My daughter went to drop off lunch to my other daughter and the ignition locked and the key wouldn't turn. According to clarence ditlow with auto safety.org this is the number 1 reported defect in the 2000-2003 Ford Focus, so why isn't Ford recalling this vehicle problem"?" my daughter called Ford customer service about this issue and the rep told her that this is a problem that has been happening and that they would probably have to recall this issue. I then called Ford customer service several days later and the representative told me that there is no record of any problems relating to the key locking and not being able to drive the vehicle. I was very upset and said goodbye and went on the internet to do my research and found that this was a common problem with this vehicle. I will never buy another Ford if this is the way they represent their vehicles. I then called Ford back after my research and inquired why the other rep had told me that there was no record of any issues of this type with the Focus. All I want is for Ford to stand behind their product. Nothing my daughter sis could of prevented this issue and now Ford wants me to pay for the ignition to be replaced at a cost of $400 to $500 according to research shown. Unbelievable... please help...

- Rockledge, FL, USA

There is no indication or warning to when this problem will occur--it is purely random. It has happened to my wife three times in the past year. When the key is put into the ignition, it will not turn. Thus, leaving the driver stranded. A locksmith had to be called to work on the ignition. Fortunately, this time she was stranded at church (the first time was at a shopping mall and the second at work). But, should she have been somewhere unfamiliar or isolated, this would have made her quite uncomfortable being alone.

- Kaneohe, HI, USA

I am writing regarding my 2000 Ford Focus ZX3. I was left stranded in a town 50 miles from my hometown. The key went in and wouldn't turn. I had to have it towed 3 times to get it to a Ford dealer ( who is the only one who could fix the problem). It cost me $380.52 to get the car fixed, in which 221 of that was just labor! but since they had to program the ignition, they were the only ones to do it. After researching the problem, I have found thousands upon thousands of complaints about this problem. Also, the tow truck drivers said they tow 2 or 3 of these a month because of this. Ford has to be aware of this problem. It is unfair that they have not at least recalled the part. As a consumer, I can safely say I have lost a lot of respect for Ford. As a child I grew up a "Ford fanatic", however due to the purchase of my Focus and the carelessness of the company to take care of the minor problems with the car, that has changed. Ford needs to recognize this problem and do something about it. I have warned all of my friends with focuses of this problem, and they are just preparing themselves for this to happen. Something must be done about this problem! until then, I am unsatisfied with Ford's service, and product.

- Hughesville, PA, USA

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.

- Garfield Heights , OH, USA

Starting 2 years ago rear hatch would intermittently unlock when brake pedal was depressed. Problem was worse in cold weather. Within last two weeks, rear brake lights no longer work when brake pedal is depressed, and the rear windshield wiper no longer functions. All symptoms point to a failure in the wiring harness leading from the car body to the rear hatch lid. Online forums of Focus owners document broken insulation and wires in this wiring harness. A similar problem was the target of a NHTSA recall of focuses from this model year, but apparently only applied to the sedans. I have an appointment with my Ford dealer to repair, but without a recall I will be forced to pay out of pocket. Please investigate this issue and report a recall soon if appropriate. The brake light failure and spontaneous opening of the rear hatch while driving are serious safety hazards. Here is an example of other owners reporting this problem online: forums.focaljet.com/team-pit-stop/457417-all-ZX3-owners-please-read-potential-safety-hazard.html.

- Winona, MN, USA

This will be our 5th ignition replacement since purchasing this car new in 2000. The first three were covered. Since we have to pay another 500 for this one we have been making due by leaving the key in and not completely turned off by just a hair. Or on the occasion we forget and take it out we have to beat it with the back of a screwdriver to get it to engage. This has caused me to get out and leave the car in drive on several occasions since I got use to putting the car in park before removing the key I can no longer remove the key so I am distracted by digging out the clicker so I can get back into my car. This is so dangerous! my car rolled across the library parking lot and into another car. This could have been a child run over! all because of this ignition problem. I have never left my car in drive in over 32 years before this trouble! I have been stranded in relentless heat with children and freezing temps again with children. This is with out question a situation that needs to be recalled. We should not have to keep paying for a design flaw. It is not from over use or heavy key chains. There are many many days I don't even leave the house to use it. I don't stop and start the car a lot. This is a very dangerous problem and will not be taken seriously by Ford.

- Westbrook, ME, USA

After months of issues starting the car and the key not turning, the ignition now is completely locked. The key...both keys provided by the dealer at the time of purchase...will not turn the ignition.

- Gladstone, MO, USA

Ford Focus key will not turn in the ignition.

- Marysville, WA, USA

00 Ford Focus taillights not working. Found that Ford has a recall for the wire harness decklid. Took vehicle to a Ford dealership was told that my vehicle is not part of the recall. I've numerous recalls on this vehicle already. Vehicle was overheating. Was told by Ford dealership that needed a new radiator, cost me $800. When I picked up the vehicle it was still overheating, come to find out I only needed a new water pump.

- Detroit, MI, USA

Turning the key in the ignition has become more and more difficult. To where it has taken up to a half an hour to actually get it to turn. It is most certainly a safety concern where in there is the possibly of becoming stranded somewhere.

- La Vergne, TN, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 15 mph, the contact smelled a burning odor in the vehicle. He pulled the vehicle over and opened the hood, but did not find any smoke. In addition, the coolant temperature was fine; however, he felt is was extremely hot under the hood. He entered the vehicle and noticed that the service engine light was illuminated on the instrument panel. He has not taken the vehicle to be diagnosed by a mechanic. Through online research, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign id number 02V288000 (electrical system:battery:cables) for the same symptoms he was experiencing in his vehicle. He had also been experiencing loss of power and hesitation in the vehicle while traveling at low speeds. He discovered NHTSA campaign id number 05V030000 (latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch). The manufacturer stated that his VIN was not included in either recall. The contact believes the vehicle should be included since he is experiencing identical failures. The current and failure mileages were 73,450.

- Harrisville, RI, USA

2000 Ford Focus, ignition cylinder locks up and cannot turn key to turn on car. I see that there has been a lot of reported incidents of the same.

- Dubline, OH, USA

2000 Ford Focus the car was being driven and had just pulled into our neighborhood when the ac fan stopped running and I noticed the smell of smoke. The car was pulled over immediately and turned off. Smoke started pouring out from under the dash board and burst into flames. 911 was called the fire trucks came and put the fire out. The entire interior is gone while the engine and drive train are fine. The car is totaled.

- Gainesville, VA, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the instrument panel lights illuminate intermittently. In addition, the speedometer does not work properly at times. The vehicle will idle roughly or fast and has to be shut off in order for the idling to stop. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 00V302000 (vehicle speed control:cables). The current mileage was 106,000 and failure mileage was 105,000.

- Butler , PA, USA

I am experiencing what thousands of others have experienced with the 2000 Ford Focus. For the past year, we have intermittently had the ignition switch lock up, unable to turn the key and start the car. I have been stranded many times. My mechanic told me this is a overwhelmingly common problem with the 2000 Focus and suggested tapping and banging on the ignition switch to get it to turn. This worked for about a year, however, as I am finding out by reading these complaints, it finally has frozen and will not turn. Ford wants to charge people four hundred fifty dollars to replace this defective switch, only to replace it with another defective switch, which will ultimately need replacing, yet another $450.. my husband purchased an ignition switch from an auto parts store, only to have to take it to Ford anyway to install because they get you by charging $150. To "reprogram the pats system on the key. At what point and how many vehicles have to be reported to be defective, how many owners have to be charged thousands of dollars to replace defective parts with defective parts and Ford allowed to keep charging and recharging us to fix the same problem rather than being accountable for the problem and recalling the part"? why aren't consumer's protected against this"

- Hatboro, PA, USA

2000 Ford Focus #1 car has been owned by me since 2001 (bought from a dealer with 13K miles on it), it gets used lightly and never goes on long trips. I use it just for local driving, to and from work. (about 5 miles a day, car has 80K miles on it) this car is a lemon! I have had some of the strangest problems and gone through more recalls then anyone should have to. #2 problems I'm having currently: Suspension car's front passenger side spring has broken, makes very loud crunching noises when turning, needs repair. Electrical car has smelled of burning rubber, and electrical system has started smoking on more then one occasion, have come very close to going up in flames. Turning the car off then disconnecting the battery terminal cures the problem temporarily. Was also told by local mechanic front axles are bad, and need to be replaced soon but do not know much more about it. Problems I've had: Fuel pump recall, door latch recall, and battery cable recall. Have also had problems with the rear bearings of the car, paid out of pocket to fix those, because dealer told me there was no recall on them. After reading NHTSA campaign #01I017000 I have since learned otherwise. #3 all the problems I'm having with the car currently are not fixed. All the other ones were repaired by the dealer with the exception of the rear wheel bearings. The front spring is still available as is still on the car, and he electrical system is still intact. I will have to replace the spring soon but I'll hold on to it. The same goes for the front axle's.

- Cushing, ME, USA

Well, basically, my ignition has gone out on my 2000 Ford Focus for the third time. I've gone on the web and have read the same problem happening to other people. The key will not turn the ignition and it will not start. I think this should be investigated due to a safety hazard. Imagine being in a remote location and being in need of medical attention and your car not starting" imaging going hiking and twisting your ankle, after suffering through agonizing pain, you realize you have to suffer much longer because you can't turn the key in you ignition. I've never had to experience any of these situations, but I have experienced my third ignition failure. The first two were $300 each, and I just got off the phone with a Ford dealership and they told me it would cost $600?? price gouging in our time of high gasoline costs?" I believe these faulty parts need to be investigated.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

Unable to turn ignition to start car with key, regular mechanic unable to fix problem, had to be sent to a Ford dealer to replace the lock cylinder at a cost of $350.

- Newark, NY, USA

2000 Ford Focus ignition failure. Car ignition locked/froze up and I had to have the car towed and the ignition replaced at a cost of some $500. This is a widespread problem with the Ford Focus and Ford refuses to reimburse me and has not addressed the problem with a recall.

- Lackawaxen, PA, USA

Smelled smoke coming from vehicle and upon exiting vehicle fire was coming from the underneath of the engine compartment.

- Lorain, OH, USA