Model year record

2005 Ford Focus recalls & problems

The 2005 Ford Focus has 5 safety recalls and 441 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (117 complaints).

Recalls5safety recalls

Complaints441filed by owners

Crashes · fires43 · 9reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths41 · 0reported in complaints

2005 Ford Focus in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

EquipmentFeb 24, 2012

Equipment

Recall 12E00700010,006 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

Exterior lightingAug 11, 2008

Headlights

Recall 08E0500001,921 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: 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."
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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.

Fuel system, gasolineJun 13, 2006

Fuel system, gasoline

Recall 06E05600058,640 vehicles

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

Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E02600061,944 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

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

Latches/locks/linkagesFeb 1, 2005

Doors › Latch

Recall 05V030000589,932 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2005 Ford Focus 2-DR. HB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2005 Ford Focus 4-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2005 Ford Focus NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

2005 Ford Focus NHTSA side pole crash test — NHTSA side pole crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Focus

26mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 32 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

Focus Station Wagon

26mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 32 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

Focus

25mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

Focus Station Wagon

25mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

Focus

23mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemIgnition; Ignition › Switch	117	0	6	2	69,900 mi
Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch; Hood › Latch	52	1	0	1	70,000 mi
Air bagsFrontal; Side/window	51	26	0	29	55,000 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission	49	3	0	3	54,000 mi
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal; Cables	45	3	0	1	73,000 mi
StructureBody; Body › Door	43	3	0	1	76,025 mi
SuspensionFront; Rear	27	3	0	2	39,171 mi
Exterior lightingHeadlights; Brake lights	20	0	3	0	75,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor	19	4	0	4	19,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	18	0	0	0	14,577 mi
SteeringColumn locking › Anti-theft device; Rack and pinion	18	3	0	4	60,133 mi
Unknown or other	18	0	0	0	57,300 mi

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Structure › Body
My rear passenger door latch is corroded. It is difficult to open, it sometimes fails to open. I have children under the age of 3 in the backseats of my car. I do not want the latch to fail and the door to open while in motion. It is available for inspection upon service. Problems started to appear within the last year and has persisted to the point of being very difficult to open. No warnings or messages prior, since it is a body issue. Has not been inspected by any professionals.
Jun 5, 2025
Air bagsCrash1 injury
In a rear end accident the airbags never deployed. The seat belt also didn't catch me and my chest hit the steering wheel. I pressed hard on the breaks but it didn't feel like it was slowing down. I now have a fractured sternum and cannot drive or work. I have filed insurance claims and been to the hospital. No one was in the car with me. There were no warning lights/signs before.
Oct 28, 2023
EngineFire
I was driving my car and the engine started on fire. It ruined the entire engine. It was not overheating. All my fluids were full. I don't know why it happened.
Sep 1, 2022
Electrical system
FUSE CONTINUED TO BLOW OUT CAUSING ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF LIGHTS FROM FRONT TO BACK TO TURN OFF UNTIL NEW FUSE REPLACED OLD. WAS CONNECTED TO CONTINUED LIFTING OF HATCHBACK ON WAGON MODEL. ELECTRICAL HARNESS WAS ARCING AND INSULATION FLAKING OFF AND WOULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE HAD NOT THE HARNESS BEEN REPLACED. THIS HAD BEEN ON AND OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS STARTING WITH BLOWING OUT THE BULBS THEN THE FUSE STARTED BLOWING OUT IN JAN 2021. MIDAS REPLACED HARNESS THIS MARCH. CAR IS A 2005 FOCUS WAGON,
Mar 5, 2021 · 170,590 miles
Engine
TL* 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 OF THE FAILURE AND BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,085.*DT CONSUMER STATED MECHANIC STATED ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB
Oct 24, 2020 · 53,085 miles
Suspension
MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THE FRAME BEING ALL RUSTED & FULL OF HOLES.
Jun 21, 2020
Engine
MOTOR MOUNTS ARE BAD AND MAKES THE ENGINE RATTLE AND VIBRATE TAIL LIGHT WILL NOT WORK I'VE CHANGED FUSE BULB AND SOCKETS STILL NOTHING AND DRIVER SEAT BELT GETS STUCK
Mar 13, 2020
Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED ABNORMALLY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BELL FORD LOCATED AT 2401 W BELL RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85023, WHERE SOME UNKNOW REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO BABBITT FORD LOCATED AT 11 N VERDE ST, FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86001, AND WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO BABBITT FORD WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE RING IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH NEED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…
Mar 15, 2015

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion AuditClosed
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…
AQ10001 · opened Nov 18, 2010 · closed Dec 28, 2015