I PARKED MY CAR TO GO WORK ONE EVENING,AND I CAME BACK AND IT FAILS TO WORK.NEITHER OF MY KEYS WILL TURN THE IFNITION.MY KEYS GO IN AND OUT OF THE THE IGNITION SWITCH ONLY. MY CAR HAS 40K MILES ON IT,AND IT NEEDS A RECALL IMMEDIATELY.I DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO FIX RIGHT NOW,SO I AM STRANDED.*AK
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 reportsROTORS GONE BAD HANSEL FORD SAID AT 9200 MILES THE SQUEAKING WAS NORMAL, THEN AT 13000 I CALLED THEY STILL SAID IT WAS NORMAL BUT NOW THE WARRANTY WAS UP, THEN AT 20000 MILES THEY CHECK IT BECAUSE IT WAS DOING IT MORE, NOW THE ROTORS HAVE GROVES BEYOND REPAIR, YET THE BRAKE PADS STILL HAD BETWEEN 65% AND 90% LEFT TO THEM, I HAD …
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ROTORS GONE BAD HANSEL FORD SAID AT 9200 MILES THE SQUEAKING WAS NORMAL, THEN AT 13000 I CALLED THEY STILL SAID IT WAS NORMAL BUT NOW THE WARRANTY WAS UP, THEN AT 20000 MILES THEY CHECK IT BECAUSE IT WAS DOING IT MORE, NOW THE ROTORS HAVE GROVES BEYOND REPAIR, YET THE BRAKE PADS STILL HAD BETWEEN 65% AND 90% LEFT TO THEM, I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH ROTORS AND PADS FOR SAFETY FOR MY DAUGHTER.
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON THE ROAD DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER TWICE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. WHEN TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE PAD WORE OUT FASTER THAN ALL OTHER THREE. THE CAUSE OF WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR GOES IF IT GETS CLOGGED UP WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF SNOW. THE WAY THE CAR IS DESIGNED WHEN YOU BRUSH THE CAR OFF FROM SNOW, SOME OF IT LODGES INTO AREA THAT IS HARD TO GET THE SNOW OUT OF, WHEN WIPERS ARE TURNED ON THE MOTOR DOES NOT WORK. HAD THIS REPLACED APPROX 4 OR 5 MONTHS AGO, AND NOW IT HAS HAPPENED A…
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WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR GOES IF IT GETS CLOGGED UP WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF SNOW. THE WAY THE CAR IS DESIGNED WHEN YOU BRUSH THE CAR OFF FROM SNOW, SOME OF IT LODGES INTO AREA THAT IS HARD TO GET THE SNOW OUT OF, WHEN WIPERS ARE TURNED ON THE MOTOR DOES NOT WORK. HAD THIS REPLACED APPROX 4 OR 5 MONTHS AGO, AND NOW IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD SERVICE DEPT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER FOCUS OWNERS. I HAVE OWNED MANY DIFFERENT CARS OF VARYING MAKES AND MODELS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER HAD THIS PROBLEM, IT IS DEFINATELY A DESIGN FLAW. SOME TYPE OF GUARD NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED TO PROTECT IT FROM SNOW AND ICE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RIM BENT. *AK
I OWN A 2004 FORD FOCUS ZTS, PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE, 2004. SINCE PURCHASE, I HAVE HAD THE HORN REPLACED TWICE,MEANING THE CAR HAS IT'S 3RD HORN. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WATER ENTRY INTO THE HORN ITSELF, POSSIBLY SHORTING OUT THE DEVICE. THE WATER COULD BE FROM A CAR WASH, OR FROM WATER ENTRY WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN. THIS IS A SAF…
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I OWN A 2004 FORD FOCUS ZTS, PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE, 2004. SINCE PURCHASE, I HAVE HAD THE HORN REPLACED TWICE,MEANING THE CAR HAS IT'S 3RD HORN. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WATER ENTRY INTO THE HORN ITSELF, POSSIBLY SHORTING OUT THE DEVICE. THE WATER COULD BE FROM A CAR WASH, OR FROM WATER ENTRY WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT, IN THAT I HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER THE HORN WORKS OR NOT UNTIL I ATTEMPT TO USE IT. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR ISSUE IF I NEED TO WARN SOMEONE OF MY PRESENCE.*JB
CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW 6/15/04 WITH 317 MILES. THERE HAS BEEN OVER $1500 WORTH OF FACTORY WORK DONE ON THIS VEHICLE FROM BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, SENSOR BEING REPLACED ON TRANSMISSION. NOW THE CAR IS CONSTANTLY JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING AT 20 MPH AND STALLING. ON FEBRUARY 16TH, MY CAR WOULDN'T START AND WAS JERKING. I HAD IT TOWED…
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CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW 6/15/04 WITH 317 MILES. THERE HAS BEEN OVER $1500 WORTH OF FACTORY WORK DONE ON THIS VEHICLE FROM BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, SENSOR BEING REPLACED ON TRANSMISSION. NOW THE CAR IS CONSTANTLY JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING AT 20 MPH AND STALLING. ON FEBRUARY 16TH, MY CAR WOULDN'T START AND WAS JERKING. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOME. ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH THE RADIO CAME ON WITHOUT THE KEY BEING PLACED IN THE IGNITION. I HAVE FILED THE LEMON LAW AND SUGGEST OTHERS DO IT AS WELL IF THERE PROBLEMS AREN'T RESOLVED. I WAS TOLD MY CAR HAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE, BUT DON'T WANT IT BACK. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD AND AM AFRAID SOMETHING TERRIBLE WILL HAPPEN.*AK
CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 4-04 AT 4800 MILES BRAKES GROVED, DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM; ROTORS CUT & NEW PAD AT 10,000 AND AT 12000 GRINDING IS BACK, ALSO A FLOPPING RUBBING NOISE IN FRONT RIGHT WHICH I THINK IS BECAUSE THE ROTOR WERE CUT TOO FAR AND NOW THERE IS TOO MUCH PLAY BETWEEN PADS AND ROTOR, ALSO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, LIGHTS,…
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CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 4-04 AT 4800 MILES BRAKES GROVED, DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM; ROTORS CUT & NEW PAD AT 10,000 AND AT 12000 GRINDING IS BACK, ALSO A FLOPPING RUBBING NOISE IN FRONT RIGHT WHICH I THINK IS BECAUSE THE ROTOR WERE CUT TOO FAR AND NOW THERE IS TOO MUCH PLAY BETWEEN PADS AND ROTOR, ALSO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, LIGHTS, DASH ICONS, DOOR LOCKS GO ON AND OFF EVEN WITHOUT A KEY. GEM MODULE & BATTERY REPLACED BUT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK AND IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. NO SPEEDOMETER, NO ODOMETER, GAS GAUGE ETC. WHILE DRIVING, DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK AT WILL, DASH OCCASSIONALY FLASHED ON FOR 15 SECONDS AND THEN GOES OUT AGAIN. AGENCY THINKS IT'S THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BUT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET ONE TO REPLACE IT, WE CAN'T BE SURE. THE COMPUTER WAS KICKING OUT CODES FOR EQUIPMENT THAT ISN'T EVEN ON THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAYS NEVER SAW THIS PROBLEM BEFORE.
ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR THE BRAKES STARTED TO SQUEAK EVERY TIME I WOULD APPLY THEY BRAKES. IT HAS CONTINUTED TO DO SO UP UNTIL EVEN THIS MORNING. THE ROTORS NOW HAVE GROOVES IN THEM ,AND THE BRAKE PADS STILL HAVE WELL OVER 50% OF THE PAD REMAINING. SO FAR NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE OTHER THAN TO SAY "IT MUST BE MOISTURE."…
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ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR THE BRAKES STARTED TO SQUEAK EVERY TIME I WOULD APPLY THEY BRAKES. IT HAS CONTINUTED TO DO SO UP UNTIL EVEN THIS MORNING. THE ROTORS NOW HAVE GROOVES IN THEM ,AND THE BRAKE PADS STILL HAVE WELL OVER 50% OF THE PAD REMAINING. SO FAR NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE OTHER THAN TO SAY "IT MUST BE MOISTURE."*AK
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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