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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

441 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2014
Structure

BODY PAINT STARTED TO PEEL OFF OF MY FRONT DRIVERS DOOR, IT HAS CONTINUED TO PEEL ON ALL THE DOORS AND CURRENTLY IS NOW PEELING OFF OF THE TRUNK LID. I'M TOLD THAT THIS IS APPARENTLY A ROCK BLISTER EFFECT BUT I'VE OWNED MANY A VEHICLE AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN TO ANY VEHICLE OF MINE BEFORE. THIS IS A FORD PROBLEM NOT A…

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BODY PAINT STARTED TO PEEL OFF OF MY FRONT DRIVERS DOOR, IT HAS CONTINUED TO PEEL ON ALL THE DOORS AND CURRENTLY IS NOW PEELING OFF OF THE TRUNK LID. I'M TOLD THAT THIS IS APPARENTLY A ROCK BLISTER EFFECT BUT I'VE OWNED MANY A VEHICLE AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN TO ANY VEHICLE OF MINE BEFORE. THIS IS A FORD PROBLEM NOT AN OWNER PROBLEM. OF NOTE, I'VE OWNED FORD VEHICLES SINCE 2000 AND CURRENTLY OWN 2 FORD VEHICLES. NONE OF MY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE EVER SHOWN ANY INDICATION OF THIS HORRIBLE PEELING. AS WELL, MY REAR DOORS ARE ALWAYS BECOMING STUCK. ONCE AGAIN, I'VE BEEN TOLD TO OIL THE COMPONENTS. THIS HAS BEEN DONE OVER AND OVER WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609906

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

124,000 miles · Jun 26, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED UP TO 80 MPH. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REDUCE SPEED EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED NUMEROUS TIMES . THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY SLOWED DOWN WHEN THE GEAR WAS SH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED UP TO 80 MPH. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REDUCE SPEED EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED NUMEROUS TIMES . THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY SLOWED DOWN WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE ENGINE WAS THEN TURNED OFF. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DISABLED THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ODI #10606264

78,000 miles · Jun 15, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING. REMOVED REAR TAIL LENSES TO REPLACE ALL THE BULB AND FOUND BRAKE/TURN SIGNAL SOCKET FUSED TO INTERIOR PORTION OF TAIL LENS INHIBITING REMOVAL DUE TO HEAT WARPAGE. WILL CONTACT DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT SOCKETS FOR RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES AND LENS REPLACEMENT FOR RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES. THIS SHOULD BE A RE…

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TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING. REMOVED REAR TAIL LENSES TO REPLACE ALL THE BULB AND FOUND BRAKE/TURN SIGNAL SOCKET FUSED TO INTERIOR PORTION OF TAIL LENS INHIBITING REMOVAL DUE TO HEAT WARPAGE. WILL CONTACT DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT SOCKETS FOR RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES AND LENS REPLACEMENT FOR RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALLED ITEM DUE TO HAZARD OF NO TURN OR BRAKE LIGHT AND POOR DESIGN TO ALLOW BULB TO PRODUCE ENOUGH HEAT TO CAUSE THERMAL REACTION AND POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10598378

154,163 miles · Jun 11, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,163.

NHTSA ODI #10597668

135,000 miles · Jun 9, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, OVERHEAD DOME LIGHT, REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER, AND REAR EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ODI #10597047

140,000 miles · May 18, 2014
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

THE BACK DOOR DRIVERS SIDE WILL NOT LOCK. THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I REPLACED THE DOOR HANDLE BUT IT WILL STILL NOT WORK. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE TOUCHING OPENING MECHANISM. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10592307

81,905 miles · May 16, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAD TO PLACE FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT HEAD LAMPS AND HIGH BEAMS . I BROUGHT THIS CAR OFF OF ENTERPRIZE DEALER IN NEVADA. OVER THE YEARS I BEGAN HAVEN LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. SO MUCH NEEDED TO BE DONE ON THIS CAR AND I SPENT LOTS OF MONEY TOO. NOT KNOWING UNTIL NOW THIS CAR HAS SOME RECALL ISSUES. PA…

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THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAD TO PLACE FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT HEAD LAMPS AND HIGH BEAMS . I BROUGHT THIS CAR OFF OF ENTERPRIZE DEALER IN NEVADA. OVER THE YEARS I BEGAN HAVEN LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. SO MUCH NEEDED TO BE DONE ON THIS CAR AND I SPENT LOTS OF MONEY TOO. NOT KNOWING UNTIL NOW THIS CAR HAS SOME RECALL ISSUES. PASSENGER REAR DOOR REPLACE AND BROKEN AGAIN. THE REAR BRAKE ARE RUSTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACE,DRUMS PADS EXT.. NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN I TURN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592075

110,231 miles · Apr 15, 2014
EngineSeatsUnknown Or Other

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. 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

NHTSA ODI #10582992

5,000 miles · Apr 13, 2014
Power Train

WHEN BRAKING COMING UP TO STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN USUALLY UNDER 15 MPH TRANSMISSION DOES NOT GEAR DOWN AND SEEMS TO SURGE. HAPPENS RANDOMLY. YOU HAVE TO ALMOST STAND ON BRAKES AND SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. SURGE MAY LAST APPROX 5 SECONDS. VARIES DEPENDING ON SPEED YOUR BRAKING FROM. IN THE BEGINNING TALKED TO FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD TH…

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WHEN BRAKING COMING UP TO STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN USUALLY UNDER 15 MPH TRANSMISSION DOES NOT GEAR DOWN AND SEEMS TO SURGE. HAPPENS RANDOMLY. YOU HAVE TO ALMOST STAND ON BRAKES AND SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. SURGE MAY LAST APPROX 5 SECONDS. VARIES DEPENDING ON SPEED YOUR BRAKING FROM. IN THE BEGINNING TALKED TO FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. HAD A FORD ESCORT FOR MY SON IN MID 80'S AND HE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM. VEHICLE NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 72000 MILES AND SEEMS TO GETTING WORSE. I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEMS FOR YEARS AND NOT ACKNOWLEDGED. I WOULD BE VERY SURPRISED IF MANY OTHERS HAVE NOT HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10579442

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.