NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Ford Focus. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. THIS TIME IT TOOK 25 MIN OF THE CAR RUNNING FOR IT TO MOVE. YOU CAN PUSH ON THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENS. *TR
I PURCHASED THIS CAR WHEN IT WAS ONLY A YEAR OLD AND IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. FIRST, ALL THE DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. SECOND, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE I WAS GOING THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION. BUYER BEWARE, THIS CAR IS NOT ONLY JUNK BUT DANGEROUS!!! *TR
THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING- THE BLOWN BULB INDICATION WAS NOTICED BY THE FAST FLASH SIGNAL ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR. WHEN GOING TO REPLACE THE BULB IT WAS FOUND THAT THE UPPER SOCKET FOR THE TURN SIGNAL SOCKET IS MELTED TO THE LENS COVER. THE LENS COVER SOCKET MOUNTING HOLE WAS DISTORTED BY HEAT. ONCE THE SOCKET WAS REMOVED THE BULB WAS FOUND NOT TO BE BLOWN. THE SOCKET HOUSING SHOWS INTERNAL SIGNS OF HEAT DAMAGE -COLOR CHANGE. THE BULB WAS IN POSITION IN THE SOCKET AND THE BULB BASE SHOWED NO SIGN OF MELTING AT THE BULB CONTACT POINTS. IT APPEARS THE HEAT WAS GENERATED IN THE SOCKET CONNECTION TO THE BULB BASE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINT OF A SIMILAR FINDING ON MULTIPLE YEARS OF THE FORD FOCUS THAT WERE EASILY FOUND WITH A INTERNET SEARCH- FORD FOCUS MELTED SOCKET. PURCHASING REPLACEMENT SOCKET FROM DEALER AS THIS IS A MAJOR PERSONAL SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED, ALL THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS SEIZED, AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
DRIVING ON ROUTE 209 APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AN HOUR. I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE DASH. IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE CAR OVER, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, REMOVED THE KEY, AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR. WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION THE STARTER BEGAN TURNING OVER. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY TOOLS TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY. THE STARTER TURNED OVER FOR ABOUT A MINUTE, THEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HEADLIGHTS, AND HORN ALL BEGAN ACTIVATING. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY MECHANIC FOR EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. AFTER ABOUT 4 MINUTES OF THE WIPERS HEAD LIGHTS AND HORN ALL ACTIVATING WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, SOMEONE STOPPED AND HAD SOME TOOLS UNHOOK THE BATTERY.MECHANIC SHOWED UP ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LATER, HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HIS SHOP, AND BEGAN SEARCHING FOR THE PROBLEM. AFTER REMOVING THE DASH PANELS HE SAYS THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH COST A SHORTWHICH MELTED ALL THE WIRES TOGETHERUNDER THE DASH AND GOING BACK TO THE TAIL LIGHTS.HE SAYS IT IS DUE TO THE SMALL WIRES THAT FORD USES AND THEY'RE HARNESSES AND THE WAY THEY TWIST THEM TOGETHER SO THEY WILL FIT INTO THE SMALL PLASTIC TUBE UNDER THE DASH. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND A RECALL TO ATTACH THIS PROBLEM TOO. HOWEVER I REALLY THINK FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE DAMAGES. I'M CONSIDERING THIS CAR A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
REFERRING TO CASE # [XXX]. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE SHORT WAS IN FACT THE SMALL BUNDLE OF WIRES GOING INTO THE LIFTGATE. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO ALL AFFECTED WIRES. INCLUDING INSTALLATION OF A BRAND NEW HEADLIGHT SWITCH FORD CERTIFIED. COST OF REPAIRS 2347 DOLLARS AND 97 CENTS.UPON READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE I'VE SEEN AT LEAST 40 OTHER CASES CAUSED BY THE SAME BUNDLE OF WIRES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND AS YOU CAN SEE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A VEHICLE TO BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE DRIVING. SOMETHING'S GOTTA BE DONE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
2005 FORD FOCUS ZX3 TAILGATE WILL NOT LATCH CAUSING DOOR TO FLY OPEN WHEN I HIT A BUMP. *TR
SINCE WE RECEIVED THE CAR, WE HAVE NOTICED INCONSISTENT ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION - BOTH IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT WAS A SIMPLE SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE GENTLY TO START COMING TO A FULL STOP BEHIND A FEW CARS. AS MY CAR TRIED TO SLOW DOWN, I NOTICED IT WAS FIGHTING TO SLOW DOWN. I PRESSED ON THE BREAK HARDER, BUT IT WASN'T GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR, THEN BACK ON THE BREAK, NO CHANGE. NOT KNOWING WHAT ELSE TO DO, I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE DID NOT STOP REVVING UP SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER WAITING A MINUTE, I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND OPERATED FINE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. *TR
AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND GOING OFF WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OTHER FORD FOCUS OWNERS (DIFFERENT YEARS) HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM. FORD SAID THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF A PROBLEM. HAVEN'T HAD IT FIXED. KEEP WATCHING FOR ANY RECALLS BUT HAVEN'T HAD ANY YET. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, HE ADJUSTED THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE AREA BENEATH THE SEAT BUT COULD NOT LOCATE A FAILURE. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000. UPDATED 08/27/13*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,600.... UPDATED 08/19/13 *BF THE SHIFTER WAS REPLACED ON JULY 30, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS, THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,000.
VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN PULLING OUT CREATING A HAZARD FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED UP TO 80 MPH. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REDUCE SPEED EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED NUMEROUS TIMES . THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY SLOWED DOWN WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE ENGINE WAS THEN TURNED OFF. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DISABLED THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS IN OPERATION, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS BECAME EXTREMELY DIM. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A FAULTY LIFTGATE WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000. UPDATED 08/15/13*LJ
AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON AND OFF 90% OF THE TIME WHEN DRIVING CAR PURCHASED CAR JANUARY 2013 USED 33.000 MILES 4 MNTHS LATER (MAY 2013)DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND NOW STAY ON FOR WEEKS ON END AND THEN GOES OFF. *TR
KEY STUCK IN IGNITION. THE COLUMN WAS NOT LOCKED. ON THE GEAR SHIFT THERE IS A PLASTIC SLEEVE. I PUT THE GEAR SHIFT IN PARK AND SLID MY HAND BELOW THE KNOB AND PULLED THE SLEEVE UP AND THE KEY COMES OUT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED ON THE REAR HATCH OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AND IT CAUSED THE GEAR SHIFT TO BECOME STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE WIRING HARNESS WAS TOO SHORT AND WHEN IT WAS STRETCHED THE WIRES CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED BECAUSE THE LATCHES WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
MY FORD FOCUS HAD A PROBLEM ONE YEAR AGO WHERE A SMALL PLASTIC PIECE SNAPPED INSIDE THE DOOR WHICH MADE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR INACCESSIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. A YEAR LATER, TODAY, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. SINCE THIS IS A 2 DOOR HATCHBACK MODEL, AND THE BACK HATCH KEY LOCK IS NOT WORKING, THERE IS NO WAY TO ENTER MY VEHICLE. THE PIECE THAT HAS BROKEN IS A SMALL WEDGE SHAPED PLASTIC COMPONENT, WHICH SEEMS POORLY MADE, AND NOW REQUIRES ME TO SPEND OVER 300.00 DOLLARS, AND I MUST WAIT 3 DAYS BEFORE THE CAR CAN EVEN BE INSPECTED. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE, BECAUSE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A PERSON WERE TO HAVE THEIR CHILD IN A CAR SEAT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY STEPPED OUT, AND REALIZED THEY COULD NOT ENTER. ALSO, WHAT IF SOMEONE WERE TO CONSIDER THEIR VEHICLE RELIABLE, RESPOND TO AN EMERGENCY, AND THEN REALIZE THAT THEY CANNOT ASSIST BECAUSE THEY NO LONGER HAVE ENTRY TO THEIR VEHICLE. BESIDES THE INCONVENIENCE THIS CAUSES, IT COULD INDIRECTLY OR DIRECTLY CAUSE HARM TO A PERSON. MANUFACTURERS NEED TO BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS COULD BE AN OBVIOUS TACTIC TO PROMOTE EXTRA BUSINESS AND PROFIT OF FORD SPONSORED COMPANIES. *TR
ALL I CAN SAY IS THIS CAR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. THE CAR STARTED THIS HARD STARTING ISSUE A WHILE AGO WHEN I CONTACTED FORD THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS NORMAL I HAD THE CAR FOR A FEW YEARS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS SOUND WHEN STARTING WILL COME FROM THE TRUNK AND TAKE AT LEAST 5 CRANKS TO START AND THIS IS NORMAL. AS OF THIS WEEK I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 ON MY WAY TO WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTING REVVING AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND I COULDN'T ACCELERATE ONCE OFF THE HIGHWAY THE CAR WORKED FINE. AFTER WORK ON MY WAY HOME THE SAME THING HAPPEN BUT WHILE I WAS ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP I WAS ABLE TO GET UP TO 35MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS IN NEUTRAL I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND. MY CAR ONLY HAS 94000 MILES ON IT AND IT NEEDS A TRANSMISSION. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2008 WITH 49,000. AND FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING MORE THAN A PROBLEM. I WILL NEVER OWN OR RECOMMEND A FORD TO ANYONE. *TR
