NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
441 reports191,000 miles · Nov 6, 2017
Electrical System
THROUGHOUT MY OWNERSHIP OF 2005 FORD FOCUS WAGON SES ZXW, I HAVE HAD PERIODIC ISSUES WITH THE REAR HATCH UNLATCHING ON ITS OWN. I WILL UNLATCH WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. SOMETIMES IT WILL UNLATCH WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALTHOUGH IT WILL UNLATCH UPON THE START OF A TRIP AT SLOW SPEEDS AS WELL, IT HAS MOSTLY OCCURRED O…
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THROUGHOUT MY OWNERSHIP OF 2005 FORD FOCUS WAGON SES ZXW, I HAVE HAD PERIODIC ISSUES WITH THE REAR HATCH UNLATCHING ON ITS OWN. I WILL UNLATCH WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. SOMETIMES IT WILL UNLATCH WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALTHOUGH IT WILL UNLATCH UPON THE START OF A TRIP AT SLOW SPEEDS AS WELL, IT HAS MOSTLY OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE 2007. THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR PERIODICALLY 3-7 TIMES EVERY 1-1.5 YEARS SINCE THE 2008-2009. THE PROBLEM DEFINITELY OCCURS UNDER A DAMP AND MORNING DEW CONDITION. IT'S LIKE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT HAS OCCURRED I MY VEHICLE. THE LATCH STOPPED WORKING IN 2009 VIA THE PUSH BUTTON IN THE DASH AND EVEN WITH MY REMOTE KEY. I CHECKED THE FUSE PANEL ... AND IT WAS NOT BLOWN. THIS CONDITION MOSTLY OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
NHTSA ODI #11043720
20 miles · Nov 4, 2017
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT, ON FARM TO MARKET ROAD 1960 (STATE HIGHWAY FM 1960) WHILE IN MOTION AND I PRESSED THE BRAKE. THE MOTOR REVVED UP AND WOULD NOT STOP. IT SEEMED LIKE THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK. I ASKED MY DAUGHTER TO REACH DOWN AND PULL THE GAS PEDAL UP. THIS DID NOT WORK THOUGH. THE LIGHT BY THE GRACE OF GOD TURNED GREEN.…
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I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT, ON FARM TO MARKET ROAD 1960 (STATE HIGHWAY FM 1960) WHILE IN MOTION AND I PRESSED THE BRAKE. THE MOTOR REVVED UP AND WOULD NOT STOP. IT SEEMED LIKE THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK. I ASKED MY DAUGHTER TO REACH DOWN AND PULL THE GAS PEDAL UP. THIS DID NOT WORK THOUGH. THE LIGHT BY THE GRACE OF GOD TURNED GREEN. I CONTINUED DRIVING FORWARD WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE FLOOR. I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND THE MOTOR ACCELERATED FASTER. I IMMEDIATELY STOMPED ON THE BRAKE AGAIN. I WAS ACCELERATING AT A FASTER SPEED. I QUICKLY LOOKED FOR A SAFE PLACE TO STOP SO I TURNED LEFT INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD AND GOT OUT OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. I THREW THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, IT REVVED UP OUT OF CONTROL AS IF IT WANTED TO EXPLODE. I THREW IT IN PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I TOWED MY CAR TO MY HOME. THE ISSUE IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. I WILL SEND MY CAR TO A MECHANIC ASAP.
NHTSA ODI #11043347
146,629 miles · Oct 30, 2017
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE HOOD INDEPENDENTLY OPENED AND CAUSED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE HOOD INDEPENDENTLY OPENED AND CAUSED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS 13408416. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 146,629. *BF UPDATED 8/3/18*JB
NHTSA ODI #11041049
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
32,500 miles · Aug 18, 2017
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DEALERS (SUBURBAN FORD, LOCATED AT 37000 HIGHWAY 26 SANDY, OR 97055, 503-688-5511 AND GRESHAM FORD LOCATED AT 1099 E POWELL BLVD GRESHAM, OR 97080,…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DEALERS (SUBURBAN FORD, LOCATED AT 37000 HIGHWAY 26 SANDY, OR 97055, 503-688-5511 AND GRESHAM FORD LOCATED AT 1099 E POWELL BLVD GRESHAM, OR 97080, 888-644-3418) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED DUE TO NO FAILURE CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,500... .UPDATED 10/04/17 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OCCURS AT ANY SPEED. UPDATED 10/17/2017*JS
NHTSA ODI #11016200
204,000 miles · Aug 18, 2017
Service BrakesCrash
WAS DRIVING AN 05 FORD FOCUS ZXW IN LIGHT RAIN AT ABOUT 40 MPH GOING UPHILL ON A MAJOR ROADWAY (55MPH SPEED LIMIT). VEHICLE IN FRONT BY ABOUT 40 FT STOPPED AND I HIT THE BRAKES. UPON HITTING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO START A GRADUAL SLIDE AND NEVER ALLOWED ITSELF TO REGAIN TRACTION.
