THE FORD FOCUS FROM 2007/2001 HAS HAD LOTS OF DOOR LATCHES BRAKING AND THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, IN MY CASE FROM THE OUTSIDE. I KNOW FORD DEALERS SEEN A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS. THIS SHOULD BE A FIX AT FORDS EXPENSE. WERE CAN I GET THE PART OTHER THAN THE DEALER? THANK-YOU *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
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.
Seats complaints
10 reportsWHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE LOCALLY, MY CAR SHUT OFF AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE MAIN FLOW VALVE. I HAVE TO REPLACE IT, BUT THEN MY KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION. MY FRIEND WAS ABLE TO GET IT OUT. ON AUGUST 12, 2012, MY DRIVER SEAT MOVED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND CONTINUES TO SKIP ON A CERTAIN CLICK LATCH. INDECEM…
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WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE LOCALLY, MY CAR SHUT OFF AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE MAIN FLOW VALVE. I HAVE TO REPLACE IT, BUT THEN MY KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION. MY FRIEND WAS ABLE TO GET IT OUT. ON AUGUST 12, 2012, MY DRIVER SEAT MOVED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND CONTINUES TO SKIP ON A CERTAIN CLICK LATCH. INDECEMBER, I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC, CAUSE MY ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, BUT WE ARE UNSURE AS TO WHY IT KEEPS DOING THAT. EVERY NOW AND THEN I CAN SMELL SMOKING WIRES/ELECTRICAL WIRES BURNING. NOW MY LIGHTER IN THE CAR IS NOT WORKING, BUT I THINK THAT RUNS IN A FUSE...NOT SURE. ON APRIL 13TH, 2013. I RETURNED HOME FROM A WEDDING AND I AM UNABLE TO YET AGAIN, GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME TO CHECK TO FIND OUT IF OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND WHAT THEY DID. THEN MY FRIEND TOLD ME ABOUT THE MAJOR FORD RECALL. *TT
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT DISINTEGRATED LEAVING ONLY ONE PIECE OF A METAL SHARD IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO AS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT DISINTEGRATED LEAVING ONLY ONE PIECE OF A METAL SHARD IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
I OWN A 2005 FOCUS ZX4 WHOM HAS BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES FOR ENGINE MOUNTS, ALTERNATOR, HEADLIGHTS/TAIL LIGHTS, STEREO, AND NOW PASSENGER FRONT SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR. I WAS TOLD BACK IN 2009 THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THE STEREO WAS!!! SO EVERYTIME I HAVE AN ADULT IN …
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I OWN A 2005 FOCUS ZX4 WHOM HAS BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES FOR ENGINE MOUNTS, ALTERNATOR, HEADLIGHTS/TAIL LIGHTS, STEREO, AND NOW PASSENGER FRONT SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR. I WAS TOLD BACK IN 2009 THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THE STEREO WAS!!! SO EVERYTIME I HAVE AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE SEAT MALFUNCTIONS; A SAFETY FEATURE TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE IS NOT COVERED AND NOW I SEE ANOTHER CAR MANUFACTURER RECALLING THE SAME THING BUT FORD IS NOT WILLING TO FIX. I CALLED FORD HEADQUARTERS AND NO HELP OR CARE TO DO SO... THIS WILL BE MY LAST FORD I PURCHASE AFTER YEARS OF GROWING UP WITH FORDS. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD CARE ABOUT THEIR CONSUMERS. *TR
ON 2/26/2011 AT APPROXIMATLY 1900 HRS. I WAS AT NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE IN LAS VEGAS NEVADA I HAD TO PULL OVER IN A SAFE AREA TO LOOK FOR MY ID AS I GOT OUT OF THE CAR WITH THE CAR IN PARK AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ON I PROCEEDED TO LIFT THE HANDLE IN FRONT OF THE SEAT THAT ALLOWES IT TO BE MOVED FORWARD SO I CAN LOOK UNDER THE SEAT FO…
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ON 2/26/2011 AT APPROXIMATLY 1900 HRS. I WAS AT NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE IN LAS VEGAS NEVADA I HAD TO PULL OVER IN A SAFE AREA TO LOOK FOR MY ID AS I GOT OUT OF THE CAR WITH THE CAR IN PARK AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ON I PROCEEDED TO LIFT THE HANDLE IN FRONT OF THE SEAT THAT ALLOWES IT TO BE MOVED FORWARD SO I CAN LOOK UNDER THE SEAT FOR MY ID,I COULDN'T SEE IT SO I PROCEEDED TO DO THE SAME WITH THE PASSANGER SEAT AND IT WASEN'T THERE SO AGAIN I WAS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND AGAIN PULLING UP THE HANDLE AND MY RIGHT SIDE OF MY FACE AND EAR WAS WITHIN AN INCH OF THE SIDE AIR BAG WHEN IT EXPLODEDAND NOCKED ME UP AGAINST THE DRIVERS DOOR FRAME AND THE AIRBAG POWDER WAS ALL OVER ME AND FOR 30 SECONDS I COULDN'T SEE OR HEAR. MY FACE WAS ON FIRE WITH ACID BURNS ALL OVER MY FACE AND MY RIGHT EAR. I WAS SEEN AT THE ER AND WAS TREATED WHICH INCLUDED A CAT SCAN OF MY HEAR TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY INTERNAL TRAMA AND THAT WAS NEGATIVE HOWEVER I HAD DEVELOPED TMJ BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT TO MY JAW AND MIGRAIN HEADACHES WHICH HAVE NOT SUBSIDED TO THIS DAY. ALL REPORTS AND PICTURES ID TAKEN WERE SENT THROUGH E-MAIL TO FORD CLAIMS DEPT. I WAS SENT THE PAPER WORK TO FILL OUT AND SEND IT BACK TO THEM,IN MARCH 2011 I HAVE TO GOT TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE CHIP RED AND IT COST TO HAVE THAT DONE WAS $103.48. IT STATES THAT THE DTC B1231 RESTRAINT SYSTEM WAS SUFFICIENT IMPACT TO WARRENT A DEPLOYMENT YET INDICATES THAT NO COLLISION OCCURED. SO THEN NOW THE MODUAL NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT BY THE DEALER WHICH I WENT TO FORD AND THEY REFUSED TO HELP, SO THAT EVENING WENT TO ANOTHER FORD AND THEY HELPED IT TOOK THEM JANUARY 2012 TO COORDINATE WITH FORD TO TAKE OUT THE MODGUAL, I JUST FOUND OUT A WEEK AGO JUNE 14TH. THAT BOSH IS JUST NOW TAKING A LOOK AT THAT PRODUCT THAT WAS SENT TO THEM IN JANUARY 2012.16 MONTHS LATER NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN DONE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN DO. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEVER TO ADJUST THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT NO LONGER FUNCTIONED AND SHE COULD NO LONGER MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE WAY THE SEAT WAS POSITIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 53,000.
