Problems with 2001 Ford Focus ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

When i tried to start my ford focus 2001 zx3 car after leaving the post office, the key would not turn in the ignition. i eventually found a locksmith who replaced the ignition lock key cylinder at a cost to me of $189.00. when i called ford motor co. they had no record of recalls for this problem but after searching online i found that many people have had the same problem with the same response from ford. i feel that an investigation should be opened into this with action along the lines of customer reimbursement for out of pocket expenses to us. this is and has been an ongoing problem with ford focus cars. even the locksmith was aware of this problem. ford's response is no response and not an acceptable one. thank you. *nm

At first, key would go into ignition all the way, but would not turn at all. would have to take key out, put back in, etc until finally it would turn. today the same thing happened, except then it wouldn't go in at all. it took 10 minutes of jiggling it around for it to go in; now, to get the key in i have to be very careful and mess around with it until it goes in. talked to mechanic and ford dealership - must replace the ignition cylinder. i looked up on the internet that this is an overly common problem with the focus and that the part is defective. *jb

We bought our daughter a 2001 ford focus. all the reviews stated that the car was a good, economical, safe car. we purchased the car used in 2004. since the purchase her steering and ignition system has locked up on her twice. after reading many sites it sounds like this is a common problem with ford focus. this is an economical car that many parents are relying on to get their college aged children to and from school. ford needs to recall all ford focuses so they can all have new ignitions installed. the safety of our children is most important here. parents should not have to continually worry that their 22 year old daughter may be stranded somewhere without help due to fords lazy attitude. please recall these cars that so that parents can have peace of mind knowing their children are safe.*nm

This complaint is in response to help another person in electrical complaints. the flicker you have with your 2001 focus is supposedly a ground issue to the chassis. it appears to have fixed my problem with the instruments and headlights and anything electrical flickering sporadically. the fix is pretty cheap under 20 bucks and you could do it yourself if you are somewhat mechanical. as for my complaint. for a car to be in the top 10 for a few years and a great economy car this is not the car with an answer. i have such replaced 2 alternators under warranty, 3 batteries before i fixed my ground problem. replaced pvc valve 2 times, radiator, trunk release actuator, numerous headlights and fog lights, radiator and hoses that were busted from overheating, couple of belts, driver door lock, something with the gas tank i think to be a fuel pump. all of this with 30k on the car. since then i have only replaced tires and rims on the car at 130k i decided to replace any part after warranty with aftermarket gear. so now the car has a cold air intake, svt engine, aem on board computer to adjust with laptop, nitrous, aftermarket hella lights, new paint job, new dash indiglo lights, new stereo speakers, interior. so after all this i guess i should have just bought a lexus and called it a day. the car now runs great and has not had a single part failure since. *nm

Ignition not turning on 2001 ford focus. i have read a message board that this has been happening a lot with this type of vehicle. also, brakes have been a constant problem. i have been a loyal ford buyer but am considering changing to a different make. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated the key would not turn in the ignition. the vehicle was taken to the dealership and the ignition lock cylinder was replaced. this occurred a second time 30,000 miles later and the same component was replaced.

2001 ford focus. key has been hard to turn in the ignition since i bought it. now i can't turn it and the car has to be towed to the dealership. the wrecker driver and the service person at the ford dealership told me this is a common problem. the wrecker driver told me that they tow in approx. 10 focus' a week with the same problem. *nm

My mothers 2001 ford focus had a problem with the ignition switch with it locking up. after checking the web i found that this seems to be an ongoing problems with the ford focus but ford doesn't seem to think so. i now had to buy the part and find someone else to install because it would be 3 weeks before they could fit me in at a price tag i was told of $550.00 to have it fixed which is a rip off especially if this is happening to a number of other owners of ford focus'. it seems to me ford doesn't want to own up to the defect since it's not a safety concern to them. *jb

While my son was driving our 2001 ford focus the battery caught on fire. luckily, he pulled over and someone stopped with a fire extinguisher. the car had already been recalled for faulty battery cables. these were already replaced by bell ford in phoenix. the car has been towed and is still waiting repairs. *jb

Ignition cylinder issue. 2nd occurrence key will not turn and wheel is locked. widespread problem on year 2000 and up ford focus. not cover by the b.s. extended warranty. still no recall. *jb

2001 ford focus. insert key but ignition will not turn. apparently a very common problem and ford needs to do a recall!*jb

