NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Structure complaints
43 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jul 11, 2014
Structure
BODY PAINT STARTED TO PEEL OFF OF MY FRONT DRIVERS DOOR, IT HAS CONTINUED TO PEEL ON ALL THE DOORS AND CURRENTLY IS NOW PEELING OFF OF THE TRUNK LID. I'M TOLD THAT THIS IS APPARENTLY A ROCK BLISTER EFFECT BUT I'VE OWNED MANY A VEHICLE AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN TO ANY VEHICLE OF MINE BEFORE. THIS IS A FORD PROBLEM NOT A…
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BODY PAINT STARTED TO PEEL OFF OF MY FRONT DRIVERS DOOR, IT HAS CONTINUED TO PEEL ON ALL THE DOORS AND CURRENTLY IS NOW PEELING OFF OF THE TRUNK LID. I'M TOLD THAT THIS IS APPARENTLY A ROCK BLISTER EFFECT BUT I'VE OWNED MANY A VEHICLE AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN TO ANY VEHICLE OF MINE BEFORE. THIS IS A FORD PROBLEM NOT AN OWNER PROBLEM. OF NOTE, I'VE OWNED FORD VEHICLES SINCE 2000 AND CURRENTLY OWN 2 FORD VEHICLES. NONE OF MY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE EVER SHOWN ANY INDICATION OF THIS HORRIBLE PEELING. AS WELL, MY REAR DOORS ARE ALWAYS BECOMING STUCK. ONCE AGAIN, I'VE BEEN TOLD TO OIL THE COMPONENTS. THIS HAS BEEN DONE OVER AND OVER WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10609906
60,000 miles · Jan 6, 2014
Power TrainStructureVehicle Speed Control
I PURCHASED THIS CAR WHEN IT WAS ONLY A YEAR OLD AND IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. FIRST, ALL THE DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. SECOND, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE I WAS GOING THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION. BUYER BEWARE, THIS CA…
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I PURCHASED THIS CAR WHEN IT WAS ONLY A YEAR OLD AND IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. FIRST, ALL THE DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. SECOND, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE I WAS GOING THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION. BUYER BEWARE, THIS CAR IS NOT ONLY JUNK BUT DANGEROUS!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10558618
28,000 miles · Aug 12, 2013
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOOR WAS VERY HARD TO OPEN DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
NHTSA ODI #10534815
120,000 miles · Apr 29, 2013
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED BECAUSE THE LATCHES WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED BECAUSE THE LATCHES WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA ODI #10509966
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2013
Structure
MY FORD FOCUS HAD A PROBLEM ONE YEAR AGO WHERE A SMALL PLASTIC PIECE SNAPPED INSIDE THE DOOR WHICH MADE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR INACCESSIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. A YEAR LATER, TODAY, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. SINCE THIS IS A 2 DOOR HATCHBACK MODEL, AND THE BACK HATCH KEY LOCK IS NOT WORKING, THERE IS NO WA…
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MY FORD FOCUS HAD A PROBLEM ONE YEAR AGO WHERE A SMALL PLASTIC PIECE SNAPPED INSIDE THE DOOR WHICH MADE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR INACCESSIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. A YEAR LATER, TODAY, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. SINCE THIS IS A 2 DOOR HATCHBACK MODEL, AND THE BACK HATCH KEY LOCK IS NOT WORKING, THERE IS NO WAY TO ENTER MY VEHICLE. THE PIECE THAT HAS BROKEN IS A SMALL WEDGE SHAPED PLASTIC COMPONENT, WHICH SEEMS POORLY MADE, AND NOW REQUIRES ME TO SPEND OVER 300.00 DOLLARS, AND I MUST WAIT 3 DAYS BEFORE THE CAR CAN EVEN BE INSPECTED. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE, BECAUSE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A PERSON WERE TO HAVE THEIR CHILD IN A CAR SEAT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY STEPPED OUT, AND REALIZED THEY COULD NOT ENTER. ALSO, WHAT IF SOMEONE WERE TO CONSIDER THEIR VEHICLE RELIABLE, RESPOND TO AN EMERGENCY, AND THEN REALIZE THAT THEY CANNOT ASSIST BECAUSE THEY NO LONGER HAVE ENTRY TO THEIR VEHICLE. BESIDES THE INCONVENIENCE THIS CAUSES, IT COULD INDIRECTLY OR DIRECTLY CAUSE HARM TO A PERSON. MANUFACTURERS NEED TO BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS COULD BE AN OBVIOUS TACTIC TO PROMOTE EXTRA BUSINESS AND PROFIT OF FORD SPONSORED COMPANIES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10503160
82,000 miles · Nov 26, 2012
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure
THE REAR DOOR CANNOT LOCK EITHER ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10486121
Mileage unknown · May 5, 2012
StructureCrash