I OWNED A 2005 FORD FOCUS STATION WAGON AND SUFFERED A REAR END COLLISION WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. AS A RESULT OF THE POOR SEAT CONSTRUCTION, MY LUMBAR SPINE WAS WEDGED IN THE GAP BETWEEN THE SEAT CUSHION AND THE BACK CUSHION DURING THE IMPACT. AT THE TIME, I HAD THE SEAT LOWERED FOR COMFORT. UNFORTUNATELY, AS YOU LOWER THE SEA…
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I OWNED A 2005 FORD FOCUS STATION WAGON AND SUFFERED A REAR END COLLISION WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. AS A RESULT OF THE POOR SEAT CONSTRUCTION, MY LUMBAR SPINE WAS WEDGED IN THE GAP BETWEEN THE SEAT CUSHION AND THE BACK CUSHION DURING THE IMPACT. AT THE TIME, I HAD THE SEAT LOWERED FOR COMFORT. UNFORTUNATELY, AS YOU LOWER THE SEAT, YOU ALSO CREATE A GAP BETWEEN THE SEAT CUSHION AND THE BACK CUSHION, EXPOSING THE LUMBAR SPINE TO THAT GAP. THIS IS WHERE MY LOWER SPINE WAS WEDGED AS A RESULT OF THE REAR-END COLLISION. THE BACK CUSHION HAS TOO LITTLE SUPPORT TO KEEP THE SPINE FROM BUCKLING AND WEDGING ITSELF, BUTT FIRST. NOW, THE GAP WASN'T THAT BIG FOR ME, ONLY ABOUT AN INCH OR SO, BUT THE SEAT PADDING AROUND THE GAP IS UNSUPPORTED AND FLEXIBLE. IMAGINE NOW A REAR END COLLISION WITH A TALL PERSON SITTING IN THAT SEAT, WHERE THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE GAP BETWEEN THE SEAT CUSHION AND THE BACK CUSHION, SAY MAYBE TWO OR MORE INCHES. IN A REAR END COLLISION, WITH THE FRONT BRAKES APPLIED, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY BUCKLES UPWARD AND FORWARD, WHILE THE BODIES IN THE CAR MOVE DOWN AND BACK, AS IN MY CASE (SINCE OBJECTS AT REST [MY BODY] RESPOND ONLY AFTER THE IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE). JUST WATCH ALL THOSE DUMMY COMMERCIALS... THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU MANIPULATE THE LEVER TO LOWER THE SEAT CUSHION. FACT: THE EUROPEAN FORD FOCUS DRIVER SEAT MOVES AS AN ENTIRE UNIT (BOTH SEAT CUSHION AND BACK CUSHION MOVE TOGETHER AS A UNIT, NEVER CREATING SUCH A GAP) FACT: THE U.S. MODEL IS THE CHEAP ALTERNATIVE TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION OF AN ADJUSTABLE SEAT. INSTEAD, THE LEVER LOWERS AND RAISES ONLY THE SEAT BUCKET PORTION FOR THE DRIVER, WHILE EXPOSING A GAP BETWEEN IT AND THE BACK CUSHION. THE BACK SUPPORT STAYS IN THE SAME PLACE ANOTHER FACT: ALL EUROPEAN MODELS HAVE HEADRESTS IN THE BACK SEAT ANOTHER FACT: AL U.S. MODELS HAVE NO HEADRESTS IN THE BACK SEAT. *TR
THE DRIVER'S PANT CUFF ON THE RIGHT LEG CAN BE SNAGGED BY SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT. CRANK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED UNDER CRUISE CONTROL. THIS PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO USE THE RIGHT FOOT TO APPLY THE BRAKES. *JB
THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER WITH A DEFECTIVE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *MR THE BACK REST DID NOT LOCK, SO THE SEAT BELTS WERE INEFFECTIVE. *SC *JB
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.
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