10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 5 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 40,125 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The key would get stuck in the ignition switch. Vehicle was towed to the dealership for repair, and technician replaced the ignition cylinder, which was the second repair for the same part.
- Marysville, WA, USA
Ford Focus ignition mine has locked up twice the first time it started to work again the second time I put the key in and it wouldnt turn.I am now watching a locksmith fix it. This seems to be a very big problem with these cars should'nt there be a recall to fix it??
- Stevens Point, WI, USA
My key will not turn the ignition in my 2000 Ford Focus. This is a known problem through the dealer reps, but no recall? there is over 200 reports alone on this site about the incident.
- Bluffton, SC, USA
Ignition switch would not take my key then after an hour of trying to get the key to fit the key did finally go in then it would not turn to start the car and still had not so I have to have the car transfered to the dealer that I have to pay for. The dealer tells me there has been a lot of this happening and that it should be a recall. After all the Ford Focus has had so many this one should added a long with all the other problems.
- Flecther, NC, USA
While placing the key in the ignition switch vehicle locked up. Consumer tried to restart the vehicle, but was not able to restart it. Vehicle was taken to dealer for inspection. Consumer informed mechanic that ignition switch had been replaced twice. The vehicle was involved in an accident, no other information was provided in the police report. Updated.
- Memphis, TN, USA
Intermittently the key sticks in the ignition which causes the vehicle not to start. The ignition was replaced once before in May 2003 for the same problem.
- Detroit, MI, USA
Consumer was not able to remove the key from the ignition switch when the vehicle was in park. Dealership indicated ignition switch wa sdefective and had to be replacced.
- Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA
Consumer was unable to insert the key into the ignition switch. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealership, and mechanic did not resolve the problem.
- Oxford, MI, USA
Consumer complained about an ignition switch problem. Consumer put the key in the ignition switch but it will not turn. Later, vehicle was towed to the dealer for repairs.
- Sunnyside, WA, USA
Key will not turn inside ignition. Completely locked. Car will not start.
- Peabody, MA, USA
Ignition switch locked up and I could not start my vehicle. I had to have it towed to the garage to have it replaced. It locked up one other time but by turning the steering wheel a little it came unlocked by itself. That was not the case this time.
- Kingwood, WV, USA
The key will not go into the ignition. According to the dealer, the ignition tumbler is broken and needs to be replaced. Our extended warranty ran out 5000 miles ago and Ford will not pay the costs to repair the ignition. Ford said there is no recall right now, but keep the receipts in the event there is one. Why not just voluntarily recall the Focus" why wait to be ordered to do so" the estimate is $350 to fix the ignition. They can't replace the recalled fuel pump until they fix the ignition either. We only know about the recall on the fuel pump because my husband's Focus had problems with it. The folks at Ford responsible for notifying owners about a recall did not have our new address, despite the fact that we send Ford two car payments every month. We just replaced some $300 part to keep our window on about six months ago. This car is a lemon and Ford should be ashamed of itself.
- Riverside, CA, USA
My 2000 Ford Focus will not start. It has 34,000 miles on it. The key will go into the ignition, but will not turn the cylinder. I have tried different keys and the same happens. When I attempt to remove the keys, the ignition does not release them without force. I have done a lot of searching online and it seems to be a large ongoing problem since Ford has introduced the Focus. Why has this not been recalled and why does Ford escape responsibility for producing such a lemon vehicle with so many problems. As consumer, we buy vehicles with the good faith that the vehicle will last for decades. Why is Ford aloud to go without fixing every defect they have designed in the Focus? your job should be to send a message to automotive dealers that any vehicle like the Focus lemon will not be tolerated by the american public and that manufacturers cannot hide the defects in vehicles.
- Mill Creek, WA, USA
Returned to car after 1 hour of not driving, the key would only go about 3/4 of the way into the ignition. I tried all three keys that the dealer had given me, and none of them would go into the ignition. Called aaa, paid $175 to have a locksmith replace the springs in my ignition where the key goes, said that this could happen again, and in that case, the entire ignition would have to be replaced. Aaa covered $50 of the cost. Is there a recall for this" this is not the first complaint of the same type on this site! what is Ford doing to help this? I refuse to continue to pay $125 every time my key won't go into the ignition. I was lucky enough to be home when this happened, but what if I wasn't"
- Reading, MA, USA
Ignition switch will not turn. I can insert the key into the ignition, but the lock will not turn. The entire iginition switch had to be replaced and re-keyed.
- North Brunswick, NJ, USA
Keys do not come out of ignition when vehicle is turned off. Shifter also moves when car is supposed to be in park. Car will lock up on you before you can get your children out from back due to keys not coming out of ignition. Was in shop for repair for matter was not remedied. Brought back for an estimate for second repair and was told to replace shifter assembly.
- Point Mugu, CA, USA
Ignition switch would not operate, leaving me stranded. There was no way to repair the vehicle on site, so it had to be towed to a Ford dealer. Total cost to repair was $214.02 plus $45.50 for towing.
- Canton, IL, USA
Ford Focus ignition lock. Three times in the past six months the ignition lock has jammed on our 3 yr. Old Focus with 60,000 plus miles. The last time was day before yesterday. Eventually we have always managed to start the car, but only after many, many minutes. Once my wife would have been stranded at work alone after an evening shift, and once we would have had to have our son drive 150 miles to get us. Obviously there are circumstances where being stranded would be dangerous as well as extremely inconvenient. We are now having the ignition lock replaced at a cost of well over $200. From looking at the internet, it is obvious that this is a known problem. We feel that Ford should be required to correct it.
- Fort Atkinson, WI, USA
My 2000 Ford Focus will not permit me to turn the key in the ignition. This problem occurs frequently on the 2000 and 2001 Focus, as noted at: www.autowhiz.com/netscape/boards/showmessages.php?id=1275. Since these cars are widely purchased for young adults to use, Ford should recall and replace these cylinders.
- Richmond, TX, USA
- Clifton Park, NY, USA