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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

Wheels complaints

15 reports
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41,000 miles · Nov 28, 2009
Wheels

2005 FORD FOCUS ST - DECORATIVE LUG NUT END CAPS FAIL AND FLY OFF THE WHEEL. ALL EIGHT (8) OF MY WHEEL LUG NUTS HAVE FAILED AND THE DECORATIVE END CAPS HAVE COME OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10293766

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2008
Wheels

2005 FORD FOCUS ZX4 FLAT TIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE WHEEL COVER HITTING THE VALVE STEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHEEL COVER IS BENDING THE VALVE STEM . *NJ ALL 4 OF THE WHEEL COVERS WERE ROTATING ON THE WHEELS . THE DEALER USED EPOXY GLUE TO FASTEN THE WHEEL COVERS TO THE WHEELS. THREE OF THE COVERS STUCK, BUT THE FOURTH CONT…

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2005 FORD FOCUS ZX4 FLAT TIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE WHEEL COVER HITTING THE VALVE STEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHEEL COVER IS BENDING THE VALVE STEM . *NJ ALL 4 OF THE WHEEL COVERS WERE ROTATING ON THE WHEELS . THE DEALER USED EPOXY GLUE TO FASTEN THE WHEEL COVERS TO THE WHEELS. THREE OF THE COVERS STUCK, BUT THE FOURTH CONTINUED TO ROTATE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10240408

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2008
Fuel System, GasolineWheels

2005 FORD FOCUS WITH FUEL FILTER FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS COMING OFF OF THE FILTER. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THE FUEL FILTER. THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR RECONNECTING THE HOSE, BUT NOT THE FILTER. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WHEEL RIMS RUSTING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10220644

11,541 miles · Aug 29, 2006
Wheels

2005 FORD FOCUS, HAS LOST TO 7 SPOKE WHEEL COVERS IN 3 MONTHS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10166862

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2005
SuspensionWheels

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

NHTSA ODI #10142645

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.