10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 7 / 4
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 3
- Average Mileage:
- 36,886 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
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« Read the previous 20 complaints
Parked in a public parking space and came back to retrieve my car. Could get the key in the ignition but could not turn it. Turns out the ignition was faulty and had to be replaced by Ford. Everyone I've talked to with this make and model of car has had this problem, but Ford has not addressed it. They charged 400 dollars to replace it.
- Arlington, VA, USA
I was getting in my 2000 Ford Focus this morning to go to work; I put the key in the ignition and the key would not turn. I fiddled with in for about 10 minutes to no avail. As a result, I had to call off of work. That alone is a lose of money. I have not yet called Ford about this problem, but according to other reports, it can cost anywhere from$100- $400 to fix this problem. I just thank god this didn't happen to me in a dangerous area. I could have been stranded in a very dangerous area. I have had problems with the key not turning before this incident, however, I could always eventually turn the key, after fiddling with it for a few minutes.
- Valparaiso, IN, USA
I just bought a 2000 Ford Focus and the key is stuck in the ignition. The woman had the tumbler replaced last year (08/06). Will have to take to the dealer and have it fixed. Seems like this is a persistant problem with 2000 Ford Focus cars.
- Boardman, OH, USA
Ignition is locked and will not turn to the start position, I tried to wiggle the steering wheel to make sure the steering wasn't locked and its locked too.
- Arlington, KY, USA
The key in my 2000 Ford Focus will not turn. My car is useless. After months of it being difficult and having to use force it finally won't turn at all. Fortunately I am at home and not stranded. Sounds like this is a common problem with these cars. I can't believe this isn't a recall issue. Incredibly frustrating. Sounds like I either pay a locksmith $150 or Ford $400 to fix it.
- Portland, OR, USA
Ignition will not turn. Key will insert into ignition cylinder, but will not turn and therefore not start. Vehicle was towed to dealership for $100. Dealership quoted $300-400 for ignition cylinder replacement.
- Kirkwood, MO, USA
Ignition key will not turn. Key can be inserted into ignition cylinder, but will not turn or start vehicle. Vehicle was towed to dealership for service for $100. Dealership replaced ignition cylinder for $300.
- Kirkwood, MO, USA
The car was ok when I bought the vehicle, when my warranty was up, the key took a couple of turns before I could get it to turn fully, this happened rarely. Then it became more frequent, and now it doesn't turn at all. My car is now being towed and hopefully the problem will be resolved. It is very unfortunate that this costs so much. I was going away in a couple of weeks and now I won't be able to because of this experience. I am very dissatisfied.
- Toms River, NJ, USA
I own a 2000 Ford Focus with 31,000 miles on it. Twice in the last 5 months the ignition jammed. The first time on a freezing cold day at a deserted urban parking lot late at night at February 24, 2007. The second time, on July 12, 2007.
- Dallas, TX, USA
I just purchased this vehicle from a private party and I had the vehicle, a 2000 Ford Focus 4 door sedan, for about 4 months and the key did not working correctly in the cylinder. Would have to jiggle the steering wheel and the key for about 30 minutes before it would turn over to start. Just last week on 06/05/2007 the car no longer started, I could not get the key to turn to start. I called the local Ford dealer, and they told me it was the ignition cylinder that needed to be replaced. I have an appointment, and I talked to the manager at the service department, and he said this was a countinous problem with this kind of vehicle. This wa S easily costing me $300 that I dont have... this problem needed to be recalled. By the way I had to have the vehicle towed to get it fixed.
- Oroville, CA, USA
The ignition cylinder the 2000 Ford Focus locked and I was unable to turn the key. It first happened while I was at an atm at 11pm at night and was not able to turn the igntion for almost 30 minutes, which placed me in a very dangerous situation. Two weekd later it happened again, but this yime was unable to turn it at all, and had to be towed to a Ford dealership to have it fixed. The repair cost me, with towing was $550. I knew this has been a problem for other Focus owners and felt Ford should be recalling this porblem.
- Tarzana, CA, USA
Ignition locks so key will not start the car. I was left stranded in a parking lot. This is the second time this has happened, following the first time the ignition cylinder was replaced.
- New York , NY, USA
I have a 2000 Ford Focus. The ignition switch will not turn, as a result, the steering wheel will not turn. I am unable to start the car. This is the second time this has happen to me.
- Washington, PA, USA
One day the ignition cylinder on my 2000 Ford Focus ZX3 failed, and I was unable to start my vehicle because the key did not turn once inside the ignition. I was stranded without transportation. I had to get the vehicle towed to a service dealer to get the ignition replaced.
- Laurel, MD, USA
Ignition key has failed twice- mechanically- the 1st time was at 54000 mi and cost $300 to replace - just happened again AT180000. There were 34 similar reports in 2001 when 1st occasion happened but Ford said it wasn't a problem. Now I can't find anything on your site about it. Car has just been towed to dealer so not sure what it will cost. But I have driven cars for 50 years and never had an ignition key problem before, never mind 2 on same vehicle.
- Manomet, MA, USA
- the contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus with a current and failure odometer of 130000 miles. The contact stated that when she put the key in the ignition it wuld not turn. The contact tried several times and different ways to move the key in the ignition, she would make sure that the vehicle was in gear, but the ignition would not turn. The instrument panel would light up, and the vehicle would chime, but the ignition remained frozen.
- Denton, TX, USA
The ignition cylinder in my 2000 Focus ZX3 broke (froze up) for the sixth time. I have replaced the ignition cylinder six times now in the same vehicle in seven years. It has cost me a little over $400 each time, except for the first time when it was covered under warranty.
- Daytona Beach, FL, USA
Ford Focus with ignition lock up problems *writer please note for customer that complaint is being forwarded to ftc.*
- Corpus Christi, TX, USA
Recently the vehicle started to idle erratically sometimes dying, I took it to the dealership and they told me the Bosch platinum spark plugs were not compatible with Ford vehicles and sold me new spark plugs. The problem seemed to go away but about 30 days later it started again. Frustrated with the dealers performance I checked the vehicle myself and found that the crankcase vent between the engine and firewall had a rubber elbow and hose that were collapsing after the vehicle started. I removed them and found the elbow had a hole and the hose seemed to be structurally weakened. I replaced both and no more problem.
- Universal City, TX, USA
- Rhinelander, WI, USA