Problems with 2001 Ford Focus ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I inserted the key into the ignition of my 2001 ford focus zx3 and the steering wheel locked up and the ignition would not turn. *tr

No events to indicate failure. went to vehicle after working to after dark. put key into ignition and key would not turn. simply would not turn! several attempts were made over a 20 minute period. i, fortunately, was leaving my place of employment. however, it was still cold outside, dark and not a safe environmental situation. i feel fortunate that i was not stranded. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford focus. the contact stated that the ignition locked 4 to 5 times which made it impossible to turn the key or start the vehicle. the problem became progressively worse over time. he was previously able to restart the vehicle immediately after a few attempts. at the time of the complaint, the vehicle failed to start. the contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealership or spoken with the manufacturer to-date. the vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. the current mileage was approximately 60,000. the failure mileage was approximately 58,000.

Key won't turn in ignition of 2001 ford focus. it was difficult to turn for a while and now simply won't at all. my baby and i were stranded out shopping. called a locksmith and had the ignition lock replaced. *tr

The ignition on our 2001 ford focus has locked up and will not turn at all. *tr

Ignition switch wont turn. *tr

Issue: keys stuck in the ignition. vehicle: 2001 ford focus se failure occurs intermittently, car will start if you jiggle the keys however keys remain in the ignition. i have tried moving the tilt steering, attempted to remove the key in every gear, ensured that the car was in park by parking on a hill with the wheels straight, nothing will allow me to remove the key. this is a safety issue as you could be stranded anywhere if jiggling the key does not consistently work to start the vehicle. additionally i am forced to leave my key in the ignition and use the spare to reenter the vehicle which leaves me at a high risk for vehicular theft. i have had to have the tumbler in my ignition replaced which will hopefully resolve the issue. costs: $105 labor/hr plus $115 plus taxes in parts (prices in cad). no aftermarket parts available. *tr

On 10/7/2009 my 2001 ford focus se wagon ilc (ignition lock cylinder) would not break to start car. i have tried everything and still will not budge. i just found out on many web forums that this is a common problem and needs to be recalled by the ford manufacturing dealerships. now my car is stuck up at the billings airport at wok and i don't have the time or money to get this fixed. i feel and all ford focus owners from year 2000 to 2003. need this repaired fast. it is totally '!@#$%!! *tr

My key gets stuck in ignition and won't turn on the car. already got stuck and had to keep messing with it for an hour until i was able to jiggle it and unlock the steering wheel to start the car. there is definitely a problem with the ignition switch. i don't want to end up stranded somewhere and not be able to get my car started due to this defect. *tr

The ignition in my 2001 ford focus needs to be replaced again. i first had it replaced in sept of 2004 with only 36000 miles on it. now with 93,000 miles it will have to be replaced again. *tr

We have a 2001 ford focus se. my brother stopped to put in gas. when he returned to the vehicle, the key would not turn in the ignition(car wouldn't start). he had to call a tow truck and get the car towed home. he than had ford dealership pick up the vehicle to inspect. the ignition locked up, needs a new key cylinder...charge for the tow $80. charge for the fix $1451.84. *tr

Ignition lock won't turn, key goes in but does not turn the ignition, couple of days of jiggling the key to get it to turn and now it won't turn at all. *tr

I was driving normally on a 45 mph road and pushed in my clutch to coast up to the stop light that was about to turn green again, when my car just died unexpectedly. my clutch was still in so i started my car back up and kept driving, but this is about the 10th time that this has happened to me this month, and my car should not be randomly dying while i am driving, thus far there have been no consequences, however it is slightly worrisome. so far i have not been able to resolve the problem. *tr

My ford focus ignition just stopped working! no problems before, the key would only go in half way, then i got it to go in with a slight tap of a hammer! then the key would not turn over! this is a major problem!! got it towed to the dealership, they said this problem is very common! a common problem that cost me $426.27! *tr

Ignition lock broke and the car would not start. this left me stranded in a pretty rough neighborhood. after getting a lift home, i see this is an incredibly common problem with the 2001 ford focus, leaving people stranded in some pretty dangerous places. *tr

2001 ford focus ignition lock up. *tr

1. i own a 2001 ford focus. 2. the ignition locked. there was no indication that anything was going wrong. as a result, i could not go to work, as i work an hour away. 3. ford is not willing to extend a "goodwill repair or warranty" on my behalf, and so i will have to pay to replace the ignition. research has proven that in some cases, the replacement will result in the same problem. also, this is a frequent problem in ford focus models from 2000-2003 and yet ford has not taken ownership of the problem. i will ultimately have to have my car towed at my own expense and the ignition repaired at my own expense, for a manufactured problem. the total of both will likely be more than half of the current blue-book value of my car. *tr

Key will not turn in ignition. car had to be towed to hertrich in milford de and ignition replaced and key programmed to new ignition. the first time happened at approx 30,000 miles and the second time at 87,000 miles. service tech said cylinders were jammed and it took beating it with a hammer to release them to unlock the steering wheel. my daughter had driven to walmart to have her oil changed. they called her back to tell her they could not start her car to drive it into the service bay. called ford to report their problem as my daughters friend also has had the same problem with her ford focus. *tr

The ignition switch so called 'safety' lock on my 2001 ford focus wagon refused to release, after repeated tries, so i couldn't start my car, the wheel wouldn't turn, and i was left stranded away from home. these cars should be recalled and ford made to repair the defective merchandise that they pumped out into the market. this is a safety hazard and apparently a common complaint with focus owners. *tr

Just paid 401.00 at the dealership to create a new tumber on a key ignition. *tr

Battery positive terminal corrosion on my 2001 ford focus have replaced battery twice and alternator once because of no start, dead battery and alternator. battery cable shows battery corrosion. *tr

I own a ford focus and the ignition would not turn on. it just locked up for no reason. had to have ignition replaced at 85,000. miles. *tr

Ignition sticks and moves around, horn fell completely out from under the car and hit someone's car, the fan box and all fell completely off and down, backfiring stalling rattling vibrates front right side around tire area rattles horribly, check eng. light stays on mass air flow sensor is bad transmission sensor is bad lighter stopped working car completely goes dead spits sputters, manifold pipe broke so now its loud. its all day long non stop period we have replace several sensors and tubes and wires for it doesn't work not getting the gas mileage i should and i have had it 11 months but hardly dove it 3 total all together i cant afford any thing else to fix these problems 3 days after i bought it its been pure ?!@#$%. *tr

2001 ford focus ignition switch not turning when trying to start vehicle. my started early morning after work -20 outside. lucky i was home. googled and somebody said hit it with hammer and it will turn or replace new ignition switch. hit it many times and now it got worse. fix is not cheap and it is a very common complaints from many people all over the country. this is a safety issue due to it could happen while driving or in severe weather condition or safety evacuation that would not be possible if you can't start your vehicle. can somebody do something about this because ford is getting away with negligence or i suppose will just bail them out so they can keep ripping people off with expensive vehicles and faulty equipments. is that how this works. screw the tax payers and consumers who keep this country productive. ford needs to be responsible for their products and their commitments to their customers. please recall this defect. *tr

While driving my 2001 ford focus back in november of 2008', i experienced the engine stalling while driving on the freeway. the headlights started to flicker along with the dashlights going haywire. i then drove the vehicle home and had it towed to my auto repair facility. they found nothing wrong and could not do what i described to them. approx. 1 week later it did the same thing again, this time the check engine light stayed on, and they were able to receive some diagnostic codes. they cleaned some ground wires but stated that was all they could find, the same thing happened a few days later, i called my mechanic, and we both agreed that i should send it to the ford dealer. i had it towed again, this time to the ford dealer where i stated that the problem only occurs while it is being driven. after approx. 1 week, the dealer stated they were unable to duplicate the problem, but they advised me that the alternator dropped to 11.5 volts. i advised them to replace with a new alternator. they advised me that they were sure that is what the problem was. on or about 1/2/09, i experienced they same electrical problems that i have been having over the last 2 months. i drove it to the dealership immediately and advise them i was having the same problem and that it was not the $ 550.00 alternator that i paid for. i again reiterated to them that it has to be driven, to have the symptoms occur. since i had the new alternator installed i only put on 325 miles. my service manager kory foster with gosch ford in hemet, ca has only called me twice since 1/2/09. when he calls he has always stated that he cannot find anything and he does not no what the problem is he has not heard of this type of problem with the ford focus. i have told him everytime i have seen him and when he calls to drive it ! it is the only way to get it to stall out. the last time he called me which was last week sometime, that i could come get my car if i needed it. i advised him to keep it until it is fixed. *tr

I have a 2001 ford focus and as i was leaving work one day, i went to start my car and the key wouldn't fit in the ignition. after i was finally able to put my key in it would not turn. i had to call ford and they told me that this is common with ford focus' and told me to hammer in my key because a barrel was defective in the ignition. i hammered in my key and was able to start my car; however, this is an ongoing problem.

2001 ford focus iginition key does not turn to start vehicle. *tr

Out of nowhere the key would not turn in my ignition. i have had my car for 3 years and never had a problem, i stopped to buy xmas gifts at the mall, and when i returned, i could not turn the key in my ignition. and now every day i spend 20 minutes or more just trying to start my car. i have been late for work on several occasions since this happened. and the worst thing is never knowing when it will be really bad, or if i will end up stranded in the middle of nowhere! being that this could end up in being stranded, i believe that this should be a safety recall on the 2001 ford focus. *tr

This came out of nowhere. one day the key would not turn over. it was as if the steering column was locked. we googled the problem and found that it is very common in ford focus's built between 2000-2003. the quick fix was to carry a hammer around and give it a hit when the key gets stuck. this has worked pretty well until this morning. it took me 15 minutes to start the car. *tr

The problem i'm have with my 2001 is my key will not turning my ignition. after review the complaints i see several people is having the same problem. can you review the complaints with the ignitions. *tr

This is the 2nd time my ignition in my 2001 ford focus has had to be replaced. i called the dealership they acknowledged this is a recurring problem with ford focuses. i have been stranded with out resources and this happens at random with no warning. the cost of towing, parts, and labor cost around 500.00. i find this very frustrating that ford will not recall the ignition switch, full well knowing this is a problem. i find this to be a safety issue, not knowing if you are going to be stranded in the middle of no where. it is a financial burden as well as an inconvenience, that after being fixed once should not occur again with in 2 years, my car only has 66,000 miles on it. *tr

My daughter was driving on the freeway when her car just died, while driving. it started up again immediately, but it has happened several times in the last month. i went online to view recalls, and it stated that 2001 ford focus had a recall on this issue. i also found 2 other items that are happening to this vehicle that were also recalls. i made an appointment with the dealer to have these recalls fixed, but when they pulled up the vin number, they said that there were no recalls for this particular car. the other recall i found was the electrical system, and battery failure. i have already burned up one battery because of this issue. the recall states that the cabes overheat and may melt. this vehicle did this as well. the other recall is where the latch on the back door begins to not latch properly, causing the door to come open while driving. the back door will not latch properly on this vehicle either and at times we have to open and close it several times in order to get it to latch. these 3 recalls are all things that have happened on 2001 ford focus vehicles, which our vehicle is, but because our vin # doesn't match the recalls, they refuse to fix them. these are true safety issues. my daughter could be killed because of these issues. how can i have my vehicle added to these recalls? i am extremely upset and concerned that these items will not be addresses when ford knows that they are a problem on other 2001 focus vehicles. i will sue should something happen to my daughter due to this issue and fords unwillingness to correct the problems. *tr

To best describe what is happening your website has a campaign for my complaint here: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/defect/results.cfm?action_number=ea02014&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true the nhtsa campaign id number is 02v288000. my wife drives a 2001 ford focus se. the battery cables and battery are going through extreme corrosion that requires me to clean the connections at least once every 2 weeks. the corrosion is also causing heat that is melting the cables insulation. when the corrosion goes untreated, within 2 weeks the car will not start due to bad connection. the problem right now is that the original complaint was in 2002 and ford is not recognizing the problem even after me telling them about the recall information i linked above. i have called in a complaint already to the nhtsa but have not heard back. any help in dealing with this matter is greatly appreciated. thank you. *tr

The ford focus 2001 key will not turn in the ignition, i have spent many hours, and a large sum of money trying to repair the problem to no avail. i have gotten stranded at night alone, many hours from home on more than one occasion. it is frightening to drive my car any long distance for fear of being stranded. *tr

