2000 Ford Focus ZX3 with ignition problem. Consumer states that the key would not turn in the ignition. She says that the dealer charged her for the repair. She believes this is a manufacturing defect. The dealer replaced the ignition lock cylinder.

- Fairport, NY, USA

One day I got into my 2000 Ford Focus and had difficulty getting the key into the ignition. Once it was in the key would not turn. It took about an hour of turning the wheel, jiggling the key, and tapping on the key to get it to engage the lock cylinder and start the car. This has happened several times before I left the key in long enough to research the problem. This issue is pervasive on this model and cost about $400 to fix. A simple search online shows thousands of consumers with 2000 Ford focuses that have the same problem. This is not a coincidence it is a failure suitable for recall.

- West Hartford, CT, USA

2000 Ford Focus with ignition failure key would not turn. Consumer stated that the key would not turn. When the dealer fixed the problem she ended up paying for the repair. And then the problem recurred 6 weeks later.

- Fairport, NY, USA

The key suddenly won't fit into the ignition. This is a common problem with 2000 Ford Focus and it cost close to $500 to replace the ignition cylinder. Ford should do a recall on this issue since I found out a lot of consumers have the same problem.

- Aston, PA, USA

The key gets stuck in the ignition and will not come out. This is a common defect, and Ford refuses to recall the vehicle or fix it unless it is under warranty. I have not had it fixed and I will hotwire the car before I pay 400 dollars for a problem that will not exist.

- New Bern, NC, USA

Ignition lock jammed.

- Olympia, WA, USA

I parked my car one night in a parking lot. The car was parked for less than 10 minutes. When I came back my steering wheel was locked and I could not turn the ignition to start the car. The lights and radio work so the battery is not dead. Two aaa roadside workers tried to turn the ignition and it did not work.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

Ignition locked up.

- Flagstaff, AZ, USA

I have had to replace my 2000 Ford Focus ignition 4 times in the 7 years I've had this car. The first was in 2001 then the last was 2007. I can not keep fixing this problem when it cost me over $500 I was quoted by Ford.

- Inver Grove Heights, MN, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. He stated the key would only tunr three quarters of the way when inserted into the ignition. In addition, he has sometime he has to shift the vehicle into neutral to turn the igniting. As a result, the vehicle would not start immediately. The failure and current mileages were 94,000.

- New Iberia, LA, USA

Tonight (12/29/2007), for the fourth time (six times total), the ignition switch on my 2000 Ford Focus died, leaving me stranded yet again. This time, I was left stranded in 12 degree weather for seven hours. It is amazing I didn't get frostbite - or worse. I bought my Focus in 2002, with 52,000 miles on it. The prior owner had replaced the ignition switch twice on the car - once about 12,000 miles (under warranty) and once about 42,000 miles. I replaced the switch at 58,000, 72,000 and 102,000 miles. Car now has 137,000 miles and once again, I'm going to have to replace the [xxx] ignition switch again, after being assured by the Ford dealership that this would never happen again ("it's been redesigned, the problem is fixed.") '!@#$%. the Ford dealership has said that every single time I've had to replace it, after taking $300-$375 of my money each time, and several thousand miles later, I'm having to replace it again! the Ford dealership will only warranty the ignition switch for a lousy 12,000 miles. What is particularly aggravating isn't the money so much as the cavalier attitude Ford has that this is not a "safety issue." Tell that to my still-cold body! you sit for seven hours in a car, stuck, unable to turn the heat on, in freezing temperatures. Is it going to take someone dying before Ford owns up to this problem? information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Calhan, CO, USA

Cracked ignition. Jammed steering column. Both were replaced. Old part is available.

- Elizabeth, NJ, USA

My daughter who is 17 came out of work at 10 pm on a Sunday night and her key wouldn't go in the ignition of her 2000 Ford Focus. Thus she was stranded alone after dark in an empty parking lot. I feel that this is a safety issue. Not everyone can afford a cell phone and if she hadn't had one she would have been in real trouble because there is nothing close to where she works. We stress about maintenance so she will not break down and she will be safe. This should be a recall. She has only had the car for three months and this is already the second problem she has had with this car.

