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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

Tires complaints

15 reports
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35 miles · Nov 3, 2016
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspensionTires

I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAD TO BUY A RE-FURBISHED MOTOR, THE TIRES WERE SPLITTING AND THE SUSPENSION AND AIR CONDITIONER ALL NEEDED REPAIRING. WHEN I RECEIVED THE RECALL FROM DOT, [XXX], I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED TALLAHASSEE FORD. THEY DENIED THERE WAS A RECALL AND I WAS MISTAKEN. MY VIN # WAS LISTED IN THE…

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I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAD TO BUY A RE-FURBISHED MOTOR, THE TIRES WERE SPLITTING AND THE SUSPENSION AND AIR CONDITIONER ALL NEEDED REPAIRING. WHEN I RECEIVED THE RECALL FROM DOT, [XXX], I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED TALLAHASSEE FORD. THEY DENIED THERE WAS A RECALL AND I WAS MISTAKEN. MY VIN # WAS LISTED IN THE RECALL. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES BUT FORD KEPT GIVING ME A RUN-AROUND AND THEY LIED. SO NOW, I HAVE APPARENTLY MISSED A DEADLINE WHICH WAS NOT LISTED ON THE ORIGINAL NOTICE TO ME. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN AND THIS HAS REALLY STRESSED ME OUT AND IT REALLY MAKES ME NOT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD FROM ANYONE. ON ETHICS ALONE, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THEM DO WHAT THEY BASICALLY REFUSED BY LYING TO ME. IT WAS IN MOTION AND WENT TO THE SHOP WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE NOTICE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10924031

157,000 miles · Aug 1, 2014
SuspensionTiresWheels

ALL 4 EAGLE GT TIRES THAT ARE ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD ARE WORN AND SCALLOPED DUE TO A KNOW PROBLEM TO FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ID: 10034585 JULY 10, 2010 AND SERVICE BULLETIN NO.: TB-21399 COMPONENT(S): TIRES NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10034585. OUR MECHANIC RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND SERVICE BULLETIN SEARCH FOR POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING IS…

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ALL 4 EAGLE GT TIRES THAT ARE ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD ARE WORN AND SCALLOPED DUE TO A KNOW PROBLEM TO FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ID: 10034585 JULY 10, 2010 AND SERVICE BULLETIN NO.: TB-21399 COMPONENT(S): TIRES NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10034585. OUR MECHANIC RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND SERVICE BULLETIN SEARCH FOR POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING ISSUES TO CAUSE THE TIRE WEAR. THE SOLUTION THAT FORD HAS COME UP WITH IT TO ADD 4 ADDITIONAL UPPER CONTROL ARMS AT $140 A PIECE PLUS LABOR. WHEN I SPOKE WITH FORD THEY INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS A KNOWN ONE BUT ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY ARE WAITING UNTIL PEOPLE ARE EITHER INJURED OR KILLED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ADVISED THEM THAT I WILL KEEP ALL RECEIPTS FOR NEW TIRES. THIS IS THE 4 SET OF TIRES IN 3 YEARS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I ADVISED THEM I WILL WAIT UNTIL THE TIRES ARE TOTALLY WORN AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND DAMAGE AND THEN LET MY INSURANCE CARRIER DEAL WITH THEIR FAULTY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10618111

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2010
Tires

GOODYEAR EAGLE GT TIRE SHOWS SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION AROUND PERIMETER OF TIRE WHERE SIDEWALL MEETS TREAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10361745

92,112 miles · Sep 4, 2009
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRES WAS B.F GOODRICH AND THE TIRE SIZE WAS P205/50/16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES HAVE EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR. AS A RESULT OF THE TIRE BLOW-OUT, THE TIRE FAILURE INCREASED THE RISK OF VEHICLE CRASH. SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTU…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRES WAS B.F GOODRICH AND THE TIRE SIZE WAS P205/50/16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES HAVE EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR. AS A RESULT OF THE TIRE BLOW-OUT, THE TIRE FAILURE INCREASED THE RISK OF VEHICLE CRASH. SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WILL ONLY ASSUME PARTIAL RESPONSIBILITY. SHE HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILED COMPONENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20,000.