I OWED A FORD FOCUS 2005. MY CAR WAS PARKED WHEN IT WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. I NOTICED WATER GOING IN MY TRUNK AFTER IT WAS WORKED ON. THE BODY SHOP THAT WORKED ON IT TOOK IT BACK IN TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY SAID THERE'S ALOT OF WATER COMING FROM AROUND THE RUBBER RING ON GAS TANK. THE AREA WHERE YOU OPEN THE GAS DOOR. I D…
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I OWED A FORD FOCUS 2005. MY CAR WAS PARKED WHEN IT WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. I NOTICED WATER GOING IN MY TRUNK AFTER IT WAS WORKED ON. THE BODY SHOP THAT WORKED ON IT TOOK IT BACK IN TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY SAID THERE'S ALOT OF WATER COMING FROM AROUND THE RUBBER RING ON GAS TANK. THE AREA WHERE YOU OPEN THE GAS DOOR. I DIDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM UNTIL THE CAR WAS HIT. THE BODY SHOP TOLD ME IT WAS A WHOLE ANOTHER ISSUE IT WASN'T ON THEIR PART. WHEN IT RAINS THE TRUNK IS SOAKED ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S A HEAVY RAIN. ALSO MY CAR DOORS FREEZE AND I CAN'T GET IN THEM IN COLD WEATHER. THE DOOR LOCKS WERE REPLACED WHEN FORD HAD THE RECALLED. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT IN INDIANA. I LIVED IN WASHINGTON STATE AT THIS TIME. ALSO WATER WAS COMING IN AROUND THE LIGHT PANEL ON THE TRUNK. WHEN I OPEN IT WATER WOULD FALL INSIDE THE TRUNK.THAT WOULD THE PART THAT HAS A BLACK PANEL BELOW TRUNK KEY AREA. THE BODY SHOP WAS ABLE TO FIX IT WITH SILICON. AM WONDERING WHAT DAMAGE IS BEING DONE TO THE CAR. DAMAGES I CAN'T SEE. I CAN HEAR A POPPING SOUND FROM THE REAR END OF THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10457577
26,000 miles · Apr 12, 2012
Structure
BOTH REAR DOORS ARE STUCK CLOSED AND CANNOT BE OPENED. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER TO SEE IF THIS REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY FOR DOOR LATCHES. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED. FORD QUOTED ME A PRICE OF OVER $700 TO REPLACE THE HARDWARE INSIDE OF THE DOOR THAT HAD "OXIDIZED". THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOO…
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BOTH REAR DOORS ARE STUCK CLOSED AND CANNOT BE OPENED. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER TO SEE IF THIS REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY FOR DOOR LATCHES. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED. FORD QUOTED ME A PRICE OF OVER $700 TO REPLACE THE HARDWARE INSIDE OF THE DOOR THAT HAD "OXIDIZED". THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR STOPPED OPENING A FEW YEARS AGO BUT THIS WAS NOT A MAJOR CONCERN AS I RARELY HAVE PASSENGERS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ABOUT A WEEK AGO THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED FOR THE DOOR LATCHES, YET IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER FORD FOCUSES THAT ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BASED ON VIN#. THIS COULD BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE DOOR WERE TO OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR IF PASSENGERS WERE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION (FOR EXAMPLE, AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE FRONT DOORS WERE DAMAGED, THERE WOULD BE NO EXIT FROM VEHICLE IF BOTH REAR DOORS ARE STUCK). I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2005 AND THE BACK DOORS WERE RARELY USED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10454929
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
Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2012
Structure
2005 FORD FOCUS ZX3, HATCHBACK. THE HATCH BACK BOUNCES OPEN ALL THE TIME WHEN I TRY TO CLOSE IT, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE IS BROKEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE TO GET IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND RELEASE THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. IF I FORGET TO USE THE UNLOCK WHEN I GET OUT OF THE CAR, I HAVE TO CLIMB IN THROUGH THE HATCHBACK…
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2005 FORD FOCUS ZX3, HATCHBACK. THE HATCH BACK BOUNCES OPEN ALL THE TIME WHEN I TRY TO CLOSE IT, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE IS BROKEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE TO GET IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND RELEASE THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. IF I FORGET TO USE THE UNLOCK WHEN I GET OUT OF THE CAR, I HAVE TO CLIMB IN THROUGH THE HATCHBACK AND OPEN THE BACK DOOR, THEN OPEN IT AND REACH UP AND UNLOCK THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, TO OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THERE IS ONLY ONE UNLOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, WHICH OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT HELP AT ALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10446755
Official recalls
1Feb 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.