2004 Ford Focus Electrical System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
"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.
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.
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.
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.
SHORTED BRAKE WIRES IN TRUNK AREA BLOWN FUSE NO START NO BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE.
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.
TL* 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.
CAR WAS INOPERABLE DUE TO KEY NOT WORKING IN THE IGNITION AND EMERGENCY REPAIR SERVICE IN PARKING LOT HAD TO BE DONE. READ MORE: HTTP://WWW.JUSTANSWER.COM/NEW-QUESTION/OPTIONAL-INFORMATION.ASPX?TQID=423907452&PT=630&CATID=56411&R=AUTOBEEF&RPT=220#IXZZ3BAC4IRXZ
IGNITION LOCK STUCK. KEY WOULD NOT WORK. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. IGNITION HAD TO BE REPLACED. COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS DEPENDING ON WHERE CAR WAS PARKED. *TR
TL* 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.
TL*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.
TL* 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.
ALL OF A SUDDEN I AM HAVING TROUBLE TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2004 FORD FOCUS. AS OF NOW I AM ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN BY GENTLY TAPPING ON THE KEY WITH A HAMMER AS I TRY TO TURN. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE IGNITION BECAUSE WHEN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAULT THAT FORD IS AWARE OF, BUT REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. *TR
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. *TR
2004 FORD FOCUS KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION. *KB
THE IGNITION IS COMPLETELY LOCKED. I'VE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE THE PAST MONTH BEING ABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND NOW I CANNOT TURN IT AT ALL. MY CAR IS STRANDED AT A LOCAL TIRE SHOP WITH THE WINDOW DOWN, WHICH MAY CAUSE EVEN MORE DAMAGE FROM THE WEATHER OR ALLOW FOR EASY THEFT. THIS PROBLEM IS SO UNPREDICTABLE ITS SCARY, I COULD'VE BEEN ANYWHERE AND BEEN STRANDED. THEN I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM AND FIND THAT TONS OF OTHER FOCUS OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BECAUSE FORD USED A CHEAP METAL. ITS TIME THAT THEY TREATED THERE CUSTOMERS RIGHT AND RECALL THIS PART. *TR
2004 FORD FOCUS, KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM. SOMETIMES IT TAKES 20 MINUTES, OTHER TIMES IT HAS TAKEN HOURS TO GET THE KEY TO TURN. WITH LESS THAN 70K MILES, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN I HAVE CHILDREN IN THE CAR! *TR
BATTERY FAILURE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR
WE HAVE A 2004 FORD FOCUS 2.3L. KEY WONT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. WE HAD TO CALL A LOCK SMITH OUT TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. THE LOCK SMITH SAID THAT HE REPLACES TWO TO THREE EVERY WEEK ON THE FORD FOCUS MODEL. LUCKY FOR US WE WERE AT HOME WHEN THE IGNITION FAILED. I READ OTHER STORIES WHERE OTHERS WERE NOT SO FORTUNATE. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT FORD STILL TO THIS DAY DOSE NOT HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. EVEN A COURTESY ALERT WOULD BE BETTER THEN SITTING IN THE DARK AND HAVING TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH TO DISCOVER WHAT THE FIX IS. *TR
THE KEY WOULD NO LONGER TURN IN THE IGNITION (BUT OPERATED DOOR AND HATCH WITHOUT DIFFICULTY), CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION IN WHICH THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AND THE OWNER WAS STRANDED WITH AN INOPERABLE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP REQUIRED $400 FOR A REPLACEMENT IGNITION CYLINDER. THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH POOR QUALITY IGNITION CYLINDERS IN THIS MODEL YEAR AND THEY WERE SUBSEQUENTLY REDESIGNED BY FORD (PERFORM A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "FORD FOCUS IGNITION CYLINDER" OR SEE THE DISCUSSION AT HTTP:FORUMS.FOCALJET.COMTEAM-TECH497529-NEW-IGNITION-CYLINDER-HELP.HTML). GIVEN THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, THE ISSUE SHOULD BE COVERED BY A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OR RECALL INSTEAD OF REQUIRING A SIGNIFICANT OUT-OF-POCKET PAYMENT BY THE OWNER.
THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO TURN IN MY 2004 FORD FOCUS LEAVING ME STRANDED. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAD HAPPENED AND TO TEMPORARILY REMEDY THE SITUATION I HAD TO TAKE A HAMMER AND TAP THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TURN AT THE SAME TIME TO START THE CAR. THE KEY MUST REMAIN IN THE IGNITION AT ALL TIMES NOW TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE. *TR
2004 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH *TGW
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT BANGED ON THE KEY AND THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,139 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,673. UPDATED 11/9/10 *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 80 MPH. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ABNORMALLY JERKING AS IF SHE WAS REPEATEDLY TAPPING ON THE BRAKES. THE TRANS AXLE COOLING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN SHE TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON. THE CRUISE CONTROL THEN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92,590.
I OWN A 2004 FORD FOCUS, I'VE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION STICKING FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS, USUALLY BEING ABLE TO JIGGLE IT AND GET IT TO TURN. NOW IT IS STUCK COMPLETELY, I'VE READ TONS AND TONS OF ARTICLES ABOUT THIS BEING A PROBLEM, MY CAR IS NOW PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL THIS IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2004 Ford Focus has 145 Electrical System complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.