NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
183 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Aug 29, 2016
Electrical System
THE CAR HAS HAD 5-6 REPAIRS OVER THE LAST 6 YEARS. 3 BATTERIES AND 2 ALTERNATORS. THE CAR DIES OUT WHILE DRIVING AND WONT RESTART WITHOUT A JUMPSTART, IS DEAD RANDOMLY OR ONLY CLICKS.JUST SPENT ANOTHER $200 ON AN ALTERNATOR WHEN THE KEY WONT TURN AND THE REAL PROBLEM OVER ALL THESE YEARS HAS COME TO LIGHT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATI…
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THE CAR HAS HAD 5-6 REPAIRS OVER THE LAST 6 YEARS. 3 BATTERIES AND 2 ALTERNATORS. THE CAR DIES OUT WHILE DRIVING AND WONT RESTART WITHOUT A JUMPSTART, IS DEAD RANDOMLY OR ONLY CLICKS.JUST SPENT ANOTHER $200 ON AN ALTERNATOR WHEN THE KEY WONT TURN AND THE REAL PROBLEM OVER ALL THESE YEARS HAS COME TO LIGHT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE CAR JUST DIEING WHEREVER AND WHENEVER.
NHTSA ODI #10899327
142,000 miles · Apr 8, 2016
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO JUMPSTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE R…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO JUMPSTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
NHTSA ODI #10854410
142,000 miles · Feb 4, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Visibility/wiper
MY CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND MY DASH LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER AND BEEP, MY RADIO GOES ON AND OFF BY IT SELF, THE REAR WIPER AND THIRD BRAKE LIGHT DO NOT WORK, AND NOW EVERYTHING DOES NOT WORK.
NHTSA ODI #10824294
147,345 miles · May 29, 2015
Electrical System
CAR WAS INOPERABLE DUE TO KEY NOT WORKING IN THE IGNITION AND EMERGENCY REPAIR SERVICE IN PARKING LOT HAD TO BE DONE. READ MORE: HTTP://WWW.JUSTANSWER.COM/NEW-QUESTION/OPTIONAL-INFORMATION.ASPX?TQID=423907452&PT=630&CATID=56411&R=AUTOBEEF&RPT=220#IXZZ3BAC4IRXZ
NHTSA ODI #10722374
80,000 miles · Mar 11, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHENEVER A BUMP OR A POTHOLE WAS HIT ON THE ROAD. THE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHENEVER A BUMP OR A POTHOLE WAS HIT ON THE ROAD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED. 06/09/15 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10693586
120,000 miles · Sep 14, 2014
Electrical System
IGNITION LOCK STUCK. KEY WOULD NOT WORK. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. IGNITION HAD TO BE REPLACED. COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS DEPENDING ON WHERE CAR WAS PARKED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10633012
Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2014
Electrical SystemSeatsFire
3/1/14: DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT BURNED THROUGH UPHOLSTERY AND CAUGHT FABRIC ON FIRE, WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER FOCUS OWNERS. THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN (04B16); WHY NO RECALL? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10566563
40,000 miles · Oct 23, 2013
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
NHTSA ODI #10549057
118,000 miles · Nov 28, 2012
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSERTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT TRIED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. AFTER DIAGNOSIS THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE IGNITION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE W…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSERTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT TRIED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. AFTER DIAGNOSIS THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE IGNITION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10486338
85,000 miles · Jun 21, 2012
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR TWO MONTHS. IT TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES OF JIGGLING TO FINALLY GET THE IGNITION LOCK TO RELEASE. I DRIVE THIS CAR ON BUSINESS, INCLUDING IN REMOTE AREAS. IT IS SCARY TO TRY TO START THE CAR AND HAVE THE KEY NOT TURN. SO FAR, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO GET IT TO EVENTUAL…
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THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR TWO MONTHS. IT TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES OF JIGGLING TO FINALLY GET THE IGNITION LOCK TO RELEASE. I DRIVE THIS CAR ON BUSINESS, INCLUDING IN REMOTE AREAS. IT IS SCARY TO TRY TO START THE CAR AND HAVE THE KEY NOT TURN. SO FAR, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO GET IT TO EVENTUALLY WORK, BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS. WE'VE JUST STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE ON MY WIFE'S 2007 FORD FOCUS. IN RESEARCHING THIS, IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ON THE FOCUS SINCE THE BEGINNING AND APPARENTLY FORD HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE OR CHANGE THE IGNITION LOCK MECHANISMS ON LATER FOCUS MODELS. POTENTIALLY GETTING STRANDED AT NIGHT OR IN A REMOTE AREA DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION LOCK IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. ONE SHOULD NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM IN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH, I AM A CAREER SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT WORKING IN THE COMMERCIAL INSURANCE INDUSTRY WITH 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10462578
Official recalls
1Feb 1, 2005
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH FOUR OR FIVE DOORS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A BUILD-UP OF CORROSION AT THE PAWL PIVOT AREA OF THE REAR DOOR LATCH CAN CAUSE A BINDING CONDITION OF THE PAWL THAT MAY AFFECT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PAWL INTO THE CATCH. THE OCCUPANT MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING OR CLOSING A REAR DOOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE REAR DOOR MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF NOT LATCHED PROPERLY, THE DOOR MAY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IF AN OCCUPANT FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE, PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL HAVE A LOWER ROCKER SEAL ADDED TO THE DOOR AND HAVE THE REAR DOOR LATCHES EVALUATED FREE OF CHARGE. A LATCH THAT PASSES THE EVALUATION WILL BE LUBRICATED TO PREVENT FUTURE CORROSION. A LATCH THAT DOES NOT PASS THE EVALUATION WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A STICKER WILL BE AFFIXED TO THE REAR DOORS ADVISING THE OWNERS TO USE THE RECOMMENDED LUBRICANT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1AQ10001 · Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Opened Nov 18, 2010 · Closed Dec 28, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.
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