I PURCHASED A USED 2005 FORD FOCUS ZXW WAGON. I LOVE THE VEHICLE, AS IT GETS GOOD MILEAGE, & HAS AMPLE SPACE, BUT I RAN INTO A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AS MY LEFT TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT ON ME. UPON TAKING OUT THE REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY, AND TRYING TO REPLACE THE LIGHT BULB, I HAD THE HARDEST TIME TAKING OUT THE LIGHT SOCKET OUT OF THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY TO CHANGE THE BULB. UPON FINALLY GETTING THE LIGHT SOCKET OUT, I FIND THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WHERE THE LIGHT SOCKET HOLDS THE BULB HAD MELTED, & DEFORMED THE HOLE OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. WHAT A TERRIBLE DESIGN! FROM THERE, I DECIDED TO TAKE OUT THE RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHT AND CHECK TO SEE IF THE RIGHT SIDE TAIL LENS IS TOAST TOO........SURE ENOUGH, THE RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD MELTED TOO, BUT LUCKY FOR ME IT STILL WORKS. FORD SHOULD HONOR A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, AS I'VE READ NUMEROUS FORUMS ABOUT THE TAIL LIGHTS MELTING ON THE FORD FOCUS WAGONS. *TR
THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT LOCK. THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK DOESN'T EVEN MAKE IT WORK. ALL OTHER DOORS WORK WITH THE REMOTE ENTRY KEY FOB AND ALARM ACTIVATES BUT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR REMAINS UNLOCKED. I CAN NOT EVEN LOCK IT MANUALLY. I FEAR MY GRANDCHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO SIMPLY OPEN THE DOOR AND EXIT THE CAR AND AM VERY CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY NOT TO MENTION THE POSSIBLITY OF SOMEONE ENTERING THE CAR TO DO HARM OR VANDELIZE THE VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT DISINTEGRATED LEAVING ONLY ONE PIECE OF A METAL SHARD IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
THE REAR DOOR CANNOT LOCK EITHER ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY. *TR
THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY NOR THE BUTTONS IN THE CAR. TURNING ON OR OFF THE CHILD LOCK FEATURE DOES NOT AFFECT IT. I CAN MANUALLY 'FORCE IT' EITHER WAY - BARELY - FOR NOW. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE SEVERAL YEARS AGO - WHERE IT WAS STUCK COMPLETELY UNLOCKED, AND YOU COULDN'T MANUALLY FORCE IT. IT WAS LIKE THAT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND THEN MYSTERIOUSLY FIXED ITSELF. I HAVE LOOKED UP THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS MAKE & MODEL APPEARS TO HAVE MANY CARS WITH THIS ISSUE YET FORD HAS NOT DONE A RECALL ON IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. TWO SCENARIOS ARE POSSIBLE HERE THAT ALARM ME: EITHER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL CAN NOT OPEN THE DOOR BECAUSE IT'S STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND CANNOT BE MOVED OR THE DOOR REMAINS UNLOCKED AND UNWANTED PERSONS GET IN OR THINGS IN THE CAR GET STOLEN BECAUSE THE LOCK IS STUCK UNLOCKED. COMMON SENSE WOULD SEEM TO ARGUE THAT THIS DESERVES TO BE FIXED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER, GIVEN THE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
THE SEAT BELT RECEPTACLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER BUCKET SEAT HAS FAILED. THE BELT CANNOT BE RESTRAINED. REPORTED TO FORD @ ELDER FORD, 777 JOHN R ROAD, TROY, MI 48083. SERVICE DIRECTOR [XXX] WOULD NOT REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT BECAUSE IT WAS "OUT OF WARRANTY". REPORTED INCIDENT TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE 800-3923673. CASE # [XXX]. SUPERVISOR "[XXX]" REITERATED THAT SAFETY DEFECT WOULD NOT BE COVERED VEHICLE OUT-OF-WARRANTY. THIS CITIZEN'S OPINION IS ALL SAFETY DEFECTS SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND AT MINIMUM CORRECTIVE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. I CRINGE AT THE THOUGHT THAT THERE ARE OTHER SEAT BELTS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE AND SOMEONE MAY GET HURT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
VEHICLE HAS INTERMITTENT DRIVEABILITY ISSUES. OCCASSIONALLY THE VEHICLE STALLS AND THE RADIO WILL COME ON BY ITSELF. ALSO, THERE IS A LOUD BANG COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM...UPDATED 07/22/13 *BF
MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2005 FORD FOCUS AND SHE WAS DRIVING A LITTLE OVER 10MPH AND HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND HER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DESTROYING THE WINDSHIELD AND DASH, WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED HER BRAKES LOCKED UP ALSO. FOUND OUT YESTERDAY THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY ON HER NECK AND HAS TO BE IN A NECK BRACE FOR AST LEAST 2 WEEKS AND HAS A CONCUSSION AND HAS TO MISS WORK. HER CAR IS AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN TOWN AND THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO RETRIEVE THE DATA AND VERIFY HOW FAST SHE WAS GOING AND THEY CALLED ME THIS MORNING AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT THE DATA IS UNRETRIEVABLE AND THAT THE CAR HAS A BENT SUBFRAME, BROKEN REAR END, DAMAGE TO THE TRANSFER CASE AND NUMEROUS OTHER ISSUES AND THAT THE DAMAGE IS AROUND $5500 SO THEY SAID IT WOULD PROBABLY BE CONSIDERED TOTALED BUT HAD TO TALK TO HER INSURANCE FIRST. THEY ARE TRYING TO SAY THAT SHE WAS GOING FASTER THAN SHE SAYS AND THAT SHE HIT SOMETHING HARD AND FAST, AND SHE WASN'T. GOING UNDER 20MPH SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THAT MUCH DAMAGE. SHE BOUGHT THE CAR USED UST A FEW MONTHS AGO AND SHE HAS BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR MULTIPLE REASONS AND THE CAR ALWAYS HAD A VIBRATING SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH IT AND AFTER SHE HIT THE POTHOLE IT JUST GOT LOUDER. THEY NEVER INSPECTED THAT CAR BEFORE THEY SOLD IT TO HER EITHER. *TR
REAR PASSENGER ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK FROZEN. DOOR WILL NOT LOCK MANUALLY OR ELECTRONICALLY. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED MALFUNCTION AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR CHILDREN AND THE DISABLED. FORD NEEDS TO BE NOTIFIED OF THIS SAFETY HAZARD SO THEY CAN INFORM OWNERS OF THIS ISSUE. *TR
BEGINNING LAST YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN I WAS DECELERATING AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR WOULD BEGIN TO VIBRATE AND THE STEERING WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, ASKED ME TO MAKE NOTE OF ROAD CONDITIONS, ETC. TIRES REPLACED SOMETIME IN THE PAST YEAR. ALIGNMENT PERFORMED WITHIN PAST TWO MONTHS. TIRES ARE WEARING IN DIAGONAL PAIRS ODDLY. BLEW FUSE WHICH OPERATED THE AUTOMATIC SAFETY LOCKS, CRUISE CONTROL AND THE LOCKING CONTROL ON TAKING THE CAR OUT OF PARK. CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD TO POP SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC OFF THE SHIFTER DECK AND STICK A SCREW DRIVER IN TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. WAS ALSO TOLD THIS COULD BE A BIG PROBLEM AND TO BRING IT IN. AFTER CHARGING ME $130.00 TO "DIAGNOSE" THE PROBLEM, THEY THEN CHARGED ME $10 TO REPLACE THE FUSE, COULD FIND NO REASON FOR IT TO HAVE BLOWN. THEN TOLD ME MY TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOO MANY DOLLARS LATER, I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP. TWO WEEKS LATER, FUSE BLEW AGAIN. TOOK TO INDEPENDENT GARAGE,$ 0.95 FOR THE FUSE AND $30 TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHY IT WAS BLOWING OUT, UNSUCCESSFULLY. THE SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END WAS GETTING WORSE AND I WAS DEBATING DEALERSHIP OR INDEPENDENT, DECISION WAS REMOVED FROM MY HANDS WHEN THE FRONT OF THE CAR BEGAN SWERVING TOWARD TRAFFIC IN RUSH HOUR AT 45MPH ON MONDAY NIGHT 6/24/13. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND I MANAGED TO WRENCH THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A CURB INSTEAD OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FRIEND BEHIND ME WITNESSED INCIDENT AND SAID THE CAR LOOKED LIKE IT JUMPED SIDEWAYS. BOTH RIGHT TIRES OFF RIMS, SHREDDED, UNKNOWN FURTHER DAMAGE AT THIS POINT AS THE SHOP HASN'T HAD A CHANCE TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT. MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS ALREADY CONSIDERING TOTALING THE CAR OUT. IT HAS 128000 MILES OR SO. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE SIDEWAYS WHIPLASH. NO AIRBAG DEPL. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE LOCALLY, MY CAR SHUT OFF AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE MAIN FLOW VALVE. I HAVE TO REPLACE IT, BUT THEN MY KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION. MY FRIEND WAS ABLE TO GET IT OUT. ON AUGUST 12, 2012, MY DRIVER SEAT MOVED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND CONTINUES TO SKIP ON A CERTAIN CLICK LATCH. INDECEMBER, I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC, CAUSE MY ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, BUT WE ARE UNSURE AS TO WHY IT KEEPS DOING THAT. EVERY NOW AND THEN I CAN SMELL SMOKING WIRES/ELECTRICAL WIRES BURNING. NOW MY LIGHTER IN THE CAR IS NOT WORKING, BUT I THINK THAT RUNS IN A FUSE...NOT SURE. ON APRIL 13TH, 2013. I RETURNED HOME FROM A WEDDING AND I AM UNABLE TO YET AGAIN, GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME TO CHECK TO FIND OUT IF OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND WHAT THEY DID. THEN MY FRIEND TOLD ME ABOUT THE MAJOR FORD RECALL. *TT
SECOND TIME THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL BEARING HAS GONE BAD IN 1 YEAR. TIRE FLEW OFF THE SECOND TIME. NOBODY WAS INJURED, BUT COULD'VE TURNED INTO A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. *JS
AFTER STARTING THE CAR WHEN IT HAS SET A FEW HOURS THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT IS FLASHES YELLOW, ODOMETER JUST SHOWS DASHES, AND SPEEDOMETER DOSENT WORK. CAR STILL OPERATES BUT SHIFTS GEARS HARD, WHEN IT REACHES THE SPEED FOR DOOR TO LOCK EVERYTHING STARTS WORKING. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE MGMT FUSE, AND HAVE HAD 3 ALTENATORS CHANGED OUT IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. ALSO I HAD A PROBLEM WITH KEY NOT COMING OUT OF IGNITION AND FOUND OUT THAT A PEICE OF THE SHIFTER HAD BROKE OFF AND SLID DOWN AND KEPT IT FROM GOING ALL THE WAY INTO PARK, AFTER REMOVING PART I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE KEY. ALSO ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON WAS TOLD BY AUTO ZONE IT WAS VACCUM SYSTEM TOOK IT TO FORD PLACE THEY SAID IT WAS MOTOR MOUNTS, THEY WERE REPLACED 20,000 MILES AGO AND IT STILL HASNT HELPED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING INTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL LINE TO THE ENGINE HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WOULD SMELL GASOLINE FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE O-RINGS TO THE FUEL LINE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPAIRED THE DAMAGED FUEL LINE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE FUEL LEAK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,816.
