8.0
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $330
- Average Mileage:
- 84,250 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 43 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace ignition lock cylinder (30 reports)
- jam the key into the ignition (4 reports)
- not sure (4 reports)
- spray wd-40 in key slot, and tap key in with a hammer (2 reports)
- leave the key in the ignition and used a second set of keys (1 reports)
- pay a large price to have ignition taken appart and repaired (1 reports)
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Can't put key all the way into Ignition Cylinder. Looks like pins fell out/into cylinder. Cost is Tow+Repair EST around 400.00. I called Ford and they can't help. I have Warranty but part not covered. This should be escalated due to very high recurring incidence and could become a safety concern if someone depended on his/her Car to start when trying to escape imminent danger.
- Jesus R., Las Vegas, NV, US
My husband took me to work on a Sunday morning. He went to put the key in the ignition after walking me in and the key wouldn't fit. The car was locked up tighter than a drum and key wouldn't go in at all!! I took a break, went outside and finally got the key to go into the ignition. Unfortunately, it wouldn't turn at all! The car was stuck there with no way to move it or anything (at the delivery dock nose facing the building)! We finally called a tow truck who had to jack up the car and slide it around to face away from the building so it could be towed. Luckily we had towing on our insurance. The repair cost me $253.53 plus I didn't have the use of my car for a week. It took time to get the part, then have the keys programmed for the ignition. I now have two keys instead of one for the car.
My husband and I thought we were losing our minds! What in the world was wrong with the car to have this happen? The engine valve sticking, then the front bearings on both sides go out, then the ignition all within a month!! Ford needs to pay for the repairs for this problem and all of the others!!
- Amy T., Fort Wayne, IN, US
I spent $110 to have the car towed to the Ford dealership and 380.49 to have the dealership replace the ignition cylinder. Prior to this weekend I never knew car ignitions would go bad. Based on complaints I have seen on websites devoted to this issue, you'd think Ford would own up to this issue. It IS all about the money! I'll never buy another vehicle in it's first model year again!
- Greg P., Three Rivers, MI, US
My key would not go into the ignition this morning, so we called a couple people and found out what to do.
We had to buy a new transmission assembly from the dealer, then we are going to have to have a locksmith come out and put the assembly into the car. This better fix the problem!
- Abby M., Cincinnati, OH, US
Key wouldn't go into ignition or wouldn't turn. It's a fairly common problem with this model. Call around for prices at locksmiths. I had bids from $150 to $275 in the Seattle area. For the sake of convenience, I accepted a $180 bid. He installed an upgraded model, not the Ford tinfoil replacement. Mechanics or dealers will just mark up a locksmith's work.
- johnmcx, Seattle, WA, US
AAA came out to tow the car to get this fixed. Tow truck driver said I am going to save you money. Put key in ignition taped it with a hammer and presto it works.
- David R., Burbank, CA, US
Aside from this and the light issue, I really do love the car. It's just frustrating to know that Ford is aware of this problem, yet will not do anything about it. Now I'm going to live in fear of the next time the ignition thing breaks again.
- Melinda H., Aurora, IL, US
I ran into the store and came out and the key won't go into the ignition. The steering wheel is locked and at 8pm and I had to walk home. I took my spare key and tried it to no avail. The locksmith says he can't do anything unless I can get the key in the ignition.
The autoparts store doesn't have the switch, so I have to have the car towed to dealership and have them replace the switch tomoorw and I'm supposed to be at an imporatant inteview in the a. m. I am never buying another freaking Ford as long as I live.
- Kathie H., Mount Vernon, WA, US
Got up to go to work and the DAMN key wouldn't fit. I had to shove the @#%* out of it to go in. Then the key wouldn't turn! Thinking to myself..."What the F#@*!!!!!!" So I gave it a twist and punch attack and it finally started. This continued for about another week and then completely stopped like it never happened. It's like these cars are possessed! I hate but, love the car... it's paid for THANK GOD!!!!!
