Ignition problems of the 2000 Ford Focus - part 2

I was left stranded in a parking lot with my 16 month old son after I returned to my car and the key would not turn in the ignition and I was unable to start my car. This happened without warning. When I parked my car everything was fine and I had no trouble removing the key. When I returned to my car after shopping for an hour at first I was unable to get my key into the ignition. I kept trying and was finally able to get the key in the ignition but the key would not turn and I could not start my car. My husband went to the car later to see if he could get it to work and he could not. This was the second time in 6 months that my Ford Focus has left me stranded and rather than pay for towing & repairs we decided to donate the car to charity (who would tow it for free) and buy ourselves a new car.

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. The contact is unable to place the key into the ignition without force. After adding oil into the cylinder the key can be placed into the ignition normally; however, after a short time the failure recurred. The dealer stated that the ignition cylinder would have to be replaced. The vehicle has not been repaired. The manufacturer stated that the ignition cylinder would have to replaced and because there are no current recalls no compensation would be offered. The failure mileage was 90,000 and the current mileage was 109,000.

My car was parked in my garage and I went to start it, and the key wouldn't turn in the ignition. After a few tries, it finally turned. Went to the store, parked and went in, came back out, and the same thing happened again. After 1/2 hour, it finally turned. This has been repeated about 15 times and it's beyond frustrating. The car runs fine otherwise. It's not been in any accidents, I keep it maintained, and it sits in the garage when it's not being driven. I tried to start it yesterday, and the key will not turn. I have tried numerous times today and it will not turn. I have an engagement in 2 hours and I need the car. After researching this on the internet, it seems to be a common problem in the Ford Focus, which is what I drive (2000 zts). I love this car, but this is going to be a deal breaker when I get ready to trade.

I was stranded unable to put the key into the ignition of my 2000 Ford Focus. I s/w a Ford service rep who stated ignition cylinders wear out. My car only has 86k miles and is maintained and garage kept. This is a hazard to be unable to start your car!.

Key ignition will not turn.

This morning I tried to start my car to go to work and for the second time in four years the key would not turn in the ignition. I have read there are others having the same issue with the Focus and yet there has been no recall and the part that was replaced last time continues to have to the same issue.

For the second time in the past two weeks the key will not turn in the ignition in my Ford Focus. The first time it happened it took me about 5 minutes of consistently jiggling the key and steering wheel simultaneously to get the key to turn. Since this has occurred the second time I have had no success in being able to get the ignition to budge and my car is now unable to start. I have attempted many of the suggestions found online and nothing has worked. I am reporting this per the suggestion of a discussion board.

The key gets stuck in the ignition and will not turn and can not be removed. Car must be towed and ignition replaced. This is not normal wear and tear, 110000miles I have had to make this repair 6 times at $200 each time. Typically, this sort of problem should have come up only once if at all with my mileage. If Ford is going to get my tax dollars, they should not build a low quality car. This car is one of the main reasons I will never buy an american car again.

The ignition tumbler in my 2000 Focus se has failed to the point that now it won't turn unless I spend 10-15 minutes jiggling it and playing with it. This is a known problem that many Focus enthusiast sites have report. Ford has even redesigned the tumbler in newer versions in order to fix the problem, so they know the problem exists, but haven't issued a recall. The dealership wants $160-220 to fix the problem. A key tumbler should have a lifespan of much more than 9 years. That is shameful, Ford. I wish I could've convinced my wife to get the civic instead.

2000 Ford Focus ignition cylinder failed twice in 4yrs. This last time I was stranded in the cold, by myself at 1am. Missing work, spending money on tows, parts and labor adds up. Not to mention the danger involved with being stranded, all because your key wont turn.

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the keys have been stuck in the ignition for over a week and cannot be removed. He went to a locksmith and they replaced the ignition at the cost of $125; however, the failure was still not corrected. He called Ford customer service and was informed that nothing could be done to assist. The failure mileage was 85,000.

Ignition key will not turn on our 2000 Ford Focus. I have lubricated the lock mechanism for several years after learning of this problem, prior to having mine occur. Sometimes key will insert but not turn. Other times key will not fully insert. In both cases I am left stranded. Key problem is not affected by position of steering wheel, shift lever interlock position, etc. Problem appears to be within the key-tumbler mechanism. With such wide spread knowledge of this problem, why hasn't Ford done a voluntary recall? this problem could occur during a life-threatening situation e. G. Rush to hospital. , robbery attempt, etc. The reported frequency of incidents, as viewed on internet sites, would indicate a magnitude in excess of Ford's previous SUV-tire failure rollovers. The key issue is more than an inconvenience, it is a safety issue!.

On the Ford Focus, the key won't turn in the ignition. The ignition lock needs totally replaced.

Never had any issues with the ignition but then all of a sudden my key wont turn and the wheel locks up when trying to start the car. Have not fixed it yet.

Ignition failure after replacing it roughly 1 year ago. 2nd ignition cylinder to be replaced in this car.

There is no indication or warning to when this problem will occur--it is purely random. It has happened to my wife three times in the past year. When the key is put into the ignition, it will not turn. Thus, leaving the driver stranded. A locksmith had to be called to work on the ignition. Fortunately, this time she was stranded at church (the first time was at a shopping mall and the second at work). But, should she have been somewhere unfamiliar or isolated, this would have made her quite uncomfortable being alone.

I have had issues with the key sticking in my ignition, but last night my key refused to start the car at all. Leaving me stranded miles from home. The tow truck driver told me that he had towed 3 Ford Focuses in the last 2 days with the same problem.

My daughter went to drop off lunch to my other daughter and the ignition locked and the key wouldn't turn. According to clarence ditlow with auto safety . Org this is the number 1 reported defect in the 2000-2003 Ford Focus, so why isn't Ford recalling this vehicle problem??? my daughter called Ford customer service about this issue and the rep told her that this is a problem that has been happening and that they would probably have to recall this issue. I then called Ford customer service several days later and the representative told me that there is no record of any problems relating to the key locking and not being able to drive the vehicle. I was very upset and said goodbye and went on the internet to do my research and found that this was a common problem with this vehicle. I will never buy another Ford if this is the way they represent their vehicles. I then called Ford back after my research and inquired why the other rep had told me that there was no record of any issues of this type with the Focus. All I want is for Ford to stand behind their product. Nothing my daughter sis could of prevented this issue and now Ford wants me to pay for the ignition to be replaced at a cost of $400 to $500 according to research shown. Unbelievable. . . Please help. . .

I am writing regarding my 2000 Ford Focus zx3. I was left stranded in a town 50 miles from my hometown. The key went in and wouldn't turn. I had to have it towed 3 times to get it to a Ford dealer ( who is the only one who could fix the problem). It cost me 380. 52 to get the car fixed, in which 221 of that was just labor! but since they had to program the ignition, they were the only ones to do it. After researching the problem, I have found thousands upon thousands of complaints about this problem. Also, the tow truck drivers said they tow 2 or 3 of these a month because of this. Ford has to be aware of this problem. It is unfair that they have not at least recalled the part. As a consumer, I can safely say I have lost a lot of respect for Ford. As a child I grew up a "Ford fanatic", however due to the purchase of my Focus and the carelessness of the company to take care of the minor problems with the car, that has changed. Ford needs to recognize this problem and do something about it. I have warned all of my friends with Focuses of this problem, and they are just preparing themselves for this to happen. Something must be done about this problem! until then, I am unsatisfied with Ford's service, and product.

After months of issues starting the car and the key not turning, the ignition now is completely locked. The key. . . Both keys provided by the dealer at the time of purchase. . . Will not turn the ignition.

In our 2000 Ford Focus zx3, the key will not turn in the ignition about 50% of the time, which has the potential to leave my wife or I stranded out in the cold. So far, struggling/wrestling with the key will eventually work. In reading on the web, this is a very common problem on Ford Focus cars, but no recall has been issued.

