Problems with 2002 Ford Focus ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My 2002 ford focus has a known ignition problem per don davis ford but no recall has been issued. the key will no longer turn at all. the dealership offered to replace the ignition switch for $400. *tr

My ignition switch on the 2003 focus wagon, locked up. a tow truck driver, hit it to release. i took it to the dealership for repair, and they said it would be $338.00. this is an ongoing issue with this model for years according to web blogs. i spoke to ford and they would not help me, and stated this was not a recall issue. we have 4 focus in the family. our 2002 had the same problem -but was repaired under warranty. this should not happen and must be addressed as a safety issue. *tr

2002 ignition locks up with key left in it. the failure occurs everytime i drive the vehicle. i am going to have to hire a locksmith and pay over $400.00. *tr

Key won't turn in the ignition. *tr

Went to the grocery store about 10pm when i was done got into my car and the ignition would not turn. i sat there trying for a long time and nothing. it was obvious the ignition was locked up. got my car towed the next morning to the ford dealership, which did not open until the following monday. they finally were able to look at it and said the ignition tumbler had to be replaced and the cost for that is $453.00. i was extremely disappointed because i am already on a tight budget and there was no event that led up to the ignition defect. *tr

The ignition is locked on my 2002 ford focus. nothing led up to it. apparently this happens to focuses often. i need to have a locksmith replace it, at cost to me, when ford knows about this problem and has taken to action to remedy it. *tr

There were no injuries or crashes, however my speedometer reading stops working and i do not know how fast i am going. when this happens my odometer stops working too. since the odometer stops working, this gives a false reading on how far i have been traveling. in other words if the odometer stops at 500 miles and then it starts working ten miles later, it picks up at 500. i do not know what the true reading is anymore. i have had so many malfunctions that i do no know the true readings of my odometer. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford focus. while driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle began to drive roughly. the contact looked at the trip odometer and it displayed all zeros. the contact pressed the trip odometer button and the vehicle began to drive normally again. the contact took the vehicle to a dealer and they stated that the dpfe sensor failed and needed to be replaced. the contact stated that there was an extended warranty on the dpfe sensor, but the failure did not occur at that time. the current mileage was 66,773 and failure mileage was 66,300. updated 4/2/08 *cn updated 04/02/08 *tr

I never experienced a problem with my ignition cylinder, no semi locking, no glitches nothing, then all of the sudden i go to start my car to leave the grocery store and the key won't turn. so i had to wait 3 hours with my 87 year old grandfather in a freezing car with no heater (cause the key wont budge) of a grocery store parking lot for a locksmith to come and fix and then to pay him $400. my complaint is not the wait, but that this from what i read is a problem occurring in these ford focus faulty ignition. if this where something that only happened to me, then that would have been my problem, but its not. so now we are out $400 because of cheap merchandise that should have been recalled and replaced for free because too many people before me have experienced this same problem. please investigate this problem further and let get a recall going so no one else has to bear this burden. thank you for your time and concern of this matter. sincerely madeleine mellott *tr

When i put my key in the ignition, it doesn't turn. i got stuck while shopping and had to have a locksmith come out. he informed me that my key was fine, but the ignition switch was the problem and that he has responded to many of the same calls for the same problem on the 2002 ford focus. he suggested there might be a recall due to the high volume of responses. so i called a ford dealership and they then informed me that they had been receiving a lot of the same calls, but there was no recall in effect. the man i spoke to gave me the ford 800 number to call and issue a complaint, which i did. now i have to unfortunately go spend $300 plus dollars on repairing my ignition switch even though ford is aware of the faulty part. please recall 2002 ford focus ignition switches! *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford focus. the contact stated that the gear would not shift out of park. the failure occurred twice in three weeks. he allowed the vehicle to run for over an hour; however, the gear would still not shift out of park. the vehicle can only be driven if an emergency button is engaged, which also does not allow the gear to shift out of park. an independent mechanic stated that the failure was electrical and a wire that connects to the brakes needed to be repaired. the vehicle was purchased in may of 2007 with a 1,000 mile or 30 day warranty. the fuel system was unknown and the vin was invalid. the current mileage was 86,332 and failure mileage was 86,302.

