The ignition in my 2000 Ford Focus has been replaced three times in the last four years. Nothing unusual was happening, one day I got in my car, drove the coffee shop came out and the key would not turn. That was the first time, six months later the same thing and about six months after that. The fourth time this happened I returned to the dealer and was told that it was my key this time not the ignition.

- Westerly, RI, USA

2000 Ford Focus, locked ignition. Key won't go in and won't turn. Many complaints about this problem for this car.

- Hollywood, FL, USA

Went to start my 2000 Ford Focus after leaving store and ignition tumble would not turn. Has happened once before. Now everytime I go to start my vehicle I have to hit the key hard into the ignition for as many times as it takes to start. Brought my vehicle to my Ford dealer. Now it's going to cast me over $300 to replaced this part and that they say Ford is aware of the problem but will not recall this part. I spoke to service reps, managers and tech's. they all say the same....Ford knows but wont recall it! so on top of my car payment I get to pay more than my monthly payment to fix a part that Ford acknowledges as defective. Excellent services and care for your customers. Then again I am only an average person not a muli-million dollar company.

- Fort Myers, FL, USA

Ignition locked up, will not turn.

- Winter Park, FL, USA

Vehicle experienced an ignition problem. Vehicle will not start due to defective ignition cylinder.

- Murrieta, CA, USA

The ignition on my 2000 Ford Focus ZX3 will not turn. The problem has been ongoing for about 4 months. A Ford technician said to lightly tap the key then try turning the ignition. This method has seemed to work. However, I have been having to tap harder and harder to the point of hurting my hand from hitting it so hard. I've read several Ford internet forums where owners have had the same exact problem. If this is a known problem with Ford Focus ignitions there should be a recall.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

Ignition key wont work in the car it wont turn. My 19 year daughter was leaving work when she went to start the car it wouldn't work. It was dark and not a great neighborhood this is not an unusual probably with the Ford Focus it needs to be fixed by Ford and fixed now! (2000 Ford Focus).

- Horseheads, NY, USA

Ignition key would not turn, when attemping to start the vehicle. Replaced ignition lock and cylinder. R/R fuel delivery module.

- Rocky Mount, NC, USA

After stopping at a local safeway supermarket I went to my car and was unable to turn the key in the ignition. I thought that maybe my wheel was locked so I attempted to pull on the wheel while turning the key but had no luck. I tried this for approximately 30 minutes before giving up. I contacted aaa on Sunday December 26 and was told a locksmith will be out to unlock my wheel. About 10 minutes later I received a phone call from aaa explaining to me that they felt a locksmith would do no good with my vehicle since I own a 2000 Ford Focus and in aaa's experience my particular problem is a common defect and I should have it towed to a dealer because my ignition will most likely need to be replaced. I contact my local dealer Monday the 27 and was told that they would be happy to fix the problem because they perform that repair all the time, but there is no recall so I would have to pay for the replacement. I checked online and found hundreds of other 2000and 2001 Ford Focus owners with the same problem, even some that had the steering mechanism lock while the car was in motion. This seems like a very serious problem. I have decided to have my own mechanic replace the ignition system, because durring research I also found that those that had the ignition system replaced at a dealer had a reaccurance of the problem.

- Annapolis, MD, USA

The key to my vehicle has been increasingly difficult to use in my ignition over the past year. At times it would take up to 2 hours to get the key to work and the ignition started. The last time this happened, my wife and two children were stranded with no way of getting home. Finally, after several attempts and a lengthy amount of time later, she was able to get the key turned and the car started. The ignition cylinder in my vehicle is now completely broken (or something similar). I am unable to use my vehicle at all now. After two days of attempting to turn the key, it has failed. The failure has not been corrected yet, but I am aware that a new ignition cylinder will need to be installed on the vehicle. This will consist of towing the vehicle to the dealership because there is no way of starting the car or unlocking the steering wheel.

