MY FORD FOCUS SVT 2004 INGINTION KEY WILL NOT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. I HAD PROBLEMS STARTING 4 MONTHS AGO AND NOW IT IS WORST. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Focus years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Electrical System complaints
183 reports2004 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT WITH A MILEAGE UNDER 20,000. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *TGW IN JULY 2009, THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, PERIODICALLY THE CLUSTER LIGHTS WOULD MAKE A SOUND AND THE LIGHTS WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF. IT WOULD HAPPEN T…
Read full complaint
2004 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT WITH A MILEAGE UNDER 20,000. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *TGW IN JULY 2009, THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, PERIODICALLY THE CLUSTER LIGHTS WOULD MAKE A SOUND AND THE LIGHTS WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF. IT WOULD HAPPEN TWICE IN A MATTER OF SECONDS, BUT DID NOT HAPPEN EVERYDAY. THE CONSUMER FOLLOWED INSTRUCTION ON WHAT TO DO. THE SITUATION WAS A LITTLE BETTER, BUT THE CLUSTER BLINKING, ETC STILL OCCURRED PERIODICALLY. A WEEK LATER, AS THE CONSUMER BACKED OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY, THERE WERE SOUNDS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THEY SEEMED TO GET WORSE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. UPON INSPECTION, THE TRANSMISSION PLATE WHICH WAS LOCATED UNDER THE ENGINE SHOWED TRANSMISSION FLUID AN D EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF METAL FILLINGS. THE MECHANIC SHOWED THE CONSUMER THE DAMAGED PARTS WHERE THE TEETH IN THE GEARS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHICH CAUSED THE METAL FILLINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION PLATE. *JB
THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILED SUDDENLY WITHOUT A GRADUAL INCREASE OF SYMPTOMS. THE CYLINDER WOULD NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN, UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALLOWING THE CAR TO START. A NEW IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS INSTALLED AND REKEYED AT A PRICE OF $171.18 FOR THE PART AND $142.50 FOR THE LABOR.
I OWN A 2004 FORD FOCUS, I'VE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION STICKING FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS, USUALLY BEING ABLE TO JIGGLE IT AND GET IT TO TURN. NOW IT IS STUCK COMPLETELY, I'VE READ TONS AND TONS OF ARTICLES ABOUT THIS BEING A PROBLEM, MY CAR IS NOW PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL THIS IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX. *TR
THE ISSUE I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT IS IN REGARD TO FORD FOCUS AUTOMOBILES FROM 2000 TO CURRENT DATE 2010. THERE IS A KNOW DEFECT WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH IS MADE WITH INFERIOR METAL PARTS IN THE IGNITION LOCK. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT METAL SHAVINGS ARE PRODUCED INSIDE THE LOCK AND AFTER TIME THESE METAL SHAVINGS CAUSE THE LOCK …
Read full complaint
THE ISSUE I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT IS IN REGARD TO FORD FOCUS AUTOMOBILES FROM 2000 TO CURRENT DATE 2010. THERE IS A KNOW DEFECT WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH IS MADE WITH INFERIOR METAL PARTS IN THE IGNITION LOCK. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT METAL SHAVINGS ARE PRODUCED INSIDE THE LOCK AND AFTER TIME THESE METAL SHAVINGS CAUSE THE LOCK TO JAM. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN STRANDED BECAUSE THEY CANNOT TURN THE IGNITION KEY. FORD DENIES THIS PROBLEM. JUST GO TO ANY LOCKSMITH OR TOW TRUCK DRIVER OR GOOGLE FORD FOCUS IGNITION ON THE INTERNET. EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. EVERYTIME THIS HAPPENS IT COSTS THE OWNER BETWEEN $500 AND $800 TO HAVE THIS FIXED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. MY 2004 FOR FOCUS CURRENTLY HAS THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BY FORD AND I THINK THIS IS THE BIGGEST SCAM SINCE BERNIE MADOFF. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THANKS FRUSTRATED FORD OWNER. *TR
IGNITION SWITCH IN LOCK POSITION FREEZES AND REFUSES TO UNLOCK WHEN IGNITION KEY IS INSERTED, CAUSING AN INABILITY TO START ENGINE OR UNLOCK STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM STRANDS MOTORISTS WHEREVER THEY ARE WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS SWITCHED OFF AND REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. *TR
FORD FOCUS 2004 IGNITION LOCKED. OPENED CAR AS USUAL, INSERTED KEY IN IGNITION TO TURN AND STEERING WHEEL APPEARED TO BE LOCKED. TRIED TO TURN KEY AND MOVE STEERING WHEEL BUT BOTH WOULDN'T MOVE. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED AND THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. CAR NOW NEEDS TO BE TOWED TO BE FIXED. *TR
FIRST OCCURRENCE,WITHOUT WARNING,(HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE) CAR SHUT OFF, IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN, RESULTING IN VEHICLE NO START CONDITION. (ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH) CONTACTED AAA AUTO CLUB, TOW TRUCK DISPATCHED, TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATES GARAGE HAS SEEN MANY 2003, 2004,2005 FOCUS WITH THIS PROBLEM…
Read full complaint
FIRST OCCURRENCE,WITHOUT WARNING,(HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE) CAR SHUT OFF, IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN, RESULTING IN VEHICLE NO START CONDITION. (ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH) CONTACTED AAA AUTO CLUB, TOW TRUCK DISPATCHED, TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATES GARAGE HAS SEEN MANY 2003, 2004,2005 FOCUS WITH THIS PROBLEM. ALSO SHOULD BE NOTED NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON FILE WITH ALL MODEL YEARS OF THIS VEHICLE. FORD DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE CAR AND EXTENDED WARRANTY CLAIMS REPAIR NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS CAR CAN STALL AND FAIL TO RESTART !!!!!!. ALSO FEEL THAT I WAS SOLD AN OVERPRICED "WARRANTY" WHICH I AM TOLD WILL NOT COVER REPAIR !!! WILL RETAIN OLD PART FOR INVESTIGATION AND POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION. NOTE : VEHICLE MILEAGE AT FAILURE 43,205. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86000.
ON A SATURDAY EVENING I DROVE TO GROCERY STORE. AFTER I HAD FINISHED SHOPPING I TRIED TO START VEHICLE. I COULD NOT TURN KEY IN IGNITION AND THE STEERING COLUMN REMAINED IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THE VEHICLE HAD 67787 MILES. I HAD CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALER AND THEY DRILLED OUT LOCK CYLINDER AND REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE AT A COST OF …
Read full complaint
ON A SATURDAY EVENING I DROVE TO GROCERY STORE. AFTER I HAD FINISHED SHOPPING I TRIED TO START VEHICLE. I COULD NOT TURN KEY IN IGNITION AND THE STEERING COLUMN REMAINED IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THE VEHICLE HAD 67787 MILES. I HAD CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALER AND THEY DRILLED OUT LOCK CYLINDER AND REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE AT A COST OF $385.34. TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATED THAT HE HAD TOWED THE SAME MODEL BEFORE WITH AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT DEALER STATED THAT HE HAD SEVERAL OF THE SAME MODEL WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEM. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE PART HAD BEEN UPDATED A FEW TIMES. I AM 53 AND HAVE DRIVEN MANY VEHICLES, SOME WITH OVER 240,000 MILES AND HAVE NEVER BEFORE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL IT WAS MANUFACTURED WITH A DEFECT AND IT FAILED PREMATURELY. *TR
Official recalls
105V030000 · 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
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.
Illustration