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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

45 reports
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89,500 miles · Oct 8, 2013
Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

SINCE WE RECEIVED THE CAR, WE HAVE NOTICED INCONSISTENT ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION - BOTH IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT WAS A SIMPLE SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE GENTLY TO START COMING TO A FULL STOP BEHIND A FEW CARS. AS MY CAR TRIED TO SLOW DOWN, I NOTICED IT WAS FIGHTING TO …

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SINCE WE RECEIVED THE CAR, WE HAVE NOTICED INCONSISTENT ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION - BOTH IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT WAS A SIMPLE SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE GENTLY TO START COMING TO A FULL STOP BEHIND A FEW CARS. AS MY CAR TRIED TO SLOW DOWN, I NOTICED IT WAS FIGHTING TO SLOW DOWN. I PRESSED ON THE BREAK HARDER, BUT IT WASN'T GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR, THEN BACK ON THE BREAK, NO CHANGE. NOT KNOWING WHAT ELSE TO DO, I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE DID NOT STOP REVVING UP SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER WAITING A MINUTE, I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND OPERATED FINE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547303

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS NOVEMBER 19,2011. I HAVE A FILE COMPLAINT ONLINE WITH NHTSA. THIS OCCURRENCE OCCURRED SATURDAY JANUARY 19,2013. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEEMS TO BE STUCK. I HAD BEEN DRIVING 30 MILES WITH NO PROBLEM. I HAD TO TAP IT TO GET IT TO RELEASE. I KEPT DRIVING AN…

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THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS NOVEMBER 19,2011. I HAVE A FILE COMPLAINT ONLINE WITH NHTSA. THIS OCCURRENCE OCCURRED SATURDAY JANUARY 19,2013. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEEMS TO BE STUCK. I HAD BEEN DRIVING 30 MILES WITH NO PROBLEM. I HAD TO TAP IT TO GET IT TO RELEASE. I KEPT DRIVING AND HAD TO TAP IT AGAIN TO RELEASE. THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT MY FOOT BEING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND IT WAS MOVING TO 65 MPH. I WAS ON INTERSTATE 85 AND IT WAS MOVING TO 75 MPH. I WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT 85 MPH. I BRAKED HARD TO TURN TO MY JOB. I WAS COMING TO A STOP SIGN AND WAS STANDING ON BY BRAKES AND MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH MY HUSBAND HE YELLED TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. THE CAR STOPPED ABRUPTLY AND THE ENGINE REVVING. I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED MY CAR OFF. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I CAME CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT OR GETTING KILLED. I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF TALKING TO SOMEONE FROM FORD CORPORATION ABOUT MY TERRIFYING INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493710

74,000 miles · Jan 8, 2013
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS THE GAS THROTTLE STICKS (APP. 45-HIGHER). THE SPEED CONTROL ALSO GOT STUCK BEFORE. THE CAR ALSO HAS PROBLEMS STARTING. IN MORNINGS AND EVENINGS, REGARDLESS OF WEATHER THE CAR DOESN'T ALWAYS START. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10491869

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

THIS OCCURRED AROUND 2008 I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2007, WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY, OR UP A HILL THE GAS PADDLE STICKS , WHEN I APPLY PRESSURE TO ACCELERATE SPEED IT DOESN'T MOVE TO GIVE IT MORE GAS. IT BECOMES FRIGHTENING WHEN I'M GOING UPHILL OR ON THE FREEWAY WHEN CARS ARE GOING 60 TO 75 AND ON MY TAIL MY CAR SLOWS DOWN…

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THIS OCCURRED AROUND 2008 I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2007, WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY, OR UP A HILL THE GAS PADDLE STICKS , WHEN I APPLY PRESSURE TO ACCELERATE SPEED IT DOESN'T MOVE TO GIVE IT MORE GAS. IT BECOMES FRIGHTENING WHEN I'M GOING UPHILL OR ON THE FREEWAY WHEN CARS ARE GOING 60 TO 75 AND ON MY TAIL MY CAR SLOWS DOWN AND I HAVE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER TILL IT RELEASES I HAVE TAKEN IT IN THE FORD DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS GOING TO COST ME OVER $200.00. I FEEL THIS IS A HAZARDOUS DEFEAT AND DANGEROUS. 2010, I TOOK MY CAR IN TO A JIFFY LUBE SHOP, AND THEY LUBRICATE THE PULLEY IT SEEMS TO HELP FOR AWHILE, BUT NOW IT??S GETTING STUCK AGAIN, AT THE MEAN TIME WHEN IT GETS STUCK I HIT THE SPEED CONTROL AND IT RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR AND INCREASE THE SPEED BUT PUTTY SOON THAT WILL NOT WORK. I HAVE TALK TO A FEW OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE A FORD FOCUS, THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS TOO, I HAVE READ ABOUT STUCK ACCELERATIONS AND THERE ARE SOME CARS THAT WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME HAZARDOUS PROBLEMS..I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT AS OF YET BECAUSE OF THIS BUT I'M AFRAID IF SOMEONE GETS ANGER WITH MY SLOW DOWN I WILL... [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470434

95,000 miles · Feb 14, 2012
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A SIGN POST. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A SIGN POST. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ODI #10447968

50,000 miles · Feb 7, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND IMMEDIATELY BECAME STUCK IN AN DEPRESSED POSITION. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RELEASE UNTIL REPEATED FORCE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY WERE UNAB…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND IMMEDIATELY BECAME STUCK IN AN DEPRESSED POSITION. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RELEASE UNTIL REPEATED FORCE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10446979

150,000 miles · Nov 21, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY INCREASED IN ACCELERATION UP TO 90 MPH. THE CONTACT DROVE THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND REPEATEDLY APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG BURNING BRAKE ODOR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY INCREASED IN ACCELERATION UP TO 90 MPH. THE CONTACT DROVE THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND REPEATEDLY APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG BURNING BRAKE ODOR. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND IT CAME TO A STOP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE STATED THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A CONDITION TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 12/22/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HER MECHANIC INFORMED HER THE PCV WAS BLOWING AIR IN THE A PLASTIC TUBE OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. UPDATED 01/27/12

NHTSA ODI #10436575

80,000 miles · Nov 18, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING UPWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING UPWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 12/12/11*LJ UPDATED 12/23/11

NHTSA ODI #10436341

80,000 miles · Nov 3, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMES STUCK AND CAN NOT BE DEPRESSED. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER IN LATE 2010 AND THEY DID NOT DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. OVER THE SUMMER, THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. NOW THAT IT IS BECOMING COLD AGAIN THE PROBLEM HAS REAPPEARED. LAST NIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. WHEN I WENT …

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THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMES STUCK AND CAN NOT BE DEPRESSED. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER IN LATE 2010 AND THEY DID NOT DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. OVER THE SUMMER, THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. NOW THAT IT IS BECOMING COLD AGAIN THE PROBLEM HAS REAPPEARED. LAST NIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. WHEN I WENT TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL, I COULD NOT PRESS IT IN. I HAD TO TAP IT HARD THREE OR FOUR TIMES TO GET IT TO RELEASE, WHICH TOOK ABOUT 20 SECONDS AND CAUSED ME TO SLOW DOWN TO LESS THAN 50 MPH BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO REACCELERATE. PROBLEM IS OCCURRING INTERMITTENTLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. USUALLY I ONLY HAVE TO TAP IT ONCE OR TWICE LIGHTLY TO GET IT TO RELEASE. LAST NIGHT I TAPPED IT HARD ENOUGH I WAS CONCERNED THAT I MIGHT CAUSE SOMETHING TO BREAK. CAR IS AT DEALERSHIP AGAIN FOR EVALUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434085

86,000 miles · Oct 28, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THEY DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THEY DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ODI #10433128

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.