I was trying to leave work to go home. i put the key in the ignition and the key would not turn. i was told to take it to a ford dealership, where they told me i needed to replace the ignition, a cost of $500. *tr

Ignition switch wont turned on. *tr

2001 ford focus caught on fire under the hood, it started near battery, car is a total loss. *tr

My daughter tried to start the car to go to school and couldn't get the key to turn in the ignition. fortunately, she was at home when it happened, unlike the many others that have had the same problem at a repair cost of over $300, and the number of bad ignitions that are in the ford focus cars, it should be ford's responsibility to replace the defective ignitions. we have had many cars that were older than our focus and have never had this happen before. *tr

The ignition lock cylinder on my 2001 ford focus zx3 locked up, left me stranded. unable to start the car. ignition lock cylinder had to be replaced. the mechanic stated to me this is a very common problem with ford focus 2000 -2003 models. ford refuses to admit to a problem. i have the old part if needed. repair cost $333. *tr

The ignition on my 2001 ford focus will not release the steering wheel or start the car. the key will go in but not turn. this is the second time this has happened to me on the same car. a local dealership replaced the ignition 22 months ago. this is frustrating and has left me stranded in both instances. i would like to see if this has happened to anyone but me? the car is a 2001 ford focus lx. *tr

I will start with the fact the car is on it's fourth battery. it has had the wiring harness replaced along with every sensor in the car some twice. there was a steering column recall done on it. the two back windows tracks have been broke a total of six times. the door handles brake three so far. the stereo is broke for the second time. i have had to do the brakes twice so far and all this and the car only has 63,498.8 miles . *tr

I own 2 separate ford focuses - both 2001 models. one is a zts and the other an sx. about a year ago, the sx ignition locked up and the car would not start. we had to have the ignition cylinder replaced. now, barely a year later, the zts model is having the exact same problem. searching online for a cheaper solution (the dealer charges upwards of $300 to fix the issue), i found that this is a very common problem and widely known but not acknowledged. i've been stranded twice alone with this car and now the ignition won't turn at all no matter how much i try to jiggle the key. this is unacceptable and could lead to very dangerous situations. the problem needs to be acknowledged by ford and repaired. *tr

Key will not go all the way into ignition cylinder on 2001 ford focus, so the car cannot be started. it appears that many for ford focus owners, but ford will not acknowledge that a recall is needed. *tr

There were no events leading to the failure. i walked out to my car after work, late and night, in a dark, empty parking lot, and try and start my car. my ignition will not turn and the steering wheel will not turn. i tried for 30 min to get it working before i gave up. it just happened, no warning of an issue. i do not see this to just be wear. *tr

Key will not turn in the ignition. the vehicle behaves as if the steering wheel is locked and will not allow the key to turn. *tr

Well documented problems with 2001 ford focus zx3 ignition lockup. thousands of cases, yet no recall from ford. key won't turn in ignition. happens repeatedly. could endanger safety. *tr

My 2001 ford focus ignition was locked up and key would not turn when attempting to start my car. i was stranded in an unsafe part of city while waiting for aaa to show up and provide assistance. *tr

Ignition switch locked up leaving us stranded. called ford customer service, they claim they could do nothing and told me to call a dealer and have it fixed. this call was made at around 9pm so there were no dealerships open. my fiance hit the key while in the ignition several times and was finally able to get the key to turn and unlock the ignition. i am unable to remove my key from the ignition for fear it might do this again when i am alone. *tr

My ignition locked up. i had to have my car towed home. i searched the internet to find repair methods and found tons of complaints from fellow focus owners. this problem is extremely common and cannot be fixed, it has to be replaced adding up to a total of $500.00. my car is no longer under warranty, but i have found that ford is aware of the situation and is doing nothing about it. my wife also owns a focus and i'm just waiting for that phone call. hopefully she's not stranded in a bad neighborhood. please do something about this. search focaljet.com and focusfanatics.com for complaints. theres also an online petition for ford that has been signed by over 2,000 focus owners to date. thank you. *tr

The wiring in my 2001 ford focus zx3 that connects the rear hatch to the front of the car deteriorates significantly. the wiring on my car has stripped through the insulation, and has broken 4 of the 8 wires completely in half. this disables the center brake light, the license plate lights, the windshield wiper, and the trunk lid causing a potentially hazardous situation. *tr