2004 Ford Focus Complaint Log

GOT INTO THE CAR PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. A LOCKSMITH HIT IT WITH A HAMMER AND IT TURNED, NOW TO GET IT STARTED I HAVE TO HIT THE KEY WITH A HAMMER BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT WILL LAST. *TR

THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2004 FORD FOCUS (MANUAL TRANS) LOCKED UP THE STEERING COLUMN. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING AND PARKED IT STILL REQUIRED THE CALL OF FOUR TOW TRUCKS TO GET IT INTO THE DEALER. BECAUSE THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED IN A SLANTED POSITION WHEN I PARKED THE FIRST FLATBED TRUCK WASN'T ABLE TO LOAD IT. IT REQUIRED A SECOND TRUCK TO TOW IT TO MY OWN MECHANIC. FROM THERE HE REQUIRED IT TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER, SAME RESULTS WITH TOW COMPANY'S. THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE $357 ON TOP OF THE TOWING FEE FOR IGNITION LOCK REPLACEMENT. *TR

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

THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THIS IT TURNS OUT IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THE FORD FOCUS YET SO FAR FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THE FAULTY IGNITION. *TR

MY IGNITION HAS LOCKED MULTIPLE TIMES LEAVING MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND MYSELF STRANDED WHERE I HAD TO CALL SOMEONE TO COME AND HELP START MY CAR AS THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION. TONIGHT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL AND I HAD TO ABANDON IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. ON OCTOBER 25, 2008, WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR CRASH INVOLVED TO TRIGGER THE DEPLOYMENT. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES TO HER NECK. THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS SENDING AN APPRAISER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 93,116. UPDATED 12/11/08 *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO CANCEL THE COMPLAINT. THE CONSUMER STATED HER DAUGHTER WHO WAS DRIVING, HIT SOMETHING WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND THEREFORE TRIGGERED THE AIR BAGS. UPDATED 12/11/08

I HAVE A 2004 FORD FOCUS WHOSE IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS COST ME A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS. *TR

MY 2004 FORD FOCUS'S IGNITION HAS FAILED. IT JUST STOPPED WORKING ONE DAY LEAVING ME STRANDED AT WORK FOR 2 HOURS. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 FORD FOCUS. INTERMITTENTLY I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT THE IGNITION DOES NOT MOVE. GENERALLY IF I WAIT AND TRY AGAIN SEVERAL MINUTE LATER THE KEY WILL TURN. TONIGHT I LEFT WORK AND ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I CALLED HOME AND ATTEMPTED WITH SPARE KEY WITH SIMILAR RESULTS. I LEFT CAR IN PARKING LOT UNTIL ABLE TO CALL SERVICE IN MORNING. FORTUNATELY IT WAS NOT AN EMERGENCY AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTACT FAMILY TO OBTAIN ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION. *TR

OCCASIONAL ERRATIC INSTRUMENT DISPLAY OPERATION WITH PERIODS OF INSTRUMENT PANEL OUTAGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A VACUUM LEAK DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT FORD HAD TO UPGRADE THE COMPUTER IN HIS VEHICLE, WHICH MEANT THAT IT HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED. ONCE THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THE IDLER INCREASED TO 1,200 RPM'S AND THEN DROPPED TO 1,000 RPM'S. HE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN GEAR AND IT SPED OFF. HE COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS PUSHING AGAINST THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT DROVE 20 MPH AROUND THE PARKING LOT FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES WITH NO BRAKES. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY TO BE COMPLIANT WITH THE EPA REGARDING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE GEARS DO NOT CHANGE OR DECREASE TO A LOWER RPM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

