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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

Tires complaints

7 reports
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169,800 miles · Nov 30, 2016
Tires

BOUGHT FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING TIRES TWO YEARS AGO, AND ON MY REAR TIRE THE SIDEWALL BLEW A 4.5 " CHUNK OUT OF IT WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. I HAVE HAD MY ALIGNMENT CHECKED TWICE SINCE BUYING THE TIRES AND THEY ARE ROTATED EVERY 5-5.5K MILES. THE TIRES ARE 195/60/15. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPON…

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BOUGHT FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING TIRES TWO YEARS AGO, AND ON MY REAR TIRE THE SIDEWALL BLEW A 4.5 " CHUNK OUT OF IT WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. I HAVE HAD MY ALIGNMENT CHECKED TWICE SINCE BUYING THE TIRES AND THEY ARE ROTATED EVERY 5-5.5K MILES. THE TIRES ARE 195/60/15. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE.

NHTSA ODI #10928736

19,392 miles · Sep 24, 2008
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE HAS PIRELLI P6 TIRES. ON MARCH 2, 2005 AND DECEMBER 21, 2007, THE TIRES WENT COMPLETELY FLAT ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES, BUT IT WAS UNDETERMINED WHICH TIRES WERE REPLACED. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT ANOTHER TIRE HAD ROTTED AND IT WAS ALSO REPLACED. ON A…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE HAS PIRELLI P6 TIRES. ON MARCH 2, 2005 AND DECEMBER 21, 2007, THE TIRES WENT COMPLETELY FLAT ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES, BUT IT WAS UNDETERMINED WHICH TIRES WERE REPLACED. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT ANOTHER TIRE HAD ROTTED AND IT WAS ALSO REPLACED. ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. IT WAS FOUND THAT TWO TIRES HAD SEVERE DRY ROT ON THE SIDEWALLS AND A RAPID WEAR DOWN. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED CALLING THE MANUFACTURER OF BOTH THE VEHICLE AND THE TIRES. PIRELLI TIRES WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED THE CONTACT 25% OFF THE PURCHASE OF NEW TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,392 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 30,000. UPDATED 10/20/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ONE OF THE TIRES WOULD NOT HOLD AIR AND THE OHTER TIRE HAD A BULGED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE REAMING TWO TIRES WERE SHOWING RAPID DETERIORATION.

NHTSA ODI #10243327

42,000 miles · Sep 20, 2007
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE HAS KUMHO, SIZE 195/60R15 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE SCRAPED THE CURB AND BLEW OUT. A SPARE TIRE WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SIDEWALL FAILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000. UPDATED 12/12/07

NHTSA ODI #10203535

21,000 miles · Aug 27, 2007
Tires

MY DAUGHTERS FORD FOCUS 2004 HAS ONLY 21,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS MAKING NOISES WE CHECKED THE TIRES PIRELLI P6 FOUR SEASON P205/50R 16 87 H M+S AND THE REAR BACK TIRE CORDS WERE BROKE SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR OVER A YEAR AGO AND THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY FOR A YEAR THEY SAID THEY WONT DO ANYTHING WHAT IF IT WOULD OF BLOWN OUT THINK …

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MY DAUGHTERS FORD FOCUS 2004 HAS ONLY 21,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS MAKING NOISES WE CHECKED THE TIRES PIRELLI P6 FOUR SEASON P205/50R 16 87 H M+S AND THE REAR BACK TIRE CORDS WERE BROKE SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR OVER A YEAR AGO AND THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY FOR A YEAR THEY SAID THEY WONT DO ANYTHING WHAT IF IT WOULD OF BLOWN OUT THINK THEY SHOULD BE CALLED IT HAS HAPPENED TO ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TIRES LOOKED UP COMPLAINT ON INTERNET, WE REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES DID NOT TRUST THE OTHER TIRES NOW THEY ARE MADE IN CHINA SURPRISE. WHAT WOULD OF HAPPENED IF MY DAUGHTER WOULD OF HAD A BLOW OUT????????? SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. CLICK HERE: COMPARE PRICES AND READ REVIEWS ON PIRELLI P6 FOUR SEASONS PASSENGER/PERFORMANCE TIRE AT EPINIONS.COM --- CLICK HERE: NEWS IN BRIEF.(BRIEFS)(BRIEFS ON PIRELLI TIRE NORTH AMERICA, TOYO TIRE (USA) CORP., COOPER TIRE & RUBBER CO.) - JO *TR

NHTSA ODI #10200856

14,000 miles · Apr 5, 2005
Tires

THE FRONT TIRE ON DRIVER'S SIDE SHOWED A 6-8 INCH LENGTH SPOT ON THE INTER TREAD OF THE TIRE, AND BOTH REAR TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF HIGH AND LOW SPOTS RUNNING DIAGONALLY. DEALER INSPECTED THE TIRES, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSED BY IMPROPER WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THESE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL , PIRELLI TIRES, SI…