- Nevada, MO, USA

As I left work on the night of 12/4/07, I entered my 2000 Ford Focus and found that I could not turn the key in the ignition. The key would not fully enter the ignition cylinder and thus could not start the car. As such, I was stuck in the parking lot with no way to drive myself home without calling for a ride. Luckily, I was able to find somebody, even though there was a strong winter storm at the time. I had the car towed to a dealership - the tow truck driver told me he sees this problem all the time with this car and gave me some tips for how to try to get the key to work (at least temporarily), but nothing worked and he towed the car. The dealership told me that they needed to completely replace the ignition lock cylinder, which I had them do. Doing research online, I found that there are a large number of people that have this issue reoccur with their Focus. I called Ford customer care center, who informed me that there was nothing they could do to assist my repair (in the form of an extended warranty or goodwill repair) and referred me to this site to see if this issue merited a recall.

- Wauwatosa, WI, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. When the key was placed in the ignition, it would not turn at all. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the ignition was replaced. The cause of the malfunction was unknown. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was experiencing difficulty starting and the key had to be turned several times. The trunk lock failed and needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 70,000 and current mileage was 160,000.

- White Plains , NY, USA

For the second time, my 2000 Ford Focus ignition lock has failed in that the key won't turn and vehicle is immobilized. Current mileage on vehicle is approximately 48,500 and ignition cylinder was drilled out and replaced by Ford dealer at 28,000 miles and replacement part frequently stuck and now ignition cannot be unlocked.

- Arlington, VA, USA

I own a 2000 Ford Focus. On the morning of November 22, 2007 I parked my vehicle in my driveway, which in turn blocked the exit of my other vehicle from the garage. When I went to start my vehicle that night to go to work, the key wouldn't fit into the ignition. I was eventually able to jam the key into the ignition, but it would not turn forward. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership where it cost me $380 to replace the ignition and make new keys. Fortunately, I was not having an emergency. If I had to take my son, who is 1 year old, to the emergency room, I wouldn't have been able to leave my house for an hour. I have research this issue and have become aware that this year vehicle is having a lot of these issues.

- Altoona, IA, USA

I had to have the ignition cylinder replaced in my 2000 Ford Focus 4 times in the last 5 years and today it locked up again. It is a known problem with Ford. It gives no warning. 1 minute it works fine... the next time I go to start the key --- it is locked up and wont unlock. I am a single mom on disability and it is unsafe to have such an undependable car - I never know when it will start and when it wont.

- Nashville, TN, USA

On 10/23/07 I inserted key into ignition of my Ford Focus and immediatley the lights and gauges went haywire-vehicle failed to start. To make a long story short, after unpluging the battery cables and going back to the stranded car the next evening, it started. 2 days later my wipers came on by themselves and would not stop until I turned the car off and restarted. On 10/31/07 while driving my daughter home, the vehicle began accelerating and deccelertaing uncontrollably. I pulled of the highway and when I opened the drivers door, the seatbelt light began blinking and making a loud ticking noise. This had happened the night prior, but I thought maybe the button was depressed. My dome lights make a screeching noise and blink on and off. This is a serious problem that needs to be looked into. Whenever something like this happens I am driving home late at night and of course the dealer is not open to help me. My car is almost paid off and I will not invest more than what it is worth, which is only about $2,500.too bad I have paid about $18,000 for it. I would also like to know why I have not received recalls for the following problems: 1. 1st month after purchase, electrical system running airbags, mirrors, doors etc. Failed. 2. 37,000 miles- transmission failed 3. 42,000 miles- power door locks failed and soon after passenger doors stuck in the lock position. 4. all window tracks have failed. 5. wheel bearings replaced. 6. trunk latch failed 7. ignition failed and was replaced and is going again. 8. brought in for 1 recall (fuel filter) and still didn't correct problem with vibration and lurching. This is a vehicle that exceeds highway saftey ratings? something will be done about this if I must hire an attorney- I am out a lot of money and no vehicle.

- Deleon Springs, FL, USA

Key would not turn in ignition. Incurred cost for towing car twice, ignition was replaced, and then new keys had to be programmed.

- Orion, MI, USA