Problems · by component

2004 Ford Focus steering problems

29 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Ford Focus cite steering, 7% of all 387 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
29
7% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the steering

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“MY VEHICLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED CAUSING ALTERNATOR TO DIE AND FALSE READINGS ON THE DASH WITH MULTIPLE ALERTS SUCH AS BATTERY, AIRBAG , OIL AND INCORRECT SPEED DIAL. THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT FAILED AT 30,000 MILES AND IF YOU SEARCH IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE FORD FOCUS VEHICLE'S. THE VEHICLE STALED AND DIED WHILE BEING DROVE IN TOWN AND THANK GOD IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 2, 2018Steering, Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11105102
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER TWICE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURNS FROM THE SEAT BELT, WHIPLASH, AND BURNS TO THE RIGHT ARM FROM THE AIR BAGS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND STOMACH BRUISES FROM THE SEAT BELT, WHICH ALSO REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2016Steering, Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 10904242
“I PARKED THE CAR OVER NIGHT. IN THE MORNING ON MY WAY TO A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT I INSERTED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING WAS LOCKED UP. THE KEY GOES INSIDE THE IGNITION BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN. I ONLY IMAGINE THE SAME SITUATION WHILE I AM DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE, CAN IT HAPPEN? HAS IT HAPPEN? LET YOU BE THE JUDGE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 11, 2015SteeringODI 10724798
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AS IT ABNORMALLY BEGAN STEERING TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 14, 2014SteeringODI 10588315
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD HEAR A WHINING SOUND WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED AND WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE WAS NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 15, 2011SteeringODI 10395987

Showing 6 of 29 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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