2004 Ford Focus Ignition Problems
- 74
- 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.
What owners report
- turn ignition · 20 records
- ignition lock · 12 records
- steering wheel · 11 records
- ignition turn · 11 records
- ignition switch · 8 records
- ignition cylinder · 8 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 24 |
| 60–100k mi | 21 |
| 1–30k mi | 3 |
| 100–150k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Ignition
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
ODI 10633012
Ignition · Unknown Or Other
The key will not turn in the ignition. This has been ongoing for two months. It takes several minutes of jiggling to finally get the ignition lock to release. I drive this car on business, including in remote areas. It is scary to try to start the car and have the key not turn. So far, i've always been able to get it to eventually work, but this is ridiculous. We've just started experiencing the same issue on my…
ODI 10462578
Ignition
2004 FORD FOCUS KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION. *KB
ODI 10410445
Ignition · Steering
My key ignition has locked up on my 2004 ford focus leaving me stranded and costing me time from work not to mention the cost its going to be to fix it. I have read many many complaints on this problem and as of yet there is no recall. But i strongly suggest ford considering a recall because it is a safety issue.... Who feels safe stranded on interstate, bad area of town, at night or whatever the case may be! *tr
ODI 10354819
Ignition · Latches/Locks/Linkages
My ford focus svt 2004 ingintion key will not turn and the steering wheel is locked. I had problems starting 4 months ago and now it is worst. *tr
ODI 10327284
Ignition
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
ODI 10314981
Ignition
2004 ford focus ignition problem. Could not put my key in the ignition and was stranded. *tr
ODI 10295058
Ignition
2004 ford focus-- ignition key won`t turn leaving the driver stranded. *tr
ODI 10293977
Ignition
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford focus. While attempting to start the vehicle the key would not turn in the ignition. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership. The current and failure mileages were 86000.
ODI 10296717
Ignition · Latches/Locks/Linkages
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…
ODI 10296322
Ignition
I own a 2004 ford focus zx5, i went into work, came out and found my ignition would not turn. The steering wheel was locked, the key would not budge, the brake wouldn't even push in all the way, as well as my car wouldn't come out of park. I looked up the problem online and saw it was a very common problem and i'm very displease that this would happen. I bought this car about a year ago from a dealership! I'm going…
ODI 10284850
Ignition
My 17 year old daughter was left stranded one evening when the key wouldn't turn in the ignition of her 2004 ford focus so she couldn't get the car started. I had just signed up for a class at our local community college at a campus 25+ miles away. I was in class with my phone off, so i couldn't help her. It is a dangerous situation for a young girl to be stranded anywhere. In addition, we live in texas where we're…
ODI 10282708
Ignition
2004 ford focus key ignition is a faulty design in seemingly all focus models according to my dealer and many sources. This left me stranded in 100 degree weather with my pet and no idea what to do. The repair is quoted at $550 to replace it at the dealer and ford has done nothing to recall their poorly designed ignition. My dealer said every ford focus will eventually need this repaired, why then isn't ford…
ODI 10279500
Ignition · Latches/Locks/Linkages
1. There was no warning sign 2. My key wouldn't turn the ignition, i was stuck at my job 11:00 pm. 3. I had the car towed to the nearest ford dealerships and had the ignition replaced costing me $382.00. *tr
ODI 10278836
Ignition · Steering
I tried to start my 2004 ford focus zx3 one night only to find that the steering wheel and ignition were locked up. It felt as if the whole steering mechanism was frozen. I'm still researching how to deal with this issues since i can't drive my car. On-line resources have taught me that this is a common problem with the ford focus' yet there is no recall available and we are stuck paying hundreds of dollars to fix a…
ODI 10277284
Electrical System · Ignition
There is a defect which causes the ignition lock to fail, making it impossible to turn the key or start the vehicle's engine. The form says it's invalid but i checked both places in the car and that is what it says. The form did not have, "electrical system:ignition," as an option for component name which better describes the problem area. *tr
ODI 10276582
Ignition · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Our 17 year old daughter stopped at a seven-eleven store and when she tried to return home the ignition key in our 2004 ford focus would not turn. This left our daughter stranded and required her to wait for a tow truck. Being a 17 year old girl stranded outside a seven-eleven was not a good feeling! I believe ford is aware of many complaints about their focus ignition locks. *tr
ODI 10274775
Ignition
2004 ford focus. The key will not turn in the ignition and the ignition needs to be replaced. This has happened to tons of other people with the same car and issue and ford has not recalled it because they are cheap.*tr
ODI 10274187
Ignition
The vehicle ignition starter fails to start the vehicle. You must hit the key into the ignition in order to actually start the car. This occurs every time that i attempt to start the car. This is a common issue that recurs even after you replace the parts. This is a mechanical error that will constantly break down. *tr
ODI 10272893
Ignition
The key will not turn the ignition. This has happened several times. Usually i can get it to work after about an hour or two of repeatedly putting the key in & out, but today i cannot get it working. I have been stranded in the dead of winter with my daughter out at midnight, on the side of a major busy highway (rt 94 west to chicago), and several other locations. It's usually late at night and freezing cold out…
ODI 10267235
Ignition
Ignition system failed for 2004 ford focus 2 dr coupe. Car now needs a new system which ford estimates at $450. Google "ford focus ignition" and see hundreds of exact same complaint. Ford will not recall since not "safety" issue, how about integrity. They know of the problem but will not fix it. California has a class action law suit, but what about me?? Ford should be held accountable for this problem that they…
ODI 10265084
Ignition
My ignition lock froze up and i was unable to drive my car. Key wouldn't turn and the steering wheel was locked. I had to have my car towed to a shop for repairs. I called ford and asked them to correct the problem and they declined. I own a 2004 ford focus zx5. I checked the internet and this is a common problem. *tr
ODI 10263625
Ignition
2004 ford focus - ignition problems. Came to find out this is a well known, documented problem. "the ford focus' most common problem, according complaints from focus owners, is the key won't turn in the ignition, or the key gets stuck in the ignition." *tr
ODI 10257327
Ignition
2004 ford focus key gets stuck in the ignition and will not turn. It occurs frequently. *tr
ODI 10259542
Ignition
2004 ford focus - locked ignition switch-low miles. Unable to drive or unlock steering wheel. Hundreds of complaints on this situation. Class action filed in ca. *tr
ODI 10248086
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2004 Ford Focus.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.