engine problem
8.9
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$300.00
Average Mileage:
50,011 miles
Number of complaints:
9 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (9 reports)
Helpful Websites About 2004 Ford Focus car dies while driving
2007Mar 14
Focus ES 3.2L
- Automatic transmission
- 67,000 miles
This has been occurring for the past year and the mechanics can't find the problem.
I have it towed and when they go to work on the car it runs fine.
This is a big pain.
2008Jan 27
(reported on)Focus SE 2.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 82,000 miles
You could be going down the road and the engine shuts off and restarts on its own. There was a recall on the door latches, and I was never notified. I found out by browsing the web. There is a noise that sounds like lifter clatter as well.
2007Dec 03
Focus LX 2.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 34,000 miles
I am a college student on a very limited income. Choosing the Ford Focus was to save gas and for the reasonable price. At 27,000 miles, my air conditioning went out and
it cost me around $400.00 to repair. About a month later, the EGR broke in half, the mechanic told me this was a common problem on the Focus due to the welding. This cost me about $200.00. It is a month later now and my car is dying on me when I drive
and when I am idling. From what I have seen on line, this is going to cost me around
$200 to $300 to repair. The car is at 34,000 miles now and I cant imagine what problems will come when the car has high mileage. The Ford Focus has been a big disappointment. My other complaint is with the Ford Dealership. Before the EGR broke, I was having some problems that later I found out were because of the EGR. When I called the Ford Dealership as I was still under a warranty, the mechanic told me it would cost $75 to put it on a machine to see what was wrong with it and that if they found nothing, I would have to pay the cost. After it finally broke completely in half and I went on line to see what it might be, there seemed to be many complaints about this happening. My question is, if a Ford Dealership mechanic works on these cars all the time, then why would he not have known this was a common problem? It could have been repaired under warranty but he scared me from getting it put on a machine. Thanks alot Ford! You are helping young Americans out of much needed money and you should be proud of yourself! "Ford Built To Break"
2007Aug 13
(reported on)Focus LX 2.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 62,000 miles
Regarding the 2004 Focus dying while driving, it is not a battery issue. It continued to happen to me the very next day after installing a new battery. Also, the only way I was able was to make it home was to perform the following procedure every time it stalled: I shifted to "Neutral", started the car, then quickly shifted to "Drive" while simultaneously accelerating (but not too hard). If I didn't accelerate while shifting to "Drive", it would immediately stall again. After numerous attempts at this, I was able to get off the main road. I pulled into a parking lot, sat for about twenty minutes for the engine to cool (or recover), then drove home without incident. I don't know if it has any bearing on anything, but while I was waiting, I checked under the hood. Even though the temperature gauge was reading "Normal" on the dash board, the radiator hose was extremely hot and was constantly spurting coolant into the reservoir tank despite the fact that I had only driven a few miles. I think that they should recall the 2004's as well.
Robert B.
Rockville, MD, USA
2007Jul 31
(reported on)Focus SE 4.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 40,000 miles
Ford Focus Se 2004. Light with exclamation come on soon after there is a "CLUNK" noise from the engine or other. Car stalls and starts up again. Took car to ford dealership in C. PA who can not find the source of the problem.
2006Nov 06
(reported on)Focus SE 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 40,000 miles
Purchased this used 2004 Focus 2 months ago. Brakes continue to squeal, rattling noise under car and now the car dies while driving it. I took the car back on 10/24/06 for repair. I picked the car up on 11/04/06 and after paying $226.55 drove away and noticed that the brakes still squeal, the rattling noise is still going on and then the car died on me twice while driving home. It comes to an abrupt stop in the middle of the road and dies. A light comes on with a little exclamation point in it and then it restarts. This is VERY scary, especially since I was driving with a 4 yr old child in the back. I could be hit from behind. The car is back in service and I am still waiting on the results. NEVER buy a Ford focus.
2006Sep 07
(reported on)Focus ZX5
- 40,100 miles
My car simply died while I was driving it. There was no warning... just died. I was able to restart it again and get it to a dealer, who kept the car for a couple of days and claimed they couldn't replicate the problem (though it happened a couple of times again on the way to the dealer!) A week later, the car did it again, where it was taken to a different dealer that claims it's my battery, but I remain dubious, and so I'm now stuck with a car that I'm scared to drive because it simply won't work. Fun, huh?
2006Jul 04
(reported on)Focus LE
- 40,000 miles
So if the faulty brakes were not enough, today my 2004 focus just died while driving. This has never happened before. Luckily, I was able to restart and get home. I then did a search on issues with the focus and discovered that the focus had a huge recall in 2000-2001 for this type of issue. Hopefully, this will just be a battery issue, but I have a feeling it will be way more than that. First the faulty brakes now a dying car? I will never buy a ford again!
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Mar 25
Focus
My 04 Focus cuts off while driving and at times will start itself back up again. At other times the transaxle light comes on for a couple seconds.
I finally was able to get an appt with the dealership and was told if nothing is found I would have to pay for testing. If they found a problem they would have to contact the after purchase warranty people.
As I knew would happen they said nothing is wrong the car is GREAT. I asked how could it be great when it CUTS OFF when I'm driving and then start itself up again at other times as well as the transaxle light coming on. All they could say is everything checked out great. I asked for them to keep the car another day and keep driving it.
I wanted him to drive it back and forward to home & work but he said he couldn't. How can they find a problem when they drive a car for 5 minutes? I'm afraid I'll be driving one day, the car will cut off and I'll be in a major accident. Anybody else have a focus that does this?
annsank
High Point, NC, USA
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