NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
183 reportsClear category filter14,000 miles · Feb 26, 2005
Electrical System
I OWN A 2004 FORD FOCUS ZTS, PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE, 2004. SINCE PURCHASE, I HAVE HAD THE HORN REPLACED TWICE,MEANING THE CAR HAS IT'S 3RD HORN. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WATER ENTRY INTO THE HORN ITSELF, POSSIBLY SHORTING OUT THE DEVICE. THE WATER COULD BE FROM A CAR WASH, OR FROM WATER ENTRY WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN. THIS IS A SAF…
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I OWN A 2004 FORD FOCUS ZTS, PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE, 2004. SINCE PURCHASE, I HAVE HAD THE HORN REPLACED TWICE,MEANING THE CAR HAS IT'S 3RD HORN. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WATER ENTRY INTO THE HORN ITSELF, POSSIBLY SHORTING OUT THE DEVICE. THE WATER COULD BE FROM A CAR WASH, OR FROM WATER ENTRY WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT, IN THAT I HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER THE HORN WORKS OR NOT UNTIL I ATTEMPT TO USE IT. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR ISSUE IF I NEED TO WARN SOMEONE OF MY PRESENCE.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10112192
4,800 miles · Feb 21, 2005
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Air
CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 4-04 AT 4800 MILES BRAKES GROVED, DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM; ROTORS CUT & NEW PAD AT 10,000 AND AT 12000 GRINDING IS BACK, ALSO A FLOPPING RUBBING NOISE IN FRONT RIGHT WHICH I THINK IS BECAUSE THE ROTOR WERE CUT TOO FAR AND NOW THERE IS TOO MUCH PLAY BETWEEN PADS AND ROTOR, ALSO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, LIGHTS,…
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CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 4-04 AT 4800 MILES BRAKES GROVED, DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM; ROTORS CUT & NEW PAD AT 10,000 AND AT 12000 GRINDING IS BACK, ALSO A FLOPPING RUBBING NOISE IN FRONT RIGHT WHICH I THINK IS BECAUSE THE ROTOR WERE CUT TOO FAR AND NOW THERE IS TOO MUCH PLAY BETWEEN PADS AND ROTOR, ALSO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, LIGHTS, DASH ICONS, DOOR LOCKS GO ON AND OFF EVEN WITHOUT A KEY. GEM MODULE & BATTERY REPLACED BUT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK AND IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. NO SPEEDOMETER, NO ODOMETER, GAS GAUGE ETC. WHILE DRIVING, DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK AT WILL, DASH OCCASSIONALY FLASHED ON FOR 15 SECONDS AND THEN GOES OUT AGAIN. AGENCY THINKS IT'S THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BUT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET ONE TO REPLACE IT, WE CAN'T BE SURE. THE COMPUTER WAS KICKING OUT CODES FOR EQUIPMENT THAT ISN'T EVEN ON THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAYS NEVER SAW THIS PROBLEM BEFORE.
NHTSA ODI #10111881
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2005
Electrical SystemEquipment
TYPE OF AUTOMOBILE IS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONSX IGNITION LOCKS UP AND CANNOT START CAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE FORD FOCUS DATING BACK TO THE 2000 MODEL AND YET FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM FOR A MOTHER WITH CHIL…
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TYPE OF AUTOMOBILE IS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONSX IGNITION LOCKS UP AND CANNOT START CAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE FORD FOCUS DATING BACK TO THE 2000 MODEL AND YET FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM FOR A MOTHER WITH CHILDREN IF SHE WERE TO TRAVEL AT NIGHT AND WHEN RETURNING TO THE CAR COULD NOT START HER ENGINE. IT IS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE FOR REPAIR OR UNDER WARRANTY IF EXPIRED AND IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON THE PART OF FORD AND THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS THAT AFTER RESEARCHING HAS BEEN EVIDENT SINCE THE RELEASE OF THE FORD FOCUS. IT IS TIME THAT FORD DID SOMETHING ABOUT THIS INSTEAD OF LEAVING IT UP TO THE CONSUMER TO REPAIR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10108219
Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2005
Electrical SystemSteering
THE IGNITION SWITCH AND STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED. THE OWNER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA ODI #10107424
80,000 miles · Dec 8, 2004
Electrical System
2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3: THE TUMBLERS OF THE IGNITION ARE JAMMED. THE KEY HAS A ROUGH TIME GOING INTO THE MECHANISM AND OFTEN GETS STUCK ON THE WAY IN OR OUT. ONCE IN, THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. THE CAR NOW HAS TO BE TOWED TO BE WORKED ON. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10102351
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2004
Electrical System
CONSUMER PLACED THE KEY INSIDE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IT FAILED TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON. CONSUMER HAD TO HIT THE IGNITION SWITCH HARD IN ORDER FOR THE KEY TO COME OUT. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND APPOINTMENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10101958
38,000 miles · Oct 24, 2004
Electrical System
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAN'T START CAR. HAD TO TAKE A HAMMER AND POUND KEY TO GET STARTED, AS A TOW TRUCK OPERATOR TOLD ME ALL THESE FORD FOCUSS ARE DOING THIS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10096319
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2004
Electrical System
WHILE PLACING THE KEY INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH IGNITION FAILED TO START UP THE VEHICLE, AND THE KEY FAILED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL, AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR PARTS AND LABOR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10095423
47,000 miles · Sep 13, 2004
Electrical System
CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK AND CYLINDER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10091978
30,810 miles · Jun 27, 2004
Electrical System
LOCK CYLINDER WILL NOT OPERATE TO START CAR. KEY WILL NOT TURN. I PURCHASED CAR USED WITH 24161 MILES AS USED WITH BALANCE OF NEW CAR WARRENTEY. FIRST HAPPENED AT 30810 MILES , 35500 MILES,40211 MILES, AND AT 42152 MILES. THE CAR IS UNUSABLE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10078875
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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