2000 Ford Focus Complaint Log

ON TUESDAY EVENING, AFTER A MEETING, I GOT IN MY CAR TO DRIVE HOME. THE KEY WOULD NOT GO ALL THE WAY IN; I THOUGHT THAT MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED (WHICH IT WAS) BUT I COULD NOT GET IT UNLOCKED. I TRIED ROLLING MY CAR OFF TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND TUGGING HARD ON THE WHEEL TO NO AVAIL. I CALLED AAA FOR A LOCKSMITH SERVICE BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET MY KEY INTO MY IGNITION. THE LOCKSMITH THAT SHOWED UP TOLD ME WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING THAT I HAD A 2000 FORD FOCUS AND THAT HE HAS THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. WITHOUT EVEN ME HAVING TO TELL HIM WHAT WAS GOING ON, HE INSTANTLY KNEW THE PROBLEM. THE CYLINDER IN MY IGNITION HAD A BROKEN TUMBLER RESULTING IN MY KEY NOT GOING IN. I HAD TO TOW MY CAR HOME COSTING ME 25.00 BECAUSE THE LOCKSMITH TOLD ME THAT HE COULD NOT PERFORM THE MECHANICS IN THE DARK. HE QUOTED ME A PRICE OF 225 TO REPLACE THE PART, THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WANTED 350. MY FATHER PURCHASED THE PART FOR ABOUT 70 DOLLARS FORM A FORD DEALER, HE PURCHASED A NEW KEY CYLINDER TO INSTALL INTO THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS WAS ALL THAT COULD BE DONE IN ORDER THAT MY CAR WOULD START. *JB

THE KEYS FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION, AND WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK

KEY NO LONGER TURNED IGNITION.. *NM

I ATTEMPTED TO TURN MY KEY TO THE "ON" POSITION WHEN THE KEY REFUSED TO TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WAS ENGAGED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO TURN MY KEY TO DISENGAGE IT. IT TOOK ROUGHLY AN HOUR OF TWISTING THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALL SORTS OF TROUBLE TO FINALLY GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO UNLOCK AND ALLOW TO THE KEY TO TURN. THIS WAS THE SIXTH TIME THIS HAD OCCURED, BUT THE MOST SEVERE INCIDENT TO DATE.*AK

I BOUGHT A USED FORD FOCUS 2000 IN JULY 2002, SINCE THEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED A LOT OF TIMES. I CANNOT START THE CAR AND HAVED TO TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND REPLACE THE LOCK CYLINDER TWICE. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE REPEAT EVERY YEAR OR SO. THE LASTEST INCIDENT WAS YESTERDAY. SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS OVER, I HAVE TO PAY BY MYSELF TO REPLACE THE LOCK CYLINDER. I AM WONDERING WHY FORD DOESN'T LET CUSTOMER KNOW THIS PROBLEM AND PROVIDE LIFE-TIME WARRANTY. *AK

THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF TWICE WHILE DRIVING. *NM CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V289000. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE WAS ALMOST KILLED THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION FAILED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE INFORMATION WAS NOT GIVEN AT TIME OF PURCHASE. *TC

CONSUMER STATES REAR DOOR CHILD LOCKS WILL NOT DISENGAGE. CONSUMER REFERRED TO THE OWNERS MANUAL WHICH STATED THAT A SPECIAL KEY WAS NEEDED TO DISENGAGE CHILD LOCKS, HOWEVER DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE CONSUMER WITH A KEY FOR THAT PURPOSE. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT IN EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY PASSENGERS WILL BE TRAPPED. *AK

