Illustration"TAKATA RECALL" TRUNK LID POPS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. I'M AFRAID THAT IF I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE LID WILL FLY UP. ALSO IF I POP THE LID WITH KEY FOB BREAK LIGHTS COME ON.
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
620–25K
7725–50K
5050–75K
5575–100K
33100–150K
16150K+
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.
34 crash reports13 fire reports24 injury reports
What owners actually said
387 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED. ALSO, THE OXYGEN SENSOR, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AND THROTTLE BODY SENSOR WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. SINCE 2016, THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, FACI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED. ALSO, THE OXYGEN SENSOR, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AND THROTTLE BODY SENSOR WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. SINCE 2016, THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, FACING UPWARDS. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED BY A SCHOOL TEACHER WHO WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE AIR INTAKE WAS LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND WATER ENTERED, WHICH DAMAGED THE SENSORS.T HE AIR INTAKE NEEDS TO BE POINTED DOWN TO PREVENT WATER FROM COMING IN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN IS INVALID. *TT*JB
WHEN PUTTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AND START THE CAR. IT WILL NOT START AFTER PULLING THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I AM PREGNANT EXPECTING A BABY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME AND MY BABY. IF I GO INTO LABOR AND NEED TO LEAVE TO THE HOSPITAL I CANNOT RISK THE CAR WILL NOT START BECAUSE THE KEY WON'T TUR…
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WHEN PUTTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AND START THE CAR. IT WILL NOT START AFTER PULLING THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I AM PREGNANT EXPECTING A BABY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME AND MY BABY. IF I GO INTO LABOR AND NEED TO LEAVE TO THE HOSPITAL I CANNOT RISK THE CAR WILL NOT START BECAUSE THE KEY WON'T TURN THE IGNITION ON.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN JAMMED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER (DAY FORD, 3696 WILLIAM PENN HWY, MONROEVILLE, PA) AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN JAMMED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER (DAY FORD, 3696 WILLIAM PENN HWY, MONROEVILLE, PA) AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
MY VEHICLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED CAUSING ALTERNATOR TO DIE AND FALSE READINGS ON THE DASH WITH MULTIPLE ALERTS SUCH AS BATTERY, AIRBAG , OIL AND INCORRECT SPEED DIAL. THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT FAILED AT 30,000 MILES AND IF YOU SEARCH IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE FORD FOCUS VEHICLE'S. THE VEHICLE STALED AND DIED WHILE BEI…
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MY VEHICLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED CAUSING ALTERNATOR TO DIE AND FALSE READINGS ON THE DASH WITH MULTIPLE ALERTS SUCH AS BATTERY, AIRBAG , OIL AND INCORRECT SPEED DIAL. THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT FAILED AT 30,000 MILES AND IF YOU SEARCH IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE FORD FOCUS VEHICLE'S. THE VEHICLE STALED AND DIED WHILE BEING DROVE IN TOWN AND THANK GOD IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY.
ALL OF THE BACKLIGHTING ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER AND BUTTONS BESIDE THE RADIO SCREEN IS INTERMITTENT. I DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. DUE TO THE RISK OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE WHAT SPEED I AM TRAVELING AT. I HAVE BEEN THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP BACK IN 2004.…
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ALL OF THE BACKLIGHTING ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER AND BUTTONS BESIDE THE RADIO SCREEN IS INTERMITTENT. I DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. DUE TO THE RISK OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE WHAT SPEED I AM TRAVELING AT. I HAVE BEEN THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP BACK IN 2004. NOTHING HAS BEEN MODIFIED ON THIS VEHICLE.
THE BOTTOM OF MY SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I CALLED FORD DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT IS BECAUSE OF THE AREA I LIVE IN THE VEHICLE HAS 151239 MILES
ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE, FEB 2017. REPLACED AND CHECKED SYSTEM. JULY 30, 17 ALTERNATOR SMOKED AND MELTED INSIDE. , POSITIVE TERMINAL ON BATTERY WAS SO HOT THAT THE CONNECTOR WAS TOO HOT TO TOUCH. REPLACED. ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. PICKED UP CAR FROM REPAIR SHOP AND WITHIN ONE MILE THE ALTERNATOR MELTED ITS INTERNAL WIRING WIRI…
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ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE, FEB 2017. REPLACED AND CHECKED SYSTEM. JULY 30, 17 ALTERNATOR SMOKED AND MELTED INSIDE. , POSITIVE TERMINAL ON BATTERY WAS SO HOT THAT THE CONNECTOR WAS TOO HOT TO TOUCH. REPLACED. ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. PICKED UP CAR FROM REPAIR SHOP AND WITHIN ONE MILE THE ALTERNATOR MELTED ITS INTERNAL WIRING WIRING AND SMOKED. CAR IS BACK IN SHOP. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT HEARD A CAR HORN SOUND WHILE BEING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. AN INVESTIGATOR DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE ORIGINATED FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. A …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT HEARD A CAR HORN SOUND WHILE BEING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. AN INVESTIGATOR DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE ORIGINATED FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000.
A/C RECALL I BOUGHT MY CAR USED AND THE A/C WAS WORKING. THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER, IT STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANICS AND THEY COULDN'T ORDER THE AIR HOSE IT NEEDED TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T SELLING THEM ANYMORE. WE TRIED HOSES FROM SIMILAR MODEL CARS, BUT COULDN'T FIX IT.
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.