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2004 Ford Focus

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Ford Focus do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 864.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

293 reports with mileage · 94 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 183 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

34 crash reports13 fire reports24 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

7 reports
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30,000 miles · Jul 2, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSteering

MY VEHICLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED CAUSING ALTERNATOR TO DIE AND FALSE READINGS ON THE DASH WITH MULTIPLE ALERTS SUCH AS BATTERY, AIRBAG , OIL AND INCORRECT SPEED DIAL. THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT FAILED AT 30,000 MILES AND IF YOU SEARCH IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE FORD FOCUS VEHICLE'S. THE VEHICLE STALED AND DIED WHILE BEI…

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MY VEHICLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED CAUSING ALTERNATOR TO DIE AND FALSE READINGS ON THE DASH WITH MULTIPLE ALERTS SUCH AS BATTERY, AIRBAG , OIL AND INCORRECT SPEED DIAL. THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT FAILED AT 30,000 MILES AND IF YOU SEARCH IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE FORD FOCUS VEHICLE'S. THE VEHICLE STALED AND DIED WHILE BEING DROVE IN TOWN AND THANK GOD IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11105102

64,000 miles · Jan 23, 2011
Exterior Lighting

DRIVING MY 2004 FORD FOCUS, WHEN I TURN ON THE LEFT BLINKER AND IT STARTS BLINKING VERY FAST SO I ASSUME IT NEEDS A NEW BULB OR FUSE. I GO TO REPLACE THE BULB ONLY TO FIND THAT THE HOUSING UNIT HOLDING THE BULB FOR THE BLINKER IS MELTED. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE THING AND THIS COST ME $120.00 DOLLARS. FAST FORWARD SIX …

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DRIVING MY 2004 FORD FOCUS, WHEN I TURN ON THE LEFT BLINKER AND IT STARTS BLINKING VERY FAST SO I ASSUME IT NEEDS A NEW BULB OR FUSE. I GO TO REPLACE THE BULB ONLY TO FIND THAT THE HOUSING UNIT HOLDING THE BULB FOR THE BLINKER IS MELTED. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE THING AND THIS COST ME $120.00 DOLLARS. FAST FORWARD SIX MONTHS, NOT ONLY IS THE LEFT BLINKER OUT BUT NOW THE RIGHT BLINKER AS WELL, AND GUESS WHAT SAME PROBLEM NOT JUST A BULB BUT BOTH HOUSING UNITS HAVE MELTED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, SINCE ONE, IT IS THE MATERIAL OF THE CAR THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE MANUFACTURES BULB AND IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN EVEN WHEN REPLACED WITH NORMAL DRIVING. PLUS NO BLINKERS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. NO RECALL! LOOKS LIKE FORD THINKS MELTING CAR PARTS ON THEIR VEHICLES IS NORMAL. *LN

NHTSA ODI #10378358

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2010
Exterior LightingVisibility

2004 FOCUS ZWT 1. LOSS OF FRONT WIPER PARK FUNCTION ! 2. LOSS OF HEADLIGHT / AUXILIARY LAMP FUNCTION ! HAPPENED AT 2 SEPARATE INCIDENTS DURING 2009. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327359

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2010
Exterior Lighting

1) TURNED HEADLIGHT SWITH TO "ON" ON MY 2004 FORD FOCUS ZTW 2) TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON CAUSED THE REAR HATCH TO OPEN UNCOMMANDED. 3) I REMOVED THE COVER FROM THE HATCH AND DISCONNECTED THE WIPER MOTOR AND LATCH UNLOCK SOLENOID CONNECTORS. THEN, TO FIND THE POSSIBLE PROBLEM, I INSPECTED THE WIRE BUNDLE IN THE AREA OF THE HATC…

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1) TURNED HEADLIGHT SWITH TO "ON" ON MY 2004 FORD FOCUS ZTW 2) TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON CAUSED THE REAR HATCH TO OPEN UNCOMMANDED. 3) I REMOVED THE COVER FROM THE HATCH AND DISCONNECTED THE WIPER MOTOR AND LATCH UNLOCK SOLENOID CONNECTORS. THEN, TO FIND THE POSSIBLE PROBLEM, I INSPECTED THE WIRE BUNDLE IN THE AREA OF THE HATCH HINGE AND FOUND SEVERAL WIRES FRAYED AND BROKEN. SO TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHTS APPARENTLY SENT A SIGNAL (SHORT) TO THE LATCH SOLENOID. A FRIEND HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. HIS HATCH WOULD POP OPEN WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO START THE CAR. TWO DEALERS TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT BE OF ANY HELP UNLESS I PAID AT LEAST $350 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. REMEBER THE CHYSLER MINI VAN HATCH RECALL? I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE TOYOTA SUA HEARINGS AND DECIDED TO CHALLENGE YOU GUYS AND SEE IF YOU WOULD REVIEW AND CONTACT ME AS MR. LAHOOD SAID YOU WOULD. I KNOW YOU ARE BUSY AND UNDERSTAFFED. I DO NOT BLAME YOU AS SOME ARE INTENT UPON. I SPENT MY LIFE AS AN A&P MECHANIC AT AMERICAN AIRLINES AND KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY. THANKS FOR READING AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON. PS FORD HAS HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER MODEL YEARS OF THE FOCUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10313371

45,000 miles · Oct 29, 2009
Exterior LightingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE PREPARING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE BURNING AND MELTING OF THE TURN SIGNAL BULB SOCKET. THE VEHICLE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE PREPARING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE BURNING AND MELTING OF THE TURN SIGNAL BULB SOCKET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $300.00. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON A THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REIMBURSED FOR THE PRIOR SERVICE REPAIR. ALSO, PERFORMED ONE FREE REMEDY REPAIR ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10290211

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

2004 FOCUS BELT TENSIONER BROKE AND BATTERY FAILED. *TS THE FRONT DOOR HAD TO BE ALIGNED AND THE DOOR SEAL WAS REPLACED. THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD TO BE RE-ROUTED DUE TO THE CABLE BINDING. THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE LEFT REAR MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT LENS AND RIGHT SIDE CV AXLE WAS REPLACE…

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2004 FOCUS BELT TENSIONER BROKE AND BATTERY FAILED. *TS THE FRONT DOOR HAD TO BE ALIGNED AND THE DOOR SEAL WAS REPLACED. THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD TO BE RE-ROUTED DUE TO THE CABLE BINDING. THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE LEFT REAR MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT LENS AND RIGHT SIDE CV AXLE WAS REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ERRATICALLY. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR UNTIL THE ENGINE REVVED UP PAST 6000 RPM. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SERVO PISTONS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS EVENTUALLY REPAIRED. THE BATTERY FAILED 5 TIMES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10177475

Mileage unknown · May 19, 2004
Electrical SystemExterior LightingInterior Lighting

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY. THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10073915

Official recalls

1

05V030000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Feb 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

1

AQ10001 · 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.