2004 Ford Focus problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System:ignition (62) · Electrical System (41) · Electrical System:ignition:switch (30)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Focus model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
292 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Equipment 2012-02-24 · campaign 12E007000 · 10,006 vehicles
Defect: RIDE CONTROL, LLC (RIDE CONTROL) IS RECALLING CERTAIN READYMOUNT ASSEMBLIES, P/N 746641MT AND 746646MT, WITH CORRESPONDING AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER PART NUMBERS: GABRIEL G56944 AND GABRIEL G56945, AND PRIVATELY BRANDED PARTSMASTER WITH PART NUMBERS G68944 AND G68945. THE READYMOUNT ASSEMBLIES WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET SERVICE EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2000 THROUGH 2005 FORD FOCUS VEHICLES. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A NUT WITHOUT THE NECESSARY WASHER. THE ABSENCE OF THE WASHER CAN ALL
Risk: IF THE ASSEMBLY SEPARATES DURING INSTALLATION, IT COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE INSTALLER. IF THE ASSEMBLY SEPARATES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT COULD RESULT IN SECONDARY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL SET UP PROCEDURES TO INSPECT, REPAIR, AND/OR REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE OWNER. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-800-999-3903.
Service bulletins (60)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2016-09-21 · SSM 46085 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the powertrain control/emissions diagnosis (pc/ed) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (etbs). the etc_act and etc_dsd pids should not used to diagnose possible etb concerns. the ids has a limited refresh rate when reading these pids and cannot display quickly enough to
Latches/Locks/Linkages 2016-04-21 · 16-0067 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
for 2000-2005 focus vehicles built on or before 1/26/2005 safety recall 05s27 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where the rear door latches may experience corrosion in the pawl pivot area preventing proper engagement of the pawl into the c
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm 2014-09-09 · TSB-14-0163 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford: due to high corrosion areas, where vehicles are operated for extended periods, lower control arm (lca) can separate from forward attachment of subframe. model 2001-04 escape. *pe
Structure:body:door 2014-09-09 · TSB-14-0162 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford: rear door latches are experiencing corrosion in pawl pivot area that prevent proper engagement of pawl into catch, when operated in areas causing high corrosion. model 2000-05 focus. *pe
Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch 2014-08-11 · TSB-14-0148 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford: on some vehicles, operating for an extended time in high corrosion area, a safety recall 05s27 was issued, where rear door latches experience corrosion in pawl pivot area preventing proper engagement of pawl into catch. model 2000-05 focus. *pe
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2007-02-27 · 06166 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
possible engine damage - install special service tools prior to removing crankshaft pulley bolt. *kb
Showing the 6 most recent of 60 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-01-13 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:crankcase (Pcv) · 200,010 mi“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 drivin…”
2023-04-05 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“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.…”
2022-10-07 · Unknown Or Other“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, …”
2022-06-13 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash“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.…”
2022-06-04 · Structure:body“rear passenger door wont latch shut.door flies open when making turns…”
2020-03-10 · Structure:body · 125,000 mi · 💥 crash“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.…”
2019-08-22 · Structure:body:door · 250,000 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…”
2019-07-24 · Service Brakes · 125,550 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 …”
2019-07-19 · Latches/Locks/Linkages“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…”
2019-07-10 · Engine“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 k…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.