Ignition problems of the 2003 Ford Focus - part 2

I was stranded with my 2003 Ford Focus because they key would not turn in the ignition. I finally was able to get my car towed to a mechanic at 2am and was able to get a ride home. I am very fortunate nothing happened to me - who knows what could have happened that late at night. I had to get the ignition replaced which cost $400. It is ridiculous that this has not been recalled.

Ignition cylinder locked unable to drive Ford Focus 2003. Cost of ignition cylinder, new key (1), reset of computer = $480. 00.

July 2010 ignition is locked, key will not turn in ignition. It was happening every now and then but today, July 7, 2010, it will not turn at all even with tapping lightly on the end of the key and pulling the steering wheel down while turning the key nothing has yet to be done as I am still waiting for Ford to decide if they want to pick it up! June 2010 driverside spring coil snapped - no letter to the owner of the Ford models when the problem was a known safety issue and was covered under a warranty extended by Ford (because they knew of the problem) June 2009 - driverside firehawk gta factory installed tire blew right off the steel rim, leaving the steel from the tire on the rim . . . This happened in my driveway and not while I was driving the vehicle, thank goodness.

After warranty expired, put key in ignition and could not turn car on. This was due to a suddenly failing ignition system. Had to replace entire ignition column and was stranded for three days while we figured out the problem. This is a safety issue considering it is a well known problem and many people have been stranded in bad areas or during bad weather.

I have a 2003 Ford Focus and the ignition and the key suddenly won't turn in the ignition. I have looked this problem up online and it looks like a far too common problem. My wife is 8. 5 months pregnant, and I thank god this didn't happen any later as it is our only vehicle. Please take prompt action against Ford and make them issue a recall! thank you.

Key gets stuck in the ignition. Ignition will not turn. This happens just about every time an attempt is made to turn the car on for approximately one year. Multiple attempts must be made and excessive force to engage key must be used. After contacting several locksmiths and being repeatedly told that this problem can only be repaired by a Ford dealer due to the computer needing to be programmed to match a chip in the ignition and key, a local Ford dealership was contacted. A customer service employee reported that it can be replaced for $250. But that it is a common problem with no guarantees that the ignition would not need further replacement for the same problem in the future. Ignition will no longer turn at all resulting in the key snapping in the ignition. Entire ignition will need to be replaced.

My 2003 Ford Focus is having an ignition problem - my key will not turn in the ignition - I am now stranded and have to call aaa for help - they just left - have to have ignition replaced by dealer.

Key will not turn ignition. It is progressively getting worse. Last night I was stranded late at night and had to call someone to come get me. I tried for over an hour to get it to turn. From what I am finding out this is not a problem that I have. There have been many many complaints of this. This part should be recalled!.

The original Ford car key for my 03 Ford Focus will not turn in the ignition sometimes. Ill say about 25% of the time it won't. And I haven't fixed it yet.

I own a 2003 Ford Focus. Sometimes the ignition locks and the key will not even turn in the ignition, leaving me stranded. This problem began a few weeks ago. It has gotten progressively worse. Until tonight, when this problem has occurred, the key would turn the ignition after 5 - 10 minutes. Tonight, the problem lasted for over an hour and I had to call a tow. I was stranded in a bad area. Having looked up this issue online, I can tell it is an all too common problem for Ford Focus model years 2000 - 2003.

Ignition cylinder lock sticks, unable to turn key and start car.

2003 Ford Focus ignition won't turn over the past month the ignition has been slowly increasing in the number of times that it will lock up and won't turn. It used to work for me to put the key in pull out, wait a few seconds then put it back in and it would work. On 5/3/10 my ignition would no longer work and I was stranded in a parking lot on my way home from work. No repair has been completed yet, but I will be looking into it.

Key won't turn in the ignition of our 2003 Ford Focus just happened today - no prior problem with ignition will most likely call a locksmith.

No previous indication of any problem, just went to my 2003 Focus and could not turn the key. Went in the house and got the other key. It would not turn. The ignition column is permanently locked. Ford has known of this failure for 10 years and done nothing??? why is there no recall for such an ongoing and known defect? I'm surprised I have not heard of deaths related to this as weather conditions, robbery or rape could certainly contribute to this fixable problem. Shame on Ford.

2003 Ford Focus se ignition key would not turn to unlock steering wheel and start car while car was parked. Ignition cylinder removed & replaced with a better part by locksmith in 25 minutes at a cost of $317. This part should never fail.

Ignition locks up and can not turn key to start engine.

The ignition of my 2003 Ford Focus se, locked up on me and left me stranded in a parking lot.

2003 Ford Focus, zx3, 2. 3 liter. The key will not turn in the ignition. This has happened about 6 times, leaving me stranded twice. We are calling a lock smith to re-key the ignition and doors again.

I just recently bought my 2003 Ford Focus. Just this week the key would not turn in the ignition and my steering wheel would be locked. I was always able to get my car started after a few tries or 10 minutes or so. Today I sat in my car for 40 minutes trying to get my key to turn; it would not. I had to leave my car at the school which I work at, since I am a teacher, and be picked up. I have just read online that many people have or are having this same issue and that there is no recall on the ignition yet. I am confused as to why. This is a safety hazard as it leaves you stranded and to not be able to get your car started is a big deal. If it was just my car, fine, I would get it fixed with no issue. But to read that hundreds or thousands of people and Ford Focus' are having this same issue is a little outrageous and something needs to be done. Thank you.