I GOT IN MY CAR AFTER LUNCH ON DAY TO RETURN TO WORK AND WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT WOULD NOT TURN. I KEPT TRYING FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AND COULD NOT GET IT TO TURN. THIS IS THE SECOND FORD FOCUS I HAVE OWNED AND THE 2ND TIME THIS EVENT HAS OCCURRED. I HAD TO PAY $473.20 TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED, THE IGNITION LOCK REPLACED, AND A NEW KEY FITTED FOR THE CAR. THE LADY AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP INFORMED US BEFORE WE TOOK THE CAR IN THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF THE PART BEING RECALLED SINCE THIS HAPPENS OFTEN. WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR IN AND THEY BEGAN WORK ON IT WE DISCOVERED THIS WAS NOT TRUE. I AM JUST THANKFUL I WAS NOT COMING BACK FROM COURT OR IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON THE ROAD. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2004 FORD FOCUS ZX3 A YEAR AGO IN AUGUST 2007. THE CAR HAD NEVER GIVEN ME ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL YESTERDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2008. I GOT OUT OF SCHOOL AND WENT TO LUNCH WITH A FRIEND, I HAD TO GO TO WORK SO I DECIDED TO LEAVE. WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE TO TURN MY CAR ON I COULDN'T TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, I TRIED MOVING THE STIRRING WHEEL WHILE I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BUT IT WOULDN'T BUDGE. I CALLED MY FRIEND AND SHE CAME OUT TO TRY TO SEE IF SHE COULD TURN IT ON, IT DIDN'T WORK FOR HER EITHER. I THEN PROCEEDED TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHERE I GOT MY CAR, THEY TOLD MY THAT I DID STILL HAD WARRANTY FOR MY CAR SO THE TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO TOW IT TO THEM. THEY GAVE ME A NUMBER SO THAT I COULD CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR THE WARRANTY, THEY LET ME KNOW THAT I DID HAVE INSURANCE FOR A TOW TRUCK. THEY GAVE ME THE NUMBER OF A TOW TRUCK AND I HAD TO CALL THEM SO THAT THEY COULD PICK-UP MY CAR AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND GOT MY CAR TO TAKE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AFTER MY CAR GOT THERE THE GUY TOLD ME THAT THEY WHERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CHECK MY CAR UNTIL TOMORROW WHEN THE SERVICE GUYS GOT IN. THEY CALLED BCK TODAY AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX MY CAR AND I HAD TO PAY A 50 DOLLAR DEDUCTIBLE TO PICK UP MY CAR. I HAVE READ SOME MORE STATEMENTS FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR FOCUSES BUT THE MOST REPORT HAVE BEEN WITH THE 2000-20003 LIKE I SAID MY CAR IS A 2004 SO FORD REALLY NEEDS TO TRY TO BETTER THERE IGNITION LOCKS BECAUSE EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE IGNITION LOCK IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS AGAIN. I DIDN'T MAKE IT TO WORK YESTERDAY AND IF MY FRIEND WASN'T WITH ME I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH OUT A CAR, HOPEFULLY I THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN AND FORD DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT SOON! *TR

FORD FOCUS 2004 KEY IGNITION PROBLEMS. THE KEY WONT TURN IN THE IGNITION. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS IN FOCUS 2000-2003, BUT MINE IS A 2004 AND I JUST SPENT $400.00 IN REPAIRS. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO GET IT REPAIRED HOPING FORD WOULD FINALLY ISSUE A RECALL, AND I CAN GET MY MONEY BACK. THE ONE I HAVE WILL PROBABLY BREAK AGAIN IN A FEW YEARS, FOR ANOTHER $400. THIS IS TERRIBLE. I HAD THE CARD TOWED. *TR

MY IGNITION SWITCH ON MY FORD FOCUS 2004 WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I WAS ONLY IN A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT FOR 5 MINUTES AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUT, THE IGNITION LOCK AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. WENT ON INTERNET AND HAVE RESEARCHED THOUSANDS OF FORD FOCUS LOCKED CYLINDER COMPLAINTS. WHEN WILL THIS BECOME A RECALL? I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY I WILL BE OUT OF BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR FORD TO NOT PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

IGNITION ON MY 2004 FORD FOCUS WOULD NOT TURN. THIS HAS HAPPEN BEFORE AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR RUNNING. THE LATEST I HAD TO DRILL OUT THE IGNITION TO GET THE CAR HOME. *TR

