NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
387 reports80,000 miles · Mar 11, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHENEVER A BUMP OR A POTHOLE WAS HIT ON THE ROAD. THE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHENEVER A BUMP OR A POTHOLE WAS HIT ON THE ROAD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED. 06/09/15 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10693586
90,000 miles · Feb 25, 2015
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A SNOW EMBANKMENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A SNOW EMBANKMENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA ODI #10690592
70,000 miles · Jan 8, 2015
Seats
WHILE I AM DRIVING THE CAR AND IT IS MOVING, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT IS SUDDENLY DISENGAGING, MOVING BACK AND SO LEAVING MY DRIVING POSITION COMPROMISED, AS MY FOOT MOVES AWAY FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND MY ARMS ARE SUDDENLY OUTSTRETCHED REACHING FOR THE DRIVERS WHEEL SO THAT THERE IS A SUDDEN LOST OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPE…
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WHILE I AM DRIVING THE CAR AND IT IS MOVING, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT IS SUDDENLY DISENGAGING, MOVING BACK AND SO LEAVING MY DRIVING POSITION COMPROMISED, AS MY FOOT MOVES AWAY FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND MY ARMS ARE SUDDENLY OUTSTRETCHED REACHING FOR THE DRIVERS WHEEL SO THAT THERE IS A SUDDEN LOST OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AT THIS POINT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10671113
770,714 miles · Dec 15, 2014
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR SWUNG OPEN INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR SWUNG OPEN INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 770,714.
NHTSA ODI #10664264
184,000 miles · Nov 17, 2014
Engine
THE CAR CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS , OUNCE WHILE DOING 60MPH, THE OTHER TIME DOING 35MPH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10658617
25,000 miles · Nov 5, 2014
Air BagsCrash
HEAD ON COLLISON WITH ANOTHER CAR. CARS IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY. I GOING DOWN ONE OF THE BUSIEST ROADS IN TOWN AND I COULDNT STOP IN TIME. FRONT OF MY CAR HAS SIGNIFICANT UNDRIVABLE DAMAGE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10652900
120,000 miles · Sep 14, 2014
Electrical System
IGNITION LOCK STUCK. KEY WOULD NOT WORK. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. IGNITION HAD TO BE REPLACED. COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS DEPENDING ON WHERE CAR WAS PARKED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10633012
116,000 miles · Aug 11, 2014
EngineService Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
NHTSA ODI #10621294
100,000 miles · May 14, 2014
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AS IT ABNORMALLY BEGAN STEERING TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AS IT ABNORMALLY BEGAN STEERING TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #10588315
145,600 miles · Apr 23, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline
VERY DANGEROUS FAULT OR DEFECT FOUND ON MY CAR. A FUEL LINE THAT RUNS ALONG THE TOP OF THE ENGINE IS CONTACTING AN OPPOSING METAL BRACKET. THIS CHAFFING CONDITION HAS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE. THE FUEL LINE IS PROTECTED WITH PADDED SILVER TAPE; THE TAPE AND PADDING HAS BEEN ENTIRELY CUT BY THE BRACKET AND HAS CREATED …
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VERY DANGEROUS FAULT OR DEFECT FOUND ON MY CAR. A FUEL LINE THAT RUNS ALONG THE TOP OF THE ENGINE IS CONTACTING AN OPPOSING METAL BRACKET. THIS CHAFFING CONDITION HAS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE. THE FUEL LINE IS PROTECTED WITH PADDED SILVER TAPE; THE TAPE AND PADDING HAS BEEN ENTIRELY CUT BY THE BRACKET AND HAS CREATED A CUT MARK ON THE FUEL LINE. NO FUEL LEAKED BECAUSE OF THIS CONDITION. HAD THIS GONE WITHOUT DISCOVERY, THE FUEL LINE WOULD HAVE LIKELY BURST AND ALLOWED FUEL TO SPILL ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. THE METAL BRACKET CREATING THIS HAZARD IS A MOUNTING POINT FOR AN AIR BYPASS VALVE (3S41-9F491-AC). THIS VALVE AND MOUNTING BRACKET IS A COMPONENT UNIQUE TO THE PZEV VARIANT OF THE FORD FOCUS. PICTURES OF THIS DEFECT HAVE BEEN POSTED IN AN ONLINE PUBLIC FORUM LOCATED HERE-> HTTP://WWW.FOCUSFANATICS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=407090 THE TITLE OF THE FORUM THREAD IS "DANGER - FUEL LINE BEING CUT ON A 2004 PZEV". *TR
NHTSA ODI #10584510
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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