2004 Ford Focus Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 2%of 387 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 70,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the seats of the 2004 Ford Focus, 2% of the 387 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 3 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.
“While I am driving the car and it is moving, the driver side seat is suddenly disengaging, moving back and so leaving my driving position compromised, as my foot moves away from the gas pedal and my arms are suddenly outstretched reaching for the drivers wheel so that there is a sudden lost of control of the car. This has happened numerous times at this point.”
NHTSA complaint #10671113, filed 2015-01, 70,000 miles“While as a sole driver and occupant of a 2005 Ford Focus, I was stopped at a red light and rear-ended by a four door 1995 dodge intrepid at a speed of approximatley 50 miles per hour. My driver's seat collasped in the collision which jerked my neck and back into the rear seat. As a result my thorasic spine, cervical sipne was so injreud as to cause my neck and back including my both arms to suffer a degree of paralysis, and injury to the upper spinal cord.”
NHTSA complaint #10098635, filed 2004-11, 2,100 miles“Passenger heated seat caught on fire when heated seat was engaged. The vehicle was in motion on a city street when the seat started to smoke and fire started. There was a Ford customer satisfaction recall that I was never informed of: TSB 04b16. The fire caused damage to the leather seat and heating mechanism. Fortunately only a purse was injured and the driver was able to stop the fire from spreading. The attached pictures show the seat damage. The car also smells of smoke. The experience was extremely scary and awful.”
NHTSA complaint #10954254, filed 2017-02, 93,878 miles“Heated seat pad in back of driver's seat overheated and burned hole through seat while driving. Car had to be stopped on side of road and bottled water poured on smoldering seat. Fuse for heated seats had to be pulled, fuse did not blow on its own. Ford travelling engineers inspected seat and Ford has refused to repair seat as car is 16000 miles over warranty. Advice from Ford was to claim through owners comprehensive and let insurance company recover money from Ford. After seeking legal counsel dealership has offered to repair driver's seat and inspect passenger seat. …”
NHTSA complaint #10239382, filed 2008-08, 86,140 miles“3/1/14: driver's side heated seat burned through upholstery and caught fabric on fire, while my daughter was driving vehicle. After searching the internet, I found that this has happened to other Focus owners. There was a service bulletin (04b16); why no recall?”
NHTSA complaint #10566563, filed 2014-02Seats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 | 0% |
| 2017 | 3 | 0% |
| 2016 | 4 | 0% |
| 2015 | 2 | 0% |
| 2014 | 2 | 0% |
| 2013 | 4 | 0% |
| 2012 | 9 | 0% |
| 2011 | 2 | 2% |
| 2010 | 3 | 1% |
| 2009 | 2 | 1% |
| 2008 | 3 | 1% |
| 2007 | 6 | 2% |
| 2006 | 5 | 2% |
| 2005 | 10 | 2% |
| 2004 | 8 | 2% |
| 2003 | 18 | 2% |
| 2002 | 5 | 1% |
| 2001 | 13 | 1% |
| 2000 | 31 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2004 Ford Focus
183 complaintsBrakes
40 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 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Ford Focus
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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