NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
387 reports62,580 miles · May 12, 2006
Electrical System
THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED ON MY 2004 FORD FOCUS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START; IT FROZE THE STEERING COLUMN AS WELL. IT OCCURRED LATE IN THE EVENING AND LEFT ME STRANDED 50 MILES FROM HOME. I HAVE SINCE READ MANY REPORTS OF THE SAME OCCURRENCE TO OWNERS OF THE FORD FOCUS OF VARIOUS YEARS AND TRIMS. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO OC…
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THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED ON MY 2004 FORD FOCUS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START; IT FROZE THE STEERING COLUMN AS WELL. IT OCCURRED LATE IN THE EVENING AND LEFT ME STRANDED 50 MILES FROM HOME. I HAVE SINCE READ MANY REPORTS OF THE SAME OCCURRENCE TO OWNERS OF THE FORD FOCUS OF VARIOUS YEARS AND TRIMS. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR SPONTANEOUSLY WITHOUT ANY FOREWARNING AND IS OF GREAT POTENTIAL DANGER TO THE DRIVER. FOCUS OWNERS REPORT REPAIRING THE PROBLEM REPEATEDLY AND FORD ADAMANTLY DENIES THE DEFECT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10157428
26,925 miles · May 12, 2006
Electrical SystemSteering
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED AT THE SAME TIME. THE PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10157422
31,500 miles · May 12, 2006
Electrical SystemSteering
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE KEY ARE TURNED AT THE SAME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE LOCK ASSEMBLY, IGNITION SWITCH, AND STEERING LOCK MECHANISM WERE REPLACED. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE KEY ARE TURNED AT THE SAME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE LOCK ASSEMBLY, IGNITION SWITCH, AND STEERING LOCK MECHANISM WERE REPLACED. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 05/30/2006. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10157419
Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2006
Electrical System
MY HIGH BEAM IS ALWAYS ON. MY LOW BEAM AND FOG LIGHT DO NOT WORK. THE LOW BEAM AND FOG LIGHT ARE INDEPENDENT SWITCH. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10153387
23,000 miles · Mar 20, 2006
Latches/locks/linkages
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED THERE WAS 9,500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 05V030000 FOR THE DOOR LATCHES. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR WORK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE SITUA…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED THERE WAS 9,500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 05V030000 FOR THE DOOR LATCHES. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR WORK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE SITUATION.
NHTSA ODI #10153244
14,000 miles · Mar 16, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment
I HAVE TO REPLACED 02 SENSORS 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN 50000 MILES. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10152912
Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury
ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING HER FORD FOCUS. SHE SMASHED THE CAR INTO A CEMENT BARRIER, SPUN AROUND AND SMASHED THE BACK OF THE CAR INTO THE BARRIER AND THEN SPUN AROUND AGAIN AND SMASHED THE FRONT INTO THE BARRIER AGAIN. THE CAR IS CONSIDERED TOTALED BY THE INSURER. THIS FORD FOC…
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ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING HER FORD FOCUS. SHE SMASHED THE CAR INTO A CEMENT BARRIER, SPUN AROUND AND SMASHED THE BACK OF THE CAR INTO THE BARRIER AND THEN SPUN AROUND AGAIN AND SMASHED THE FRONT INTO THE BARRIER AGAIN. THE CAR IS CONSIDERED TOTALED BY THE INSURER. THIS FORD FOCUS IS EQUIPPED WITH AIR BAGS. THESE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FORTUNATELY, MY DAUGHTER AND HER PASSENGER WERE NOT SERIOUSLY HURT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAGS NOT WORKING. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10152101
60,000 miles · Mar 6, 2006
Wheels
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING DURING WINTER CONDITIONS IN THE NORTH EAST, THE SALT, SAND AND SNOW ACCUMULATE ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEELS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE WHEELS WERE SO FLAT ON THE INSIDE THEY WERE UNABLE TO SHED THESE ELEMENTS. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO REMOVE THES…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING DURING WINTER CONDITIONS IN THE NORTH EAST, THE SALT, SAND AND SNOW ACCUMULATE ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEELS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE WHEELS WERE SO FLAT ON THE INSIDE THEY WERE UNABLE TO SHED THESE ELEMENTS. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO REMOVE THESE ELEMENTS AT THE CAR WASH. THE WHEELS HAVE TO BE TAKEN OFF AND CLEANED BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. UPDATED 03/28/06. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10152016
18,319 miles · Mar 1, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE AT 55 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE PULLED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AN…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE AT 55 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE PULLED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
NHTSA ODI #10151559
18,319 miles · Mar 1, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE AT 55 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE PULLED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, WHICH THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. T…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE AT 55 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE PULLED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, WHICH THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
NHTSA ODI #10151516
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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