Most common 2004 Ford Focus problems
Share of the 387 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Focus complaints by model year
Best Focus years: 2011, 2006, 2009. Years to avoid: 2012, 2014, 2013, 2016, 2017. Compare all years →
2004 Ford Focus recalls (1)
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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…
Remedy: Dealers will have a lower rocker seal added to the door and have the rear door latches evaluated free of charge. A latch that passes the evaluation will be lubricated to prevent future corrosion.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2004 Ford Focus:
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three…
What 2004 Ford Focus owners say
Electrical system all 183 →
As I was stopped at red light it stalled as I drove thru. So I pulled over. Got out to open hood. It was smoking.struggled to open hood. Ran around to get towel to smother the fire. But it was too far gone. Man told me just leave it. It was total loss.
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.
Brakes all 40 →
In January, I was involved in a traffic crash. I applied the breaks to my vehicle (giving plenty of time to come to a stop and only traveling 20 MPH ) but the vehicle did not come to a complete stop. As a result, I hit a vehicle in front of me. I do not know what the vehicle would not stop. It was as if the breaks were not working correctly.
I rented a Ford Focus 2004 with just under 12,000 miles in san francisco from fox rent a car. The brakes were making noises when I would come to a stop. When I took the car down lombard street the car smelled like burning wires but at that time I was not sure if the smell was coming from our car or another acr. Two days later I drove on the highway and exited, drove on the service raod going now about 25miles/ hour then as I came to the other cars I tried to slow down to a stop to make a right hand turn. I was pressing on the brake but nothing was happening. I looked down to see if my foot was on the brake and it was and still the car was not stopping. I then put my foot all the way to the floor on the brake and still nothing happened. I then gently rolled into the car infront of me. Fox rent a car staded it was my fault because it is impossable for a newer car to have brake problems. …
Engine & cooling all 35 →
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle jerked abnormally. There were three clicks before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted after approximately 10 minutes. The contact stated that on one occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled nearby train tracks. The contact waited for 10 minutes, restarted the vehicle, and drove the vehicle to safety. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where a handheld diagnostic test indicated that the PCV valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that an ignition coil needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred approximately a month later. …
As I was stopped at red light it stalled as I drove thru. So I pulled over. Got out to open hood. It was smoking.struggled to open hood. Ran around to get towel to smother the fire. But it was too far gone. Man told me just leave it. It was total loss.
2004 Ford Focus engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 32 / 27 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 30 / 25 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Ford Focus a good car?
Based on 387 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Focus rates better than average: 61% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Focus at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Ford Focus?
The electrical system — 183 complaints, 47% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition. Next are the brakes (40) and engine & cooling (35).
How many recalls does the 2004 Ford Focus have?
There is 1 recall for the 2004 Ford Focus, the most recent from February 1, 2005 (latch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Focus?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2006 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2014, 2013, 2016 and 2017. See the full Ford Focus years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Ford Focus problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 53,000 miles; 48% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.