS, AND I WANT OTHER FOCUS OWNERS TO BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE FORD DOESN'T SEEM IT NECESSARY TO TELL THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE.*AK

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE SITUATION, ONE DAY THE KEYS WOULD SIMPLY NOT WORK IN THE IGNITION. NEITHER OUR EVERYDAY KEY OR OUR SPARE KEY CAN EVEN BE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. THUS, WE CAN NOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE. *JB

ON OCCASION FOR SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO INSERT INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THEN ONE NIGHT THE KEY SIMPLY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AND WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE. I WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE IGNITION SWITCH. THEY INDICATED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THEY HAVE SEEN FREQUENTLY IN THESE CARS. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WITH THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE AND SHE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, THE NIGHT BEFORE MY CAR WAS FINE. I WENT TO GO TO WORK AND TRIED TO PUT MY KEY IN THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T GO IN. I TRIED THE SPARE KEY. I TRIED TO WIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL. EVERYTHING WAS LOCKED. I CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL, THEY SAID NO. WHEN I CALLED AAA TO HAVE THEM TOW ME, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE TOWED ABOUT 40 IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS JUST IN OUR SMALL AREA ALONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD STATES THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT WITH THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN PARKING LOTS. IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK FOR A HIGH COSTS AND RECOGNIZED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS. *JB

MY MOM DROVE MY 2000 FORD FOCUS TO THE SHOP TO HAVE THE BRAKES DONE. SHE HAD NO PROBLEM INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND STARTING THE CAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION STICKING OR KEY NOT TURNING. WHEN AUTO MECH CAME OUT TO MOVE THE CAR, THE KEY COULD NOT BE INSERTED ALL THE WAY INTO THE KEYHOLE AND WOULD NOT TURN. 2 MECHS AND MY MOM TRIED GET TO THE IGNITION TO UNLOCK. WE THEN CALLED COURTESY FORD & WERE TOLD THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM W/ FOCUS' & WE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION LOCK. THIS COST WAS EST AT $260. IF THIS IS A "KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2000 FORD, WHY ARE WE HAVING TO PAY FOR REPAIRS?*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THAT FUEL GAUGE WOULD INDICATE THAT FUEL TANK WOULD BE HALF OR MORE FILLED. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED FIVE OR MORE TIMES BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO REPAIRED THE ALTERNATOR. *AK THE CAR CUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES WHILE BACKING OUR OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE CAR CONTINUED TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. *EH THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. *JB

REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER OPENS UP BACK HATCH WHEN ON HIGHWAY. DID NOT USE REAR DEFROST. *JB