2000 Ford Focus Ignition Problems
- 536
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 536 stored complaint records:
- 7 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 4 indicate fire
- 2 indicate a death
What owners report
- Switch · 8 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 108 |
| 60–100k mi | 107 |
| 100–150k mi | 33 |
| 1–30k mi | 27 |
| 150–400k mi | 4 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Ignition
I have a 2000 ford focus and i have been having terrible problems with my ignition. Several dozen times i have not been able to start my car or it has taken me a significant amount of time to be able to start the car. I told my local ford dealer about the problem and said it would cost about $300 to fix the ignition. However, he told me that i was the fourth person that had called him that very specific day…
ODI 10102716
Ignition
When getting into my car to go to work one day the key wouldn't go into the ignition all the way. My vehicle needed to be towed to the dealership in order to replace the entire ignition assembly. *ak
ODI 10086986
Ignition
Ignition cylinder on my 2000 ford focus has been replaced two times by a local ford dealer. In the first instance (approximately august, 2004, key could not be removed from the lock. This required towing the vehicle to the dealership for repair. The most recent incident (february, 2007) the key would not turn the ignition switch unless the tilt steering was bounced forward and back for approximately 10 minutes. *jb
ODI 10181814
Ignition
My key would no longer fit in the ignition leaving the car undrivable with the wheels locked which made towing near impossible. In the first instance the ford service department replaced the ignition and advised me i was starting my car incorrectly. They said i needed to fully depress the key in the ignition before turning it. It is not possible to do otherwise. 17 months later it has failed again. They have just…
ODI 10144805
Ignition
My focus 2000 is in the shop due to a broken ignition cylinder. This is obviously a huge common problem and should be recalled.i could have been left stranded in the middle of the night in a dark parking lot. Car had to be towed.
ODI 10129824
Ignition
I own a 2000 ford focus. Several times in the past year, the key would not turn to start the car. In the past i have been able to jiggle the key and sterring wheel to get it started. On 7/14/2004, the same thing occurred, but i never had any success with turning it at all. The steering wheel was also locked up. I investigated the problem on the internet and found this was very common on ford focus, especially 2000.…
ODI 10083046
Ignition
The ignition malfunctioned. As a result, the key got stuck which enabled the consumer to start the vehicle. *ak
ODI 10083236
Ignition
Ignition cylinder jammed and car cannot be started. Cylinder must be replaced and tumblers removed to prevent repeat of situation in the future. *la
ODI 10081149
Ignition
Defective ignition switches even service wrighter say they should be recalled my 2000 ford focus has had 4 ignition switches installed, the latest on i installed 5-13-04 and today it was towed 65 miles for a new ong against a faulty design and should be fixed. Ford will credit me for the new switch i put in cause they say the key ruined it but i say the switch ruined the key. So the change everything now that the…
ODI 10081008
Ignition
Ignition lock failed. Unable to insert kit all the way and had to have car towed to dealer. *la
ODI 10080915
Ignition
The key in my 2000 ford focus zx3 will not turn in the ignition. I have to take it to the dealership to fix. I have read so many accounts of this same problem i cannot believe there has not been a recall. (there have been so many already.) *la
ODI 10080827
Ignition
Ford refuses to issue a recall or replace the ignition lock assembly which is faulty. *nm
ODI 10135461
Ignition
I have had my ford focus for two years. I will never buy another ford again. The time i have had my ford i've received about 3 or 4 recall notices for my car. Just recently i had another problem. The ignition on my car completely locked, you couldn't even turn the key. After talking to the person that towed my car and was told that they have seen this on so many of the focus cars i did a search on the internet and…
ODI 10080480
Ignition
Over time, my ignition lock has been freezing up and not allowing my to start the car. Now it will not work at all and am forced to replace ignition cylinder my self. There seem to be many reports of the same problem with other owners as well. Ford needs to recall this car completely until they work out all bugs. *jb
ODI 10080465
Ignition
Like many ford focuses, my ignition lock cylinder failed. My key ring is not excessively heavy, nor am i abusive with my vehicle--the spring assembly inside the ilc is just a poorly designed piece of crap, and rather than pay the quoted price i successfully replaced the problem by drilling out the old lock and replacing it with a new ilc. Ford has issued a technical service bulletin on this problem and thousands of…
ODI 10086389
Ignition
Dt*: the contact stated that the ignition locked; the key could be placed in the ignition but it would not turn. A locksmith repaired it. On the first occurrence, the repairs were made at the owner's expense, however the contact expressed there should be a recall or reimbursement.
ODI 10161788
Emission Control · Engine And Engine Cooling · Ignition · Vehicle Speed Control
Problems with the vehicle motor going fast then slowing down. *mr when the vehicle was in motion, there was thump in the rear under the seat as if it were stopping and or losing power, the emission light had come on the dash board and would go off and on again, the floor would vibrate and rattle, the engine would cut off when at stop lights, the key would not turn in the ignition/stuck in cylinder. The stalling…
ODI 10083985
Ignition
I have a 2000 ford focus. It has a recurring problem where the ignition cylinder locks up and the car cannot not be started, requiring towing to the nearest ford dealer. The ignition cylinder has had to be replaced june 2001, feb 2003, march 2004, and now for the forth time in june 2004. This is a serious and costly problem. If one were to stall in traffic on the highway, and then could not start, the car will be…
ODI 10079246
Ignition
I am a victim of ford failing to do something about their ignition locking problem. My ignition locked up on me. This is a well documented and known problem. The design is flawed. The consumer is being taken for a ride. Even the replacement part has the failed design. Please do something!*ak
ODI 10079066
Ignition
Ignition cylinder locks, key gets stuck and will not turn or come out.*ak
ODI 10079051
Ignition
Put key in ignition and would not turn over car . Locked in park position and could not get it to unlock the steering wheel. Key would not turn. Dealer claims that this is an ongoing problem with the ford focus, could you please tell me what if any thing i can do to prevent this from happening again, since the car dealer said it's not guaranteed not to happen again. This i s costing me $500.00 plus towing and i'm…
ODI 10078851
Ignition · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Switch
When inserting the key into the ignition the key will only enter half-way and the key cannot be turned or the key can be fully inserted, but cannot be turned. *ak
ODI 10078832
Ignition
Key would jam in ignition. Then yesterday the key wouldn't start veh. Now i am having to tap on the end of key to get the ignition to start due to faulty cylinders in the ignition. I have found numerous complaints regarding this on the web. *jb
ODI 10078834
Ignition
I went out to my car after work and tried to start my car. The key would not go all the way into the ignition so i could not turn the key. After trying a few times, i called ford roadside assistance and had it towed to my dealership, gaudin ford in las vegas on a wednesday night. The tow truck driver said that he's seen a lot of focuses with the same problem. They did not work on it on thursday as they had other…
ODI 10080825
Ignition
No sign of anything wrong - then key will not turn in ignition and the steering wheel is locked up. *ak
ODI 10078483
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2000 Ford Focus.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.