This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, a loud noise was detected from the front of the vehicle and the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact also mentioned that the key overheated in the ignition switch and the vehicle hesitated to drive when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact further mentioned that the vehicle's fuel consumption was higher than normal. The contact also mentioned that both passenger doors were inoperable. The contact mentioned that the driver's side door needed extra strength to open and the rear passenger door was stuck and would not open. The vehicle was taken to multiple unknown dealers where the contact was informed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced and the engine valve was stuck. The cause of the other failures was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.
The ignition switch failed to turn in my 2004 Ford Focus leaving me stranded. This was the first time this had happened and to temporarily remedy the situation I had to take a hammer and tap the key into the ignition and turn at the same time to start the car. The key must remain in the ignition at all times now to prevent a recurrence.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. The contact stated while trying to start the vehicle, the key would not turn in the ignition. After repeated attempts, the contact banged on the key and the vehicle started. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the ignition switch was replaced. The failure did not recur. The failure mileage was 77,139 and the current mileage was 77,673. Updated 11/9/10
The issue I would like to report is in regard to Ford Focus automobiles from 2000 to current date 2010. There is a know defect with the ignition switch which is made with inferior metal parts in the ignition lock. What happens is that metal shavings are produced inside the lock and after time these metal shavings cause the lock to jam. Thousands of people have been affected by this problem and have been stranded because they cannot turn the ignition key. Ford denies this problem. Just go to any locksmith or tow truck driver or google Ford Focus ignition on the internet. Everybody knows about the problem. Everytime this happens it costs the owner between $500 and $800 to have this fixed at a Ford dealership. My 2004 for Focus currently has this problem. This should be a recall by Ford and I think this is the biggest scam since bernie madoff. Please do something about this. Thanks frustrated Ford owner.
Ignition switch in lock position freezes and refuses to unlock when ignition key is inserted, causing an inability to start engine or unlock steering wheel to move vehicle. This problem strands motorists wherever they are when the ignition key was switched off and removed from the ignition.
- Moline, IL, USA
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I have two issues with my Ford Focus (2004) first, I ran into a problem with the ignition switch and it will not turn. I left the key in for a couple of months when this initially happened but, it wore out my alternator and I had to have it replaced. I removed the key once the new alternator was installed. I had some minor success with inserting the key and had to bang on it with my hand to get it to turn. This worked successfully for 2 weeks. The ignition switch is now frozen. I am back to square one. Secondly, the trunk latch doesn't close properly and I have to use my remote to reopen the mechanism in order to get it to close. Very aggravating. I will not purchase another Ford if these issues are not recalled.
I have owned my 2004 Ford Focus SE for about 4 years now and out of no where the ignition in the car froze. When I put my key in the ignition the key doesn't go in the key hole smoothly once all the way in it wont turn. I was stranded at work for 3 and a half hours trying to get my car started finally a tow truck driver came and used a mallet hit my key while it was in the ignition to get the car started. I brought my car to a local Ford dealership because I heard that Ford did a recall on this part. Turns out that the dealership says I am fully responsible for the part...I did some researching online and found that hundreds of thousands of people have the same problem Ford is not fixing this malfunction. I am deploying to iraq for the second time and I can not leave my family a working vehicle because of a defect Ford has with the ignition system. I feel as if this is a problem that Ford should face and should do an official recall on. This is poor service esp coming from a large vehicle company like Ford.
2004 Ford Focus with ignition problems. Consumer states that the key got stuck in the ignition. Consumer also stated that the vehicle would not start. Consumer was informed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced.
My daughter went to start her 2004 Ford Focus and the key would not turn when inserted in the ignition. Steering wheel and ignition cylinder were locked up and could not be moved. This was the first occurrence of this problem. Vehicle was towed to a nearby Ford dealership where the problem was diagnosed as "ignition cylinder binding." Dealership drilled out cylinder and replaced at a cost of $425. Failure mileage was 67,947.
The contact's son owns a 2004 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the ignition would not turn when the key was inserted. The dealer stated that the ignition switch failed and was a common occurrence. As of November 8, 2007, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 46,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. The vehicle failed to start because the steering wheel locked up. The vehicle was towed to the Ford dealer and is currently being repaired. The cause of the failure was the ignition switch. The contact discovered several complaints on this same defect, but no recalls were available. He considered this to be a manufacturer defect. The current and failure mileages were 48,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. The contact was unable to turn the ignition when the key was inserted. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure recurred two days later. The dealer stated that the key cartridge caused the failure and they made the replacement. The contact stated that two of the three original keys have not worked properly since the replacement. The failure mileage was 14,155 and current mileage was 14,200. Updated 01-14-08. Updated 12/12/07
Without any warning the ignition switch of the 2004 Ford Focus began to stop functioning properly. I am currently able to turn the key if I spend a few minutes manipulating the steering wheel while simultaneously turning the key.
We purchased a brand new 2004 Ford Focus, 3 years ago. Of course the warranty just ran out (we're at about 38,000 miles). Over the past 2 weeks, we've had problems getting the key into the ignition, and once in the ignition, the key wont turn. The first time it happened, it took just a couple of attempts and then it turned. It has progressively gotten worse, and has taken up to 5 minutes to get the key into the ignition and to turn. Exactly 2 weeks and 2 days after the problem arose, I went to start my car and this time it took 10 minutes to get to key into the ignition and to turn. That same night I was attempting to leave a friends house, and again the key has trouble going into the ignition, and once in it wont turn, the steering wheel is locked, and I'm stuck. My husband has another key to the car, so we tried alternating the keys. We sat in the driveway for 30 minutes, trying both keys alternately, and the key just wouldn't turn. We had to get a ride home and are without a car now. Our mechanic said the same thing happened to someone else with the same car last week, and it cost them $420 for parts/repairs. We have to wait until next week when we can affords the repairs. I have read numerous consumer complaints about the same problem with the same car (Ford Focus, several years/models) some of them even had to replace the same part more than one time. This is obviously a faulty part, and Ford should be conducting some sort of recall to fix the part.
Yesterday I got into my car (a 2004 Ford Focus), put the key in the ignition, and the key would not turn. Today I took the car to the dealer and the problem was repaired. The key cylinder had malfunctioned. In doing some research I have discovered that this is a very common problem with the Focus, but Ford Motor Company has refused to recall the affected models even though this is a potential safety issue. The dealership did repair the problem, but I had to pay over $200 for it.
The key for my 2004 Ford Focus station wagon isn't working right. I turn it back and forth in the ignition and it take 5 minutes to start the car. It isn't on recall but should be. There are lots of the same issues on the internet.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Marietta, SC, USA