10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 49,737 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
Key locks up in the ignition and will not turn. The car would not start.
- Bloomington, IL, USA
The ignition key continued to get stuck in the steering column and refusing to turn until I'd continue to fiddle with it, sometimes for over 30 minutes. Very frustrating. The key has finally quit turning at all. The car is currently at howard's towing being repaired. The entire column is being replaced. Very expensive. Very unhappy.
- Grosse Ile, MI, USA
I drove my car to downtown as I normally do except this time I has the company of my 3 sons. It was 4 am in the morning. I parked the car taking the key out of the ignition and exited. At about 5:15 I tried to start the car by placing the key in the ignition and trying to turn it. The key would not turn. I tried again but again the key would not turn. I called aaa and the rep asked me to try to turn the steering wheel a little and then the key, this still did not work. He called a tow truck to come out to help. Meanwhile my children and I were left to sit in the cold and wait for the tow truck driver. While waiting I pressed on the brake really hard and pulled on the steering wheel and tried the key again, luckily it worked. Spoke to the aaa rep again and cancelled the tow. I woke up this morning to try the ignition again and it stuck again so I did the same thing that seemed to work yesterday, but it did not. Fortunately I was at home this time and not on a mountain somewhere with my children. This is a scary thing to happen especially when you are with your children in a strange place. What if I were somewhere without a cell phone signal? would we have to wait until someone happens by or walk in the cold to get a signal. This is something that should not happen to anyone.
- Springfield, OR, USA
Ignition key lock. The steering wheel of the car locks up and the key will not turn the car on. Jiggling the steering wheel column and turning the key at the same time does not work. The ignition cylinder was replaced.
- Chicago, IL, USA
The ignition switch on my car will not turn over to start the car.
- Norman, OK, USA
I have a 2002 Ford Focus and the keys sometimes get stuck in the ignition and or the keys are not able to turn the ignition. I feel that this is unsafe.
- Mesa, AZ, USA
Failure of ignition to turn on. Programmed Ford Focus keys fail to turn on ignition.
- Miamisburg, OH, USA
2002 Ford Focus X3, everyday I have problems with my ignition. I inset the keys into the ignition and the car locks up and the keys won't turn. I have to pray to try and get it to turn. Well today it finally gave up on me and I had to leave my car at my moms for good.
- San Diego, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Focus. The contact was experiencing difficulty turning his key in the ignition of his vehicle. It took him 2-3 hours after leaving the store to start the vehicle. The failure occurred very frequently. The dealer advised him to go to a locksmith to remove the cylinder. The current mileage was approximately 76,000 and failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
- Birmingham, AL, USA
Tried to turn the ignition to start my car and the key would not turn. Its a 2002 Ford Focus 2dr hatchback. It left me stranded for a few hours until I could have it towed. It seemed like the tumblers did not recognize the key. I could not shift out of park so I couldn't even push it out of the spot it was parked in. The entire ignition switch has to be replaced and the car restarted.
- Milwaukee, WI, USA
Ignition switch failure in 2002 Ford Focus.
- Mt. Pearl, 00, USA
My 2002 Ford Focus ignition switch will not turn. The steering wheel is locked because of this problem. The Ford dealership says this is a coming problem with these cars, but there is no recall. The charge will nearly be $500.
- Saratoga Springs, UT, USA
Key will not turn in the ignition. Had to call a locksmith to fix for over $200. The car was fine but would not start at all. The problem got worse and worse to the point I was stranded after about a week.
- Platte City, MO, USA
Steering wheel locked and ignition key would not turn, leaving me stranded.
- Corvallis, OR, USA
My 2002 Ford Focus has a known ignition problem per don davis Ford but no recall has been issued. The key will no longer turn at all. The dealership offered to replace the ignition switch for $400.
- Arlington, TX, USA
I have heard from many of Ford Focus owners of their problems with their ignition key getting stuck or not turning. I have been experiencing this problem for a few weeks now, where I have been left stranded at night or in harsh weather conditions. I believe that since this si not an isolated problem with a few vehicles and also considering the implications if vehicles not starting because of this problem in an emergency situation, should be enough to request to Ford company, take responsibility for the design flaws in the ignition system.
- Carrolton, TX, USA
My ignition switch on the 2003 Focus wagon, locked up. A tow truck driver, hit it to release. I took it to the dealership for repair, and they said it would be $338. This is an ongoing issue with this model for years according to web blogs. I spoke to Ford and they would not help me, and stated this was not a recall issue. We have 4 Focus in the family. Our 2002 had the same problem -but was repaired under warranty. This should not happen and must be addressed as a safety issue.
- Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Went to the grocery store about 10pm when I was done got into my car and the ignition would not turn. I sat there trying for a long time and nothing. It was obvious the ignition was locked up. Got my car towed the next morning to the Ford dealership, which did not open until the following Monday. They finally were able to look at it and said the ignition tumbler had to be replaced and the cost for that is $453. I was extremely disappointed because I am already on a tight budget and there was no event that led up to the ignition defect.
- Fort Washakie, WY, USA
The ignition is locked on my 2002 Ford Focus. Nothing led up to it. Apparently this happens to focuses often. I need to have a locksmith replace it, at cost to me, when Ford knows about this problem and has taken to action to remedy it.
- Healdsburg, CA, USA
- North Haven, CT, USA