10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 2
- Average Mileage:
- 25,616 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
1. there were two instances over the past 3 years where my car wouldn't start initially and it took 15 minutes to finally be able to turn the key. 2. I stopped at a gas station to fill up my car which is a 2000 Ford Focus ZX3. I had May 7 year old daughter with me and when we went to leave my ignition locked up. After an hour I had to call someone to come get my daughter as it was 9pm and she had school in the morning. I had someone else come by to see if they could fix it but that was to no avail. Finally after about 3 hours total I had to call a for a tow back to my house as the steering wheel was locked up and I could not even roll the car out of the way because I couldn't turn the wheel to get around the gas pumps. I searched online to see about a recall due to this cars history and to my amazement I found web forum after web forum of complaints about this issue. All you have to do is search the web for "Ford Focus ignition lock" and you'll see what I mean. This is definitely an issue and can be potentially very dangerous. Being stuck and unable to put your car in neutral and move it to the left or right and out of the way, being stuck in extreme weather conditions...possibly with a child or even just being stuck for hours at a time. I read on instance were a women wasn't able to get towed for 6 hours and read another example of a man who had rented a Focus only to have it lock up while at a rest area on the highway. It appears that Ford is simply ignoring this fault and it's costing people $400-$500 every occurrence. Some people have had to pay to have it replaced 3 times or more. Please look into this and try to do something about it. It has been a serious issue. 3. I have get the car towed to a dealer to pay the $400 to have it fixed and hope it doesn't happen again or I can find a locksmith who can come to my house, drill out the ignition and replace it which is cheaper than the dealership but not by much.
- Des Moines, IA, USA
Cracked ignition. Jammed steering column. Both were replaced. Old part is available.
- Elizabeth, NJ, USA
Steering wheel nut came out of steering wheel when wife was driving 10 mph and tried to make a turn. Because contact didn't have warranty for part, he was responsible for the repairs, and wants to know if this is something he should be held responsible for. Contact wants to know if there were any other complaints with the same problem.
- Aberdeen, NC, USA
Steering column locked, key will not turn in ignition.
- Waukegan, IL, USA
Steering wheel adjustment is failing, difficult for adjusting lever to stay in locked position, sometimes disengaging while vehicle is being driven. Dealer says that the entire steering column must be replaced at a cost of $1000, because individual parts are not available to fix the problem. Ford has no technical service bulletins for this problem, and I am not aware of any secret warranties that apply.
- Seymour, TN, USA
Car worked fine through the day; put key into ignition and it won't turn. (seems this is a common problem for Ford Focus cars...(that's what aaa told me and it's verified in letters on internet.
- Bellingham, WA, USA
Without warning the ignition locked up and would not turn. Tow truck fee $75, Ford repair bill $406.41. I purchased this car used in 2001. I have talked to the original owner and this part has already been replaced. However Ford will not cover the parts failure because it occured with a different owner.
- Benbrook, TX, USA
Bought vehicle with a bad fuel pump. Dealer replaced it in July 2003. Steering column would not work, and dealer replaced it on March 19 2205. Middle of April 2005 steering column failed again. Will not replace it because it was not under warranty. Also, the hatchback door latches are not working properly
- Leavenworth, KS, USA
I am having problems with the ignition in my 2000 Ford Focus ZX3 not turning over, apprently after research and $300 later, it is a defect in the tumbler.
- Portland, OR, USA
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.
- Redford, MI, USA
Ford Focus 2000 steering column locks up... key will not turn, sterring column is locked up tight and the car is not able to start. This has happened at least five times. I have managed to start it with much frustration and time spent. Now I can not get it going at all.
- Lyndon Center, VT, USA
I am out-of-state in a large city and yesterday my key would go into the ignition, but would not turn. I had to leave my car overnight in a fairly bad neighborhood. I have seen a lot of reports on this site about the same thing going wrong in the Focus. I am having the car towed to a dealership today and will have to pay a holiday fee because today is a holiday and in the mean time have no form of transportation. I will have to rent a car tomorrow (the rental car places are closed for the holiday). I just went on a 4,000 mile trip, some of which went through very desolate parts of Nevada--what would have happened if this would have happened then"?" I had no cell reception in most of that area. If Ford doesn't think this is a safety issue, they are wrong. I have already had the fuel delivery module replaced due to its failure. Luckily, it was covered under a recall. Because of the ignition problem, I will incure a towing bill, the repair bill, and a rental car fee, not to mention the huge inconvenience and stress. I expect the totally cost to be $500+. I hope that Ford recalls this problem, as I do think this is a safety issue. They need to stand behind their product, and it seems as though they are not willing to do so. If they don't change their ways, I will surely never buy a Ford vehicle again.
- Columbus, MT, USA
In March 2002, my 2000 Ford Focus LX had the steering wheel lock up and the ignition lock up so that I could not turn the key or start my car. It had to be towed to the dealership and they ended up having to drill out the ignition lock cylinder, rebuild it, and replace broken steering column parts. Now yesterday, May 23, 2004, the same thing occurred - steering wheel locked, key would not turn, car would not start. I had to tow it again to the same dealership, and get the parts replaced again.
- Ames, IA, USA
Steering wheel is locked and key will not turn so car will not start. After doing research I have found that this is very common and may even happen again after being repaired - typical cost is $250 - 300..
- Binghamton, NY, USA
Returned to car after 1 hour of not driving, the key would only go about 3/4 of the way into the ignition. I tried all three keys that the dealer had given me, and none of them would go into the ignition. Called aaa, paid $175 to have a locksmith replace the springs in my ignition where the key goes, said that this could happen again, and in that case, the entire ignition would have to be replaced. Aaa covered $50 of the cost. Is there a recall for this" this is not the first complaint of the same type on this site! what is Ford doing to help this? I refuse to continue to pay $125 every time my key won't go into the ignition. I was lucky enough to be home when this happened, but what if I wasn't"
- Reading, MA, USA
Key wouldn't fit in the ignition one afternoon. Tried another key, same result. I hear it is something in the steering lock cylinder, possibly a tumbler. Called Ford, and they said that there is no recall on this yet, but probably soon. Cost about $150 plus a towing charge. Rats.
- Summerville, SC, USA
70,000 miles and ignition lock is broken, drove the car in the morning, went out in the afternoon, put key in, wouldn't turn..had to be towed and replaced costing me $250 cause they state it's not a covered part under my extended warranty. Also, tow truck driver stated he has towed hundreds of Ford with same problem, some even with only 400 miles on them * ridiculous*
- Bel Air, MD, USA
The vehicle was park without prior warning the steering column lock up and will not un lock the vehicle was towed. Please provide additional information dealer is aware of the problem.
- Calumet City , IL, USA
Consumer stated while driving 40mph the front of the vehicle vibrated violently while braking. Please provide any additional information.
- Boardman, OH, USA
- Washington, DC, USA