2003 FORD FOCUS LX SEDAN - MY WIFE WENT TO WALMART ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, AND UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR THE KEY WOULD NO LONGER UNLOCK THE IGNITION SWITCH. DESPITE MANY ATTEMPTS (A LOCKSMITH WAS UNABLE TO COME UP WITH ANYTHING) WE ENDED UP HAVING THE CAR TOWED. THE QUOTED REPAIR PRICE IS ROUGHLY $400. THERE ARE SEEMINGLY …
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2003 FORD FOCUS LX SEDAN - MY WIFE WENT TO WALMART ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, AND UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR THE KEY WOULD NO LONGER UNLOCK THE IGNITION SWITCH. DESPITE MANY ATTEMPTS (A LOCKSMITH WAS UNABLE TO COME UP WITH ANYTHING) WE ENDED UP HAVING THE CAR TOWED. THE QUOTED REPAIR PRICE IS ROUGHLY $400. THERE ARE SEEMINGLY ENDLESS ACCOUNTS OF THIS VERY SITUATION WITH THE FORD FOCUS IGNITION ON FORUMS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OR FORD SHOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THIS DEVICE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10118015
43,000 miles · Mar 7, 2005
Electrical System
WE ARE A FRANCHISEE OF AN AUTO RENTAL COMPANY. WE HAVE HAD A HALF DOZEN FORD FOCUSES THAT THE IGNITION SWITCHES HAVE FAILED ON. THESE VEHICLES HAVE MILEAGE IN THE RANGE OF 40,000-45,000 MILES. THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL JUST QUIT WORKING. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLES TOWED IN EVERY INSTANCE, AND FORD HAS REFUSED TO DO ANY…
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WE ARE A FRANCHISEE OF AN AUTO RENTAL COMPANY. WE HAVE HAD A HALF DOZEN FORD FOCUSES THAT THE IGNITION SWITCHES HAVE FAILED ON. THESE VEHICLES HAVE MILEAGE IN THE RANGE OF 40,000-45,000 MILES. THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL JUST QUIT WORKING. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLES TOWED IN EVERY INSTANCE, AND FORD HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT OR MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS. IT COSTS US OVER $400 EVERY TIME. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. THESE HAVE BEEN 2003-2004 MODEL VEHICLES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10112659
45,000 miles · Mar 2, 2005
Electrical SystemStructure
HATCH RELEASE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. . CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IF IT WAS NOT REPLACED, SINCE CONNECTED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE COULD CATCH ON FIRE.*AK...ALSO, REPLACED TRUNK RELEASE SWITCH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10113299
38,430 miles · Feb 26, 2005
Electrical System
WE BOUGHT A NEW FORD FOCUS IN DECEMBER OF 2002. IN MARCH 2004, WITH ABOUT 20,000 MILES ON IT, THE IGNITION SWITCH STARTED TO ACT UP. WHEN INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION THE KEY GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT TURN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. AFTER SPENDING ABOUT 20 TO 40 MINUTES OF WIGGLING THE KEY AND KNOCKING ON THE STEERING COLUMN IT WOULD FIN…
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WE BOUGHT A NEW FORD FOCUS IN DECEMBER OF 2002. IN MARCH 2004, WITH ABOUT 20,000 MILES ON IT, THE IGNITION SWITCH STARTED TO ACT UP. WHEN INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION THE KEY GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT TURN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. AFTER SPENDING ABOUT 20 TO 40 MINUTES OF WIGGLING THE KEY AND KNOCKING ON THE STEERING COLUMN IT WOULD FINALLY TURN. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN APRIL AFTER BEING STUCK AT NIGHT FOR ALMOST 2 HOURS ON A DESERTED PARKING LOT. THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE MECHANIC HIMSELF WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE KEY. YESTERDAY, ON 25 FEB 2005, THE SAME PROBLEM STARTED UP AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED IT OUT BUT WE ARE OFF WARRANTY, SO WE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OURSELVES. IT IS A VERY FRUSTRATING THOUGHT THAT AFTER SPENDING ALL THAT MONEY, IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN IN SEVERAL MONTH. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS OF OTHER FOCUS OWNERS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE, WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT FORD DOES NOT MAKE ANY ALLOWANCES TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED PERMANENTLY. WE HAVE OWNED OUR CARS USUALLY UP TO 10 YEARS OR SO AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE AN IGNITION CYLINDER BEFORE ON ANY OF THEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10112222
Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SUDDENLY, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *…
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WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SUDDENLY, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10112985
Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2005
Electrical System
ONCE THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE, AND IS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10111781
54,188 miles · Feb 14, 2005
Electrical System
IGNITION SWITCH/STEERING COLUMN HOUSING UNIT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10110533
38,000 miles · Feb 7, 2005
Electrical System
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE THE IGNITION LOCKED AND KEY WILL NOT TURN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10110979
40,000 miles · Feb 1, 2005
Electrical System
I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WOULD NOT START STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON TOWED TO DEALER COST WAS 50 DOLLARS W/ EXTENDED WARRANT ALSO HAPPENED TO MY SISTERS 2003 FORD FOCUS .THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED . *AK
NHTSA ODI #10108391
39,800 miles · Jan 21, 2005
Electrical System
NOTHING LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE, IT JUST HAPPENED QUITE ABRUPTLY. I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WOULDN'T TURN FORWARD. ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED IN PLACE. *NM
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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