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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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

50 reports
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131,770 miles · Aug 1, 2013
Latches/locks/linkages

A FEW MONTHS AGO MY PASSENGER DOOR LATCH HANDLE FAILED AND BROKE SO WAS OPENING IT FROM THE INSIDE. NOW MY DRIVER'S SIDE HANDLE/LATCH IS NOW BROKEN. I HAVE TO CRAWL THROUGH THE HATCHBACK TO OPEN THE DOORS. THESE HANDLES/LATCHES ARE VERY POORLY MADE AND WHAT HAPPENED IF I WAS IN A ACCIDENT AND THE DOOR/HANDLE FAILED AT THAT…

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A FEW MONTHS AGO MY PASSENGER DOOR LATCH HANDLE FAILED AND BROKE SO WAS OPENING IT FROM THE INSIDE. NOW MY DRIVER'S SIDE HANDLE/LATCH IS NOW BROKEN. I HAVE TO CRAWL THROUGH THE HATCHBACK TO OPEN THE DOORS. THESE HANDLES/LATCHES ARE VERY POORLY MADE AND WHAT HAPPENED IF I WAS IN A ACCIDENT AND THE DOOR/HANDLE FAILED AT THAT TIME WHERE THEY COULDN'T OPEN IT AND GET SOMEONE OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND NEEDS LOOKED INTO. I'VE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE IN YOUR DATABASE. THESE HANDLE SHOULD NOT GIVE OUT THIS EASY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533144

104,000 miles · Feb 20, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT LOCK. THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK DOESN'T EVEN MAKE IT WORK. ALL OTHER DOORS WORK WITH THE REMOTE ENTRY KEY FOB AND ALARM ACTIVATES BUT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR REMAINS UNLOCKED. I CAN NOT EVEN LOCK IT MANUALLY. I FEAR MY GRANDCHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO SIMPLY OPEN THE DOOR AND EXIT THE CAR AND AM …

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THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT LOCK. THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK DOESN'T EVEN MAKE IT WORK. ALL OTHER DOORS WORK WITH THE REMOTE ENTRY KEY FOB AND ALARM ACTIVATES BUT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR REMAINS UNLOCKED. I CAN NOT EVEN LOCK IT MANUALLY. I FEAR MY GRANDCHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO SIMPLY OPEN THE DOOR AND EXIT THE CAR AND AM VERY CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY NOT TO MENTION THE POSSIBLITY OF SOMEONE ENTERING THE CAR TO DO HARM OR VANDELIZE THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499423

205,000 miles · Dec 5, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOR FOCUS ZXW STATION WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AND THE SHIFT OVER RIDE BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED, THE KEY WOULD BECOME LOCKED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT GLUED THE SHI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FOR FOCUS ZXW STATION WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AND THE SHIFT OVER RIDE BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED, THE KEY WOULD BECOME LOCKED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT GLUED THE SHIFT OVER RIDE BUTTON IN PLACE AND CHANGED THE IGNITION, WHICH RESOLVED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE METAL FRAME OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BECAME CRACKED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PROP THE SEAT UP SO THAT HE COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000. UPDATED 02/20/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS POORLY DESIGNED. UPDATED 02/21/13 THE CONSUMER STATED THE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AFTER HAVING THE FLUID FLUSHED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WERE RIGID AND WERE EASY TO BREAK, THE REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS WERE NOT DESIGNED TO CARRY WEIGHT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BOUNCE ON THE HIGHWAY AND SECONDARY ROAD BUMPS. THE HEAT SHIELDS ATTACHED TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WERE DESIGNED POORLY, TO THE POINT THEY WERE BENT AND CAUSED A RATTLE. THE STEEL RIMS, BENT EASILY, WHICH CREATED A VIBRATION AND BALANCE PROBLEM. THE HEADLIGHTS LENSES WERE DISCOLORED, THE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKED OIL ONTO THE SPARK PLUGS, THE HOOD CABLES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE HOOD CABLE FROZE AND BROKE. UPDATED 07/25/13

NHTSA ODI #10487466

82,000 miles · Nov 26, 2012
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

THE REAR DOOR CANNOT LOCK EITHER ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10486121

135,500 miles · Sep 26, 2012
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY NOR THE BUTTONS IN THE CAR. TURNING ON OR OFF THE CHILD LOCK FEATURE DOES NOT AFFECT IT. I CAN MANUALLY 'FORCE IT' EITHER WAY - BARELY - FOR NOW. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE SEVERAL YEARS AGO - WHERE IT WAS STUCK COMPLETELY UNLOCKED, AND YOU COULDN'T MANUALL…

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THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY NOR THE BUTTONS IN THE CAR. TURNING ON OR OFF THE CHILD LOCK FEATURE DOES NOT AFFECT IT. I CAN MANUALLY 'FORCE IT' EITHER WAY - BARELY - FOR NOW. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE SEVERAL YEARS AGO - WHERE IT WAS STUCK COMPLETELY UNLOCKED, AND YOU COULDN'T MANUALLY FORCE IT. IT WAS LIKE THAT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND THEN MYSTERIOUSLY FIXED ITSELF. I HAVE LOOKED UP THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS MAKE & MODEL APPEARS TO HAVE MANY CARS WITH THIS ISSUE YET FORD HAS NOT DONE A RECALL ON IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. TWO SCENARIOS ARE POSSIBLE HERE THAT ALARM ME: EITHER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL CAN NOT OPEN THE DOOR BECAUSE IT'S STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND CANNOT BE MOVED OR THE DOOR REMAINS UNLOCKED AND UNWANTED PERSONS GET IN OR THINGS IN THE CAR GET STOLEN BECAUSE THE LOCK IS STUCK UNLOCKED. COMMON SENSE WOULD SEEM TO ARGUE THAT THIS DESERVES TO BE FIXED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER, GIVEN THE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10477215