I went to the gas station to buy gas. After filling the tank I got in and when I tried to start the car it would not turn. Not even to the acc position. I called for a tow truck and they came and got it. I called my local Ford dealer and asked them about it and they told me its becoming very common for this type of car and to repair it I would have to replace the ignition cylinder and have it programmed. . .

Ignition barrel and steering column locking mechanism.

My key will not turn in the ignition, I have never had any problems before then all of a sudden it won't turn. My warranty has expired on my car, so I am left now with finding someone to fix it. This caused a huge problem for since I was stranded with my two small children 3year old and 4 month old! I am not a happy consumer right now!.

Approximately 4 years ago, I had to have the key port, tumbler and the entire key system replaced on my 2000 Ford Focus because the key would no longer work. The tumbler, apparently, became jammed somehow. The replacement cost was $350. The exact same malfunction occurred yesterday. This time around, the cost to fix the problem was $450. After a long discussion with Ford customer service representatives they basically told me that there is nothing they can do for me because it is out of warranty. This is the second time this has occurred to me, with the same car. A little research reveled that this is common problem with this mode, just search the internet under, ?2000 Ford Focus, key goes in ignition, but won't turn?, and you will see many instances of the exact same problem other Focus owners have been having. At this point, I am simply seeking reimbursement of the $450 that I had to spend, again, to correct a problem Ford is clearly denying is a recall issue.

Turning the key in the ignition has become more and more difficult. To where it has taken up to a half an hour to actually get it to turn. It is most certainly a safety concern where in there is the possibly of becoming stranded somewhere.

For the first time (at 100k miles), my wife's 2000 Ford Focus' ignition lock has failed. Luckily, it happens at home, but I have read many horror stories of others who were not so fortunate. Evidently, this is another common problem with this vehicle but one that Ford refuses to address. Nhtsa should surely initiate a recall on this problem.

Ford Focus key will not turn in the ignition.

2000 Ford Focus, ignition cylinder locks up and cannot turn key to turn on car. I see that there has been a lot of reported incidents of the same.

2000 Ford Focus wagon. Complaint: key won't turn in ignition. Had it repaired by sv. Station couple of weeks ago (still giving me problems) my son brought a Focus at the same time I did and had the same problem not too long after he purchased his. My daughter called me today and said "guess what. Her father in law went to start my grandsons car and the key won't turn" you guessed it, a 2000 Focus. I started researching on the internet and couldn't believe all the complaints related to this problem. Everybody that brought it to the Ford dealers for repair were shelling out $500. 00. Outraged, that is what prompted me to register this complaint as far as I'm concerned this is as close to a scam as you can get. What a grand design for an easy profit! there are alot of people out there screaming recall and Ford sits back and does nothing! thank you for your time.

This will be our 5th ignition replacement since purchasing this car new in 2000. The first three were covered. Since we have to pay another 500 for this one we have been making due by leaving the key in and not completely turned off by just a hair. Or on the occasion we forget and take it out we have to beat it with the back of a screwdriver to get it to engage. This has caused me to get out and leave the car in drive on several occasions since I got use to putting the car in park before removing the key I can no longer remove the key so I am distracted by digging out the clicker so I can get back into my car. This is so dangerous! my car rolled across the library parking lot and into another car. This could have been a child run over! all because of this ignition problem. I have never left my car in drive in over 32 years before this trouble! I have been stranded in relentless heat with children and freezing temps again with children. This is with out question a situation that needs to be recalled. We should not have to keep paying for a design flaw. It is not from over use or heavy key chains. There are many many days I don't even leave the house to use it. I don't stop and start the car a lot. This is a very dangerous problem and will not be taken seriously by Ford.

Had to replace the ignition on my 2000 Ford Focus wagon, and found out it is a common complaint and problem which will continue. I just don't understand why Ford doesn't recall the part and have it fixed for their loyal customers. What a shame! this problem left my wife stranded over 25 miles from home.

Ignition problem, key would not turn in ignition at all, replacing and will need to drill to pull out old ignition. Shoddy parts quality is likely to blame.

2000 Ford Focus key won't turn in the ignition.

Key would not go into the ignition on my 2000 Ford Focus.