2004 Ford Focus

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE SEATING IN A BOOSTER SEAT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SEAT, THE CHILD WAS ABLE TO TIE THE SEAT BELT AROUND HIS HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY JUST LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND SUGGESTED THE CONSUMER CONTACTED NHTSA. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85342. UPDATED 12/22/09.*LJ THE CONSUMER HAD TO CUT THE STRAP. UPDATED 12/29/09.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE PREPARING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE BURNING AND MELTING OF THE TURN SIGNAL BULB SOCKET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $300.00. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON A THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REIMBURSED FOR THE PRIOR SERVICE REPAIR. ALSO, PERFORMED ONE FREE REMEDY REPAIR ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

I HAVE TWO ISSUES WITH MY FORD FOCUS (2004) FIRST, I RAN INTO A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IT WILL NOT TURN. I LEFT THE KEY IN FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS WHEN THIS INITIALLY HAPPENED BUT, IT WORE OUT MY ALTERNATOR AND I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I REMOVED THE KEY ONCE THE NEW ALTERNATOR WAS INSTALLED. I HAD SOME MINOR SUCCESS WITH INSERTING THE KEY AND HAD TO BANG ON IT WITH MY HAND TO GET IT TO TURN. THIS WORKED SUCCESSFULLY FOR 2 WEEKS. THE IGNITION SWITCH IS NOW FROZEN. I AM BACK TO SQUARE ONE. SECONDLY, THE TRUNK LATCH DOESN'T CLOSE PROPERLY AND I HAVE TO USE MY REMOTE TO REOPEN THE MECHANISM IN ORDER TO GET IT TO CLOSE. VERY AGGRAVATING. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD IF THESE ISSUES ARE NOT RECALLED. *TR

THE VEHICLE HAS 54,000MI AND DRIVEN WITHIN NORMAL DRIVING LIMITS. THE HINGE PEG THAT CREATES A PIVOT POINT FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BROKE ON ONE END CAUSING IT TO FALL COMPLETELY OUT OF THE PEDAL AND BRACKET. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON A BUSY ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR AND CAUSE COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL TO ACCELERATE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT YET BEEN CORRECTED HAPPENING ONLY HOURS AGO. *TR

I OWN A 2004 FORD FOCUS ZX5, I WENT INTO WORK, CAME OUT AND FOUND MY IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, THE KEY WOULD NOT BUDGE, THE BRAKE WOULDN'T EVEN PUSH IN ALL THE WAY, AS WELL AS MY CAR WOULDN'T COME OUT OF PARK. I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND SAW IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I'M VERY DISPLEASE THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. I BOUGHT THIS CAR ABOUT A YEAR AGO FROM A DEALERSHIP! I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR TO A LOCKSMITH OR DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THE ENTIRE IGNITION SYSTEM REPLACED. *TR

MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS LEFT STRANDED ONE EVENING WHEN THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION OF HER 2004 FORD FOCUS SO SHE COULDN'T GET THE CAR STARTED. I HAD JUST SIGNED UP FOR A CLASS AT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT A CAMPUS 25+ MILES AWAY. I WAS IN CLASS WITH MY PHONE OFF, SO I COULDN'T HELP HER. IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR A YOUNG GIRL TO BE STRANDED ANYWHERE. IN ADDITION, WE LIVE IN TEXAS WHERE WE'RE UP TO 65 DAYS OF TEMPERATURES IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR HEALTH CONCERN FOR ANYONE WHO BECAME STRANDED IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY. I UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON IN 2000-2004 MODELS. WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO GET SOMEONE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN SO SHE COULD DRIVE HOME. HOWEVER, ONCE THERE, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THEN I LEARNED THAT THE PART WASN'T EVEN COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY I HAD PURCHASED. FOR WHATEVER REASON, FORD DOESN'T CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

ON 8/19/09, I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 FORD FOCUS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, IT FELT LIKE PRESSURE (OR HAVING TO FORCE CAR TO GO) WITH MY FOOT ON GAS PEDAL. AFTER I EASED MY FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL, CAR WOULD SWITCH IN TO GEAR. THIS SAME PATTERN OF PRESSURE AND EASING FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL SO THAT CAR WOULD GO INTO GEAR HAPPENED EACH TIME I WOULD MAKE A STOP. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT SHEEHY FORD DEALERSHIP AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED WITH 2ND AND 4TH GEAR NOT WORKING & THAT I COULD NOT DRIVE CAR HOME UNTIL TRANSMISSION IS REPLACED BECAUSE ALSO TRANSMISSION IS READY TO FALL OUT OF CAR DUE TO WEAK SUPPORT IS HOLDING TRANSMISSION IN PLACE. CAR HAS APPROX ONLY 83,000 MILES. *TR

IGNITION AND STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN WHILE HEADING OUT ON MY LUNCH BREAK. I'M REALLY DISTURBED THAT THE NHTSA HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO MAKE THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY FIX THIS PROBLEM WHICH IS A CHRONIC, WELL-DOCUMENTED SAFETY HAZARD. MY CAR IS NOW COMPLETELY IMMOBILE AND HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO MY RESIDENCE. LUCKILY MY FATHER IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIX IT, BUT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE THIS OPTION AND HAVE TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX A PROBLEM CAUSED BY FAULTY MATERIALS KNOWINGLY USED BY FORD. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. *TR