- Jeff B., Elk Grove, CA, US
My 2000 Ford Focus, which I recently bought, has only 50,000 miles and left me stranded in a snow storm last night. The dealer tells me that the ignition needs replacing to the tune of $391.00 plus a tow charge, not to mention the inconvenience. I own 4 fords, one Buick and a Chevy. I have owned 6 Fords in the past and will never own another. The dealerships don't attempt to help out. Because I was 30 miles from home, I had to have it towed to a local dealer. All my hometown dealer did was tell me that they are overcharging me by $125.00. After checking out the website and being apalled at all the complaints I called them back to see how many of these ignitions they had replaced and he told me a lot. Why don't they attempt to do something about this problem? My dad has a Focus that has had at least 5 recalls on it. I should have known better when I bought this one.
- Laura B., Clio, MI, US
My daughter was driving the car and was stranded over 100 miles away from home. There is no reason this should happen. I have researched the internet and there are numerous cases of reports of this happening. Ford needs to step up and pay for this repair.
- Richard S., Canton, MI, US
Key would not fit into ignition all of a sudden one winter morning. Now I see that many Focus owners have had the same trouble with this make of car. Do Not Buy One! I was stranded many, many miles from home. No previous indication that trouble was brewing with my ignition/lock tumbler mechanism. I was driving one moment, turned off the car, went into a store, came out, and my key would not fit into the ignition. Ford knows there is a problem and will not recall the Focus to fix the problem. I will not buy a Ford car to replace this car, and will recommend to all family and friends and anyone I see shopping a Ford parking lot not to buy a Ford car.
- Clint H., Petersburg, WV, US
There is a serious, on-going problem with the ignition switch of the Ford Focus, 2000 and beyond. There is no recall action taken, as of yet but the Ford Motors Corporation isn't doing their professional duty to the consumer by making this switch and its repair a recall item.
We Americans have made this vehicle the fifth best seller in the country and have all chosen to buy USA. The Ford Motors Corporation have a fair business practice to "fess" up to this and they need to do it most expediently. Who is our (Focus owners) advocate.
I have more than 100,000 miles on this otherwise, great car but from the horror stories that I have read about the Ford dealers taking so much money from their "faithful and valued customers", (upwards of $370.00) and I'm getting close to having mine done, these pioneers (paid and disgruntled ones) and others are exhausted.
HELP, SOMEONE!
- kanderson, Chesapeake, VA, US
CRAZY I say, again for the second time we have had to deal with this issue. The first time was 3 years after we got the car the key wouldn't turn and couldn't start the car. So then we had to pay to get the cylinder replaced. Now its exactly 3 yrs again and the Opp guess what, started doing it again. Key going in but not catching and wont turn, ONE day before we were going to go to an auto event to trade in this ford crapus. But we brought pictures and they took this thing off our hands. This is the worst CAR we have ever had...... things go wrong that you hardly even use, and prior to this there were 5 other things that went wrong in one month.
- castillotewa, Redmond, WA, US
The key will not go into the ignition, can't turn ignition tumbler to start the car
- Don V., Niagara Falls, NY, US
I was getting ready to leave work when my key would not fit in the ignition. I worked on it for 15 minutes b/f I decided to go in and ask someone else to try it. I felt sooo humiliated b/c I am a girl and I couldn't get the key in the ignition, but to my avail no one else could either. I called by boyfriend who drove 30 mi. to my rescue to try a spare key. When that didn't work he forced the key in until it worked. Now I just drive around with the key in it while I am working and carry a can of WD40.
- jsmeier19, Sullivan, IN, US
I just don't understand why my car won't let me drive it. It happened 2 weeks ago and has been fine and out of nowhere, I can't get it to work.... It sucks, I was almost late for work and that's not cool. Why does my Focus keep having issues. Stupid focus!!f
- maruschok, Windber, PA, US
this is the second time. this time i lost 2 days of work, thats money, got stress and wasted my time.
makes me wonder if this car has a problem with the ignition......
- marcstreeter, Arlington, TX, US
The key did not fit into the ignition making the car undriveable. Mechanic charged $350 to change the ignition module!!! Absolutely atrocious problem.... my boss thought I was lying when I said I could not come in because of this ridiculous problem. Towing the car cost another $75!!!
- Rosario M., Mount Vernon, NY, US
I have had the ignition switch replaced 3 times -- paid for it twice, and the third time the switch was under warranty because it locked so soon after the second replacement. The switch locked about 4 months ago, but the man from the towing company taught me to tap on the key several times to loosen it up a bit. This worked for the past four months. However, the solution has failed me. I am on the route to my fourth replacement....
- Stacy D., Raleigh, NC, US