NHTSA ODI #10282902

212 miles · Jul 9, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicTires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE REAR BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED SIX TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ELEVEN TIMES WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT PROVIDED ASSISTANCE. THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE REAR BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED SIX TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ELEVEN TIMES WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT PROVIDED ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,463 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212.

NHTSA ODI #10276233

66,000 miles · Dec 3, 2008
TiresCrash

MY FAMILY AND I WERE COMING UP FROM FLORIDA WHEN IT STARTED TO RAIN. I FELT THE CAR SLIPPING ON THE ROAD SO I MOVED OVER INTO THE FAR RIGHT HAND LAND. THE CAR SLIPPED AGAIN AND I HYDROPLANED AND CRASHED CAR ON NOV. 29TH DUE TO TIRES THAT WERE ONLY 6MONTHS OLD. I FELT THESE NEW TIRES HAD BEEN WORN SMOOTH AFTER ONLY 10,000 MILES O…

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MY FAMILY AND I WERE COMING UP FROM FLORIDA WHEN IT STARTED TO RAIN. I FELT THE CAR SLIPPING ON THE ROAD SO I MOVED OVER INTO THE FAR RIGHT HAND LAND. THE CAR SLIPPED AGAIN AND I HYDROPLANED AND CRASHED CAR ON NOV. 29TH DUE TO TIRES THAT WERE ONLY 6MONTHS OLD. I FELT THESE NEW TIRES HAD BEEN WORN SMOOTH AFTER ONLY 10,000 MILES OF USAGE WITH A CAR THAT HAD NO BRAKE OR ALIGNMENT ISSUES. THE TIRES WERE FULL OF AIR AT THE RIGHT PRESSURE AND I NOTICED NO TREAD ISSUES BEFORE LEAVING OUT OF TOWN. WHEN FILLING OUT THE POLICE REPORT, THE OFFICER WROTE ME A TICKET CLAIMING THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE TIRES. WE HAD TO STAY OVERNIGHT IN A HOTEL AND PURCHASED NEW TIRES THE NEXT DAY. I STILL RETAIN THE TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250576

26,000 miles · Apr 24, 2008
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES, SIZE P19560R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE STEEL BELT WAS VISIBLE. DUE TO THE LOW MILEAGE ON THE TIRES, THE FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. HE ALSO NOTICED WEAR ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES, SIZE P19560R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE STEEL BELT WAS VISIBLE. DUE TO THE LOW MILEAGE ON THE TIRES, THE FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. HE ALSO NOTICED WEAR ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GOODYEAR DEALER AND THEY REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES. RECENTLY, THE FRONT TIRES MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT TIRES IN DECEMBER OF 2007 WITH KUMHO TIRES. THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES SINCE THE REPLACEMENT. CURRENTLY, THE REAR TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000.

NHTSA ODI #10225574

22,400 miles · Mar 21, 2008
Tires

BOUGHT 2005 FOCUS ZX5 NEW. ORIG TIRES PIRELLI. LOST AIR CONSTANTLY. NO ONE WOULD HONR OR FIX. I HAD TO BUY NEW TIRES WITH ONLY 2,245 MILES ON THE CAR. GOODRICH 205/50-16 WHICH THE TIRE DEALER SAID IS MADE FOR FOCUS. THE FORD DEALER SAID THE TIRES WERE THE WRONG TIRE FOR FOCUS. NOW THE TIRES HAVE 24,000 MILES ON THEM AND THEY …

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BOUGHT 2005 FOCUS ZX5 NEW. ORIG TIRES PIRELLI. LOST AIR CONSTANTLY. NO ONE WOULD HONR OR FIX. I HAD TO BUY NEW TIRES WITH ONLY 2,245 MILES ON THE CAR. GOODRICH 205/50-16 WHICH THE TIRE DEALER SAID IS MADE FOR FOCUS. THE FORD DEALER SAID THE TIRES WERE THE WRONG TIRE FOR FOCUS. NOW THE TIRES HAVE 24,000 MILES ON THEM AND THEY ARE BALD. FORD DEALER DENIES HE TOLD ME TIRES WERE WRONG AND I AM NOW FACING HAVING TO BUY NEW TIRES AGAIN. DEALER WILL NOT HELP. TIRE DEALER SAYS "OH WELL" THE CAR DOES TERRIBLE ON WET & SNOW-ICY ROADS EVEN AT 15 TO 35 MILES AN HOUR. WHAT AM I TO DO? WHY IS FOCUS KNOWN FOR ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR PER TSB'S AND THE DEALERS WILL NOT HELP? THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, LAST TIME WAS 3/17/08. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10221993

63,659 miles · May 1, 2007
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WEAR BAR WAS EXPOSED ON EACH TIRE. THE MILEAGE WAS 44,244 WHEN THE NEW TIRES WERE PURCHASED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER AND BRAND WERE TOYO TIRES, THE DOT#CX3V862205 , AND THE SIZE WAS 205/15VR16. THE TIRES WERE 40,000 MILE TIRES, WHICH CAUSED TIRE FAILURE AT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WEAR BAR WAS EXPOSED ON EACH TIRE. THE MILEAGE WAS 44,244 WHEN THE NEW TIRES WERE PURCHASED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER AND BRAND WERE TOYO TIRES, THE DOT#CX3V862205 , AND THE SIZE WAS 205/15VR16. THE TIRES WERE 40,000 MILE TIRES, WHICH CAUSED TIRE FAILURE AT 19,415 MILES EARLIER. THE TIRE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND RECENT FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 63,659. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT EVERY 5,000 MILES THE WERE ROTATED TWICE BY FORD MOTOR CO AND TWICE BY HER HUSBAND. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATES SHE HAS A 90,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER STATES SHE WANTS TO REIMBURSED FOR A PORTION OF THE COST OF THE NEW TIRES. UPDATED 05/13/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10189408

19,785 miles · Feb 25, 2007
Tires

I RECENTLY HAD A TIRE FAILURE. I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO CALL IT AS THE ENTIRE MIDDLE SECTION OF RUBBER CAME COMPLETELY OFF. THERE WAS ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT (IF ANY) SIDEWALL LEFT (I HAVE PHOTOS). I TOOK IT TO A GOODYEAR DEALER WHO REPLACED IT AT A "PRORATED" RATE ALTHOUGH MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE WARRANTY WAS THAT IT WOULD BE COMPLETE…

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I RECENTLY HAD A TIRE FAILURE. I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO CALL IT AS THE ENTIRE MIDDLE SECTION OF RUBBER CAME COMPLETELY OFF. THERE WAS ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT (IF ANY) SIDEWALL LEFT (I HAVE PHOTOS). I TOOK IT TO A GOODYEAR DEALER WHO REPLACED IT AT A "PRORATED" RATE ALTHOUGH MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE WARRANTY WAS THAT IT WOULD BE COMPLETELY COVERED. I HAD IT REPLACED AND PAID THE $80.00. I ALSO CONTACTED GOODYEAR TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS THEIR POLICY AND THAT MY TRANSACTION WAS HANDLED CORRECTLY, I INCLUDED A PHOTO WITH MY CORRESPONDENCE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS THEIR POLICY AND THE DEALER HAD CONTACTED THEM ABOUT MY INCIDENT. THEY ALSO ASSURED ME THAT A TIRE SHOULD NOT DO THAT AND THEY ARE SORRY ABOUT IT. I AM FEELING THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS POSSIBILITY, IF IT HAD BEEN A FRONT TIRE I WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THE INCIDENT AS I WOULD HAVE LOST TOTAL CONTROL (GOODYEAR TIRE). *NM

NHTSA ODI #10183463

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.