MANY PROBLEMS, THE RADIO STARTED SHORTING OUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE TO REPLACE MY TIRES AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR (10,000 MILES.) AT 37000 MILES AFTER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER RAN OUT, MY AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER FAN ONLY WORKED ON 4, 1, 2, AND 3 DID NOT. I TOOK IT TO FORD, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT WHICH COST ME $409.00. ( I THINK I WAS RIPPED OFF) LAST MONTH I TOOK A ROAD TRIP AND WHENEVER I WOULD CLIMB STEEP INCLINES THE CAR SPUTTERED AND EVENTUALLY DIED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF MY CAR OVERHEATING. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OR SO THE CAR WOULD START AND CONTINUE TO SPUTTER UP THE HILL. THIS MADE IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY RESULTING IN A NEAR COLLISION WITH A TRUCK. THIS WEEK, MY CAR WOULDN'T START AT ALL, THERE WAS SOME CORROSION ON THE BATTERY TERMINALS SO I CLEANED THEM W/A WIRE BRUSH. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CABLES LOOKED BURNED. THE CAR STARTED AFTER WE JUMPED IT, BUT DIED AFTER REMOVING THE CABLES. I HAVE SPENT MORE MONEY ON THIS CAR THAN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. MY LAST CAR WAS A FORD ESCORT, I STILL HAVE IT, IT IS 10 YEARS OLD AND HAS WELL OVER 100000 MILES ON IT WITH NO PROBLEMS. I HAVE 9 PAYMENTS LEFT ON MY FOCUS AND WILL BE SELLING IT AFTER THAT. *JB

LAST FRIDAY MY 2000 FORD FOCUS WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO FORCE THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. WHEN THE KEY FINALLY WENT INTO THE IGNITION IT WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME I HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO WORK AFTER AWHILE. *AKHOWEVER, AFTER 2 HOURS OF TRYING TO GET THE KEY TO TURN THIS TIME, I GAVE IN AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THEY ASKED ME IF I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. UNTIL NOW I HAD NOT CHECK THIS. TO MY SURPRISE THE CAR WOULD NOT BUDGE OUT OF PARK. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. ON MONDAY, THE MECHANIC FOUND OUT THAT MY IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD. FORD ARE SET UP SO THAT TO REMOVE THE IGNITION YOU MUST TURN TO KEY A QUARTER OF A TURN. SINCE MY KEY WOULD NOT BUDGE THEY HAD TO DRILL OUT MY IGNITION. SINCE THE NEW PART CAME FROM FORD MY MECHANIC SAID THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAD TO PAY $299.00 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. AFTER THIS I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I EVEN SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE MECHANIC THERE TOLD ME HE HAS FIXED SEVERAL AND WAS SURPRISED IT HAD NOT BEEN RECALLED YET.

MY IGNITION SUDDENLY JAMMED, NOT ACCEPTING MY KEY WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE PLAYING. EVEN AFTER GETTING THE KEY IN, IT THEN WOULDN'T COME OUT WITHOUT JIGGLING AND FORCE. AFTER LUBRICATING THE LOCK I CAN GET THE KEY IN BUT THE IGNITION WILL NO LONGER TURN, WHICH LEFT ME STRANDED. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 2000 FORD FOCUS DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF THE IGNITION. I HAVE REMOVE THE TUMBLERS FROM THE LOCK SO I CAN CONTINUE USING THE CAR. 8JB

WHILE AT A STOP THE PISTONS DROPPED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WHICH I BOUGHT NEW. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION TWICE AND THIS MORNING THE IGNITION FAILED AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I LAST REPLACED THE IGNITION NINE MONTHES AGO. THE CAR HAS ALSO STARTED TO STALL WHEN THERE IS A QUARTER TANK OF GAS OR LEFT IN THE TANK. IT RUNS ROUGH AT STOP LIGHTS, THEN WILL START SPUTTERING AND THEN STALL OUT. JUST BEFORE IT COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF, THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON. *AK

1. NOTHING LEAD TO THE FAILURE, IT JUST HAPPENED. 2. I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE KEY WON'T TURN. I CAN INSERT IT FINE, BUT IT WON'T TURN AT ALL. I EVEN TRIED ANOTHER SET OF KEYS. I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS AND I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP AND THE IGNITION KEY WON'T TURN. I TRIED JILTING THE WHEEL TO TRY TO GET IT TO UNLOCK, BUT NO LUCK. THE CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. THIS SHOULD NEVER BE AN ISSUE. I THINK IT IS A DESIGN FLAW.*AK

