2004 Ford Focus Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle jerked abnormally. There were three clicks before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted after approximately 10 minutes. The contact stated that on one occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled nearby train tracks. The contact waited for 10 minutes, restarted the vehicle, and drove the vehicle to safety. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where a handheld diagnostic test indicated that the PCV valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that an ignition coil needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred approximately a month later. The vehicle was taken to the same independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel relay fuse needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred approximately three weeks later. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,010.

NHTSA ID

11710614

Incident

Oct 31, 2025

Mileage

200,010 mi

As I was stopped at red light it stalled as I drove thru. So I pulled over. Got out to open hood. It was smoking.struggled to open hood. Ran around to get towel to smother the fire. But it was too far gone. Man told me just leave it. It was total loss.

NHTSA ID

11515638

Incident

Mar 31, 2023

2004 ford focus started bucking a few years ago, on occasions only. For months there was no problem and than it would buck. If I shut off the engine and waited a few minutes and started it, it would drive without bucking. Recently, it stalled while driving. Fortunately, I was on a country road and could pull over to safety. Now, on occasion, it wont start. Locks in park. After a while, I can get it out of park and start it. I do not drive it on highways since I am fearful of it shutting off. I have been to three garages for service and they cannot figure it out. I even wrote to the corporate office to ask them to let me know what the problem is. On line many people with 2004 ford focus have the same problem. It isnt just my car. Corporate office answered my letter requesting the vin number on which I gave them. After that, I did not hear from them again. I would think that they would have followed through on this since I told them that it has happened to others with the same vehicle. It stalled again a few days ago as I drove in my driveway. Everytime I try to start it, I hear the clicking sound. I go out once in a while to see if it will start. Sometimes, while in park, it wont start. Another time checking it our, it will start. But, I am not driving it anywhere. I am having it towed to another garage to see if they can figure it out. This car has less than 60,000 miles on it and everything else is good. I have spent a lot of money trying to get this resolved. It has been on diagnostic machines and it doesnt show anything. All I wanted from the corporate office was an engineer to let me know how to fix it. They must have heard the complaints since there are many. A recall wont do me any good since I will be having it looked at again this week. I am doing this for others who have the same problem. However, I would like to know exactly what has caused this.

NHTSA ID

11488334

Incident

Oct 7, 2022

I was coming home one night, in my 2004 Ford focus, when another driver comes speeding up behind me. He then proceeds to pass me during a corner, cutting me off. I hit the brakes and lost control. Ended up rolling my vehicle with my 8 month old daughter and i. Back window exploded, and not a single air bags had deployed when I got into my accident.

NHTSA ID

11468967

Incident

Nov 11, 2018

rear passenger door wont latch shut.Door flies open when making turns

NHTSA ID

11467507

Incident

Apr 14, 2021

IN JANUARY, I WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC CRASH. I APPLIED THE BREAKS TO MY VEHICLE (GIVING PLENTY OF TIME TO COME TO A STOP AND ONLY TRAVELING 20 MPH ) BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AS A RESULT, I HIT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. IT WAS AS IF THE BREAKS WERE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY.

NHTSA ID

11317279

Incident

Jan 4, 2020

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD NOISE WAS DETECTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE KEY OVERHEATED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO DRIVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT FURTHER MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT BOTH PASSENGER DOORS WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR NEEDED EXTRA STRENGTH TO OPEN AND THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WAS STUCK AND WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE UNKNOWN DEALERS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE ENGINE VALVE WAS STUCK. THE CAUSE OF THE OTHER FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 250,000.

NHTSA ID

11245773

Incident

Jan 1, 2017

Mileage

250,000 mi

MY BATTERY LIGHT SEEMS TO FLASH WHEN THE CAR IS OFF. CAR HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING TRY TO ACCELERATE OVER 50 MILES AN HOUR CAR WILL SHUT OFF. BACK HATCH ON WAGON SEEMS TO RELEASE ITSELF WHILE DRIVING WELL UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY. HAVE REPLACED THREE THERMOSTAT AND THERMOSTAT HOUSING DUE TO OVERHEATING CAR WILL NOT TELL ME IS OVERHEATING IT WILL BOIL IN THE OVERFLOW RETURN TANK PRESSURIZE AND SHOOT THE CAP OFF?...