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THE FRONT TIRE ON DRIVER'S SIDE SHOWED A 6-8 INCH LENGTH SPOT ON THE INTER TREAD OF THE TIRE, AND BOTH REAR TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF HIGH AND LOW SPOTS RUNNING DIAGONALLY. DEALER INSPECTED THE TIRES, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSED BY IMPROPER WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THESE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL , PIRELLI TIRES, SIZE P205/50R16, AND DOT# XAW1E1991403.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10117468

5,300 miles · Jan 25, 2005
Tires

JUNE 2004, I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 FOCUS WITH P195.60.15 GOOD YEAR EAGLE RSA TIRES. I ASSUME THIS IS A STANDARD TIRE USED BY FORD FOR THIS MODEL, AS I WAS NOT ASKED BY THE DEALERSHIP IF I WOULD LIKE TO UPGRADE OR CHANGE THE TIRES. I NEVER DREAMED A CAR WOULD BE SOLD IN THIS AREA WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE FUNCTIONAL TIRE ON. I AM U…

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JUNE 2004, I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 FOCUS WITH P195.60.15 GOOD YEAR EAGLE RSA TIRES. I ASSUME THIS IS A STANDARD TIRE USED BY FORD FOR THIS MODEL, AS I WAS NOT ASKED BY THE DEALERSHIP IF I WOULD LIKE TO UPGRADE OR CHANGE THE TIRES. I NEVER DREAMED A CAR WOULD BE SOLD IN THIS AREA WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE FUNCTIONAL TIRE ON. I AM UNABLE TO CONTROL THIS VEHICLE IN WINTER WEATHER. WITH NO WARNING, THE CAR WILL VEER OUT OF CONTROL. I HAVE DRIVEN IN THIS TYPE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR YEARS, BUT NEVER HAVE I EVER HAD A CAR WITH THIS TYPE OF HANDLING PROBLEM. I DO NOT HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY WITH IT IN RAIN OR DRY CONDITIONS, SO IT IS NOT A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES IN DECEMBER & JANUARY. I WAS TOLD BY GOOD YEAR TIRE DEALER THAT THE TIRES ARE A HIGH-PERFORMANCE TIRE AND ARE NOT MEANT FOR WINTER DRIVING. THERE ARE NO GRIPPING TREADS FOR SNOW AND ICE. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIRES ON THIS CAR WITH 5,600 MILES ON THEM FOR SAFETY PURPOSES SO THAT I DO NOT RISK INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. I JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY FORD HAS PUT THIS TYPE OF A TIRE ON THE VEHICLE. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD BY FORD THE TIRES ARE NOT ADEQUATE FOR CERTAIN CONDITIONS. I AM VERY UPSET THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE A SET OF NEW TIRES ON A NEW VEHICLE SO THAT I CAN FEEL SAFE AND NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO INCORRECT TIRES. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT BEING VERY COOPERATIVE WITH MY COMPLAINT. THE ONLY EXPLANATION I RECEIVE FROM THEM IS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT, OR THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THAT KIND OF A COMPLAINT, OR I AM USING BAD DRIVING JUDGMENT FOR THE CONDITIONS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10107870

6,848 miles · Dec 11, 2004
Tires

I WISH TO REPORT A POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE TIRE. ON NOV 20, 2004,I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD FOCUS SE. WITH 5.914 MILES. ON 12/9/04, WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE INTERSTATE FREEWAY, MY CAR'S TIRE BLEW OUT. UPON EXAMINATION, THERE WAS SEVERAL BLOWOUT TEARS ALONG THE OUTER SIDES OF THE TIRE. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER W…

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I WISH TO REPORT A POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE TIRE. ON NOV 20, 2004,I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD FOCUS SE. WITH 5.914 MILES. ON 12/9/04, WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE INTERSTATE FREEWAY, MY CAR'S TIRE BLEW OUT. UPON EXAMINATION, THERE WAS SEVERAL BLOWOUT TEARS ALONG THE OUTER SIDES OF THE TIRE. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO REFERRED ME TO GOODYEAR. GOODYEAR SAID THEY BELIEVED THE TIRES FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY TIRE "UNDER PRESSURE" AND A NAIL PUNCTURE. THE GOODYEAR TECHNICIAN MADE A DETERMINATION UPON VISUAL INSPECTION BASED ON RIPPLES ALONG THE TEAR MARKS WERE CAUSED BY UNDER PRESSURE. THE FORD DEALER MADE THE SAME EXPLANATION AS DID GOODYEAR. HOWEVER, I DISAGREE WITH THE OPINIONS OF BOTH FORD AND GOODYEAR. REQUEST AN EXAMINATION OF MY TIRE TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS ANY TIRE OR BELT MANUFACTURE DEFECTS. MY TIRE IS A GOODYEAR EAGLE, RSA VERSION, SIZE P195/60/R15. MY TIRE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION TO DETERMINE FAILURE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10102742

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.