I BOUGHT A 2004 FORD FOCUS ZX3 A YEAR AGO IN AUGUST 2007. THE CAR HAD NEVER GIVEN ME ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL YESTERDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2008. I GOT OUT OF SCHOOL AND WENT TO LUNCH WITH A FRIEND, I HAD TO GO TO WORK SO I DECIDED TO LEAVE. WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE TO TURN MY CAR ON I COULDN'T TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, I TRIED MOVING THE S…
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I BOUGHT A 2004 FORD FOCUS ZX3 A YEAR AGO IN AUGUST 2007. THE CAR HAD NEVER GIVEN ME ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL YESTERDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2008. I GOT OUT OF SCHOOL AND WENT TO LUNCH WITH A FRIEND, I HAD TO GO TO WORK SO I DECIDED TO LEAVE. WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE TO TURN MY CAR ON I COULDN'T TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, I TRIED MOVING THE STIRRING WHEEL WHILE I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT IT WOULDN'T BUDGE. I CALLED MY FRIEND AND SHE CAME OUT TO TRY TO SEE IF SHE COULD TURN IT ON, IT DIDN'T WORK FOR HER EITHER. I THEN PROCEEDED TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHERE I GOT MY CAR, THEY TOLD MY THAT I DID STILL HAD WARRANTY FOR MY CAR SO THE TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO TOW IT TO THEM. THEY GAVE ME A NUMBER SO THAT I COULD CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR THE WARRANTY, THEY LET ME KNOW THAT I DID HAVE INSURANCE FOR A TOW TRUCK. THEY GAVE ME THE NUMBER OF A TOW TRUCK AND I HAD TO CALL THEM SO THAT THEY COULD PICK-UP MY CAR AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND GOT MY CAR TO TAKE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AFTER MY CAR GOT THERE THE GUY TOLD ME THAT THEY WHERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CHECK MY CAR UNTIL TOMORROW WHEN THE SERVICE GUYS GOT IN. THEY CALLED BCK TODAY AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX MY CAR AND I HAD TO PAY A 50 DOLLAR DEDUCTIBLE TO PICK UP MY CAR. I HAVE READ SOME MORE STATEMENTS FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR FOCUSES BUT THE MOST REPORT HAVE BEEN WITH THE 2000-20003 LIKE I SAID MY CAR IS A 2004 SO FORD REALLY NEEDS TO TRY TO BETTER THERE IGNITION LOCKS BECAUSE EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE IGNITION LOCK IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS AGAIN. I DIDN'T MAKE IT TO WORK YESTERDAY AND IF MY FRIEND WASN'T WITH ME I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH OUT A CAR, HOPEFULLY I THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN AND FORD DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT SOON! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10243191
32,000 miles · Sep 16, 2008
Electrical System
FORD FOCUS 2004 KEY IGNITION PROBLEMS. THE KEY WONT TURN IN THE IGNITION. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS IN FOCUS 2000-2003, BUT MINE IS A 2004 AND I JUST SPENT $400.00 IN REPAIRS. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO GET IT REPAIRED HOPING FORD WOULD FINALLY ISSUE A RECALL, AND I CAN GET MY MONEY BACK. THE ONE I HAVE WILL PROBABLY BREAK AGAIN IN…
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FORD FOCUS 2004 KEY IGNITION PROBLEMS. THE KEY WONT TURN IN THE IGNITION. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS IN FOCUS 2000-2003, BUT MINE IS A 2004 AND I JUST SPENT $400.00 IN REPAIRS. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO GET IT REPAIRED HOPING FORD WOULD FINALLY ISSUE A RECALL, AND I CAN GET MY MONEY BACK. THE ONE I HAVE WILL PROBABLY BREAK AGAIN IN A FEW YEARS, FOR ANOTHER $400. THIS IS TERRIBLE. I HAD THE CARD TOWED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10242397
92,000 miles · Sep 1, 2008
Electrical System
MY IGNITION SWITCH ON MY FORD FOCUS 2004 WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I WAS ONLY IN A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT FOR 5 MINUTES AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUT, THE IGNITION LOCK AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. WENT ON INTERNET AND HAVE RESEARCHED THOUSANDS OF FORD FOCUS LOCKED CYLINDER COMPLAINTS. WHEN…
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MY IGNITION SWITCH ON MY FORD FOCUS 2004 WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I WAS ONLY IN A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT FOR 5 MINUTES AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUT, THE IGNITION LOCK AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. WENT ON INTERNET AND HAVE RESEARCHED THOUSANDS OF FORD FOCUS LOCKED CYLINDER COMPLAINTS. WHEN WILL THIS BECOME A RECALL? I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY I WILL BE OUT OF BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR FORD TO NOT PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10240548
41,700 miles · Aug 27, 2008
Electrical System
IGNITION ON MY 2004 FORD FOCUS WOULD NOT TURN. THIS HAS HAPPEN BEFORE AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR RUNNING. THE LATEST I HAD TO DRILL OUT THE IGNITION TO GET THE CAR HOME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239977
86,650 miles · Aug 25, 2008
Electrical System
THERE WERE NO DIFFICULTIES LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE OF MY IGNITION. I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2004 FORD FOCUS AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID IT WAS THE CYLINDER IGNITION SWITCH. HE CHECKED ONLINE AFTER SEEING MY CAR AND FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN FOCUS' SINCE 2000. I THEN DID…
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THERE WERE NO DIFFICULTIES LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE OF MY IGNITION. I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2004 FORD FOCUS AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID IT WAS THE CYLINDER IGNITION SWITCH. HE CHECKED ONLINE AFTER SEEING MY CAR AND FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN FOCUS' SINCE 2000. I THEN DID SOME RESEARCH ON MY OWN AND FOUND THE SAME THING. I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY AND THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME ALOT OF FOCUS' HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD HAVE TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A NEW KEY AND NO ONE ELSE COULD DO THAT. I HAVE NOT TOTALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM YET. THE MECHANIC WHO SAW MY CAR PUT WD-40 IN THE IGNITION AND BANGED A SCREW DRIVER IN IT AND THEN IT TURNS ON. I STILL HAVE TO DO THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239707
76,000 miles · Aug 22, 2008
Electrical System
1. NOTHING LED UP TO THE FAILURE. 2. FAILURE OCCURS EACH TIME KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION 3. PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I DRIVE A 2004 FORD FOCUS. MY IGNITION CYLINDER HAS GONE OUT. I SPENT 1/2 HOUR LATE AT NIGHT TRYING TO GET HOME FROM WORK. THE KEY WONT TURN. I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOP…
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1. NOTHING LED UP TO THE FAILURE. 2. FAILURE OCCURS EACH TIME KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION 3. PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I DRIVE A 2004 FORD FOCUS. MY IGNITION CYLINDER HAS GONE OUT. I SPENT 1/2 HOUR LATE AT NIGHT TRYING TO GET HOME FROM WORK. THE KEY WONT TURN. I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS SCARY! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239252
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2008
Electrical System
PURCHASED 2004 FORD FOCUS ON 8-5-08. ON 8-19-08 THE IGNITION LOCKED IN MY DRIVE WAY. IGNITION WILL NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239001
37,000 miles · Aug 12, 2008
Electrical System
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 BEE…
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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 DEALER. THEY SAID IT IS COMMON IN THE FORD FOCUS BUT THEIR WAS NOT A RECALL ON IT. THEY SAID I NEED TO HAVE IT REPLACED FOR $375.00 W/O KEYS OR $525.00 WITH NEW KEYS. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS DEFECT, FORD SHOULD REPLACE IT FOR FREE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237915
31,000 miles · Jul 22, 2008
Electrical System
MY CAR (2004 FORD FOCUS) WAS JUST ABOUT DUE FOR ITS 30,000 MILE TUNE UP WHEN IT FIRST ACTED UP. IT STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY-NO POWER, NOTHING. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND HAD IT CHECKED AND THE 30,000 MILE TUNE UP DONE. NO PROBLEMS FOR 1 MONTH. WHILE DRIVING IT DID THE SAME THING WHEN I…
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MY CAR (2004 FORD FOCUS) WAS JUST ABOUT DUE FOR ITS 30,000 MILE TUNE UP WHEN IT FIRST ACTED UP. IT STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY-NO POWER, NOTHING. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND HAD IT CHECKED AND THE 30,000 MILE TUNE UP DONE. NO PROBLEMS FOR 1 MONTH. WHILE DRIVING IT DID THE SAME THING WHEN I EXITED MY DRIVEWAY. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, TAKING OUT THE KEY, THEN RE-STARTING THE ENGINE IT SEEMED TO BE OK SO I HEADED OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY WHILE DRIVING AT THE BACK OF A LINE OF TRAFFIC, INCLUDING 2 FULLY LOADED LOGGING TRUCKS, IT HAPPENED WHEN I HAD SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 50 MPH. I GOT IT OVER TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE STATION AND AGAIN THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. THIS TIME THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO START FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY TO TELL ME THAT FORD HAD A BULLETIN ON FIXING THIS TYPE OF ISSUE, APPARENTLY THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RE-PROGRAMMED! SO I CALLED THE CLOSEST FORD DEALERSHIP 29 MILES AWAY AND TRIED TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION WITH THEM. I CALLED ANOTHER FORD DEALER AND WAS QUOTED 3 TIMES AS MUCH. I CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT AND GOT THE SAME BLASE ATTITUDE ABOUT THE SITUATION. NO ONE THOUGHT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT OWNERS NEEDED TO BE NOTIFIED. BUT 4 TIMES IN TOTAL, MY LIFE AND MY FIANCE'S LIFE WERE IN DANGER. THIS IS ANOTHER ISSUE OF FORD'S NEGLIGENCE. REMEMBER THE FIRESTONE TIRES??? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10235244
40,000 miles · Jun 30, 2008
Electrical System
I HAVE A 2004 FORD FOCUS THAT IS HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO START THE CAR, AND HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *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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