2000 Ford Focus Steering Problems

KEY WONT GO INTO IGNITION, WHEEL LOCKED UP, HAVE TO GET LOCKSMITH TO FIX...BARELY AFFORDABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10638840

Incident

Sep 12, 2014

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

NHTSA ID

10454676

Incident

Mar 20, 2012

Mileage

132,000 mi

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THANKFULLY I DECIDED TO STOP AT THE GAS STATION AND GET GAS. AS I WAS GETTING OUT OF MY CAR I LIGHTLY TAPPED THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT POPPED OFF. I FREAKED OUT AND LOOKED AT WAS HAPPENED ALL MY STEERING WHEEL WAS HANGING BY WAS THE WIRES TO MY HORN AND AIRBAG. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED BACK TO MY HOUSE. I CALLED FORD HEADQUARTERS AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED IF THEY COULD FIX IT FOR FREE SINCE THERE ARE RECALLS ON THAT CAR. THEY REFUSED AND STATED ITS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE CAR OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY STAGE. I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S SOMETHING LITTLE THAT BROKE OR SOMETHING INSIDE THE ENGINE. IT'S THE STEERING WHEEL. YOU CAN'T DRIVE WITHOUT THAT AND THAT'S NEVER SUPPOSED TO BREAK. I'M SO UPSET NO BODY EVEN TRIED TO HELP ME AT FORD. I'M NEVER BUYING ONE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436434

Incident

Nov 11, 2011

STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP AND WILL NOT ALLOW KEY TO TURN IN IGNITION, CANNOT GET STEERING COLUMN TO UNLOCK NO MATTER WHAT IS DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436102

Incident

Nov 14, 2011

THE IGNITION ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS IS DEFECTIVE IN THAT THE KEY DOES NOT GO ALL THE WAY INTO THE IGNITION. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SYSTEMIC WITH THE FOCUS. THE CAR IS STRANDED IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING CARS AND PRESENTS A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC. SYSTEMIC ISSUES ACROSS A LARGE SPAN OF VIN NUMBERS PRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE AND A GENERAL PUBLIC NUISANCE. CARS ARE STRANDED IN INTERSECTIONS AND PLACES OF BUSINESS BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE IGNITIONS THAT ARE KNOWN TO FORD. THESE ISSUES ARE ON BLOG SITES IN LARGE NUMBERS. I TRUST THE TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY BOARD WILL RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROBLEM. I AM REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION THAT I AM SURE WILL REVEAL PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS BY THE SHEER NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OF THIS IGNITION FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10432279

Incident

Oct 18, 2011

Mileage

168,005 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING SEVERELY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS A TIRE BLEW AND THE CONTACT BARELY MISSED CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TIRE AND HUB BEARING. THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO WOBBLE EXCESSIVELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,196.

NHTSA ID

10390063

Incident

Nov 14, 2010

Mileage

125,196 mi

I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WITHOUT WARNING, THE KEY COULD NOT BE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION AND RENDERED THE VEHICLE USELESS THIS EVENING. IT APPEARS FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS VERY COMMON FAILURE ACCORDING TO MANY OWNERS (VIA ONLINE FORUMS) WITH THE SAME ISSUE. FORD DOESN'T CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE AND HENCE NOT RECALL WORTHY. CONSIDER THIS, WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED TO MY WIFE THIS EVENING AFTER WORK, IT WAS 6 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OUTSIDE AND DARK TOO (AND WELL INTO THE NEGATIVE DIGITS WITH THE WIND-CHILL). THIS CLEARLY SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE IN THIS REGARD FOR ANYONE...LUCKILY OUR 5 & 3 YEAR OLD CHILDREN WERE IN THE SAFETY OF INDOOR DAYCARE AT THE TIME (WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH TWO SMALL KIDS LATE AT NIGHT IN A PARKING LOT WITH SUB ZERO TEMPS?) ACCORDING TO A PROFESSIONAL LOCKSMITH, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND HE FIXED THE SAME THING ON ANOTHER FOCUS THIS MORNING. HE WILL BE REPLACING THE IGNITION CYLINDER WITH A NON OEM CYLINDER WHICH WILL REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE OEM CYLINDER HAS KNOWN ISSUES. THE REPLACEMENT CYLINDER (MADE BY A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER DOES NOT) DOES NOT HAVE THE FAULTY MECHANISM THE OEM CYLINDER HAS. THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALSO "LOCKED" AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE TO THE IGNITION CYLINDER. I WOULD "HOPE" THAT THIS FAILURE WOULDN'T OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. CATASTROPHE COULD BE THE RESULT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10374684

Incident

Jan 4, 2011

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD SUDDENLY LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING AND COULD NOT BE MOVED IN ANY DIRECTION, THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. SECONDS LATER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 106000.

