2004 Ford Focus Electrical System Problems
- 61
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 61 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 3 indicate fire
- 1 indicate a death
What owners report
- steering wheel · 11 records
- turn ignition · 8 records
- ignition turn · 7 records
- ignition switch · 7 records
- ignition lock · 6 records
- ignition cylinder · 5 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 17 |
| 60–100k mi | 16 |
| 100–150k mi | 9 |
| 1–30k mi | 7 |
| 150–400k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System · Engine · Service Brakes
My battery light seems to flash when the car is off. Car has stalled several times while driving try to accelerate over 50 miles an hour car will shut off. Back hatch on wagon seems to release itself while driving well unlock automatically. Have replaced three thermostat and thermostat housing due to overheating car will not tell me is overheating it will boil in the overflow return tank pressurize and shoot the cap…
ODI 11234370
Electrical System
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.
ODI 11229934
Electrical System · Engine
Recently my vehicle stereo has been messing up. It sometimes smell a little burnt. It is the passenger door speaker. It sounds as if it's a shortage inside of it. Sometimes the radio dash fades out. The car has hesitates sometimes to start. Once the ac is on the car starts running really rough and you hear a kind of click is hard to explain but i know it's not normal. At sometimes i am unable to run the ac my whole…
ODI 11230782
Electrical System
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.
ODI 11181269
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Steering
My vehicle instrument cluster failed causing alternator to die and false readings on the dash with multiple alerts such as battery, airbag , oil and incorrect speed dial. The vehicle instrument failed at 30,000 miles and if you search it is a very common issue with the ford focus vehicle's. The vehicle staled and died while being drove in town and thank god it did not happen while on the highway.
ODI 11105102
Electrical System
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.
Fire reported
ODI 11013323
Electrical System
Shorted brake wires in trunk area blown fuse no start no brake lights would not shift into drive.
ODI 10940198
Electrical System
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.
ODI 10899327
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Visibility/Wiper
My car was turned off and my dash lights would flicker and beep, my radio goes on and off by it self, the rear wiper and third brake light do not work, and now everything does not work.
ODI 10824294
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10854410
Electrical System
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
ODI 10722374
Electrical System · Engine
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact noticed that the failure recurred intermittently whenever a bump or a pothole was hit on the road. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000. Updated.…
ODI 10693586
Electrical System · Seats
3/1/14: driver's side heated seat burned through upholstery and caught fabric on fire, while my daughter was driving vehicle. After searching the internet, i found that this has happened to other focus owners. There was a service bulletin (04b16); why no recall? *tr
Fire reported
ODI 10566563
Electrical System
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.
ODI 11080204
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10486338
Electrical System
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.
ODI 10458431
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10425309
Electrical System · Equipment
Ford focus wheel and ignition locked up. Cant turn key or wheel! I have red multiple problems with this and cant believe ford has not recalled this issue!!! The best part about all of this is my car just got out of warranty! You suck ford and your cheap [xxx] dealers!!!!! Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr
ODI 10420809
Electrical System
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
ODI 10418620
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10404857
Electrical System · Steering
Attempted to start car and steering column and ignition was locked. I can't get either to turn. *tr
ODI 10384870
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10384635
Electrical System
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
ODI 10383887
Electrical System
Battery failure due to a short in the ignition switch. *tr
ODI 10379457
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10376947
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2004 Ford Focus.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.