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
Key will not turn in ignition, steering wheel is locked. Had to have ignition cylinder replaced. This appears to be a common problem in 2000 focus - perhaps a redesign of the cylinder is required. *jb
ODI 10167843
Ignition
I drove my 2000 ford focus about 2 miles to the gas station to run in for milk. When returning to the car 3 minutes later, the key would not turn in the ignition. Luckily was able to walk home and get a ride back to the gas station with another key (hoping it wasn't the ignition problem i'd read so much about). That didn't help. The next morning i called the ford dealership, which was literally within view of the…
ODI 10202439
Ignition
Key fails to turn in the ignition cylinder. Cannot start the car. *jb
ODI 10167327
Ignition
2000 FORD FOCUS LX. *JB
ODI 10166579
Ignition
STEERING COLUMN WILL NOT UNLOCK. *JB
ODI 10165945
Ignition
My ford focus ignition switch wont turn. I stopped in the middle of the dessert about 400 miles from home to fill the gas. I had to pay $140 the tow truck to get to the nearest village, and $400 for a new ignition switch and night at a cheap hotel ($60) i have read a lot about these kind of crappy cars having the exactly same problem. Please call it a recall :(. *nm
ODI 10165292
Ignition
2000 ford focus key would not turn into lock position. Upon inspection mechanic determined the lock cylinder needed to be replaced. The lock cylinder has been replaced twice. *kb *nm***nar***
ODI 10165880
Ignition
Ignition switch locked, battery light on, driver side seat belt locked up, plus all kinds of issues from day one. Tons of manufacturer recalls. *nm
ODI 10163550
Automatic Transmission · Coil Springs · Drum · Engine · Fuel Pump · Ignition
I was driving my ford focus & the front coil spring broke while i was driving the front end of the car collapsed on the front tire. I was driving 65 miles and hour seconds before i fortunately slowed down to a stop...noticed a noise like a flat tire, something did not feel right just before it collapsed on the road, i again thank god, i decided to turn around to go back home & immediately upon that turn around the…
ODI 10162941
Ignition
Our 2000 ford focus had an ignition problem that left my fiancee stranded at work in the night. The key was unable to be placed into the ignition. The car was not broken into and there was no prior damage to the ignition. It caused me to travel to her work over an hour away to pick her up and the car ended up being towed. If it would have been an automatic we would have needed a locksmith in order to get it into…
ODI 10162069
Ignition
The ignition lock cylinder of my 2000 ford focus would not turn leaving me stranded. *jb
ODI 10161328
Ignition
My ignition and steering wheel has completely locked. I had no indication that this was going to happen. It has worked great ever since i bought the car in 2000. As i look at entries on the internet i see hundreds of ford focus owner with the same problem! Seems like it is time for a recall! *jb
ODI 10160935
Ignition
I have a 2000 ford focus. For the second time it has an ignition cylinder malfunction. This is an obvious defect in the car experienced by other focus owners in legion. Ford doesn't consider this a safety issue, but i do since i was stranded for hours because i wasn't even able to turn the key to my car. This problem is over due in becoming a recall. *nm
ODI 10160815
Ignition
Ignition cylinder completely locked up without any indication that a problem was imminent. Vehicle could not be started. Had to be towed to dealer for repair. After researching, have found this appears to be a common problem in the 2000 focus. Could be a safety issue if car is needed in an emergency, or leaves you stranded. *jb
ODI 10165095
Ignition
Stopped car, 2000 ford focus, to enter gas station. Came out and car would not start..ignition was locked up...key would not turn...blocking other cars...had to call tow truck and tow to auto repair facility...this is the second time in two years that the ignition cylinder on the ford focus has frozen up and not allowed key to turn, costing much money both times. There should be a recall...tow driver said that this…
ODI 10160628
Ignition
BROKEN IGNITION-LOCK CYLINDER. *NM
ODI 10164075
Ignition
Ignition cylinder locks up which requires total replacement of assembly. It has happened three (3) very unfortunate times, each requiring replacement of the assembly. In the right situation it could (and one of those was) dangerous. *nm
ODI 10163403
Anti-Theft Device · Anti-Theft Devices · Ignition
2000 black ford focus zx3 my key (same key that came with the car) will not start my car. . . .it will not turn over at all. And also i can't get my steering wheel to unlock to make matters worst. This problem doesn't happen often but it happens more than it should, and this time i can't even get it to start at all. It happens about 3 times a year and i can get my car going in about an hour. But, this time my car…
ODI 10159870
Ignition
The ignition lock cyl in my 2000 ford focus locked up and will not turn. *nm
ODI 10159694
Ignition
My 2000 ford focus has less than 55 thousand miles which i just purchased 3 months ago. My ignition froze, key would not turn. Thank goodness it was home in the garage. I could have been at the lake or anywhere and been stranded. The tow truck just hauled it off. This seems to be a recurring problem with ford focus i have learned. Why is this not a recall problem. This will be my last ford. *jb
ODI 10158768
Ignition
I own a 2000 ford focus. I inserted the key into the ignition and the key would not turn. I tried again several times, but did not work. Had to end up getting the car towed to a mechanic where they replaced the ignition lock cylinder. Did i mention this is the second time this has happened in the last three years? I did an online search with the words focus and ignition and got numerous other reports of similar…
ODI 10158216
Ignition
I cannot insert the key into the ignition of 2000 ford focus. Never had a problem like it before. Called locksmith and was told this is a very common problem with my make/model. Tumbler has to be replaced, at a cost of approximately $150.*jb
ODI 10158119
Engine · Ignition · Power Window Devices And Controls · Tank Valve/Gauge
I own a 2000 ford focus and among all the recalled parts i've fixed the car continues to have problems. The car jumps either when i press the gas or if the car is in idle. I've brought it to a mechanic and they thought it had to do with the oil leaking in my spark plugs which they fixed and gave me a tune up with all ford parts. Of course now they suggest bringing it to the dealer and have ford run tests. I've…
ODI 10157872
Ignition
Locked ignition cylinder. Key goes in but either gets stuck or with not move. *nm
ODI 10160805
Ignition
Ignition lock failure: had problems inserting the key into ignition and turning. Problem worsened quickly so that the key could be inserted into the ignition but would not turn. Ignition completely locked up. Could not start the car and was stranded. Tow required for repair. This is the second time this failure has occurred on my 2000 ford focus zx3. The first time ford replaced under warranty with similarly…
ODI 10157195
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2000 Ford Focus.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.