- Katy, TX, USA

Ignition will not turn. One minute it was working fine, and the next, the key will not turn. Also, one minute my automatic locks will work, then my car totally un-programmed itself.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

2000 Ford Focus has a defective ignition. The car will lock up at any time. Problem has been fixed twice in my car, now the problem has returned.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

Recall 03V482000 concerning intermittent stalling. Manufacturer is not allowing the dealer to honor this recall because the vehicle has a branded title.

- Barre, VT, USA

The key would turn to the off position and the car wouldn't shut off. They replaced the ignition cylinder, but since it was fixed in February of 2004 it has since done the same things 2 more times. These 2 times, however, the car would turn off, but I couldn't get the key to go to the off position and I couldn't get the key out of the ignition. I took it to the dealership 2 times after they replaced the ignition cylinder (once in November 2004 and once in December 2004). They said they can't do anything about it because it won't duplicate the problem when I have it at the dealership. After I drive it there the key comes out of the ignition. It was fine all summer, and it seems to just do this in cold weather. However, I have also experienced that my radio is staying on after the car is turned off, and my seat belt light and and warning buzzer also don't work when I have this ignition problem.

- St. Paul, MN, USA

I have a 2000 Ford Focus and I have been having terrible problems with my ignition. Several dozen times I have not been able to start my car or it has taken me a significant amount of time to be able to start the car. I told my local Ford dealer about the problem and said it would cost about $300 to fix the ignition. However, he told me that I was the fourth person that had called him that very specific day reporting the same problem with other Focus'. I have searched the internet and have found hundreds of other people posting complaints online and I think it is about time for a recall.

- Amherst, NY, USA

The key will not turn in the ignition. Ignition had to be replaced. This is the third time it has happened, and I had to have it towed each time.

- Germantown, TN, USA

While driving the dash light began to flicker then the vehicle shut down suddenly while in gear. Campaign id number : 00V411000. The consumer was told that the power cable to the battery was the result of the problem. Campaign id number : 02V288000. The consumer was told by the service department that this is a problem because the vehicle could explode. The warranty company turned the consumer down stating that the problem was not part of the warranty. The key gets stuck in the vehicles ignition and would not come out. The doors would not close properly and remained open while the vehicle was in gear. When the tire was removed the consumer noticed that the wheel was missing a lug nut. Campaign id number : 00V303000 the air vent did not stay open when the A/C was on high. The brakes howled like a wounded dog from the time of purchase. Pads and rotors needed to be replaced.

- Woodbridge, Ontario, DC, USA

My ignition locked leaving me stranded. I have towed the car to the dealership. Upon looking through websites (www.edmunds.com, www.autowhiz.com), I see this is a common problem. There were over 200 responses with similar problems. Someone from a local repair shop tried to get the key to turn and could not. He said he had worked for Ford for 38 years and believed that the cylinder was the problem. He said that he had seen a number of early Ford focuses (mine is 2000) have similar problems. I have had a lot of problems with the Focus. There have been more than 12 recalls on the car. The dealerships and customer service are more often than not uncooperative. I've found that dealers do not want to honor the recalls, especially if a rental car comes with it. They did not want to replace the fuel pump which was recalled unless I exhibited problems even though the fuel pump had been recalled. Focus owners are spending upwards of $350 on the ignition repair although it is clearly a manufacturer's defect.

- Dalton, GA, USA

I brought my 2000 Focus brand new. Yesterday, went to a meeting on the other side of the city. I was the last to leave and my key would only go half way into the ignition. No matter of wiggling would get it to budge. I had to call a tow truck and take it to the dealership. They replaced the ignition: Total cost $394.41 with towing. Learned from a friend that there has been a techical service bulletin on this for years. Of course my car is out of warrenty. But I have filed a complaint with Ford and asking for a "good will' rembursment to cover costs. I think this should be sent to the major networks for investigation.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

Once I place the key in the ignition of my 2000 Ford Focus zts it doesn't always turn. I have to play around with it for a minute or two before I get it to turn over and start my car. I fear soon that it won't work at all and I'll be stuck some place. I've known of many other people that have had this very same problem with their Focus's. people have had a dealership fix it, only to have it start doing it again with in a month later and several hundred dollars less.

- South Portland, ME, USA