Put the key in the ignition and it won't turn. Wheel is not locked and tires are not touching anything.

According to my friend's dad, who sells cars, this is a pretty standard issue for the Focus. Luckily, I was at a friend's house when this happened but I can only imagine how dangerous this situation could have been had I been alone at night. Yikes!

I'm opting to have a friend put in a new ignition switch and I just purchased the part. They run around $80. The horrible thing about this is that Ford KNOWS that they put an inferior part in the ignition but have chosen to ignore it. Simply ridiculous.

The locksmiths and mechanics I called all quoted the repair at close to $300 which is just ludicrous, given what an easy fix it is once you have the part.

The ignition key wont turn back on if I remove the key. So for about a half a year, I've been leaving the key in the ignition and turn it off all but the last click. If I turn that last click, it will not turn on again. I will definitely call the suggested phone numbers that the previous person suggested, and file complaints. I have always bought fords or Chevrolet, and this is definitely my last ford. I have had so many problems with this car, and the ignition is the last straw. The air conditioner doesn't work and never really did, replaced fuel pump, repaired auto windows, had to disconnect the radio because it turns on and off repeatedly, even when the car is off, which drains the battery. Had to replace the springs which busted on the highway. Talk about scary. Exhaust clamps had to be welded, and the ignition and fuse relay wires had to replaced.

My steering wheel wouldn't turn when I put the key in the ignition. This has happened many times but it has always been easy to fix. This time I couldn't do it to save my life. I was pissed. Almost called a dealership and had it towed there then I decided to look it up first on the internet and found this place. Just wanted to let you all know that hitting the hammer did the trick for me. I know this isn't going to fix it, but for anyone who is out there stuck and can't get the damn key to turn...tap the end of your key with a hammer to get the steering wheel free and it will work. After reading everyone else's problems it looks as if I will end up going to a locksmith to have it permanently fixed. But thanks to those of you who put the trick with the hammer out there to keep me from almost paying to get it towed to a dealership...I'm sure I saved a ton a money...hope this will help someone else out there save some money also.

Last weekend, as I was leaving Nags Head, NC (180 miles from home), my key would not turn in the ignition. This had happened before and jerking the steering wheel to and fro had always done the trick. Not this time. I jerked the wheel, I wiggled the stick shift to make sure the car was fully in park, nothing worked. Luckily, my friend was able to get it unstuck by hitting the key. When I got home, I checked it out online and found this site. I took the advice of several people and went to a locksmith and got it fixed for $127. They informed me that they replace the ignitions on Focuses all the time. In fact, while I was sitting there waiting for the repair to be done, someone called with the same problem with a Ford Focus! This has been a good car up until the last 5 months.

Daughter at college and is required to do internship. Went to start her 2003 Ford Focus and key would not turn in ignition. Tried everything and looked in owners manual - nothing. Went on line and found this is a re occurring problem with Focus's. Either key will not turn or key gets locked ignition. Called car dealership and they were well aware of the problem. - ignition tumbler bad. Advised to tow to dealer. At dealer tumbler replaced and coded keys needed to be rekeyed. Approx $500 later (not including tow). There are multiple forums complaints and info on this problem and dealer was aware of it. No recall?? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FORD!!!!!! My daughter has been assigned to a school in a not so nice area for internship and with the way the world is going - IT DOES NOT MAKE ME OR HER FEEL COMFORTABLE TO BE STRANDED, BE LATE FOR WORK OR SCHOOL> OR INCONVENIENCED OVER A DEFECTIVE PART!!! AND TO PAY OUT THE COSTS OF REPAIR AND KEYS RECODING!! FORD FIX THIS!!!!! FORD Focus owners unite and overflow Fords email and mailbox because this is not right!!!

I will write FORD and I have already called to file a complaint. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AND WE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED.

