Ignition Switch problems of the 2000 Ford Focus - part 1

The ignition switch jammed as I hear happens alot with these Fords due to inferior parts . The dealer charged me with 3. 5 hours shop time to fix this when Ford has issued technical service bullitan # 02-18-2 which calls for 1. 1 hours to fix as well as the $135. 05 list price of the replacement cylinder kit. If this is such a common problem known to Ford shouldn't it be subject to a ntsb recall?.

Ignition switch in 2000 Ford Focus locked up and would not turn. The consequences of this failure were that I missed a very important doctors appointment. Nothing has been done to fix this problem because I do not have the $400. 00 the Ford place said it would cost to fix it. Why has this part not been recalled? it has been an ongoing problem.

There are no indicators that the problem is about to occur. Key stuck in ignition of 2000 Ford Focus. Repaired once already. Problem occurring again. Ignition switch was replaced the first time after being stranded when the key would not turn in any direction. Initial repair bill was around $400.

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. The contact stated the steering wheel became locked and he was unable to turn the key in the ignition. The dealer replaced the ignition switch to correct the failure. The failure had occurred one additional time following repairs. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 233,000.

2000 Ford Focus se wagon key gets stuck in the ignition switch and does not turn leaving the driver and/or passengers stranded.

The ignition switch, on our 2000 Ford Focus, quit working. This is the second time in less than a year. The last time, I had a locksmith repair it. Now it isn't working again. I "googled" it and found that this is a problem with 2000-2003 models but no recall has been issued. I will call the locksmith for another costly repair but would like this issue looked at possibly for some kind of liability by Ford motor company. Thank you.

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. He stated that upon starting the vehicle, the key would not turn. The vehicle would not cut on and the key would not turn in the ignition switch. The vehicle was towed to his home. The dealer stated that he did not know the reason for the failure. No repairs were made to date. The current and failure mileages were under 160,000. Updated 02/03/10 updated 02/11/10.

This is the fourth time that the ignition switch has failed on the Ford Focus. The key will go into the ignition but will not turn leaving us stranded. We were lucky this time as the failure occurred at home. One of the previous times was in the middle of winter when my elderly mother was driving the car and was stranded in the country side without cell phone service. She was helped by a passerby that took her to a service station. This problem has been brought to the attention of the dealer and we have been told that it is our problem and poses no safety issues. Fords attitude towards this problem has been that the ignition switch is a consumable part (e. G. Tires, brakepads etc. ) and you should be happily to get more than the 12000 mile warranty on the part. Sooner or later someone will be stranded by this sub-standard part and it cause them harm or death. Ford needs to be held accountable before this happens.

Faulty ignition switch. The same major problem everyone else is having with the Ford Focuses. Ignition cylinder locked up on me without warning. Stopped to get gas and when I went to put key back into ignition it wouldn't even go in at first. I though I was in the wrong car. Finally forced key in ignition. It took me a long time but I fortunately was able to finally jiggle it free and get engine started. First warning sign was in 2006 when it temporarily gave me a problem, but now it was being a constant problem. I had done my research on the internet as well and called around to different locksmiths. I was able to drive veh to a locksmith and have a new ignition cylinder replaced. They did not have to reprogram the keys as I see Ford is charging all of these people besides their ridiculous labor on their defective parts, in which they are still replacing defective parts. It cost me under $100 to have repaired with reassurance the ignition would outlast any keys that I have to the veh. Ford is pathetic for not admitting this defect and having a recall. Yes it is a safety issue!!!!!! when you never know that unsuspecting your keys lock up and won't turn the ignition.

Car key won't turn ignition switch. Tried both keys. Each one is able to be put in the switch but the switch stays locked.

Ignition switch locked up. The key would not turn in the lock. Required tow in and dealership to replace the ignition switch @ $600.

I am experiencing what thousands of others have experienced with the 2000 Ford Focus. For the past year, we have intermittently had the ignition switch lock up, unable to turn the key and start the car. I have been stranded many times. My mechanic told me this is a overwhelmingly common problem with the 2000 Focus and suggested tapping and banging on the ignition switch to get it to turn. This worked for about a year, however, as I am finding out by reading these complaints, it finally has frozen and will not turn. Ford wants to charge people four hundred fifty dollars to replace this defective switch, only to replace it with another defective switch,which will ultimately need replacing , yet another $450. . My husband purchased an ignition switch from an auto parts store, only to have to take it to Ford anyway to install because they get you by charging $150. To "reprogram the pats system on the key. At what point and how many vehicles have to be reported to be defective , how many owners have to be charged thousands of dollars to replace defective parts with defective parts and Ford allowed to keep charging and recharging us to fix the same problem rather than being accountable for the problem and recalling the part?? why aren't consumer's protected against this?.

