18 of the
499 complaints about the 2004 Ford Focus are about the
throttle and cruise control — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
41,500 miles.
F
18
Complaints
6
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Vehicle Speed Control
738.9%
Accelerator Pedal
633.3%
Cruise Control
422.2%
Cables
15.6%
Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Ford Focus year
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT HEARD A CAR HORN SOUND WHILE BEING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. AN INVESTIGATOR DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE ORIGINATED FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000.
NHTSA complaint #11001698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bath, PACrash2 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 27 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BRUISE KNEE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10694581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesPalenville, NYCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A SNOW EMBANKMENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #10690592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 105,500 milesScranton, AZ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEGAN TO STICK ON A REGULAR BASIS. WHEN SHE PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR, IT WOULD NOT RESUME THE REGULAR POSITION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. SHE EXPERIENCED NO ISSUES WITH THE PEDAL SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. SHE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 116,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,500. UPDATED 03/01/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING. UPDATED 06/28/10
NHTSA complaint #10303252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,102 milesHillsborough, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE HAS 54,000MI AND DRIVEN WITHIN NORMAL DRIVING LIMITS. THE HINGE PEG THAT CREATES A PIVOT POINT FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BROKE ON ONE END CAUSING IT TO FALL COMPLETELY OUT OF THE PEDAL AND BRACKET. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON A BUSY ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR AND CAUSE COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL TO ACCELERATE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT YET BEEN CORRECTED HAPPENING ONLY HOURS AGO.
NHTSA complaint #10286376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 69,000 milesOntario, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WORKED PROPERLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
NHTSA complaint #10226324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 19,800 milesWest END, NCCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
UPON ENTERING AN INTERSECTION AND HAVING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN, I PRESSED THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF BUTTON AND APPLIED THE BRAKE. INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN, THE VEHICLE INCREASED SPEED, AND TRAVELED INTO THE INTERSECTION. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC BUT STRUCK A PASSING SUV. END RESULT WAS MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND THE SUV SUFFERED HEAVY DAMAGE. I CONTACTED FORD IN DEARBORN, MI BUT THEY WERE NO HELP. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED OR WHEN THE OFF BUTTON WAS PRESSED. UPDATED 10/10/07.
NHTSA complaint #10201758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 97,000 milesMaple Valley, WACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT DID NOT DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WAS A RECENT TIRE ROTATION PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND AAA AND THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE LUG NUTS WERE STRIPPED. THE CONTACT HAS A POLICE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000.
NHTSA complaint #10190133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 41,500 milesStanton, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS ZTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER CHANGED THE BRAKE PADS. UPON LEAVING THE DEALER THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE CONTACT HAD TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THEN DEPRESSED IT AGAIN FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND PROPERLY. WEATHER AND SPEED WERE NOT FACTORS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,500.
NHTSA complaint #10188450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,000 milesCarrollton, GA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
1) ACCELERATOR STICKING UPON PUSHING ON THE PEDAL 2) PUSHING HARD ON THE PEDAL, IT EVENTUALLY RELEASES, SOMETIMES SQUEALING THE TIRES AND LAUNCHES THE VEHICLE FORWARD WHICH HAS ALMOST MADE ME HIT PEOPLE OR UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC WHERE OTHERS HAVE ALMOST HIT ME. 3) DEALER CLEANED THROTTLE CABLE BUT ALSO SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THROTTLE BODY IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10179291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Superior, WI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AT 40,000+ MILES MY 2004 NEEDS TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED: COST-$130.25 + TAX AND $94 LABOR. THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE IN THE SERVICE CENTER HAS HAD HIS FORD FOCUS THROTTLE BODY REPLACED 3X WITH 40,000 MILES. I AM TOLD THE PART IS BEING RE-DESIGNED. THE REASON I AM AWARE OF IT IS THAT SOMEONE CALLED IN ON CAR TALK ABOUT THE SAME CONCERN AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT. AT 58 MILES AN HOUR I NOTICE THE HESITATION. THE SERVICE CENTER SEEMS TO HAVE TWO VOICES--ONE TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THE OTHER TO LEAVE IT BE UNTIL IT GETS WORSE. IS THIS PART GENERALLY NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY BECAUSE OF THE BRASS AND PLASTIC INTERFACE? HOW DANGEROUS IT IT NOT TO GET THIS ITEM FIXED IMMEDIATELY. IS THE DESIGN FLAWED?THE PART NUMBER TO BE REPLACED IS: 3S4Z 9E926 AC: BODY ASY CARBUR EP.
