1,070 complaints reported

2000 Ford Focus Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
1,070
Crashes
4
Fires
54
Injuries
3

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jul 2007

KEY STUCK IN 2000 FORD FOCUS, UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION, UNABLE TO TURN KEY IN IGNITION. THUS, LEAVING 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER STRANDED. POP A LOCK WAS CALLED, AND COST $275.00. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2007
Jul 2007

TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE NO RECALL NOTICE WAS EVER RECEIVED REGARDING CAMPAIGN # 02V288000 , I HAVE A BILL FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE EXACT SAME PARTS DUE TO THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS THIS RECALL NOTICE STATED . I WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT. HOW DO I GO ABOUT THIS?*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2007
Jul 2007

IGNITION IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT TURN TO THE START POSITION ,I TRIED TO WIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE SURE THE STEERING WASN'T LOCKED AND ITS LOCKED TOO. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2007
Jul 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUSE FOR THE POWER DOOR LOCK HAD FAILED. HE REPLACED THE FUSE, BUT THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK. HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY FAILURES WITH THE OTHER DOORS. A DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 78,500 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2007
Jul 2007

IGNITION LOCKS SO KEY WILL NOT START THE CAR . I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED , FOLLOWING THE FIRST TIME THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2007
Jun 2007

I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE PARTY AND I HAD THE VEHICLE , A 2000 FORD FOCUS 4 DOOR SEDAN, FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AND THE KEY DID NOT WORKING CORRECTLY IN THE CYLINDER. WOULD HAVE TO JIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE KEY FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD TURN OVER TO START. JUST LAST WEEK ON 06/05/2007 THE CAR NO LONGER STARTED, I COULD NOT GET THE KEY TO TURN TO START. I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE IGNITION CYLINDER THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT, AND I TALKED TO THE MANAGER AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND HE SAID THIS WAS A COUNTINOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS KIND OF VEHICLE. THIS WA S EASILY COSTING ME $300 THAT I DONT HAVE... THIS PROBLEM NEEDED TO BE RECALLED. BY THE WAY I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO GET IT FIXED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2007
Jun 2007

PARKED IN A PUBLIC PARKING SPACE AND CAME BACK TO RETRIEVE MY CAR. COULD GET THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT COULD NOT TURN IT. TURNS OUT THE IGNITION WAS FAULTY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED BY FORD. EVERYONE I'VE TALKED TO WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM, BUT FORD HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT. THEY CHARGED 400 DOLLARS TO REPLACE IT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2007
Jun 2007

I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN, AS A RESULT, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. I AM UNABLE TO START THE CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2007
Jun 2007

REVISED TO FIT WEB COMPLAINT FORM. WEBFORM REQUIRES MANUFACTURER OF IGNITION CYLINDER FROM FORD. CALLED FORD AT 1800-392-FORD AND SHAUN-CENTRAL FLORIDA STATES PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. FORD IS NOT A CHOICE IN THE DROP DOWN MENU AT HTTPS://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/IVOQ/EQUIPMENT.CFM?TOSTEP=4&CFID=1748899&CFTOKEN=17655993 GUESSED ON INFO TO TURN IN FOLLOWING COMPLAINT. IGNITION LOCKED UP ON FORD FOCUS. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. HAD TO TOW AIRLINE WRECKER, DUBS GARAGE AND LOCKSMITH TOLD ME EXTREMELY COMMON FOR FORD FOCUS. PETITION FOR IGNITION CYLINDER RECALL AT HTTP://WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/MOD_PERL/SIGNED.CGI?FOCUSIC EVEN WHEN THE PART IS REPLACED, IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I JUST PRAY NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS (AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ IT WILL) I AM IN A SAFE, WELL LIT AREA WHERE MY CELL PHONE CAN GET SERVICE; AND NOT THE BEACH OR SOMEWHERE THAT TOW TRUCKS CHARGE OVER $500. BUT MOSTLY I PRAY FORD IS FORCED TO FIX THIS KNOWN ISSUE AND STOP CREATING A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON PEOPLE JUST SO THEY CAN PROFIT FROM THEIR FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDERS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT FORD HAS NO INTENTIONS TO RESOLVE THEIR LOCKING IGNITION SINCE THE PART HAS TO BE ORDERED FROM THEM FOR AT LEAST $100 PER INCIDENT AND IF THE PERSON HAS THEIR VEHICLE FIXED AT FORD IT COULD COST UP TO $500. I HAVE CALLED FORD LOCALLY AND CORPORATE, THEY STATE THERE IS NO RECALL FOR AN IGNITION CYLINDER. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO DEALERSHIPS ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH SUCH AN ACTION FOR 7 YEARS? IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY ONLY WHEN THERE IS DEATH? IS THAT WHY FORD CONTINUES TO INSTALL AND SELL THE FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER? WHAT'S TO STOP THEM FROM CONTINUING IF THEY PROFIT FROM THE PROBLEM? I THINK THAT PERSONNEL TAKING COMPLAINTS SHOULD GIVE THE 800 NUMBER AND/OR EXACT WEBSITE TO REGISTER COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA AND/OR LIST THIS INFO ON CAR DEALERS WEBSITES. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2007
Jun 2007

