We just bought a used 2001 Ford Focus with 65K miles. The igniotion switch started to give us problems and after researching the problem I found out that ignition cylinder failure was very common on theses cars so I replaced the cylinder.
That did not fix the problem. The switch works and I can start the car but intermittantly the switch will not lock the steering column.
When this happens the steering wheel doesn't lock, the transmission can be taken out of park and the key cannot be removed.
Do you think I have a defective lock cylinder? Could it be the key? Some other problem in the steering column?