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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

Air Bags complaints

51 reports
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126,050 miles · Jul 26, 2012
Air BagsInjury

MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2005 FORD FOCUS AND SHE WAS DRIVING A LITTLE OVER 10MPH AND HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND HER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DESTROYING THE WINDSHIELD AND DASH, WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED HER BRAKES LOCKED UP ALSO. FOUND OUT YESTERDAY THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY ON HER NECK AND HAS TO BE IN A NECK BRACE FOR AST LEAST 2 WE…

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MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2005 FORD FOCUS AND SHE WAS DRIVING A LITTLE OVER 10MPH AND HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND HER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DESTROYING THE WINDSHIELD AND DASH, WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED HER BRAKES LOCKED UP ALSO. FOUND OUT YESTERDAY THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY ON HER NECK AND HAS TO BE IN A NECK BRACE FOR AST LEAST 2 WEEKS AND HAS A CONCUSSION AND HAS TO MISS WORK. HER CAR IS AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN TOWN AND THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO RETRIEVE THE DATA AND VERIFY HOW FAST SHE WAS GOING AND THEY CALLED ME THIS MORNING AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT THE DATA IS UNRETRIEVABLE AND THAT THE CAR HAS A BENT SUBFRAME, BROKEN REAR END, DAMAGE TO THE TRANSFER CASE AND NUMEROUS OTHER ISSUES AND THAT THE DAMAGE IS AROUND $5500 SO THEY SAID IT WOULD PROBABLY BE CONSIDERED TOTALED BUT HAD TO TALK TO HER INSURANCE FIRST. THEY ARE TRYING TO SAY THAT SHE WAS GOING FASTER THAN SHE SAYS AND THAT SHE HIT SOMETHING HARD AND FAST, AND SHE WASN'T. GOING UNDER 20MPH SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THAT MUCH DAMAGE. SHE BOUGHT THE CAR USED UST A FEW MONTHS AGO AND SHE HAS BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR MULTIPLE REASONS AND THE CAR ALWAYS HAD A VIBRATING SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH IT AND AFTER SHE HIT THE POTHOLE IT JUST GOT LOUDER. THEY NEVER INSPECTED THAT CAR BEFORE THEY SOLD IT TO HER EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10467744

112,800 miles · Jun 22, 2012
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeatsInjury

ON 2/26/2011 AT APPROXIMATLY 1900 HRS. I WAS AT NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE IN LAS VEGAS NEVADA I HAD TO PULL OVER IN A SAFE AREA TO LOOK FOR MY ID AS I GOT OUT OF THE CAR WITH THE CAR IN PARK AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ON I PROCEEDED TO LIFT THE HANDLE IN FRONT OF THE SEAT THAT ALLOWES IT TO BE MOVED FORWARD SO I CAN LOOK UNDER THE SEAT FO…

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ON 2/26/2011 AT APPROXIMATLY 1900 HRS. I WAS AT NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE IN LAS VEGAS NEVADA I HAD TO PULL OVER IN A SAFE AREA TO LOOK FOR MY ID AS I GOT OUT OF THE CAR WITH THE CAR IN PARK AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ON I PROCEEDED TO LIFT THE HANDLE IN FRONT OF THE SEAT THAT ALLOWES IT TO BE MOVED FORWARD SO I CAN LOOK UNDER THE SEAT FOR MY ID,I COULDN'T SEE IT SO I PROCEEDED TO DO THE SAME WITH THE PASSANGER SEAT AND IT WASEN'T THERE SO AGAIN I WAS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND AGAIN PULLING UP THE HANDLE AND MY RIGHT SIDE OF MY FACE AND EAR WAS WITHIN AN INCH OF THE SIDE AIR BAG WHEN IT EXPLODEDAND NOCKED ME UP AGAINST THE DRIVERS DOOR FRAME AND THE AIRBAG POWDER WAS ALL OVER ME AND FOR 30 SECONDS I COULDN'T SEE OR HEAR. MY FACE WAS ON FIRE WITH ACID BURNS ALL OVER MY FACE AND MY RIGHT EAR. I WAS SEEN AT THE ER AND WAS TREATED WHICH INCLUDED A CAT SCAN OF MY HEAR TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY INTERNAL TRAMA AND THAT WAS NEGATIVE HOWEVER I HAD DEVELOPED TMJ BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT TO MY JAW AND MIGRAIN HEADACHES WHICH HAVE NOT SUBSIDED TO THIS DAY. ALL REPORTS AND PICTURES ID TAKEN WERE SENT THROUGH E-MAIL TO FORD CLAIMS DEPT. I WAS SENT THE PAPER WORK TO FILL OUT AND SEND IT BACK TO THEM,IN MARCH 2011 I HAVE TO GOT TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE CHIP RED AND IT COST TO HAVE THAT DONE WAS $103.48. IT STATES THAT THE DTC B1231 RESTRAINT SYSTEM WAS SUFFICIENT IMPACT TO WARRENT A DEPLOYMENT YET INDICATES THAT NO COLLISION OCCURED. SO THEN NOW THE MODUAL NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT BY THE DEALER WHICH I WENT TO FORD AND THEY REFUSED TO HELP, SO THAT EVENING WENT TO ANOTHER FORD AND THEY HELPED IT TOOK THEM JANUARY 2012 TO COORDINATE WITH FORD TO TAKE OUT THE MODGUAL, I JUST FOUND OUT A WEEK AGO JUNE 14TH. THAT BOSH IS JUST NOW TAKING A LOOK AT THAT PRODUCT THAT WAS SENT TO THEM IN JANUARY 2012.16 MONTHS LATER NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN DONE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN DO. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

NHTSA ODI #10462681

100,011 miles · May 25, 2011
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER CAR AT APROX. 45 MPH WHEN OTHER CAR MADE ILLEGAL TURN. AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI #10403469

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

80,300 miles · Dec 1, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury

AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY ON MY WIFE'S CAR 2005 FORD FOCUS ZX4 IN A HEAD ON COLLISION 25-30 MPH EACH VEHICLE. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY AREN'T INTERESTED IN INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10368520

25,000 miles · Nov 16, 2009
Air Bags

THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SOMETIMES ON FOR DAYS THEN OFF FOR A DAY, THEN BACK ON. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT MAY BE THE WIRES OR CONNECTORS THAT RUN UNDER THE SEATS. HE SAID"PEOPLE FEET CAN HIT THE WIRES, AND MOVING OF THE SEATS CAN DAMAGE THEM. SOUNDS LI…

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THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SOMETIMES ON FOR DAYS THEN OFF FOR A DAY, THEN BACK ON. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT MAY BE THE WIRES OR CONNECTORS THAT RUN UNDER THE SEATS. HE SAID"PEOPLE FEET CAN HIT THE WIRES, AND MOVING OF THE SEATS CAN DAMAGE THEM. SOUNDS LIKE A DESIGN PROBLEM TO ME. FOR A FEW $100 HE CAN TELL ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292396

47,000 miles · Oct 26, 2009
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrash

MY PARENTS WERE INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 10/22/09, THEY WERE TRAVELING 57 MILES PER HOUR, HIT A LADY THAT PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THEM, THEIR AIRBAGS NEVER WENT OFF, A DIRECT FRONT END HIT ON THEIR CAR (2005 FORD FOCUS) AND ALSO THE SEATBELTS BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10289822

65,000 miles · Mar 31, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR SHOULDER INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINAT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR SHOULDER INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND THE INDICATOR WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 35 MPH, A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT AND THE TWO VEHICLES T-BONED WITH EACH OTHER. AGAIN, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, AND MIDDLE TO UPPER BACK AREA. SHE ALSO HAD PAIN IN HER CHEST. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 65,000. UPDATED 4/23/09 *CN UPDATED 04/27/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10263708

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

I LOST CONTROL ON AN ICY ROAD AND HIT A COLVERT WHICH SENT THE CAR IN THE AIR AND SLAMMED BACK DOWN. THE CAR FINALLY HIT A BANK AND STOPPED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL POPPED OPEN BUT THE AIRBAG NEVER ACTUALLY DEPLOYED. FORTUNATELY, OTHER THAN PRETTY BAD NECK AND BACK PAIN I WALKED AWAY OK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10259946

86,700 miles · Dec 29, 2008
Air BagsInjury

I WAS DRIVING MY FORD 2005 FOCUS IN NEW YORK CITY AND MY DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING. THE WHOLE DRIVER'S SEAT AND DOOR TRIM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253132

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.