Vehicle Data Hub

2004 Ford Focus steering problems

Owners reported steering problems in 29 complaints for the 2004 Ford Focus, 6% of the complaints on file.

At a glance

Complaints
29 6% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
54,000 miles 23 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
2 and 0
Injuries and deaths
3 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When steering problems show up

Steering complaints by mileage, 2004 Ford Focus Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 54,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 2 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 7 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 5 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 2 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 3 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 2 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 1 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 1 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 54,000 miles
Based on 23 complaints that include mileage. 61% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles2
20k to 40k miles7
40k to 60k miles5
60k to 80k miles2
80k to 100k miles3
100k to 120k miles2
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles1
160k to 180k miles1
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 23 steering complaints that report mileage, the median is about 54,000 miles, and 61% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 2 crashes, 3 injuries.

What owners wrote

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 ford focus. While driving 45 MPH, the steering wheel veered to the right and vibrated violently. The contact had to release the accelerator pedal and crashed into a ditch. The vehicle flipped over twice. The contact sustained second degree burns from the seat belt, whiplash, and burns to the right arm from the air bags. Medical attention was required. The rear driver side passenger sustained whiplash and stomach bruises from the seat belt, which also required medical attention.

Reported at 170,000 miles, August 2016 CrashInjury

My vehicle instrument cluster failed causing alternator to die and false readings on the dash with multiple alerts such as battery, airbag , oil and incorrect speed dial. The vehicle instrument failed at 30,000 miles and if you search it is a very common issue with the ford focus vehicle's. The vehicle staled and died while being drove in town and thank god it did not happen while on the highway.

Reported at 30,000 miles, June 2018

Other problems reported for the 2004 Ford Focus

Steering problems in other years

Steering problems across all Ford models