Problems with 2000 Ford Focus ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Tried to start car, but ignition would not turn with key inserted. ignition remains locked even with new key. *nm

I own a 2000 ford focus and i am experiencing the ignition key lock. this is the second time this happen to this car, but there are numerous cases logged on the internet. ford denied the problem and does not make itself responsible for this defective part. texas is a big state with miles of empty road and if this problem happen while driving on theses road on a winter or a very hot summer a person can die. *nm

Steering wheel, ignition, and gear shift are all locked. the key will not turn in the ignition. *jb

Ford focus 2000 steering wheel locked, at any given time. i spent 4 hours five different people trying to get this thing unlocked. this is a major problem, it has locked up on me more than 50 times. this needs to be fixed!!!! recalled by ford asap.*jb

2000 focus wagon key doesn't turn in ignition this is the second time this has happened, which cost me money in time loss from work and having a locksmith come and fix it until i can get it to a dealership to repair it again!*jb

2000 ford focus ignition cylinder locked. *jb

Like many people, my 2000 ford focus is having a problem with the ignition cylinder locking up. it's happened many times before but corrected itself after many tries. however, it locked up again this past saturday and has yet to unlock. *jb

Without premonitory warning or observed marginal behavior, ignition lock failed and key could not be inserted fully or turned to start engine. key finally turned after a few minutes of re-trying, banging on steering column, etc. loss: time spent retrying, and intangible anxiety concerning having to leave key in ignition over a weekend while investigating options for replacement during regular business hours to reduce cost relative to replacement in the field. problem solved by purchasing non-oem aftermarket ignition lock cylinder at an independent automotive locksmith, after online literature search indicated that despite 4 related tsbs (14533,15421,02182,13968) and thousands of owner reports, ford has not issued a recall - so full-cost service work done at a dealer would probably result in replacement with another instance of the faulty original part. i performed all labor except for setting new lock to existing key profile. old part retained. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated the key did not go in the ignition cylinder. the nature of the failure was permanent. the vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who replaced the ignition cylinder.

The ignition switch cylinder locked and i was unable to turn the switch or remove the key. switch cylinder had to be replaced. i understand this is a recurring problem and has not been addressed by a ford recall.*jb

2000 ford focus; ignition cylinder failure. *nm

My daughter tried to start the 2000 ford focus this morning and couldn't insert the key. it won't insert all the way and won't turn. the steering wheel is locked up. we have to have the car towed to the dealership now and they've quoted us more than $300 to replace the faulty cylinder. the ford tech said this happens quite frequently! *nm

1. no events leading to failure. failed with no warning. 2. key would not turn in the ignition. left stranded 30 minutes from home town in the middle of the night. wait until morning to seek help. 3. still seeking the best solution to the issue. *nm

(1) normal operation of vehicle - no indications of problems or issues (2) ignition cylinder failure causing inability to start vehicle and inability to operate steering mechanisms to direct vehicle to a location outside of traffic flow. vehicle was left stranded and unable to start in a relatively safe location, however, if failure had occurred while vehicle was in right of way (if engine had been turned off to save fuel during traffic jam - for instance ) could have presented safety issue. (3) repairs in progress - required drilling out ignition cylinder and complete replacement.

In 2004 vehicle's ignition key lock fails to work properly. vehicle is towed to ford authorized repair and they correct the problem. in 2006 vehicle's ignition key lock fails again. vehicle is taken to ford authorized repair and corrected again. both times i was left stranded since the vehicle's ignition key would not turn to start the vehicle and could not be removed from the ignition. vehicle's dash lights suddenly failed while driving at night. lights come on and off. several times during nightime driving the lights fail. vehicle's door power door locks and trunk locks fail and cannot be opened with keyless entry. a fuse continues to fail possibly due to a short in the wiring system. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated the ignition locking mechanism failed to disengage from the locked position. both keys were tried, but the vehicle could not be started. the service dealer was contacted, but the manufacturer was not.

2000 ford focus se ignition switch failure. key will not turn in ignition, becomes locked up and car will never start. i have to leave a key in ignition constantly so that i can drive it and not be stranded. single mother of 2 children who would prefer to have a safe car. *nm

I purchased a 2000 ford focus se new in 2000. since then i have been minimally satisfied with its performance despite a string of recalls. this week, i went to start my car and the ignition lock seized. i tried to turn it multiple times, bumping the steering wheel to release the lock, and eventually the key broke off in the ignition. i had to tow the car to a dealer, who could not get the lock cylinder removed without drilling it out. the dealer installed an aftermarket ignition as per ford's service bulletin on this problem. the total repair, including tow, cost me $500. i am very upset that this problem happened to me despite nhtsa and ford's knowledge of its prevalence (bulletins and complaints). i ask ford to initiate a recall and reimburse me for my repair expense. in the least, i ask nhtsa to investigate this problem and force a mandatory recall. thank you for your time. tudor hampton chicago, il. * nm

I have had my 2000 ford focus for 1 year, purchased used from a dealer. it had 60,000 miles on it. although i realize that it's an older car it's in great shape. i'm now having ignition lock-up problems, like so many other focus owners i know. it's sitting in my driveway, and i'm going to have to have it towed because there's no other recourse. the key won't go all the way in for any of my keys, and the steering wheel is locked. *nm

I purchased a car from mega motors on 10/3/06. on 10/04/6 the car cut off on me in the middle of the expressway. i took the car to the shop and a computer diagnostic test proved that the sensors are out on the car and that the transmission is out of range. i took the car back to mega motors on 10/05/06 and i also provided them with a copy of the diagnostic report. the company isn't doing anything to help me, all they are telling me is that they can't fix the car but i can come pick it up. i didn't have the car two days before it messed up on me in the middle of traffic. ruiz auto shop said that the car is no good. i tried calling mega motors again but they just keep me on hold for a really long time. as a paying customer i feel like i was in danger for my life and i can't get the company to provide me with another car nor give me my money back, after two days of having the car. i contacted the bbb and found that this company has had nine complaints since 2003. *jb

Ignition lock in 2000 ford focus freezes, either locking the key in the ignition or refusing to unlock steering wheel, or start car. *nm

2000 ford focus zts, started to smoke from the fuse box, within 3 minutes the engine compartment was on fire and car was totally in flames. no warning signs, nothing odd about how the car ran. just riding along and smoke starts and i pulled over asap and the car went into flames. nothing was done to correct what ever problem it was...the car is destroyed. no one knows what caused the failure. when the car started to smoke, the smoke came from the fuse box on the drivers side. the smell of burnt plastic was smelled and as i stated before the car was in flames. i had just enough time to get out of the car and away from it. *nm

2000 ford focus ignition switch problem (~48,000 miles). for the 2nd time since we purchased the car, the ignition switch has failed. the first time it failed, we could not turn the key to start the car and could not remove the key. this time when it failed, the switch froze in the on position, and we were not able to shut the car off. since it is an automatic transmission, we were not even able to "kill" the engine. it happened at night, but fortunately, we were able to find an open service station... they were able stop the engine by pulling spark plug wires. not being able to shut off the engine sure seems a safety issue to me. i understand many other people are having repeated problems with ignition switches on ford focus models. this switch is currently being replaced again for a cost of ~$300.00. can anything be done to force ford to rectify this problem? *nm

My 2000 ford focus has repeated episodes of ignition key being unable to turn in the switch and occasionally not able to insert key into switch. i have had the tumbler assembly replaced and after eight months the new unit has failed. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the key would not fit into the ignition. after several attempts, the key was inserted into the ignition without further incident, and the engine started. the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop who determined the ignition needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not alerted. the consumer experienced the problem happened again. updated 12/15/06. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated all four power doors failed to lock from the inside and/or outside intermittently. also, the rear passenger and driver's side windows would not roll down. the driver and passenger's side front windows rolled up/down intermittently. sometimes the horn failed to sound. the manufacturer determined the problem was because of excessive dirt and dust around the contact's residence. the drivers door would not open. updted 09/22/06. *jb

Key will not turn in ignition, steering wheel is locked. had to have ignition cylinder replaced. this appears to be a common problem in 2000 focus - perhaps a redesign of the cylinder is required. *jb

Battery cable damage, vehicle fails to start. *nm

I drove my 2000 ford focus about 2 miles to the gas station to run in for milk. when returning to the car 3 minutes later, the key would not turn in the ignition. luckily was able to walk home and get a ride back to the gas station with another key (hoping it wasn't the ignition problem i'd read so much about). that didn't help. the next morning i called the ford dealership, which was literally within view of the gas station. they told me i had to have it towed to their garage ($45!!! for less than a quarter mile) and then pay for a new ignition $400. *tr

Key fails to turn in the ignition cylinder. cannot start the car. *jb

Hello, we have a 2000 ford focus, and have had the lock cylinder freeze up for the second time in two years. ford says this is a defect, yet there is no recall. looking on the internet, there are many, buyers who are experiencing the same problem. shouldn't ford be forced to recall a defective product? i am not sure i have the correct agency, so please tell me who i would need to contact if not. if so, what can we do about this? sincerely,. *jb

2000 ford focus lx. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the engine, the keys would not fit into the ignition. the vehicle was towed to a dealer who determined the ignition module needed replaced. the manufacturer was alerted.