NHTSA complaint #10177996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GUN Barrel City, TX
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
2004 FOCUS BELT TENSIONER BROKE AND BATTERY FAILED. *TS THE FRONT DOOR HAD TO BE ALIGNED AND THE DOOR SEAL WAS REPLACED. THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD TO BE RE-ROUTED DUE TO THE CABLE BINDING. THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE LEFT REAR MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT LENS AND RIGHT SIDE CV AXLE WAS REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ERRATICALLY. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR UNTIL THE ENGINE REVVED UP PAST 6000 RPM. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SERVO PISTONS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS EVENTUALLY REPAIRED. THE BATTERY FAILED 5 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10177475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 17,000 milesConcord, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A 2004 FORD FOCUS THAT HAS 18,000 MILES. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO HAVE THE THROTTLE REPLACED TWICE; AFTER SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES, THE THROTTLE BEGINS TO STICK AND IT BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT TO APPLY LIGHT PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDDLE. THE THROTTLE WILL STICK AND AS I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE GAS, THE CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD WHEN THE FORCE FINALLY OVERCOMES THE THROTTLE STICKING. THIS CAUSES PROBLEMS IN COMMUTE STOP/GO TRAFFIC AS I HAVE SEVERAL TIMES ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE OF THE SURGE.
NHTSA complaint #10163146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,900 milesGladewater, TX
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED BY ITSELF AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE ACCELERATION WAS RAPID IN NATURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ATTEMPTING TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AT THAT TIME, SHE WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO DEALER OR A MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE WINDSHIELD LINING WAS COMING APART, ONE OF THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. UPDATED 11/29/05.
NHTSA complaint #10140610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,996 milesSuperior, WI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
IN MINNEAPOLIS 4/23/04 THE CAR STALLED IN STOP AND GO FREEWAY TRAFFIC AND TOOK A FEW MINUTES ON THE FREEWAY TO RE-START-MILEAGE THEN-APPROX 2317 R/O OPEN DATE R/O CLOSE DATE 9/21/04 10/05/04 THE FIRST 4 DATES ARE TRANSMISSION RELATED. INITIALLY THE CAR WOULD POP OUT OF 2ND GEAR WHILE SLOWING OR TURNING A CORNER 2/03/05 2/10/05 BEARINGS REPLACED 2/12/05 2/15/05 CRUISE INOPERABLE 3/15/05 3/23/05 TRANSMISSION REPLACED. 3/25/05 3/30/05 THIS IS A THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT ALL OF THESE REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY. IN A FURTHER PAGE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT "OEM" MEANS SO HAVEN'T ANSWERED THAT QUESTION.
NHTSA complaint #10134434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Davie, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DT: CONSUMER PUSHED ON ACCELERATOR WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, IT APPEARED AS IF VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL,. VEHICLE WAS ON A SLOP AT A STOP SIGN AND STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS.
NHTSA complaint #10124504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Desert, CACrashFire1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. CONSEQUENTLY, THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE POLICE INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB AT THE TIME OF IMPACT THE ENGINE STALLED, THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FORD TO PAY FOR THE EXPENSES. *TC
NHTSA complaint #10089306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,000 milesNorwich, CTCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE SLOWING TO ATTEMPT TO STOP, DEPRESSING BRAKE BECAME VERY HARD, AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED MOMENTARILY WHILE FOOT ON BRAKE, TACHOMETER SHOWED INCREASED RPM, CAR MOVED FOWARD FASTER, AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS WAS 4TH TIME THIS OCCURRED WITH NEW VEHICLE, WITHIN FIRST 2000 MILES. FIRST THREE TIMES NO COLLISION OCCURRED DUE TO LUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10086588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.