NHTSA ID

11234370

Incident

Jul 1, 2019

Mileage

125,550 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURES LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06E056000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). SHE STATED THAT DUE TO POOR DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS WOULD NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR WAS FULLY ATTACHED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND BOTH REAR DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11233491

Incident

Jul 13, 2019

RECENTLY MY VEHICLE STEREO HAS BEEN MESSING UP. IT SOMETIMES SMELL A LITTLE BURNT. IT IS THE PASSENGER DOOR SPEAKER. IT SOUNDS AS IF IT'S A SHORTAGE INSIDE OF IT. SOMETIMES THE RADIO DASH FADES OUT. THE CAR HAS HESITATES SOMETIMES TO START. ONCE THE AC IS ON THE CAR STARTS RUNNING REALLY ROUGH AND YOU HEAR A KIND OF CLICK IS HARD TO EXPLAIN BUT I KNOW IT'S NOT NORMAL. AT SOMETIMES I AM UNABLE TO RUN THE AC MY WHOLE TRIP. MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS RECENTLY CAME ON I DID REPLACE THE COIL PACKS. ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON.

NHTSA ID

11230782

Incident

May 23, 2019

"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.

NHTSA ID

11229934

Incident

Jun 15, 2019

Mileage

180,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11195904

Incident

Dec 22, 2017

Mileage

180,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11181269

Incident

Feb 19, 2019

Mileage

122,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11111687

Incident

Jul 9, 2018

Mileage

75,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11105102

Incident

Jun 28, 2018

Mileage

30,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11080204

Incident

Oct 31, 2013

Mileage

110,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11045793

Incident

Oct 15, 2017

Mileage

151,239 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11013323

Incident

Feb 6, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11001698

Incident

Jun 23, 2017

Mileage

155,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10969659

Incident

Sep 1, 2013

Mileage

75,000 mi

PASSENGER HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN HEATED SEAT WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE SEAT STARTED TO SMOKE AND FIRE STARTED. THERE WAS A FORD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RECALL THAT I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF: TSB 04B16. THE FIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LEATHER SEAT AND HEATING MECHANISM. FORTUNATELY ONLY A PURSE WAS INJURED AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE FIRE FROM SPREADING. THE ATTACHED PICTURES SHOW THE SEAT DAMAGE. THE CAR ALSO SMELLS OF SMOKE. THE EXPERIENCE WAS EXTREMELY SCARY AND AWFUL.

NHTSA ID

10954254

Incident

Jan 31, 2017

Mileage

93,878 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE SERVICE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR SUBFRAME/CROSSMEMBER/K-FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

10948564

Incident

Jan 26, 2017

Mileage

96,000 mi

SHORTED BRAKE WIRES IN TRUNK AREA BLOWN FUSE NO START NO BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

10940198

Incident

Dec 5, 2016

Mileage

42,000 mi

BOUGHT FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING TIRES TWO YEARS AGO, AND ON MY REAR TIRE THE SIDEWALL BLEW A 4.5 " CHUNK OUT OF IT WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. I HAVE HAD MY ALIGNMENT CHECKED TWICE SINCE BUYING THE TIRES AND THEY ARE ROTATED EVERY 5-5.5K MILES. THE TIRES ARE 195/60/15. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE.

NHTSA ID

10928736

Incident

Nov 19, 2016

Mileage

169,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER TWICE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURNS FROM THE SEAT BELT, WHIPLASH, AND BURNS TO THE RIGHT ARM FROM THE AIR BAGS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND STOMACH BRUISES FROM THE SEAT BELT, WHICH ALSO REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10904242

Incident

Aug 9, 2016

Mileage

170,000 mi