There are 15 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2004 Ford Focusin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE BOTTOM OF MY SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I CALLED FORD DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT IS BECAUSE OF THE AREA I LIVE IN THE VEHICLE HAS 151239 MILES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A RATTLING TYPE NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR WHEEL AREA. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SHOCK ABSORBER PUNCTURED THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO RUSTING AND CORROSION OF THE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE. THE CONTACT CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND THE SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ADJUSTABLE UPPER ARM KIT WOULD NEED TO BE INSTALLED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE CHAMBER ON THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE PUNCTURING MY TIRE. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP GETTING REPAIRS. (ESTIMATED REPAIR COSTS ARE $782.). *TR
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2004 FORD FOCUS SE WITH A ODOMETER READING OF 82000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS A REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WHICH HAS RESULTED IN TIRE CUPPING AND HE HAS TO REPLACE THE REAR TIRES FOR A THIRD TIME. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY BOTH TOLD HIM THAT HE AS AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. NEITHER THE MECHANIC SHOP NOR THE DEALER KNOW WHY THIS FAILURE HAS RECURRED AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OFFERED A SOLUTION. *JB UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT AN UNDISCLOSED FREEWAY SPEED, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BECAME WOBBLY. THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO CONTROL, AND WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER CONTINUED TO DRIVE ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY TO THE RESIDENCE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE RESIDENCE, THE CONTACT JACKED UP THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A BROKEN WELD IN THE REAR AND THE TIRE WAS BEING HELD ON WITH THE A-ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE DEALERSHIP, BUT WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
2004 FOCUS BELT TENSIONER BROKE AND BATTERY FAILED. *TS THE FRONT DOOR HAD TO BE ALIGNED AND THE DOOR SEAL WAS REPLACED. THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD TO BE RE-ROUTED DUE TO THE CABLE BINDING. THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE LEFT REAR MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT LENS AND RIGHT SIDE CV AXLE WAS REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ERRATICALLY. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR UNTIL THE ENGINE REVVED UP PAST 6000 RPM. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SERVO PISTONS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS EVENTUALLY REPAIRED. THE BATTERY FAILED 5 TIMES. *JB
BRAKE PROBLEM. AT ABOUT 2000 TO 3000 MILES BREAKS STARTS TO SQUEAL AND GRIND. TOOK IT IN TO SERVICE AT DEALER COMPLAINING ABOUT PROBLEM, AS IT GOT WORSE AND WAS NOT NORMAL IN 6,000 MILES. WAS TOLD NO PROBLEM, ROUTINE BREAK IN. THEN AT 12,000 MILES STILL A PROBLEM. WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER, SAID THE SAME THING. NOW WITH NEARLY 18,000 MILES, ROTORS ARE GROOVED VERY BAD. EVIDENCE AND WARNING WAS EVIDENT IN THE EARLIER MILES AS WELL. FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO HELP. I FEEL THEY OWE ME A NEW PAIR OF ROTORS AND PADS. ALSO, COMPLAINED OF CLUTCH NOISE PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD OF A TSB CLAIMING CERTAIN 2004 FOCUS HAVE A TRANSAXLE MISALIGNMENT CAUSING PRE-MATURE CLUTCH WEAR AND