We’ve attended 4 failed Ford ignition barrels within 3 weeks. None of the keys would turn. Some of the steering locks were on. The owners had all ignored a difficulty turning the key. Squirting WD40 won’t make make a broken spring or a worn wafer grow back. Don’t ignore a key that’s difficult to turn – it is telling you that something is going wrong.
Builders, plasterers, any sort of work van are the most likely to have a failed ignition barrel.
In one case the customer attempted to DIY release the steering lock by drilling whatever they thought might do it. In doing so they drilled into the wiring loom. That in turn destroyed the BCM (brain of the van) and causing hundreds, if not thousands of pounds of damage. (An auto electrician repaired the wiring loom, then discovered the BCM damage).
A different customer took an angle grinder to the steering column housing. Admittedly they did release the steering lock. Unfortunately the part they destroyed cost about £480+ VAT, plus labour. And they still needed a new lock.
An auto locksmith knows how to remove a failed Ford ignition. They won’t damage your van. They can build you a new lock to match the original lock. Replacing the lock before it fails will be cheaper for you, an reduce the overall cost.