Please post if your ignition has locked!

[KonaZXIII]

34,00 miles, and a little less than 2 years. My son just had his second ignition switch replaced, along with his second audiophile 6 disk cd radio. The dealer told me that some people are on their 6th or 7th ignition, and that this one would "probably break again"

Welcome aboard pop. (I call my Dad pop)

That last statement is correct. The bitter irony is that Ford has a better part that fits the hole right in their current parts bin. The Explorer.
That's what my locksmith installed. He said that they keep stock of Explorer ignitions just for the gazillion Focus ignition calls they get.
Why they continue to replace it with on that will break again we may never.....wait we will know...Parts and Service profits.

[05MustangWanter]

i think if you've had this happened before, it would probably be a damn good idea to make sure you don't get the OEM igition.. my locksmith knew not to use that one.. if someone's on their 3rd one, why the hell havent they demanded a different one by now? its almost like they take advantage of people who are willing to be taken advantage of.

[justinVa]

Hmmm well I had mine lock at about 40K miles and drove around with the key in the ignition praying to g-d that someone would steal my car until I could afford to get it fixed... No such luck. I finally got the thing fixed in April of 2004 (at 49K) and now (at 60K) it's November and
low and behold, here we go again. It was towed this morning and luckliy the place where I took it (NOT FORD) is guaranteeing their work. The only hold up? Crappy Ford does not guarantee their parts! I started to explain to the tow guy who told me, "oh yeah I know about this, I have towed about a dozen Focuses with the same problem".

I did call Ford customer care and that was a total joke. The girl was telling me how it was my fault for not calling when the first one broke and how now they would not do anything for me. I explained that I would not call the first time something breaks, but the second time the same thing breaks in 6 months, I would... She was just rude and was telling me that "I don't have to take this from you, do you understand?" when I got a told her she was a liar because she had the nerve to tell me that she had never seen this problem before and if it was a problem, it is
extremely rare. She also said that unless I took it to Ford, I should expect inferior service!

Anyway I think that this seals the deal for me and Ford. They built POS cars, have POS employees and I really hope that their market share continues to plummet. I think that they are like KIA and Hyundai copying Toyota and Honda in the fact that this Focus is totally a copy of the Mk3 (91-99) Jetta/Vento. Why waste my $$ and time on imitation VWs? I am only saddened by the fact that I have to keep my car for at least a year till I am done with grad school and get a "real" job. By then the new Jettas will be out so maybe I can get one (06) or get a good deal on an 05....

[vad]

...this Focus is totally a copy of the Mk3 (91-99) Jetta/Vento.
Why waste my $$ and time on imitation VWs?
...By then the new Jettas will be out so maybe I can get one (06) or get a good deal on an 05....

Dude, hold your horses.
First of all, the Focus is not a copy of anything.
Actually it's the other way around.
It was VW that copied Ford's 5 year old rear suspension for the new gen Golfs and Jettas.
Second, have you ever had a chance to look at the VW problem forums?
VW's reliability SUCKS!!!
Sorry if it's news for you.

[charwire]

Add me to the evergrowing list. It happened on 11-10 as I was leaving to take an exam that I need to keep my job. Talk about stressfull. AAA told me that had towed around 40 focus's in the past two months with the same problem just around Portland Maine. Of course the dealer said, well maybe its because you have high milage. 75000. I told him I understood there are certain repairs ill have to make as my car got older, but seeing as how so man people are having the same problem maybe they should look into it. Let's face it...the car sucks. The entire braking system had to be replaced within the first year and Ford reps told me "it was bad parts" and "you got the 4:59 car...everyone wanted to go home when yours was going down the line". I filed a complaint with the Highway Safety website. Calling ford tomorrow.

[05MustangWanter]

ok, for everyone looking at this thread. DO NOT BRING IT TO FORD! Call a locksmith.. call around until you find one that has fixed it before.. if all the tow truck drivers know about it, why wouldnt the locksmiths? find one in your area b/c i'm sure there is several who have done it before. second, ask him to use a different ignition which is not the OEM crap on the focus. you will save a [censored] getting a locksmith to do it (i paid 140 instead of 400 which the dealer wanted) plus you don't have to get towed anywhere, b/c most locksmiths come out to you.


p.s. to the vw jetta fan - good luck with all the electronics problems. you have it good right now with a focus. and guess where all the new jettas are made? MEXICO along with our focus. not in germany.

[vad]

Indeed, VW are the least reliable cars.

[LemonGT]

Indeed, VW are the least reliable cars.

Let's not get off topic here.

[justinVa]

OK so I was being a little bitch (I was the Jetta lover)... Thank g-d I did not take it to Ford because I picked up my Focus from the independant repair shop for $0 today! Yipee. Being as this is the second ignition in 7 months (and 12K miles) they fixed it. It also helps that I have been taking cars there for like 5 years now.

Looks like I am sticking with my Focus until at least it's paid off and I can afford to buy another car (i.e. student loans and debt is paid down somewhat) so I am making the best of it. It is still a great car to drive and I love the way it looks. And I hate Ford for messing up such a good thing. Oh well.

And last but not least, I hate the thought of a VW repair bill, lol.

[wtemp]

Just had the ignition switch replaced for the second time. 2000 Focus LX - factory ignition switch replaced at about two years service, second about two years after that. I think Ford is ripping off consumers with the labor charges, flat rating by their manual; but they are probably using after market drill kits to replace with minimal actual labor costs.