I am a young mom who was stranded for two hours with my infant because I could not get the key to turn in the ignition. Ford Customer relations acknowledged the problem and offered a 10% reimbursement. Which does not help me very much. My daughter has a genetic disease. How am I going to take her to her hospital appointments with out my vehicle?? I will never ever recommend ford to anyone unless ford mans up and goodwill repairs my vehicle or recalls the ignition cylinder. I have read that I am not even close to the only person that has this problem and have found petitions online to try and get the problem recalled.

The key in wife's focus ignition would no longer turn. I looked online to see if this was a common problem, and found hundreds of similar complaints. I was lucky to find the following website. http://www.safeandlockstore.com/products/Strattec-707592-Ford-Focus%7B47%7DExplorer-%26-Others-Ignition-Kit.html

I took some pictures of the key and for $46.00 shipped they sent me a new strattec ignition that was set up for our old key. It arrived and took me no longer than 20 minutes to install. It has been working great since. It is really sad that there is no recall on this problem. To replace the ignition lock all you have to do is remove the two screws on the black plastic underneath the steering wheel (they are #20 torx screws). Use a flat head screwdriver to push in the small tabs on the upper black plastic enclosure at the top of the steering column. Both of the panels should release and expose the ignition cylinder. Our key was able to turn still after spraying some wd40 in the slot and tapping it a bit. So I turned the key to the Accessory #2 position and depressed the small round tab on the ignition cylinder. This frees up the cylinder and I was able to pull it out. I put the key in the new cylinder and turned it until the extended end lined up in the cylinder slot and the tab lined up. I pushed it into place and the tab locked in. I replaced the black plastic panels and everything worked. If you know someone mechanically inclined save money and order a new cylinder and replace it yourself. Don't spend $300 at the dealership.

2003 Ford Focus key wont turn and thus wont start. Wow, who knew, so a bunch of us proud "Escort" owners are experiencing the same problem. And of course Ford Motor Company won't accept responsibility for the problem. Good old short sighted American business model. Who cares about customer good will. Make a fast buck. Replace the part with a similarly defective part and create a customer base for your service department. Huh (scratching head thoughtfully) Wonder why American car companies are in trouble?

Possible Solutions: 1. Call a locksmith 2. Never shut off vehicle engine 3. Carry several spare ignition sets (I keep mine next to the spare tire) 4. Call Ford's customer service to complain (More frustrating than solution #2 above) 5. Instruct all future generations to NEVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT. They do not stand behind their poorly engineered product even in the face of compelling evidence. Well wait a minute, do we really want future generations to have to bail out Ford with their tax dollars? (See Chevrolet case study: Cars designed to last 100,000 miles vs Japanese imports providing reliable service to 200,000 miles) Japanese invested in long term customer good will, Chevy didn't, word got around, customers started buying Honda and Toyota, taxpayer bail out, etc. P.S. Has anyone else noticed all the recalls and problems with Toyota since the "Obama Chevrolet" dealerships opened their doors?

I was in Hannaford parking lot with my 17 months old daughter when the key would not turn. After trying everything for about 45 minutes I googled the problem on my cellphone. Come to find out there are 1000's of people with the same problem. I called the dealership, I was told they have had this problem with many ford focuses. I called the Ford manufacturer and filled a complaint. There phone number is 1-800-392-3673 or 1800-232-5952. The woman took my complaint and said there have not been enough complaints filed for a recall. I then called the National Highway of Safety and filled a complaint. There number is 1-800-424-9393. Everyone needs to call both companies and file a complaint in order for there to be a recall. I hope this is helpful.

If the internet is full of stories about this same problem and the fact that FORD has know about it for many years and has done nothing to fix the problem it is time for a RECALL OF THIS so it will be fixed with the correct replacement part made by STRATTEC part # 707592 and not the orginial part made by the HUF company. if the cylinder can be removed and the end part that locks the cylinder when it is in the lock housing once removed it will work as it should and not lockup then FIX IT NOW be for My Daughter is hurt do to the cylinder causing the steering wheel to lock and then have the car crash what would you like to pay me for the loss of a child in the millions of dollars ? insteed of 1`00.00 to 150.00 for the fix of the lock cylinder? you do the math FIX THE DAMN PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!