KnownCarProblems2005 Ford Focus Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 441 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Ford Focus, most often about the electrical (26% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles). It is 12th of 19 Focus model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2005 Ford Focus problems
Electrical
113 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring, alternator/generator/regulator, instrument cluster/panel.
Hatch wiring harness fatigued and developed broken wires in the bend area of the wiring harness causing a short circuit. This resulted in loss of stop lamp function & harness burning.
Excessive heat from taillight/brakelight bulb caused plastic housing to distort and brake lights fuse to burn out, causing loss of rear brake lights. Potential for rear end collision & wiring fire. After fuse was replaced, wiring smoldered until new fuse also burned out.
Air bags
51 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
I was involved in accident where I rear-ended an xterra SUV. I was traveling below the allowed speed limit of 35mph, due to water on the road from a previous rainfall. The front of my car went underneath the xterra. My airbag never deployed. Since that time and repair to my vehicle, I have taken the car to the rusty…
Daughter was hit on front driver side by somebody running a red light and pushing her car into a metal pole and embankment that bent the passenger front wheel and caused fluid to gush from underneath the car plus, not to mention that she is 6 months pregnant and airbags didn't deploy.
Doors and locks
50 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles. Parts named most often: doors, hood, trunk lid.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that all four of the doors would not open from the vehicle interior. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised him that he was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 05v030000…
My focuses rear passenger side door wouldn't lock and neither of the rear doors could lock automatically. This is a safety concern because if someone (small child) pulled the handle they could fall out. I also tried locking the child lock but then the door wouldn't close. I had to get this fixed at a local auto shop…
Transmission
47 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 53,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, clutch assembly, driveline.
The ignition key sticks in my 2005 Ford Focus. It cannot be removed from the ignition. Research on the internet reveals that this a common problem. It has to do with shifter cable that costs $650. Is it safe? I am not certain. I am not sure whether the shift is locking adequately. Why hasn't Ford recalled this problem?
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…
Speed control
45 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 73,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cables, cruise control.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. While at a traffic light she engaged the accelerator pedal and the vehicle failed to move, the accelerator pedal was stuck. She placed the vehicle in park and waited 5 to 8 minutes and the vehicle started normally. The failure had been intermittent for three months. The vehicle was…
Driving at high speeds the gas throttle sticks (app. 45-higher). The speed control also got stuck before. The car also has problems starting. In mornings and evenings, regardless of weather the car doesn't always start.
Body and structure
43 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 76,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
The rear doors of my Ford Focus have twice opened while driving due to a rusted out latch mechanism. The first occurrence was 9/30/07 and the second was 11/5/07. The second time there was a child in the backseat. The car is a 2005 model and only 2 years old. The latches were recalled on 2000-2005 models but apparently…
My focuses rear passenger side door wouldn't lock and neither of the rear doors could lock automatically. This is a safety concern because if someone (small child) pulled the handle they could fall out. I also tried locking the child lock but then the door wouldn't close. I had to get this fixed at a local auto shop…
Brakes
29 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 27,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
: the contact stated a grinding noise was coming from the driver's side front end. The dealership was unable to hear the noise while test driving the vehicle, but replaced the rotors and brake pads in an attempt to repair it. The trunk latch did open from the inside of the vehicle. Updated 05/30/06.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle hesitated to come to a stop. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle accelerated independently and would rev. The contact also stated that the tires were replaced on…
Engine
29 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
I own a 2005 Focus, 4 door, about 2 months ago I noticed a severe shaking in the car, at idol and while driving, took the car to get new brakes and the mechanic told me the motor mounts are broke, and ir would be at least $500 to fix, he also told me this is a common thing in the Focus that the mounts were defective.…
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while stopped, she would notice that her vehicle would bounce up and down. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who informed her that the engine mounts were defective and needed to be replaced immediately. The manufacturer was notified…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Ford Focus recalls
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Fleet vehicle recall completion audit
Summary
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
Questions about the 2005 Ford Focus
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Ford Focus?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (113 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles); air bags (51 complaints, typically around 55,000 miles); doors and locks (50 complaints, typically around 71,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Ford Focus have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 1, 2005 (doors and locks). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Ford Focus?
- It is 12th of 19 Focus model years by number of complaints, with 441 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.