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING DOORS WILL INTERMITTENTLY UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK

THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILED IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3, LEADING TO INABILITY TO START THE CAR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN BUT UNACKNOWLEDGED ISSUE WITH THE FOCUS LINE. *AK EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: NORMAL USE OF THE IGNITION TO START AND STOP THE CAR. FAILURE: THE TUMBLERS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH BROKE OR JAMMED SUCH THAT I WAS UNABLE TO INSERT MY IGNITION KEY MORE THAN 50% INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, THEREBY MAKING ME UNABLE TO START THE CAR OR EVEN UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOUSE IN ORDER TO GET IT OUT OF A SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT. REMEDIATION OF FAILURE: I AM EITHER GOING TO REMOVE THE TUMBLERS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AS DETAILED IN HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T158426.HTML OR I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE ~$300 COST TO GET A NEW ONE FROM A DEALER WHO WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A PROBLEM.

AFTER FUELING MY 2000 FORD FOCUS, I PUT THE KEY BACK INTO THE IGNITION, AND BOTH THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TUMBLER WERE LOCKED. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS MALFUNCTION AND I AM CONVINCED THAT THESE DEFECT SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE NOT YET RECIEVED A BILL OF REPAIR FOR THIS UNNECCESARY INCONVEINIENCE. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THE IGNITION THREE YEARS AGO.

2000 FORD FOCUS DRIVER'S SIDE BACK DOOR DOESN'T STAY CLOSED. VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE DOOR TO STAY SHUT. DOOR HAS OPENED WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. THE VEHICLE HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT. OUR SCHOOL HAS 3 2000 FORD FOCUS VEHICLES THAT ARE USED WITH A FAMILY PROGRAM AND DOES TRANSPORT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER WHO REPLACED DRIVERS REAR DOOR LATCH AND CABLE. *AK

ONCE I PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZTS IT DOESN'T ALWAYS TURN. I HAVE TO PLAY AROUND WITH IT FOR A MINUTE OR TWO BEFORE I GET IT TO TURN OVER AND START MY CAR. I FEAR SOON THAT IT WON'T WORK AT ALL AND I'LL BE STUCK SOME PLACE. I'VE KNOWN OF MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR FOCUS'S. PEOPLE HAVE HAD A DEALERSHIP FIX IT, ONLY TO HAVE IT START DOING IT AGAIN WITH IN A MONTH LATER AND SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS LESS.*AK

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS HAS HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED TWICE ALREDY BECAUSE THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE SWITCH AND THE CAR CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. IT HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY THOUSANDS OF FOCUS PWNERS AS EVIDENCED BY THE MANY AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS THAT I HAVE VISITED LOOKING FOR INFO ON THIS PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.*AK

WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN MAY 2000. IN JANUARY 2002 THE LOCK STUCK SEVERAL TIMES. IN SEPTEMBER 2003, THE LOCK BEGAN TO STICK AGAIN. WE TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. WE WERE TOLD WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OURSELVES BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (OVER 3 YEARS OLD BUT WITH ONLY ~26,000 MILES). WE ENDED UP PAYING ~$75. OCTOBER 16, 2004 THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CAR NOW HAS 32,937 MILES ON IT. AFTER A CALL TO THE SAME DEALER WE ARE INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WAS ONLY WARRANTED FOR 12 MONTHS. IF ONLY THE PART HAD BROKEN A MONTH SOONER! WE ENDED UP CALLING A LOCKSMITH WHO DRILLED OUT THE LOCK AND REPLACED IT FOR $116. THE LOCKSMITH TOLD MY WIFE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS AND TWO OTHER FORD MODELS. THE LOCKSMITH REPAIRS ABOUT FOUR FORDS A MONTH. I DID SOME QUICK MATH ON THE PROBLEM. USING OUR COUNTY OF LANCASTER PA, I TOOK AN ESTIMATED POPULATION OF 250,000. I NEXT ASSUMED ONE CAR FOR EVERY TWO PEOPLE. FINALLY, I GUESSED THAT 5% OF CARS SOLD ARE THESE FORD MODELS WITH IGNITION LOCK PROBLEMS. IF YOU ASSUME THERE ARE FOUR FORD DEALERSHIPS IN THE COUNTY, FOUR LOCKSMITHS IN THE COUNTY, AND FOUR INDEPENDENT GARAGES&AND ASSUME EACH BUSINESS REPAIRS FOUR CARS PER MONTH, YOU GET A FAILURE RATE OF OVER 9%. I FIND IT UNACCEPTABLE THAT I PAID FOR TWO REPAIRS FOR A PROBLEM THAT CLEARLY IS SPECIFIC TO THIS CAR AND LIKELY A RESULT OF FAULTY DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE.

