2004 Ford Focus Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 40about this part
- Share
- 10%of 387 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 20,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 40 complaints about the brakes of the 2004 Ford Focus, 10% of the 387 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 20,000 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11317279, filed 2020-03, 125,000 miles“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?...”
NHTSA complaint #11234370, filed 2019-07, 125,550 miles“It happened sporadically and once in a while. When backing out of my parking spot, the brakes barely worked. The pedal was very hard to press and it took a lot of force to bring the vehicle to a stop. Today, it happened again when I was on the drive mode. There is no way to predict when it would happen. The only pattern here is it happened shortly after starting the car. It could be in the reverse or drive mode. The frequency seemed increased recently when it was very cold.”
NHTSA complaint #10564289, filed 2014-02, 40,000 miles“About 1 month after I bought my car the brakes started to squeak every time I would apply they brakes. It has continuted to do so up until even this morning. The rotors now have grooves in them ,and the brake pads still have well over 50% of the pad remaining. So far nothing has been done other than to say it must be moisture.”
NHTSA complaint #10110133, filed 2005-02, 150 miles“Rotors gone bad hansel Ford said at 9200 miles the squeaking was normal, then at 13000 I called they still said it was normal but now the warranty was up, then at 20000 miles they check it because it was doing it more, now the rotors have groves beyond repair, yet the brake pads still had between 65% and 90% left to them, I had to replace both rotors and pads for safety for my daughter.”
NHTSA complaint #10116169, filed 2005-03, 20,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10017934Jun 7, 2005Rear brake squeal.
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 21 | 3% |
| 2017 | 11 | 1% |
| 2016 | 13 | 1% |
| 2015 | 10 | 1% |
| 2014 | 32 | 1% |
| 2013 | 24 | 1% |
| 2012 | 61 | 2% |
| 2011 | 5 | 4% |
| 2010 | 11 | 4% |
| 2009 | 9 | 4% |
| 2008 | 13 | 5% |
| 2007 | 20 | 5% |
| 2006 | 14 | 7% |
| 2005 | 30 | 7% |
| 2004 | 40 | 10% |
| 2003 | 62 | 6% |
| 2002 | 72 | 8% |
| 2001 | 199 | 11% |
| 2000 | 424 | 12% |
| 1999 | 2 | 18% |
Other parts of the 2004 Ford Focus
183 complaintsSteering
29 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
28 complaintsAir bags
24 complaintsEngine cooling
22 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
20 complaintsVehicle speed control
18 complaintsSuspension
17 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsEngine
13 complaintsFuel system
13 complaintsOther or unknown
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Ford Focus
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology