TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE THE POWER STEERING WARNING CHIME SOUNDED. IN ADDITION, THE KEY WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL TO TURN WHEN INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD START AFTER APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES OF REPE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE THE POWER STEERING WARNING CHIME SOUNDED. IN ADDITION, THE KEY WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL TO TURN WHEN INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD START AFTER APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES OF REPEATED ATTEMPTS. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA ODI #10456120
69,000 miles · Apr 23, 2012
Electrical System
THE IGNITION CYLINDER WILL NOT TURN IT IS LOCKED AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. KEY GET STUCK IN THE CYLINDER. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10456073
85,000 miles · Mar 21, 2012
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION LOCKED AND PREVENTED HER FROM INSERTING THE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION LOCKED AND PREVENTED HER FROM INSERTING THE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
NHTSA ODI #10452542
90,209 miles · Feb 22, 2012
Electrical System
LEAVING WORK AT THE END OF THE DAY I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. IT WAS VERY COLD AND AFTER ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL SEVERAL TIME FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. I HAVE SINCE HAD DIFFICULTY TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OF MY VEHICLE EVERYDAY. THE LAST INCIDENT WAS …
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LEAVING WORK AT THE END OF THE DAY I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. IT WAS VERY COLD AND AFTER ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL SEVERAL TIME FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. I HAVE SINCE HAD DIFFICULTY TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OF MY VEHICLE EVERYDAY. THE LAST INCIDENT WAS WHILE AT THE GAS STATION, WHICH TOOK ALMOST 15 MINUTES TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED AGAIN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ALSO HAD THIS ISSUE, WITH NO RECALL PLACED ON THE VEHICLE AS IT IS NOT AN IMMEDIATE RISK TO SAFETY. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOW FOUND MY SELF UNCOMFORTABLY ATTEMPTING TO START MY CAR IN LESS THAT SAFE ENVIRONMENTS ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10449010
70,000 miles · Feb 14, 2012
Electrical System
I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN I STOPPED TO GET GAS, I GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN TO STAR THE ENGINE. I WAS STUCK AT A GAS STATION IN THE WINTER AND NO ONE WAS ABLE TO HELP ME. AFTER TWENTY MINUTES OF TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS TO GET IT TO START IT WORKED. THE NEXT DAY I GOT IN MY CAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPE…
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I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN I STOPPED TO GET GAS, I GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN TO STAR THE ENGINE. I WAS STUCK AT A GAS STATION IN THE WINTER AND NO ONE WAS ABLE TO HELP ME. AFTER TWENTY MINUTES OF TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS TO GET IT TO START IT WORKED. THE NEXT DAY I GOT IN MY CAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, EXCEPT THIS TIME NOTHING I DID WOULD START IT. I ENDED UP PAYING $112 FOR A LOCKSMITH TO REPLACE THE IGNITION IN MY CAR. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF FORD FOCUS AND THERE HAS YET TO BE A RECALL. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF SOMEONE HAS CHILDREN AND IS STRANDED AND UNABLE TO MOVE THEIR VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10447949
Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2012
Electrical System
KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS BY MORE THEN ONE PERSON. CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM IS REALLY COMMON AND TO TAP THE KEY WITH A HAMMER AND IT WILL TURN AND THAT I NEED TO GO IN AND HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED FOR $500!!! TRIED THEIR HAMMERING SUGGESTION AND THE LOCK STILL WON'T TURN! BEC…
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KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS BY MORE THEN ONE PERSON. CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM IS REALLY COMMON AND TO TAP THE KEY WITH A HAMMER AND IT WILL TURN AND THAT I NEED TO GO IN AND HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED FOR $500!!! TRIED THEIR HAMMERING SUGGESTION AND THE LOCK STILL WON'T TURN! BECAUSE OF THIS I HAVE MISSED A WHOLE DAY OF SCHOOL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10447002
95,000 miles · Feb 6, 2012
Electrical System
IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS AND CANNOT TURN KEY TO START VEHICLE. HAVE TO USE HAND OR SOMETHING TO HIT THE KEY TO START THE CAR. HAPPENS AT RANDOM AND WITHOUT WARNING. GET IN THE CAR AND CAN'T START IT. UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM BUT FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10446908
11,824 miles · Jan 19, 2012
Electrical System
THE IGNITION CYLINDER WILL NOT TURN. A KEY CAN BE INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, BUT IT CAN NOT BE SET INTO THE "ON OR ACC" POSITION. THE CAR CANT BE STARTED AND IS NOW, IN EFFECT, A ONE TON PAPER WEIGHT. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ONLINE, IT SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10444563
Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2012
Electrical System
KEY WON'T TURN IN IGNITION/ IGNITION STUCK. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10444469
Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2012
Electrical SystemSteering
KEY FROZE SOLID IN THE IGNITION . STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN NOR THE KEY. LEFT STRANDED AND HAD TO CALL A LOCKSMITH TO PHYSICALLY DRILL OUT THE FACTORY INSTALLED IGNITION AND REPLACE IT WITH A STRATTEC REPLACEMENT PART # 707592. LOCKSMITH REITERATED WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET WITH THIS BEING A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOC…
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KEY FROZE SOLID IN THE IGNITION . STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN NOR THE KEY. LEFT STRANDED AND HAD TO CALL A LOCKSMITH TO PHYSICALLY DRILL OUT THE FACTORY INSTALLED IGNITION AND REPLACE IT WITH A STRATTEC REPLACEMENT PART # 707592. LOCKSMITH REITERATED WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET WITH THIS BEING A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS. *TR
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH FOUR OR FIVE DOORS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A BUILD-UP OF CORROSION AT THE PAWL PIVOT AREA OF THE REAR DOOR LATCH CAN CAUSE A BINDING CONDITION OF THE PAWL THAT MAY AFFECT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PAWL INTO THE CATCH. THE OCCUPANT MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING OR CLOSING A REAR DOOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE REAR DOOR MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF NOT LATCHED PROPERLY, THE DOOR MAY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IF AN OCCUPANT FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE, PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL HAVE A LOWER ROCKER SEAL ADDED TO THE DOOR AND HAVE THE REAR DOOR LATCHES EVALUATED FREE OF CHARGE. A LATCH THAT PASSES THE EVALUATION WILL BE LUBRICATED TO PREVENT FUTURE CORROSION. A LATCH THAT DOES NOT PASS THE EVALUATION WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A STICKER WILL BE AFFIXED TO THE REAR DOORS ADVISING THE OWNERS TO USE THE RECOMMENDED LUBRICANT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
AQ10001 · Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Opened Nov 18, 2010 · Closed Dec 28, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.
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