THERE WERE NO DIFFICULTIES LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE OF MY IGNITION. I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2004 FORD FOCUS AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID IT WAS THE CYLINDER IGNITION SWITCH. HE CHECKED ONLINE AFTER SEEING MY CAR AND FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN FOCUS' SINCE 2000. I THEN DID SOME RESEARCH ON MY OWN AND FOUND THE SAME THING. I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY AND THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME ALOT OF FOCUS' HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD HAVE TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A NEW KEY AND NO ONE ELSE COULD DO THAT. I HAVE NOT TOTALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM YET. THE MECHANIC WHO SAW MY CAR PUT WD-40 IN THE IGNITION AND BANGED A SCREW DRIVER IN IT AND THEN IT TURNS ON. I STILL HAVE TO DO THIS. *TR

PURCHASED 2004 FORD FOCUS ON 8-5-08. ON 8-19-08 THE IGNITION LOCKED IN MY DRIVE WAY. IGNITION WILL NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS! *TR

HEATED SEAT PAD IN BACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT OVERHEATED AND BURNED HOLE THROUGH SEAT WHILE DRIVING. CAR HAD TO BE STOPPED ON SIDE OF ROAD AND BOTTLED WATER POURED ON SMOLDERING SEAT. FUSE FOR HEATED SEATS HAD TO BE PULLED, FUSE DID NOT BLOW ON ITS OWN. FORD TRAVELLING ENGINEERS INSPECTED SEAT AND FORD HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR SEAT AS CAR IS 16000 MILES OVER WARRANTY. ADVICE FROM FORD WAS TO CLAIM THROUGH OWNERS COMPREHENSIVE AND LET INSURANCE COMPANY RECOVER MONEY FROM FORD. AFTER SEEKING LEGAL COUNSEL DEALERSHIP HAS OFFERED TO REPAIR DRIVER'S SEAT AND INSPECT PASSENGER SEAT. PARTS ARE ON ORDER, OLD PARTS WILL BE RETAINED IN MY POSESSION. *TR

1. NOTHING LED UP TO THE FAILURE. 2. FAILURE OCCURS EACH TIME KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION 3. PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I DRIVE A 2004 FORD FOCUS. MY IGNITION CYLINDER HAS GONE OUT. I SPENT 1/2 HOUR LATE AT NIGHT TRYING TO GET HOME FROM WORK. THE KEY WONT TURN. I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS SCARY! *TR

MY CAR (2004 FORD FOCUS) WAS JUST ABOUT DUE FOR ITS 30,000 MILE TUNE UP WHEN IT FIRST ACTED UP. IT STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY-NO POWER, NOTHING. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND HAD IT CHECKED AND THE 30,000 MILE TUNE UP DONE. NO PROBLEMS FOR 1 MONTH. WHILE DRIVING IT DID THE SAME THING WHEN I EXITED MY DRIVEWAY. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, TAKING OUT THE KEY, THEN RE-STARTING THE ENGINE IT SEEMED TO BE OK SO I HEADED OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY WHILE DRIVING AT THE BACK OF A LINE OF TRAFFIC, INCLUDING 2 FULLY LOADED LOGGING TRUCKS, IT HAPPENED WHEN I HAD SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 50 MPH. I GOT IT OVER TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE STATION AND AGAIN THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. THIS TIME THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO START FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY TO TELL ME THAT FORD HAD A BULLETIN ON FIXING THIS TYPE OF ISSUE, APPARENTLY THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RE-PROGRAMMED! SO I CALLED THE CLOSEST FORD DEALERSHIP 29 MILES AWAY AND TRIED TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION WITH THEM. I CALLED ANOTHER FORD DEALER AND WAS QUOTED 3 TIMES AS MUCH. I CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT AND GOT THE SAME BLASE ATTITUDE ABOUT THE SITUATION. NO ONE THOUGHT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT OWNERS NEEDED TO BE NOTIFIED. BUT 4 TIMES IN TOTAL, MY LIFE AND MY FIANCE'S LIFE WERE IN DANGER. THIS IS ANOTHER ISSUE OF FORD'S NEGLIGENCE. REMEMBER THE FIRESTONE TIRES??? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE HAS PIRELLI P6 TIRES. ON MARCH 2, 2005 AND DECEMBER 21, 2007, THE TIRES WENT COMPLETELY FLAT ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES, BUT IT WAS UNDETERMINED WHICH TIRES WERE REPLACED. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT ANOTHER TIRE HAD ROTTED AND IT WAS ALSO REPLACED. ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. IT WAS FOUND THAT TWO TIRES HAD SEVERE DRY ROT ON THE SIDEWALLS AND A RAPID WEAR DOWN. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED CALLING THE MANUFACTURER OF BOTH THE VEHICLE AND THE TIRES. PIRELLI TIRES WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED THE CONTACT 25% OFF THE PURCHASE OF NEW TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,392 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 30,000. UPDATED 10/20/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ONE OF THE TIRES WOULD NOT HOLD AIR AND THE OHTER TIRE HAD A BULGED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE REAMING TWO TIRES WERE SHOWING RAPID DETERIORATION.

I HAVE A 2004 FORD FOCUS THAT IS HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO START THE CAR, AND HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 FORD FOCUS. I PARKED MY VEHICLE AT CHURCH ON SUNDAY AND WHEN I CAME OUT - I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START MY CAR AND IT WAS LOCKED UP. NO MATTER WHAT I TRIED I COULDN'T TURN THE KEY OR START MY CAR. I CALLED MY BROTHER-IN-LAW TO COME HELP ME. HE TRIED TO AND NOTHING WORKED. HE HAD THE SUGGESTION TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET - TO LOOK UP FORD FOCUS AND KEY WON'T TURN ON GOOGLE. I DID JUST THAT - AND THERE WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE THAT HAD FORD FOCUS'S. A SUGGESTION ON THERE - WAS TO GET A SMALL HAMMER OR THE END OF A SCREW DRIVER AND WHILE YOU PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION - PUSH IT REAL HARD AND HIT THE KEY WITH A HAMMER. IT WORKED! MY KEY MOVED TO THE START POSITION AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR HOME. THE WEBSITE THAT TOLD US TO TRY THAT SAID - IT WOULD WORK TO GET THE CAR TO WHERE YOU WANTED IT TO GO - BUT THAT YOU WOULD NEED A NEW PART FOR THE IGNITION AND IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WOULD COST QUITE A LOT. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS - SO I JUST LEAVE MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AT ALL TIMES - AND USE MY SPARE KEY TO UNLOCK THE CAR. I FEEL THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS - AS MANY, MANY PEOPLE ONLINE HAVE COMPLAINED - IT SAID FORD FOCUS FROM YEARS 200-2004 (MINE IS A 2004). A PERSON CAN BECOME STRANDED AS THIS CAN HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ANYWHERE THEY PARK THEIR CAR. THIS WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY - HOWEVER, MY WARRANTY HAS LONG PASSED. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS - SINCE EVERYONE IS HAVING PROBLEMS - I BELIEVE IT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP ON THIS MATTER. TRICIA WALTER

2004 FORD FOCUS..CHANGED THE AIR FILTER AND NOTICED OIL IN AND UNDER THE OLD FILTER AND CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS ON THE NORMAL LEVEL. ABOUT THREE DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE CAR SHUT OFF, NOW IT WILL DO NOTHING, THE MOTOR WON'T EVEN TURN OVER. CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, ANY SUGGESTIONS? *TR

KEY STUCK IN IGNITION SWITCH. CANNOT TURN. CANNOT BE REMOVED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE CONTACT INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, HE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ALSO UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS RELATED TO IGNITION FAILURE FOR THE FORD FOCUS. DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE FAILURE, THE REPAIR COULD COST BETWEEN $300-$600. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED OTHER COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE FORD FOCUS AND IGNITION FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 49,000.

MY 2004 FORD FOCUS ZTS WITH 79,000 MILES ON IT IGNITION FROZE AND LEFT ME STRANDED AT WORK FOR 1 HOUR IN 90 DEGREE HEAT. I CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I'M LUCKY THAT I HAVE NOT REPLACED MY IGNITION AT LEAST THREE TIMES WITH 79,000 MILES. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE IGNITIONS FALL APART AND THERE IS NO WARRANTY TO PROTECT ME AGAINST THE MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I ALSO GOOGLED FORD FOCUS IGNITIONS AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM LUCKY I HAVE ONLY EXPERIENCED THIS ONCE. *TR

FORD FOCUS KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION. I WAS STRANDED AT NIGHT WITH 2 CHILDREN FOR OVER AN HOUR DUE TO THIS PROBLEM! THIS HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN A HANDFUL OF TIMES IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED IMMEDIATELY!! *TR

IGNITION SWITCH FROZEN, THE COST TO REPAIR/REPLACE QUOTED BY FORD DEALERSHIP WAS $361.00, THE COST BY A LOCKSMITH IS $300-$350. 2004 FORD FOCUS Z3. *TR

1) TURNED HEADLIGHT SWITH TO "ON" ON MY 2004 FORD FOCUS ZTW 2) TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON CAUSED THE REAR HATCH TO OPEN UNCOMMANDED. 3) I REMOVED THE COVER FROM THE HATCH AND DISCONNECTED THE WIPER MOTOR AND LATCH UNLOCK SOLENOID CONNECTORS. THEN, TO FIND THE POSSIBLE PROBLEM, I INSPECTED THE WIRE BUNDLE IN THE AREA OF THE HATCH HINGE AND FOUND SEVERAL WIRES FRAYED AND BROKEN. SO TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHTS APPARENTLY SENT A SIGNAL (SHORT) TO THE LATCH SOLENOID. A FRIEND HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. HIS HATCH WOULD POP OPEN WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO START THE CAR. TWO DEALERS TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT BE OF ANY HELP UNLESS I PAID AT LEAST $350 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. REMEBER THE CHYSLER MINI VAN HATCH RECALL? I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE TOYOTA SUA HEARINGS AND DECIDED TO CHALLENGE YOU GUYS AND SEE IF YOU WOULD REVIEW AND CONTACT ME AS MR. LAHOOD SAID YOU WOULD. I KNOW YOU ARE BUSY AND UNDERSTAFFED. I DO NOT BLAME YOU AS SOME ARE INTENT UPON. I SPENT MY LIFE AS AN A&P MECHANIC AT AMERICAN AIRLINES AND KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY. THANKS FOR READING AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON. PS FORD HAS HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER MODEL YEARS OF THE FOCUS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WORKED PROPERLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION LEAVING ME STRANDED AT NIGHT. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR(FORD FOCUS) ACCORDING TO INTERNET QUERIES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE TIRES WOBBLED AND FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE REAR TIRES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE TIRE BEARING. THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AN IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE ERUPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

WENT TO START CAR TO GO TO WORK AND KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION ON. HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE TUMBLER ASSEMBLY REPAIRED AT A COST OF JUST UNDER $400. *TR

I HAVE OWNED MY 2004 FORD FOCUS SE FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS NOW AND OUT OF NO WHERE THE IGNITION IN THE CAR FROZE. WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION THE KEY DOESN'T GO IN THE KEY HOLE SMOOTHLY ONCE ALL THE WAY IN IT WONT TURN. I WAS STRANDED AT WORK FOR 3 AND A HALF HOURS TRYING TO GET MY CAR STARTED FINALLY A TOW TRUCK DRIVER CAME AND USED A MALLET HIT MY KEY WHILE IT WAS IN THE IGNITION TO GET THE CAR STARTED. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HEARD THAT FORD DID A RECALL ON THIS PART. TURNS OUT THAT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS I AM FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PART...I DID SOME RESEARCHING ONLINE AND FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM FORD IS NOT FIXING THIS MALFUNCTION. I AM DEPLOYING TO IRAQ FOR THE SECOND TIME AND I CAN NOT LEAVE MY FAMILY A WORKING VEHICLE BECAUSE OF A DEFECT FORD HAS WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM. I FEEL AS IF THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD FACE AND SHOULD DO AN OFFICIAL RECALL ON. THIS IS POOR SERVICE ESP COMING FROM A LARGE VEHICLE COMPANY LIKE FORD. *TR

I HAD PARKED MY CAR AND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, THE WHEEL LOCKED AND WOULD NOT BECOME UNLOCKED. MYSELF AND SEVERAL PEOPLE TRIED MANY TIMES TO GET IT UNLOCKED AND IT WOULD NOT. *TR

I WAS GETTING INTO MY 2004 FORD FOCUS AND PUT THE KEY IN AND TRIED TO TURN IT. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE IGNITION SWITCH IS BROKEN. I RESEARCHED IT ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD IS NOT ISSUING A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I WAS LEFT STRANDED AT WORK AND LATE FOR MY SECOND JOB BECAUSE OF THE CAR TROUBLE. I AM HAVING MY CAR FIXED TODAY. I CALLED A DEALERSHIP AND BARELY GOT TWO WORDS OUT ABOUT THE IGNITION AND THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. THEY SAID THAT IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO A LOT OF FOCUSES. THIS HAS LEFT MANY PEOPLE STRANDED AND IN DANGEROUS PLACES. FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE SO THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS. *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD FOCUS USED THE REAR PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR WILL CURRENTLY NOT LATCH SHUT. I WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE REAR LATCHES OF FORD FOCUS WHICH I DID FIND. THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE BROUGHT IT IN TO THE FORD DEALER AND HAD THE LATCHED LUBED 1/4/2006, AT WHICH TIME IT MET RECALL REQUIREMENTS. NOW THE DOOR WILL NOT SHUT AND THE DEALER HAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE LATCH IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH PHONED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WERE ADVISED THERE IS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. THAT BECAUSE THEY LUBED THE LATCHES THAT WAS ALL THEY WERE REQUIRED TO DO. WHICH I FIND COMPLETELY UNSATISFACTORY. IT IS QUITE CLEAR THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WHICH IS WHY FORD HAS RECALLED THE LATCHES THEY SHOULD BE COVERING THIS. THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR IS HARD TO OPEN AS WELL, HOWEVER ACCORDING TO FORD BEING THAT THE LATCHES HAVE BEEN LUBED IT SHOULD BE FINE. NOW IF THE DOOR THAT WON'T SHUT IS FIXED AND MY DAUGHTERS FALL OUT OF THE OTHER DOOR THAT FORD HAS LUBED BEING THAT IS ALL FORD SAYS THAT IS REQUIRED, WHAT WILL FORD AND NHTSA SAY THEN. THIS COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THERE RECALLS. THE FACT THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THESE LATCHES THAT THEY ARE TRULY RESPONSIBLE FOR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. YOUR INVESTIGATION IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WENT TO START HER 2004 FORD FOCUS AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHEN INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. STEERING WHEEL AND IGNITION CYLINDER WERE LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. THIS WAS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS "IGNITION CYLINDER BINDING." DEALERSHIP DRILLED OUT CYLINDER AND REPLACED AT A COST OF $425. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,947. *TR

THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2004 FORD FOCUS.*CN

EVENT: IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND START THE CAR. CONSEQUENCE: HANDICAP EQUIPPED CAR: EVENT LEFT MY WIFE HELPLESS IN HER CAR IN A HAZARDOUS SITUATION FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR (WINTER COLD) (3) TOWING SERVICE REQUIRED, CYLINDER HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT, REPLACEMENT COSTS AT FORD CAR DEALERSHIP ABOUT 500 USD. *TR

