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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

17 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2014
EngineFuel System, GasolineService Brakes

WE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED, AFTER WE GOT IT WE NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE WAS BROKE, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WORRY ME. WE HAVE SMALL CHILDREN TO THINK ABOUT SO THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT HAS A GOOD BATTERY, BUT IT'S ALWAYS DYING AFTER BEING DRIVEN. WE HAV…

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WE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED, AFTER WE GOT IT WE NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE WAS BROKE, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WORRY ME. WE HAVE SMALL CHILDREN TO THINK ABOUT SO THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT HAS A GOOD BATTERY, BUT IT'S ALWAYS DYING AFTER BEING DRIVEN. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY HAVE YET TO FIX IT. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT THIS, BUT I'M DESPERATE TO TRY ANYTHING AND ANYONE FOR HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10626158

77,000 miles · Jun 30, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFuel System, Gasoline

SO IDK EVERY [XXX] YEAR! FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS! IT GOES GOOD THEN SHE STARTS ACTING FUNNY BOOM BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. I USE THE VOLTMETER AND EVERYTHING'S FINE FULL CHARGE SAME WITH THE ALTERNATOR. A WEEK OR SO PASSED THEN THE STARTER WENT OUT REPLACED 7/3/13!! WTF! FRIED PUT A NEW ONE IN. NOW MY[XXX] CLUTCH FEELS DIFFERENT DO…

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SO IDK EVERY [XXX] YEAR! FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS! IT GOES GOOD THEN SHE STARTS ACTING FUNNY BOOM BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. I USE THE VOLTMETER AND EVERYTHING'S FINE FULL CHARGE SAME WITH THE ALTERNATOR. A WEEK OR SO PASSED THEN THE STARTER WENT OUT REPLACED 7/3/13!! WTF! FRIED PUT A NEW ONE IN. NOW MY[XXX] CLUTCH FEELS DIFFERENT DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S NOT SLIPPING BUT IT'S REALLY SMOOTH.2 DAYS GO BY AND BOOM ACTS LIKE THE BATTERY IS DEAD..NOPE TAKE KEY OUT GET VOLTMETER IT'S AT 12.5 SO I TRY AGAIN SEEMS OK DOESN'T TURN OVER. AGAIN TURN KEY ALL LIGHTS ON SEEMS OK NOTHING.... OK 1 MORE TURN KEY STRUGGLES LIKE STARTER THEN LIGHTS FLICKER DASH WACKS OUT BOOM DEAD NOTHING!!!!! GET OUT STILL 12.5VOLTS. I DON'T KNOW TRY 1 MORE TIME I PUMPED THE CLUTCH AD IT HESITATED TO TURN OVER AND BOOM IT WORKS!!!! GET HOME. TURN IT OFF ALL IS WELL ACTS LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG! 4 TO 6 DAYS AGAIN THIS TIME IT DID IT 2 HIM JUST DIFFERENT.HERE'S THE KICKER!!!!! IT'S FINE FULLY CHARGED ALL LIGHTS OK ALL VOLTS OK HE PULLS OUT ( HA HA PULLS OUT!) THEN SHE IDLES IRREGULARLY LIKE A LOOP HIGHER LOOP GET IT HOME AND KEEPS LOOPING. SO I REMEMBER THIS FROM LIKE 5 YRS AGO IT WAS SOMETHING WITH THE MAF OR ECG I BELIEVE SO I LOOK FOR ANSWERS.... NOW HE GOES OUT 4 HRS LATER NOTHING DEAD WON'T TURN OVER WON'T DO NOTHING!!!!! I HATE THIS CAR!!!!! I SWEAR I WILL FIND THE [XXX] PROBLEM TO THIS [XXX]!!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS [XXX] CAR! SHE WAS SO GOOD NOW SHE'S A LIL [XXX]! I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING STUPID AS [XXX] AND WATCH JUST LIKE LAST YEAR IN AUGUST THE [XXX[ CLUTCH IS GOING TO GO OUT AGAIN! I LOVED THIS CAR BUT FROM READING CONSTANTLY I'VE DECIDED THIS IS A SERIOUS FORD ISSUE!!!! I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS ON THIS! IF I DIDN'T HAVE LIFETIME WARRANTIES ON THE ALTERNATOR ETC I COULD ONLY IMAGINE THE COST!! THROUGH ALL THIS HORROR I'VE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE O2 SENSORS MAF SENSOR ALL ENGINE MOUNTS 3 TIMES!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606955

154,727 miles · Feb 9, 2014
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

THE GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK. MY DAUGHTERS JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR AS THERE FIRST CAR. IT IS NOT SAFE!!!! I AM VERY UPSET THAT THE THROTTLE SYSTEM OF THIS CAR IS NOT RECALLED BY THE MFG, WHEN I SEE THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563549

97,918 miles · Jul 26, 2012
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN FUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL WOULD REGURGITATE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND ON THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR REPAIRS OF INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,918. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN FUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL WOULD REGURGITATE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND ON THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR REPAIRS OF INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,918. UPDATED 08-07-12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND CAUSED A PUDDLE ON THE GROUND. UPDATED 08/08/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10467757

98,000 miles · Jan 10, 2011
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

2005 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT START WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COLD OR WILL START BUT FOR NO APPARENT RESIN JUST STOPS RUNNING NO FUEL PRESSURE AND FUEL PUMP DOES NOT RUN WHEN THE PROBLEM ARISES WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS WORM THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS FINE DOES NOT DISPLAY ANY ENGINE FAULT COEDS. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS SEEMS TO BE A FORD …

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2005 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT START WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COLD OR WILL START BUT FOR NO APPARENT RESIN JUST STOPS RUNNING NO FUEL PRESSURE AND FUEL PUMP DOES NOT RUN WHEN THE PROBLEM ARISES WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS WORM THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS FINE DOES NOT DISPLAY ANY ENGINE FAULT COEDS. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS SEEMS TO BE A FORD PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T WON'T TO EXCEPT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375348

115,000 miles · Dec 16, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS PEDAL STICKS IN COLD WEATHER WHEN FIRST PUTTING CAR IN GEAR AND STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL. IF YOU PUMP THE GAS PEDAL A FEW TIMES AFTER STARTING THE CAR, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME YOU DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THE ABOVE PROCEDURE IS NOT TAKEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370890

52,000 miles · Sep 16, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL GAUGE STICKS. THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATES THAT THE TANK IS HALF FULL AND THEN WILL DROP IMMEDIATELY TO EMPTY AND THE EMERGENCY FUEL LOW INDICATOR TURNS ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356051

38,000 miles · Aug 21, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

I WAS DRIVING HOME WITH MY THREE BOYS WHEN OUR 2005 FORD FOCUS STARTED JERKING AND SPUTTERING, LOST POWER, AND DIED ON SOME RAILROAD TRACKS. MY HUSBAND AND I HAD IT TOWED TO GOODYEAR WHERE THEY SAID THE FUEL PUMP FUSE BLEW. THEY REPLACED THE FUSE AND SENT US ON OUR WAY. NOT EVEN A HALF HOUR LATER THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN. WE HAD IT T…

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I WAS DRIVING HOME WITH MY THREE BOYS WHEN OUR 2005 FORD FOCUS STARTED JERKING AND SPUTTERING, LOST POWER, AND DIED ON SOME RAILROAD TRACKS. MY HUSBAND AND I HAD IT TOWED TO GOODYEAR WHERE THEY SAID THE FUEL PUMP FUSE BLEW. THEY REPLACED THE FUSE AND SENT US ON OUR WAY. NOT EVEN A HALF HOUR LATER THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN. WE HAD IT TOWED BACK TO GOODYEAR WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER. NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN. WE LET THE CAR SIT FOR A FEW DAYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. MY HUSBAND DECIDED TO REPLACE THE FUSE HIMSELF AND DRIVE IT TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD DO. WELL, THE CAR LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY OVER ANOTHER SET OF RAILROAD TRACKS. WE CALLED GOODYEAR TO BRING IT BACK, AND THEY REFUSED; SO WE HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC. THIS MECHANIC HAS AGAIN REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND TOLD US THE SYSTEM WAS FILTHY! THE FUEL PUMP JERKED DRAMATICALLY WHEN HE'D START IT, WHICH IS WHY HE REPLACED IT AGAIN. THE COMPUTER IS STILL SAYING THE MODULE IS BAD; SO HE ORDERED A NEW ONE FROM FORD, WHO AT FIRST CLAIMED THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. THEY WOULDN'T EVEN TELL HIM WHERE IT WAS LOCATED; SO WHEN HE RECEIVES THE PART, HE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT. WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO COST NOW. WITH GOODYEAR IT ALREADY COST US $600, WHICH THEY REFUSE TO REIMBURSE. I'VE CALLED FORD, AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP SAYING THERE'S NO RECALL ON THIS MODEL. I'VE LOOKED THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM UP, AND THE FUEL PUMP AND SYSTEM HAS BEEN RECALLED ON ALL FORD FOCUSES FROM 2000-2004. MY CAR WAS BUILT IN 2004! SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP US! IF WE DIDN'T OWE MONEY ON IT, WE'D JUNK IT. THANK GOD WE WERE NOT ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED! AND THANK GOD MY KIDS ARE BIG ENOUGH TO HELP US PUSH IT OFF THE RAILROAD TRACKS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10281345

65,000 miles · Oct 14, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL WHILE BEING DRIVEN 5 MPH OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT ONE OF THE CLAMPS FOR THE FUEL LINE DETACHED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL WHILE BEING DRIVEN 5 MPH OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT ONE OF THE CLAMPS FOR THE FUEL LINE DETACHED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10245378

50,000 miles · Oct 5, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

WITH LESS THEN A 1/4 TANK OF FUEL THE CAR WILL STALL WHEN CHANGING LANES, MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS. THE FUEL PUMP IS MAKING GRINDING NOISES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244448

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.