NHTSA ODI #11016117
32,000 miles · Aug 5, 2017
Unknown Or Other
THIS FOCUS HAS BEEN SPEEDING UP, WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKES WILL NOT STOP IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 15 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SUBURBAN FORD, WHERE I PURCHASED IT, BRAND NEW. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT, ETC. I TELL THEM HOW FRIGHTENING THIS IS WHEN IT HAPPENS. I AM SO AFRAI…
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THIS FOCUS HAS BEEN SPEEDING UP, WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKES WILL NOT STOP IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 15 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SUBURBAN FORD, WHERE I PURCHASED IT, BRAND NEW. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT, ETC. I TELL THEM HOW FRIGHTENING THIS IS WHEN IT HAPPENS. I AM SO AFRAID I WILL HURT SOMEONE. THEY JUST LOOK AT ME LIKE I'M NUTS. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE TECHNICIANS DON'T HAVE A CODE FOR UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. HE SAID IF IT WERE HIM, HE WOULD GET A NEW ONE. WELL, I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW ONE, SO I'M STUCK WITH IT. I HAVE HAD THIS SPEEDING UP, (AND ROARING VERY LOUDLY). WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IN THE CITY, OR IN A PARKING LOT. IT ALMOST WENT FLYING THROUGH A PLATE GLASS WINDOW OF A STORE THERE ARE MANY ARTICLES ABOUT THIS ON THE COMPUTER. I PRINTED THEM OUT, AND TOOK THEM WITH ME TO THE DEALERSHIP. NO ONE WANTED TO SEE THEM. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I TOOK IT TO GRESHAM FORD, IN GRESHAM, ALSO. NO ONE CAN FIX IT, THEY LOOK AT ME LIKE I'M CRAZY, THEY DON'T CARE THAT THIS VEHICLE COULD HURT OR KILL SOMEONE. IT SCARES ME TO DRIVE IT. SO FAR, NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. OH,YES, IT ALSO DOES THIS WHEN IT IS STATIONARY.....THAT IS WHEN IT ROARS AS LOUD AS IT CAN. THIS CAR NEEDS A BRAKE OVERRIDE SYSTEM . THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS FORD MODELS, INCLUDING PICK UP TRUCKS, BETWEEN 2002 AND 2010 INVOLVED IN THIS PROBLEM. 14 STATES BACK EAST WERE INVOLVED IN A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST FORD FOR THIS. THE FACT THAT THESE PEOPLE OUT HERE (OREGON) KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT, CAN'T FIX IT BECAUSE "THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING', IS INFURIATING. THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T CARE THAT SOMEONE COULD GET KILLED IS HORRIBLE. THEY DON'T WANT TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, OR DO ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.
NHTSA ODI #11013018
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
105,000 miles · Jul 11, 2017
SteeringSuspension
THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A 5 LANE CITY ROAD CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FOLD UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CAR MADE AN IMMEDIATE LEFT TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOST. FORTUNATELY THE CAR CAME TO A STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING AND NO ONE WAS INJURED B…
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THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A 5 LANE CITY ROAD CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FOLD UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CAR MADE AN IMMEDIATE LEFT TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOST. FORTUNATELY THE CAR CAME TO A STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING AND NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS CERTAINLY THERE. THE CONTROL ARM FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM IS ALSO RUSTED THROUGH AND CRACKED AND NEARING FAILURE AS WELL. PICTURES ARE ATTACHED. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000 MILES ON IT AND WE ARE THE SECOND OWNER. IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE. IN MY 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING ON AUTOMOBILES I'VE NEVER SEEN A CONTROL ARM FAILURE LIKE THIS.
NHTSA ODI #11004236
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
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.