Brakes had to be replaced at less than 24,000 miles; continues grinding and squeaking continue even following brake replacement and turning of rotors; at have replaced all four tires two times, with less than 20,000 miles on each set of tires; ignition switch malfunctioned - i could get the key into the ignition, but it would not rotate; now at only 41,000 miles, the engine attempts to stall in idle - the whole car shudders - and has stalled twice while i was stopped at traffic lights. this presents a dangerous situation, not only for myself, but for my two children and others on the roadway. in reviewing this site, i am obviously not the only one experiencing these same problems. why doesn't the nhtsa issue recalls on ford focus for these and other problems? ford should recall the whole line and issue refunds to customers or cancel their remaining loan payments. i am a single mother with two children, who cannot afford costly repairs. the attitude of the service personnel at the ford dealership here is awful, and they have treated me badly every time i have gone in there, so that i don't even want to take the car in with this latest problem.*ak

Ignition cylinder lock up- i do not know what led to the lock up. a few days before this happened my emission light came on and then went out a few days later. i know several people have had the same problem with the ignition cylinder lock up... please recall and fix the problem. *jb

Went so sears auto center at 9570 south west freeway houston texas 77074. for a tire change they charge 156.00 and also told me that my car rotors were broken and need shoe/pad to be replaced. and car not to be driven. total amount 571.00. called next morning to cancel work because i decided to take to dealer ford. but that time car wasn't fixed yet cause they told me to pay first but i didn't have a credit card with me that night so i left it there and took bus. they charge 271. next morning for some shoe/pad which i took my car the the regular mechanic and they told me that sears did not change anything on my car. so i pay that many my car is still not fixed. i have to drive my car because i don't have another way to move. so please help me to to get my money back or to get my car fixed. *jb

I bought my car new and only have about 20,000 miles on it (i live in the city and i don't drive that much). over the last 2 weeks, the ignition switch on my 2001 focus is starting to fail. i am very concerned about this and after reading all the problems on the internet am wondering why no one has filed a lawsuit or why ford isn't issuing a recall. i'm not looking forward to shelling out $300+ to fix their problem. i got the spare key in the ignition, so i just leave it in all the time and lock the doors, and i try to drive as little as possible. i guess i'll be using my tax return to fix ford's problem it's too bad, my family & i have been faithful ford customers for several generations, but i'll probably buy honda next time out. *jb

My 2001 ford focus is experiencing a problem with the ignition switch locking up. the key will not turn and the steering wheel is locked. this is not the first time it has happened, however, it is the first time i have not been able to correct the problem with a little coaxing. the first time it happened i took the car to the ford dealership and was told that i would have to pay $300 and that he has at least 2 of the same car come in a week with the same problem. i told him thank you and went home and called ford, they told me that they were aware that there was a problem but i would need to get it corrected on my own. i am not sure of the first incident date. *jb

I have owned a 2001 ford focus for the past 4 plus years. i purchased this car new and today the ignition assembly broke. i looked this up on the internet and found that ford is aware of this problem but is not doing anything about it. for a fact the parts person at baytown ford even stated that this happens a lot on the focus and that the new parts have been fixed. it will cost between 300 and 600 dollars to get this fixed. i brought this car for the security and safety it offered now because ford used bad parts i am having to suffer. *jb

Ford focus ignition won't turn. *nm

Ignition key has been locking the steering column and would not turn to unlock the steering column. *ak

Dt: the contact stated the ignition locked up while attempting to start the vehicle. the vehicle engine would not start and the steering wheel would not move. the vehicle had to be towed home. no repairs have been made due to the expense. *ak

Key would not turn in ignition switch; dealer had to replace ignition switch because the tumblers were worn out; the car is only 4 yrs old and has 39k miles! dealer refused to cover charges. *jb

The ignition on my 2001 ford focus broke. i'm still waiting for the dealership to pick it up. upon researching this further, it seems as though this is a common problem. what's the deal?!? *nm

We have read several articles concerning the ford focus 2000 and an apparent defective ignition switch cylinder. the internet is full of disgruntled focus owners who have suffered the inconvenience associated with in some cases multiple failures of the ignition switch which often times left them stranded and facing large towing and repair charges. since a family member had recently experienced the same problem i researched the internet, spoke with several dealers and locksmiths which led me to conclude that the failed cylinders resulted from a substandard manufactured cylinder which rapidly deteriorates with use and eventually fractures and jams. ford is well aware that these fragile cylinders are made of substandard materials and are breaking and jamming at an alarming rate. *jb

The ignition switch failed which caused my daughter to abandon her car in an unauthorized parking lot at her university campus for which she was ticketed. we had to have the car, a 2001 ford focus, towed to the dealership. upon investigation, which was confirmed by the dealer, this issue is rampant with this car. the key will not turn and therefore the car is stuck in park and inoperable. the dealer suggested that ford motor company may be issuing a recall and that we should keep our original receipt. this alone tells me that a recall should be issued as this is obviously a failure in engineering design or manufacturing. *jb

