10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 4
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 1
- Average Mileage:
- 56,798 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 no longer turn in the ignition (but operated door and hatch without difficulty), creating an unsafe condition in which the car could not be driven and the owner was stranded with an inoperable vehicle. The local Ford dealership required $400 for a replacement ignition cylinder. There is a known issue with poor quality ignition cylinders in this model year and they were subsequently redesigned by Ford (perform a google search for "Ford Focus ignition cylinder" or see the discussion at http:forums.focaljet.comteam-tech497529-new-ignition-cylinder-help.html). Given that this is a known defect, the issue should be covered by a technical service bulletin or recall instead of requiring a significant out-of-pocket payment by the owner.
- Framingham, MA, USA
Attempted to start car and steering column and ignition was locked. I can't get either to turn.
- Manassas, VA, USA
The ignition is completely locked. I've been having trouble the past month being able to turn the key in the ignition and now I cannot turn it at all. My car is stranded at a local tire shop with the window down, which may cause even more damage from the weather or allow for easy theft. This problem is so unpredictable its scary, I could've been anywhere and been stranded. Then I looked up the problem and find that tons of other Focus owners are having the same issue because Ford used a cheap metal. Its time that they treated there customers right and recall this part.
- Englewood, CO, USA
2004 Ford Focus, key will not turn in the ignition. This has been an on going problem. Sometimes it takes 20 minutes, other times it has taken hours to get the key to turn. With less than 70K miles, this is a safety hazard when I have children in the car!
- Alta Loma, CA, USA
Battery failure due to a short in the ignition switch.
- Highland Lakes, NJ, USA
We have a 2004 Ford Focus 2.3L. Key wont turn in the ignition. The steering wheel is locked. We had to call a lock smith out to replace the ignition cylinder assembly. The lock smith said that he replaces two to three every week on the Ford Focus model. Lucky for us we were at home when the ignition failed. I read other stories where others were not so fortunate. It is unfortunate that Ford still to this day dose not have a recall on this issue. Even a courtesy alert would be better then sitting in the dark and having to do your own research to discover what the fix is.
- Vista, CA, USA
Parked car as always. Came out to start car to leave and key will not turn in ignition. Had to have it towed. The tow truck driver said they tow Ford Focus models with bad ignitions quite often. A woman in a Focus wagon pulled up in the lot where I was stranded before the tow truck arrived. I asked her to not park there since a tow truck was coming; I also told her why. She said she had several times where her key would get stuck in her Focus. Mine had done that a few times over the past 3 months, it appears based on the internet searches, and just my conversations in one day that this is a major issue. Mine is a 2004 model Focus. So it goes beyond the thinking that it is only 2000 to 2003 models. This past weekend I could have been stranded in the henry M. jackson wilderness area in wa. State, possibly with no cell phone service available either. Luckily this problem happened when I was in civilization. I was in the middle of nowhere this past weekend, in black bear & grizzly bear country.
- Kirkland , WA, USA
2004 for Focus. Ignition occasionally won't start with the key. Got stranded a few times. It seems something is wrong either with the keys or the ignition area where you place the key.
- Mt. Carmel, PA, USA
Yesterday evening, 6/22/10, after playing tennis at a local park, I got into my '04 Ford Focus wagon, put the key in the ignition, and the key would not turn. The steering wheel was locked, and no matter how I tried, the key would not work. I called my wife to come after me with her key. With some difficulty she was able to unlock the steering wheel and start the car with her key. I drove the car home and left the key in the ignition. Today, I drove the car to a local Ford dealer. I was told that the Focus ignition lock was a known problem. The ignition lock would have to be replaced at a cost of over $410. I googled 'Ford Focus ignition lock problem' and came back with numerous hits of people describing similar incidents. I believe this is a safety issue, and there should be a recall to fix it. Fortunately, I was not left stranded by this problem, but it has happened so many times to so many people, it should be recognized as a defect and a recall issued.
- West Hartford, CT, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. The contact was driving with the cruise control set at 80 mph. When she attempted to turn on the headlights, the vehicle began abnormally jerking as if she was repeatedly tapping on the brakes. The trans axle cooling system warning light illuminated when she turned the lights off and on. The cruise control then became inoperable. The vehicle had not yet been taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The failure and current mileages were 92,590.
