2001 Ford Focus Ignition Problems
- 193
- 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 193 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 45 |
| 60–100k mi | 38 |
| 100–150k mi | 19 |
| 1–30k mi | 16 |
| 150–400k mi | 4 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Ignition
LOCK CYLINDER LOCKED. *TR
ODI 10222977
Ignition
The ignition will not turn to the "on" position, regardless of what is tried. The cylinder apparently is stuck, and the car will therefore not start. *tr
ODI 10219229
Ignition
I have a 2001 ford focus and like other complaints my ignition also jammed up, and left me down and had to find a way get home from my job ,and cost me $ 240.00 for a locksmith the next day. I think ford should take action and recall this vehicle, and repay all that had this problem. Gc *tr
ODI 10218933
Ignition
Recently the ignition lock on my ford focus jams up. I place the key in the lock, which is a bit sticky, and then the key will not turn. After 15-30 minutes of trying to turn it, it will start, other times no. We are still researching on the web how to replace this part. *tr
ODI 10211937
Ignition
As the owner of a ford focus 2001 - i attempted to start my car and was unable to turn the key in the ignition. I was stranded in a parking lot - had to be towed. The problem is chronic in ford focus - yet ford is not recalling or attempting to assist customers in any way to remedy the flaw. *tr
ODI 10210999
Ignition
Key keeps getting stuck in ignition, having to leave key in car. Happens multiple times during the day and during the week. Will have the ignition replaced. *tr
ODI 10259371
Ignition · Switch
I bought my 2001 ford focus in april 2007 from a used car dealership. One day a couple of months ago i went into a store and when i came out my key would not go into the ignition and the steering wheel was locked. Fortunately i grabbed a passerby to help me and he was able to get the key into the ignition and i was able to drive the car. Then a few days ago i got home from work one night, parked my car, and went…
ODI 10208702
Ignition
Ignition switch locked up beyond a mere steering lockup and could not be started. I had to pay to have the vehicle towed to the local ford dealership. Vehicle has 84k miles. I hope i won't be paying for a repair that is likely to break again soon. *jb
ODI 10206707
Ignition
I own a 2001 ford focus and within the last month it has become increasingly more difficult to turn the key in the ignition. I did some research and found that this is due to a substandard/defective ignition switch cylinder. I also found that this is not an uncommon problem, quite the contrary; there are several car forums that have complaint after complaint specifically about this issue. For example, here is one at…
ODI 10204002
Ignition
About 4 months ago i went to put key in ignition and i struggled for an hour or more to get it to turn. Very frustrated at that point that i finally have resided to keeping the key in the ignition, which is not a good idea,but afraid of being stranded somewhere. *tr
ODI 10212635
Ignition
Could not insert my key into the ignition. It would only go halfway in. I was stranded in a parking lot and had to call a friend to pick me up. Had to have it towed to dealer where they drilled the lock out and replaced with new cylinder. The old part was totally destroyed by the drilling. *jb
ODI 10196880
Ignition
It had become harder and harder over the course of a couple of months to turn the key in my ignition. Then one night after work, i put the key in the ignition and it would not turn at all. I contacted aaa, and they sent out a locksmith the next day. The locksmith had to completely replace the ignition because, according to him, certain pieces were broken. *jb
ODI 10183560
Ignition · Power Window Devices And Controls
I own a 2001 ford focus se automatic: my ignition lock and the steering wheel are jammed. It is a very recent development and i am finding out that i may have to pay hundreds of dollars to fix it, which i am very unhappy about since it would have been prevented by a recall of the vehicle. I still have no idea how i am going to fix it and i might have to end up towing the car which will cost even more and i don't…
ODI 10182284
Ignition
I was out shopping at night in a dark parking lot and when i went to my car the key would not turn i was left stranded for hours until a tow could come get my car the key would not turn it was locked. *nm
ODI 10181399
Ignition
Tl* - the contact stated that the ignition cylinder switch has seized. He could not put the key in the ignition. This was the first time the contact had a problem with the ignition switch. The vehicle has 40,000 miles. The contact has not contacted a repair shop. He was going to contact a locksmith. The vehicle was operable on 1/3/06. There were no warning signals. *ak
ODI 10177750
Ignition
Bought a 2001 ford focus (used) from a orivate party. The person i bought it from had the ignition changed twice and it has locked up on me in less than a year. I bought a cylinder and key set from auto zone and changed it out myself, $90 later the car will not start because of the anti-theft in car and i refuse to take it to my local ford dealer (arceneaux ford). Ford should replace these ignition cylinders because…
ODI 10178014
Ignition
The ignition on my 2001 ford focus zx3 has locked up on numerous occasions, rendering it impossible to start the car, as the key will not turn in the lock. Each time this has happened to me in the past, i was eventually able to start the car by jiggling the key in the lock for up to ten minutes. This time, however, after jiggling the key in the ignition for a full forty-five minutes, there was still no give in the…
ODI 10177147
Ignition
Went to leave work one evening, put my key in the ignition and it would not turn. I was stranded and had to call my husband to pick me up. Had to have car towed to dealership. They installed new ignition tumbler. Since this is a known problem with this vehicle and i have only owned the car for a little over a month, the dealership paid half of the bill. *jb
ODI 10174109
Ignition
I tried to start my car and the key seemed "stuck". I tried everything to turn it to no avail. Called a locksmith and he said it was a very common problem with the ford focus, and that he responds to calls about this issue all the time. The key ignition cylinder just breaks on these cars. I took it to my mechanic who confirmed this and is in the process of replacing the ignition cylinder. The part from ford is…
ODI 10172762
Ignition
2001 ford focus. Key will not turn tried both keys w/o help have been having trouble and now will not work. This is the car my daughter takes to college and lucky it was sitting in my driveway not with her on a dark campus all alone. *jb
ODI 10172664
Ignition
Key will not turn in ignition. Eventually after a half hour of trying, the car turned over and i was able to drive it to the dealership. I told them i was having problems with my ignition, and they asked me if my car was a focus. Apparently this is a common problem in the ford focus. The tumbler needs to be replaced. I have a 2001 ford focus se wagon. Why do you have to replace an ignition in a 5 year old car? I had…
ODI 10170990
Ignition
I have a 2001 ford focus and in 2005 i had to replace my ignition cylinder. The key wouldn't turn at all. I bought the cylinder from ford and replaced it myself. Now, a year later, i am having the same problem again. My key will not turn the ignition. I have tried troubleshooting but nothing has improved. I have to buy another cylinder again. *nm
ODI 10170981
Ignition
2001 ford focus ignition cylinder locks up 10/10/2006 car is stranded overnight in a parking lot in an unsafe neighborhood lock cylinder was replaced at a cost of $300 plus tow fees. *jb
ODI 10170465
Ignition · Unknown Or Other
I had taken my grand-daughter to the dentist and when we came out the key ignition would not turn and the steering wheel was locked up. I spent the most of the morning trying to get it to turn one more time so that i could take it to ford town to get it fixed. I knew what had happened because my daughter has a 2004 ford focus and hers had just locked up about a month before and she never did get it to turn over, she…
ODI 10169704
Ignition
For a week i was having trouble turning my key in the ignition of my 2001 ford focus. Then one morning i could not turn my key at all. I had to have the car towed to the dealership. According to the dealership this is a common occurrence with the ford focus. They had to replace the ignition cylinder at my cost. I was told that even though this is a common occurrence, ford will do nothing about it because it is,…
ODI 10169977
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2001 Ford Focus.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.