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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

Air Bags complaints

24 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2022
Air BagsUnknown Or OtherCrash

I was coming home one night, in my 2004 Ford focus, when another driver comes speeding up behind me. He then proceeds to pass me during a corner, cutting me off. I hit the brakes and lost control. Ended up rolling my vehicle with my 8 month old daughter and i. Back window exploded, and not a single air bags had deployed when I g…

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I was coming home one night, in my 2004 Ford focus, when another driver comes speeding up behind me. He then proceeds to pass me during a corner, cutting me off. I hit the brakes and lost control. Ended up rolling my vehicle with my 8 month old daughter and i. Back window exploded, and not a single air bags had deployed when I got into my accident.

NHTSA ODI #11468967

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

88,000 miles · Feb 1, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL: I LOOKED UP MY VIN NUMBER ON THE GOVT. WEBSITE MANY MONTHS AGO, AND FOUND THIS CAR HAS POTENTIALLY FAULTY TAKATA AIR BAGS. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MOVE REPLACEMENT FORWARD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, SINCE FORD HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL. THE DEALER SAYS THEY NEED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD USA A…

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TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL: I LOOKED UP MY VIN NUMBER ON THE GOVT. WEBSITE MANY MONTHS AGO, AND FOUND THIS CAR HAS POTENTIALLY FAULTY TAKATA AIR BAGS. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MOVE REPLACEMENT FORWARD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, SINCE FORD HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL. THE DEALER SAYS THEY NEED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD USA AND WHEN I CALL FORD USA THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO MOVE FORWARD ON A RECALL FOR THIS AIRBAG. THE DEALER ALSO SAID I COULD NOT BE GUARANTEED A SAFE AIR BAG IF THEY JUST REPLACED THE ONE I HAVE, SINCE THE REPLACEMENT MIGHT ALSO BE FAULTY, UNLESS IT WAS A SPECIAL REDESIGNED ONE AS ISSUED IN A RECALL SETTING. I CALLED DTVSH ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF FORD USA AND THEY RECOMMENDED I FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE FTC. THE FTC CONTACT GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER: 69255063. I FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING AROUND IN A CAR WITH A POTENTIAL BOMB IN THE STEERING WHEEL, OR LOANING IT TO FAMILY MEMBERS. THE DEALER EVEN SAID I COULD JUST QUIT USING MY CAR FOR THE YEARS IT MIGHT TAKE TO WAIT FOR THE RECALL (!!!) I THINK THEY SHOULD GIVE ME A LOANER IF THEY THINK ITS THAT SERIOUS, YET THEY DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO MOVE FORWARD ON STARTING A RECALL. THEY HAVE THREE MODELS OF CARS FROM THE YEAR MINE WAS BUILT THAT ARE UNDER RECALL. PLEASE INITIATE A RECALL ON THE FORD FOCUS WAGON TO ENSURE IT IS REASONABLY SAFE TO DRIVE. THE TYPES OF ACCIDENTS THAT ARE KILLING PEOPLE FROM THE EXPLODING, SHRAPNEL FILLED AIR BAGS ARE LOW IMPACT AND OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE FATAL. I DON'T WANT ME OR SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY DYING BECAUSE FORD IS NOT IN RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10823621

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

90,000 miles · Apr 14, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING ON A PARKWAY IN THE RIGHT LANE A CAR IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE TWO LANE PARKWAY HIT THE VEHICLE ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE BACK WHEEL. THE CAR THEN WAS DRIVEN INTO A ROCK CUT AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED IN. ALTHOUGH THE FRONT END IMPACT WAS SUBSTANTIAL, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WH…

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WHILE DRIVING ON A PARKWAY IN THE RIGHT LANE A CAR IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE TWO LANE PARKWAY HIT THE VEHICLE ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE BACK WHEEL. THE CAR THEN WAS DRIVEN INTO A ROCK CUT AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED IN. ALTHOUGH THE FRONT END IMPACT WAS SUBSTANTIAL, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH RESULTED IN SEVERAL SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. THE POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE ARE AVAILABLE AS WELL AS CORRESPONDENCE WITH FORD ON THIS ACCIDENT. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10582788

202,354 miles · Jan 13, 2014
Air Bags

DRIVING ALONG HIT A POTHOLE AND HEARD A LOAD BANG THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE SUSPENSION BOTTOMING OUT, LOOKED TO MY LEFT AND NOTICED THAT SIDE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED, FILLING THE CAR WITH NOXIOUS FUMES AND HITTING MY SHOULDER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559542

120,000 miles · Dec 20, 2013
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 2/11/14*CN

NHTSA ODI #10556810

160,687 miles · Nov 4, 2013
Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 12 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE'S TOW HITCH AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT ONLY THE LICENSE PLATE HAD A DENT IN IT AND HE SUFFERED A SEVERE BURN INJURY ON HER LEFT HAND. THE FAILU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 12 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE'S TOW HITCH AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT ONLY THE LICENSE PLATE HAD A DENT IN IT AND HE SUFFERED A SEVERE BURN INJURY ON HER LEFT HAND. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,687.

NHTSA ODI #10550841

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2011
Air BagsCrash

I WAS DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING AND HIT A TREE, THAT IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE ROAD, ON A WINDING ROAD WITH THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF MY CAR. AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF AT ALL. WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL ON A GURNEY, IN AN AMBULANCE. LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED QUITE A BIT OF TRAUMA. IT WAS SWELLING AT SUCH A R…

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I WAS DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING AND HIT A TREE, THAT IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE ROAD, ON A WINDING ROAD WITH THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF MY CAR. AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF AT ALL. WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL ON A GURNEY, IN AN AMBULANCE. LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED QUITE A BIT OF TRAUMA. IT WAS SWELLING AT SUCH A RAPID RATE THAT THE NURSES AND DOCTORS THOUGHT I HAD BROKEN MY CHEEK BONE. AFTER CT SCANS, IT WAS DETERMINED I HAD NO BROKEN BONES, JUST BRUISED RIBS, SMALL CUTS, AND CONTUSIONS ON MULTIPLE PARTS OF MY BODY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I PLAN TO GET THE SDM FROM THE VEHICLE AND SEE WHAT EXACTLY WAS RECORDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10428180

79,000 miles · Nov 10, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FOUR PEOPLE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES (BURN RASHES, ETC). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FOUR PEOPLE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES (BURN RASHES, ETC). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

NHTSA ODI #10365300

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.