2000 Ford Focus Electrical System

THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER (WHERE THE KEY INSERTS/TURNS ON THE STEERING COLUMN) LOCKED UP ON ME WITHOUT WARNING, STRANDING ME WHERE I LAST PARKED THE CAR. NO AMOUNT OF LUBRICATION OR QUICK FIXES HELPED. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE FORD FOCUS IN THAT YEAR RANGE. I'M GETTING QUOTES FROM LOCKSMITHS IN THE $250 RANGE. LUCKILY I WASN'T STRANDED IN A BAD PLACE! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER CLOSING THE REAR HATCH, THE RUNNING LIGHTS, POWER LOCKS, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 214,000.

THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL AND IGNITION ARE LOCKED. *TR

VERY HARD TO PUT KEY INTO OR REMOVE FROM IGNITION, HAVE NOT REMOVED KEY IN 8 YEARS. *TR

I WAS STARTING MY CAR, ON FIRST START DID NOT START WHEN RETRIED STARTING THERE WAS NOTHING TRIED AGAIN NOTHING OPENED HOOD AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM BATTERY COVER. REMOVED COVER AND BATTERY CABLES AND BATTERY WERE VERY HOT THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CABLES STARTED MELTING. WHEN HAD COOLED ENOUGH TO TOUCH REMOVED POSITIVE CABLE AND WHEN TRIED REPLACING CABLE THERE WAS A LOT OF SPARKING, CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO PICKED THE CAR UP INSPECTED CABLES FOUND THEM TO BE DEFECTIVE CONTACTED FORD AND THE SAID THEY KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM BUT BECAUSE OF THE DATE AND MANUFACTURING PLACE OF THE CAR IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 01/09/13*LJ

THE IGNITION SWITCH JAMMED AS I HEAR HAPPENS ALOT WITH THESE FORDS DUE TO INFERIOR PARTS . THE DEALER CHARGED ME WITH 3.5 HOURS SHOP TIME TO FIX THIS WHEN FORD HAS ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLITAN # 02-18-2 WHICH CALLS FOR 1.1 HOURS TO FIX AS WELL AS THE $135.05 LIST PRICE OF THE REPLACEMENT CYLINDER KIT. IF THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM KNOWN TO FORD SHOULDN'T IT BE SUBJECT TO A NTSB RECALL? *TR

THE BATTERY CABLE COMING FROM THE POSITIVE TERMINAL IS MELTED. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THIS WAS A RECALL: NHTSA CAMPAIGN #02V288000. HOWEVER FORD IS CLAIMING THAT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT IS SPECIFIC FOR MY MODEL AND YEAR, AND EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT ISSUE THAT THE RECALL IS FOR: FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING THAT CAN LEAD TO A FIRE. I HAVE NOT HAD A FIRE IN MY VEHICLE, BUT A MELTED CABLE IS CLOSE ENOUGH FOR MY LIKING. BATTERY TERMINAL CABLES SHOULD NOT BE MELTING, PERIOD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY WIRING AND CASE WERE MELTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V288000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,650 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,400.

THE KEY LOCK CYLINDER IN MY CAR FAILED TO TURN OVER ONE DAY. I WAS STRANDED FOR 3 HOURS DUE TO A FAULTY LOCK CYLINDER AND HAD TO PAY $540 DOLLARS TO GET THE PART REPAIRED. I CALLED THE FORD DIRECT LINE FOR ASSISTANCE AND THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUE. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED TO ME ON THE PHONE THAT THEY KNOW THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, YET NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNTIL A LAWSUIT, OR RECALL IS ISSUED. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE. *TR

PUT THE KEY IN IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. TRIED FOR OVER 2 HOURS. HAD CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALER. AFTERWARD SAW ONLINE THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ALOT ON THIS MODEL. THIS IS A USED CAR WE BOUGHT FOR OUR DAUGHTER. SHE WAS STRANDED OVER 3 HOURS AND 50 MILES AWAY. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND DOES NOT ADDRESS IT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE AND WHILE IT DOESN'T FIT WITHIN THE TRADITIONAL CONSTRAINTS OF A SAFETY COMPLAINT, IT IS INDEED A SAFETY HAZARD. THE IGNITION COLUMN OF THE 2000 FORD FOCUS WILL "LOCK" AS I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. LUCKILY, THIS HAPPENED TO ME IN MY DRIVEWAY. HOWEVER, IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE IN A REMOTE AREA, THEY WOULD BE STRANDED BY A PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OF OR ANY IDEA THAT IT MAY HAPPEN. THE SERVICE REP TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM, AND THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD FIX UNLESS I CAME TO A DEALERSHIP. IF SOMEONE HAS A FAMILY OF FOUR (SUCH AS THE PEOPLE I BOUGHT THIS FROM) AND THEY ARE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, BASICALLY A DEFAULT WITH A KEY TUMBLER IS TO BLAME. THIS SEEMS UNFAIR TO THE CONSUMER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE BATTERY CABLES HAD MELTED. AFTER MOVING THE BATTERY CABLES THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE WITH CONSTANT DECELERATION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRES HAD COMPLETELY BURNT WITH TIME AND HE HAD THE WIRES REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V288000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