I own a 2000 Ford Focus . I among several CO-workers who car pool became stranded due to a failure in the key lock ignition switch. The key wouldn't turn. My kids had to sit after school for 2 1/2 hours till I could pick them up in another vehicle once I had my vehicle towed. Additionally my CO-workers were delayed to their families and several of their children missed important after schools activities. In review of other testimonials online this is a chronic problem with this Ford vehicle and appears to be its number 1 complaint in customer satisfaction. . If this is a chronic issue Ford should fix this at no cost to the consumer. . So now I tow it to them so they can replace with another failing part for 500. 00. . . It's not right. . It is a safety issue for my kids were left un attended for 2 1/2 hours.

Key ignition switch became more difficult to operate over the last 6 months. First the key became stuck in the ignition one day. In order to remove the key one had to push the cylinder in while simultaneously pulling the key. It seemed strange at the time that this would happen out of the blue one day, but the new method of removing the key worked. A few months later, the key would not turn the ignition when attempting to start the car leaving my wife stranded out late one night. Luckily, her friend who also owned a Ford mustang, was with her and had experienced similar problems with her car. They were able to start the car buy simultaneously pushing in the cylinder while turning the key and it started. Again strange but it worked. We continued this routine for several months until yesterday, while just spending hundreds of dollars changing tires the technician was unable to get the car started to remove it from the garage. Now faced with more cost the only thing I could be happy about was that it was me stranded and not my wife and my son. It is even more frustrating to learn now that this is and has been a known problem with this make and model of Ford and nothing has been done to correct it. I can pay hundreds to replace the ignition with the same defective part that many say will fail again. This time on one of my wife's many trips with my son in the car seat. Nothing about that scenario sounds safe to me. Ford needs to be prompted to fix this recurring problem to prevent future safety issues.

I was left stranded at night when my key would no longer fit all the way into my ignition, leaving me unable to start my vehicle. The vehicle was parked in a flat parking lot. The key was not excessively worn nor was it bent. The vehicle started fine only an hour before. Luckily, I was in an urban area with cellular service and I was able to contact roadside assistance. I was told that the vehicle would need to be towed. The tow truck driver was unable to load the car on the flatbed because the tires were turned and the steering wheel was locked. Since I could not insert the key all the way, the steering wheel would not unlock allowing the wheels to straighten. I then had to contact a locksmith who advised he could replace the ignition cylinder. He advised that he would replace the part with a different model than the oem because if the oem model was installed, it could fail again. Thank goodness my roadside assistance plan covered most of the cost for the failed tow attempt and the ignition switch replacement. A quick search on the internet reveals this is a widespread problem affecting thousands of cars of this year and model type. There were thousands of complaints returned in my search results. This is unacceptable!!! I do lots of state to state traveling and I could have been abandoned in an unsafe location with no cellular service in bad weather conditions! what if I have children or elderly passengers in the car??? this is extremely irresponsible to have a known problem go uncommunicative to Ford owners. People rely on their vehicles to start and that the ignition switch could fail without warning is scary. I can think of a dozen of "what if" scenarios that could put drivers in danger. This part can be replaced quickly and relatively inexpensively (unless you go through the dealership it seems) with a different model ignition switch to prevent this from happening if Ford would just communicate this known problem to its customers.

Key would not go into ignition switch. Called Ford dealer who indicated that there have been numerous problems with ignition switches but no recall has been issued. Had to pay $65 to have car towed and $314 for ignition switch replacement.

Ignition switch failure, went to leave and key will go in ignition but will not turn either way. I will have to get this replaced myself even though I found 466 complaints about the same problem with this make and model/ 20+% of the entire inventory so far have this problem. I guess someone will have to be killed in order to get a recall for this problem, any volunteers?.

2000 Ford Focus ignition switch failure.

Ford Focus zx3 2000 - key gets stuck in the ignition and you are unable to start the car.

Tonight (12/29/2007), for the fourth time (six times total), the ignition switch on my 2000 Ford Focus died, leaving me stranded yet again. This time, I was left stranded in 12 degree weather for seven hours. It is amazing I didn't get frostbite - or worse. I bought my Focus in 2002, with 52,000 miles on it. The prior owner had replaced the ignition switch twice on the car - once about 12,000 miles (under warranty) and once about 42,000 miles. I replaced the switch at 58,000, 72,000 and 102,000 miles. Car now has 137,000 miles and once again, I'm going to have to replace the damn ignition switch again, after being assured by the Ford dealership that this would never happen again ("it's been redesigned, the problem is fixed. ") !@#$%. The Ford dealership has said that every single time I've had to replace it, after taking $300-$375 of my money each time, and several thousand miles later, I'm having to replace it again! the Ford dealership will only warranty the ignition switch for a lousy 12,000 miles. What is particularly aggravating isn't the money so much as the cavalier attitude Ford has that this is not a "safety issue. " tell that to my still-cold body! you sit for seven hours in a car, stuck, unable to turn the heat on, in freezing temperatures. Is it going to take someone dying before Ford owns up to this problem?.

