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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

441 reports
210,000 miles · Sep 21, 2018
Air Bags

ESTN REVENTADAS LAS BOLSAS DE AIRE.

NHTSA ODI #11130682

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2018
Air BagsExterior LightingSeat Belts

BOUGHT A 2005 FORD FOCUS IN APRIL, 2018. TOLD SALES MAN THAT AIRBAG ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. WAS TOLD IS OK. ON 6/112018, CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE FORD COOPERATE SPOKE WITH A LADY. SHE ASK FOR VIN NUMBER, I GAVE IT TO HER. SHE SAID 2005 FOCUS HAS NO AIRBAG RECALL. I TOLD HER THAT AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. S…

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BOUGHT A 2005 FORD FOCUS IN APRIL, 2018. TOLD SALES MAN THAT AIRBAG ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. WAS TOLD IS OK. ON 6/112018, CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE FORD COOPERATE SPOKE WITH A LADY. SHE ASK FOR VIN NUMBER, I GAVE IT TO HER. SHE SAID 2005 FOCUS HAS NO AIRBAG RECALL. I TOLD HER THAT AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. SHE DIDN'T TAKE INTEREST ON THAT. I ASKED HER WHAT COMPANY MADE 2005 FORD FOCUS AIRBAG? SHE WOULD NOT TELL ME. I CALLED LOCAL FORD DEALER IN WESLEY CHAPEL FL. TOLD SERVICE TECH SAME THING THAT I TOLD COOPERATE OF ENGINE LIGHT AIRBAG ALWAYS STAYS ON. HE TOO SAID IS NOTHING. THAT VIN NUMBER IS NO RECALL. I ASKED HIM AS WELL WHICH COMPANY PUT AIRBAGS IN 2005 FOCUS, WAS IT TAHKATA? HE TOO WOULDN'T ANSWER ME. SO I EMAIL MR. W.FORD TO EXPLAIN ABOVE SITUATION WITH AIRBAG LIGHT AND WHO PLACED AIR BAGS IN 2005 FOCUS. HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HIM OR HIS OFFICE, EXPLAINED TO MR. FORD, THAT AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ALWAYS ON AND HIS DEALERS WANT TO CHARGE ME $200 TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ABSURD. WHEN THIS IS A NATIONAL SAFETY RECALL. THAT WE AS THEIR PAYING CUSTOMERS DESERVE AN ANSWER AND BETTER TREATMENT. CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME IF THIS IS A SAFETY VIOLATION? WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).? *PM

NHTSA ODI #11101652

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2018
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT THEN REPLACED A FUSE FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER 24 HOURS. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT THEN REPLACED A FUSE FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER 24 HOURS. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11081524

125,000 miles · Mar 23, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HATCHBACK WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN BODY AND HATCHBACK, HAS MULTIPLE WIRE INSULATION FAILURE AND WIRE BREAKAGE CAUSING FUSES TO BLOW AND NON-FUNCTIONING PARKING LIGHTS, REVERSE LIGHTS, BREAK LIGHTS, INSTRUMENT COLUMN LIGHTS, AND UNCONTROLLED RELEASE OF ELECTRICAL TRUNK WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11080996

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control

2005 FORD FOCUS ZX5 S. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CONCERNS WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION IF ANY INTO AN INVESTIGATION CONCERNING SPEED CONTROL. *JS

NHTSA ODI #11072629

79,000 miles · Feb 15, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System

THE CAR CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC HE SAID WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I TOOK IT FOR ASECOND OPINION THIS MECHANIC SAID WAS A MODULE FOR THE FUEL PUMP. HE ALSO A CAR SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I DID AM INTERNET SEARCH AND IT WAS TOO MANY CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE…

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THE CAR CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC HE SAID WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I TOOK IT FOR ASECOND OPINION THIS MECHANIC SAID WAS A MODULE FOR THE FUEL PUMP. HE ALSO A CAR SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I DID AM INTERNET SEARCH AND IT WAS TOO MANY CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. MY CAR CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11073028

185,970 miles · Dec 12, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control

I HAVE A STANDARD AND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55 MPH WHEN MY GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN BETWEEN SHIFTING. I TRIED TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL DOWN BUT IT WOULD NOT GO. I HAD TO LET MY CAR COAST OVER TO A TURNING LANE IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF COMING TRAFFIC. I PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON AND HAD TO LET MY C…

