Ford Focus Complaints (2004)
387 consumer complaints on file.
- #10270079May 27, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2004 FORD FOCUS THAT THE IGNITION WENT OUT ON, I WOULD PUT THE KEY IN AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN, LOCKED STEERING WHEEL. FOR A WHILE, I WOULD WIGGLE THE KEY AND IT WOULD FINALLY TURN OVER, UNTIL 2 WEEKS AGO( 5-2009) WHEN I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AFTER I GOT IN MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE FORD DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT MORNING AND TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $450.00 TO FIX AND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO ALOT OF FOCUS OWNERS, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FORD WOULD NOT WANT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, STARTING YOUR CAR IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING NEEDED TO DRIVE SO WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO COUNT ON YOUR IGNITION YOUR CAR IS USELESS AND WITHOUT FORD RECOGNIZING THIS PROBLEM AND FIXING IT, I BELIEVE ALOT OF FORD OWNERS MAY NOT BE IN THE FUTURE. YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO START A CAR! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10269753May 22, 2009FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER PURCHASE IN 04, THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER TWICE ALREADY, NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND THROTTLE BODY STICKING AGAIN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10269754May 22, 2009POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON ACCELERATION FROM STOP CAR TACKS OUT TO 6 AND TRANSMISSION REVS THEN SHIFTS VERY HARD, CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THEY WAY I DRIVE MY CAR. SAID TRANSMISSION LEARNS HOW TO SHIFT THAT WAY, CAR STILL NOT REPAIRED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10269755May 22, 2009VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT RETURN TO HOME POSITION WHEN TURNED OFF. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10269752May 22, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION SWITCH WONT TURN WHICH PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS, FOR WAY OVER A YR NOW. TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS 2004 ZX3 FOCUS. HE SAID TO HIT THE KEY A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH YOUR HAND AND IT WILL TURN, AND IT DOES. ONLY WAY THE CAR WILL START. CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD 550.00 TO REPLACE. SO STILL NOT REPLACED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10267235April 29, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE KEY WILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. USUALLY I CAN GET IT TO WORK AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR OR TWO OF REPEATEDLY PUTTING THE KEY IN & OUT, BUT TODAY I CANNOT GET IT WORKING. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE DEAD OF WINTER WITH MY DAUGHTER OUT AT MIDNIGHT, ON THE SIDE OF A MAJOR BUSY HIGHWAY (RT 94 WEST TO CHICAGO), AND SEVERAL OTHER LOCATIONS. IT'S USUALLY LATE AT NIGHT AND FREEZING COLD OUT WHEN THIS HAPPENS TO ME. IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME AS WELL AS WHEN I HAVE MY DAUGHTER WITH ME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10265084April 13, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION SYSTEM FAILED FOR 2004 FORD FOCUS 2 DR COUPE. CAR NOW NEEDS A NEW SYSTEM WHICH FORD ESTIMATES AT $450. GOOGLE "FORD FOCUS IGNITION" AND SEE HUNDREDS OF EXACT SAME COMPLAINT. FORD WILL NOT RECALL SINCE NOT "SAFETY" ISSUE, HOW ABOUT INTEGRITY. THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX IT. CALIFORNIA HAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT, BUT WHAT ABOUT ME?? FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY KNOW EXISTS FOR OLDER MODELS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME OF NEED. NO CONFIDENCE LEFT IN FORD, I WILL BUY FOREIGN CARS FROM NOW ON. PLEASE HELP!!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10263827April 1, 2009SUSPENSION:FRONT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE PUNCTURING MY TIRE. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP GETTING REPAIRS. (ESTIMATED REPAIR COSTS ARE $782.). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10263625March 30, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY IGNITION LOCK FROZE UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR. KEY WOULDN'T TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A SHOP FOR REPAIRS. I CALLED FORD AND ASKED THEM TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THEY DECLINED. I OWN A 2004 FORD FOCUS ZX5. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10262783March 23, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE, BUT THE FAILURE REMAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER HAD NO PRESSURE AND THE PISTON WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED AND THE CONTACT IS WAITING FOR AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10259886February 25, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY 2004 FORD FOCUS IGNITION SWITCH FAILED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE KEY AND START THE CAR. LEAVING HIM STRANDED IN PROVIDENCE RI LATE MONDAY NIGHT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A CLASS PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS PURSUING A CLASS ACTION AGAINST FORD FOR THIS. WHY IS THEIR NO RECALL ??? THE CAR HAS 70K MILES ON IT, BUT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 100K WARRANTY AS IT IS OVER 4 YEARS OLD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10259542February 21, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2004 FORD FOCUS KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT TURN. IT OCCURS FREQUENTLY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10258524February 12, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UPON LEAVING A GROCERY STORE THE IGNITION KEY WOULDN'T TURN. I WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR AND CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE $391 PLUS TAX, AND THAT IF THEY DAMAGED THE STEERING COLUMN IN THE PROCESS I WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT COST OF THE COLUMN AS WELL. NOT WILLING TO TAKE MY CHANCES WITH SUCH AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT WOULD LEAVE ME WITH A NEW PART THAT WOULD POSSIBLY FAIL IN THE SAME MANNER, NOT TO MENTION POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL COSTS OF REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE COLUMN I CONDUCTED A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH 1999 THROUGH 2007 FORD FOCUS CARS. I ALSO LEARNED THAT A COMPETENT LOCKSMITH COULD REPAIR THE SWITCH FOR BETWEEN $150 AND $200. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR $152, AND THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING THE STEERING COLUMN. THE ORIGINAL PART WAS REMOVED BY THE LOCKSMITH, REBUILT THE SWITCH AND REPLACED IT THUS REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10257730February 6, 2009STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW, THE IGNITION AND/OR STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN I TRY TO PUT THE KEY IN TO START MY 2004 FORD FOCUS. I INITIALLY SPENT 20 MINUTES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO START THE CAR. NOW I REALIZE I HAVE TO JIGGLE, TURN, & FINAGLE EVERYTHING JUST RIGHT & I CAN GET IT THE IGNITION TO TURN IN A FEW MINUTES. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT I NOW THINK GETTING MY CAR STARTED IN UNDER 5 MINUTES IS "GOOD." THIS HAPPENS 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES THAT I TRY TO START THE CAR. I HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. SEEMS LIKE FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOT IMPRESSED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10257327February 3, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2004 FORD FOCUS - IGNITION PROBLEMS. CAME TO FIND OUT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN, DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. "THE FORD FOCUS' MOST COMMON PROBLEM, ACCORDING COMPLAINTS FROM FOCUS OWNERS, IS THE KEY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION, OR THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION." *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10256640January 28, 2009LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, EQUIPMENT
WE HAVE ALREADY FILED A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT FOR ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME DEFECT WHICH HAPPENED WITHIN APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF OF EACH OTHER. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT WE FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOU, ABOUT 2 SEPARATE/SIMILAR EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED DURING OUR OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE (2004 FORD FOCUS ZX-3). IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO INSERT/REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. ON THE PREVIOUS OCCASION THE KEY BECAME STUCK AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER THE ONSET OF THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT, THE KEY BECAME COMPLETELY STUCK IN THE IGNITION, IT WILL TURN SLIGHTLY EITHER WAY, THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT, BUT THE CAR WILL START. ON THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR RE-KEYED, AND BOUGHT A NEW LOCK CYLINDER AND HAD IT PROGRAMMED AND INSTALLED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP. LUCKILY THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WE WERE AT A FRIENDS HOUSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO WE WERE NOT STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, AND THIS TIME FORTUNATELY THE CAR WILL STILL START. HOWEVER, THE KEY REMAINS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SO REALISTICALLY SOMEONE COULD STEAL THE CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10256490January 27, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, VISIBILITY, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE IGNITION LOCK AND THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT. HAD TO BE TOWED AT MIDNIGHT FROM THE HOSPITAL IN 18 DEGREE WEATHER. DEALERSHIP SAID MANUFACTURE PART AT A COST OF $455.00. BRAKE NOISE NO ONE CAN FIND. REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM TWICE. WILL NEVER BUY FORD AGAIN!!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10256258January 25, 2009LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
IGNITION LOCK UP ON 2004 FORD FOCUS. STEERING WHEEL WON'T UNLOCK AND KEY WON'T TURN. IT SEEMS THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10252593December 22, 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE A 2004 FORD FOCUS WHOSE IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS COST ME A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10252210December 18, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PURCHASED CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND IT HAS SINCE DIED WHILE DRIVING THREE TIMES IN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS. LAST TIME CAR DIED, SO FAR, WAS ON A BUSY ROUTE AT A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH OUR TWO TODDLERS AND NEWBORN IN THE BACKSEAT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM OF CAR JUST DYING WHILE BEING DRIVEN. WHEN WILL THIS GET THE PROPER ATTENTION IT NEEDS BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR EVEN KILLED BEFORE IT'S ACTUALLY DEALT WITH. NO DEALERSHIP OR MECHANIC CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR. HAD WE KNOWN THIS, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THIS CAR. WE PURCHASED IT SOLELY ON THE FACT IT WAS ABLE TO HAVE OUR THREE CHILDREN IN THE BACKSEAT AND IT HAD SO FEW MILES, 65K. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0