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I just paid $260 to get my '03 Ford Focus fixed due to this problem.  My key would lock up every once in a while and then release after messing with it for a couple of minutes.  That was until last week when it would just not turn anymore with the key in.  I saw this site, tried the hammer and it worked.  I took my car back to Northside Ford in San Antonio, TX (where I bought it used)today, it had a 3 year 36000 mile warrantee.  Well I had 36300 miles on it and as of of Jan 1 of this year my warantee was up.  I was hoping they would do the right thing and fix it.  I was told that Ford is aware that this is a prevelent problem but that they will not do anything for me.  So I took it to get the part replaced somewhere else.  I would recommend not going to that dealership if you are in the San Antonio area.  

I can't believe it but the mallet trick actually worked!  I was skeptical but I figured it was worth the try.  Lo and behold, our 2003 Grand Caravan started right up.  Thanks to you guys I saved myself $300.

What is up with Dodge and so many ignition lock problems?  

I can't believe it.  It actually worked.  We have never had any problem with our 2000 Dodge Caravan but tonite it all came to an end.  The key wouldn't turn  Thanks to everyone who posted.  I am a rubber mallet member now.  

Thanks to everyone, who have tried this method and posted back their feedback. I was searching on the web and found this website. I have a 98 dodge grand caravan, yesterday my wife accidently locked the steering / ignition. First I think the ignition got locked and when we tried some method to unlock the ignition, the steering got locked. I was about to call
AAA to tow the van to the dealer. while thinking about how much its going to cost me. On a hunch I tried to search the web and found this website. This method works !!!!  

Tonight I joined the ranks of locked Chrysler ignitions. My 98 Jeep Wrangler took issue with me trying to start it. I spent a good 45 minutes trying to turn the key, locking the steering wheel, using every 4 letter word in the dictionary AND creating a blister on my finger from trying to turn/rattle the key. Went home got another key and tried that and of course didn't work. Came home a little more frustrated and blistered and Googled the problem and came across this happy little place. Mallet trick worked very well. First tried with my Mag Lite Flashlight which is quite big and it didn't work so used a plastic screwdriver and it worked first attempt. Thanks to all for the posts on this issue!

CHEERS!  

I have a 98 Dodge Neon with the same problem.

   So glad I found this forum. I will try the tips listed and hopefully my "Tin Lizzie" will be on the road again. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

  And thanks so much to each and eveyone who posted.

I know this is basically a chrysler/dodge forum but I also see other vehicles with the same problem. I just wonder if this is mostly a Chrysler/Dodge problem.  If so, this will definitely help me determine what my next car should or shouldn't be.  

OK, add me to the list.  Sat in a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan SE, jamming and jiggling the key as a morning meeting proceeded without me.  Actually, the jamming had worked on previous occasions. (Obviously a similar action to striking it with the mallet).  This time, no go.  So I walked a half a mile to a bus stop, arrived at work hours late, called a dealer to get the $330.00 estimate, took another hour long bus ride home and found this forum.  A shoe heel works for now.  When it doesn't, I'm switching to a 12 pound sledge.

I think the 4300 Chrysler workers that took a severance package this week did so out of embarrassment over this very problem.

As idiotic as it is to vow not to buy another Chrysler over a lock problem, I am frustrated by their refusal to take responsibility for an obviously defective part. I would like to know what it takes to turn a technical bulletin into a recall.  Are there circumstances when this could be considered a safety issue?  

I have the same problem with my 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan. The ignition will not turn. What do you do- hit the key with the rubber mallot? I have put so much WD-40 in it it should have loosened up. It is still sitting at my workplace 2 days now. It happened a few days ago and my brother told me to try WD-40 and after 2 days it let loose like nothing had been wrong. I drove it to work and now it won't turn. I don't trust it anymore- does this mean the ignition is worn out? Seems like a lot of people are having this problem. Are all Dodge dealers the same. They wanted me to pay a tow truck to tow it across the street so they could look at it. They are all rip-offs. Much as I like my van I will never buy another Dodge- the service sucks. This is a small town in Fort Frances, Ontario Canada- West End Motors is the dealership here and if you didn't buy your vehicle from them they won't even give you the time of day. Can any dealership fix this problem? or do you have to take it to a Dodge place?  

Just wanted to let everyone know the mallot trick works everytime. Couple of taps and it starts right up. I carry one with me now too. Thankyou so much for the great info on this website, it saved a lot of frustration, time and money.
Dorothy  

*  

Same problem happened two days ago on my 02 Town & Country... Mallet worked like a champ - THANKS

But, when I called my (quality) Dodge dealer to see about replacing the key assembly, the parts man recommended just cleaning my current one instead.  He says that the specific grease used by the factory hardens over time and keeps the tumblers from falling back into place when you remove the key.  Vibrations from striking the key with the mallet jiggle the tumblers back into place.  Makes sense to me.