- Greenville, KY, USA
The deck lid wiring harness breaks due to fatigue from opening and closing the hatch. In my case, 6 wires in the harness had been completely severed. Because of this, my tail light was out, the door ajar light was on and the brake lights were always on when the car was in drive. Besides the danger of being rear ended because the brake lights are always on, depending on which wires break or have their insulation crack open, there are a number of bad situations: * all rear lights could turn off. * the trunk could open when you apply the brakes. * the trunk could open when you use a turning indicator. This is a known issue with the 2000 Focus hatchback, but there was no recall for the deck lid wiring harness after that year. I just wanted to let you know that it happened on our 2004 Focus hatchback, and it can leave owners and other drivers on the road in a potentially dangerous situation. To correct the issue, I spliced the broken wires back together.
- Allentown, PA, USA
The ignition lock cylinder failed suddenly without a gradual increase of symptoms. The cylinder would not allow the key to turn, unlock the steering wheel and allowing the car to start. A new ignition lock cylinder was installed and rekeyed at a price of $171.18 for the part and $142.50 for the labor.
- Middleton, WI, USA
Ford Focus 2004 ignition locked. Opened car as usual, inserted key in ignition to turn and steering wheel appeared to be locked. Tried to turn key and move steering wheel but both wouldn't move. Called dealership and was told the ignition was locked and that it was a common problem. Car now needs to be towed to be fixed.
- Tamarac, FL, USA
First occurrence, without warning, (had never happened before) car shut off, ignition switch would not turn, resulting in vehicle no start condition. (original manufacturers key and ignition switch) contacted aaa auto club, tow truck dispatched, tow truck driver states garage has seen many 2003, 2004,2005 Focus with this problem. Also should be noted numerous similar complaints on file with all model years of this vehicle. Ford dealer that sold me the car and extended warranty claims repair not covered by warranty. Feel this is a serious safety issue as car can stall and fail to restart !!!!!!. also feel that I was sold an overpriced "warranty" which I am told will not cover repair !!! will retain old part for investigation and possible class action. Note : vehicle mileage at failure 43,205.
- Attleboro, MA, USA
Ignition completely locked up. I could not start car. I was stranded and had to get towed to a Ford dealer. Cost was $500 to fix.
- Toronto, On, 00, USA
Ignition and steering wheel completely locked up when I put the key in while heading out on my lunch break. I'm really disturbed that the NHTSA has not done anything to make the Ford Motor Company fix this problem which is a chronic, well-documented safety hazard. My car is now completely immobile and had to be towed back to my residence. Luckily my father is going to be able to fix it, but there are many people that don't have this option and have to spend hundreds of dollars to fix a problem caused by faulty materials knowingly used by Ford. I will never buy a Ford again.
- Safety Harbor, FL, USA
There is a defect which causes the ignition lock to fail, making it impossible to turn the key or start the vehicle's engine. The form says it's invalid but I checked both places in the car and that is what it says. The form did not have, "electrical system:ignition, " as an option for component name which better describes the problem area.
- Portland, OR, USA
2004 Ford Focus - key will not turn in ignition. The first occurrence was 6/27/09 @ 1:15 am, leaving movie theater, had to leave vehicle there. Again @ 7 am (finally got car cranked after 15 minutes). When got home this occurred again. Repeated times. Cannot crank vehicle with key in ignition.
- Conroe, TX, USA
1. Ford Focus (2004) has for the past month had trouble with the key turning in the ignition. Apparently it is a well known issue and Ford refuses to acknowledge that it is a safety issue. However, I absolutely believe that being stranded somewhere at night is very much a safety issue - whether or not Ford admits this possibility. 2. the key does not turn because of a defect in the ignition switch (or so I've read online). This problem has occurred thousands of times according to online complaints and petitions, without Ford recognizing it and taking action. This problem renders the car completely unusable until fixed and the repair can be very costly and time consuming. It is most certainly a safety issue - what is safe about being unable to start one's car if one is on the side of the highway, at night in an unknown city, etc? 3. nothing has been done yet because I am waiting to see if Ford customer service can explain why the company refuses to admit the issue and reimburse it's customers for their faulty design.
- Dublin, NH, USA
- Southgate, MI, USA