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EnginePart report

2004 Ford Focus Engine Problems

Complaints
13about this part
Share
3%of 387 total for the year
Median mileage
145,275miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the engine of the 2004 Ford Focus, 3% of the 387 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 145,275 miles. 2 a fire, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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

“While driving the vehicle stopped running suddenly. My daughter saw steam or smoke coming from the front engine compartment. Within a minute or so the whole front of the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire was intense, the top of the engine was melted, the interior of the dash was destroyed, and the vehicle was damaged beyond repair. It looks like the most intense fire area was around the fuse panel. I did contact Ford through several avenues but they appeared to be disinterested.”

NHTSA complaint #10563681, filed 2014-02, 165,000 miles

“2004 Ford Focus. Consumer writes in regards to motor mount problems. The consumer stated in august 2009, the motor mounts had to be replaced. Then in january 2013, at 56,000 miles, they were replaced again. Six months later, they were replaced again.”

NHTSA complaint #10577687, filed 2014-04, 37,501 miles

“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.”

NHTSA complaint #11515638, filed 2023-04

“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.”

NHTSA complaint #11230782, filed 2019-07

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201823228%
201723026%
201623420%
201517317%
201444217%
201334416%
201247513%
201133%
20104215%
2009167%
2008146%
200762%
200621%
2005112%
2004133%
2003182%
2002162%
2001322%
2000160%

Other parts of the 2004 Ford Focus

Electrical system
183 complaints
Brakes
40 complaints
Steering
29 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
28 complaints
Air bags
24 complaints
Engine cooling
22 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
20 complaints
Vehicle speed control
18 complaints
Suspension
17 complaints
Body and structure
14 complaints
Fuel system
13 complaints
Other 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 27, 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