Solution is to remove the assembly, take it apart (keep the tumblers in order), clean off all the grease and such from each part, re-grease, re-assemble.  He'll do it for $20 if I remove the key assembly from the van.

Worth a try. I'll give it a shot and report back if it doesn't work.  

98 Dodge Grand Caravan 68k miles

I started to have the dreaded stuck key problem, solved by hammer blows, etc. Then got locksmith to repair "ignition cylinder tumblers." 3yrs later it started again. After banging it, the key turned, I LEFT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION and used the remote to open the door.
Leaving the key in works!!!. Not very safe, but works better that taking the chance of banging the ignition with the key in or out.

I was going to follow some of the above advice and repair it until I saw a post that had the best remedy.

The problem (again at least on my year) is not with the ignition switch which is very costly and takes some labor time. It is further upstream. It is with the ignition cylinder and tumblers which connect into the ignition switch. Basically a metal body that the key fits into and turns the mechanism inside which in turn moves a tab on the bottom which hooks into the ignition switch and moves it. You can go to your local Autozone (online: autozone.com) (or discount parts seller) and buy an "ignition cylinder w/ key and tumblers."

It costs ONLY $12.99 and solves this problem. Labor about 15 min.

The down side is that you have to use a different key than the doors for the ignition now, but the repair costs so little and involves no complex installation skills and can be done with a screwdriver. The part even comes with instructions. Remove battery ground. All you have to do is remove battery ground. Then remove the plastic under the steering wheel with a Phillips screwdriver.  Put the key in and turn the key to the ON position. Then depress the retainer(locking tab)with your finger or screwdriver through the access hole (located midway at the bottom of the cylinder)and pull out the cylinder with a little wiggling and the key as a pull. Pop in the new cylinder and you are all set. When you remove the old one, you'll see how with time a channel is etched into the soft metal and causes the pins to get stuck and not want to come out. This repair can be done in <15 min. The hard part for me was removing the No exaggeration. Now that I've done one it takes <5min to replace.

Don't go to the dealer for parts or labor. Mostly every Autozone carries this part because it is poorly designed. Don't buy the whole ignition switch! Again, not sure if this will work for vehicles newer than 1998.

Good luck!  

DARN KEY WONT TURN.
Been yelling at my teenagers for the last year about this.  I told them that the key would not turn because they jammed the 2000  Chrysler Van in park too quickly and took the key out before the steering wheel had a chance to lock.  Boy...am I embarrassed!!!

Kids away at college and the Van locked up on ME.

What to do?  12 Step Program

1. Mutter obscenities
2. Turn the key while wildly turning the steering wheel.
3. Wipe sweat from brow
4. Order new keys
5. See number 2
6. See number 3
7. Take other car to work
8. Get home from work and calmly try to start car.
9. See number 1
10. Check automotive.com forum
11. Buy rubber mallet
12. SERENITY NOW!!!!!  

A free fix.
This site saved me $300. My 2000 Town and Country joined the ranks of the dreaded key lock problem. It had been getting worse and worse over a period of a few months until finally the other day it just locked up and never came out. I had been using all the fixes mentioned on this site except the rubber mallet fix. I used this fix and after the third rather hard blow the key worked. Unfortunately I had to use the rubber mallet every time I started the car. I decided to remove the key switch cylinder per a previous post. With the unit out, I rotated the inner cylinder with the key in until I could pull out this inner cylinder and get to the tumblers. I then cleaned the cylinder and tumblers (leaving the tumblers in the cylinder) with lacquer thinner several times until all the tumblers were free, sprayed the unit with WD-40 (per recommendation from a locksmith) and reassembled the cylinder. So far everything is great but I am keeping the trusted rubber mallet in the van for a while just in case.

jtbugs  

wouldnt ya know... me and my husband own a 2000 neon. its been sitting in an Albertsons parking lot since last wednesday. my father, who btw is VERY mechanically inclined took everything off down to the cylinder. i own a chilton book bc most ppl cant afford dealers doing all the work, and i grew up watching my dad. we got down to it and we couldnt seem to get the cylinder out! even after finding the retaining tab! we tried over and over again for 4 hours to get the ignition lock cylinder out. well my dad and i put everything back together i had a new cylinder on the way and then lookin for a site on how to remove it, (thinking we missed a step)i came across this and a thought its less than a 5 minute walk away the least ill get out of it is exercise. so i took a screwdriver hooked the battery back up and wala! it started after the second hit! this site is amazing! idk who came across the mallet idea, but he/she deserves a medal!!! thanks again!