Ford Focus Complaints (2000)
3,686 consumer complaints on file.
- #10133330August 18, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILURE. I COULD NOT GET THE KEY TO GO IN THE IGNITION. AFTER 1/2 HOUR OF PUSHING, PULLING, ROCKING, TILTING, IN OUT, BACK FORTH, I GOT THE KEY IN. UPON ADVICE OF MY MECHANIC AT WOODY SANDER FORD IN CINCINNATI, OH, I WAS TOLD TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION UNTIL I COULD DELIVER IT TO THEM FOR REPLACEMENT. THEY SAY THE PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON BUT FORD WON'T RECALL BECAUSE IT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. MY WEB RESEARCH SUPPORTS THAT IT IS INDEED VERY COMMON AND FOR MANY PEOPLE A RECURRING PROBLEM. THE CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD WITH 54,627 MILES ON IT. THE REPAIR WAS JUST OVER $200.00. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 1
- #10133394August 18, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY CAR WAS NOT SHOWING SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE THE INCIDENT. MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WAS PARKED IN A LOCAL RESTAURANT PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR, THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO THE IGNITION. WE PLAYED WITH IT ENOUGH TO GET IT IN HALF WAY AND THEN THE WHOLE WAY, BUT THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. I CALLED FOR A RIDE AT 12:00AM BECAUSE A COP INFORMED ME IT WAS MOST LIKELY MY TUMBLER OR IGNITION SWITCH. MY CAR WAS TOWED THE NEXT MORNING FROM THE PARKING LOT. THIS WAS A DIFFICULT PROCESS CONSIDERING MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP AND THEY HAD TO "DRAG" MY CAR TO GET IT ON TO THE FLAT BED. MY IGNITION SWITCH IS CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON, BUT WE ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE "KEY CODE" TO SET MY TUMBLER. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10133406August 18, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 IGNITION SYSTEM WILL NOT TURN. I TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET IT FIXED. AAA SENT A LOCKSMITH OUT AND HER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS THE 10TH FORD FOCUS THIS WEEK WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID HE HAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE IGNITION SYSTEM. HE SAID HE HAS DONE OVER 150 IN THE LAST YEAR. I SEARCHED ONLINE AN FOUND OVER 5000 PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD AND THEY ACTED AS IF THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. THE FORD FOCUS IS NOTORIOUS FOR RECALLS BUT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ON THE LIST. I BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE ADDED. FORD FOCUS IGNITION SYSTEM SHE BE RECALLED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10134514August 16, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
2000 FORD FOCUS DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT AND REPLACED. *SC
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10134525August 16, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2000 FORD FOCUS DIED WHILE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. *MR *SC CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT POSSIBLY THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10133117August 16, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS AND MY KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS STRANDED WITH THE TWO PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AT NIGHT. I TOOK IT TO GET IT FIXED AND IT IS COSTING MY $510 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10132960August 15, 2005STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
THE IGNITION INTERLOCK FAILED ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE KEY WOULD NOT GO INTO THE IGNITION, SO THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEELS SO THAT WHEN IT WAS TOWED ($80) OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE IT ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. THEY HAD TO DRAG IT UP ONTO THE FLAT BED OF THE TRUCK. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THAT HE ALONE TOWS ONE FOCUS PER WEEK DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I LIVE IN A LARGE TOWN AND CANNOT TELL ME THAT THERE ARE NOT HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. I WAS QUOTED THE REPAIR COST OF $260 INSTANTLY WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER, HOW OFTEN DOES THAT HAPPEN. I CAN SEE WHY FORD DOES NOT RECALL THIS ITEM, IT IS TOO MUCH OF A MONEY MACHINE!! HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF REPAIR HAVE TO BE MADE BEFORE THEY RECALL THIS? *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10132733August 13, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, MY CAR BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, THEN STALLED, SMOKE BEGAN EMANATING FORM UNDER THE HOOD, THEN THE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. I'M VERY LUCKY I WAS NOT INJURED. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10132321August 11, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY WIFE HAD TO DROP OFF SOMETHING AT A FRIEND'S PLACE OUT IN THE COUNTRY. THEY WOULD NOT BE HOME FOR A COUPLE DAYS. SHE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, DELIVERED THE ITEMS, AND GOT BACK IN THE CAR TO START IT UP AND COME BACK HOME. WE WERE ALL WAITING FOR HER TO GET HOME SO WE COULD LEAVE FOR A CAMPING TRIP. THE KEY WENT INTO THE IGNITION, BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN, CAR WOULD NOT START - THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED HERE MANY TIMES. SHE WENT TO A NEIGHBOR'S TO CALL ME, FINALLY FOUND SOMEONE THAT COULD BRING HER HOME AND GET ME THERE TO SEE WHAT I COULD DO(WE ONLY HAVE ONE CAR). I COULD DO NOTHING. IN THE MORNING I AM GOING TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO. THIS SUCKS BECAUSE MY FAMILY IS ALL PACKED AND READY TO GO CAMPING - NOW THIS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10132204August 10, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION CYLINDER FAILURE, STRANDED US AND WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS IF THIS HAD HAPPENED A WEEK EARLIER WHEN WE WERE IN THE BACK COUNTRY OF IDAHO. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2000-2002 FORD FOCUS CARS AND FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THE IGNITION CYLINDER WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED (AGAIN). *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10131775August 6, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION STARTED TO STICK AND ON 8/5/05 THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN KEY BROKE OFF HAD TO PAY LOCK SMITH TO COME OUT AND TAKE KEY OUT THAT WAS 125 DOLLARS. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HAVE THEM FIX THE IGNITION BUT TO GET IT THERE THE CAR HAS TO BE TOWED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF CARS AND FORD WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10131661August 5, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, EQUIPMENT
WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 FORD FOCUS, I CAME TO A FOUR WAY STOP AND THE CAR CEASED TO WORK, AS IF I HAD TURNED OFF THE KEY...NO SPUTTERING, JUST STOPPED. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT LURCHED FORWARD, DIED AGAIN, JUST AS BEFORE. AS I LOOKED OUT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, I OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I EXITED THE CAR AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE WHEEL WELLS. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. PEOPLE BEGAN SPRAYING WATER ON THE CAR FROM GARDEN HOSES, TWO PEOPLE STOPPED WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND NOTHING PUT OUT THE FLAMES. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, WITHIN 10 MINUTES, THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. PIECES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WERE MELTING AND FALLING OFF THE ENGINE ONTO THE GROUND. POLICE ARRIVED TO DIRECT TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO WENDLE FORD, AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY REMOVED THE VEHICLE TO THEIR PREMISES THE NEXT DAY. I STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS PROBLEM IN A FIVE YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. AS I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER INCIDENTS OF FIRE IN THIS VEHICLE, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE FORD MOTOR COMPANY INVESTIGATE WHY THIS IS HAPPENING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10131667August 5, 2005SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
DT: 2000, FORD, FOCUS. CONTACT STATES THE WHEEL BEARING WAS HOWLING. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 47,000 MILES ON IT. HEARD THIS NOISE FOR ONE MONTH. HE THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES, BUT IT WAS NOT THE TIRES. TOOK VEHICLE TO AN AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, AND SHOWED HIM A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WHICH DID DID NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10131703August 5, 2005SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE DURING NORMAL USAGE. THE SPRINGS, STRUTS AND ONE STRUT BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10121862August 5, 2005SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
DT: WITHOUT WARNING DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE . RING THAT SITS ON TOP OF COIL SPRING THAT SUPPORTS THE CAR BROKE. HAS NOT GONE TO DEALER YET. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PART HAD BEEN RECALLED. HOWEVER SINCE THE CONSUMER HAD THE PART REPAIR AT A NON-FORD DEALER THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR THE REPAIRS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10131619August 4, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION KEY FAILURE IN 2000 FORD FOCUS SE. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATION ON THE WEB, I LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MOST IF NOT ALL MODELS OF FORD FOCUS. I AM HAVING IT SERVICED NOW BUT ACCORDING TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE, I CAN EXPECT TO HAVE TO DO THIS SEVERAL MORE TIMES OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10131500August 3, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
KEY WOULD NOT WORK IN IGNITION - CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE LOCK ASSEMBLY AND TUMBLER. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10131501August 3, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1) NO KNOWN EVENTS LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE. 2) WHEN HEADING TO WORK IN THE MORNING ONE DAY, I HAD DIFFICULTY INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. ONCE I GOT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I COULD NOT START MY CAR AND COULD NOT GET TO WORK 3) WE HAD TO PAY $70 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP IN BUFFALO, MN. WE THEN HAD TO PAY THEM TO DRILL OUT IGNITION CYLINDER AND REMOVE IT. THEN THEY BUILT NEW CYLINDER AND INSTALLED IT. COSTING ME $350. I UNDERSTAND ALSO, FROM THE FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE (THAT HAD JUST EXPIRED) THAT THIS IS ALSO A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR FORD FOCUS'. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10131496August 3, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
KEY WOULD NOT WORK IN IGNITION - CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE LOCK ASSEMBLY AND TUMBLER. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10131497August 3, 2005SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
1) NO KNOWN EVENTS LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE. WE HAD NO WARNING. WE DID NOTHING UNUSUAL. 2) WE WERE DRIVING AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. WE HADN'T RUN OVER ANYTHING AND THE CAR APPEARED FINE. UPON TAKING IT TO BE LOOKED AT WE FOUND THAT WE NEEDED A NEW SPRING. WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 2000 FOCUS AND ALSO THAT THE FORD TAURUS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE TAURUS WAS GIVEN A SAFETY RECALL. I WAS INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC THAT HAD THE SPRING PUNCTURED MY TIRES SIDEWALL, I WOULD HAVE BLOWN A TIRE AND COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH, EVEN AT LOWER SPEEDS IS UNDESIRABLE. 3) THE MECHANIC PUT IN A NEW SPRING, BUT THINKS THAT THE OTHER SPRING MAY BE MORE VULNERABLE NOW HAVING BEARED THE EXTRA LOAD. ALSO, HE SAYS OUR STRUTS MAY HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED AS WELL... I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY SO HE REPLACED THE SPRING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND THAT IS ALL FOR NOW. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0