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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
Mileage unknown · May 20, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

2005 FORD FOCUS BEGIN TO SPEED UP QUICKLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THERE SEEM TO NO PATTERN WHEN THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THE DEALER SAID THE BRAKES WERE FINE. IT HAS HAPPENED PERHAPS A HALF-DOZEN TIMES AND THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO QUICKLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE ENGINE…

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2005 FORD FOCUS BEGIN TO SPEED UP QUICKLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THERE SEEM TO NO PATTERN WHEN THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THE DEALER SAID THE BRAKES WERE FINE. IT HAS HAPPENED PERHAPS A HALF-DOZEN TIMES AND THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO QUICKLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE ENGINE THEN WILL SLOW DOWN. *BF *NM

NHTSA ODI #10122654

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2005
Air BagsLatches/locks/linkagesTiresCrashInjury

HOOD LATCH WAS NOT ATTACHED PROPERLY TO BODY. CAUSED HOOD TO BRAKE FREE AND FLY UP UPSTRUCKING VISION AND CAUSING A WRECK. NO AIR BAGS DEPLORED AND CRUSE CONTROL STUCK ON. NEW VEHICLE VIN # DID NOT MATCH VEHICLE DESCRIPTION.

NHTSA ODI #10121743

150 miles · May 10, 2005
Fuel System, Other

HARD STARTING, AFTER IT STARTS THEN IT IDLES ROUGH FOR 10-15 SECOND. SLIP IN 5TH GEAR. ALL PROBLEMS ONLY HAPPEN SOMETIMES.

NHTSA ODI #10120495

4,523 miles · Apr 22, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicTires

2005 FORD FOCUS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT AND THE TIRE TREAD ON THE FRONT TWO TIRES.*MR THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WHERE BAD. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER ALL FOCUS DISC BRAKES WEAR LIKE THAT, WITH GROOVES ON ROTORS AND PADS . CONSUMER'S SON WAS ON I-95 AND HAD TO STOP FAST AND TIRES GOT SOFT SPOTS AND FLATTEN OUT …

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2005 FORD FOCUS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT AND THE TIRE TREAD ON THE FRONT TWO TIRES.*MR THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WHERE BAD. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER ALL FOCUS DISC BRAKES WEAR LIKE THAT, WITH GROOVES ON ROTORS AND PADS . CONSUMER'S SON WAS ON I-95 AND HAD TO STOP FAST AND TIRES GOT SOFT SPOTS AND FLATTEN OUT AND TREAD CAME APART. MANUFACTURER WOULDN'T WARRANTY THE 2 FRONT TIRES AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO BUY NEW ONES. *BF

NHTSA ODI #10119228

4,000 miles · Apr 8, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE A BRAKE PROBLEM WITH MY 2005 FORD FOCUS THAT IS SIMILAR TO ALL FOCUS BUYERS AND IT BECOMING A SERIOUS PROBLEM PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BRAKE ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10116641

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2005
Electrical SystemFuel System, OtherSteering

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.

NHTSA ODI #10114587

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

WHILE DRIVING THE OIL FILTER WAS DAMAGED FROM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FILTER. FORD SERVICE CENTER TOLD THE CONSUMER THEY WERE TO BUSY TO ASSIST HER, AND FOR HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A QUICK LUBE TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE. QUICK LUBE CHANGED THE OIL, AND GAVE TH…

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WHILE DRIVING THE OIL FILTER WAS DAMAGED FROM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FILTER. FORD SERVICE CENTER TOLD THE CONSUMER THEY WERE TO BUSY TO ASSIST HER, AND FOR HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A QUICK LUBE TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE. QUICK LUBE CHANGED THE OIL, AND GAVE THE VEHICLE BACK. SOMEHOW, THIS CAUSED THE STEERING TO LOCK UP, AND FORD WILL DO NOTHING TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10112862

7,750 miles · Feb 14, 2005
Electrical System

IGNITION PROBLEMS, CD PLAYER MALFUCTION, WAS REPAIRED BUT FAILED AGAIN 3 TIMES TO START AND TOWED 3 TIMES TO THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10110519

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2005
Structure

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE REAR HATCH DOOR OPENED ON ITS OWN. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE REAR HATCH DOOR WAS OPENED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10109482

1,500 miles · Feb 1, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN EARLY NOVEMBER 2004. AS THE WEATHER BEGAN GETTING COLDER AND DAMPER, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START PROPERLY. THE ENGINE WOULD STUMBLE AND CRANK, BUT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I WOULD HAVE TO TRY 3-4 TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD ACTUALLY START. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE IN DECEMBER 2004 AND TSB 04-23-4 WAS…

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I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN EARLY NOVEMBER 2004. AS THE WEATHER BEGAN GETTING COLDER AND DAMPER, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START PROPERLY. THE ENGINE WOULD STUMBLE AND CRANK, BUT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I WOULD HAVE TO TRY 3-4 TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD ACTUALLY START. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE IN DECEMBER 2004 AND TSB 04-23-4 WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE CORRECTLY STARTED FOR A WHILE AFTER THAT, BUT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN NOW.

NHTSA ODI #10108372

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.