UNABLE TO INSERT KEY INTO CYLINDER IGNITION SLOT OF MY 2000 FORD FOCUS. *JB

I HAVE HAD MY 2000 FORD FOCUS WITHOUT MANY PROBLEMS. I JUST ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION, TURNED OFF MY CAR, AND THEN TRIED TO TURN THE CAR ON AGAIN AND COULD NOT GET THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE WHEEL WAS ALSO LOCKED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IT WOULD COST $375. *JB

PARKED MY 2000 FORD FOCUS, AND WENT TO A MEETING. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT, MY KEY WOULD ONLY GO HALF-WAY INTO THE IGNITION. AFTER TALKING WITH THE AAA TOW GUY, AND FORD SERVICE GUY, THIS SEEMS TO BE A RATHER COMMON OCCURANCE WITH THE FORD FOCUS. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAS BAD TUMBLERS. AM CURRENTLY RESEARCHING TO SEE WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. *AK

IGNITION CYLINDER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THIS IS THE THIRD REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION CYLINDER FOR THIS VEHICLE IN A 36 MONTH PERIOD. EVEN AFTER THE SECOND REPLACEMENT THE CYLINDER "CATCHES" WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED TO FIND NO PROBLEM WHEN RETURNED FOR CORRECTION. THIS LATEST FAILURE FORTUNATELY OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON THE STREET. FAILURES HAVE NOW OCCURRED AT MILAGES AND DATES OF: 4 OCTOBER 2001- 18990 MILES, 6 JANUARY 2004- 48926 MILES, AND 15 OCTOBER 2004- 61543 MILES. PART WAS RETAINED BY DEALERSHIP.*AK

1ST INCIDENT:STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN , THE CAR WAS TOWED . AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED. 6 MONTHS LATER (TODAY), THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER 3 HOURS OF POKING AND PRODDING , MY BROTHER FINALLY GOT IT RELEASED. 2N INCIDENT: WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD , THE CAR SEEMED TO STALL WHILE DRIVING , IT WA SORT OF SPUTTERING , THEN IT WAS GOING IN AND OUT , I HAD MY FOOT PRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 35 MI PER HOUR. WE THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD GA , SO WE BOUGHT A CLEANER , AND IT SEEMED TO WORK BETTER , WE EVENTUALLY BOUGHT A NEW FUEL FILTER, WE WEREN'T AWARE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP. 3RD INCIDENT : BREAKS , VIBRATING , SCREECHING, GRINDING , HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED . 400.00 THE CAR HAS TOO MANY PROBLEMS, AND WITH ALL THE RECALLS , I AM NOT SURE WHY IT HASN'T BEEN PULLED OFF THE MARKET , WHEN A BABY TOY IS DEEMED DANGEROUS ,IT IS RECALLED ALL TOGETHER , I WOULD THINK THAT A DEFECTED @ 3000.00 POUND VEHICLE TRAVELING 65 MI PER HOUR , WOULD BE MORE DANGEROUS TO NOT ONLY THE BUYER , BUT INNOCENT BYSTANDERS. THEY NEED TO RECALL THE WHOLE CAR, I AM SO ANGRY OVER THE UNDUE STRESS I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS VEHICLE!!!! *JB

