Ignition key won't go in 2000
Mark Vassmer
into the switch only halfway. She tried everything I could think of,
moving the wheel, checking the shifter, the brake, but nothing. I
called the dealer who immediately said this a "known" problem for a
year with this model, but has not been recalled yet. He recommended a
tow, but said she might be able to jam it in, but that it might not
come out and it wouldn't damage it anymore than it was since it needed
to be replaced. She did jame it in and it went in and out very hard
after that. He said it may stick for no reason and strand her in the
future. So . . . I just paid $198 to the dealer to have the ignition
switch replaced out of warranty. They said my money would
"automatically" be refunded if it ever went to a recall by Ford.
I would like to know, has anyone been succesful at getting reimbursed
for this problem out of warranty with 39,000 miles on a 2000 Ford
Focus SE?
Ernie
she was not able to turn the key in the ignition. Monday she had to have it
towed to a Ford dealer. While she was there another tow truck came in with
another Focus with the same problem. The towtruck drivers told her they
bring in a lot of Ford Focuses with the same problem. What is even more
exasperating my daughter was told Monday that her warranty had expired on
the previous Friday, 2 days earlier. If anybody else is having this same
problem I would appreciate any help. Also, is there any recall that we don't
know about.
Ernie
ern...@yahoo.com
"Mark Vassmer" <mvas...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:d5c3f2b5.03051...@posting.google.com...
Tony Wesley
> news:d5c3f2b5.03051...@posting.google.com...
> > My daughter got stuck at school because she could get the ignition key
> > into the switch only halfway. She tried everything I could think of,
> > moving the wheel, checking the shifter, the brake, but nothing. I
> > called the dealer who immediately said this a "known" problem for a
> > year with this model, but has not been recalled yet. He recommended a
> > tow, but said she might be able to jam it in, but that it might not
> > come out and it wouldn't damage it anymore than it was since it needed
> > to be replaced. She did jame it in and it went in and out very hard
> > after that. He said it may stick for no reason and strand her in the
> > future. So . . . I just paid $198 to the dealer to have the ignition
> > switch replaced out of warranty. They said my money would
> > "automatically" be refunded if it ever went to a recall by Ford.
> >
> > I would like to know, has anyone been succesful at getting reimbursed
> > for this problem out of warranty with 39,000 miles on a 2000 Ford
> > Focus SE?
"Ernie" <eph...@sympatico.ca> replied in message
news:ibaDa.3602$IR1.3...@news20.bellglobal.com...
> My daughter just had the same problem. Sunday she tried to start her car but
> she was not able to turn the key in the ignition. Monday she had to have it
> towed to a Ford dealer. While she was there another tow truck came in with
> another Focus with the same problem. The towtruck drivers told her they
> bring in a lot of Ford Focuses with the same problem. What is even more
> exasperating my daughter was told Monday that her warranty had expired on
> the previous Friday, 2 days earlier. If anybody else is having this same
> problem I would appreciate any help. Also, is there any recall that we don't
> know about.
>
> Ernie
> ern...@yahoo.com
This isn't the same issue I had but possibly it is related.
My 2001 Focus SE Wagon with automatic had a problem getting the key out of the
ignition. At times, it became impossible to remove the key. I took to carrying
an extra set of keys in the car so I could lock the car with the keys in the
ignition. I could jiggle the steering wheel forever but that never helped.
What usually worked was moving the car a bit. Back it up six inches, put it in
park and often the key came right out.
The dealer first replaced the ignition switch and it did exactly the same thing.
Second time, the dealer said "could not duplicate." Third time, ditto, except
it was in there for an emission sensor problem as well. While the other
mechanic was working on the sensor problem, he got the keys stuck in the car.
As I had suspected and told them, it was related to the shifter. They gave me
a loaner and it took them nine days to get a shifter in. None available in the
Detroit area (they make the cars in Wayne Michigan!), none in the main warehouse
out East. Since the shifter was replaced, nary a problem with it.
It was under warranty, so I didn't have any costs. The guy behind the counter
told me it would have been about $300. Linda H., a frequent poster here, has
had similar problems to mine.
Tom McCullough
told me on the way to the dealer that he's picked up *many* Focuses
with the same problem. Replaced the ignition switch. Under warranty
so no cost to me.
--- Tom
_____________________________________________________________
On Tue, 3 Jun 2003 19:30:17 -0400, "Ernie" <eph...@sympatico.ca>
wrote:
bclarke
dealership. Lucy me it was under warranty.
"Ernie" <eph...@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:ibaDa.3602$IR1.3...@news20.bellglobal.com...
Specter
Your daughter's story is, word for word, the same thing that happened to me
last weekend. We could insert the key, but not turn it.
We were a long way from home when our ignition switch failed, and had to
have the car towed to an unfamiliar dealer. Through the entire experience we
kept hearing from people that this is an all too familiar problem. The tow
truck drivers had seen it before. The Ford dealer had seen it many times.
Ford customer service knew all about it. It is, apparently, a well
established fault in the Ford Focus. So why hasn't there been a recall
issued? This is a key safety component, and it isn't up to the task, so why
hasn't Ford stepped up and taken some responsibility for it?
My repair bill came to over three hundred dollars. We have an extended
warranty on our used Focus wagon, but Ford refuses to cover this problem
under that warranty. I'm left to wonder what they would cover!
I haven't exhausted all my avenues of appeal, so it's too early to say how
this will work out for me, but I can say, if Ford won't cover, at least,
some of my repair costs, it will definitely cost them my business in the
future.
Rob
----------------
"Ernie" wrote ...
Ernie
Montreal, Quebec area. She was told her name has been put on a list and if
there is any recalls related to this problem she would be reimbursed at that
time.
This is fine except now she has to trust the integrity of Ford. I wish there
was an alternatve choice for her which could let her know if there is
actually a recall.
Ernie
"Specter" <spec...@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:STIEa.176190$Vi5.4...@news1.calgary.shaw.ca...
Specter
They tried to sell me the same line of B.S. I'm thinking that rather than
wait until a recall is issued, and for Ford to contact me, I'll lobby
Transport Canada to issue a recall ASAP. If everyone who's experienced this
problem would contact their national authorities, we might get some fast
action.
Rob
------------------------
"Ernie" wrote ...
HbgpodLW
Too bad you can't buy the mailing list and get a class action law suit to
threaten Ford with...just a thought. Linda
vince candline
news:EuMEa.1846$Gm4.1...@news20.bellglobal.com:
Ernie try this site:
http://www.ford.com/en/vehicles/ownerServices/recalls/default.htm