2004 Ford Focus Electrical System:ignition Problems

NHTSA component category: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · data through 07/12/2026

74Electrical System:ignition complaints

19.1%Of all 387 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How electrical system:ignition ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION74 · 19.1%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM62 · 16%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH34 · 8.8%

STEERING20 · 5.2%

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES20 · 5.2%

Share of the 387 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2004 Ford Focus overview page.

What owners report

“2004 FORD FOCUS, NOW 2 YEARS OLD WITH 54,000 MILES. WHEN LEAVING THE STORE TODAY MY KEY WOULD GO INTO THE IGNITION BUT WOULD NOT…”NHTSA complaint 10171272 — filed 10/18/2006

“: THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE IN THE START POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF WHEN THE…”NHTSA complaint 10164226 — filed 08/02/2006

“2004 FORD FOCUS. KEY DOES NOT TURN IN IGNITION. STRANDED IN REMOTE AREA. HAD TO WALK AND HITCH-HIKE HOME. FOUND HUDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON…”NHTSA complaint 10162899 — filed 07/19/2006

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Electrical System:ignition complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2004 Ford Focus have electrical system:ignition problems?

Electrical System:ignition is the most-reported problem area on the 2004 Ford Focus: 74 of 387 complaints on file (19.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2004 Ford Focus have in total?

387 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 34 involved a crash, 13 involved a fire, 34 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's electrical system:ignition category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.