IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING OVER 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM. ON THREE OCCASIONS THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE ANY PROBLEMS. THE FOURTH OCCASION THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END WAS REALIGNED HOWEVER THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
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
Suspension complaints
27 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AROUND A SHARP CURVE, THE BRAKES FAILED. ALSO, THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE RUNNING ONTO A SIDEWALK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP FURTHER DETERMI…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AROUND A SHARP CURVE, THE BRAKES FAILED. ALSO, THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE RUNNING ONTO A SIDEWALK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP FURTHER DETERMINED THE BALL JOINTS WERE FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED BALL JOINT FAILURE LED TO THE ACCIDENT. REPAIRS WERE MADE TO FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION, AS WELL AS A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. *AK
EVERY TIME WE WOULD ATTEMPT TO DRIVE OUR 2005 FORD FOCUS ZX3 ON SLIPPERY ROADS THE REAR END WOULD WIGGLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AT 20 MPH OR FASTER, IT FELT AS IF YOU WERE GOING TO LOOSE CONTROL AT ANY TIME, IT WAS REAL BAD WHEN YOU WENT FROM CLEAN ROADS TO SLIPPERY, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO GO SIDEWAYS ! FORD GAVE OUR DEALER …
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EVERY TIME WE WOULD ATTEMPT TO DRIVE OUR 2005 FORD FOCUS ZX3 ON SLIPPERY ROADS THE REAR END WOULD WIGGLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AT 20 MPH OR FASTER, IT FELT AS IF YOU WERE GOING TO LOOSE CONTROL AT ANY TIME, IT WAS REAL BAD WHEN YOU WENT FROM CLEAN ROADS TO SLIPPERY, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO GO SIDEWAYS ! FORD GAVE OUR DEALER SEVERAL THINGS TO TRY, BUT THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO STOP CAR FROM WIGGLING ALL OVER, THIS CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, DEALER HAD THE CAR AT THERE LOT FOR APROX 28 DAYS, MAINLY BECAUSE I WOULD NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE THIS CAR WHEN ROADS WERE SLIPPERY, WE FEARED FOR HER SAFETY ! FORD DECIDED THEY COULD DO NO MORE UNTIL FORD SERVICE ENGINEER HAD A CHANCE TO DRIVE IT ON SLIPPERY ROADS, HE WAS NEVER ABLE TO GET HERE WHEN ROADS WERE BAD, HE DID A WEEK OR SO AGO DRIVE A XZ3 AT A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP WHEN THE ROADS WERE ICY, HE CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT OUR DEALERSHIP TO TELL HIM THAT THE FOCUS HE DROVE WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD, AND THAT IT ALMOST WENT SIDEWAYS WHEN HE WENT FROM SLIPPERY TO DRY ! SO THEY DECIDED THAT ALL FOCUS ZX3 MUST DO THAT, AND THAT THERE WAS NO FIX ! ONLY PARTS THAT I KNOW THAT WERE CHANGED WERE THE TIE-BLADES ? FORD WOULD NOT HELP US GET OUT OF IF THIS CAR, BUT OUR DEALER WORKED VERY HARD WITH US, AND GOT MY WIFE IN TO A 2006 ESCAPE YESTERDAY ! A BIG THANK YOU GOES OUT TO SIMMONS FORD IN VICKSBURG MICHIGAN ! *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE WHEEL COVERS POPPED WHILE DRIVING, ONE OF THE COVERS CAME OFF THE CAR. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE COVER BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC. HE CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY WOULD REVIEW THE PROBLEM ONLY IF THE WHEEL COVER WAS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY COULD NOT …
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE WHEEL COVERS POPPED WHILE DRIVING, ONE OF THE COVERS CAME OFF THE CAR. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE COVER BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC. HE CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY WOULD REVIEW THE PROBLEM ONLY IF THE WHEEL COVER WAS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT, AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. *AK
'05 FORD FOCUS ZXW. VEHICLE LESS THAN 2 WEEKS OLD. IN SHOP 4TH TIME FOR VIBRATION IN FRONT END AND PULLING TO RIGHT. DEALER REPLACED 1 FRONT TIRE, BALANCED ALL 4, CHANGED CAMBER ANGLE AND RE-ALIGNED STEERING WHEEL. CAR STILL VIBRATES AT 65 AND NOW PULLS TO LEFT. BACK TO DEALER AGAIN FOR 5TH TIME. APPEARS TO ORIGINATE FROM RIGHT …
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'05 FORD FOCUS ZXW. VEHICLE LESS THAN 2 WEEKS OLD. IN SHOP 4TH TIME FOR VIBRATION IN FRONT END AND PULLING TO RIGHT. DEALER REPLACED 1 FRONT TIRE, BALANCED ALL 4, CHANGED CAMBER ANGLE AND RE-ALIGNED STEERING WHEEL. CAR STILL VIBRATES AT 65 AND NOW PULLS TO LEFT. BACK TO DEALER AGAIN FOR 5TH TIME. APPEARS TO ORIGINATE FROM RIGHT FRONT. WILL PRESS FOR STRUT AND SUSPENSION INSPECTION. *JB
CAR BOUGHT SEPT 2004. CAR REGULARLY DOESN'T START, AND IF IT DOES ALWAYS RUNS AT OVER 3500 RPM FOR UP TO 5 MINUTES WITH NO ACCELERATOR PRESSURE. ALARM GOES OFF WHEN DRIVING, FOR NO REASON. CAR SWERVES AND VIBRATES ON ROAD IN DRY AND WET CONDITIONS (SEEMS LIKE STEERING AND / OR SUSPENSION BROKEN / DEFECTIVE). BRAKES ALSO CREAK. A…
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CAR BOUGHT SEPT 2004. CAR REGULARLY DOESN'T START, AND IF IT DOES ALWAYS RUNS AT OVER 3500 RPM FOR UP TO 5 MINUTES WITH NO ACCELERATOR PRESSURE. ALARM GOES OFF WHEN DRIVING, FOR NO REASON. CAR SWERVES AND VIBRATES ON ROAD IN DRY AND WET CONDITIONS (SEEMS LIKE STEERING AND / OR SUSPENSION BROKEN / DEFECTIVE). BRAKES ALSO CREAK. ALL PROBLEMS FROM CAR PURCHASE TO NOW, MARCH 2005. TAKEN TO 2 DEALERSHIPS ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHO COULD NOT "REPLICATE THE CONCERN". REPORTED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN JANUARY WHO INFORMAED ME THAT THE ORIGINAL DEALER SERVICE MANAGER WOULD CONTACT ME. SO FAR, 7 WEEKS ON, AND NO CONTACT. POSSIBLE LEMON LAW CASE.
WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED VEHICLE VIBRATED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM PERTAINED TO WHEEL ALIGNMENT. EVOQ FILED BY ABIGIL LIVINGSTON 478-788-1497. *AK
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.