10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 66,038 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.
My sixteen year old daughter has been stranded three times because her key would not turn the ignition. The first two times she was close to home and was with a friend, so she called my husband and we met her and took turns jiggling the steering wheel and the key until, finally after about ten minutes, the key turned, so the second time, it took over an hour, but did not give up because of the first time. The last time, my daughter was alone, late at night and fortunately, she was able to call us on her cell, but we had to get up out of bed, to rescue her and after over two hours of trying to get that key to work, we gave up. We had to abandon the car and I guess we will have to call a locksmith, but have been told that they have to use the same ignition and it will most likely happen again.
- Albany, OR, USA
The key would not fit into the ignition and would not turn making the car unusable and stranding me for 5 hours while waiting for a locksmith. There was no warning this would happen. The ignition just stopped working. This is a well document defect in Ford Focus models. The locksmith replaced the ignition for $300.
- Philadelphia, PA, USA
2000 Ford Focus, rear doors will not close, currently using duct tape. Although there was a recall, I'm told not my VIN number. Looked online, many other complaints like mine, also not their VIN number. It appears to be much more wide spread than Ford wants to admit.
- Shandaken, NY, USA
Ignition switch in 2000 Ford Focus locked up and would not turn. The consequences of this failure were that I missed a very important doctors appointment. Nothing has been done to fix this problem because I do not have the $400 the Ford place said it would cost to fix it. Why has this part not been recalled? it has been an ongoing problem.
- Lincoln, AL, USA
The key has gotten stuck in the ignition three time now. The first time we could not get the car started in a rough neighborhood, and had to leave it over night. The second time I had to remove the battery cable in order to shut the car off. This last time I also had to remove the battery cable to shut the car off.
- Arvada, CO, USA
My year 2000 Ford Focus ZX3 had been experiencing some ignition issues. I could put the key into the ignition, but it would not turn at all. This was especially the case if the wheel was locked. Usually after some jiggling of the key it would turn and I could start the car. The first time this happened was in August of 2004. It began to happen about twice a month. The dealership claims they are the only ones who can fix the issue, by re-making the key and programming the now the key won't turn at all. In shopping around dealerships they believe the price will be around $300 if the cylinder is not damaged (by their own key?) for $500, plus the cost to tow the vehicle to them so they can program the key. A local locksmith has told me that this is a common issue with the Ford Focus. If so, why has it not been recalled?
- Altadena, CA, USA
The ignition switch, on our 2000 Ford Focus, quit working. This is the second time in less than a year. The last time, I had a locksmith repair it. Now it isn't working again. I "googled" it and found that this is a problem with 2000-2003 models but no recall has been issued. I will call the locksmith for another costly repair but would like this issue looked at possibly for some kind of liability by Ford Motor Company. Thank you.
- Greencastle, PA, USA
I have a Ford Focus 2000 wagon with only 60,000 miles on it. Within the past three weeks I have had to have it towed because I can not turn the key in the ignition. I am now waiting for it to be towed to my mechanic to fix the ignition. Looking online I have seen numerous complaints about this problem and wonder why there has not been a recall for this ignition.
- Fairhaven , MA, USA
2000 Ford Focus key is locked. Tried everything possible to get it unlocked. For a while banging on the key itself helped but now nothing works!!!
- Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
The ignition has stuck on my 2000 Ford Focus. Had to call tow company and lock smith. Turns out to be a very common problem with this yr and make of veh.
- Tucker, Ga, GA, USA
The car was driving just fine, but when I got home and needed to go and meet my wife, the key ignition switch locked up. This is about the third or fourth time this has happened since I've owned the car. Since the car has also stalled before, it sure would be a big safety issue if you couldn't get it started in the middle of a busy intersection. This is ridiculous. Come on Ford, fix this! now I have to pay big dollars in a bad economy to get this fixed by someone else. Since the system is electronic, who knows if it somehow effects other electronics in the vehicle. On an 83 degree day, in black interior, and no way to roll down the electric windows because of being unable to turn the key, it can get quite hot, quite quickly.
- Olathe, KS, USA
Ford Focus key will not turn in lock leaving me and family stranded in the heat until a locksmith comes. Happens over and over.
- St Louis, MO, USA
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the rear door opens and will not remain closed. The dealer stated that there was a recall in 2005 for this failure and the vehicle should have been repaired at that time. The contact has to pay for the repair. The failure mileage was 60,000.
- Watertown, WI, USA
2000 Ford Focus ignition cylinder failed twice in 4yrs. This last time I was stranded in the cold, by myself at 1am. Missing work, spending money on tows, parts and labor adds up. Not to mention the danger involved with being stranded, all because your key wont turn.
- Sycamore, IL, USA
Both doors latch and remote control don't work.
- Aurora, CO, USA
Never had any issues with the ignition but then all of a sudden my key wont turn and the wheel locks up when trying to start the car. Have not fixed it yet.
- Watsonville, CA, USA
Due to a failure of the power lock actuators in a 2000 Ford Focus SE (s/w), the passenger door and the rear passenger door have jammed door locks. The doors can not be opened any longer by key, by inside door opening handle or by the remote fob. The consequences are that the only egress from the particular car is via the 2 driver side doors, making half of the car unusable. Passengers who should enter via the functioning doors of the vehicle into the side of the vehicle with the jammed doors do not have an escape route in case of accidents that involve the functioning side of the vehicle. This is an extremely dangerous situation for any driver or passenger. An internet search for "Focus jammed door" or "Focus jammed door lock" returns numerous instances of the same problem, occurring on all Ford Focus doors including trunk/hatch. Drivers enter their vehicles through the passenger side or even through the trunk because some door locks are jammed due to failed power lock actuators, with all safety-related hazards and consequences. The jamming can occur at any time; there is no way to predict it and to take preventive measures. A repair is exorbitantly expensive due to the fact that the doors cannot be opened by key or door opening handle to gain access to and replace the power door actuator that is the cause of the jamming. Ford is neither willing to acknowledge this widespread problem nor participate in the cost of repairs, thus forcing people to take unacceptable safety risks. Because of the serious safety hazard that the jammed doors present and the unpredictability of an occurrence of the problem, a safety recall action should be initiated by the NHTSA to force Ford to make repairs free of charge.
- Snohomish, WA, USA
Ignition switch needed to be replaced numerous times, I bought the car used Aug 19, 2008 my daughter was stuck in a isolate area when the key wouldn't go in the switch. I was replaced and 2 months later the key would not come out of the switch it was replaced again.
- Troy, NY, USA
The driver side door no longer closes unless it is locked. It cannot be unlocked with a key.
- Mahtowa, MN, USA
- Ithaca, NY, USA