: the contact stated the key would not turn in the ignition. The vehicle was taken to the dealership and the ignition lock cylinder was replaced. This occurred a second time 30,000 miles later and the same component was replaced.

- Daly City, CA, USA

Ignition cylinder issue. 2nd occurrence key will not turn and wheel is locked. Widespread problem on year 2000 and up Ford Focus. Not cover by the B.S. extended warranty. Still no recall.

- Daly City, CA, USA

2001 Ford Focus. Key has been hard to turn in the ignition since I bought it. Now I can't turn it and the car has to be towed to the dealership. The wrecker driver and the service person at the Ford dealership told me this is a common problem. The wrecker driver told me that they tow in approx. 10 Focus' a week with the same problem.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

My mothers 2001 Ford Focus had a problem with the ignition switch with it locking up. After checking the web I found that this seems to be an ongoing problems with the Ford Focus but Ford doesn't seem to think so. I now had to buy the part and find someone else to install because it would be 3 weeks before they could fit me in at a price tag I was told of $550 to have it fixed which is a rip off especially if this is happening to a number of other owners of Ford Focus'. it seems to me Ford doesn't want to own up to the defect since it's not a safety concern to them.

- Gretna, LA, USA

I have owned a 2001 Ford Focus for the past 4 plus years. I purchased this car new and today the ignition assembly broke. I looked this up on the internet and found that Ford is aware of this problem but is not doing anything about it. For a fact the parts person at baytown Ford even stated that this happens a lot on the Focus and that the new parts have been fixed. It will cost between 300 and 600 dollars to get this fixed. I brought this car for the security and safety it offered now because Ford used bad parts I am having to suffer.

- Baytown, TX, USA

The contact stated the ignition locked up while attempting to start the vehicle. The vehicle engine would not start and the steering wheel would not move. The vehicle had to be towed home. No repairs have been made due to the expense.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

The ignition on the Ford Focus 2001 LX keeps "sticking". this incident has happened twice within less than two years. The ignition will not move giving the appearance of the steering wheel being locked but the steering wheel still moves, its the ignition that won't eliminate it being locking problems. I have had the ignition replaced twice in a short period of time due to this problem.

- Nas Lemoore, CA, USA

I own a 2001 Ford Focus. On October 31, 2005, I noticed that my car key would not fit into my ignition all the way and my key would not turn. My steering wheel is also locked in place. There were no preceding symptoms to warn me of this failure. I have contacted my local Ford company, which expects me to pay for the repair and towing. However, it seems that there are several complaints with Focus owners about this same problem. Please, issue a recall on this, if you can. It is a serious inconvenience, time wise and financially.

- Toccoa Falls, GA, USA

Poorly designed ignition cylinders. This causes the tumblers to fail resulting in a lock-up of the ignition. The owner cannot turn the key to start the car and as a result, has to be towed. I was told that the ignition cylinders in the 2000 and 2001 Focus were the european design. I have had to replace my cylinder twice. Once it was covered under warranty, the second time it was not and I had to pay $200. There are other Focus owners who have this problem. See the websites below. www.autowhiz.com/messageboards/message.php?id=1784 consumeraffairs.com/automotive/ford_focus_ignition.html townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.eea6dd2/286 among many others I was told that they put an engineer in the position to specifically re-design the ignition cylinder. So while Ford continually claims to not know about the problem, it is apparent that they did. While there were no deaths nor injuries, it is not up to the people to pay for Ford's poor quality.

- Royal Oak, MI, USA

My 2001 Ford Focus' ignition cylinder stripped and broke. The key will not turn in the ignition. I have done some research and have found that this is a very common problem with Focus'. I feel that there should be a recall on these parts and reimbursements be made.

- Westerville, OH, USA

2001 Ford Focus stuck ignition. Upon researching this on the internet I find thousands of complaints and some people it happeded to several times. My complaint - why hasn't Ford been forced to recal and fix the ignition switch on the 2000-2001 Focus ( they fixed problem for later years).

- Sun City, CA, USA

Consumer ignition cylinder would not turn. The consumer stated when the incident occurred the steering wheel would lock up and everything would have to be re-coded.

- Elkhorn, NE, USA

Last 2 years have had problems putting key in ignition and turning it. I have had to jiggle it and push it in. I got stranded at work because the key would not go in the ignition and turn. I brought the car to dealer and they said ignition cylinder had to be replaced costing me $392 for the part!!!!!! they said that my steering column could possibly break during installation!

- Hicksville, NY, USA

The ignition locks up due to a defective cylinder. I have had the car for almost four years and I was quite surprised by this. I looked on the web and it looks like an extremely common problem that even the service at Ford admitted to. I was particularly surprised when they said Ford hasn't issued a recall for this problem. People have said that they have had the ignition cylinder replaced 2 and 3 times in short periods of time. I am afraid that I will suffer the same fate. I would like it if I didn't have to pay hundreds if not thousands of dollars for something Ford knows is defective and still makes the customer pay for the repair and multiple times as well.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

I have a Ford Focus 2001 and I am having problems with the ignition tumbler for a second time in one week now. The steering wheel locks and it would not get unlocked by the ignition key. The whole part was replaced in the service shop a week ago and yesterday I had to bring it back to the mechanic because of the same problem. I have the old part in my trunk and they will have another one ordered today.

- Ridgewood, NY, USA

The key was stuck in the ignition and would not start. I tried to jiggle the wheel, but car refused to start.

- Loves Park, IL, USA

Yet another Ford Focus owner who had the ignition completely lock-up. The key would no longer turn, rendering the car dead, and in need of towing to the dealership for a replacement ignition.

- Seattle, WA, USA

I bought my 2001 Ford Focus 4 months ago and I am having to replace the ignition cylinder because the key will not turn. After research, I am seeing this is a very common problem for my car. Many people have had to replace this component 3 or 4 times in the last 3 years. I do not look forward to continuously having a problem with a car that is supposed to be dependable.

- Tampa, FL, USA

I have had my 2001 Ford Focus ZX3 for about 3 and half years. Recently, the ignition cylinder has already needed to be replaced. Ignition cylinders are supposed to last for a long time. The reason why I bought this car was because it was dependable. If problems like this are occurring when am I going to expect next.

- Summit , IL, USA

Over time I was having more difficulty removing the key from the ignition. Eventually it took up 10-15 minutes of toggling the key and gear shifter to remove the key. This same problem was fixed three times under warranty (which has since expired). The ignition was replaced. The old parts are unavailable.

- Shawnee Mission, KS, USA