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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

387 reports
33,000 miles · Jun 3, 2005
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainSuspension

STEERING AND SUSPENSION/ CENTER SUPPORT BEARING/PART# Y542-3B436-A FAILED... BELIEVE CAR SOLD OUT OF ALLIGNMENT. REAR-END, BELIEVED CAUSE ALL WEAR ON FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, UNEVEN WEAR ON ALL TIRES ALSO, AND WOBBLY UNSTABLE REAR END. CAR WAS REPAIRED 6-3-2005 ALSO, THE THROTTLE BODY LINKAGE HAD TO BE REPLACED, WORN OUT, W…

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STEERING AND SUSPENSION/ CENTER SUPPORT BEARING/PART# Y542-3B436-A FAILED... BELIEVE CAR SOLD OUT OF ALLIGNMENT. REAR-END, BELIEVED CAUSE ALL WEAR ON FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, UNEVEN WEAR ON ALL TIRES ALSO, AND WOBBLY UNSTABLE REAR END. CAR WAS REPAIRED 6-3-2005 ALSO, THE THROTTLE BODY LINKAGE HAD TO BE REPLACED, WORN OUT, WAS CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND HESITATED ACCELERATION, SOMETIMES ACTING LIKE STUCK....

NHTSA ODI #10124155

1,500 miles · May 18, 2005
Service Brakes, Air

BRAKE ON NEW 2004 FORD FOCUS HAS LARGE RIDGES AND RIM IS COVERED WITH BRAKE DUST. WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS "HOW IT WAS SUPPOSE TO LOOK". CAR HAS 2300 MILES

NHTSA ODI #10121368

7,850 miles · May 2, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

BRAKES FAILED ON OUR 2004 FORD FOCUS ZX5 4 DOOR HATCHBACK AS MY WIFE WENT TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN LEAVING OUR DEVELOPMENT AND WAS BROADSIDED BY A TRUCK. THIS RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE AND INJURIES SUSTAINED TO MY WIFE. POLICE AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL WERE ON THE SCENE. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL.

NHTSA ODI #10119394

28,001 miles · Apr 29, 2005
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS BAD AND THE GUAGES WILL NOT WORK. PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AND MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DOWN FOR A MONTH AND 1 WEEK AS OF RIGHT NOW. SERVICE MANAGER HAS GIVEN PART TO AREA REP FOR FORD, AND THAT WAS A WEEK AGO. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10118675

70,145 miles · Apr 27, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED . DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK FORD MRFG STATED THAT THIS TYPE OF STALLIN…

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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED . DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK FORD MRFG STATED THAT THIS TYPE OF STALLING (FAILURE) DOES NOT INDICATE A SAFETY PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH 1/2 TANK OF GAS OR LESS SINCE THE CAR REACH 50,000 MILES. *BF

NHTSA ODI #10113693

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2005
Seats

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING SEAT HEATER/COOLER. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING SINCE JANUARY. SHE WAS TOLD TWICE THAT THE PARTS WERE IN. HOWEVER, WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER SHE WAS TOLD THE PARTS DID NOT COME IN. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10115443

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2005
Electrical SystemCrashInjury

DRIVER PLACED THE KEY INSIDE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE KEY FAILED TO COME OUT OF IGNITION. DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10117837

19,492 miles · Apr 7, 2005
Electrical System

VEHICLE HESITATED/STALLED WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME DEALER REPLACED THE COIL ASSEMBLY, SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK PLUG WIRING. WITHIN TWO WEEKS OR LESS THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE LAST TWO TIMES DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THA…

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VEHICLE HESITATED/STALLED WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME DEALER REPLACED THE COIL ASSEMBLY, SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK PLUG WIRING. WITHIN TWO WEEKS OR LESS THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE LAST TWO TIMES DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10117625

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

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 0 MILES ON IT. I HEARD LOUD SQUEAKY NOISE IN THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THE FIRST WEEK, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO FORD. FORD SENT ME HOME TELLING ME IT WAS DUST IN THE DRUMS. THEY SAID IT SHOULD WEAR OFF IN A WHILE. 1 MONTH LATER AND THE NOISE STILL WAS PRESENT NOT BETTER OR WORSE. I TOOK IT IN…

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I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 0 MILES ON IT. I HEARD LOUD SQUEAKY NOISE IN THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THE FIRST WEEK, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO FORD. FORD SENT ME HOME TELLING ME IT WAS DUST IN THE DRUMS. THEY SAID IT SHOULD WEAR OFF IN A WHILE. 1 MONTH LATER AND THE NOISE STILL WAS PRESENT NOT BETTER OR WORSE. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN, THEY HAD THE NERVE TO TELL ME TO JUST WAIT LONGER. 3 MONTHS AND THE NOISE CONTINUED. I THEN TOOK IT BACK AND THEY PUT NEW BRAKE PADS. I HAD THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS AND THE BRAKE PAD WERE BAD??? THEY PUT NEW BRAKE PADS ON, AND AGAIN THE NOISE REMAINED. WILL THEY EVER FIX THIS PROBLEM??? IT IS NOW 1 YEAR AFTER AND THE NOISE REMAINS. DON'T BUY A FOCUS, EVEN BRAND NEW AND 100,000 MILE WARRANTY AND STILL HAVE PROBLEMS NO ONE WILL FIX.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10116328

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.