2004 FORD FOCUS Electrical System Problems

As I was stopped at red light it stalled as I drove thru. So I pulled over. Got out to open hood. It was smoking.struggled to open hood. Ran around to get towel to smother the fire. But it was too far gone. Man told me just leave it. It was total loss.

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 OFF?...

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 TRIP. MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS RECENTLY CAME ON I DID REPLACE THE COIL PACKS. ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

SHORTED BRAKE WIRES IN TRUNK AREA BLOWN FUSE NO START NO BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE.

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.

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 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

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.

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

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. 06/09/15 *BF

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

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 FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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.

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 HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. I'M HOPING THE NHTSA WILL FORCE FORD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO. *TR

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

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

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 (PERFORM A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "FORD FOCUS IGNITION CYLINDER" OR SEE THE DISCUSSION AT HTTP:FORUMS.FOCALJET.COMTEAM-TECH497529-NEW-IGNITION-CYLINDER-HELP.HTML). GIVEN THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, THE ISSUE SHOULD BE COVERED BY A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OR RECALL INSTEAD OF REQUIRING A SIGNIFICANT OUT-OF-POCKET PAYMENT BY THE OWNER.

ATTEMPTED TO START CAR AND STEERING COLUMN AND IGNITION WAS LOCKED. I CAN'T GET EITHER TO TURN. *TR

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 TONS OF OTHER FOCUS OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BECAUSE FORD USED A CHEAP METAL. ITS TIME THAT THEY TREATED THERE CUSTOMERS RIGHT AND RECALL THIS PART. *TR

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

BATTERY FAILURE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

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 NOT HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. EVEN A COURTESY ALERT WOULD BE BETTER THEN SITTING IN THE DARK AND HAVING TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH TO DISCOVER WHAT THE FIX IS. *TR

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...

2004 FOR FOCUS. IGNITION OCCASIONALLY WON'T START WITH THE KEY. GOT STRANDED A FEW TIMES. IT SEEMS SOMETHING IS WRONG EITHER WITH THE KEYS OR THE IGNITION AREA WHERE YOU PLACE THE KEY. *TR

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...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 80 MPH. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ABNORMALLY JERKING AS IF SHE WAS REPEATEDLY TAPPING ON THE BRAKES. THE TRANS AXLE COOLING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN SHE TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON. THE CRUISE CONTROL THEN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92,590.

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...

THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILED SUDDENLY WITHOUT A GRADUAL INCREASE OF SYMPTOMS. THE CYLINDER WOULD NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN, UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALLOWING THE CAR TO START. A NEW IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS INSTALLED AND REKEYED AT A PRICE OF $171.18 FOR THE PART AND $142.50 FOR THE LABOR.

FORD FOCUS 2004 IGNITION LOCKED. OPENED CAR AS USUAL, INSERTED KEY IN IGNITION TO TURN AND STEERING WHEEL APPEARED TO BE LOCKED. TRIED TO TURN KEY AND MOVE STEERING WHEEL BUT BOTH WOULDN'T MOVE. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED AND THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. CAR NOW NEEDS TO BE TOWED TO BE FIXED. *TR

FIRST OCCURRENCE,WITHOUT WARNING,(HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE) CAR SHUT OFF, IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN, RESULTING IN VEHICLE NO START CONDITION. (ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH) CONTACTED AAA AUTO CLUB, TOW TRUCK DISPATCHED, TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATES GARAGE HAS SEEN MANY 2003, 2004,2005 FOCUS WITH THIS PROBLEM. ALSO SHOULD BE NOTED NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON FILE WITH ALL MODEL YEARS OF THIS VEHICLE. FORD DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE CAR AND EXTENDED WARRANTY CLAIMS REPAIR NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS CAR CAN STALL AND FAIL TO RESTART !!!!!!. ALSO FEEL THAT I WAS SOLD AN OVERPRICED "WARRANTY" WHICH I AM TOLD WILL NOT COVER REPAIR !!! WILL RETAIN OLD PART FOR INVESTIGATION AND POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION. NOTE : VEHICLE MILEAGE AT FAILURE 43,205. *TR

IGNITION COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. I COULD NOT START CAR. I WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO GET TOWED TO A FORD DEALER. COST WAS $500 TO FIX. *TR

IGNITION AND STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN WHILE HEADING OUT ON MY LUNCH BREAK. I'M REALLY DISTURBED THAT THE NHTSA HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO MAKE THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY FIX THIS PROBLEM WHICH IS A CHRONIC, WELL-DOCUMENTED SAFETY HAZARD. MY CAR IS NOW COMPLETELY IMMOBILE AND HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO MY RESIDENCE. LUCKILY MY FATHER IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIX IT, BUT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE THIS OPTION AND HAVE TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX A PROBLEM CAUSED BY FAULTY MATERIALS KNOWINGLY USED BY FORD. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. *TR

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

2004 FORD FOCUS - KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS 6/27/09 @ 1:15 AM, LEAVING MOVIE THEATER, HAD TO LEAVE VEHICLE THERE. AGAIN @ 7 AM (FINALLY GOT CAR CRANKED AFTER 15 MINUTES). WHEN GOT HOME THIS OCCURRED AGAIN. REPEATED TIMES. CANNOT CRANK VEHICLE WITH KEY IN IGNITION. *TR

1. FORD FOCUS (2004) HAS FOR THE PAST MONTH HAD TROUBLE WITH THE KEY TURNING IN THE IGNITION. APPARENTLY IT IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HOWEVER, I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT BEING STRANDED SOMEWHERE AT NIGHT IS VERY MUCH A SAFETY ISSUE - WHETHER OR NOT FORD ADMITS THIS POSSIBILITY. 2. THE KEY DOES NOT TURN BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH (OR SO I'VE READ ONLINE). THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THOUSANDS OF TIMES ACCORDING TO ONLINE COMPLAINTS AND PETITIONS, WITHOUT FORD RECOGNIZING IT AND TAKING ACTION. THIS PROBLEM RENDERS THE CAR COMPLETELY UNUSABLE UNTIL FIXED AND THE REPAIR CAN BE VERY COSTLY AND TIME CONSUMING. IT IS MOST CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE - WHAT IS SAFE ABOUT BEING UNABLE TO START ONE'S CAR IF ONE IS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, AT NIGHT IN AN UNKNOWN...

I OWN A 2004 FORD FOCUS THAT THE IGNITION WENT OUT ON, I WOULD PUT THE KEY IN AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN, LOCKED STEERING WHEEL. FOR A WHILE, I WOULD WIGGLE THE KEY AND IT WOULD FINALLY TURN OVER, UNTIL 2 WEEKS AGO( 5-2009) WHEN I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AFTER I GOT IN MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE FORD DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT MORNING AND TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $450.00 TO FIX AND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO ALOT OF FOCUS OWNERS, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FORD WOULD NOT WANT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, STARTING YOUR CAR IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING NEEDED TO DRIVE SO WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO COUNT ON YOUR IGNITION YOUR CAR IS USELESS AND WITHOUT FORD RECOGNIZING THIS PROBLEM AND FIXING IT, I BELIEVE ALOT OF FORD OWNERS MAY NOT BE IN THE FUTURE....

IGNITION SWITCH WONT TURN WHICH PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS, FOR WAY OVER A YR NOW. TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS 2004 ZX3 FOCUS. HE SAID TO HIT THE KEY A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH YOUR HAND AND IT WILL TURN, AND IT DOES. ONLY WAY THE CAR WILL START. CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD 550.00 TO REPLACE. SO STILL NOT REPLACED. *TR

UPON LEAVING A GROCERY STORE THE IGNITION KEY WOULDN'T TURN. I WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR AND CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE $391 PLUS TAX, AND THAT IF THEY DAMAGED THE STEERING COLUMN IN THE PROCESS I WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT COST OF THE COLUMN AS WELL. NOT WILLING TO TAKE MY CHANCES WITH SUCH AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT WOULD LEAVE ME WITH A NEW PART THAT WOULD POSSIBLY FAIL IN THE SAME MANNER, NOT TO MENTION POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL COSTS OF REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE COLUMN I CONDUCTED A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH 1999 THROUGH 2007 FORD FOCUS CARS. I ALSO LEARNED THAT A COMPETENT LOCKSMITH COULD REPAIR THE SWITCH FOR BETWEEN $150 AND $200. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR $152, AND THERE WAS NO...

FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW, THE IGNITION AND/OR STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN I TRY TO PUT THE KEY IN TO START MY 2004 FORD FOCUS. I INITIALLY SPENT 20 MINUTES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO START THE CAR. NOW I REALIZE I HAVE TO JIGGLE, TURN, & FINAGLE EVERYTHING JUST RIGHT & I CAN GET IT THE IGNITION TO TURN IN A FEW MINUTES. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT I NOW THINK GETTING MY CAR STARTED IN UNDER 5 MINUTES IS "GOOD." THIS HAPPENS 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES THAT I TRY TO START THE CAR. I HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. SEEMS LIKE FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOT IMPRESSED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVES AND RE-INSERTS THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE IGNITION LOCKS. HE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE HIS VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000.

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

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

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...

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...