2004 Ford Focus Other Problems

Your 2004 Focus experiences intermittent bucking (jerking), stalling while driving, and difficulty starting—sometimes it locks in Park and won't turn over, though waiting a bit may help. When you try to start it now, you hear clicking sounds, and the problem comes and goes unpredictably despite multiple diagnostic scans finding nothing. The issue likely involves the fuel system, ignition system, or electrical/battery connections that may need testing or replacement to identify and fix the intermittent starting and stalling problem.

Your car's air conditioning system stopped working a few months after you bought it used. A mechanic couldn't find a replacement air hose because it's no longer being sold, and hoses from similar Ford models didn't work as a substitute. The repair may require sourcing a compatible A/C hose or finding an alternative solution from a Ford specialist.

WHILE LEAVING WORK, I ATTEMPTED TO START MY VEHICLE, HOWEVER, WHEN I PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP, AND I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO START. I LOOKED ONLINE AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. I AM A POLICE OFFICER IN MY UNIFORM AND IT IS VERY UNNERVING TO BE STRANDED LIKE THAT.

MY WIFE HAS BEEN DRIVING THE FOCUS STATION WAGON SINCE 2004. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE 'CLICKER' DID NOT ALLOW US TO CLOSE THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK; WE FOUND THIS OUT WHEN THE CLICKER DID NOT SOUND THE 'BEEP' WE ARE USED TO. WE TRIED TO MANUALLY LOCK THE DOOR, BUT THAT WAS ALSO INEFFECTIVE. THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS A REPAIR BY OUR LOCAL SERVICE STATION FOR APPROXIMATELY $500.00. THERE WERE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES. THE PRIMARY ISSUE, OF COURSE, WAS THE SAFETY OF THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER. THE SECOND ISSUE WAS THE ONGOING PROBLEM OF ENTRY TO THE AUTO WHEN UNATTENDED.

IGNITION IS TOTALLY FROZEN UP. NO ADVANCED WARNING OF IMMINENT FAILURE. STRANDED. WAS ABLE TO GET A RIDE. IGNITION IS TOTALLY STUCK WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. NOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, BUT A MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE IGNITION/KEY MECHANISM IN THE STEERING COLUMN. KEY WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS THIS COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE, ANYTIME.

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE OF MY IGNITION FREEZING UP. I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS AND AFTER MY LAST STOP I GOT INTO THE CAR AND THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION. I HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE TRY, INCLUDING A AAA TOW-TRUCK WORKER. HE SAID HE SEES THIS PROBLEM A LOT IN THE FORD FOCUS, THE IGNITION CYLINDER PREMATURELY WEARS OUT AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND IS WAITING FOR REPAIR ON MONDAY. TO MY SURPRISE, I CAME AND CHECKED THE INTERNET ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THERE IS THOUSANDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT. ALL ARE FORD FOCUS OWNERS. ALL PUT A KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WON'T TURN. I FIND THIS STRANGE THAT THIS CAR HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THE CUSTOMER HAS TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTED. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ANY FORD FOCUS OWNER. THERE IS FOREWARNING BEFORE THE IGNITION FREEZES UP, IT JUST HAPPENS ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. MY CAR WAS ONLY TURNED OFF FOR 10 MINUTES AND IT HAPPENED TO ME. *TR

BOUGHT A BRAND NEW CAR WITH 07 MILES ON IT. AT 9,000 MILES, ONLY THREE MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IT BEGAN TO HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS. REPEATEDLY RETURNED VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, BUT WAS GREETED WITH REFUSAL TO FIX THE VEHICLE AND POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ISSUES. WAS GIVEN FAULTY/DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT VEHICLES AS PART OF WARRANTY WHEN CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND UNDERGOING REPAIRS. FORD REFUSED TO FIX VEHICLE AT ONE POINT, AND NEW DEALERSHIP WAS INVOLVED. NEW DEALERSHIP VERIFIED PROBLEMS OCCURING, BUT WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND/OR FIX VEHICLE. REFUASAL UPON FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO BUY BACK AND/OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE WITH A NEW VEHICLE. EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER, FILING A LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY WITH THE TEXAS LEMON LAW AT MY OWN EXPENSE IN ORDER TO FIND RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *NM