NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
387 reports63,000 miles · Aug 5, 2009
Electrical System
2004 FORD FOCUS KEY IGNITION IS A FAULTY DESIGN IN SEEMINGLY ALL FOCUS MODELS ACCORDING TO MY DEALER AND MANY SOURCES. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER WITH MY PET AND NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. THE REPAIR IS QUOTED AT $550 TO REPLACE IT AT THE DEALER AND FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECALL THEIR POORLY DESIGNED IGNITION. MY DE…
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2004 FORD FOCUS KEY IGNITION IS A FAULTY DESIGN IN SEEMINGLY ALL FOCUS MODELS ACCORDING TO MY DEALER AND MANY SOURCES. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER WITH MY PET AND NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. THE REPAIR IS QUOTED AT $550 TO REPLACE IT AT THE DEALER AND FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECALL THEIR POORLY DESIGNED IGNITION. MY DEALER SAID EVERY FORD FOCUS WILL EVENTUALLY NEED THIS REPAIRED, WHY THEN ISN'T FORD ACCOUNTABLE? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10279500
53,600 miles · Jul 30, 2009
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
1. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGN 2. MY KEY WOULDN'T TURN THE IGNITION, I WAS STUCK AT MY JOB 11:00 PM. 3. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIPS AND HAD THE IGNITION REPLACED COSTING ME $382.00. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278836
70,000 miles · Jul 18, 2009
Electrical SystemSteering
I TRIED TO START MY 2004 FORD FOCUS ZX3 ONE NIGHT ONLY TO FIND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND IGNITION WERE LOCKED UP. IT FELT AS IF THE WHOLE STEERING MECHANISM WAS FROZEN. I'M STILL RESEARCHING HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUES SINCE I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR. ON-LINE RESOURCES HAVE TAUGHT ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD …
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I TRIED TO START MY 2004 FORD FOCUS ZX3 ONE NIGHT ONLY TO FIND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND IGNITION WERE LOCKED UP. IT FELT AS IF THE WHOLE STEERING MECHANISM WAS FROZEN. I'M STILL RESEARCHING HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUES SINCE I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR. ON-LINE RESOURCES HAVE TAUGHT ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FOCUS' YET THERE IS NO RECALL AVAILABLE AND WE ARE STUCK PAYING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10277284
64,000 miles · Jul 13, 2009
Electrical System
THERE IS A DEFECT WHICH CAUSES THE IGNITION LOCK TO FAIL, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE KEY OR START THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE. THE FORM SAYS IT'S INVALID BUT I CHECKED BOTH PLACES IN THE CAR AND THAT IS WHAT IT SAYS. THE FORM DID NOT HAVE, "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION," AS AN OPTION FOR COMPONENT NAME WHICH BETTER DESCRIBES THE…
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THERE IS A DEFECT WHICH CAUSES THE IGNITION LOCK TO FAIL, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE KEY OR START THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE. THE FORM SAYS IT'S INVALID BUT I CHECKED BOTH PLACES IN THE CAR AND THAT IS WHAT IT SAYS. THE FORM DID NOT HAVE, "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION," AS AN OPTION FOR COMPONENT NAME WHICH BETTER DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM AREA. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10276582
9,000 miles · Jun 30, 2009
Air BagsCrash
WAS INVOLVED IN REAR-ENDING A CHEVROLET IMPALA STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS GOING 55-60 MPH AND HIT THE BRAKES AT THE LAST SECOND. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND HAD $7000-8000 WORTH OF FRONT END DAMAGE. THE ONLY THING I SUFFERED FROM WAS WHIPLASH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10275366
72,352 miles · Jun 27, 2009
Electrical System
2004 FORD FOCUS - KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS 6/27/09 @ 1:15 AM, LEAVING MOVIE THEATER, HAD TO LEAVE VEHICLE THERE. AGAIN @ 7 AM (FINALLY GOT CAR CRANKED AFTER 15 MINUTES). WHEN GOT HOME THIS OCCURRED AGAIN. REPEATED TIMES. CANNOT CRANK VEHICLE WITH KEY IN IGNITION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10275093
31,000 miles · Jun 23, 2009
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
OUR 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER STOPPED AT A SEVEN-ELEVEN STORE AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO RETURN HOME THE IGNITION KEY IN OUR 2004 FORD FOCUS WOULD NOT TURN. THIS LEFT OUR DAUGHTER STRANDED AND REQUIRED HER TO WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK. BEING A 17 YEAR OLD GIRL STRANDED OUTSIDE A SEVEN-ELEVEN WAS NOT A GOOD FEELING! I BELIEVE FORD IS AWARE OF M…
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OUR 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER STOPPED AT A SEVEN-ELEVEN STORE AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO RETURN HOME THE IGNITION KEY IN OUR 2004 FORD FOCUS WOULD NOT TURN. THIS LEFT OUR DAUGHTER STRANDED AND REQUIRED HER TO WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK. BEING A 17 YEAR OLD GIRL STRANDED OUTSIDE A SEVEN-ELEVEN WAS NOT A GOOD FEELING! I BELIEVE FORD IS AWARE OF MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THEIR FOCUS IGNITION LOCKS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10274775
69,000 miles · Jun 17, 2009
Electrical System
2004 FORD FOCUS. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AND THE IGNITION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO TONS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR AND ISSUE AND FORD HAS NOT RECALLED IT BECAUSE THEY ARE CHEAP.*TR
NHTSA ODI #10274187
109,951 miles · Jun 4, 2009
Electrical System
THE VEHICLE IGNITION STARTER FAILS TO START THE VEHICLE. YOU MUST HIT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY START THE CAR. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THAT I ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT RECURS EVEN AFTER YOU REPLACE THE PARTS. THIS IS A MECHANICAL ERROR THAT WILL CONSTANTLY BREAK DOWN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10272893
75,000 miles · May 31, 2009
Electrical System
1. FORD FOCUS (2004) HAS FOR THE PAST MONTH HAD TROUBLE WITH THE KEY TURNING IN THE IGNITION. APPARENTLY IT IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HOWEVER, I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT BEING STRANDED SOMEWHERE AT NIGHT IS VERY MUCH A SAFETY ISSUE - WHETHER OR NOT FORD ADMITS THIS POSSIBILIT…
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1. FORD FOCUS (2004) HAS FOR THE PAST MONTH HAD TROUBLE WITH THE KEY TURNING IN THE IGNITION. APPARENTLY IT IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HOWEVER, I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT BEING STRANDED SOMEWHERE AT NIGHT IS VERY MUCH A SAFETY ISSUE - WHETHER OR NOT FORD ADMITS THIS POSSIBILITY. 2. THE KEY DOES NOT TURN BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH (OR SO I'VE READ ONLINE). THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THOUSANDS OF TIMES ACCORDING TO ONLINE COMPLAINTS AND PETITIONS, WITHOUT FORD RECOGNIZING IT AND TAKING ACTION. THIS PROBLEM RENDERS THE CAR COMPLETELY UNUSABLE UNTIL FIXED AND THE REPAIR CAN BE VERY COSTLY AND TIME CONSUMING. IT IS MOST CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE - WHAT IS SAFE ABOUT BEING UNABLE TO START ONE'S CAR IF ONE IS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, AT NIGHT IN AN UNKNOWN CITY, ETC? 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET BECAUSE I AM WAITING TO SEE IF FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE CAN EXPLAIN WHY THE COMPANY REFUSES TO ADMIT THE ISSUE AND REIMBURSE IT'S CUSTOMERS FOR THEIR FAULTY DESIGN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10272460
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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