2004 Ford Focus Engine Problems

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

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

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

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

WE HAD PURCHASE A 2004 FORD FOCUS AND WE HAVE HAD IT FOR 2 YEARS NOW. FOR THE LAST 4 MONTHS I HAVE NOTICE THAT THE CAR OVERHEATS WELL THE NEEDLE WILL SHOOT UP TO THE HOT AND YOU CAN HEAR THE FAN/ENGINE WHATEVER OTHER COMPONENTS RUNNING LOUD AS IF ITS REVVING THE ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN SCARED A FEW TIMES BECAUSE IT WOULD ALSO STALL LIKE ITS ABOUT TO GO OFF AND A COUPLE TIME IT HAS WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. WONDERING IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE? THE OVERHEATING HAPPENS VERY OFTEN IT HAPPEN DURING A SHORT DRIVE OR LONG DRIVE LIKE 12 TO 16 MILES. IT ALSO SEEMS TO DO IT A LOT WHEN I'M AT HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WHEN YOU SIT THERE FOR 3 LIGHTS TURNS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF CARS I NOTICE IT OVERHEATS THEN. ALSO, ALWAYS OVERHEATS WHEN I GO TO COSTCO TO BUY GAS. DUE TO THE LONG WAIT FOR MY TURN TO PUMP GAS IT OVERHEATS THEN. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER OF THE WEATHER BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN COOL IN THE MORNINGS AND IT HAS DONE THAT AND ALSO DONE SO DURING HIGH NOON. HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCE IT DURING NIGHT TIME. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE? WE BOUGHT THIS FROM A PRIVATE PARTY SO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE IF THERE IS A RECALL WE WOULD BE CONTACTED. RECENTLY I CAN START THE CAR UP GO ONE BLOCK FROM MY DRIVEWAY AND THE CAR WILL OVERHEAT. VERY CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE ON THIS.

NHTSA ID

10898116

Incident

Aug 20, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR FILTER NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

NHTSA ID

10702860

Incident

Mar 2, 2015

Mileage

220,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHENEVER A BUMP OR A POTHOLE WAS HIT ON THE ROAD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED. 06/09/15 *BF

NHTSA ID

10693586

Incident

Feb 11, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE CAR CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS , OUNCE WHILE DOING 60MPH, THE OTHER TIME DOING 35MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10658617

Incident

Nov 16, 2014

Mileage

184,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ID

10621294

Incident

Jul 22, 2014

Mileage

116,000 mi

2004 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MOTOR MOUNT PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IN AUGUST 2009, THE MOTOR MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEN IN JANUARY 2013, AT 56,000 MILES, THEY WERE REPLACED AGAIN. SIX MONTHS LATER, THEY WERE REPLACED AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10577687

Incident

Aug 12, 2009

Mileage

37,501 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING SUDDENLY. MY DAUGHTER SAW STEAM OR SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITHIN A MINUTE OR SO THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS INTENSE, THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WAS MELTED, THE INTERIOR OF THE DASH WAS DESTROYED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. IT LOOKS LIKE THE MOST INTENSE FIRE AREA WAS AROUND THE FUSE PANEL. I DID CONTACT FORD THROUGH SEVERAL AVENUES BUT THEY APPEARED TO BE DISINTERESTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563681

Incident

Nov 29, 2013

Mileage

165,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. A MONTH LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND POWERED OFF. ALSO, THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,589.

NHTSA ID

10496709

Incident

Dec 4, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, SPARK PLUG WIRES AND THE FUEL RAIL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN TRAVELING SHORTER DISTANCES. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR IN ORDER TO AVOID THE VEHICLE FROM STALLING AT EVERY STOP. THE FAILURE SEEMED TO RECUR MORE FREQUENTLY DURING HOTTER TEMPERATURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 174,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

NHTSA ID

10461717

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

Mileage

165,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AND STALLED. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND MOVING FORWARD. HE ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH INDICATED AN IMPROPER KEY ISSUE. THE LOCAL MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE OR ANY OTHER COURSE OF ACTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10371262

Incident

Dec 15, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 FORD FOCUS ZX3. I WAS AT A GAS STATION FILLING UP AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START UP MY CAR, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. I WAS STRANDED AT THE GAS STATION FOR 2 HOURS BEFORE AAA CAME AND TOWED MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKING UP AND NOT ALLOWING YOU TO START YOUR CAR IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE FORD FOCUS, MOST COMMONLY IN MODELS BETWEEN THE YEARS 2000 AND 2006. I WAS LUCKY TO BE ONLY 5 MILES AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. IF I WAS FURTHER AWAY OR OUT OF TOWN, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A BIG SAFETY HAZARD, AS IT COULD HAVE LEFT ME STRANDED IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. PLEASE TAKE ACTION BY HELPING THE CONSUMERS OF THE FORD FOCUS RECEIVE A REFUND/RECALL FOR THEIR DEFECTED IGNITION CYLINDER. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ID

