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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 · Jul 9, 2017
Power Train

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AT AROUND 80,000 MILES TO THE POINT WHERE 2ND AND 3RD GEAR WERE NEARLY NON EXISTENT. WHEN OD LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AUTOZONE TOLD ME THAT SOLENOIDS/TRANSMISSION WERE SHOT. AFTER REPLACING THE SOLENOIDS AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF WITH AN IDENTICAL TRANSMISSION FROM AN IDENTICAL VEHICLE, IT IS…

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TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AT AROUND 80,000 MILES TO THE POINT WHERE 2ND AND 3RD GEAR WERE NEARLY NON EXISTENT. WHEN OD LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AUTOZONE TOLD ME THAT SOLENOIDS/TRANSMISSION WERE SHOT. AFTER REPLACING THE SOLENOIDS AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF WITH AN IDENTICAL TRANSMISSION FROM AN IDENTICAL VEHICLE, IT IS APPARENT THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE INDEED FAULTY. IT IS STILL SLIPPING AND SLAMMING INTO GEAR. OVERDRIVE RARELY FUNCTIONS PROPERLY AND TENDS TO SHUT ITSELF OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11003922

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2017
Latches/locks/linkages

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR FAILS TO LATCH. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED ,SUBURBAN FORD OF WATERFORD LOCATED AT 5900 HIGHLAND RD, WATERFORD TWP, MI 48327, PHONE NUMBER: (248) 674-4781, WHERE TO VEHICLE WAS N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR FAILS TO LATCH. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED ,SUBURBAN FORD OF WATERFORD LOCATED AT 5900 HIGHLAND RD, WATERFORD TWP, MI 48327, PHONE NUMBER: (248) 674-4781, WHERE TO VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11001385

Mileage unknown · May 19, 2017
Electrical System

ON MANY OCCASIONS THE REAR HATCH (ZXW WAGON) HAS OPENED ON ITS OWN. I'VE ALWAYS ASSUMED I MUST NOT HAVE CLOSED IT PROPERLY AS IT ALSO HAS NOT LATCHED ON MANY OCCASIONS WHEN CLOSING IT. SOMETIMES IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, CLOSING IT FIRMLY. ONE THE MOST RECENT OCCASSION OF THE HATCH OPENING WHILE DRIVING OUR DOG WAS IN THE CA…

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ON MANY OCCASIONS THE REAR HATCH (ZXW WAGON) HAS OPENED ON ITS OWN. I'VE ALWAYS ASSUMED I MUST NOT HAVE CLOSED IT PROPERLY AS IT ALSO HAS NOT LATCHED ON MANY OCCASIONS WHEN CLOSING IT. SOMETIMES IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, CLOSING IT FIRMLY. ONE THE MOST RECENT OCCASSION OF THE HATCH OPENING WHILE DRIVING OUR DOG WAS IN THE CAR BAG CARGO AREA, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE MY ANGER AT THE LATCH. ANOTHER ISSUE HAS BEEN THE LICENCE PLATE LIGHTS NOT ILLUMINATING THE PLATE AT NIGHT, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN A STOP BY AN OFFICER. YESTERDAY, MAY 18TH 2017, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES ON MY DRIVE HOME, THEN WENT OFF. WHEN I GOT HOME I PUT A METER ON THE BATTERY WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND GOT 12.04-12.7 VOLTS. WHILE SEARCHING YOUTUBE FOR SOME HOW-TO ALTERNATOR VIDEOS I STUMBLED ACROSS A VIDEO THAT SPOKE OF THE WIRING IN THE HATCH AREA. I REMOVED THE BOOT AND SURE ENOUGH, HALF OF THE WIRES HAD DAMAGED JACKETS AND A FEW WERE EXPOSED. I'VE MADE TEMPORARY REPAIRS AND AS NOW THE VOLTAGE READS 14.5 OR MORE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. ALSO, THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS ARE WORKING AGAIN. THIS REPAIR IS SURELY GOING TO BE TEMPORARY AT BEST AS I SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS FOR A REPAIR FACILITY TO DO THE WORK AND I HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES. I COULD NOT SELL THE CAR WITH CLEAR CONSCIENCE WITHOUT DISCLOSING MY DISCOVERY WHICH SURELY MEANS MOST PEOPLE ARENT GOING TO WANT IT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL FOR THIS, CONSIDERING IT COULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE MANY MALFUNCTIONS IN THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY AS WELL THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS, CARGO AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROADWAY. THIS LATCH POPPING ISSUE HAS HAPPENED IN PRETTY MUCH EVERY CONDITION.....MY DRIVEWAY, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THE HIGHWAY ETC.

NHTSA ODI #10990678

80,000 miles · May 12, 2017
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL AND UPSHIFTED/DOWNSHIFTED AT RANDOM. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE RPMS TO ALSO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10985461

121,000 miles · May 1, 2017
Electrical System

TAKATA RECALL CAR RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF BUT RADIO IS STILL ON AT STOP LIGHT. I PUT IT ON NUETRAL AND IT STARTS BACK UP NO PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10981638

210,000 miles · Apr 23, 2017
Unknown Or Other

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER FORK MALFUNCTION. TOOK TO MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. TURNED OUT THAT THE OEM/ORIGINAL SHIFTER FORK HAD BEEEN MADE OF PLASTIC AND BROKE DUE TO EQUIPMENT FATIGUE. WAS REPLACED WIT METAL OEM. REPLACEMENT SHIFTER FORK OBTAINED BY MECHANIC.

NHTSA ODI #10979961

50,000 miles · Mar 2, 2017
Latches/locks/linkages

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE O…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10958281

199,900 miles · Feb 22, 2017
Structure

2 DOOR HATCHBACK BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR HANDLES DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. THE HANDLE IS LOOSE LIKE IT ISN'T CATCHING ON ANYTHING. I HAVE TO LEAVE MY WINDOW ROLLED DOWN AND OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE INSIDE HANDLE. SOMETIMES THE INSIDE HANDLE HAS ISSUES. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE INSIDE HANDLE STOPS WORKING AND I NEED TO GET OUT I…

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2 DOOR HATCHBACK BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR HANDLES DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. THE HANDLE IS LOOSE LIKE IT ISN'T CATCHING ON ANYTHING. I HAVE TO LEAVE MY WINDOW ROLLED DOWN AND OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE INSIDE HANDLE. SOMETIMES THE INSIDE HANDLE HAS ISSUES. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE INSIDE HANDLE STOPS WORKING AND I NEED TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY? I TOOK IT THE DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FRO REPAIR. DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10956417

55,300 miles · Jan 24, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE IDLING AT A RED LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE F…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE IDLING AT A RED LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,300.

NHTSA ODI #10947443

18,500 miles · Dec 29, 2016
Service Brakes

THREE TIMES SINCE THE CAR'S PURCHASE IN LATE 2005 I HAVE EXPERIENCED A 'BRAKE FADE, SOFT PEDAL" ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN 3 TIMES TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP CROWN FORD IN REDDING, CA FOR THE PROBLEM AND WAS DISMISSED BY THE DEALER AS THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM! SINCE THEN THE WARRANTY HAS ENDED ON THE VEHICLE BUT THE …

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THREE TIMES SINCE THE CAR'S PURCHASE IN LATE 2005 I HAVE EXPERIENCED A 'BRAKE FADE, SOFT PEDAL" ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN 3 TIMES TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP CROWN FORD IN REDDING, CA FOR THE PROBLEM AND WAS DISMISSED BY THE DEALER AS THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM! SINCE THEN THE WARRANTY HAS ENDED ON THE VEHICLE BUT THE ISSUE REMAINS AND OCCURS A FEW TIMES EACH YEAR! EVERY TIME IS A SCARY SITUATION, I AM SURE ONE DAY THE VEHICLE WILL JUST NOT STOP!!! YOU PRESS THE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL FADES TO THE FLOOR, YOU HAVE TO LET UP ON THE PEDAL AND THEN PRESS IT A COUPLE TIMES TO PUMP UP PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE! WE HAD WAITED FOR A RECALL FROM FORD AND NOTHING! LAST NIGHT 12.27/2016 I SAW ON THE NEWS THAT A PROBE HAS BEEN OPENED FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT ON NEWER MODEL YEARS OF FORD AND MERCURY BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE FOCUS! FORD MOTOR CORP NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON THIS AND OPEN A FULL RECALL TO REPAIR THE ISSUE BEFORE MORE TRAGEDIES OCCUR!!! THE TIMES WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURS IS ALWAYS ON BUSY STREETS, AT SIGNALS OR STOP SIGNS.

NHTSA ODI #10938560

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.