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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

18 reports
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35 miles · Nov 3, 2016
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspensionTires

I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAD TO BUY A RE-FURBISHED MOTOR, THE TIRES WERE SPLITTING AND THE SUSPENSION AND AIR CONDITIONER ALL NEEDED REPAIRING. WHEN I RECEIVED THE RECALL FROM DOT, [XXX], I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED TALLAHASSEE FORD. THEY DENIED THERE WAS A RECALL AND I WAS MISTAKEN. MY VIN # WAS LISTED IN THE…

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I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAD TO BUY A RE-FURBISHED MOTOR, THE TIRES WERE SPLITTING AND THE SUSPENSION AND AIR CONDITIONER ALL NEEDED REPAIRING. WHEN I RECEIVED THE RECALL FROM DOT, [XXX], I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED TALLAHASSEE FORD. THEY DENIED THERE WAS A RECALL AND I WAS MISTAKEN. MY VIN # WAS LISTED IN THE RECALL. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES BUT FORD KEPT GIVING ME A RUN-AROUND AND THEY LIED. SO NOW, I HAVE APPARENTLY MISSED A DEADLINE WHICH WAS NOT LISTED ON THE ORIGINAL NOTICE TO ME. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN AND THIS HAS REALLY STRESSED ME OUT AND IT REALLY MAKES ME NOT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD FROM ANYONE. ON ETHICS ALONE, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THEM DO WHAT THEY BASICALLY REFUSED BY LYING TO ME. IT WAS IN MOTION AND WENT TO THE SHOP WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE NOTICE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10924031

205,000 miles · Dec 5, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOR FOCUS ZXW STATION WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AND THE SHIFT OVER RIDE BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED, THE KEY WOULD BECOME LOCKED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT GLUED THE SHI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOR FOCUS ZXW STATION WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AND THE SHIFT OVER RIDE BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED, THE KEY WOULD BECOME LOCKED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT GLUED THE SHIFT OVER RIDE BUTTON IN PLACE AND CHANGED THE IGNITION, WHICH RESOLVED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE METAL FRAME OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BECAME CRACKED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PROP THE SEAT UP SO THAT HE COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000. UPDATED 02/20/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS POORLY DESIGNED. UPDATED 02/21/13 THE CONSUMER STATED THE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AFTER HAVING THE FLUID FLUSHED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WERE RIGID AND WERE EASY TO BREAK, THE REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS WERE NOT DESIGNED TO CARRY WEIGHT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BOUNCE ON THE HIGHWAY AND SECONDARY ROAD BUMPS. THE HEAT SHIELDS ATTACHED TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WERE DESIGNED POORLY, TO THE POINT THEY WERE BENT AND CAUSED A RATTLE. THE STEEL RIMS, BENT EASILY, WHICH CREATED A VIBRATION AND BALANCE PROBLEM. THE HEADLIGHTS LENSES WERE DISCOLORED, THE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKED OIL ONTO THE SPARK PLUGS, THE HOOD CABLES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE HOOD CABLE FROZE AND BROKE. UPDATED 07/25/13

NHTSA ODI #10487466

66,080 miles · Feb 1, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, HE NOTICED THAT A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WATER ACCUMULATED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR AREA. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG MUSTY ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER LEAK ORIGINATED FROM THE AIR TAKE SYSTEM. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, HE NOTICED THAT A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WATER ACCUMULATED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR AREA. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG MUSTY ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER LEAK ORIGINATED FROM THE AIR TAKE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,080.

NHTSA ODI #10446175

70,261 miles · Feb 3, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY CAR IS COVERED UNDER THE CA EMISSIONS WARRANTY, THERE IS A HOLE IN THE MANIFOLD. THE FORD DEALER HAS HAD MY CAR SINCE MAY 2010 CLAIMING THEY CAN'T GET THE PART COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY TO FIX MY CAR. IT HAS BEEN 9 MONTHS AND THEY KEEP POSTPONING THE DATE TO RECEIVE THE PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10380147

60,000 miles · Mar 9, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

2005 FORD FOCUS ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK WHILE DRIVING. DELEARSHIP, BILL BROWN FORD OF LIVONIA MI, DETERMINED THE CAUSE WAS THROTTLE BODY BINDING, SO REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10318190

20 miles · Mar 1, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkages

MY "ENGINE LIGHT" HAS BEEN "FLASHING" INTERMITTENTLY SINCE THE DAY I DROVE THE CAR HOME BRAND NEW! THIS IS A "MISFIRE" CODE. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN UNDER HARD ACCELERATION (LIKE TRYING TO PASS A CAR)...YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE THE "SAFETY CONCERNS" INVOLVED , WHEN 7 OUT OF 10 TIMES I TO TRY TO PASS A CAR.....I GET HALFWAY BY THE …