NOISE. WIPER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED BY RC LACY FORD, BETTER SERVICE, BUT THEY WON'T SERVICE ME ANYMORE, SINCE I DID NOT BUY IT THERE, AND RAVENA IS SO CLOSE. I NEED TO CONTACT CROSSROADS ABOUT ALL FUTURE WARRANTY ISSUES AND COMPLAINTS. DOORS IN THE REAR ALSO STICK, AND WEAR OF DOOR STRIKER IS EVIDENT. TIRES HAVE ALSO BEEN WORN PRETTY BAD PIRELLI 195/60 R15. BACK PAIR ARE TOTALLY BALD, AND ONLY HAVE HAD LIKE 18,000 MILES, I THINK IT WAS A ALIGNMENT ISSUE, WHICH FOR A CAR 17 MONTHS OLD SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. I NOTICED WEAR AT AROUND 13,000 MILES. DURING MY SECOND TIRE ROTATION. HAVE HAD TOO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS NEW VEHICLE. ALSO ISSUES WITH EXTREME CHIPPING AROUND THE REAR WHEEL WELL. ALSO HAVE HAD A HESITATION PROBLEM AT ABOUT 25 MPH. #RD GEAR USED TO BE DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THESE ISSUES. I GOT NOWHERE WITH THE DEALERS MYSELF. THE VIN IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE VIN. MY CAR IS A 2004 ZX5 DURATEC 2.3E 5 SPD. ALMOST ALL OPTIONS INCLUDED. THANK YOU. *NM
PREMATURE WEAR ON INSIDE FRONT TIRES. *JB
STEERING AND SUSPENSION/ CENTER SUPPORT BEARING/PART# Y542-3B436-A FAILED... BELIEVE CAR SOLD OUT OF ALLIGNMENT. REAR-END, BELIEVED CAUSE ALL WEAR ON FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, UNEVEN WEAR ON ALL TIRES ALSO, AND WOBBLY UNSTABLE REAR END. CAR WAS REPAIRED 6-3-2005 ALSO, THE THROTTLE BODY LINKAGE HAD TO BE REPLACED, WORN OUT, WAS CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND HESITATED ACCELERATION, SOMETIMES ACTING LIKE STUCK....
WHEN BRAKING THERE WOULD BE A SQUEAKING AND A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
IN MINNEAPOLIS 4/23/04 THE CAR STALLED IN STOP AND GO FREEWAY TRAFFIC AND TOOK A FEW MINUTES ON THE FREEWAY TO RE-START-MILEAGE THEN-APPROX 2317 R/O OPEN DATE R/O CLOSE DATE 9/21/04 10/05/04 THE FIRST 4 DATES ARE TRANSMISSION RELATED. INITIALLY THE CAR WOULD POP OUT OF 2ND GEAR WHILE SLOWING OR TURNING A CORNER 2/03/05 2/10/05 BEARINGS REPLACED 2/12/05 2/15/05 CRUISE INOPERABLE 3/15/05 3/23/05 TRANSMISSION REPLACED. 3/25/05 3/30/05 THIS IS A THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT ALL OF THESE REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY. IN A FURTHER PAGE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT "OEM" MEANS SO HAVEN'T ANSWERED THAT QUESTION. *JB
WHEN THE CAR HAD ~ 3000 MILES ON IT, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND SHIMMY LIKE IT HAD MULTIPLE FLAT TIRES. WE PULLED OFF AND LOOKED FOR PROBLEMS BUT THE TIRES WERE FINE AND NOTHING WAS OBVIOUS. WHEN WE BEGAN DRIVING AGAIN THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AND WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY FOUND FEATHERING ON ALL TIRES AND REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AND REBALANCED THEM. ABOUT A WEEK LATER WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY A LOUD BANG SOUNDED IN THE REAR OF THE CAR AND IT AGAIN BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND SHIMMY. AGAIN AFTER GETTING OFF THE ROAD AND LOOKING IT OVER, THE CAR SEEMED OK. WE AGAIN TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND REBALANCED THE FRONT TIRES. ABOUT 2000 MILES LATER AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE LOUD BANG AND VIBRATION RE-OCCURRED. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE CAR ALMOST WENT OUT OF CONTROL, SLIDING AND FEELING LIKE IT WOULD TIP OVER. WE AGAIN TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS TIME THEY DID NO WORK AND SAID THERE WAS NOT AN IDENTIFIABLE PROBLEM WITH IT. WE INFORMED FORD MOTOR OF THE PROBLEMS AND ARE WORKING WITH A LAWYER ON A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT AS THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FILL ION ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR WHEEL. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026