There are 8 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2004 Ford Focusin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
rear passenger door wont latch shut.Door flies open when making turns
IN JANUARY, I WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC CRASH. I APPLIED THE BREAKS TO MY VEHICLE (GIVING PLENTY OF TIME TO COME TO A STOP AND ONLY TRAVELING 20 MPH ) BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AS A RESULT, I HIT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. IT WAS AS IF THE BREAKS WERE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE SERVICE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR SUBFRAME/CROSSMEMBER/K-FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR SWUNG OPEN INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 770,714.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT REMAIN CLOSED AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
THE DOOR HANDLES, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR, FAIL TO OPEN THE DOORS. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT, AND CAN BE SOMETIMES BE MITIGATED BY USING A KEY TO LOCK AND THEN UNLOCK THE DOOR, THOUGH THIS DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE WITH TIME. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH SAFETY AND SECURITY, IN THE EVENT THAT ONE CANNOT ENTER THE VEHICLE.
THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER AFTER BEING PUSHED IN GETTING HOT POPPED OUT OF THE HOLDER AND LANDED EITHER ON THE OCCUPANT'S LAP OR ON THE CARPETING. WHEN THIS WAS SHOWN TO THE RENTAL COMPANY, AND A DEMONSTRATION WAS DONE, THE LIGHTER BURNED THE REPRESENTATIVE'S LEGS. THIS WAS A BUDGET RENTAL VEHICLE.*AK
THE REAR DOORS ARE INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE. THEY SOMETIMES JAM AND WILL NOT OPEN, AND THEN THERE ARE TIMES THE WON'T SHUT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHILE DRIVING THAT DOOR WILL JUST OPEN ON IT OWN.*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