THREE TIMES ON MY TRIP CROSS-COUNTRY THE IGNITION LOCKED ON MY FOCUS, REFUSING TO ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN TO START THE ENGINE AS WELL AS DISABLING THE STEERING. A HELPFUL AAA SERVICER GOT MY CAR STARTED IN RURAL WYOMING AFTER ALLOWING IT TO ROLL DOWN A HILL, BUT THE SAME TACTIC ON SUBSEQUENT EFFORTS FAILED TO PRODUCE THE DESIRED RESULT, AND I ENDED BY HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED. INTERNET RESEARCH HAS REVEALED THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG "FOCI," ALTHOUGH FORD HAS DECLINED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE IGNITION, WHICH EMPLOYS TUMBLERS THAT ROUTINELY SLIP INSIDE THE IGNITION, STRANDING DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS ROADSIDE, SOMETIMES FOR HOURS. FORD HAS APPARENTLY DECLINED TO ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS NOT A "SAFETY ISSUE." I BEG TO DIFFER THAT STRANDING MOTORISTS IS INDEED AN UNSAFE PRACTICE.MY IGNITION IS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED AND REKEYED AT A COST EXCEEDING $300, AND I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT I WILL EVENTUALLY BE STUCK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO THE FAULTY DESIGN OF THE IGNITION. I HAVE ALSO BEEN WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION ON THREE OCCASIONS AND EXPERIENCED COSTLY DELAYS IN MY CROSS COUNTRY TRIP.*AK

WITHIN A 6 DAY PERIOD, OCT 7TH THROUGH OCT.12TH (2004), I EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH MY KEY GETTING STUCK, LOCKED, OR NOT ADMITTED INTO THE KEY IGNITION ENTRY. THE FAILURE TOOK PLACE, MORNING OCT. 12TH, 2004. MY KEY WAS ABLE TO FULLY ENTER KEY IGNITION AREA, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO START THE CAR. THE CONSEQUENCE WAS I HAD NO IMMEDIATE TRANSPORTATION AND WAS BILLED FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART (CYLINDER LOCK) AND LABOR (APPROX. $350.00). THE CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER LOCK WITH STRATTEC PART NUMBER 707592.*AK

I JUST BOUGHT A USED 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 FROM FAIRFAX HONDA, 11050 MAIN STREET, FAIRFAX, VA, 888-455-7291 (SELLER: KAZIM RAZA) ON OCTOBER 5TH, 2004!!! THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT I HAVE A 2 MONTHS WARRANTY ON THE CAR! THIS MORNING I WAS TRYING TO START THE ENGINE BUT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE IGNITION LOCK. I HAVE TRIED TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND USED BOTH KEYS BUT THE LOCK DOES NOT MOVE. ALSO, BOTH KEYS DONT MOVE SMOOTHLY INTO THE LOCK. I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO REQUEST A TECHNICIAN COME OUT AND CHANGE THE LOCK BUT HE REFUSES TO DO SO. HE IS SAYING THE WARRANTY ONLY APPLIES TO THE ENGINE AND POWER TRAIN. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS LOCK SINCE MY FEAR IS THAT IT MAY LOCK DURING DRIVING WHICH WOULD CAUSE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *NM

EVERYTHING WAS GREAT WITH THE CAR UNTIL RECENTLY. CAN INSERT KEY INTO THE IGNITION, BUT CANNOT TURN THE KEY. I PULL THE KEY IN AND OUT UNTIL SOMETHING CATCHES AND IT WILL FINALLY TURN. SOMETIMES IT TAKES 2 MINUTES, SOMETIMES 30 MINUTES. *NM

MY IGNITION ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS WONT TURN. I HAD TO FORCE THE KEY IN AND HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SO I CAN START MY CAR. CALLED FORD THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL. FOR FEAR OF MY CAR NOT BEING ABLE TO START I HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THERE AND KEEP A SPARE KEY ON ME SO I CAN LOCK THE CAR. *TR

AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED ON TWO DIFFERENT RECALLS VEHICLE PERFORMED POORLY. THE FIRST RECALL WAS FOR BATTERY WIRING CORROSION. CURRENTLY, THE BATTERY FAILED. THE SECOND WAS FOR THE PIN BOLT CONTROLS. STEERING WHEEL SHOOK, AND THE TWO LEFT FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED FOR EXTENSIVE WEAR, AND A BLOW OUT. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, AND THE VEHICLE ALIGNED. HOWEVER, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO WEAR OUT, THE TIRES AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO SOLUTION. NO RECALLS FOUND. *AK.....ALSO, WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH DECREASED POWER. CONSUMER OBJECTED TO PAYING FOR REPAIRS. *AK

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, OWN A 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3, I HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN FOR MORE REPAIRS & RECALLS THEN I CAN COUNT. THE MOST RECENT VISIT TO THE DEALER (COLLEY FORD, GLENDORA, CA.) FOR A RECALL (PROGRAM) AND TO HAVE THE BRAKES SERVICED WAS ON 10/02/2004, I WAS TOLD AFTER 3 DAYS THAT THE CLUTCH HAD A BURNT SMELL, THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE SPARK PLUG WIRES, SOME HOSE, AND THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS WOULD HAVE TO BE TURNED (THIS IS THE SECOND SET OF ROTORS ON THIS CAR THAT HAS 37000 MILES). PLEASE HELP ME I AM AT THE END OF MY ROPE WITH THIS CAR AND DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN. I CANT WIN WITH THE DEALER OR FORD MOTOR COMPANY..... WHAT SHOULD I DO, WHAT CAN I DO? THE FEALER WILL NOT HELP & FORD WILL NOT HELP. I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE CAR FIT YET, IM WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE DEALER. PLEASE HELP THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME REGARDS JERI WILLIAMS 24/7 (626) 272-9518 . *AK

THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING HAS BROKE. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE FORD MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. CONSUMER SAYS THAT FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY, BUT HIS DID NOT COMPLY DUE TO THE YEAR IT WAS BUILT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

JUST HAD OUR SECOND $350 IGNITION LOCK REPLACEMENT IN 2000 FORD FOCUS W/ 44000 MILES ON IT. I TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT SARASOTA FORD WHO STATED THAT "HONESTLY, YOU'RE THE FIRST ONE I'VE SEEN". WELL, I'VE BEEN (BELATEDLY) READING THROUGH WEB SITES WITH LOADS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT!!! *NM

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY. WHILE DRIVING THE DOOR OPENED ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY STEVEN'S DAUGHTER RACHEL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL FELL OFF. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED IT WAS DISCOVERED THE SUSPENSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE WHEEL BEARING HAD FAILED. *JB

2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN, STEERING COLUMN AND IGNITION SWITCH FROZE. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN. REFERENCE: HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T158426.HTML FORD SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE IGNITION SWITCHES AS I CAN NO LONGER TRUST THIS VEHICLE TO BE RELIABLE ENOUGH TO TRANSPORT MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER SAFELY. *NM

WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION A RUBBING SOUND WAS PRODUCED. THE DEALER STATED THE FRONT STRUTS NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. *JB THE SPRINGS WERE BROKE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. 2 STRUTS, 2 SPRINGS, 2 SWAY BAR LINKS AND ALIGNED THE FRONT END WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC

THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM

SINCE BUYING THIS CAR IN OCTOBER 2000, I HAVE HAD 4 FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENTS. THE CAR IS NOW ON ITS 5TH FUEL PUMP, AND THE PROBLEM THE FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT IS SUPPOSED TO CORRECT IS STILL HAPPENING. THE CAR STILL HAS TROUBLE (ESPECIALLY IN WET OR HUMID WEATHER) WITH SPUTTERING AND JOLTING/SURGING. MOST RECENTLY IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. LUCKILY THE SURGING HAS (OF YET!) NOT CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. RIGHT NOW THE CAR IS IN FOR A TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT (!) WHICH WAS REPLACED INCORRECTLY AND NOW I HAVE CYLINDER HEAD ISSUES.*AK

VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START WHEN THE CONSUMER PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY , AND VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START.*AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE WHICH SOUNDED AS IF IT CAME FROM REAR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE LOOSE. *JB

2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3. I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP AND THE IGNITION KEY WON'T TURN. HAD TO TOW IT TO THE DEALER TO CHANGE THE IGNITION CYLINDER.*AK

IGNITION KEY CYLINDER. KEYS EITHER WARE OUT OR CYLINDER GOES BAD FIRST.. TIME CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED IN MARCH OF 2004. THIS TIME OCTOBER 4. 2004 DEALER SAID KEY WAS WORN OUT I HAVE TWO KEYS THE SPARE IS ALMOST NEW AND THAT ONE WOULD NOT WORK EITHER DEALER DID NOT HAVE ANSWER TO THAT ONE. IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2000 FORD FOCUS IF SO I NEED SOME KIND OF PROOF TO SHOW DEALER TO GET MY MONEY BACK. PLEASE HELP ME IF YOU CAN OR POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION . THANK YOU ALBERT J. BERNIER. *AK

I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR WHILE MY BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING IT. WE WERE GOING NORTH ON A CITY ROAD IN MISSISSAUGA ONTARIO CANADA, WHEN MY BOYFRIEND ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES. HE LOOKED OVER HIS SHOULDER TO SEE HIS BLIND SPOT, BUT HADN'T REALIZED THE TRAFFIC IN OUR CURRENT LANE HAD SLOWED TO A STOP. HE TURNED BACK AROUND AND REALIZED THE TRAFFIC HAD BEEN HALTED, SO HE HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE CAR. WITH NOT ENOUGH ROOM, WE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US AT 5 KILOMETERS PER HOUR. FROM SUCH A SMALL NUDGE, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, SMASHING MY WINDSHIELD, AS WELL AS MY FACE! I ENDED UP WITH A SLIGHT CONCUSSION, TYPE 2 WHIPLASH, AND MINOR BURNS TO MY FACE AND ARM. I FOLLOWED UP WITH PHYSIOTHERAPY, BUT MY NECK PAIN WILL NEVER GO AWAY. WE HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND THE AIRBAGS RESET. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR, OR THE REAR OF THE CAR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE.*JB

IN JUNE 2004, I TOOK MY 2000 FORD FOCUS INTO SUNSET FORD IN WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA COMPLAINING ABOUT A VIBRATION AND RATTLE IN THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. THEY CHARGED ME $80 AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. AGAIN, ON AUGUST 12, 2004, I TOOK MY 2000 FORD FOCUS INTO SUNSET FORD COMPLAINING THAT THE VIBRATION AND RATTLE WERE STILL THERE AND GETTING WORSE. THEY AGAIN CHARGED ME $80 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. IN THE EARLY MORNING ON OCTOBER 2, 2004, I STARTED TO SLOWLY ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP AND MY CAR FOR NO REASON AT ALL TURNED SHARPLY AND STRUCK A CURB. THERE IS NOW MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR THAT WILL COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. I CONTEND THAT THIS MAJOR DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY FORDS NEGLIGENCE IN FINDING THE ORIGINAL MECHANICAL DEFECT THAT I REPORTED TO THEM. I ALSO CONTEND THAT THE SYMPTOMS MY CAR WAS EXHIBITING WERE THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN YOUR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #02V289000. *NM

THE REAR DOORS DO NOT LATCH. AS A RESULT WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK *TC

BOTH REAR DOOR LATCHES DO NOT CLOSE, CAUSING DOORS TO SWING OPEN ON TURNS. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH YOUR INVESTIGATION EA 04-023. AS I UNDERSTAND,THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED ON 8/24/04. WILL THERE BE A RECALL?*AK

REAR BRAKES HAD AN EXTREME NOISE COMING FROM THEM. UPON EXAMINATION I FOUND IT TO BE A LOOSING OF THE REAR WHEEL BEARING NUTS, CAUSING THE DRUM TO RUB THE BRAKE PADS. *AK I TIGHTENED THE NUTS AS UNTIL I REPLACE THE BRAKES.