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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

Power Train complaints

20 reports
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250,000 miles · Aug 22, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD NOISE WAS DETECTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE KEY OVERHEATED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO DRIVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD NOISE WAS DETECTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE KEY OVERHEATED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO DRIVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT FURTHER MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT BOTH PASSENGER DOORS WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR NEEDED EXTRA STRENGTH TO OPEN AND THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WAS STUCK AND WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE UNKNOWN DEALERS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE ENGINE VALVE WAS STUCK. THE CAUSE OF THE OTHER FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 250,000.

NHTSA ODI #11245773

100,000 miles · Jul 12, 2016
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10884387

165,000 miles · Feb 10, 2014
EnginePower TrainStructureFire

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING SUDDENLY. MY DAUGHTER SAW STEAM OR SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITHIN A MINUTE OR SO THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS INTENSE, THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WAS MELTED, THE INTERIOR OF THE DASH WAS DESTROYED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BEY…

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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING SUDDENLY. MY DAUGHTER SAW STEAM OR SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITHIN A MINUTE OR SO THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS INTENSE, THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WAS MELTED, THE INTERIOR OF THE DASH WAS DESTROYED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. IT LOOKS LIKE THE MOST INTENSE FIRE AREA WAS AROUND THE FUSE PANEL. I DID CONTACT FORD THROUGH SEVERAL AVENUES BUT THEY APPEARED TO BE DISINTERESTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563681

71,000 miles · Oct 30, 2010
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

NOTICED HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WHICH IS MOUNTED BEHIND THE CLUTCH PEDAL UNDER DASH. CLUTCH SYSTEM SHARES BRAKE FLUID WITH BRAKE SYSTEM. FLUID DRIPS ON CLUTCH PEDAL AND FLOOR CREATING A VERY SLICK SURFACE AND DROP IN FLUID LEVEL IN BRAKE RESERVOIR. THIS CREATES A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE IN MY OPINIO…

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NOTICED HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WHICH IS MOUNTED BEHIND THE CLUTCH PEDAL UNDER DASH. CLUTCH SYSTEM SHARES BRAKE FLUID WITH BRAKE SYSTEM. FLUID DRIPS ON CLUTCH PEDAL AND FLOOR CREATING A VERY SLICK SURFACE AND DROP IN FLUID LEVEL IN BRAKE RESERVOIR. THIS CREATES A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE IN MY OPINION. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUS MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS. THE ONLY REMEDY WAS TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. ALSO NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH PEDAL RUBBER FOOT PAD WHICH HAD DISINTEGRATED FROM EXPOSURE TO THE BRAKE FLUID. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362986

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train

2004 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT WITH A MILEAGE UNDER 20,000. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *TGW IN JULY 2009, THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, PERIODICALLY THE CLUSTER LIGHTS WOULD MAKE A SOUND AND THE LIGHTS WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF. IT WOULD HAPPEN T…

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2004 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT WITH A MILEAGE UNDER 20,000. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *TGW IN JULY 2009, THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, PERIODICALLY THE CLUSTER LIGHTS WOULD MAKE A SOUND AND THE LIGHTS WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF. IT WOULD HAPPEN TWICE IN A MATTER OF SECONDS, BUT DID NOT HAPPEN EVERYDAY. THE CONSUMER FOLLOWED INSTRUCTION ON WHAT TO DO. THE SITUATION WAS A LITTLE BETTER, BUT THE CLUSTER BLINKING, ETC STILL OCCURRED PERIODICALLY. A WEEK LATER, AS THE CONSUMER BACKED OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY, THERE WERE SOUNDS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THEY SEEMED TO GET WORSE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. UPON INSPECTION, THE TRANSMISSION PLATE WHICH WAS LOCATED UNDER THE ENGINE SHOWED TRANSMISSION FLUID AN D EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF METAL FILLINGS. THE MECHANIC SHOWED THE CONSUMER THE DAMAGED PARTS WHERE THE TEETH IN THE GEARS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHICH CAUSED THE METAL FILLINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION PLATE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10314364