IGNITION CYLINDER ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES BY A LOCAL FORD DEALER. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE (APPROXIMATELY AUGUST, 2004, KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE LOCK. THIS REQUIRED TOWING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT (FEBRUARY, 2007) THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH UNLESS THE TILT STEERING WAS BOUNCED FORWARD AND BACK FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2004
Jun 2007

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START MY 2000 FORD FOCUS THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. INITIALLY THINKING IT WAS A KEY ISSUE I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND NUMEROUS ISSUES SURROUNDING THE 2000 FORD FOCUS AND POOR QUALITY OF THE TUMBLER ASSEMBLY LEAVING PEOPLE STRANDED AND/OR KEYS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. FORD HAS ALSO ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO THEIR DEALERS IN REGARD TO THIS ISSUE. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND ALSO DEALT WITH FORD CORPORATE LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION. THEY SAY THERE ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THEY ISSUED THE SERVICE BULLETIN. AT THIS TIME MY ONLY SOLUTION TO HAVE FORD REPLACE TO PREVENT MY FAMILY FROM BEING STRANDED. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2006
May 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER, THE TUMBLER, AND THE PASS KEY POINT. THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON MAY 29, 2007. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 58,395 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 07/06/07. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2005
May 2007

IGNITION SWITCH WORE OUT ON 2001 FOCUS, HAPPENED AT ABOUT 75,000 MILES. HAPPENED WHILE FORD MECHANICS WERE ON STRIKE. HAD TO HAVE LOCK SMITH REPAIR. KEPT KEY IN IGNITION AT ALL TIMES WHEN STARTED GETTING HARD TO USE AGAIN. JUST THIS WEEK THE 2000 FOCUS WAGON IGNITION WOULD NOT ALLOW KEY TO GO IN ALL THE WAY. WENT ON LINE TO DETERMINE HOW TO FIX MYSELF, SAW HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2007
May 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. ONCE INSERTED, IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE IGNITION. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 86,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2007
May 2007

THE IGNITION CYLINDER THE 2000 FORD FOCUS LOCKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY. IT FIRST HAPPENED WHILE I WAS AT AN ATM AT 11PM AT NIGHT AND WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE IGNTION FOR ALMOST 30 MINUTES, WHICH PLACED ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TWO WEEKD LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT THIS YIME WAS UNABLE TO TURN IT AT ALL, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE REPAIR COST ME, WITH TOWING WAS $550. I KNEW THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR OTHER FOCUS OWNERS AND FELT FORD SHOULD BE RECALLING THIS PORBLEM.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2007
May 2007

