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Research · Compact Cars

2004 Ford FocusRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 387 owner complaints for the 2004 Ford Focus. Most complaints involve electrical system (183) and service brakes, hydraulic (31). The EPA rates it 21–27 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
21–27mpg
EPA · 12 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
6campaigns
Latest Feb 2012
Owner complaints
387
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$2,300est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

6 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Equipment

Free remedy

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 ALLOW THE READYMOUNT ASSEMBLY TO PULL APART THE TOP MOUNT.

EquipmentReported Feb 24, 2012NHTSA 12E007000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported May 11, 2009NHTSA 09E025000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Exterior lightingReported Aug 11, 2008NHTSA 08E050000
See all 6 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

387 complaints filed with NHTSA · Feb 2004 – Jan 2026
  1. Electrical system183
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic31
  3. Steering29
  4. Latches/locks/linkages28
  5. Air bags24
  6. Engine and engine cooling22
  7. Power train20
  8. Vehicle speed control18
  9. Suspension17

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Focus model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
20003,738
20011,790
20021,014
20031,017
2004387
2005441
2006205
2007391
2008250
2009229
2010287
2011113
20123,803
20132,157
20142,661
20151,034
20161,196
2017906
2018838
Crashes reported
34
Fires reported
13
Injuries reported
34
Deaths reported
1
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

183 reports1 crash6 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2023Electrical system, Unknown or other, EngineFire reportedODI 11515638

Service brakes, hydraulic

31 reports5 crashes1 fire
“NOTICED HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WHICH IS MOUNTED BEHIND THE CLUTCH PEDAL UNDER DASH. CLUTCH SYSTEM SHARES BRAKE FLUID WITH BRAKE SYSTEM. FLUID DRIPS ON CLUTCH PEDAL AND FLOOR CREATING A VERY SLICK SURFACE AND DROP IN FLUID LEVEL IN BRAKE RESERVOIR. THIS CREATES A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE IN MY OPINION. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD FOCUS MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS. THE ONLY REMEDY WAS TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. ALSO NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH PEDAL RUBBER FOOT PAD WHICH HAD DISINTEGRATED FROM EXPOSURE TO THE BRAKE FLUID. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 30, 2010Service brakes, hydraulic, Power trainODI 10362986

Steering

29 reports2 crashes
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 16, 2018SteeringODI 11111687
All 2004 Focus problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

12 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars, Midsize Station Wagons
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl · 2.3L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd · Manual 6-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Focus
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 2-VALVE · Front-Wheel Drive
243227$2,300329
Focus Station Wagon
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
233226$2,400342
Focus
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 2-VALVE · Front-Wheel Drive
233025$2,500355
Focus
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 4-VALVE · Front-Wheel Drive
223025$2,500355
Focus
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L, 4-VALVE · Front-Wheel Drive
223025$2,500355
Focus Station Wagon
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 4-VALVE · Front-Wheel Drive
223025$2,500355
Focus Station Wagon
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L, 4-VALVE · Front-Wheel Drive
223025$2,500355
Focus
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 4-VALVE · Front-Wheel Drive
222824$2,600370
Focus
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L, 4-VALVE · Front-Wheel Drive
212824$2,600370
Focus Station Wagon
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 4-VALVE · Front-Wheel Drive
222824$2,600370
Focus Station Wagon
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L, 4-VALVE · Front-Wheel Drive
212824$2,600370
Focus
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182621$3,700423
  • Focus
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 2-VALVE
    24 city · 32 hwy · $2,300/yr
    27
    mpg comb.
  • Focus Station Wagon
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    23 city · 32 hwy · $2,400/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
  • Focus
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 2-VALVE
    23 city · 30 hwy · $2,500/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Focus
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 4-VALVE
    22 city · 30 hwy · $2,500/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Focus
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L, 4-VALVE
    22 city · 30 hwy · $2,500/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Focus Station Wagon
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 4-VALVE
    22 city · 30 hwy · $2,500/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Focus Station Wagon
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L, 4-VALVE
    22 city · 30 hwy · $2,500/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Focus
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 4-VALVE
    22 city · 28 hwy · $2,600/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Focus
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L, 4-VALVE
    21 city · 28 hwy · $2,600/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Focus Station Wagon
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, 4-VALVE
    22 city · 28 hwy · $2,600/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Focus Station Wagon
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L, 4-VALVE
    21 city · 28 hwy · $2,600/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Focus
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    18 city · 26 hwy · $3,700/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

3 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2004 Ford Focus as of Nov 10, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 1118Vehicle 1117Vehicle 1116
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2004 Focus questions

How many recalls does the 2004 Ford Focus have?

6 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2004 Ford Focus problems?

Owners filed 387 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (183), service brakes, hydraulic (31), steering (29). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2004 Ford Focus get?

The EPA rates the 2004 Ford Focus at 21–27 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (12 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026