Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the trunk panel did not latch intermittently and the trunk panel warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that it took numerous attempts for the trunk panel to latch. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the latches were defective. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact attempted to repair the vehicle nearly three times. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.
The ignition lock froze up without warning leaving us stranded across town. Thankfully we were in a safe part of town with access to tools so we got the problem resolved temporarily. The ignition can be un frozen by taking apart the steering column and removing all electrical components from the lock. Then put a drip pan under the lock and blow all the metal shavings out of the lock with a liquid lubricant. Do not use wd40. We used a firearm lubricant which will not clump the new shavings and it has worked rather well so far (breakfree). As a precaution we leave the key in the lock which is risky to do in bad parts of town. To circumvent this we remove the key rfid sensor from the car which prevents the engine from starting at all no matter what the lock is doing. …
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. …
Parked car as always. Came out to start car to leave and key will not turn in ignition. Had to have it towed. The tow truck driver said they tow Ford Focus models with bad ignitions quite often. A woman in a Focus wagon pulled up in the lot where I was stranded before the tow truck arrived. I asked her to not park there since a tow truck was coming; I also told her why. She said she had several times where her key would get stuck in her Focus. Mine had done that a few times over the past 3 months, it appears based on the internet searches, and just my conversations in one day that this is a major issue. Mine is a 2004 model Focus. So it goes beyond the thinking that it is only 2000 to 2003 models. This past weekend I could have been stranded in the henry m. Jackson wilderness area in wa. State, possibly with no cell phone service available either. …
Yesterday evening, 6/22/10, after playing tennis at a local park, I got into my '04 Ford Focus wagon, put the key in the ignition, and the key would not turn. The steering wheel was locked, and no matter how I tried, the key would not work. I called my wife to come after me with her key. With some difficulty she was able to unlock the steering wheel and start the car with her key. I drove the car home and left the key in the ignition. Today, I drove the car to a local Ford dealer. I was told that the Focus ignition lock was a known problem. The ignition lock would have to be replaced at a cost of over $410.00. I googled 'Ford Focus ignition lock problem' and came back with numerous hits of people describing similar incidents. I believe this is a safety issue, and there should be a recall to fix it. …
The deck lid wiring harness breaks due to fatigue from opening and closing the hatch. In my case, 6 wires in the harness had been completely severed. Because of this, my tail light was out, the door ajar light was on and the brake lights were always on when the car was in drive. Besides the danger of being rear ended because the brake lights are always on, depending on which wires break or have their insulation crack open, there are a number of bad situations: * all rear lights could turn off. * the trunk could open when you apply the brakes. * the trunk could open when you use a turning indicator. This is a known issue with the 2000 Focus hatchback, but there was no recall for the deck lid wiring harness after that year. I just wanted to let you know that it happened on our 2004 Focus hatchback, and it can leave owners and other drivers on the road in a potentially dangerous situation. …
On a Saturday evening I drove to grocery store. After I had finished shopping I tried to start vehicle. I could not turn key in ignition and the steering column remained in the locked position. The vehicle had 67787 miles. I had car towed to Ford dealer and they drilled out lock cylinder and replaced with a new one at a cost of $385.34. Tow truck driver stated that he had towed the same model before with an identical problem. The service manager at dealer stated that he had several of the same model with identical problem. He also stated that the part had been updated a few times. I am 53 and have driven many vehicles, some with over 240,000 miles and have never before had this problem. I feel it was manufactured with a defect and it failed prematurely.
I have a 2004 Ford Focus. The ignition locks whenever the car is turned off. It is impossible to start the car again without hitting on the key itself. This has resulted in the key breaking off in the lock. The ignition lock appears to be a common problem with this make and model, and poses a significant safety risk.. I have had this problem for the past 2 years, but it has become much worse recently. There was no accident or damage to the car prior to this issue. The local Ford dealers told me it would cost between $400-500 to fix, and it seems that many times, the new parts are also defective and the problem returns. As this appears to be a widespread problem among Focus owners, please consider issuing a safety recall for this make and model.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced the same failures listed in NHTSA campaign number: 06e056000 (fuel system, gasoline) and NHTSA campaign number: 05V030000 (latches/locks/linkages). She stated that due to poor design, the quick connectors would not fully seat with the tube interface, even though the person making the connection May believe that the quick connector was fully attached. The contact also stated that she was unable to open the front driver's side and both rear doors. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Ford Focus. While the contact was driving approximately 30 MPH, the rear passenger side door was locked securely; and opened abruptly with slight pressure applied against the door. In addition, the rear driver door exhibited the identical failure. The failure occurred five different times. The dealer was notified and they informed that the vehicle had been previously repaired under the NHTSA campaign id number 05V030000 (latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch). The remedy repair failed to correct the problem. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Related recalls
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.
Door Lock & Latch complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are door lock & latch problems on the 2004 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the locks & latches of the 2004 Ford Focus, 7% of the model year's 387 complaints. The component named most often is doors › latch (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Ford Focus door lock & latch problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-030 (latch, Feb 1, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Ford Focus door lock & latch problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 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.