WENT TO START CAR TO GO TO WORK AND KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION ON. HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE TUMBLER ASSEMBLY REPAIRED AT A COST OF JUST UNDER $400. *TR
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
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.
What owners actually said
387 reportsI HAVE OWNED MY 2004 FORD FOCUS SE FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS NOW AND OUT OF NO WHERE THE IGNITION IN THE CAR FROZE. WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION THE KEY DOESN'T GO IN THE KEY HOLE SMOOTHLY ONCE ALL THE WAY IN IT WONT TURN. I WAS STRANDED AT WORK FOR 3 AND A HALF HOURS TRYING TO GET MY CAR STARTED FINALLY A TOW TRUCK DRIVER CAME A…
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I HAVE OWNED MY 2004 FORD FOCUS SE FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS NOW AND OUT OF NO WHERE THE IGNITION IN THE CAR FROZE. WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION THE KEY DOESN'T GO IN THE KEY HOLE SMOOTHLY ONCE ALL THE WAY IN IT WONT TURN. I WAS STRANDED AT WORK FOR 3 AND A HALF HOURS TRYING TO GET MY CAR STARTED FINALLY A TOW TRUCK DRIVER CAME AND USED A MALLET HIT MY KEY WHILE IT WAS IN THE IGNITION TO GET THE CAR STARTED. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HEARD THAT FORD DID A RECALL ON THIS PART. TURNS OUT THAT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS I AM FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PART...I DID SOME RESEARCHING ONLINE AND FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM FORD IS NOT FIXING THIS MALFUNCTION. I AM DEPLOYING TO IRAQ FOR THE SECOND TIME AND I CAN NOT LEAVE MY FAMILY A WORKING VEHICLE BECAUSE OF A DEFECT FORD HAS WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM. I FEEL AS IF THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD FACE AND SHOULD DO AN OFFICIAL RECALL ON. THIS IS POOR SERVICE ESP COMING FROM A LARGE VEHICLE COMPANY LIKE FORD. *TR
I HAD PARKED MY CAR AND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, THE WHEEL LOCKED AND WOULD NOT BECOME UNLOCKED. MYSELF AND SEVERAL PEOPLE TRIED MANY TIMES TO GET IT UNLOCKED AND IT WOULD NOT. *TR
I WAS GETTING INTO MY 2004 FORD FOCUS AND PUT THE KEY IN AND TRIED TO TURN IT. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE IGNITION SWITCH IS BROKEN. I RESEARCHED IT ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD IS NOT ISSUING A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN…
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I WAS GETTING INTO MY 2004 FORD FOCUS AND PUT THE KEY IN AND TRIED TO TURN IT. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE IGNITION SWITCH IS BROKEN. I RESEARCHED IT ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD IS NOT ISSUING A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I WAS LEFT STRANDED AT WORK AND LATE FOR MY SECOND JOB BECAUSE OF THE CAR TROUBLE. I AM HAVING MY CAR FIXED TODAY. I CALLED A DEALERSHIP AND BARELY GOT TWO WORDS OUT ABOUT THE IGNITION AND THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. THEY SAID THAT IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO A LOT OF FOCUSES. THIS HAS LEFT MANY PEOPLE STRANDED AND IN DANGEROUS PLACES. FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE SO THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS. *TR
2004 FORD FOCUS WITH IGNITION PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *KB
IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKED UP OCCASIONALLY. AFTER WIGGLING THE KEY, IT WOULD ALWAYS CRANK EVENTUALLY. CYLINDER WOULD NOT TURN AND THEREFORE CAR WOULD NOT START. CYLINDER IS A "DEALER ONLY" PART. FORD WILL NOT LET OTHERS SELL THIS PART BECAUSE THEN NO ONE WOULD BUY THEIR DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD FOCUS USED THE REAR PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR WILL CURRENTLY NOT LATCH SHUT. I WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE REAR LATCHES OF FORD FOCUS WHICH I DID FIND. THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE BROUGHT IT IN TO THE FORD DEALER AND HAD THE LATCHED LUBED 1/4/2006, AT WHICH TIME IT MET REC…
