IllustrationKEY WON'T TURN IN THE IGNITION. CAN NO REMOVE KEY. *TR
2005 Ford Focus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Ford Focus do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 864.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Focus years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
740–25K
6725–50K
7350–75K
5175–100K
50100–150K
29150K+
344 reports with mileage · 97 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 113 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
43 crash reports9 fire reports32 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
113 reportsMY KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT RELEASE FROM IT. I HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN IGNITION AND LOCK THE VEHICLE WITH THE ALARM. *TR
MY 2005 FORD FOCUS HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH KEY NOT TURNING IN THE IGNITION. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED TWICE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS I HAVE HAD THIS OCCUR OVER 8 TIMES BUT UNTIL RECENTLY THE CAR HAS EVENTUALLY STARTED. THIS LAST TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A SHOP. I AM CURRENTLY AWAITI…
Read full complaint
MY 2005 FORD FOCUS HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH KEY NOT TURNING IN THE IGNITION. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED TWICE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS I HAVE HAD THIS OCCUR OVER 8 TIMES BUT UNTIL RECENTLY THE CAR HAS EVENTUALLY STARTED. THIS LAST TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A SHOP. I AM CURRENTLY AWAITING THE CORRECT ACTIONS TO TAKE INORDER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN. IF CAR WAS STALLED IN TRAFFIC OR ON RAILWAY CROSSING SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES COULD ARISE. *TR
THE KEYS WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE CAR IS NOT REGISTERING THAT IT IS IN PARK. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. WHENEVER SHE DRIVES HER VEHICLE, SHE HAS TO LOCK IT WITH ANOTHER KEY SINCE THE IGNITION KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED. THE FORD MANUFACTURER INFORMED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT SHE HAS NOT DONE SO AT THIS TIM…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. WHENEVER SHE DRIVES HER VEHICLE, SHE HAS TO LOCK IT WITH ANOTHER KEY SINCE THE IGNITION KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED. THE FORD MANUFACTURER INFORMED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT SHE HAS NOT DONE SO AT THIS TIME. THE MANUFACTURER FURTHER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
MY KEYS ARE STUCK IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2005 FORD FOCUS. THIS JUST HAPPENED TODAY AND THEY ARE STILL IN THERE. I WILL HAVE TO LOCK MY CAR WITH THE KEYS IN IT AND PRAY NO ONE STEALS IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE AND WAS STUCK FOR 2-3 DAYS. THE KEYS OFTEN ACT LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO STICK, THEN, THANKFULLY THEY COME OUT. T…
Read full complaint
MY KEYS ARE STUCK IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2005 FORD FOCUS. THIS JUST HAPPENED TODAY AND THEY ARE STILL IN THERE. I WILL HAVE TO LOCK MY CAR WITH THE KEYS IN IT AND PRAY NO ONE STEALS IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE AND WAS STUCK FOR 2-3 DAYS. THE KEYS OFTEN ACT LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO STICK, THEN, THANKFULLY THEY COME OUT. THIS IS SUCH A NUISANCE AND A RISK. I ASKED MY DEALERSHIP WOULD THE PROBLEM BE FIXED IF I HAD IT REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD THAT IT MIGHT STILL HAPPEN AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS. NOT SO GOOD NEWS SINCE, I AM SURE THIS WOULD NOT BE CHEAP. *TR
MY CAR FAILS TO START UNTIL I CRANK IT 3 OR 4 TIMES. SOMETIMES IT BEGINS TO START THEN SPUTTERS AND DIES. IT HAS BEEN AN EVERYDAY THING FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS NOW. IT HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY TIME I GO TO START MY CAR WITH A FEW TIMES IT STARTING RIGHT AWAY. *TR
MY KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION INTERMITTENTLY. NOTHING I DO RELEASES IT. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO LEAVE IT IN MY CAR FOR DAYS BEFORE I COME OUT ONE OF THE MORNINGS AND IT JUST DECIDES TO LET ME HAVE MY KEY BACK. ON AND OFF EVER SINCE I HAVE GOTTEN THE CAR. *TR
KEY STUCK IN IGNITION STARTED CAR DROVE HOME. PARKED CAR. TURNED IT OFF. KEY STUCK. DISCONNECTED BATTERY. KEY CAME OUT. RECONNECTED BATTERY. REINSERTED KEY. KEY WOULDN'T TURN. CAR WOULDN'T START. LEFT OVERNIGHT. TRIED AGAIN. LEFT ALONE FOR A FEW MORE HOURS. RE INSERTED KEY. DEPRESSED BRAKE...MOVED CAR OUT OF PARK AND BACK INTO…
Read full complaint
KEY STUCK IN IGNITION STARTED CAR DROVE HOME. PARKED CAR. TURNED IT OFF. KEY STUCK. DISCONNECTED BATTERY. KEY CAME OUT. RECONNECTED BATTERY. REINSERTED KEY. KEY WOULDN'T TURN. CAR WOULDN'T START. LEFT OVERNIGHT. TRIED AGAIN. LEFT ALONE FOR A FEW MORE HOURS. RE INSERTED KEY. DEPRESSED BRAKE...MOVED CAR OUT OF PARK AND BACK INTO PARK. KEY THEN WORKED FINE. *TR
Official recalls
105V030000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Feb 1, 2005
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH FOUR OR FIVE DOORS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A BUILD-UP OF CORROSION AT THE PAWL PIVOT AREA OF THE REAR DOOR LATCH CAN CAUSE A BINDING CONDITION OF THE PAWL THAT MAY AFFECT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PAWL INTO THE CATCH. THE OCCUPANT MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING OR CLOSING A REAR DOOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE REAR DOOR MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF NOT LATCHED PROPERLY, THE DOOR MAY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IF AN OCCUPANT FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE, PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL HAVE A LOWER ROCKER SEAL ADDED TO THE DOOR AND HAVE THE REAR DOOR LATCHES EVALUATED FREE OF CHARGE. A LATCH THAT PASSES THE EVALUATION WILL BE LUBRICATED TO PREVENT FUTURE CORROSION. A LATCH THAT DOES NOT PASS THE EVALUATION WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A STICKER WILL BE AFFIXED TO THE REAR DOORS ADVISING THE OWNERS TO USE THE RECOMMENDED LUBRICANT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1AQ10001 · Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Opened Nov 18, 2010 · Closed Dec 28, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.