I DROVE MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 TO WORK AND BACK WITH NO PROBLEM. I PARKED IT AT MY HOUSE AND LATER THAT NIGHT WHEN I WENT TO TAKE MY CAR OUT THE KEY WOULD NOT COMPLETELY FIT INTO THE IGNITION. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED THE KEY IS ALMOST COMPLETELY IN AND I CANT GET IT IN ANY FARTHER. I'M EITHER GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER OR A LOCKSMITH MOST LIKELY. I'M LUCKY I WASN'T OUT LATE OR FAR FROM HOME. *TR

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE EXTENDING INTO PASSENGER AREA, FIRE HAD STARTED IN THE AREA OF THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT. *TR

IGNITION LOCKING MECHANISM NOT WORKING - CAN NOT START CAR. KEY WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUS 2000 - 2003. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED, FORD SEEMS TO DENY THE PROBLEM AND IS LINING THEIR POCKETS STILL WITH THE REPAIR MONEY ($400 +). ONE DAY SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET STRANDED AND GET SERIOUSLY HURT. (THANK GOD FOR THAT CELL PHONE). IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. CROOKED AMERICAN CAR COMPANIES - I DID NOT BUY THIS CAR IT WAS GIVEN TO US WITH ONLY 26,000 MILES ON IT AND IT ONLY PROVES I WOULD NOT BUY AMERICAN CARS. HOW SAD FOR ECONOMY AND LACK OF DOING THE RIGHT THING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO START HIS VEHICLE THE KEY WOULD BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO RELEASE THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE TUMBLERS HAD COLLAPSED AND THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 102,000. UPDATED 6/8/11 *CN UPDATED 06/23/11

MY WIFE DROVE TO THE MOVIES. AFTER THE MOVIES SHE FOUND SHE COULDN'T TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. SHE JIGGLED IT AND TRIED FOR 20 MINUTES BEFORE CALLING ME. THE CAR IS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. MY WIFE AND HER FRIEND WERE STRANDED IN A BAD PART OF TOWN DUE TO A MALFUNCTION. WHEN I CALLED MY DAD ABOUT IT (HE IS A SERVICE MANAGER FOR A CHRYSLER/JEEP DEALERSHIP) HE TOLD ME IT'S A TERRIBLY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2000-2003 FOCUS. I CALLED FORD. THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING. SAYS THE FIX THEM ALL THE TIME. I ASKED WHY IT WASN'T RECALLED SINCE MY WIFE WAS LEFT STRANDED AND THEY WOULDN'T ANSWER. I AM JUST GLAD THAT MY KIDS WEREN'T IN THE CAR. IT WAS ONLY 20 DEGREES OUTSIDE. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS! *TR

DRIVING HOME FROM FAMILY VACATION. IGNITION KEY/LOCK FAILED NOT LETTING US START OUT CAR AFTER STOPPING FOR A REST. LEAVING US STRANDED THREE HOURS FROM HOME ON A SUNDAY NIGHT. MASSIVE REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO THE FORD FOCUS 2000-2003 BUT WHY HAVEN'T THEY RECALLED IT? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. HE STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CUT ON AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 160,000. UPDATED 02/03/10 *BF UPDATED 02/11/10.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE TRIES TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WON'T TURN. SHE HAS TO HIT IT WITH A MALLET TO GET IT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT STATED THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 30,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

OEM IGNITION / TUMBLER MECHANISM LOCKED UP... PREVENTING ME FROM STARTING VEHICLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS. AFTER DRIVING IT TO A GAS STATION I PUMPED MY GAS AND GOT BACK INTO THE CAR TO LEAVE. I PUT MY KEYS INTO THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND THE WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I COULD NOT GET IT TO TURN AT ALL. SEVERAL PEOPLE TIRED TO GET IT TO TURN INCLUDING A TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND A MECHANIC. ALL SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN FORD FOCUS'. *TR

2000 FORD FOCUS KEY WILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $400.00 TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED TO GET THE CYLINDER REPAIRED. IF THE DEALER FOUND THE CYLINDER WAS COMPLETELY RUINED, IT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL $300.00. *JB

I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WONT TURN IN THE IGNITION. I HAVE MET 50 MORE PEOPLE SINCE YESTERDAY WHO HAVE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE AN IGNITION ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A FORD MISTAKE. FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECT. *TR