AS I LEFT WORK ON THE NIGHT OF 12/4/07, I ENTERED MY 2000 FORD FOCUS AND FOUND THAT I COULD NOT TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE KEY WOULD NOT FULLY ENTER THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND THUS COULD NOT START THE CAR. AS SUCH, I WAS STUCK IN THE PARKING LOT WITH NO WAY TO DRIVE MYSELF HOME WITHOUT CALLING FOR A RIDE. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO FIND SOMEBODY, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A STRONG WINTER STORM AT THE TIME. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP - THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME HE SEES THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME WITH THIS CAR AND GAVE ME SOME TIPS FOR HOW TO TRY TO GET THE KEY TO WORK (AT LEAST TEMPORARILY), BUT NOTHING WORKED AND HE TOWED THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY NEEDED TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER, WHICH I HAD THEM DO. DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, I FOUND THAT THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS ISSUE REOCCUR WITH THEIR FOCUS. I CALLED FORDS CUSTOMER CARE CENTER, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST MY REPAIR (IN THE FORM OF AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OR GOODWILL REPAIR) AND REFERRED ME TO THIS SITE TO SEE IF THIS ISSUE MERITED A RECALL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2007
May 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS WITH A CURRENT AND FAILURE ODOMETER OF 130000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WULD NOT TURN. THE CONTACT TRIED SEVERAL TIMES AND DIFFERENT WAYS TO MOVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, SHE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN GEAR, BUT THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN . THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD LIGHT UP, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD CHIME, BUT THE IGNITION REMAINED FROZEN. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2007
May 2007

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND FROM WHAT I AM READING ON THE INTERNET THE FORD FOCUS IS KNOWN FOR THIS ISSUE, AND I AM LETTING RICART FORD KNOW THAT I WILL NOT PAY IN ANYWAY FOR THIS DEFECTED PART. IF I HAVE TO I WILL GET MY LAWYER INVOLVED. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2007
May 2007

FAILURE OF IGNITION KEY TO TURN IN IGNITION LOCK. LEFT ME STRANDED. CALLED LOCKSMITH TO HAVE WHOLE IGNITION DRILLED OUT AND REPLACED. LOCKSMITH INFORMED ME THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT HAS REFUSED TO RECALL THE DEFECTIVE PART. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2007
May 2007

THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS, FIRST THE KEY DID NOT GO IN ALL THE WAY AND WHEN IT DID, THE SWITCH DID NO TURN. THE REPAID COSTS 400.00. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2007
Apr 2007

IGNITION LOCK WILL NOT TURN IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2007
Apr 2007

ONE DAY THE IGNITION CYLINDER ON MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 FAILED, AND I WAS UNABLE TO START MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE KEY DID NOT TURN ONCE INSIDE THE IGNITION. I WAS STRANDED WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. I HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER TO GET THE IGNITION REPLACED. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2007
Apr 2007

2000 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. WHEN KEY IS INSERTED IN IGNITION SWITCH IT FAILS TO TURN AND CAR WILL NOT START. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2007
Mar 2007

IGNITION KEY HAS FAILED TWICE- MECHANICALLY- THE 1ST TIME WAS AT 54000 MI AND COST $300 TO REPLACE - JUST HAPPENED AGAIN AT180000. THERE WERE 34 SIMILAR REPORTS IN 2001 WHEN 1ST OCCASION HAPPENED BUT FORD SAID IT WASN'T A PROBLEM. NOW I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ON YOUR SITE ABOUT IT. CAR HAS JUST BEEN TOWED TO DEALER SO NOT SURE WHAT IT WILL COST. BUT I HAVE DRIVEN CARS FOR 50 YEARS AND NEVER HAD AN IGNITION KEY PROBLEM BEFORE, NEVER MIND 2 ON SAME VEHICLE. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2007
Mar 2007

I HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED IN MY 2000 FORD FOCUS 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 5 YEARS AND TODAY IT LOCKED UP AGAIN. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD. IT GIVES NO WARNING. 1 MINUTE IT WORKS FINE ... THE NEXT TIME I GO TO START THE KEY --- IT IS LOCKED UP AND WONT UNLOCK. I AM A SINGLE MOM ON DISABILITY AND IT IS UNSAFE TO HAVE SUCH AN UNDEPENDABLE CAR - I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL START AND WHEN IT WONT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2000 FORD FOCUS, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2007

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2000 Ford Focus has 1,070 Electrical System complaints on file. 4 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.