Steering column will not unlock. *jb

My ford focus ignition switch wont turn. i stopped in the middle of the dessert about 400 miles from home to fill the gas. i had to pay $140 the tow truck to get to the nearest village, and $400 for a new ignition switch and night at a cheap hotel ($60) i have read a lot about these kind of crappy cars having the exactly same problem. please call it a recall :(. *nm

My 2000 ford focus has less than 26,000 miles on the clock and the ignition lock has jammed and had to be replaced twice. second time was after warranty expired. aaa certified locksmith told me he replaces hundreds of these locks a year, because ford is still using the same defective oem lock made in germany by huf. locksmith installed a strattec #707592 which he said is very reliable and in fact oem equipment on other ford vehicles such as explorer. he said ford dealers are still installing the defective huf lock as a replacement. *nm

The ignition switch on my 2000 ford focus locked up this week, preventing me from turning the key. i could insert the key into the ignition, but it refused to turn. after trying for the better part of an hour, i had to have it towed to the ford dealership. ford put in a new ignition the following day, which is a completely different mechanism from the previous one. this leads me to believe they found the original part was flawed, and are now using an upgraded ignition switch to replace the ones that fail. it cost me $403.38 to have the new one put in. so far, ford has refused to issue a recall or extended warranty on the part. *jb *nm

Early on i had issues with stalling but just thought it to be weird for the car would turn back on..would power down while driving then i could start it over again. wasn't until recently it became an issue that worried me when i was on a trip and it did it 3 times in a row and it wouldn't start on the second time but then did on the third try. i had been pulling out into heavy traffic when car just died.. everything went dead. tonight my engine light came on and i started searching the net looking for reasons why when i came across the stalling issues with the ford focus 2000. i have also encountered multiple problems with the car over the years and until recently have stayed under 50,000 miles. i also had the locking of the ignition which was replaced by the dealing but last time i took the car in for the rear bearings they told me my car was not one of the 21 states it had issues with. i see they have now included that to go into all 50 states. at this point i am really scared to drive this car anymore and was just getting ready to do an out of state drive which i am putting on hold. i've had other issues that are nothing compared to the car stalling out in traffic.. it just stops.. steering freezes brakes lock.. its a mess and a danger to my child's life and mine. the latest problem of stalling plus the gas pressure seems to be an issue.. i press on the gas and it seems to sputter as if the car wasn't getting enough gas and almost dies.. i thought maybe my clutch was going out but that doesn't seem to be the case. it has not been a cause of an accident thank goodness but have come very close. this is a danger to other drivers and to myself. *jb

The ignition switch on my 2000 ford focus is periodically locking up. i've had it happen where you put the key in and it won't turn. tonight, the key wouldn't even go in all the way, it would only take about 1/3 of the key and no more. it eventually took the key after about a half hour of trying. this seems to be a common complaint, but one that ford so far has refused to issue a recall on. *jb

Ignition switch on 2000 ford focus locked up, almost $600 to replace. *jb

Toward the end of july, 2006, i started having difficulty being able to turn my key in the ignition. i would have to jiggle it a little for it to turn. on august 1st my key would not turn at all and have not been able to drive my car since. *nm

Steering column locked, key will not turn in ignition. *jb

2000 ford focus zts and the ignition cylinder has locked up 4 different times in the last 3 weeks. *jb

2000 ford focus key would not turn into lock position. upon inspection mechanic determined the lock cylinder needed to be replaced. the lock cylinder has been replaced twice. *kb *nm***nar***

I have had to replace my ignition switch twice in the last year and a half. and now it has stopped working again. i think ford should resolve this issue at no cost to the consumer. the cost of repairs is approaching $900. *jb

Ignition switch locked, battery light on, driver side seat belt locked up, plus all kinds of issues from day one. tons of manufacturer recalls. *nm

My 2000 ford focus zx3 ignition has locked up, and i'm unable to turn my key at all to get it started. another focus nightmare. my car has been giving me problems since day one. i have lord knows how many recalls, and i still have problems that should have been recalled and haven't been. i can't take this anymore. no one has money to waste on a new car that gives them problems. what's the purpose of the purchase? you lose out as a customer, dealing with ford vehicles. *nm

For the second time, we have had to replace the ignition switch in our 2000 ford focus. i was under the impression that ford made quality cars. evidently this is not the case. *nm

I was driving my ford focus & the front coil spring broke while i was driving the front end of the car collapsed on the front tire. i was driving 65 miles and hour seconds before i fortunately slowed down to a stop...noticed a noise like a flat tire, something did not feel right just before it collapsed on the road, i again thank god, i decided to turn around to go back home & immediately upon that turn around the car collapsed. these recalls safety campaigns are risking my life, but terrifies me for my newly driving son behind the wheel. as if that is not bad enough, i now have to file this complaint also. electrical system ignition---unable to remove key....car was unable to be towed car locked up..steering everything. cost of repair was quoted from $382.00 from ford service dealer...meanwhile the huge inconvenience car parking fees..for being in a public parking lot.

Ignition cylinder locked solid. car could not be started. *nm