It was 11 o'clock at night in freezing weather when i had gotten into my car that had been sitting all day.(which i had started with ease 13 hours before) the key would not turn in the ignition. i tried turn the key back and forth for an hour before my boyfriend's mom came to pick me up at 1:00 in the morning. if she wouldn't have been there for me i would have had to walk 10 miles in dangerous cold to get home, because i didn't have any money on me for a cab. i paid $450 to tow the car 4 miles to the closest dealership and replace the ignition cylinder. the part is under a one year warranty. since december 20, 2008, my ignition cylinder has not been working properly with my key. i insert the key and i have to wiggle the key to turn, insert, and remove it from the ignition. i will be visiting the dealership where i had it replaced last year this week. at least this time it showed signs of malfunction probability. this should be considered a safety issue. if someone is driving the car and it stalls on a railroad track (or any other hazardous location) and cannot restart or move the car because the ignition won't turn. there could be deadly consequences for the driver, passengers, and others close by. *tr

The motor on the sun roof went out while the vehicle was still under warranty i had it fixed then after the warranty expired it went out again and i couldn't afford to get it fixed, the motor for the rear windows went out (both passenger sides) the front passenger door does not lock because the motor went out, and know the drivers side window is starting to make a noise like it going to go out also and the door lock is making noise like its going to go out. this is a huge safety issue first of all when carrying small children in the back and another safety issue with the doors not locking makes it much easier for someone to car jack you. i have never had a vehicle that the electric windows and doors and the moon roof went out this has to be a defect i have gone to the dealership to complain after the warranty had expired and i was told that there are no recalls and they can't help me unless i pay. i can't even lock the door using a key because it doesn't work. *tr

'02 ford focus zx5 has shown continuous problems with ignition. first, the key would get stuck and the transmission would not shift out of 'p'. then, the key would intermittently get stuck in the ignition. this occurred with increasing frequency, and it is now stuck permanently. i have not yet taken it to get fixed, but based on phone inquiries to repair shops it will cost me anywhere from $200-500 to get it fixed. *tr

When i attempt to start my car the key will not turn, when speaking with a dealer on the problem they explained to me that this is a problem very very common with the ford focus and agreed that this should be recalled due to the number of cars that need the key cylinder replaced, sometimes multiple times, due to this issue. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford focus. the contact was unable to start the vehicle when he inserted the key into the ignition. the steering wheel locked. the mechanic stated that the internal components of the ignition lock cylinder failed. the steering column and lock cylinder assembly were replaced and there were no further occurrences. the current and failure mileages were 75,378. updated 03/14/08. *lj

My key wont turn in the ignition most of them time leaving me stuck and in a dangerous position. *tr

Key locks up in the ignition and will not turn. the car would not start. *tr

2002 ford focus the ignition locked up and the key would not turn to start the car. this happened in 9/2004 and again 11/2007. both times we were stranded, had to have the car towed, and it cost almost $400 both time. *tr

I have a 2002 ford focus zx5 and my ignition locked up. dealer said it is not on any recall list and therefore i need to pay to have a new ignition cylinder put in it. cost is $200-250. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford focus. when the contact places the key in the ignition, the key fails to turn as if the steering wheel is locked. however, the steering wheel is not locked. the dealer stated that the failure is due to a failed mechanism inside of the steering column, which is common in vehicles of this year, make, and model. the ignition repair would cost an estimated $350. the vehicle has not been repaired. the vin and engine size were unknown. the failure and current mileages were 70,000.

2002 ford focus se 4 cylinder shutting down while driving. dash board goes out and then the engine shuts down. battery was replaced and it is still doing it. sometimes it starts back up if i let it sit for awhile, but sometimes i have to get it jumped. very unsafe and scary when it shuts down while driving on the road. *tr

Fuse was constantly blown for license plate lights, loss of power door lock function via the key fob or door switches, failure of automatic door lock system when driving, and loss of use of trunk/decklid release using the key fob or dash switch. dealership diagnosis determined the cause to be broken and shorted out wires leading from the side of the main body of the vehicle to the base of the trunk/decklid. repair was made with wire splices. note: early 2000 sedan models were recalled with a similar issue. quite a few hatchback and sedan owners after 2000 are experiencing a similar issue. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford focus. the contact was experiencing difficulty turning his key in the ignition of his vehicle. it took him 2-3 hours after leaving the store to start the vehicle. the failure occurred very frequently. the dealer advised him to go to a locksmith to remove the cylinder. the current mileage was approximately 76,000 and failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

2002 ford focus ignition locks ,can't turn key to start car. *ak

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford focus. when the contact attempted to start the vehicle, the key would not turn inside the ignition. as a result, the vehicle would not start. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the ignition needed to be replaced. the contact did not notice any differences beforehand. the current mileage was 147,000 and failure mileage was 126,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford focus. the contact stated that she was unable to turn the ignition when the key was inserted. the dealer has not inspected the vehicle. the current and failure mileages were 60,000.

Ignition failed , key will not turn. *ak

Keys wont release from ignition , replaced ignition switch and still continues to not release key, its evidently an electronic problem since when i disconnect the electrical connection to steering column the keys release. *tr

1) no warning symptoms 2) failure is that ignition key will not turn. car will not start. this is a mass defect, but fort apparently is not issuing recall. 3) have not done anything. car was towed to my home, and is sitting there useless. dealerships tell me it will cost $300 to fix, but ford should repair this for free. *jb

Ignition key has locked up and will not turn. *jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford focus. while driving 55 mph on the highway he attempted to use the cruise control and it activated and deactivated without warning. the vehicle lost power and shut off. no warning indicator lights illuminated. the contact was unable to restart the vehicle and it was towed. the road conditions were clear. the dealer informed the contact that the battery cables were corroded and the power lead fuse panel was inoperable, the cables and ground circuits needed to be replaced. the mechanic repaired the vehicle. the failure and current mileage was 117,300.*ak updated 03/19/07. *jb

2002 ford focus ignition switch wont turn, locked up. *nm

Gauges have been surging along with the headlights. this time was different though as the gauges never returned to normal position and i drove all the way to work ( 13 miles) not knowing my speed ,mileage nor temp of my car. at the same time my radio was on and when i tried to turn down my heat from 4 to 3 it turned off any sound from the stereo. when i reached work i let my car set for a few more minutes when finally my gauges surged once again and returned to normal. i bought my car a year ago and told the dealer about it then (the surges always returned to normal until this evening) and the dealer just commented that there was nothing they could do. *nm

Two separate 2002 ford focus automobiles have had the ignition lock break, making it impossible to turn the key, unlock the steering column, or start the vehicle. both these incidents occurred within a couple of months of each other. in the first case, there had been a gradual increase in the difficulty in turning the key in the ignition lock. in the second case, the failure was abrupt and complete - normal operation in the evening and total failure the next morning. the two vehicles involved are a 2002 ford focus 3-door hatchback (zx3), and a 2002 ford focus 4-door sedan (zts), both times it was necessary to have the vehicle towed to a dealership (specifically, veterans ford in metairie la) and have the lock replaced and two new keys made at the cost of $375 for each occurrence. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford focus. the contact stated that the ignition switch locked and the contact was unable to start the vehicle. the key will not turn in the ignition, therefore the vehicle will be towed to the dealer. the current and failure mileages were 96,000.

I own a 2002 ford focus lx and i experienced a lock up failure in the ignition system that caused me to be unable to use my car at all. i had to pay for towing, replacement of the piece and labor. i understand ford knows about the massive failure that this piece in their cars has experienced and has done nothing to replace the piece. i had my 4 year old with fever and needed to get him to the hospital, the car was the only car available for my use, but couldn't use it at all. i want ford to do something about this. thanks. *nm

Ignition lock defective. *tr

Ignition jams, key will not turn in lock. internet search turns up hundreds of complaints of the same nature. read http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/ford_focus.html for more detail. i had to pound on the key with a flashlight to get it to work. problem getting worse/occurring more often. i had previously purchased a replacement key, thinking the old one might be wearing out, it only works in the doors, it will not work in the ignition at all. *nm

2002 ford focus ignition locking up. it just cost me $285.00 to have a locksmith come to my house where my totally disabled ford focus sat. the locksmith completely replaced my ignition and showed me the difference and the problem with the ford oem ignition. the locksmith told me that he has become an expert in ford focus' ignitions due to this faulty part. there is no way in the world that this problem that has happened repeatedly to so many people should just go away. ford needs to be accountable for this problem and make it right for the american ford car buying public or we should stop buying ford's! *nm

I had just gotten off work and went to leave. i tried to turn the key in the ignition and it wouldn't move. to make a long story short, it was my ignition switch. the guy at the ford dealership new exactly what i was talking about when i called, stating it has happened several times to the focuses. the tow truck driver stated that same thing. ford says it is not a safety issue, but it definitely can be. i will never buy a ford again, especially not one from archie cochrane in billings, mt. they are a bunch of money hungry jerks who are unwilling to take responsibility for their wrong doings or have any sympathy for a customer. *jb

The key stopped turning the ignition switch. the car cannot be started. *nm

After the key is inserted into the ignition, it will not turn despite any wiggling of the steering wheel, stepping on the brakes, begging, or pleading. it has been difficult to turn before and we have successfully made it turn, but has never left us stranded until now. my husband is stranded as i write this waiting for someone to come pick him up from a restaurant. we have no way of operating the vehicle. we will have to have it towed to the dealership. *jb

My ignition switch has been giving my daughter problems and now stop working all together. i have heard similar complaints with this car ford focus. *nm

Starting having difficulty turning my key in ignition for 2 days. on the third day the key would not turn at all. had to have car towed to a repair facility and the estimated bill is $350.00 due sometime today. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated without warning, the vehicle would not start and was towed to the dealership who determined the ignition needed to be replaced. the vehicle worked properly for two years, and then the vehicle wouldn't start. after an hour of trying, the vehicle started and was taken to an independent repair shop for inspection.

Ignition lock cylinder failed for a second time since 9/16/04. had to be replaced by dealer. *jb

Faulty ignition; had to call locksmith mobile and get whole cylinder replaced. just like many other occurrences i've read up on, key would not turn. was told this was a very prevalent problem with this model. in the weeks leading up to the replacement, i found the key was increasingly harder and harder to turn and start the car; it would take an extra little tug to start. *nm

I have a 2002 ford focus zx5 that is well maintained. within the first 2-3 years, i have had to replace the front brakes and rotors. in 2004 i had to replace the battery. in 2005 i had to replace the right rear window motor. presently the left rear window motor isn't working; the window will not go up. the rear front window is not working properly and the air bag light comes on each time the car is started and stays on. the cd player had to be replaced in 2005. in 2006 all four tires had to be replaced because of factory dry rot. i regularly service and maintain the car, and have approximately 28,000 miles on it. i take excellent care of my vehicle and feel this car is not made with quality parts and that it is not safe. although i drive at normal speeds, it does not get the mileage stated on the sticker. *jb

Tl*- the contact stated that the 2003 ford focus had ignition lock cylinder problems. since 08/2006 when he put the key in the ignition it would not consistently turn over. he stated that for the past 4 days the key will not turn over the ignition, and he has been without a vehicle. he called the ford dealership, and was advised to tap on the key while the key is in the ignition to get the key to turn the ignition switch. the contact found on a website called automotivetalk.net, and a number of complaints about the same problem with other owners were listed. the website stated that various locksmiths described the failure as the tumblers in the ignition switch malfunctioned. the contact could get the key out of the vehicle, but could not turn the key to get the ignition to start. the contact did file a complaint with the manufacturer, and he will have a case number available for the hard copy. the current mileage was 80000, and the failure mileage was 73000.*ak