2006 Ford Focus

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS SINCE I INHERITED THE CAR FROM MY FATHER WHERE THE KEY STICKS IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. IT APPEARS TO BE A YEARLY EVENT WHERE I NEED TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE KEY REMOVED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I'VE OWNED MANY CARS IN MY 50 YEARS OF DRIVING AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION IN ANY OF THE OTHERS.

I AM REPORTING ONLY THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING ON THIS CAR. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE 4TH CLOCK SPRING IN UNDER 80000 MILES INSTALLED! I BELIEVE THE FIRST WAS REPLACED WITH UNDER 20,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THIS IS CONCERNING, BECAUSE OF THE SRS SYSTEM RELIANCE ON A RELIABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WITH THE CLOCK SPRING. A LETTER TO FORD HAS GONE WITHOUT RESPONSE. THIS IS AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART IN EITHER DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE. IN ALL OF THE TIME I HAVE BEEN DRIVING, WHICH IS 30+ YEARS, I HAVE NEVER NEEDED TO REPLACE A CLOCK SPRING ON ANY VEHICLE I EVER OWNED. *TR

THE FIRST INCIDENT OF KEYS GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION WAS ON NOVEMBER 27, 2009 IN IOWA. WE LIVE IN MINNESOTA AND HAD TO GO TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED FOR $485.91. LESS THAN FIVE YEARS LATER ON JUNE 4, 2013 THE KEYS GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION AGAIN. THIS TIME LUCKILY WE WERE AT HOME. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WELL KNOWN TO FORD SINCE 2000, YET THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE ISSUE. AFTER SOME MORE RESEARCH I FOUND A SOLUTION. THERE IS A THREE RING PIECE BETWEEN THE SHIFTER HANDLE AND THE SHAFT. SIMPLY PUSH IT BACK UP TOWARD THE HANDLE AND PRESTO THE KEYS COME OUT. THIS IS A FREE SOLUTION. I AM CURIOUS IF I CALLED FORD IF THEY WOULD TELL ME THIS SOLUTION OR FOR THAT MATTER EVEN FIX THE PART SINCE IT IS LESS THAN FIVE YEARS. IS IT UNDER WARRANTY? ANOTHER PROBLEM IS OUR CD PLAYER HAS A CD STUCK THAT WE CANNOT GET OUT. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO GO TO BEST BUY AND BUY AN UPGRADED ONE THAN TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP FIX IT. AT 85000 MILES ANOTHER PROBLEM IS WE HAD TO GET OUR HEAT SHIELD REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS RUSTING AND ABOUT TO FALL OFF. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AT NIGHT, AND WHILE MAKING A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN, THE RIGHT WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE DROPPED INTO A SHALLOW ROADSIDE DITCH. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DITCH, HOWEVER THE STEERING LOCKED. A LARGER AMOUNT OF FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THERE WAS A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE SPUN 360 DEGREES, AND LANDED IN THE DITCH ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 11/30/2006 - *NM