83,000 miles · Aug 25, 2009
Power Train

ON 8/19/09, I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 FORD FOCUS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, IT FELT LIKE PRESSURE (OR HAVING TO FORCE CAR TO GO) WITH MY FOOT ON GAS PEDAL. AFTER I EASED MY FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL, CAR WOULD SWITCH IN TO GEAR. THIS SAME PATTERN OF PRESSURE AND EASING FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL SO THAT CAR WOULD GO INTO GEAR HAPPE…

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ON 8/19/09, I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 FORD FOCUS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, IT FELT LIKE PRESSURE (OR HAVING TO FORCE CAR TO GO) WITH MY FOOT ON GAS PEDAL. AFTER I EASED MY FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL, CAR WOULD SWITCH IN TO GEAR. THIS SAME PATTERN OF PRESSURE AND EASING FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL SO THAT CAR WOULD GO INTO GEAR HAPPENED EACH TIME I WOULD MAKE A STOP. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT SHEEHY FORD DEALERSHIP AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED WITH 2ND AND 4TH GEAR NOT WORKING & THAT I COULD NOT DRIVE CAR HOME UNTIL TRANSMISSION IS REPLACED BECAUSE ALSO TRANSMISSION IS READY TO FALL OUT OF CAR DUE TO WEAK SUPPORT IS HOLDING TRANSMISSION IN PLACE. CAR HAS APPROX ONLY 83,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10281636

80,000 miles · May 22, 2009
Power Train

ON ACCELERATION FROM STOP CAR TACKS OUT TO 6 AND TRANSMISSION REVS THEN SHIFTS VERY HARD, CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THEY WAY I DRIVE MY CAR. SAID TRANSMISSION LEARNS HOW TO SHIFT THAT WAY, CAR STILL NOT REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10269754

50,759 miles · Nov 30, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 55-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BOTH BEGAN TO SHAKE. WHEN THE SPEED IS BELOW 55 MPH, THE SHAKING WILL STOP OR DECREASE. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD METAL ON METAL FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DEALER STAT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 55-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BOTH BEGAN TO SHAKE. WHEN THE SPEED IS BELOW 55 MPH, THE SHAKING WILL STOP OR DECREASE. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD METAL ON METAL FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,019 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,759. UPDATED 01/02/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SQUEAKED AND VIBRATED AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE. THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS REPLACED, DUE TO IT BEING BROKEN. THE SHIFTER SQUEAKED. THE RIMS WERE BENT AND THE TIRES WERE OUT OF BALANCE. UPDATED*JB

NHTSA ODI #10210391

37,800 miles · Sep 12, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE SHIFTING AT 30 MPH, THE CLUTCH FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLUTCH, HOWEVER, THEY NEGLECTED TO REINSTALL ONE OF THE BOLTS AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,800.

NHTSA ODI #10202818

8,242 miles · Jan 23, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipmentInjury

CAR STALLS WITHOUT NOTICE. SENT DAUGHTER TO EMERGENCY ROOM ONE TIME. STALLS 2 DIFFERENT WAYS, WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES WHEN COMING TO A STOP. TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL HAPPENS. HAS BEEN IN SHOP MANY, MANY TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT PROBLEM. STARTED WHEN CAR WAS 7 MONTHS OLD. ALSO, CLUTCH PREMATURELY WENT OUT. HAS BEE…

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CAR STALLS WITHOUT NOTICE. SENT DAUGHTER TO EMERGENCY ROOM ONE TIME. STALLS 2 DIFFERENT WAYS, WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES WHEN COMING TO A STOP. TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL HAPPENS. HAS BEEN IN SHOP MANY, MANY TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT PROBLEM. STARTED WHEN CAR WAS 7 MONTHS OLD. ALSO, CLUTCH PREMATURELY WENT OUT. HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 OR 3 TIMES. (CAR HAS 26,000 MILES CURRENTLY). ALSO, THERMOSTAT HAS GONE OUT MANY, MANY TIMES- DAUGHTER HAS DRIVEN MOST OF WINTER WITH NO HEAT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10179443

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.