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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

Power Train complaints

47 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2020
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED ABNORMALLY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BELL FORD LOCATED AT 2401 W BELL RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85023, WHERE SOME UNKNOW REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED ABNORMALLY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BELL FORD LOCATED AT 2401 W BELL RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85023, WHERE SOME UNKNOW REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO BABBITT FORD LOCATED AT 11 N VERDE ST, FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86001, AND WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO BABBITT FORD WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE RING IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH NEED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11310346

54,000 miles · Jul 20, 2019
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

THIS CAR HAS DELAYED REACTION OR NO REACTION AT ALL TO PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. IT DOESN'T GO, IT'LL MOVE A LITTLE BIT, BUT MOSTLY JUST FEVS REALLY HIGH THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'LL KICK IN AND BOLT FORWARD, WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY OR FROM A COMPLETE STOP, DOESN'T MATTER. THE CAR LUNGES A LOT, FORWARD AND SIDEWAYS WHILE DRIVING AT…

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THIS CAR HAS DELAYED REACTION OR NO REACTION AT ALL TO PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. IT DOESN'T GO, IT'LL MOVE A LITTLE BIT, BUT MOSTLY JUST FEVS REALLY HIGH THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'LL KICK IN AND BOLT FORWARD, WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY OR FROM A COMPLETE STOP, DOESN'T MATTER. THE CAR LUNGES A LOT, FORWARD AND SIDEWAYS WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH OR FASTER. ACCELERATES SOMETIMES ON ITS OWN. THIS CAR IS VERY SCARY TO DRIVE AND HAS NO BUSINESS BEING ON A FREEWAY...EVER!

NHTSA ODI #11233592

116,000 miles · Sep 19, 2017
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD TOO MUCH OUTPUT AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ABLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN COLORADO WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN ARIZO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD TOO MUCH OUTPUT AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ABLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN COLORADO WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN ARIZONA WHERE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/02/17*LJ UPDATED 7/18/18*JB

NHTSA ODI #11024226

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2017
Electrical SystemPower Train

FIRST ISSUE: ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN STOPPING THE CAR, PARKING, AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE KEY, THE KEY HAS BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND CANNOT REMOVE IT--- SOMETIMES FOR A FEW DAYS, OTHER TIMES FOR A FEW WEEKS, AT WHICH TIME IT SIMPLY COMES OUT WHEN ATTEMPT IS MADE. SECOND ISSUE: GEARS OCCASIONALLY SLIP UPON ACCELERAT…

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FIRST ISSUE: ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN STOPPING THE CAR, PARKING, AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE KEY, THE KEY HAS BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND CANNOT REMOVE IT--- SOMETIMES FOR A FEW DAYS, OTHER TIMES FOR A FEW WEEKS, AT WHICH TIME IT SIMPLY COMES OUT WHEN ATTEMPT IS MADE. SECOND ISSUE: GEARS OCCASIONALLY SLIP UPON ACCELERATING, RESULTING IN FINALLY SLAMMING INTO GEAR.

NHTSA ODI #11011532

129,000 miles · Jul 10, 2017
Power Train

KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. UPON RESEARCH IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE FORD FOCUS. REMEDIES SUGGEST TO MOVE THE PIECE ON THE SHIFT UPWARD, HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT WORKING FOR MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11003985

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

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

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2015
Power Train

BOUGHT THE CAR FOR MY MOTHER IT HAD 91,000 MILES ON IT AND RAN FINE. IT NOW HAS 106,000 MILES ON IT AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED WITH A BROKEN INTERMEDIATE BAND, LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM AND FOUND LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AND AGAIN. IT WILL SHOW UP AS A SHIFT SOLENOID "D" PROBLEM BUT IF YOU FI…

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BOUGHT THE CAR FOR MY MOTHER IT HAD 91,000 MILES ON IT AND RAN FINE. IT NOW HAS 106,000 MILES ON IT AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED WITH A BROKEN INTERMEDIATE BAND, LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM AND FOUND LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AND AGAIN. IT WILL SHOW UP AS A SHIFT SOLENOID "D" PROBLEM BUT IF YOU FIX IT, IT WILL NOT HELP. THE BAND IS BROKEN AND MUST BE REPLACED. CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY FROM 2 - 4 GEAR.

