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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

Seat Belts complaints

5 reports
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170,000 miles · Sep 6, 2016
Air BagsSeat BeltsSteeringCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER TWICE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURNS FROM THE SEAT BELT, WHIPLASH, AND BURNS TO THE RIGHT AR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER TWICE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURNS FROM THE SEAT BELT, WHIPLASH, AND BURNS TO THE RIGHT ARM FROM THE AIR BAGS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND STOMACH BRUISES FROM THE SEAT BELT, WHICH ALSO REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #10904242

149,000 miles · Jun 29, 2010
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT CENTER SEAT-BELT FAILED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE HER FIVE YEAR OLD GRANDCHILD.INSTEAD OF THE SEAT BELT LOOSING, IT TIGHTENED AROUND HER STOMACH. THE SEAT-BELT HAD TO BE CUT IN ORDER TO RELEASE HER. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE D…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT CENTER SEAT-BELT FAILED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE HER FIVE YEAR OLD GRANDCHILD.INSTEAD OF THE SEAT BELT LOOSING, IT TIGHTENED AROUND HER STOMACH. THE SEAT-BELT HAD TO BE CUT IN ORDER TO RELEASE HER. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

NHTSA ODI #10340620

85,342 miles · Nov 20, 2009
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE SEATING IN A BOOSTER SEAT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SEAT, THE CHILD WAS ABLE TO TIE THE SEAT BELT AROUND HIS HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY JUST LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND SUGGESTED THE CONSUMER CONTACTED NHTSA. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85342. UPDATE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE SEATING IN A BOOSTER SEAT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SEAT, THE CHILD WAS ABLE TO TIE THE SEAT BELT AROUND HIS HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY JUST LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND SUGGESTED THE CONSUMER CONTACTED NHTSA. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85342. UPDATED 12/22/09.*LJ THE CONSUMER HAD TO CUT THE STRAP. UPDATED 12/29/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10293036

95,000 miles · Dec 15, 2008
Seat BeltsSteering

THE IGNITION ON MY 2004 FORD FOCUS HAS LOCKED UP IN THE PAST AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO UNLOCK IT WITH A LITTLE JIGGLING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. LAST NIGHT WAS NOT THE SAME. AFTER TRYING FOR 20 MINUTES, IN 20 DEGREE WEATHER, WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD WITH ME, I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. THEY HAD TO TOW IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. AFTER RESEARC…

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THE IGNITION ON MY 2004 FORD FOCUS HAS LOCKED UP IN THE PAST AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO UNLOCK IT WITH A LITTLE JIGGLING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. LAST NIGHT WAS NOT THE SAME. AFTER TRYING FOR 20 MINUTES, IN 20 DEGREE WEATHER, WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD WITH ME, I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. THEY HAD TO TOW IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I AM SHOCKED TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE ON THE FOCUS, AMONG OTHER FORD MODELS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET THIS FIXED. I AM GLAD I WAS 10 MILES FROM HOME RATHER THAN OVER 50. IT IS THESE TYPES OF ISSUES THAT DON'T GET RESOLVED THAT CAUSE CONSUMERS TO NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE. ALSO, 2 OF MY 3 BACK SEATBELTS DON'T WORK ANYMORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251778

22,000 miles · Jun 12, 2007
Seat Belts

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER GRANDDAUGHTER BECAME TRAPPED IN THE SEAT BELT. BY PULLING ON IT, THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT WRAPPED AROUND HER LEG AND LOCKED INTO POSITION. THE GRANDDAUGHTER COULD NOT GET IT OFF HER LEG. THERE WAS NO LEVERAGE TO PULL HER LEG OUT AND THE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER GRANDDAUGHTER BECAME TRAPPED IN THE SEAT BELT. BY PULLING ON IT, THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT WRAPPED AROUND HER LEG AND LOCKED INTO POSITION. THE GRANDDAUGHTER COULD NOT GET IT OFF HER LEG. THERE WAS NO LEVERAGE TO PULL HER LEG OUT AND THE FURTHER THE BELT WENT DOWN HER LEG, THE TIGHTER THE BELT BECAME. THE SEAT BELT BEGAN TO CUT OFF HER CIRCULATION. THE CONTACT WEDGED HER FINGER BETWEEN THE GRANDDAUGHTER'S LEG AND THE SEAT BELT TO RELIEVE PRESSURE. IN THE END, THE CONTACT CUT THE SEAT BELT WITH A PAIR OF SCISSORS. THE SEAT BELT SNAPPED BACK QUICKLY AND NOW IT IS FIRMLY STUCK INSIDE OF THE SEAT. THE CONTACT ASKED FORD WHY THIS HAPPENED, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. SHE STATED THAT AN APPOINTMENT WILL BE MADE FOR HER AT THE DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT HAS NEVER BEEN USED AND THAT HER GRANDDAUGHTER WAS NOT SEATED IN THE MIDDLE SEAT. HER MAIN CONCERN IS NOT HOW HER GRANDDAUGHTER BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE SEAT BELT, BUT WHY THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LOOSEN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE BELT. THE ENGINE SIZE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22,000.

NHTSA ODI #10193034

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.