Unable to turn key in the ignition. Had occurred sporadically leading up to the date when it was then unable to be used at all, leaving family stranded. Had to have vehicle towed to dealership to have ignition replaced. Subsequent research revealed this is a common failure problem with this vehicle.

2003 Ford Focus. Went to drive the car got in put the key in the ignition and it won't turn. This is the second time it has happened. 3/4/10, the first time, it "finally", after about 10 minutes turned after putting the key in and out of the ignition. The second time on 3/5/10, it just wouldn't turn. The car is sitting, will have to call a lock smith to get it fixed.

I am a woman who was left sitting when my ignition locked up and the key would not turn in my 2003 Ford Focus. I called triple a and had the vehicle towed to the dealer for repairs at a cost of $278. 00 I have since discovered that this is a problem that apparently has not been fixed by Ford and could easily happen again. Of course, this would result in another large amount of out of pocket expense for a neglecting act of Ford. It seems to be a common expensive problem that should have a recall. It's a dangerous thing for anyone to be left sitting without a functioning vehicle, let alone a woman by herself.

2003 Ford Focus ignition. We tried 3 keys and the ignition will not turn. We did a little research and this seems to be a very common problem. Over 116 so for that have submitted such complaints about this vehicle. Recall necessary!!!!!.

I have a 2003 Ford Focus sedan and the ignition locked up one day and wouldn't start. It wasn't the steering column locking and I had to call aaa thinking I'd need to get towed. The aaa guy actually told me this was a very common Ford problem and that I was lucky I wasn't stranded too far. I was finally able to start the car by hitting the key with a small tool to "unlock" the ignition. I've tried leaving the key in the ignition to prevent the problem happening again, which makes me feel unsafe, but the problem occurs every time I take the key out and made me worried about being stranded or paying towing costs. I finally took the car to the Ford dealer and it is going to cost me almost $500 to get the ignition replaced.

My 2003 Ford Focus with only 40,000 miles on it would not start. Apparently the ignition has a defect leaving me stranded at work. As a soldier there are many people that rely on me to be at a certain place at a certain time. This is a safety issue and should be recalled. Apparently the defect is widely reported for Ford Focus years 2000 to 2003. It could cost me dearly if I was stranded in weather, a remote location without a cell phone, or if my baby was sick and needed to be rushed to the er.

My daughter has been stranded several times in her 2003 Ford Focus. She cannot turn the key in the ignition. The dealer is going to charge $800 to fix this common problem and we do not have that kind of money. I have researched this online and have found that many people have had this same problem. Please help.

Ignition in 2003 Ford Focus fails to work. Know issue with Ford Focus which should be a recall issue due to potential safety factors.

My ignition will not turn on my 2003 Ford Focus. This is a known defect (or so I have been told by Ford), yet is not on any recalls. It needs to have the complete ignition replaced -- at my own cost! apparently the parts are poorly made and they fail.

I own a 2003 Ford Focus. We cannot get the key to turn in the ignition and has left me stranded numerous times. I have read this is a problem with many Ford Focus owners. This has been going on for a year on and off. I find this to be offensive that it has not been issued as a recall when I see the numbers of people having this very same problem. Clearly it is a design flaw in the ignition.

I am an owner of a 2003 Ford Focus that has had ignition problems for the last 1. 5 years. The key will not turn in the ignition, leaving me stranded now three times. I have called Ford motor company and reported this issue to them asking them for a "good will" repair, and to no avail. I am not the only owner of a Ford Focus to have this problem, and wish that the NHTSA would get involved and seek out Ford motor company to force them to fix this problem and require them to reimburse the consumers that have had this repair performed. I would also like to see Ford motor company forced to recall the vehicles for this problem, and fix it since this is a safety issue. I have had to leave a key in the ignition thus making it very easy for a thief to steal the vehicle. Thanks for your attention to this matter.

My wife has a 2003 Ford Focus. She was in town at an appointment with my daughter. When she got in her car to return home the key wouldn't turn in the ignition. She was stuck. I see numerous complaints online from people with the same issue, even a class action suit in California. My concern is what if it was late and she was stuck, at night, in the middle of no where? I had to have the car towed to the Ford dealership and have it repaired for $450.

The ignition lock of the Ford Focus completely jammed/locked without warning in a questionable part of town due to substandard manufacturing. I was stranded for over 3 hours.

I had taken my vehicle to the supermarket and when I returned to my vehicle the key would not turn and the steering wheel was locked. I researched this and found that the Ford Focus has a large amount of complaints of this same nature. I have been unable to get the steering column unlocked and will have to have the car towed for repair.

Key in ignition will not turn, can not start car! will have to get it towed to Ford dealer for $300+ repair. Daughter could have been stuck anywhere.

Ford Focus 2003 ignition problem. Key will not turn in ignition. Have been told no longer covered under warranty. Ignition must be replaced at a cost of over $450. 00.