10319095

Incident

Mar 7, 2010

Mileage

53,000 mi

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 ID

10262783

Incident

Mar 18, 2009

Mileage

120,000 mi

PURCHASED CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND IT HAS SINCE DIED WHILE DRIVING THREE TIMES IN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS. LAST TIME CAR DIED, SO FAR, WAS ON A BUSY ROUTE AT A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH OUR TWO TODDLERS AND NEWBORN IN THE BACKSEAT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM OF CAR JUST DYING WHILE BEING DRIVEN. WHEN WILL THIS GET THE PROPER ATTENTION IT NEEDS BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR EVEN KILLED BEFORE IT'S ACTUALLY DEALT WITH. NO DEALERSHIP OR MECHANIC CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR. HAD WE KNOWN THIS, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THIS CAR. WE PURCHASED IT SOLELY ON THE FACT IT WAS ABLE TO HAVE OUR THREE CHILDREN IN THE BACKSEAT AND IT HAD SO FEW MILES, 65K. *TR

NHTSA ID

10252210

Incident

Dec 16, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A VACUUM LEAK DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT FORD HAD TO UPGRADE THE COMPUTER IN HIS VEHICLE, WHICH MEANT THAT IT HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED. ONCE THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THE IDLER INCREASED TO 1,200 RPM'S AND THEN DROPPED TO 1,000 RPM'S. HE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN GEAR AND IT SPED OFF. HE COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS PUSHING AGAINST THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT DROVE 20 MPH AROUND THE PARKING LOT FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES WITH NO BRAKES. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY TO BE COMPLIANT WITH THE EPA REGARDING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE GEARS DO NOT CHANGE OR DECREASE TO A LOWER RPM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ID

10246630

Incident

Oct 6, 2008

Mileage

57,000 mi

2004 FORD FOCUS..CHANGED THE AIR FILTER AND NOTICED OIL IN AND UNDER THE OLD FILTER AND CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS ON THE NORMAL LEVEL. ABOUT THREE DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE CAR SHUT OFF, NOW IT WILL DO NOTHING, THE MOTOR WON'T EVEN TURN OVER. CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, ANY SUGGESTIONS? *TR

NHTSA ID

10235765

Incident

Jun 20, 2008

Mileage

94,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 55-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BOTH BEGAN TO SHAKE. WHEN THE SPEED IS BELOW 55 MPH, THE SHAKING WILL STOP OR DECREASE. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD METAL ON METAL FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,019 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,759. UPDATED 01/02/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SQUEAKED AND VIBRATED AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE. THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS REPLACED, DUE TO IT BEING BROKEN. THE SHIFTER SQUEAKED. THE RIMS WERE BENT AND THE TIRES WERE OUT OF BALANCE. UPDATED*JB

NHTSA ID

10210391

Incident

Jul 3, 2007

Mileage

50,759 mi

CAR STALLS WITHOUT NOTICE. SENT DAUGHTER TO EMERGENCY ROOM ONE TIME. STALLS 2 DIFFERENT WAYS, WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES WHEN COMING TO A STOP. TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL HAPPENS. HAS BEEN IN SHOP MANY, MANY TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT PROBLEM. STARTED WHEN CAR WAS 7 MONTHS OLD. ALSO, CLUTCH PREMATURELY WENT OUT. HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 OR 3 TIMES. (CAR HAS 26,000 MILES CURRENTLY). ALSO, THERMOSTAT HAS GONE OUT MANY, MANY TIMES- DAUGHTER HAS DRIVEN MOST OF WINTER WITH NO HEAT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10179443

Incident

Oct 5, 2004

Mileage

8,242 mi

2004 FOCUS BELT TENSIONER BROKE AND BATTERY FAILED. *TS THE FRONT DOOR HAD TO BE ALIGNED AND THE DOOR SEAL WAS REPLACED. THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD TO BE RE-ROUTED DUE TO THE CABLE BINDING. THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE LEFT REAR MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT LENS AND RIGHT SIDE CV AXLE WAS REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ERRATICALLY. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR UNTIL THE ENGINE REVVED UP PAST 6000 RPM. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SERVO PISTONS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS EVENTUALLY REPAIRED. THE BATTERY FAILED 5 TIMES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10177475

Incident

Apr 1, 2006

I HAVE TO REPLACED 02 SENSORS 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN 50000 MILES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10152912

Incident

Jan 15, 2005

Mileage

14,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE AT 55 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE PULLED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10151559

Incident

Feb 13, 2006

Mileage

18,319 mi