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I HAVE A STANDARD AND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55 MPH WHEN MY GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN BETWEEN SHIFTING. I TRIED TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL DOWN BUT IT WOULD NOT GO. I HAD TO LET MY CAR COAST OVER TO A TURNING LANE IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF COMING TRAFFIC. I PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON AND HAD TO LET MY CAR SIT. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I TRIED TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL DOWN AND IT STILL WOULD NOT WORK. I THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND THE GAS PEDAL STILL WOULD NOT MOVE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AGAIN AND RESTARTED IT AND LET THE CAR SIT AGAIN FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. THE PEDAL FINALLY WORKED BUT AS SOON AS I MADE IT TO THE NEXT INTERSECTION AND MADE MY TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT WHERE I WORK, THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK AGAIN. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND LET IT COAST INTO A PARKING SPOT.

NHTSA ODI #11054103

45,000 miles · Dec 10, 2017
StructureCrash

ON THE 27TH OF NOV. 2017 WHILE PUTTING MY CAR INTO THE GARAGE THERE WAS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CRASHING INTO THE WALL PUSHING THE SHELVING INTO THE SPARE BEDROOM. I PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND EXITED THE GARAGE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, STILL TRYING TO BRAKE. HIT A TREE AT THE CURB PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE INSTEAD OF NEUTRAL THEN HEADE…

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ON THE 27TH OF NOV. 2017 WHILE PUTTING MY CAR INTO THE GARAGE THERE WAS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CRASHING INTO THE WALL PUSHING THE SHELVING INTO THE SPARE BEDROOM. I PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND EXITED THE GARAGE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, STILL TRYING TO BRAKE. HIT A TREE AT THE CURB PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE INSTEAD OF NEUTRAL THEN HEADED BACK TOWARD THE HOUSE WHILE STILL TRYING TO BRAKE, WAS ABLE TO SWERVE MISSING THE HOUSE, TURNED OFF THE KEY AND WOUND UP IN MY NEIGHBORS BACKYARD.

NHTSA ODI #11053738

191,000 miles · Nov 6, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

IMMEDIATELY UPON STARTING MY CAR ... MY FUEL GAUGE WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF LIKE AS IF IT WAS LOW. I NOTICED THAT THE WEATHER WAS DAMP AND A FOG IN THE AIR. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS FLASHING WITH A HALF TANK OF GAS IN MY VEHICLE. UPON DRIVING OFF SLOWLY, MY REAR HATCH UNLATCHED AND MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS TURNED OFF. THIS OCCURRED 4-5 TIMES…

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IMMEDIATELY UPON STARTING MY CAR ... MY FUEL GAUGE WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF LIKE AS IF IT WAS LOW. I NOTICED THAT THE WEATHER WAS DAMP AND A FOG IN THE AIR. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS FLASHING WITH A HALF TANK OF GAS IN MY VEHICLE. UPON DRIVING OFF SLOWLY, MY REAR HATCH UNLATCHED AND MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS TURNED OFF. THIS OCCURRED 4-5 TIMES ... BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET MY TRUNK TO LATCH. ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY EVENTUALLY WITHOUT MY REAR HATCH UNLATCHING, MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE COMPLETELY OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11043745

153,000 miles · Nov 6, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING 35-40 MPH NEAR MIDWAY AIRPORT IN CHICAGO. I ATTEMPTED TO BREAK AND MY ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. I HAD TO CONSTANTLY PRESS THE BREAK TO ATTEMPT TO BRING MY CAR TO A STOP ... BUT THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK IN AN ACCELERATION MODE. I ATTEMPTED TO TAP THE GAS PEDAL AND DEPRESS IT ... WHILE KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT T…

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I WAS DRIVING 35-40 MPH NEAR MIDWAY AIRPORT IN CHICAGO. I ATTEMPTED TO BREAK AND MY ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. I HAD TO CONSTANTLY PRESS THE BREAK TO ATTEMPT TO BRING MY CAR TO A STOP ... BUT THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK IN AN ACCELERATION MODE. I ATTEMPTED TO TAP THE GAS PEDAL AND DEPRESS IT ... WHILE KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT THE GAS PEDAL WAS STILL STUCK. I HAD TO TURN MY CAR OFF FOR JUST TO STOP THE ACCELERATION AND RESTART MY VEHICLE TO GET OUT OF THE SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI #11043738

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.