2005 Ford Focus

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Electrical system is the leading concern among 441 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 19 Focus model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 441

Of the 2005 reports, 43 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 41 people were injured.

Primary concernElectrical system113 reports · 26% of complaints
Owner complaints441Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship5 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Electrical system113
  2. Air bags51
  3. Latches/locks/linkages50
  4. Power train47
  5. Vehicle speed control45
  6. Structure43
  7. Service brakes30
  8. Suspension27

Recalls and investigations

  1. EquipmentFeb 24, 2012

    RIDE CONTROL, LLC (RIDE CONTROL) IS RECALLING CERTAIN READYMOUNT ASSEMBLIES, P/N 746641MT AND 746646MT, WITH CORRESPONDING AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER PART NUMBERS: GABRIEL G56944 AND GABRIEL G56945, AND PRIVATELY BRANDED PARTSMASTER WITH PART NUMBERS G68944 AND G68945. THE READYMOUNT ASSEMBLIES WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET SERVICE EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2000 THROUGH 2005 FORD FOCUS VEHICLES. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A NUT WITHOUT THE NECESSARY WASHER. THE ABSENCE OF THE WASHER CAN ALLOW THE READYMOUNT ASSEMBLY TO PULL APART THE TOP MOUNT.

    IF THE ASSEMBLY SEPARATES DURING INSTALLATION, IT COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE INSTALLER. IF THE ASSEMBLY SEPARATES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT COULD RESULT IN SECONDARY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

    RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL SET UP PROCEDURES TO INSPECT, REPAIR, AND/OR REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE OWNER. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-800-999-3903.

    Campaign 12E007000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Exterior lighting, headlightsAug 11, 2008

    K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

    WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

    K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

    Campaign 08E050000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Fuel system, gasolineJun 13, 2006

    CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.

    FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

    UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.

    Campaign 06E056000 on NHTSA.gov

  4. Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006

    CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

    PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

    Campaign 06E026000 on NHTSA.gov

  5. Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchFeb 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.

    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.

    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.

    Campaign 05V030000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: service brakes

30 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 2, 2006, crash

    I HAVE A 2005 FORD FOCUS ZX5 WITH 19,000 MILES ON IT THAT I PURCHASES ON 2-16-2006. I HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL 2-22-2006. MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND HIS GRANDMOTHER WAS IN THE CAR WITH HIM AN HE TRIED TO STOP AT A STOP LIGHT, WHEN HE HIT THE BRAKES THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. HE PUMPED THE BRAKES 3-4 TIMES AND THEN JAMMED ON THEM. WHEN HE JAMMED ON THEM THE CAR SLIP INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. WHEN OUR CAR STOPPED THE ENGINE WAS RACING. HE TURNED THE CAR OFF. WE TRIED TO START THE CAR A COUPLE OF OTHER TIMES AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT BUT THE MOTOR WOULD STILL RACE UNTIL THE POLICE OFFICER OPENED THE HOOD. THIS CAUSED FRONT END DAMAGE TO OUR FOCUS AND DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HE HIT. THE OTHER VEHICLE ALSO HAD A PERSONAL INJURY THAT WAS REPORTED LATER. THERE HAS BEEN NOT CORRECTIVE ACTION DONE TO THIS POINT. *NM

  2. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Nov 24, 2005, crash

    I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION NEAR MY HOME. THE STREET WAS WET, AND WHEN I DETERMINED THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP, I APPLIED FULL BRAKING. MY VEHICLE DOES HAVE ABS, BUT MY WHEELS FULLY LOCKED. I REAR ENDED A 1994 FULL SIZE CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH. MY CHIEF COMPLAINT IS THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THAT THE ABS BRAKING WAS ESSENTIALLY NON-EFFECTIVE. THIS ACCIDENT WAS MY FAULT, HOWEVER, I DID EXPECT THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON MY VEHICLE TO WORK. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING INSPECTED FOR REPAIR. *JB

  3. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Tires, Apr 22, 2005

    2005 FORD FOCUS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT AND THE TIRE TREAD ON THE FRONT TWO TIRES.*MR THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WHERE BAD. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER ALL FOCUS DISC BRAKES WEAR LIKE THAT, WITH GROOVES ON ROTORS AND PADS . CONSUMER'S SON WAS ON I-95 AND HAD TO STOP FAST AND TIRES GOT SOFT SPOTS AND FLATTEN OUT AND TREAD CAME APART. MANUFACTURER WOULDN'T WARRANTY THE 2 FRONT TIRES AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO BUY NEW ONES. *BF

  4. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 8, 2005

    I HAVE A BRAKE PROBLEM WITH MY 2005 FORD FOCUS THAT IS SIMILAR TO ALL FOCUS BUYERS AND IT BECOMING A SERIOUS PROBLEM PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BRAKE ISSUE.*AK

  5. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 7, 2005

    WHILE BRAKING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT/REAR BRAKES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK