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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

What owners actually said

441 reports
5,000 miles · Mar 14, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE THE MOST CURRENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE THE MOST CURRENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA ODI #10390129

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2011
Steering

2005 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE TO INCLUDE STEERING COLUMN AND IGNITION SWITCH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL AND IF PUSHED IN ALL THE WAY, IT WOULD CAUSE THE FUSE FOR THE IGNITION TO BLOW OUT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS STARTED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT RELE…

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2005 FORD FOCUS. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE TO INCLUDE STEERING COLUMN AND IGNITION SWITCH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL AND IF PUSHED IN ALL THE WAY, IT WOULD CAUSE THE FUSE FOR THE IGNITION TO BLOW OUT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS STARTED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT RELEASE THE KEY WHEN IT WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A FLAW WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10389350

80,000 miles · Mar 7, 2011
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UN-LATCHED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT AND ADVISED THAT IS WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UN-LATCHED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT AND ADVISED THAT IS WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 03/29/11*LJ UPDATED 1/5/12 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10386645

120,000 miles · Mar 2, 2011
Electrical System

JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS. 'MY KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WAS STRANDED HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HOME" HOW THOUGHTFUL OF FORD TO ONLY CHARGE ME FOUR- HUNDRED DOLLARS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10386184

60,000 miles · Feb 12, 2011
Latches/locks/linkages

DOOR LATCHES WORK VERY BADLY ON PASENGER AND DRIVERS DOORS. FINALLY THE DRIVERS DOOR LATCH BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10381684

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2011
Air Bags

2005 FORD FOCUS ZXW WAGON. CONSUMER STATES A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT. DEALER REPAIRED BUT THE INDICATOR LIGHT IS BACK ON. HE BELIEVES THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT NOT BE ENGAGED. *KB ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ODI #10380672

70,261 miles · Feb 3, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY CAR IS COVERED UNDER THE CA EMISSIONS WARRANTY, THERE IS A HOLE IN THE MANIFOLD. THE FORD DEALER HAS HAD MY CAR SINCE MAY 2010 CLAIMING THEY CAN'T GET THE PART COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY TO FIX MY CAR. IT HAS BEEN 9 MONTHS AND THEY KEEP POSTPONING THE DATE TO RECEIVE THE PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10380147

98,000 miles · Jan 10, 2011
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

2005 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT START WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COLD OR WILL START BUT FOR NO APPARENT RESIN JUST STOPS RUNNING NO FUEL PRESSURE AND FUEL PUMP DOES NOT RUN WHEN THE PROBLEM ARISES WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS WORM THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS FINE DOES NOT DISPLAY ANY ENGINE FAULT COEDS. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS SEEMS TO BE A FORD …

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2005 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT START WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COLD OR WILL START BUT FOR NO APPARENT RESIN JUST STOPS RUNNING NO FUEL PRESSURE AND FUEL PUMP DOES NOT RUN WHEN THE PROBLEM ARISES WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS WORM THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS FINE DOES NOT DISPLAY ANY ENGINE FAULT COEDS. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS SEEMS TO BE A FORD PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T WON'T TO EXCEPT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375348

54,000 miles · Jan 7, 2011
Electrical System

INTERMITTENTLY KEYS GET STUCK IN IGNITION, AFTER A FEW DAYS THEY USUALLY COME OUT MAY BE WEEKS OR MONTHS BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN, WHILE DRIVING I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE, LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD AND ALL THE GAUGE LIGHTS START FLICKERING, IF YOU SHUT OFF THE CAR IT WILL NOT START AGAIN AND LOSE ALL POWER, NO LIGHTS, LOCKS ANYTHING…

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INTERMITTENTLY KEYS GET STUCK IN IGNITION, AFTER A FEW DAYS THEY USUALLY COME OUT MAY BE WEEKS OR MONTHS BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN, WHILE DRIVING I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE, LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD AND ALL THE GAUGE LIGHTS START FLICKERING, IF YOU SHUT OFF THE CAR IT WILL NOT START AGAIN AND LOSE ALL POWER, NO LIGHTS, LOCKS ANYTHING POWER SHUTS DOWN, I HAVE BEEN STRANDED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. HAVE ALREADY HAD SOME WIRES REPLACED, PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES ..WHEN IT HAPPENS THE CAR STARTS TO HESITATE, VERY DANGEROUS IF ON AN INTERSTATE OR GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION..CAR IS BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN FOR THIS ISSUE, ONLY 54000 MILES ON THE CAR...EVEN WHEN I GET IT BACK FROM SHOP THIS TIME AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, I WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED LAST TIME, WHO IS TO SAY THAT IT IS TRULY FIXED THIS TIME, DON'T WANT TO BE STRANDED OR IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375055

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2011
Latches/locks/linkages

2005 FORD FOCUS SW. THE TRUNK LATCH IF OPENED BY REMOTE THEN CAN'T CLOSE BACK. IF REMOTE CONTROL OF LATCH IS NOT OPERATED AND USING ONLY THE KEY TO OPEN THE TRUNK, THEN IT'S OKAY. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO THE LATCH SO THAT I CAN USE THE KEY ONLY TO OPERATE THE TRUNK GATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10374781

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.