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MY "ENGINE LIGHT" HAS BEEN "FLASHING" INTERMITTENTLY SINCE THE DAY I DROVE THE CAR HOME BRAND NEW! THIS IS A "MISFIRE" CODE. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN UNDER HARD ACCELERATION (LIKE TRYING TO PASS A CAR)...YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE THE "SAFETY CONCERNS" INVOLVED , WHEN 7 OUT OF 10 TIMES I TO TRY TO PASS A CAR.....I GET HALFWAY BY THE VEHICLE...THEN MY CAR "MISFIRES"....LOSES ALL POWER....AND I COAST BACK INTO POSITION "BEHIND" THE VEHICLE I TRIED TO PASS!..WHILE I WAIT FOR THE CAR TO RECOVER AND START TO RUN CORRECTLY AGAIN!....IF I DIDN'T LOSE MY POSITION!..WHICH HAS HAPPENED!....MY CAR HAS BEEN "REPAIRED" 4, GOING ON 5 TIMES FOR THIS SAME ISSUE....EACH TIME I BRING IT TO BE FIXED...IT DOESN'T GET FIXED...OR AS I WAS TOLD ON MY FIRST COMPLAINT, AND MY SECOND COMPLAINT (THERE'S NOTHING WRONG)....THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO FLASH.....MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY YARD SINCE JANUARY...AFTER THE LAST TIME THEY "FIXED IT"...CANT EVEN DRIVE IT NOW....IT DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT HOME AFTER THE LAST REPAIR! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315055

32,500 miles · Nov 17, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A 2005 FOCUS, 4 DOOR, ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED A SEVERE SHAKING IN THE CAR, AT IDOL AND WHILE DRIVING, TOOK THE CAR TO GET NEW BRAKES AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE BROKE, AND IR WOULD BE AT LEAST $500 TO FIX, HE ALSO TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON THING IN THE FOCUS THAT THE MOUNTS WERE DEFECTIVE. CONSIDERING…

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I OWN A 2005 FOCUS, 4 DOOR, ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED A SEVERE SHAKING IN THE CAR, AT IDOL AND WHILE DRIVING, TOOK THE CAR TO GET NEW BRAKES AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE BROKE, AND IR WOULD BE AT LEAST $500 TO FIX, HE ALSO TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON THING IN THE FOCUS THAT THE MOUNTS WERE DEFECTIVE. CONSIDERING MY CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE FOR BEING AN 05, 33,900, I DO NOT EXPECT TO HAVE TO FIX MAJOR PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. I DO NOT THINK MOTOR MOUNTS SHOULD BE SHRUGGED OFF AS "COMMON PROBLEM" THIS CAN BE A DANGER WHILE DRIVING AND I FEEL IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, AS TO WHY THE MOUNTS GO BAD SO QUICKLY. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADVISE OR ANSWER TO THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292523

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2008
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

WHERE DO I BEGIN? I'VE HAD ALMOST ALL OF THE ISSUES/COMPLAINTS ALREADY FILED HERE FROM THE DOME/AIRBAG LIGHTS GOING OFF FOR NO REASON, THE KEY GETTING STUCK OR THE CAR STALLING IN NOT STARTING, DISRESPECT/UNPROFESSIONAL FROM FORD REPAIR STAFF OR CALLING FORD CORPORATE, AND THE MOST FAMOUS FOCUS MOMENT OF ALL, WHEN THE CAR SHAKE…

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WHERE DO I BEGIN? I'VE HAD ALMOST ALL OF THE ISSUES/COMPLAINTS ALREADY FILED HERE FROM THE DOME/AIRBAG LIGHTS GOING OFF FOR NO REASON, THE KEY GETTING STUCK OR THE CAR STALLING IN NOT STARTING, DISRESPECT/UNPROFESSIONAL FROM FORD REPAIR STAFF OR CALLING FORD CORPORATE, AND THE MOST FAMOUS FOCUS MOMENT OF ALL, WHEN THE CAR SHAKES AT SPEEDS OF 50 OR ABOVE ON HIGHWAYS. O FORD!, HOW YOU'VE SCREWED US ALL!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238859

140,000 miles · Jul 10, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START, BUT ONCE IT DID, IT STALLED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE ROTORS WERE REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUM…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START, BUT ONCE IT DID, IT STALLED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE ROTORS WERE REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED PERIODICALLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

NHTSA ODI #10233757

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD FOCUS IN JANUARY 2005. APPROXIMATELY 14 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE THE CAR STARTED HAVING MAJOR POWER TRAIN FAILURE. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THE CLUTCH 3 TIMES, THE TRANSMISSION, AND THE SHIFTING CABLES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10194267

Official recalls

1

05V030000 · 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

1

AQ10001 · 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.