My wife had to drop off something at a friend's place out in the country. They would not be home for a couple days. She got out of the car, delivered the items, and got back in the car to start it up and come back home. We were all waiting for her to get home so we could leave for a camping trip. The key went into the ignition, but the key would not turn, car would not start - the same problem described here many times. She went to a neighbor's to call me, finally found someone that could bring her home and get me there to see what I could do(we only have one car). I could do nothing. In the morning I am going to see what I can do. This sucks because my family is all packed and ready to go camping - now this.

- Lusby, MD, USA

Ignition cylinder failure, stranded us and we'll have to have the car towed. Could have been dangerous if this had happened a week earlier when we were in the back country of Idaho. This is a known problem with 2000-2002 Ford Focus cars and Ford has done nothing to acknowledge the problem. The ignition cylinder will have to be replaced (again).

- Boise, ID, USA

Ignition started to stick and on 8/5/05 the ignition would not turn key broke off had to pay lock smith to come out and take key out that was 125 dollars. Now I have to take the car to the dealer and have them fix the ignition but to get it there the car has to be towed. This has happened to a numerous amount of cars and Ford will do nothing about it.

- St Peters, MO, USA

Ignition key failure in 2000 Ford Focus SE. After doing some investigation on the web, I learned that this is an extremely common problem with most if not all models of Ford Focus. I am having it serviced now but according to many other people, I can expect to have to do this several more times over the lifetime of the vehicle.

- West Covina, CA, USA

Key would not work in ignition - car had to be towed to dealership to replace lock assembly and tumbler.

- Lake Geneva, WI, USA

1) no known events lead up to the failure. 2) when heading to work in the morning one day, I had difficulty inserting the key into the ignition. Once I got the key in the ignition, it would not unlock. I could not start my car and could not get to work 3) we had to pay $70 to have the vehicle towed to the nearest Ford dealership in buffalo, mn. We then had to pay them to drill out ignition cylinder and remove it. Then they built new cylinder and installed it. Costing me $350. I understand also, from the Ford roadside assistance (that had just expired) that this is also a very common problem for Ford Focus'.

- Plymouth, MN, USA

Key would not work in ignition - car had to be towed to dealership to replace the lock assembly and tumbler.

- Lake Geneva, WI, USA

2000 Ford Focus ignition key cylinder had to be drilled out and replaced.** answer required***. the consumer experienced the same problem for a second time. The ignition fell apart and became lodged in the steering column.

- Nashville, TN, USA

This is the 2nd time that the ignition has gone out on my 2000 Ford Focus. When the key was put in it wwas hard to turn on. This went on for about a week and then the key would not go into the ignition at all. Therefore you are stranded where ever you are. Car has to be towed.

- Brentwood, CA, USA

My Focus 2000 is in the shop due to a broken ignition cylinder. This is obviously a huge common problem and should be recalled.I could have been left stranded in the middle of the night in a dark parking lot. Car had to be towed.

- Richmond Hill, 00, USA

2000 Ford Focus steering and ignition locked. My son who is 17 yrs old was stranded and had to call us because the steering and ignition was locked.

- Mogadore, OH, USA

I have a 2000 Ford Focus. I have had the ignition key cylinder lock leaving me unable to get the key into the ignition or turn the key to start the car. Ford is well aware of the problem, as the service technician at my local Ford dealer told me. With this being a known problem, Ford still wants over $300 to fix a the problem. If this is a known defect, why is the consumer the one that has to pay for the problem"?"

- Arnold, MO, USA

I have had my Focus for five years, I am 1 month away from paying it off. Initially after I bought the car, there were a few major issues that were fixed under the warranty. Example- wheel bearings, breaks, etc. Otherwise my car has had few problems outside of normal wear and tear. On Friday, July 15, 2005 I had a difficult time getting my key to go in the ignition. But it went in, and started okay. On Tuesday, July 19, 2005, I was unable to turn the key in the ignition, it was stuck. It was also difficult to get the key out of the ignition. I had to have the car towed to the dealership to be repaired. The driver of the tow truck asked me if the ignition was stuck. I told him yes, and he told me that was the usual problem whenever he had to tow a Ford Focus. Marshall brothers Lincoln Mercury informed me it was the ignition cylinder that broke. I looked online, and there is an entire discussion board dedicated to this specific problem. www.autoforumz.com/Ford-Focus-ignition-locks-ftopict32011.html

- Metairie, LA, USA

Ignition will not work properly on 2000 Focus SE, need to replace ignition tumbler assembly

- Lakeville, MN, USA

I put my key in the ignition and it will not turn.

