10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 4
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 1
- Average Mileage:
- 56,798 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
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 it will boil in the overflow return tank pressurize and shoot the cap off?...
- Middleboro, MA, USA
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 know it's not normal. At sometimes I am unable to run the ac my whole trip. My engine light has recently came on I did replace the coil packs. Engine light is still on.
- Newport News, VA, USA
"takata recall" trunk lid pops when brakes are applied. I'm afraid that if I hit a bump in the road the lid will fly up. Also if I pop the lid with key fob break lights come on.
- Delta, OH, USA
When putting the key in the ignition the key will not turn and start the car. It will not start after pulling the key out of the ignition. I am pregnant expecting a baby. This is a safety hazard for me and my baby. If I go into labor and need to leave to the hospital I cannot risk the car will not start because the key won't turn the ignition on.
- Kailua Kona, HI, USA
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.
- Visalia, CA, USA
All of the backlighting on the gauge cluster and buttons beside the radio screen is intermittent. I do not drive the vehicle at night because of this issue. Due to the risk of not being able to see what speed I am traveling at. I have been the sole owner of this vehicle and I bought it brand new from the dealership back in 2004. Nothing has been modified on this vehicle.
- Sacramento, CA, USA
Alternator caught fire, Feb 2017. Replaced and checked system. July 30, 17 alternator smoked and melted inside., positive terminal on battery was so hot that the connector was too hot to touch. Replaced. Alternator and battery. Picked up car from repair shop and within one mile the alternator melted its internal wiring wiring and smoked. Car is back in shop. Each time this happened the car was being driven.
- Cortaro, AZ, USA
Shorted brake wires in trunk area blown fuse no start no brake lights would not shift into drive.
- Orland Park, IL, USA
The car has had 5-6 repairs over the last 6 years. 3 batteries and 2 alternators. The car dies out while driving and wont restart without a jumpstart, is dead randomly or only clicks.just spent another $200 on an alternator when the key wont turn and the real problem over all these years has come to light. Very dangerous situation with the car just dieing wherever and whenever.
- Lexington, SC, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. While parked, the vehicle was not able to start. The failure occurred constantly. The contact had to jumpstart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the battery failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 142,000.
- Oxnard, CA, USA
My car was turned off and my dash lights would flicker and beep, my radio goes on and off by it self, the rear wiper and third brake light do not work, and now everything does not work.
- Clearlake Oaks, CA, USA
Car was inoperable due to key not working in the ignition and emergency repair service in parking lot had to be done. Read more: www.justanswer.com/new-question/optional-information.aspx?tqid=423907452&pt=630&catid=56411&R=autobeef&rpt=220#ixzz3bac4irxz
- Evans , GA, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact noticed that the failure recurred intermittently whenever a bump or a pothole was hit on the road. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000. Updated. 06/09/15
- Howell, MI, USA
3/1/14: Driver's side heated seat burned through upholstery and caught fabric on fire, while my daughter was driving vehicle. After searching the internet, I found that this has happened to other Focus owners. There was a service bulletin (04B16); why no recall?
- Belfair, WA, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the speedometer fluctuated continuously. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
- Milledegeville, GA, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after inserting the key in the ignition the vehicle failed to start. The contact tried approximately six times. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer for diagnosis. After diagnosis they advised him that the ignition failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure and current mileage was approximately 118,000. The VIN was unavailable.
- Ankeny, IA, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start with the steering wheel locked. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis where the dealer advised that the ignition cylinder needed replacing. The manufacturer was contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 94,000.
- Lockport , IL, USA
The 2004 Ford Focus has a problem where the key will not turn once inserted into the ignition. The only way to get the key to turn is to tap it with a hammer or other heavy object or spend over 300 dollars to get a new ignition lock. This problem has happened to me before on occasion but now it happens every single time I take the key out of the ignition. Numerous people are complaining about this problem yet Ford has not issued a recall to address the issue. I'm hoping the NHTSA will force Ford to do something about this problem because I know I am not the only one that this is happening to.
- Northridge, CA, USA
Ford Focus wheel and ignition locked up. Cant turn key or wheel! I have red multiple problems with this and cant believe Ford has not recalled this issue!!! the best part about all of this is my car just got out of warranty! you suck Ford and your cheap [xxx] dealers!!!!! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Fresno, CA, USA
- Spring Hill, FL, USA