102,927 miles · Jul 19, 2012
Latches/locks/linkages

REAR PASSENGER ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK FROZEN. DOOR WILL NOT LOCK MANUALLY OR ELECTRONICALLY. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED MALFUNCTION AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR CHILDREN AND THE DISABLED. FORD NEEDS TO BE NOTIFIED OF THIS SAFETY HAZARD SO THEY CAN INFORM OWNERS OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466548

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2012
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

THE PASSENGER BACK DOOR LOCK DOES NOT LOCK. THE ELECTRIC KEY BEEPS WHEN THE DOORS ARE LOCKED AND CONTINUES TO BEEP TELLING ME IT'S LOCKED BUT I GO TO IT AND IT OPENS ANYWAY. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE I HAD BEEN TRUSTING THE ELECTRIC KEY TO TELL ME IT WAS LOCKED. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED IT WAS WHEN ON 3/7/…

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THE PASSENGER BACK DOOR LOCK DOES NOT LOCK. THE ELECTRIC KEY BEEPS WHEN THE DOORS ARE LOCKED AND CONTINUES TO BEEP TELLING ME IT'S LOCKED BUT I GO TO IT AND IT OPENS ANYWAY. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE I HAD BEEN TRUSTING THE ELECTRIC KEY TO TELL ME IT WAS LOCKED. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED IT WAS WHEN ON 3/7/12 I HAD TO USE THE MANUAL KEY AND I WENT AROUND TO CHECK EACH DOOR. I THEN SAW THAT I COULDN'T LOCK IT MANUALLY. LATER OF COURSE I CHECKED IT WITH THE ELECTRICAL KEY AND FOUND OUT IT WASN'T LOCKING THOUGH IT WOULD BEEP TO TELL ME IT WAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10452635

60,541 miles · Dec 22, 2011
Latches/locks/linkages

I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 2005 FORD FOCUS ABOUT 1 1/2 AGO. RECENTLY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR INFORMATION AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT…

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I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 2005 FORD FOCUS ABOUT 1 1/2 AGO. RECENTLY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR INFORMATION AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY THE 2005 FORD FOCUS FROM A CERTAIN MANUFACTURING LOCATION. THE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT MY 2005 FOCUS WAS NOT MANUFACTURED FROM THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION. SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT IT WAS THE DOOR LATCH AND WOULD COST $271.44 TO REPAIR. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I'VE ATTACHED A COPY OF THE RECALL AND I'M VERY UPSET SINCE IT IS THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING YET IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I UNDERSTAND THAT VEHICLES NEED REPAIRS FROM TIME TO TIME BUT ITS TROUBLING TO ME THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT RESULTED IN A RECALL, BUT I'M OUT THE MONEY BECAUSE MINE WASN'T A PART OF IT. MY HUSBAND AND I OWN 2 FORD VEHICLES AND WILL BE IN THE MARKET FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE SOON AND DEBATING WHETHER OR NOT TO BUY ANOTHER FORD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10441043

80,000 miles · Aug 19, 2011
Latches/locks/linkages

THERE IS THIS PLASTIC SLEEVE ON THE BOTTOM OF MY SHIFTER THAT SLIPS DOWN. WHEN THAT PIECE IS DOWN I CANNOT RETRIEVE MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION AFTER I TURN THE CAR OFF. THE LOCK ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STOPPED WORKING WITH THE KEYFOB. IT WORKED MANUALLY UNTIL TODAY, NOW I HAVE TO ENTER AND LEAVE MY CAR THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE …

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THERE IS THIS PLASTIC SLEEVE ON THE BOTTOM OF MY SHIFTER THAT SLIPS DOWN. WHEN THAT PIECE IS DOWN I CANNOT RETRIEVE MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION AFTER I TURN THE CAR OFF. THE LOCK ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STOPPED WORKING WITH THE KEYFOB. IT WORKED MANUALLY UNTIL TODAY, NOW I HAVE TO ENTER AND LEAVE MY CAR THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE PANEL IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TAKE OFF WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. SO REPLACING THE PROBLEMATIC DEVICE IS IMPOSSIBLE. I CALLED FOR A LOCKSMITH. AFTER 2 HOURS OF TRYING TO OPEN THIS DOOR, HE GAVE UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10420092

75,000 miles · Aug 2, 2011
Latches/locks/linkages

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOOR WAS DIFFICULT TO OPEN. ALSO, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT REMAIN CLOSED UNLESS THE CHILD SAFETY FUNCTION WAS ACTIVATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 0…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOOR WAS DIFFICULT TO OPEN. ALSO, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT REMAIN CLOSED UNLESS THE CHILD SAFETY FUNCTION WAS ACTIVATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH). THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10416680

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.