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. *TR

THE IGNITION LOCK AND THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT. HAD TO BE TOWED AT MIDNIGHT FROM THE HOSPITAL IN 18 DEGREE WEATHER. DEALERSHIP SAID MANUFACTURE PART AT A COST OF $455.00. BRAKE NOISE NO ONE CAN FIND. REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM TWICE. WILL NEVER BUY FORD AGAIN!!! *TR

2004 FORD FOCUS IGNITION KEY LOCKOUT FAILURE. HAD TO REPLACE TUMBLER. *TR

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THIS PROBLEM. IT JUST HAPPENED OUT OF NO WERE. MY KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. *TR

MY 2004 FORD FOCUS IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILED (IT WOULDN'T TURN) LEAVING ME STRANDED AND REQUIRING A TOW AND NEARLY $300 IN REPAIRS. I'VE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDE-SPREAD AND WAS IDENTIFIED BY FORD OVER 7 YEARS AGO AND YET NO STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO CORRECT IT. THE FACT THAT THIS DEFECT CAN LEAVE YOU STRANDED PRETTY MUCH AT RANDOM (ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME) MAKES THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. AMONG OTHER THINGS, NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN THE KEY ALSO MEANS I COULDN'T PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED IS SIMPLY APPALLING. *TR

ONE MONTH AGO I NEEDED TO HAVE BRAKES REPLACED, AND ASSUMED THAT BECAUSE THE LIGHT CAME ON THIS WAS AN INDICATOR. AFTER BRAKES WERE REPLACED, BRAKE FLUID WAS STILL DISAPPEARING. I ALSO FOUND A DRIP ON MY PEDAL FROM SOMEWHERE UNDER THE DASH, AFTER MY FOOT SLIPPED ON THE CLUTCH FROM SLICK BRAKE FLUID, AND NEARLY WRECKED MY CAR ON I-70 WHEN I NEEDED TO SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR AFTER MY FOOT SLID RIGHT OFF THE PEDAL. TURNS OUT THE MASTER CYLINDER IS LEAKING. MY CAR IS ONLY 3.5 YEARS OLD, AND ONLY HAS 41,000 MILES ON IT TOTAL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MECHANIC, IT IS A FORD MANUFACTURED ONLY PART, AND WITH PARTS AND LABOR IS COSTING ME $450+ TO REPAIR THIS ON A RELATIVELY NEW CAR NOT EVEN PAID FOR YET. STILL NOT A SAFE SITUATION WHEN YOU CAN'T KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE PEDAL. *TR

2004 FOCUS HAS A DEFECTIVE IGNITION TUMBLER. OVER A COURSE OF A FEW DAYS THE KEY BEGAN TO GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD ONLY TURN AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. AFTER A FEW DAYS, IT STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I WAS STRANDED IN A DARK PARKING LOT AFTER WORK FOR NEARLY AN HOUR UNTIL SOMEONE COULD GET ME. I THEN HAD TO GET A RIDE TO WORK THE FOLLOWING DAY (50 MI EACH WAY). BEFORE HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE, I CONTACTED SOMEONE AT A FORD DEALER WHO SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. HE SUGGESTED TAPPING ON THE KEY WITH A HARD OBJECT (I USED A POCKET KNIFE) WHILE TURNING THE KEY AND IT WORKED! SO THE CAR IS NOW SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY UNTIL I CAN GET IT STARTED AGAIN TO TAKE IT INTO THE SHOP. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST $450.00 AND THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE THE COST TO RE-KEY. MY HUSBAND ALSO HAS 2004 FORD FOCUS (WE BOUGHT THEM ON THE SAME DAY) AND IS ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION TUMBLER--HOW COINCIDENTAL IS THAT? SOUNDS LIKE A SERIOUS DEFECT TO ME. I CAN'T BELIEVE THE FORD COMPANY ISN'T TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE. I OWN 3 FORDS AND WILL NEVER BUY ONE AGAIN! *TR

2004 FORD FOCUS WITH IGNITION PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *KB