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
2000 ford focus. Key would not turn in the ignition. It left my 19 year old daughter stranded after work as a hostess at a restaurant. This could and has happened on two occasions. The key finally turned after nearly two hours of attempting to get it to work. We have discovered by banging on the key it helps sometimes. This is a costly repair that has been reported numerous times and other consumers say it happens…
ODI 10290253
Ignition
Ignition was working fine. Twenty minutes later, the key would go in the ignition, but would not turn. My vehicle is in process of being repaired. I found out this is a chronic problem with 2000-2004 ford focus. Mine is a 2000. Aggravated that ford has not been made responsible to recall these vehicles. Not only do i have an expensive repair, i missed a day of work because i was stranded. *tr
ODI 10279138
Ignition
I have a ford focus 2000 model and the key would not turn in the ignition. This is a common problem among ford focus models of 2000-2003. Due to this defect i got stuck on the highway and had to be towed. This is a serious defect and can cause serious accidents. *tr
ODI 10285112
Ignition
2000 ford focus - yet another failed ignition cylinder issue; the same faulty part issue that has been reported for nearly a decade now. Stranded with towing costs and large replacement cost for part known by ford, et al, to be a defect problem...not normal wear-and-tear. In shop being replaced...concern of future stranded as part is still considered defective. *tr
ODI 10273110
Ignition
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. The contact stated that the engine would not start when the ignition was turned. In addition, the steering column locked. He struck the key with a hammer until the engine was able to start. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. Through research, the contact found numerous complaints regarding the same issue. The failure has occurred almost daily ever…
ODI 10269944
Ignition
I was left stranded in a parking lot with my 16 month old son after i returned to my car and the key would not turn in the ignition and i was unable to start my car. This happened without warning. When i parked my car everything was fine and i had no trouble removing the key. When i returned to my car after shopping for an hour at first i was unable to get my key into the ignition. I kept trying and was finally able…
ODI 10265085
Ignition
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. The contact is unable to place the key into the ignition without force. After adding oil into the cylinder the key can be placed into the ignition normally; however, after a short time the failure recurred. The dealer stated that the ignition cylinder would have to be replaced. The vehicle has not been repaired. The manufacturer stated that the ignition cylinder would have to…
ODI 10280963
Ignition
My car was parked in my garage and i went to start it, and the key wouldn't turn in the ignition. After a few tries, it finally turned. Went to the store, parked and went in, came back out, and the same thing happened again. After 1/2 hour, it finally turned. This has been repeated about 15 times and it's beyond frustrating. The car runs fine otherwise. It's not been in any accidents, i keep it maintained, and it…
ODI 10266687
Ignition
I was stranded unable to put the key into the ignition of my 2000 ford focus. I s/w a ford service rep who stated ignition cylinders wear out. My car only has 86k miles and is maintained and garage kept. This is a hazard to be unable to start your car! *tr
ODI 10260245
Ignition
KEY IGNITION WILL NOT TURN. *TR
ODI 10258707
Ignition
For the second time in the past two weeks the key will not turn in the ignition in my ford focus. The first time it happened it took me about 5 minutes of consistently jiggling the key and steering wheel simultaneously to get the key to turn. Since this has occurred the second time i have had no success in being able to get the ignition to budge and my car is now unable to start. I have attempted many of the…
ODI 10257509
Ignition
2000 ford focus. Key would not turn in the ignition. Car would not start. I had to be towed and had to have it fixed. 598.00, including the 125. Tow charge. *tr
ODI 10302289
Ignition
The key gets stuck in the ignition and will not turn and can not be removed. Car must be towed and ignition replaced. This is not normal wear and tear, 110000miles i have had to make this repair 6 times at $200 each time. Typically, this sort of problem should have come up only once if at all with my mileage. If ford is going to get my tax dollars, they should not build a low quality car. This car is one of the main…
ODI 10260643
Ignition
The ignition tumbler in my 2000 focus se has failed to the point that now it won't turn unless i spend 10-15 minutes jiggling it and playing with it. This is a known problem that many focus enthusiast sites have report. Ford has even redesigned the tumbler in newer versions in order to fix the problem, so they know the problem exists, but haven't issued a recall. The dealership wants $160-220 to fix the problem. A…
ODI 10262511
Equipment · Ignition · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Steering
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
ODI 10254360
Ignition
Car key won't turn ignition switch. Tried both keys. Each one is able to be put in the switch but the switch stays locked. *tr
ODI 10253726
Ignition
On the ford focus, the key won't turn in the ignition. The ignition lock needs totally replaced. *tr
ODI 10253709
Ignition · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Never had any issues with the ignition but then all of a sudden my key wont turn and the wheel locks up when trying to start the car. Have not fixed it yet. *tr
ODI 10253215
Ignition
I have had issues with the key sticking in my ignition, but last night my key refused to start the car at all. Leaving me stranded miles from home. The tow truck driver told me that he had towed 3 ford focuses in the last 2 days with the same problem. *tr
ODI 10250852
Ignition
In our 2000 ford focus zx3, the key will not turn in the ignition about 50% of the time, which has the potential to leave my wife or i stranded out in the cold. So far, struggling/wrestling with the key will eventually work. In reading on the web, this is a very common problem on ford focus cars, but no recall has been issued. *tr
ODI 10250050
Fuel System, Gasoline · Ignition
I went to the gas station to buy gas. After filling the tank i got in and when i tried to start the car it would not turn. Not even to the acc position. I called for a tow truck and they came and got it. I called my local ford dealer and asked them about it and they told me its becoming very common for this type of car and to repair it i would have to replace the ignition cylinder and have it programmed... *tr
ODI 10249533
Ignition
Ignition switch locked up. The key would not turn in the lock. Required tow in and dealership to replace the ignition switch @ $600. *tr
ODI 10253989
Ignition · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Ignition barrel and steering column locking mechanism. *tr
ODI 10247897
Ignition
My key will not turn in the ignition, i have never had any problems before then all of a sudden it won't turn. My warranty has expired on my car, so i am left now with finding someone to fix it. This caused a huge problem for since i was stranded with my two small children 3year old and 4 month old! I am not a happy consumer right now! *tr
ODI 10246752
Ignition
Approximately 4 years ago, i had to have the key port, tumbler and the entire key system replaced on my 2000 ford focus because the key would no longer work. The tumbler, apparently, became jammed somehow. The replacement cost was $350. The exact same malfunction occurred yesterday. This time around, the cost to fix the problem was $450. After a long discussion with ford customer service representatives they…
ODI 10246598
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2000 Ford Focus.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.