Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 Ford Focus, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system183
- Service brakes, hydraulic31
- Steering29
- Latches/locks/linkages28
- Air bags24
- Engine and engine cooling22
- Power train20
- Vehicle speed control18
- Suspension17
- Structure14
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 34 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 25 2004 Focus vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 20 people died inside them, and 5 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2004 Ford Focus failed the safety check 3.30% of the time — 50% more often than the average 2004 passenger car (2.21%). Median odometer at inspection: 110,954 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2004 Ford Focus cars on Dutch roads are the 1.6 petrol (74 kW, 99 hp), 1.8 petrol (88 kW, 118 hp) and 1.4 petrol (55 kW, 74 hp), out of 6 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.6 petrol | 74 kW 99 hp | 4,124 |
| 1.8 petrol | 88 kW 118 hp | 698 |
| 1.4 petrol | 55 kW 74 hp | 183 |
| 1.8 petrol | 92 kW 123 hp | 79 |
| 2.0 petrol | 107 kW 143 hp | 78 |
| 2.0 petrol | 96 kW 129 hp | 45 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
5,322 first registered in 2004 are on Dutch roads; 3% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €22,650.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde2,915
- Band onvoldoende profiel2,359
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm1,578
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld1,449
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen1,428
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)1,104
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt968
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht800
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
11,231 cars built in 2004 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 9,254 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 23,042 of these cars first registered in 2004 took their annual MOT test. 52% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2004 the figure was 56%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2004 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 24.0% | 21.8% |
| Suspension | 22.5% | 17.2% |
| Brakes | 12.4% | 13.8% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 8.4% | 9.1% |
| Tyres | 8.4% | 6.7% |
| Visibility | 7.9% | 7.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
2,801 of these cars first registered in 2004 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 254,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
627 2004 cars are on the New Zealand register; 22% arrived as used imports, 76% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 8 variants: combined 8.7–9.8 L/100 km (about 24–27 mpg US), CO₂ 200–225 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus · Compact · Regular gasoline | 9.9 | 7.3 | 8.7 |
| Focus Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 10.1 | 7.3 | 8.9 |
| Focus · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.3 | 8.0 | 9.3 |
| Focus # · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.4 | 7.9 | 9.3 |
| Focus Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 10.3 | 8.0 | 9.3 |
| Focus Wagon # · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 10.4 | 7.9 | 9.3 |
| Focus # · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.9 | 8.5 | 9.8 |
| Focus Wagon # · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 10.9 | 8.5 | 9.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2004 Ford Focus.
| 2005025 14 Feb 2005 | Other Certain four door (sedan and wagon) and five door vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH FOUR OR FIVE DOORS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A BUILD-UP OF CORROSION AT THE PAWL PIVOT AREA OF THE REAR DOOR LATCH CAN CAUSE A BINDING CONDITION OF THE PAWL THAT MAY AFFECT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PAWL INTO THE CATCH. THE OCCUPANT MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING OR CLOSING A REAR DOOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE REAR DOOR MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 2004 Ford Focus: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10205032 | Safety recall 05S27 - Rear door latch corrosion - requests for recall service action - built on or before 01/26/2005 |
| 10183768 | For 2000-2005 Focus vehicles built on or before 1/26/2005 Safety Recall 05S27 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where the rear door latches may experience corrosion in the pawl pivot area preventing proper engagement of the pawl into the catch. Initially, customers may experience difficulty closing the rear door that may eventually progress to a point where the rear door may not latch properly. If not latched properly, the door may open while driving. |
| 10109070 | The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate when reading these PIDs and cannot display quickly enough to validate a concern. The PCM automatically monitors these inputs more accurately and will set diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) when appropriate. Using these PIDs for diagnostics will lead to inaccurate results and improper ETB replacements. If a concern is intermittent and no DTCs are present, refer |
| 10058100 | FORD: DUE TO HIGH CORROSION AREAS, WHERE VEHICLES ARE OPERATED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS, LOWER CONTROL ARM (LCA) CAN SEPARATE FROM FORWARD ATTACHMENT OF SUBFRAME. MODEL 2001-04 ESCAPE. *PE |
| 10058099 | FORD: REAR DOOR LATCHES ARE EXPERIENCING CORROSION IN PAWL PIVOT AREA THAT PREVENT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF PAWL INTO CATCH, WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS CAUSING HIGH CORROSION. MODEL 2000-05 FOCUS. *PE |
| 10056643 | FORD: ON SOME VEHICLES, OPERATING FOR AN EXTENDED TIME IN HIGH CORROSION AREA, A SAFETY RECALL 05S27 WAS ISSUED, WHERE REAR DOOR LATCHES EXPERIENCE CORROSION IN PAWL PIVOT AREA PREVENTING PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF PAWL INTO CATCH. MODEL 2000-05 FOCUS. *PE |
| 10021051 | POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE - INSTALL SPECIAL SERVICE TOOLS PRIOR TO REMOVING CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT. *KB |
| 10020173 | POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE - INSTALL SPECIAL SERVICE TOOLS PRIOR TO REMOVING CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10019947 | NEUTRAL TOW CAPABILITY - SERVICE KIT REQUIREMENTS. *TT |
| 10019375 | MANIFOLD OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER HEAT SHIELDS LOOSE/MISSING. *TT |
| 10019081 | MIRFIRE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0316, P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, OR P0304 - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10019076 | REPLACE TIMING BELT IDLER PULLEY DURING 2.0L ZETEC ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10019073 | DTC P0316, P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303 AND/OR P0304 - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10018945 | MTX-75 PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE. *TT |
| 10018934 | NEUTRAL TOW CAPABILITY -- SERVICE KIT REQUIREMENTS. *TT |
| 10017934 | REAR BRAKE SQUEAL. *TT |
| 10017922 | DIFFICULT OR UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR. *TT |
| 10017884 | ERRATIC INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES AND/OR WARNING INDICATORS - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10014667 | HARSH TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT AND OR DTC P0705. *EH |
| 10014656 | VENT LEAK. *EH |
| 10014596 | HARSH TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT AND OR DTC P0705. *EH |
| 10014086 | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10014082 | ENGINE VIBRATION AT IDLE. *TT |
| 10014062 | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT |
| 10013416 | A/C CONDENASTION LEAK. *EH |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation