IllustrationBULB MELTS HOUSING. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Focus years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
740–25K
6725–50K
7350–75K
5175–100K
50100–150K
29150K+
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 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 12 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO SLOW DOWN. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,0…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 12 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO SLOW DOWN. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN PULLING OUT CREATING A HAZARD FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR
CAR SURGES WHEN BRAKING USUALLY UNDER 5 TO 10 MPH. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WANT TO GEAR DOWN. ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING FAST. PROBLEM NOT CONSTANT. TALKED TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE. WHEN IT HAPPENS YOU HAVE STAND ON BRAKE OR PUT IN NEUTRAL TO STOP FORWARD SURGE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WA…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
CONSUMER WRITES TO DISCLOSE THE CORRECT VEHICLE IN WHICH SHE OWNS. *TGW
AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON AND OFF 90% OF THE TIME WHEN DRIVING CAR PURCHASED CAR JANUARY 2013 USED 33.000 MILES 4 MNTHS LATER (MAY 2013)DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND NOW STAY ON FOR WEEKS ON END AND THEN GOES OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A CURB. THE DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLV…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A CURB. THE DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN MARCH OF 2007. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 2/10/15*CN UPDATED 9/6/2017*CN
WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND BROKE DOWN. CAR TOWED TO GARAGE AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BATTERY. THE CAR RAN FINE FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK WHERE AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. AGAIN HAD IT TOWED TO THE GARAGE AND THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. A WEEK LATER THE CAR DID IT AGAIN AND AGAIN THE BATTERY W…
Read full complaint
WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND BROKE DOWN. CAR TOWED TO GARAGE AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BATTERY. THE CAR RAN FINE FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK WHERE AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. AGAIN HAD IT TOWED TO THE GARAGE AND THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. A WEEK LATER THE CAR DID IT AGAIN AND AGAIN THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. I TOOK THE CARD TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAD AN ELECTRICAL CHECK DONE AND THE ELECTRICAL TEST CAME BACK THAT THE BATTERY THAT WAS JUST PUT IT WAS LOW AND THE ALTERNATOR HAD TESTED FINE. CHANGED THE BATTERY AGAIN..YUP YOU GUESSED IT...IT DIED AGAIN. CHANGED THE BATTERY AGAIN AND THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN RUNNING FOR 2 WEEKS NOW. CALLED FORD'S HOME OFFICE AND FILED A COMPLAINT NOT THAT IT WILL DO ANYTHING. *TR
Official recalls
105V030000 · 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
1AQ10001 · 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.