My wife purchased a 2000 Ford Focus lx. She went out to her vehicle and the ignition key will not turn. We have turned the steering wheel left and right to get the ignition to turn. The steering wheel is also locked. I searched the web and found numerous complaints about the ignition switch and how some people have had to replace the part more then once. Why does Ford not recognize this problem in a recall. I know this is 2007 but I thought Ford was usually on top of things. Can anything be done? I have printed up numerous complaints on this topic. So what is being done if anything to correct this problem. I have been unable to find a recall from Ford on this problem. Out of all the vehicles I have owned I have never had to replace an ignition switch or part!!!!!!!.

Ignition switch failure on Ford Focus-left me and my daughter stranded at the doctor's office parking lot. The key would not turn.

Key cylinder on 2000 Ford Focus has been replaced twice now. Car has less than 80,000 miles on it. I can not believe a recall was not issued. Went out the first time at 18,000 miles and at $356. 00 a pop I believe the public is being taken for a ride.

Ignition can not be turned with key inserted.

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. When the key was placed in the ignition, it would not turn. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they replaced the ignition switch. The current and failure mileages were 76,000.

2000 Ford Focus ignition lock problem. I have replace the ignition lock cylinder in my year 2000 Ford foucs, twice. Each time I was stranded because the lock jammed and I could not start the car. My main complaint is that apparently no better part is available and I am forced to install another one of these defective locks just to get back on the road. Being stranded double parked in new york city, or out in the countryside on the weekend is a serious problem. I don't want money compensation - I want the problem fixed, I will gladly pay for an new lock that will not fail in this way again. On every other car I owned the ignition lock out lasted the engine.

Failed ignition cylinder lock. Upon entry into vehicle I proceeded to attempt to start vehicle. Key would not turn in ignition. Tried moving steering wheel slightly which sometimes allows ignition to turn. However this time, the steering wheel locked and key would still not turn. Spent about 30 minutes trying to get key to turn. Stranded, had to call for transportation and towing. Cylinder lock replaced by dealer. Expensive repair. No discount. Known issue with Focus vehicles widely reported within the internet community.

Our 2000 Ford Focus station wagon ignition lock "froze" so that we couldn't drive the car. When I spoke with a locksmith and said the words "2000 Ford Focus" he said "don't tell me, the ignition lock won't turn, will it. " he indicated that he alone is called out on one or two Ford Focus ignition lock failures every week. While this was an incident in which nobody was injured and no property damage other than the lock having to be destroyed as part of the repair by being drilled out of the steering column. The locksmith charge for the service call and repair was $186. 81. We spent two and a half hours stuck in a shopping center mall waiting for the repair. In my opinion since many of these ignition locks have failed based on a number of internet sites carrying reports of failures similar to ours, it is my opinion that Ford should order a recall in order to replace sub-standard ignition locks, and should reimburse owners such as us for expense we've undergone having their dub-standard locks repaired or replaced.

Key will not insert into the ignition. Repeated attempts with no success.

I have been having issues out of my ignition/steering. The events leading to this issue has been the key going in the ignition and sometimes only going in half way. . . Yesterday as I was in the middle of no where the key goes in the ignition but wont turn. . . The ignition/steering is locked on position. This seems to be a common problem with the Ford Focus because of faulty ignition (key area). To my knowledge and research Ford has not issued any kind of safety recall because this is not deemed a safety matter. . . Well my question is what if I was in the middle of no where, or in a unsafe area? I get in my car and the key will go in the ignition but the key wont turn so I can't start my car. . . What if someone was trying to mug me and I finally was able to get in my car but I couldn't get my car to start to safely get away because the key wouldn't turn the ignition switch so I could start my car??? this seems like a big safety issue. Please help!!!.

Key stuck in 2000 Ford Focus, unable to remove key from ignition, unable to turn key in ignition. Thus, leaving 17 year old daughter stranded. Pop a lock was called, and cost $275. 00.

Ignition lock will not turn in my 2000 Ford Focus.

The ignition key failed to turn when inserted into the steering column. My son was stranded, alone with no way to get home except from my driving to get him. Fortunately, he was only five miles away from home, but he could have been stranded much further away and in a dangerous location.

Ignition switch wore out on 2001 Focus, happened at about 75,000 miles. Happened while Ford mechanics were on strike. Had to have lock smith repair. Kept key in ignition at all times when started getting hard to use again. Just this week the 2000 Focus wagon ignition would not allow key to go in all the way. Went on line to determine how to fix myself, saw hundreds of complaints about same problem.

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. The contact stated that it is difficult to insert the key into the ignition. Once inserted, it is difficult to turn the ignition. The mechanic stated that the ignition switch locked due to a manufacturer's defect. The vehicle has not been repaired. The current mileage is 86,000 and failure mileage was 80,000.