Problems · NHTSA complaints
2004 Ford Focus problems
Owners filed 387 complaints about the 2004 Ford Focus with NHTSA between Feb 2004 and Jan 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (183).
Complaints
387
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
34
Reported by owners
Fires
13
Reported by owners
Injuries
34
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system183
- Service brakes, hydraulic31
- Steering29
- Latches/locks/linkages28
- Air bags24
- Engine and engine cooling22
- Power train20
- Vehicle speed control18
- Suspension17
- Structure14
- Engine13
- Equipment10
- Visibility9
- Seats8
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
49
45
42
40
53
44
29
17
5
7
13
9
11
7
3
7
1
0
3
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
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.”
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”
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.”
Latches/locks/linkages
28 reports1 related recall
“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.”
Air bags
24 reports20 crashes
“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.”
Engine and engine cooling
22 reports
“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.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.