- Dennison, OH, USA

The vehicle had to be towed into the Ford dealership July 2nd, 2005. The vehicle will not start due to the ignition. The service mechanic said Ford was well aware of the problem.

- Nigeria Falls, NY, USA

I arrived home on Saturday morning, parked in the drive midway, took the key out and went into the house. Later in the afternoon, I tried with no success to move the car all the way up into the drive. The ignition would not turn. I moved the wheel, which was lock, back and forth and even tried yanking it. It would not move. I called my friend to come and look at it. He was unable to move it and couldn't figure out why it had locked. There is no release on the vehicle, so I couldn't even move the steering wheel. Every thing is locked in place. We pushed the car manually up into the driveway where it has been sitting with the windows down for 3 days. I looked into getting it fixed and found several websites with hundreds of complaints about this problem. The dealership I called for service said it would be roughly around $280 to fix but couldn't quote until the car had been in for inspection. I am really upset with Ford for not recalling this item years ago. It is such a small fix for them but costs us alot. Then when you get the reimbursement for you recall, they try to eliminate the labor costs, but isn't that part of the recall. My last reimbursement was much less than I actually paid for the service.

- Detroit, MI, USA

2000 Ford Focus LX, ignition froze. Problem occurred before. This was the second time that consumer had the ignition cylinder replaced. The first time was on May 26, 2004. This problem gradually became worse. At first the ignition was a little hard to turn. Within a week the consumer could not even turn the key in the ignition. The second time this occurred it included the same circumstances. There were no known other problems with this vehicle.

- Bell View, WA, USA

This morning when leaving for work consumer put key in ignition and ignition would not turning over and the engine would not start. The consumer tried to move steering wheel back and forth as this has worked twice before when this occurred. However, the steering wheel locked up along with the ignition. Consumer had to have vehicle towed to a local dealership. The dealer informed consumer that the entire ignition would have to be replaced, and offered no explanation as to why this occurred. Vehicle is currently at dealership awaiting repairs.

- Newport News, VA, USA

Hi, on Saturday evening (June 18, 2005) I drove my 2000 Ford Focus zts to edgerton confort inn in Wisconsin with my wife and 6 months old child without any problems. On father's day morning (June 19, 2005) ready to enjoy breakfast with family and friends I was not able to turn on the car. The ignition key would only go in half-way and wouldn't do anything plus steering wheel was locked as well, eventhouth I didn't lock it the night before. I spent about an hour with friends trying different approaches to release the steering wheel without success. The closest town I could find a Ford service center was in janesville, wi and on a Sunday (father's day) I couldn't resolve much. I had to spent another extra night in the hotel to be able to resolve the next day. Not a fun thing when you have a young child with you and not able to do much without a car. On Monday, June 20, 2005, I got in contact with gordie boucher Ford service center to arrange towing service. That cost me $73.50 to get my car from the hotel parking lot to the service center. At the service center I was told that my problem was a known problem by them, that it wasn't the 1st. Time they see it happend to Focus cars and that will cost me 3 hours of labor + part. (labor: 279.83; part: $98.47 = $378.30+tax) hotel/towing/Ford service total was close to $500 the damaged part was the ignition tumbler which they had to drill out, rekey the new tumbler and replace it. Old parts stayed at service center. This is apparently a known problem and I would like to voice my complaint with you because this should be taken care by a recall from Ford Motor Company. Also, you can read more about this from other owners on edmund's website: townhall-talk.edmunds.com/webx?14@781.0bpndjtay7N.0@.eea50dc/0 please advice and thank you for your proving this venue to us, consumers. From Illinois, edgardo munoz

- Berwyl, IL, USA