2004 Ford Focus Ignition Problems

January 31, 2007 · 39,000 miles

Ignition

Ignition cylinder locked up occasionally. After wiggling the key, it would always crank eventually. Cylinder would not turn and therefore car would not start. Cylinder is a "dealer only" part. Ford will not let others sell this part because then no one would buy their defective part. *tr

ODI 10216700

January 4, 2007 · 32,500 miles

Ignition

Ignition lock on 2004 ford focus failed (froze up). This is the same scenario that has been widely reported on the internet for which ford has not done a recall. Ford did repair this under warranty at no charge to me, but since this problem appears to be chronic, i want to be sure that the incidence of the problem is recorded. *jb

ODI 10178246

December 3, 2006 · 40,800 miles

Ignition

I have had my 2004 ford focus for about 6 months, and i had boughten it used. It has run very well with no problems at all up until recently. I have gone to start my car, and the key would get stuck and not turn over and the wheel would lock up. After several attempts, the car would start and run fine. Yesterday it took me almost 2 hours to turn the key over to get my car to start. Today i called a ford dealership,…

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ODI 10175097

November 30, 2006 · 41,945 miles

Ignition

LOCKING OF IGNITION IN FORD FOCUS. *JB

ODI 10174955

October 18, 2006

Ignition

2004 ford focus, now 2 years old with 54,000 miles. When leaving the store today my key would go into the ignition but would not turn and my wheel was in a locked position facing left. I had to have my vehicle towed to the dealership costing me $68 and an additional $98 for ford to look at it. I am sure it will be confirmed tomorrow that i will need my ignition cylinder replaced as have many focus owners. Which will…

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ODI 10171272

July 18, 2006 · 84 miles

Ignition

2004 ford focus. Key does not turn in ignition. Stranded in remote area. Had to walk and hitch-hike home. Found hudreds of similar complaints on internet. Sudden, unexpected failure of such basic and fundametal safety/security equipment is inherantly dangerous. Consumers should be warned that this is a common occurance and that it could be dangerous. *nm

ODI 10162899

June 27, 2006 · 17,000 miles

Ignition

Dt*: the contact stated the key came out of the ignition while in the start position. The vehicle was parked and turned off when the incident occurred. The steering wheel locked up and could not be moved when the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who determined the ignition cylinder and transceiver module needed to be replaced.

ODI 10164226

June 18, 2006

Ignition

In october of 2004 the ignition cylinder locked on my 2004 ford focus and was unusable. It was towed to the dealership and they claimed to have "fixed it". Today is june 18, 2006 and the ignition cylinder locked on me again. My daughter drives this car and she works the graveyard shift. If this car were to leave her stranded at night because ford failed to issue a recall --i seriously consider this a safety…

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ODI 10160118

May 1, 2006 · 26,925 miles

Ignition · Steering

Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle the key would not turn unless the steering wheel is turned at the same time. The problem occurs intermittently and has not been taken to the dealer. The vehicle is a 2004 ford focus. *ak

ODI 10157422

April 28, 2006 · 31,500 miles

Ignition · Steering

Dt*: the contact stated for the past four months, while attempting to start the vehicle, the key will not turn unless the steering wheel and the key are turned at the same time. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the lock assembly, ignition switch, and steering lock mechanism were replaced. This corrected the problem. Updated 05/30/2006. *ak

ODI 10157419

April 14, 2006

Ignition

Ignition jammed unable to start car,key would not turn at all. Had to have car towed to dealership and they replaced ignition had the car for two days, now that i have new ignition the key is now getting stuck in the ignition. Have not reported problem to dealership yet. *nm

ODI 10159201

March 19, 2006 · 37,000 miles

Ignition

I couldn't start my car after putting gas in at a gas station. The key would not turn in the ignition. After trying for over 10 minutes, i called for help. My daughter went on line and found that ford focus have this problem and you need to tap the key to get it to turn. I tapped it and was able to start my car. This has been going on now for about 18 months and i decided to have it looked at today at the ford…

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ODI 10237915

December 14, 2005 · 37,000 miles

Ignition

KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION. *JB

ODI 10145398

November 10, 2005 · 45,000 miles

Ignition

Ignition started getting hard to turn, eventually it wouldn't turn at all. Leaving me stranded out of town. Had to spend 350$ to have it replaced. Then it happened again 9 months later. And now it's beginning again, when i take the key out it keeps beeping like i haven't. *nm

ODI 10171488

October 20, 2005 · 53,000 miles

Ignition

We own a 2004 ford focus zx3. It has around 50,000 miles on it. The car is primary used for commuting, 150 miles round trip each day. Last week when going to leave work my husband inserted the key in the ignition but the lock would not turn. He had to slam on the key to finally get the key to turn so he could come home. It has progressively got worse and this morning the key is unable to turn at all. We've barely…

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ODI 10141112

September 10, 2005

Ignition

I was able to get the key in and out of the ignition but was not able to turn the wheel or the key. Everything was locked. Had to get the 2004 focus towed and pay 300+ dollars for repair as the warranty is up (40k + mis.) *jb

ODI 10136228

January 28, 2005

Equipment · Ignition

Type of automobile is a 2004 ford focus. On several occasionsx ignition locks up and cannot start car. I have researched the internet and found this is a common problem in the ford focus dating back to the 2000 model and yet ford has done nothing to correct the problem. This could be a dangerous problem for a mother with children if she were to travel at night and when returning to the car could not start her…

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ODI 10108219

December 11, 2004

Ignition

My horn stop working a little after i got the car back in 04. Ford has put about 5 new horns in still nothing. It works for a bit, then out of no were it stops. Then around 34,000 mi my car was in the shop for 33 days. At the time no one told me that my car was a lemon if its in the shop for that long under 36,000 mi then its a lemon. Then at 58,000 my engine starts to make a noise. So i take it to ford, yep it…

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ODI 10213538

December 7, 2004 · 80,000 miles

Ignition

2000 ford focus zx3: the tumblers of the ignition are jammed. The key has a rough time going into the mechanism and often gets stuck on the way in or out. Once in, the ignition will not turn at all. The car now has to be towed to be worked on. *jb

ODI 10102351

October 24, 2004 · 38,000 miles

Ignition

Steering wheel locked up, can't start car. Had to take a hammer and pound key to get started, as a tow truck operator told me all these ford focuss are doing this. *ak

ODI 10096319

October 7, 2004

Ignition

I have a 2004 ford focus zts. The car is only 4 years old and the locking cylinder won't turn anymore when the key is in the ignition. This car is far too new to be having a problem like this. *tr

ODI 10246712

February 3, 2004

Ignition

While driving vehicle stalled. Consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic did not resolve the problem. *ak

ODI 10057472

Ignition

2004 ford focus. Consumer states problems with turning the key in the ignition switch *tgw

ODI 10329569

Ignition

Had to have the ignition lock on a 2004 ford focus replaced. Consumer states that he was informed that it is a frequent problem. *nj

ODI 10227369