Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Ford Focus
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Ford Focus has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 387 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #12E007000 AFTERMARKET STRUT ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E050000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMPS/MISSING AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E056000 FUEL LEAK/FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #05V030000 REAR DOOR LATCHES NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 183 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 31 complaints
- Steering 29 complaints
- Latches/Locks/Linkages 28 complaints
- Air Bags 24 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 22 complaints
Of the 387 complaints on file, 34 report a crash and 13 a fire; across all 387 complaints, owners report 34 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Ford Focus has significant issues with its electrical system and various recalls concerning exterior lighting and latches. These common problems, paired with a high frequency of owner complaints, suggest that prospective buyers should anticipate moderate reliability challenges and costly repairs over time.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $200–$700 | very common |
| latches/locks | 60,000–90,000 miles | $150–$350 | common |
| suspension | 80,000–110,000 miles | $300–$800 | occasional |
| service brakes | 50,000–80,000 miles | $250–$600 | common |
| engine cooling | 90,000–120,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 30,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 45,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Inspect and rotate tires every 10,000 miles
- Replace spark plugs every 100,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Flickering or dimming lights
- Trouble starting the vehicle
- Unusual brake noises
- Rust around door latches
- Abnormal steering noises
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Ford Focus at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.