NHTSA ODI #10810621

10,000 miles · Mar 8, 2015
Power Train

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

NHTSA ODI #10692811

77,000 miles · Jun 30, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFuel System, Gasoline

SO IDK EVERY [XXX] YEAR! FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS! IT GOES GOOD THEN SHE STARTS ACTING FUNNY BOOM BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. I USE THE VOLTMETER AND EVERYTHING'S FINE FULL CHARGE SAME WITH THE ALTERNATOR. A WEEK OR SO PASSED THEN THE STARTER WENT OUT REPLACED 7/3/13!! WTF! FRIED PUT A NEW ONE IN. NOW MY[XXX] CLUTCH FEELS DIFFERENT DO…

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SO IDK EVERY [XXX] YEAR! FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS! IT GOES GOOD THEN SHE STARTS ACTING FUNNY BOOM BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. I USE THE VOLTMETER AND EVERYTHING'S FINE FULL CHARGE SAME WITH THE ALTERNATOR. A WEEK OR SO PASSED THEN THE STARTER WENT OUT REPLACED 7/3/13!! WTF! FRIED PUT A NEW ONE IN. NOW MY[XXX] CLUTCH FEELS DIFFERENT DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S NOT SLIPPING BUT IT'S REALLY SMOOTH.2 DAYS GO BY AND BOOM ACTS LIKE THE BATTERY IS DEAD..NOPE TAKE KEY OUT GET VOLTMETER IT'S AT 12.5 SO I TRY AGAIN SEEMS OK DOESN'T TURN OVER. AGAIN TURN KEY ALL LIGHTS ON SEEMS OK NOTHING.... OK 1 MORE TURN KEY STRUGGLES LIKE STARTER THEN LIGHTS FLICKER DASH WACKS OUT BOOM DEAD NOTHING!!!!! GET OUT STILL 12.5VOLTS. I DON'T KNOW TRY 1 MORE TIME I PUMPED THE CLUTCH AD IT HESITATED TO TURN OVER AND BOOM IT WORKS!!!! GET HOME. TURN IT OFF ALL IS WELL ACTS LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG! 4 TO 6 DAYS AGAIN THIS TIME IT DID IT 2 HIM JUST DIFFERENT.HERE'S THE KICKER!!!!! IT'S FINE FULLY CHARGED ALL LIGHTS OK ALL VOLTS OK HE PULLS OUT ( HA HA PULLS OUT!) THEN SHE IDLES IRREGULARLY LIKE A LOOP HIGHER LOOP GET IT HOME AND KEEPS LOOPING. SO I REMEMBER THIS FROM LIKE 5 YRS AGO IT WAS SOMETHING WITH THE MAF OR ECG I BELIEVE SO I LOOK FOR ANSWERS.... NOW HE GOES OUT 4 HRS LATER NOTHING DEAD WON'T TURN OVER WON'T DO NOTHING!!!!! I HATE THIS CAR!!!!! I SWEAR I WILL FIND THE [XXX] PROBLEM TO THIS [XXX]!!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS [XXX] CAR! SHE WAS SO GOOD NOW SHE'S A LIL [XXX]! I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING STUPID AS [XXX] AND WATCH JUST LIKE LAST YEAR IN AUGUST THE [XXX[ CLUTCH IS GOING TO GO OUT AGAIN! I LOVED THIS CAR BUT FROM READING CONSTANTLY I'VE DECIDED THIS IS A SERIOUS FORD ISSUE!!!! I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS ON THIS! IF I DIDN'T HAVE LIFETIME WARRANTIES ON THE ALTERNATOR ETC I COULD ONLY IMAGINE THE COST!! THROUGH ALL THIS HORROR I'VE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE O2 SENSORS MAF SENSOR ALL ENGINE MOUNTS 3 TIMES!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606955

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.