NHTSA ID

10349178

Incident

Aug 12, 2010

Mileage

106,000 mi

THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION FOR NO REASON, STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND UNABLE TO TURN KEY ON A 2000 FORD FOCUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10281783

Incident

Aug 25, 2009

Mileage

180,000 mi

KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH FORD FOCUS MODELS FROM THE YEAR 2000. THERE IS NOTHING THAT PRECIPITATES THE PROBLEM- IT JUST DOESN'T WORK ALL OF A SUDDEN. LUCKILY, THE CAR WAS PARKED AT MY OFFICE BUILDING- BUT IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED ANYWHERE. I CALLED A LOCKSMITH AND HE CAME AND REPLACED THE IGNITION. HE SAID THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266506

Incident

Apr 22, 2009

Mileage

55,000 mi

FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THE SAME MAJOR PROBLEM EVERYONE ELSE IS HAVING WITH THE FORD FOCUSES. IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED UP ON ME WITHOUT WARNING. STOPPED TO GET GAS AND WHEN I WENT TO PUT KEY BACK INTO IGNITION IT WOULDN'T EVEN GO IN AT FIRST. I THOUGH I WAS IN THE WRONG CAR. FINALLY FORCED KEY IN IGNITION. IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME BUT I FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO FINALLY JIGGLE IT FREE AND GET ENGINE STARTED. FIRST WARNING SIGN WAS IN 2006 WHEN IT TEMPORARILY GAVE ME A PROBLEM, BUT NOW IT WAS BEING A CONSTANT PROBLEM. I HAD DONE MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AS WELL AND CALLED AROUND TO DIFFERENT LOCKSMITHS. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEH TO A LOCKSMITH AND HAVE A NEW IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED. THEY DID NOT HAVE TO REPROGRAM THE KEYS AS I SEE FORD IS CHARGING ALL OF THESE PEOPLE BESIDES THEIR RIDICULOUS LABOR ON THEIR DEFECTIVE PARTS, IN WHICH THEY ARE STILL REPLACING DEFECTIVE PARTS. IT COST ME UNDER $100 TO HAVE REPAIRED WITH REASSURANCE THE IGNITION WOULD OUTLAST ANY KEYS THAT I HAVE TO THE VEH. FORD IS PATHETIC FOR NOT ADMITTING THIS DEFECT AND HAVING A RECALL. YES IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE!!!!!! WHEN YOU NEVER KNOW THAT UNSUSPECTING YOUR KEYS LOCK UP AND WON'T TURN THE IGNITION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258506

Incident

Feb 11, 2009

Mileage

67,000 mi

THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. DEALER SAYS THE TUMBLER LOCK FELL APART SO A NEW LOCK AND KEYS ARE NECESSARY. MID 400 DOLLAR COST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257802

Incident

Feb 7, 2009

Mileage

112,000 mi

2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION CYLINDER FAILED TWICE IN 4YRS. THIS LAST TIME I WAS STRANDED IN THE COLD, BY MYSELF AT 1AM. MISSING WORK, SPENDING MONEY ON TOWS, PARTS AND LABOR ADDS UP. NOT TO MENTION THE DANGER INVOLVED WITH BEING STRANDED, ALL BECAUSE YOUR KEY WONT TURN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254360

Incident

Jan 8, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

THIS INCIDENT IS NOT ALL TOO TRAGIC, NO INJURIES OR DEATHS. MY 2000 FORD FOCUS HATCHBACK HAS A STEERING WHEEL LOCK PROBLEM. A HORRIBLY COMMON PROBLEM. IT'S BASED ON A DESIGN FLAW THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY AND ARE NOW LOOKING FOR A TAX PAYER FUNDED BAILOUT FROM CONGRESS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME COSTLY FOR MANY AND IN VIRTUALLY ALL CASES I'VE HEARD, REPAIRS HAVEN'T WORKED. PLEASE HELP US. *TR

NHTSA ID

10249609

Incident

Nov 23, 2008

Mileage

128,000 mi

LAST NIGHT I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK JUST FINE AND THIS MORNING WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR MY IGNITION WOULDN'T TURN AND THE BREAK AND SHIFTER FELT LIKE IT LOCKED UP! IT WAS JUST FINE UNTIL THIS MORNING AND I HEAR IT IS A COMMON THING! *TR

NHTSA ID

10246725

Incident

Oct 26, 2008

Mileage

109,000 mi

THE IGNITION LOCKED UP ON MY WIFE'S FORD FOCUS FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME AND HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE TUMBLERS AND OTHER PARTS BREAKING. THIS IS THE SECOND IGNITION THAT WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10229820

Incident

May 25, 2008

IGNITION LOCKS UP AND KEY WILL NOT TURN. THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOCKED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225984

Incident

Apr 28, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT COULD PHYSICALLY MOVE THE STEERING COLUMN UP AND DOWN THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND WAS TIGHTENED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC'S SHOP. MOST RECENTLY, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FORD DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY FAILURES, BUT AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC. FORD INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD FOR THEM TO ASSIST, DESPITE ITS LOW MILEAGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.

NHTSA ID

10225739

Incident

May 18, 2004

Mileage

6,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. MINUTES LATER, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. SHE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED METAL HANGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SPRING STRUTS FAILED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SWAY BAR LINKS, THE INNER TIE ROD, THE CB BOOT, THE DRIVER SIDE AXLE, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HUB BEARING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,982 UPDATED 5/19/08 *CN

NHTSA ID

10224122

Incident

Mar 23, 2008

Mileage

90,982 mi

1. THERE WERE TWO INSTANCES OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS WHERE MY CAR WOULDN'T START INITIALLY AND IT TOOK 15 MINUTES TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO TURN THE KEY. 2. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TO FILL UP MY CAR WHICH IS A 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3. I HAD MAY 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WITH ME AND WHEN WE WENT TO LEAVE MY IGNITION LOCKED UP. AFTER AN HOUR I HAD TO CALL SOMEONE TO COME GET MY DAUGHTER AS IT WAS 9PM AND SHE HAD SCHOOL IN THE MORNING. I HAD SOMEONE ELSE COME BY TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIX IT BUT THAT WAS TO NO AVAIL. FINALLY AFTER ABOUT 3 HOURS TOTAL I HAD TO CALL A FOR A TOW BACK TO MY HOUSE AS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP AND I COULD NOT EVEN ROLL THE CAR OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL TO GET AROUND THE GAS PUMPS. I SEARCHED ONLINE TO SEE ABOUT A RECALL DUE TO THIS CARS HISTORY AND TO MY AMAZEMENT I FOUND WEB FORUM AFTER WEB FORUM OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SEARCH THE WEB FOR "FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCK" AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT I MEAN. THIS IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE AND CAN BE POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. BEING STUCK AND UNABLE TO PUT YOUR CAR IN NEUTRAL AND MOVE IT TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AND OUT OF THE WAY, BEING STUCK IN EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS...POSSIBLY WITH A CHILD OR EVEN JUST BEING STUCK FOR HOURS AT A TIME. I READ ON INSTANCE WERE A WOMEN WASN'T ABLE TO GET TOWED FOR 6 HOURS AND READ ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A MAN WHO HAD RENTED A FOCUS ONLY TO HAVE IT LOCK UP WHILE AT A REST AREA ON THE HIGHWAY. IT APPEARS THAT FORD IS SIMPLY IGNORING THIS FAULT AND IT'S COSTING PEOPLE $400-$500 EVERY OCCURRENCE. SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED 3 TIMES OR MORE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IT HAS BEEN A SERIOUS ISSUE. 3. I HAVE GET THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER TO PAY THE $400 TO HAVE IT FIXED AND HOPE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN OR I CAN FIND A LOCKSMITH WHO CAN COME TO MY HOUSE, DRILL OUT THE IGNITION AND REPLACE IT WHICH IS CHEAPER THAN THE DEALERSHIP BUT NOT BY MUCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223239

Incident

Apr 2, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

I PARKED MY CAR ONE NIGHT IN A PARKING LOT. THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. WHEN I CAME BACK MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND I COULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR. THE LIGHTS AND RADIO WORK SO THE BATTERY IS NOT DEAD. TWO AAA ROADSIDE WORKERS TRIED TO TURN THE IGNITION AND IT DID NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216824

Incident

Feb 1, 2008

Mileage

99,960 mi

ANTI-THEFT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CAR WON'T START - 2ND TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216193

Incident

Jan 27, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THERE WAS A ROARING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AS OF JANUARY 3, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE STEERING: LINKAGES (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 02V289000) HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 126,950 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ID

10213554

Incident

Dec 1, 2007

Mileage

126,950 mi

CRACKED IGNITION. JAMMED STEERING COLUMN. BOTH WERE REPLACED. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10213089

Incident

Dec 19, 2007

I SEARCHED IN YOUR PAGE AND YOU ALREADY HAVE A CAMPAIGN. THE OFFICIAL NHTSA PAGE CONCERNING RECALL IS #03V48200 AND THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN IS #02V28900. THE ENGINE OF MY CAR ALREADY CRASHED AND I WANT TO KNOW WHERE I CAN SEARCHED FOR THE CAR'S SERIAL NUMBER THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10210833

Incident

Jul 15, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi