2004 Ford FOCUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
387 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
53,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 293 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition is the most frequently named component, appearing in 74 of 387 complaints (19.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 59 | 15.2% |
| Steering behavior | 56 | 14.5% |
| Engine operation | 27 | 7.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 21 | 5.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 4.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition | 74 |
| Electrical System | 62 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 34 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 20 |
| Steering | 20 |
| Air Bags | 16 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 12 |
Electrical System:Ignition: 74; Electrical System: 62; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 34; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 20; Steering: 20; Air Bags: 16; Engine: 13; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 62 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 77 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 50 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 55 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 33 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 62; 25,000 to 49,999: 77; 50,000 to 74,999: 50; 75,000 to 99,999: 55; 100,000 to 149,999: 33; 150,000 and above: 16
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (77). 94 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 49 |
| 2005 | 45 |
| 2006 | 42 |
| 2007 | 40 |
| 2008 | 53 |
| 2009 | 44 |
| 2010 | 29 |
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2004: 49; 2005: 45; 2006: 42; 2007: 40; 2008: 53; 2009: 44; 2010: 29; 2011: 17; 2012: 5; 2013: 7; 2014: 13; 2015: 9; 2016: 11; 2017: 7; 2018: 3; 2019: 7; 2020: 1; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 59 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 56 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 27 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10078344 · 2004-06-16 (June 16, 2004)
WHEN THE CAR HAD ~ 3000 MILES ON IT, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND SHIMMY LIKE IT HAD MULTIPLE FLAT TIRES. WE PULLED OFF AND LOOKED FOR PROBLEMS BUT THE TIRES WERE FINE AND NOTHING WAS OBVIOUS. WHEN WE BEGAN DRIVING AGAIN THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AND WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY FOUND FEATHERING ON ALL TIRES AND REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AND REBALANCED THEM. ABOUT A WEEK LATER WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY A LOUD BANG SOUNDED IN THE REAR OF THE CAR AND I…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078344 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078690 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
I BROUGHT CAR BRAND NEW FROM FORD IN MARCH 2004. SINCE THEN THE BRAKES, AND CALIPERS, ROTORS HAVE SQUEALED HORRIBLY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE SHOP THREE TIMES HAD NUMEROUS PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC OUTSIDE FORD WHO TOLD ME THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND GLAZED. THIS CAR IS ONLY3 MONTHS OLD. THEY ARE AT A .8 AND SHOULD BE 1 INCH. THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE NVER BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE WITH ME.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089306 · 2004-09-21 (September 21, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. CONSEQUENTLY, THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE POLICE INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB AT THE TIME OF IMPACT THE ENGINE STALLED, THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FORD TO PAY FOR THE EXPENSES. *TC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089306 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090237 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
VEHICLE WAS NOT NOT PERFORMING ADEQUATELY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE, VEHICLE CHANGED LANES ON ITS ON. THE DEALER STATED NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GUARANTEED TO START. SOMETIMES THE CONSUMER HAS TO TURN THE KEY 10 TIMES. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATION IS SLOW THEN FAST THEN MUTED. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT BRAKE RIGHT AND LOOSES POWER. THE VEHICLES STEERING IS VAQUE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CHANGES LANES WITHOUT THE CONSUMER STEERING THE VEHICLE IN THAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090237 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057472 · 2004-02-03 (February 3, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061189 · 2004-03-02 (March 2, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061189 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073915 · 2004-05-19 (May 19, 2004)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY. THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073915 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111881 · 2005-02-21 (February 21, 2005)
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 L…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111881 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066989 · 2004-04-12 (April 12, 2004)
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN LESS THAN SEVENTY MILES AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. WITHIN THAT TIME, UPON MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, TRANSMISSION FAILED. TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WITH ENGINE REVVING TO 3000 RPMS, AND VEHICLE SLOWLY ACCELERATED ONTO THE HIGHWAY. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED,BUT ONLY IN THE FIRST GEAR. THIS ENTIRE INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER THE MANUFACTURER HAD HELD THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF A QUALITY CONTROL ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066989 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073150 · 2004-05-25 (May 25, 2004)
MANUAL TRANSMISSION REVERSE AND FIRST GEAR FAILED, CAUSING CAR TO OVER REV ENGINE. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD A PIN CLAIMED LOSE IN THE CLUTCH. DURING TOWING OF VEHICLE, TOW TRUCK DRIVER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT YET RESOLVED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 404 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081837 · 2004-07-06 (July 6, 2004)
VEHICLE HAS STALLED / SPUTTERED WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING.*MR THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND EACH TIME THEY SAID SOMETHING DIFFERENT WAS WRONG. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE, CLEANED OUT THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK, REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER AND HAVE NOW REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10081837 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107068 · 2004-12-03 (December 3, 2004)
CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH SMELL OF GAS IN VEHICLE. EXPERIENCE BAD ACCELERATION AND CAR BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF GAS. *BF THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO COAST AND STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE EMISSION SYSTEM LIGHT HAD COME ON. THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHEN THE CONSUMER VIEWED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM OUT OF THE MUFFLER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS THE PROBLEM. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10107068 at NHTSA ↗