I own a 2001 ford focus. on october 31, 2005, i noticed that my car key would not fit into my ignition all the way and my key would not turn. my steering wheel is also locked in place. there were no preceding symptoms to warn me of this failure. i have contacted my local ford company, which expects me to pay for the repair and towing. however, it seems that there are several complaints with focus owners about this same problem. please, issue a recall on this, if you can. it is a serious inconvenience, time wise and financially. *jb

The ignition is locked up in my 2001 ford focus. after searching online for possible remedies, i have found thousands of complaints regarding the ignition switches on my model car dating back for the last five years. the standard rate for these repairs seems to be in the neighborhood of $350 which to someone driving a low cost vehicle like the focus is a lot of money. i would like to know why this admitted problem has not been the subject of a recall and instead is creating a boon industry for the dealers having to replace these parts? how many complaints does it take to get something done about this? i have owned ford cars my entire life and i cannot see a reason to continue to buy them if this is the type of product and support they are going to start to produce. *nm

Key started getting hard to insert into ignition switch. key wouldn't turn over several times before, but always managed to wiggle it to get it started. it finally failed completely resulting in a missed doctor's appointment for my 69 year old mother. matthews ford in asheville, nc says that this happens often and they replace them all the time. will cost at least $250 to get the ignition switch replaced and more for a tow. *jb

Poorly designed ignition cylinders. this causes the tumblers to fail resulting in a lock-up of the ignition. the owner cannot turn the key to start the car and as a result, has to be towed. i was told that the ignition cylinders in the 2000 and 2001 focus were the european design. i have had to replace my cylinder twice. once it was covered under warranty, the second time it was not and i had to pay $200. there are other focus owners who have this problem. see the websites below. http://www.autowhiz.com/messageboards/message.php?id=1784 http://consumeraffairs.com/automotive/ford_focus_ignition.html http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.eea6dd2/286 among many others i was told that they put an engineer in the position to specifically re-design the ignition cylinder. so while ford continually claims to not know about the problem, it is apparent that they did. while there were no deaths nor injuries, it is not up to the people to pay for ford's poor quality. *nm

My 2001 ford focus' ignition cylinder stripped and broke. the key will not turn in the ignition. i have done some research and have found that this is a very common problem with focus'. i feel that there should be a recall on these parts and reimbursements be made. *nm

2001 ford focus stuck ignition. upon researching this on the internet i find thousands of complaints and some people it happeded to several times. my complaint - why hasn't ford been forced to recal and fix the ignition switch on the 2000-2001 focus ( they fixed problem for later years).

Ignition switch cylinder in 2001 ford focus is completely frozen. the car is unable to be started with any keys. this has left me stranded. i have noted many instances, via research, of this happening with focus', and am deeply disturbed that ford has not done anything to rectify the situation. *nm

The ignition on the ford focus 2001 lx keeps "sticking". this incident has happened twice within less than two years. the ignition will not move giving the appearance of the steering wheel being locked but the steering wheel still moves, its the ignition that won't eliminate it being locking problems. i have had the ignition replaced twice in a short period of time due to this problem.*jb

The ignition switch does not permit the car to start. the switch (xs4z-11582-ac cvr asy aux fl) has been replaced twice, once at 41,407 miles and again at 57,834 miles. the dealer and aaa provided a temporary remedy to the stranded driver, which is "with the key in the ignition, hit it hard with a hammer to engage the ignition assembly." aaa keeps spare ford focus ignition switches in its emergency service support trucks. *jb

Last 2 years have had problems putting key in ignition and turning it. i have had to jiggle it and push it in. i got stranded at work because the key would not go in the ignition and turn. i brought the car to dealer and they said ignition cylinder had to be replaced costing me $392.00 for the part!!!!!! they said that my steering column could possibly break during installation! *jb

The ignition locks up due to a defective cylinder. i have had the car for almost four years and i was quite surprised by this. i looked on the web and it looks like an extremely common problem that even the service at ford admitted to. i was particularly surprised when they said ford hasn't issued a recall for this problem. people have said that they have had the ignition cylinder replaced 2 and 3 times in short periods of time. i am afraid that i will suffer the same fate. i would like it if i didn't have to pay hundreds if not thousands of dollars for something ford knows is defective and still makes the customer pay for the repair and multiple times as well. *nm

I have a ford focus 2001 and i am having problems with the ignition tumbler for a second time in one week now. the steering wheel locks and it would not get unlocked by the ignition key. the whole part was replaced in the service shop a week ago and yesterday i had to bring it back to the mechanic because of the same problem. i have the old part in my trunk and they will have another one ordered today. *jb

