Ford Focus Complaints (2000)

3,686 consumer complaints on file.

#10178979January 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE CAR HAS 32000 MILES AFTER 6 YEARS. IN DECEMBER 2006 THE IGNITION FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. I COULD NOT INSERT THE KEY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE TOWED AND THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I WAS ABLE THE RESTART THE CAR, BUT IT FAILED AGAIN ON DECEMBER 11, 2006, STRANDING ME. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON ON THIS MODEL, TO THE EXTEND THAT FORD KEEPS THE REQUISITE PARTS IN STOCK. HE ATTRIBUTED IT TO A DESIGN FAULT. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THIS PROBLEM INDEED IS COMMON A DRIVER COULD BE STRANDED AND HELPLESS IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION, WITH SERIOUS RISK TO SAFETY AND POSSIBLY LIFE. IF THE MECHANIC'S OPINION THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FAULT IS CORRECT, FORD SHOULD RECALL THE CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178849January 16, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
KEY LOCKING UP IN IGNITION. CAR ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES. $500 REPAIR BILL PLUS TOWING CHARGE AND LEFT ME STRANDED IN SNOW STORM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178654January 14, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCKS, PREVENTING THE CAR FROM BEING STARTED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178145January 8, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1) I PARKED IN A REDZONE TO LET MY FRIEND OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THEN I LOADED SOMETHING INTO MY CAR. 2) I WENT TO RESTART MY VEHICLE AND THE IGNITION MECHANISM FAILED- COULDN'T INSERT THE KEY PROPERLY AND WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR. SO IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT AND I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE MY CAR TO A SAFER LOCATION. LUCKILY I HAD AAA IN ADDITION TO TWO GENEROUS FRIENDS WHO WERE ABLE TO HELP ME WITH THE COST- $265!!! BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY THE MAN UP FRONT. OTHERWISE MY CAR WOULD'VE BEEN TICKETED AND TOWED. 3) HE DRILLED OUT THE OLD IGNITION MECHANISM AND REPLACED IT. 2 HOURS OF MY LIFE AND $265 LATER!! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177969January 6, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START MY 2000 FORD FOCUS THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. INITIALLY THINKING IT WAS A KEY ISSUE I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND NUMEROUS ISSUES SURROUNDING THE 2000 FORD FOCUS AND POOR QUALITY OF THE TUMBLER ASSEMBLY LEAVING PEOPLE STRANDED AND/OR KEYS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. FORD HAS ALSO ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO THEIR DEALERS IN REGARD TO THIS ISSUE. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND ALSO DEALT WITH FORD CORPORATE LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION. THEY SAY THERE ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THEY ISSUED THE SERVICE BULLETIN. AT THIS TIME MY ONLY SOLUTION TO HAVE FORD REPLACE TO PREVENT MY FAMILY FROM BEING STRANDED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177884January 5, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS, FIRST THE KEY DID NOT GO IN ALL THE WAY AND WHEN IT DID, THE SWITCH DID NO TURN. THE REPAID COSTS 400.00. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177527January 2, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
DRIVING ON RT 80 AT 65 MPH THE PASSENGER FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO RUB ON THE TIRE AND DAMAGE IT. HOWEVER, THE BF GOODRICH SIDEWALL WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE CAR TO BE DRIVEN SLOWLY TO A FORD DEALER ABOUT 1.5 MILES AWAY. BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE THEN REPLACED PER THE EARLIER NHTSA AGREEMENT WITH FORD. THE COIL SPRINGS WERE LEFT WITH DEALER. AS THE COIL FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A HIGH SPEED BLOW OUT, IN MY OPINION, FORD SHOULD REPLACE ALL 2000 TO 2003 FOCUS FRONT COIL SPRING IN STEAD OF FREE REPLACEMENT WHEN THEY FAIL PER FORD'S 03M02 CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177436January 1, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I PARKED MY FORD FOCUS IN A PARKING SPACE AT A TACO BELL. THE WHEELS WERE SLIGHTLY TURNED TO THE LEFT AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS IN THE IGNITION SO I BEGAN WIGGLING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH, CONTINUING TO TRY THE KEY. EVENTUALLY, I'D TURNED THE WHEEL SO FAR THAT IT STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION, CRANKED TO ONE DIRECTION. NOTHING WORKED. A HALF HOUR PASSED. I ASSUMED THAT THE DIRECTION OF WHEELS AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEING TURNED LIKE IT WAS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE IGNITION NOT WORKING. SO I JACKED UP THE FRONT END OF THE CAR TO TRY TO STRAIGHTEN MY WHEELS OUT BY HAND BUT THEY TOO WERE LOCKED AND WERE NOT GOING TO BUDGE. I CONTINUED TO TRY DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF APPLYING THE BRAKE, TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, ADJUSTING THE TILT OF THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, AND TRYING TO TURN THE KEY. I CALLED A TAXI CAB TO TAKE ME BACK TO WORK, 25 MINUTES LATE, MINUS 7 DOLLARS. AT WORK, I BEGAN TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND WEBSITES, SUCH AS CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_FOCUS, WHERE I BEGAN TO LEARN TIPS TO GET THE KEY TO TURN AND SUGGESTIONS FOR REPAIR. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A TOW TRUCK FEE BY USING ONE OF THE SUGGESTED QUICK FIXES, WHICH BASICALLY CONSISTS OF POUNDING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION WITH A HAMMER, PREFERABLY A RUMMER MALLOT. FROM THAT SAME SITE, I LEARNED THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN PINPOINTED TO THE GERMAN-MADE HUF LOCK THAT FORD PUTS IN THE FORD FOCUS. THE BEST SUGGESTION IS TO HAVE AN AUTOMOTIVE LOCKSMITH REPLACE IT WITH A NON-FORD OR NON-HUF PART. GOING TO A FORD DEALER IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. THE PART HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED SO IT COSTS THE CONSUMER. FOR ME, AROUND $400. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177269December 28, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. KEY WILL NOT TURN WHEN FULLY INSERTED IN IGNITION SWITCH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177091December 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WON'T TURN,FRONT TIRES LOCKED, CAR HAD TO BE TOWED IN. DEALERSHIP HAD TO PUT THE CAR ON A JACK TO GET IT INTO THE SHOP, REMOVED STEERING COLUMN TRIM, HAD TO DRILL OUT BROKEN IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER ASSEMBLY, HAD TO SET UP NEW LOCK CYLINDER SO THE SAME KEYS WOULD WORK. SO NOT ONLY AM I STUCK WITHOUT A VEHICLE TILL AFTER CHRISTMAS, I HAD TO PAY A TOWING CHARGE, PLUS THE COST TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED. BACK CAR DOOR LATCH ON PASSENGER SIDE CONTINUALLY STUCK AND DOES NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THAT SIDE. RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE CARRIAGE IS UNEXPLAINABLE - WHAT IS NEXT? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176954December 26, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL 05V030000 FOR REAR DOOR LATCH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ,THEY FIXED THE REAR DOORS, BUT NOT THE FIFTH DOOR WHICH DID NOT OPEN. THE CONTACT SAID THAT THE RECALL COVERED ALL FIVE DOORS.*AK UPDATED 1/19/2007 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177020December 26, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHEN PUT IN IGNITION. HAVE READ THAT 100'S OF PEOPLE WITH MY VEHICLE ARE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM, BUT FORD WILL NOT ADMIT WRONGDOING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176691December 20, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
FORD FOCUS 2000 IGNITION BROKE CAUSING MY KEY NOT TO GO IN RIGHT AND NOT TO TURN. I WAS FORCED TO CALL A LOCK SMITH AND HAVE THE LOCK REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176568December 19, 2006
STEERING:COLUMN
STEERING WHEEL NUT CAME OUT OF STEERING WHEEL WHEN WIFE WAS DRIVING 10 MPH AND TRIED TO MAKE A TURN. BECAUSE CONTACT DIDN'T HAVE WARRANTY FOR PART, HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS, AND WANTS TO KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING HE SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR. CONTACT WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176494December 18, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL* - THE CONTACT'S CAR WAS MARKED AS A TOTAL LOSS AS A RESULT OF A FIRE. THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. CONTACT HEARD OF SOME OTHER INSTANCES OF THAT HAPPENING. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175836December 11, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE POWER WINDOW CONTROL, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED TO OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER INITIAL INSPECTION BY THE CONTACT, THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED TO OPERATE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE POWER WINDOWS WERE WORN, AND FAILED DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175682December 9, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THIS IS THE 5TH TIME MY IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED UP ON ME. I AM FED UP WITH HAVING TO REPLACE THIS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175684December 9, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN 2-3 MILES, THEN PARKED. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER THE FIRE WAS SPOTTED. FLAMES WERE 12 TO 15 FEET HIGH BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND PUT IT OUT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175415December 6, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175150December 5, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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