VehicleVerdict

2004 Ford Focus electrical system problems

The 2004 Ford Focus has 185 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 37% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

185

Electrical System complaints

37%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

Focus electrical system complaints by model year1,450 complaints1999: 2 complaints2000: 1,450 complaints2001: 535 complaints2002: 300 complaints2003: 541 complaints2004: 185 complaints2005: 118 complaints2006: 50 complaints2007: 88 complaints2008: 57 complaints2009: 47 complaints2010: 46 complaints2011: 28 complaints2012: 409 complaints2013: 311 complaints2014: 286 complaints2015: 70 complaints2016: 94 complaints2017: 38 complaints2018: 47 complaints
Focus electrical system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE, FEB 2017. REPLACED AND CHECKED SYSTEM. JULY 30, 17 ALTERNATOR SMOKED AND MELTED INSIDE. , POSITIVE TERMINAL ON BATTERY WAS SO HOT THAT THE CONNECTOR WAS TOO HOT TO TOUCH. REPLACED. ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. PICKED UP CAR FROM REPAIR SHOP AND WITHIN ONE MILE THE ALTERNATOR…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · February 6, 2017 · fire

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 2004 Ford Focus have?

NHTSA has 185 complaints about the 2004 Ford Focus electrical system — 37% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.