NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
387 reports50,000 miles · May 27, 2009
Electrical System
I OWN A 2004 FORD FOCUS THAT THE IGNITION WENT OUT ON, I WOULD PUT THE KEY IN AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN, LOCKED STEERING WHEEL. FOR A WHILE, I WOULD WIGGLE THE KEY AND IT WOULD FINALLY TURN OVER, UNTIL 2 WEEKS AGO( 5-2009) WHEN I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AFTER I GOT IN MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE FORD DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT IT…
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I OWN A 2004 FORD FOCUS THAT THE IGNITION WENT OUT ON, I WOULD PUT THE KEY IN AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN, LOCKED STEERING WHEEL. FOR A WHILE, I WOULD WIGGLE THE KEY AND IT WOULD FINALLY TURN OVER, UNTIL 2 WEEKS AGO( 5-2009) WHEN I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AFTER I GOT IN MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE FORD DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT MORNING AND TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $450.00 TO FIX AND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO ALOT OF FOCUS OWNERS, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FORD WOULD NOT WANT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, STARTING YOUR CAR IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING NEEDED TO DRIVE SO WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO COUNT ON YOUR IGNITION YOUR CAR IS USELESS AND WITHOUT FORD RECOGNIZING THIS PROBLEM AND FIXING IT, I BELIEVE ALOT OF FORD OWNERS MAY NOT BE IN THE FUTURE. YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO START A CAR! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10270079
80,000 miles · May 22, 2009
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT RETURN TO HOME POSITION WHEN TURNED OFF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10269755
80,000 miles · May 22, 2009
Power Train
ON ACCELERATION FROM STOP CAR TACKS OUT TO 6 AND TRANSMISSION REVS THEN SHIFTS VERY HARD, CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THEY WAY I DRIVE MY CAR. SAID TRANSMISSION LEARNS HOW TO SHIFT THAT WAY, CAR STILL NOT REPAIRED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10269754
5,000 miles · May 22, 2009
Fuel System, Other
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER PURCHASE IN 04, THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER TWICE ALREADY, NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND THROTTLE BODY STICKING AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10269753
50,000 miles · May 22, 2009
Electrical System
IGNITION SWITCH WONT TURN WHICH PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS, FOR WAY OVER A YR NOW. TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS 2004 ZX3 FOCUS. HE SAID TO HIT THE KEY A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH YOUR HAND AND IT WILL TURN, AND IT DOES. ONLY WAY THE CAR WILL START. CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DE…
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IGNITION SWITCH WONT TURN WHICH PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS, FOR WAY OVER A YR NOW. TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS 2004 ZX3 FOCUS. HE SAID TO HIT THE KEY A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH YOUR HAND AND IT WILL TURN, AND IT DOES. ONLY WAY THE CAR WILL START. CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD 550.00 TO REPLACE. SO STILL NOT REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10269752
69,000 miles · Apr 29, 2009
Electrical System
THE KEY WILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. USUALLY I CAN GET IT TO WORK AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR OR TWO OF REPEATEDLY PUTTING THE KEY IN & OUT, BUT TODAY I CANNOT GET IT WORKING. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE DEAD OF WINTER WITH MY DAUGHTER OUT AT MIDNIGHT, ON THE SIDE OF A MAJOR BUSY HIGHWAY (RT 94 WEST TO CH…
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THE KEY WILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. USUALLY I CAN GET IT TO WORK AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR OR TWO OF REPEATEDLY PUTTING THE KEY IN & OUT, BUT TODAY I CANNOT GET IT WORKING. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE DEAD OF WINTER WITH MY DAUGHTER OUT AT MIDNIGHT, ON THE SIDE OF A MAJOR BUSY HIGHWAY (RT 94 WEST TO CHICAGO), AND SEVERAL OTHER LOCATIONS. IT'S USUALLY LATE AT NIGHT AND FREEZING COLD OUT WHEN THIS HAPPENS TO ME. IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME AS WELL AS WHEN I HAVE MY DAUGHTER WITH ME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10267235
80,000 miles · Apr 13, 2009
Electrical System
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
19,000 miles · Apr 1, 2009
Suspension
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE PUNCTURING MY TIRE. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP GETTING REPAIRS. (ESTIMATED REPAIR COSTS ARE $782.). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10263827
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
120,000 miles · Mar 23, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE, BUT THE FAILURE REMAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER HAD NO PRESSURE AND THE PIST…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE, BUT THE FAILURE REMAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER HAD NO PRESSURE AND THE PISTON WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED AND THE CONTACT IS WAITING FOR AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
NHTSA ODI #10262783
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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