[Fo' Focus]

I work at chevy and somtimes cars come in with this problem- guess where they make me take the cylinder? TO THE LOCKSMITH.

[05MustangWanter]

you can tell if you get a different ignition based on the outside finish of where the key goes in. the orignal was what might be described as a 'crinkle finish' silver metal. the different brand ignition is a shiney silver finish. my locksmith told me the inside components were definatley different from the oem style so it shouldn't happen again.

[bfgfocus]

My ignitioned locked about 9 months after I bought my Focus(purchased sept 2000). Luckily it was still under warrenty.

[bfgfocus]

Mine locked about 9 monts to a year after I bought it. I bought it in sept of 2000. Luckily it was under warrenty.

[Cable]

Sorry if this has already been covered, I skimmed all the posts and didn't see anything.

For about a month now this has been happening to me. When I put the key in very rarely now it'll turn fine....most of the time I need to play with it for a minute to get it to turn. I usually have force it in deeper and rock it back and fourth a little to get it to unlock and turn over. Is this a sign of my ignition getting ready to completely crap out? Did anyone else have this problem before it completely failed?

[topazdragon]

Sorry if this has already been covered, I skimmed all the posts and didn't see anything.

For about a month now this has been happening to me. When I put the key in very rarely now it'll turn fine....most of the time I need to play with it for a minute to get it to turn. I usually have force it in deeper and rock it back and fourth a little to get it to unlock and turn over. Is this a sign of my ignition getting ready to completely crap out? Did anyone else have this problem before it completely failed?

That is EXACTLY what happened to my Focus. The ignition started behaving like that about 2-3 months before it completely seized up. Luckily, my dealer was cool, and comped the repair due to this being a "known issue". I still missed a day of work, though...

[Cable]

Hmm maybe I should go to the lock smith's then on Monday. I still have a couple of recalls I need to take my car in for though, maybe I should see if I can talk them into fixing it for free... I highly doubt it though because my car is just over 5 years old now.

[Technarch]

GREAT.

This has happened to me too just tonight. Key wouldn't go in, then it did go in, but it wouldn't turn. At all.

Qwalitee is job 1. Thanks a lot Jack Nasser, I put the blame squarely on YOU.

[jptech2004]

mine locked up on me about 2 months ago. put me on that list as well as lman. his locked up twice on him last year.

[Technarch]

you can tell if you get a different ignition based on the outside finish of where the key goes in. the orignal was what might be described as a 'crinkle finish' silver metal. the different brand ignition is a shiney silver finish. my locksmith told me the inside components were definatley different from the oem style so it shouldn't happen again.

I picked up a part today, SW-6162 XS4Z-11582-AC the parts guy couldn't tell me how old it was, but from the part # at the beginning of the thread, it's obviously a newer iteration. This piece does have the crinkle finish. I also asked to look at the explorer cylinder. I don't see how it'd fit. The thing has a big plastic thingy that our keys wouldn't fit into, also the tube is slightly larger to boot. It's also CHEAPER than the Focus tube price wise despite being meant for a SUV. I'm still nervous.

Tried calling a few locksmiths, they were like we don't work on cars. Need to call a few more.

[Technarch]

Ok, a happy ending even though I am now an hour+ late for class and was several hours late for work the other day.

I ended up paying $200 Canadian. This included the part and the locksmith's labour. This guy said he had done about 5 or 6 Focuses already and said to return the part I got from the dealer as it was junk, and that he was putting in a better part. This part has the smooth shiny finish rather than a crinkle finish. I asked him if it was European, and he said it was American but a better design. He showed me some of the other cylinders he had to drill out, I was lucky there was no need to drill mine.

The stealership would have charged me $400.. $140 for a part that would have failed again, $50-60 for a tow, $200 for 2 hours of labour.

Toronto area Canadians the guy that I used tonight is Max (Amax Locksmith) and his # is 416-857-2179. Write the # down and keep it in your wallet because it's only a matter of time if you have an older Focus.

Edit: Wow! The new cylinder is soooo much better than the old one. It's totally smooth to turn and everything.

[burseymcburs]

My ignition locekd up as well.....just as it was a freezing winter morning and i had to drive my mom to a meeting for work. but sure enough the ignition wasn't turning at all. had to get a tow truck to pick her up and bring her to the dealer.

[1pimpinkona]

This just happend to me yesterday.... and instead of reading on here like i should of i went to the dealer to order a new switch??? So is this a good or bad idea??? I have an appointment tommarow to get mine fixed, mine while it wills till turn you have to play with it for a couple minutes before it will, then it will turn but not start? me and my dad are gonna try push starting it a little later to see if i can actually bring it in to get done,,, but i should be able to avoid paying lots of $$ on labor since its still possible to get my key in the accessory position. Anyone wana shed some light on this problem for me instead of having to read thru 18 pages of info?

[boostedzx3]

it happened to me on my 2000 zx3, i have the full $1,000 warranty and they would'nt cover it, told me it was below the switch i dont remember the cost but then again this is the same focus i have that's on it's 3rd fuel pump as well

[silentnothing]

mine locked two days ago and I am very irate about the whole thing I make $6.oo an hour and that is about $400 about every two weeks with car payment insurance and other expenses I AM BROKE!!!!!!! so it's nice to know that I have to pay around $350 to get this problem fixed heh oh yeah did I mention that it is an 03 and I have only been driving it for 2 MONTHS!!!!!