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MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD FOCUS USED THE REAR PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR WILL CURRENTLY NOT LATCH SHUT. I WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE REAR LATCHES OF FORD FOCUS WHICH I DID FIND. THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE BROUGHT IT IN TO THE FORD DEALER AND HAD THE LATCHED LUBED 1/4/2006, AT WHICH TIME IT MET RECALL REQUIREMENTS. NOW THE DOOR WILL NOT SHUT AND THE DEALER HAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE LATCH IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH PHONED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WERE ADVISED THERE IS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. THAT BECAUSE THEY LUBED THE LATCHES THAT WAS ALL THEY WERE REQUIRED TO DO. WHICH I FIND COMPLETELY UNSATISFACTORY. IT IS QUITE CLEAR THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WHICH IS WHY FORD HAS RECALLED THE LATCHES THEY SHOULD BE COVERING THIS. THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR IS HARD TO OPEN AS WELL, HOWEVER ACCORDING TO FORD BEING THAT THE LATCHES HAVE BEEN LUBED IT SHOULD BE FINE. NOW IF THE DOOR THAT WON'T SHUT IS FIXED AND MY DAUGHTERS FALL OUT OF THE OTHER DOOR THAT FORD HAS LUBED BEING THAT IS ALL FORD SAYS THAT IS REQUIRED, WHAT WILL FORD AND NHTSA SAY THEN. THIS COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THERE RECALLS. THE FACT THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THESE LATCHES THAT THEY ARE TRULY RESPONSIBLE FOR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. YOUR INVESTIGATION IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
MY DAUGHTER WENT TO START HER 2004 FORD FOCUS AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHEN INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. STEERING WHEEL AND IGNITION CYLINDER WERE LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. THIS WAS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS "IGNITION CYLINDER …
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MY DAUGHTER WENT TO START HER 2004 FORD FOCUS AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHEN INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. STEERING WHEEL AND IGNITION CYLINDER WERE LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. THIS WAS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS "IGNITION CYLINDER BINDING." DEALERSHIP DRILLED OUT CYLINDER AND REPLACED AT A COST OF $425. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,947. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE STRONG GAS FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT MAY BE SMELLING NORMAL GAS FUMES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN THE PAST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE STRONG GAS FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT MAY BE SMELLING NORMAL GAS FUMES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN THE PAST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT EVERYTHING PASSED. THE CAUSE OF THE FUMES HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE SMELL HAS CAUSED THE CONTACT'S KIDNEYS TO HURT. FORD STATED THAT THEY WOULD HELP PAY FOR THE COST, IF THEY CAN ASSIST IN DETERMINING THE DEADLY DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,200.
MY HORN STOP WORKING A LITTLE AFTER I GOT THE CAR BACK IN 04. FORD HAS PUT ABOUT 5 NEW HORNS IN STILL NOTHING. IT WORKS FOR A BIT, THEN OUT OF NO WERE IT STOPS. THEN AROUND 34,000 MI MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 33 DAYS. AT THE TIME NO ONE TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS A LEMON IF ITS IN THE SHOP FOR THAT LONG UNDER 36,000 MI THEN ITS A …
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MY HORN STOP WORKING A LITTLE AFTER I GOT THE CAR BACK IN 04. FORD HAS PUT ABOUT 5 NEW HORNS IN STILL NOTHING. IT WORKS FOR A BIT, THEN OUT OF NO WERE IT STOPS. THEN AROUND 34,000 MI MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 33 DAYS. AT THE TIME NO ONE TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS A LEMON IF ITS IN THE SHOP FOR THAT LONG UNDER 36,000 MI THEN ITS A LEMON. THEN AT 58,000 MY ENGINE STARTS TO MAKE A NOISE. SO I TAKE IT TO FORD, YEP IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE, SO THEY PUT A NEW ONE IN THERE. WELL AT 67,00 GUESS WHAT, MY IGNITION HAS LOCKED UP, SO NOW I'M SCREWED. I CAN BARLEY MAKE MY PAYMENTS AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE MY CAR.....AGAIN.*CN
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.
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