IGNITION SYSTEM FAILED FOR 2004 FORD FOCUS 2 DR COUPE. CAR NOW NEEDS A NEW SYSTEM WHICH FORD ESTIMATES AT $450. GOOGLE "FORD FOCUS IGNITION" AND SEE HUNDREDS OF EXACT SAME COMPLAINT. FORD WILL NOT RECALL SINCE NOT "SAFETY" ISSUE, HOW ABOUT INTEGRITY. THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX IT. CALIFORNIA HAS A CLASS ACTION LA…
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IGNITION SYSTEM FAILED FOR 2004 FORD FOCUS 2 DR COUPE. CAR NOW NEEDS A NEW SYSTEM WHICH FORD ESTIMATES AT $450. GOOGLE "FORD FOCUS IGNITION" AND SEE HUNDREDS OF EXACT SAME COMPLAINT. FORD WILL NOT RECALL SINCE NOT "SAFETY" ISSUE, HOW ABOUT INTEGRITY. THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX IT. CALIFORNIA HAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT, BUT WHAT ABOUT ME?? FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY KNOW EXISTS FOR OLDER MODELS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME OF NEED. NO CONFIDENCE LEFT IN FORD, I WILL BUY FOREIGN CARS FROM NOW ON. PLEASE HELP!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10265084
87,100 miles · Mar 30, 2009
Electrical System
MY IGNITION LOCK FROZE UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR. KEY WOULDN'T TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A SHOP FOR REPAIRS. I CALLED FORD AND ASKED THEM TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THEY DECLINED. I OWN A 2004 FORD FOCUS ZX5. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10263625
70,000 miles · Feb 25, 2009
Electrical System
MY 2004 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH FAILED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE KEY AND START THE CAR. LEAVING HIM STRANDED IN PROVIDENCE RI LATE MONDAY NIGHT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A CLASS PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS PURSUING A CLASS ACTION AGAINST FORD FOR THIS. WHY IS THEIR NO RECALL ??? THE CA…
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MY 2004 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH FAILED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE KEY AND START THE CAR. LEAVING HIM STRANDED IN PROVIDENCE RI LATE MONDAY NIGHT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A CLASS PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS PURSUING A CLASS ACTION AGAINST FORD FOR THIS. WHY IS THEIR NO RECALL ??? THE CAR HAS 70K MILES ON IT, BUT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 100K WARRANTY AS IT IS OVER 4 YEARS OLD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10259886
72,000 miles · Feb 21, 2009
Electrical System
2004 FORD FOCUS KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT TURN. IT OCCURS FREQUENTLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10259542
91,000 miles · Feb 12, 2009
Electrical System
UPON LEAVING A GROCERY STORE THE IGNITION KEY WOULDN'T TURN. I WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR AND CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE $391 PLUS TAX, AND THAT IF THEY DAMAGED THE STEERING COLUMN IN THE PROCESS I WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT COST OF THE COLUMN AS WELL. …
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UPON LEAVING A GROCERY STORE THE IGNITION KEY WOULDN'T TURN. I WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR AND CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE $391 PLUS TAX, AND THAT IF THEY DAMAGED THE STEERING COLUMN IN THE PROCESS I WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT COST OF THE COLUMN AS WELL. NOT WILLING TO TAKE MY CHANCES WITH SUCH AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT WOULD LEAVE ME WITH A NEW PART THAT WOULD POSSIBLY FAIL IN THE SAME MANNER, NOT TO MENTION POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL COSTS OF REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE COLUMN I CONDUCTED A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH 1999 THROUGH 2007 FORD FOCUS CARS. I ALSO LEARNED THAT A COMPETENT LOCKSMITH COULD REPAIR THE SWITCH FOR BETWEEN $150 AND $200. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR $152, AND THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING THE STEERING COLUMN. THE ORIGINAL PART WAS REMOVED BY THE LOCKSMITH, REBUILT THE SWITCH AND REPLACED IT THUS REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10258524
Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2009
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesSteering
FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW, THE IGNITION AND/OR STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN I TRY TO PUT THE KEY IN TO START MY 2004 FORD FOCUS. I INITIALLY SPENT 20 MINUTES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO START THE CAR. NOW I REALIZE I HAVE TO JIGGLE, TURN, & FINAGLE EVERYTHING JUST RIGHT & I CAN GET IT THE IGNITION TO TURN IN A FEW MINUTES. IT IS …
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FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW, THE IGNITION AND/OR STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN I TRY TO PUT THE KEY IN TO START MY 2004 FORD FOCUS. I INITIALLY SPENT 20 MINUTES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO START THE CAR. NOW I REALIZE I HAVE TO JIGGLE, TURN, & FINAGLE EVERYTHING JUST RIGHT & I CAN GET IT THE IGNITION TO TURN IN A FEW MINUTES. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT I NOW THINK GETTING MY CAR STARTED IN UNDER 5 MINUTES IS "GOOD." THIS HAPPENS 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES THAT I TRY TO START THE CAR. I HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. SEEMS LIKE FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOT IMPRESSED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10257730
44,000 miles · Feb 3, 2009
Electrical System
2004 FORD FOCUS - IGNITION PROBLEMS. CAME TO FIND OUT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN, DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. "THE FORD FOCUS' MOST COMMON PROBLEM, ACCORDING COMPLAINTS FROM FOCUS OWNERS, IS THE KEY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION, OR THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION." *TR
THE IGNITION LOCK AND THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT. HAD TO BE TOWED AT MIDNIGHT FROM THE HOSPITAL IN 18 DEGREE WEATHER. DEALERSHIP SAID MANUFACTURE PART AT A COST OF $455.00. BRAKE NOISE NO ONE CAN FIND. REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM TWICE. WILL NEVER BUY FORD AGAIN!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10256490
Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2008
Electrical System
I HAVE A 2004 FORD FOCUS WHOSE IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS COST ME A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10252593
57,000 miles · Dec 17, 2008
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVES AND RE-INSERTS THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE IGNITION LOCKS. HE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTAN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVES AND RE-INSERTS THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE IGNITION LOCKS. HE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE HIS VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000.
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.
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