2004 Ford Focus Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/12/2026

20Steering complaints

5.2%Of all 387 complaints

#4Most-reported category

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

How steering 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

“: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED AT THE SAME TIME…”NHTSA complaint 10157422 — filed 05/12/2006

“: THE CONTACT STATED FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL AND…”NHTSA complaint 10157419 — filed 05/12/2006

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

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2004 Ford Focus have steering problems?

Steering is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2004 Ford Focus: 20 of 387 complaints on file (5.2%). 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 steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING 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.