The key was stuck in the ignition and would not start. i tried to jiggle the wheel, but car refused to start. *jb

Frozen ignition lock. *nm

2001 ford focus sedan, 21,000 miles. ignition switch completely failed around 1.5 years ago and was replaced under warranty. now has completely failed again and will require complete replacement. dangerous!!! this is my daughter's car, purchased new to provide her safe transportation, and cannot count on it even to start reliably for her. *nm

I went out to my 2001 ford focus zx3 and tried to start it up and the key wouldn't turn. the ignition switch would not unlock. in calling peffley ford dealership they informed me that it would cost over three hundred dollars to fix. i have had other cars for years and never had such a problem, but on looking on the internet it seems to be a common and most frequent problem with ford focuses. could you please look into this and tell me if there is a recall on this problem? thank-you so very much! *nm

Dt: the ignition switch will not turn with the key in. caller said it was sticking but to it would not turn at all. up until however, she could force it and it would work, this time she could not get the key to turn. she had the problem for about a month. it started without warning and kept getting worse until 08/26/2005. when she tried to start the vehicle it would not turn. dealer and manufacturer have not been contacted yet. *ak

I have had my 2001 ford focus zx3 for about 3 and half years. recently, the ignition cylinder has already needed to be replaced. ignition cylinders are supposed to last for a long time. the reason why i bought this car was because it was dependable. if problems like this are occurring when am i going to expect next. *nm

The ignition has gone out on my 2001 ford focus. i would normally just replace it and move on but when searching for a new part on the internet i found numerous complaints about the exact same problem i am having. in all cases people have been told this is a known problem by ford and they choose to ignore it. i am now scared to drive my car one it is fixed in case i encounter more problems.

2001 ford focus, ignition and sterring wheel lock up

Two nights ago, at a parking garage in a local mall, when trying to leave, i was unable to start my car. i could insert the key in the ignition, but it would not move. it was as if the steering wheel was locked up. i also noticed that my key was worn down a bit, so i figured maybe the key was not "clicking" properly with the ignition. i had my car towed to my apartment building and attempted to use my spare key to see if the key made a difference. it did not. the next day i had my car towed to the local ford delearship. i was told that the ignition cyclinder needed to be replaced and my keys needed to be recoded. i was also told that my warranty didn't cover any of this. so i paid $650 to have this work done. additionally, i was told that two recalls needed to be addressed at no cost to me. both were addressed, however, they charged me $36.08 for "mechanical labor." i should not have been charged for any work done on recalls. this evening i logged onto a website called "automotivetalk.net." i was amazed at the number of people who had the exact same problem. some of the postings dated back to 2003. i don't see how a problem like this is considered normal wear and tear, or why the owner (me) would have to bear the brunt of these outrageous service charges.

Yet another ford focus owner who had the ignition completely lock-up. the key would no longer turn, rendering the car dead, and in need of towing to the dealership for a replacement ignition.

Over time i was having more difficulty removing the key from the ignition. eventually it took up 10-15 minutes of toggling the key and gear shifter to remove the key. this same problem was fixed three times under warranty (which has since expired). the ignition was replaced. the old parts are unavailable.

Ford focus 2001 (1) key has been harder to remove from ignition, and more difficult to turn (2) key will not turn in ignition. i believe cylinder tumblers are worn out. (3) called ford customer service. was informed that they could not help me, and i needed to bring it to a dealer. my research has indicated that this is a very common problem with 00-02 focus's.

I was at the store and got into the car and went to stick the key in the ignition and it would not turn. it would ding but would not allow me to do anything. i assumed it was maybe the fact that i needed a new key. i had it towed to a ford dealership and then i was told that i needed a new ignition lock and cylinder. i had to get the car towed back to my house because i am a single mother and cannot afford to get the problem fixed. i live paycheck to paycheck and to find out about this problem is a bunch of '!@#$%. i bought this car because i assumed it was reliable. i was wrong. i talked talked to a lot of people recently that told me about the same problem with there focus's. what is going to be done for people about these problems. i know this is not the first complaint or the last. *tr

Dt: the consumer's daughter drove to austin texas, when she entered the vehicle the ignition would not turn. the consumer had the vehicle towed to the consumer's house due to the dealer being closed. the consumer heard of a recall on ford focus zx3, which was having what consumer believed to be the same problem. the consumer contacted ford who said that this vehicle was not part of the recall. the consumer stated that one week after he bought the vehicle the service engine light came on. the consumer had the erg valve replaced. the consumer believed that this may have been a false reading. the nhtsa recall campaign 02v288000 was directed towards the electrical system; battery/cables. *ak *sc