THE PASSENGER BACK DOOR LOCK DOES NOT LOCK. THE ELECTRIC KEY BEEPS WHEN THE DOORS ARE LOCKED AND CONTINUES TO BEEP TELLING ME IT'S LOCKED BUT I GO TO IT AND IT OPENS ANYWAY. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE I HAD BEEN TRUSTING THE ELECTRIC KEY TO TELL ME IT WAS LOCKED. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED IT WAS WHEN ON 3/7/12 I HAD TO USE THE MANUAL KEY AND I WENT AROUND TO CHECK EACH DOOR. I THEN SAW THAT I COULDN'T LOCK IT MANUALLY. LATER OF COURSE I CHECKED IT WITH THE ELECTRICAL KEY AND FOUND OUT IT WASN'T LOCKING THOUGH IT WOULD BEEP TO TELL ME IT WAS. *TR
WENT TO PICK MY SON UP FROM SCHOOL. COULD NOT GET KEY OUT OF IGNITION. TOOK TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED. THAT WAS IN MARCH. GOT HOME TODAY (MAY) AND THE SAME PROBLEM. LUCKILY HAVE A DRIVEWAY BUT I AM ANNOYED AND NERVOUS ABOUT KEEPING THIS CAR. FEARFUL THAT THE KEY MAY GET STUCK AT AN INOPPORTUNE TIME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LOCK THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRONIC LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR AND LOCKING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 92,000.
2005 FORD FOCUS ZX3, HATCHBACK. THE HATCH BACK BOUNCES OPEN ALL THE TIME WHEN I TRY TO CLOSE IT, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE IS BROKEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE TO GET IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND RELEASE THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. IF I FORGET TO USE THE UNLOCK WHEN I GET OUT OF THE CAR, I HAVE TO CLIMB IN THROUGH THE HATCHBACK AND OPEN THE BACK DOOR, THEN OPEN IT AND REACH UP AND UNLOCK THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, TO OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THERE IS ONLY ONE UNLOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, WHICH OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT HELP AT ALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A SIGN POST. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 2005 FORD FOCUS ABOUT 1 1/2 AGO. RECENTLY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR INFORMATION AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY THE 2005 FORD FOCUS FROM A CERTAIN MANUFACTURING LOCATION. THE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT MY 2005 FOCUS WAS NOT MANUFACTURED FROM THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION. SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT IT WAS THE DOOR LATCH AND WOULD COST $271.44 TO REPAIR. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I'VE ATTACHED A COPY OF THE RECALL AND I'M VERY UPSET SINCE IT IS THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING YET IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I UNDERSTAND THAT VEHICLES NEED REPAIRS FROM TIME TO TIME BUT ITS TROUBLING TO ME THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT RESULTED IN A RECALL, BUT I'M OUT THE MONEY BECAUSE MINE WASN'T A PART OF IT. MY HUSBAND AND I OWN 2 FORD VEHICLES AND WILL BE IN THE MARKET FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE SOON AND DEBATING WHETHER OR NOT TO BUY ANOTHER FORD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 87,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY INCREASED IN ACCELERATION UP TO 90 MPH. THE CONTACT DROVE THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND REPEATEDLY APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG BURNING BRAKE ODOR. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND IT CAME TO A STOP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE STATED THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A CONDITION TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 12/22/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HER MECHANIC INFORMED HER THE PCV WAS BLOWING AIR IN THE A PLASTIC TUBE OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. UPDATED 01/27/12
THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS NOVEMBER 19,2011. I HAVE A FILE COMPLAINT ONLINE WITH NHTSA. THIS OCCURRENCE OCCURRED SATURDAY JANUARY 19,2013. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEEMS TO BE STUCK. I HAD BEEN DRIVING 30 MILES WITH NO PROBLEM. I HAD TO TAP IT TO GET IT TO RELEASE. I KEPT DRIVING AND HAD TO TAP IT AGAIN TO RELEASE. THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT MY FOOT BEING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND IT WAS MOVING TO 65 MPH. I WAS ON INTERSTATE 85 AND IT WAS MOVING TO 75 MPH. I WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT 85 MPH. I BRAKED HARD TO TURN TO MY JOB. I WAS COMING TO A STOP SIGN AND WAS STANDING ON BY BRAKES AND MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH MY HUSBAND HE YELLED TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. THE CAR STOPPED ABRUPTLY AND THE ENGINE REVVING. I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED MY CAR OFF. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I CAME CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT OR GETTING KILLED. I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF TALKING TO SOMEONE FROM FORD CORPORATION ABOUT MY TERRIFYING INCIDENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING UPWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 12/12/11*LJ UPDATED 12/23/11
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME LOCKED IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT ALLOW HER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
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. *TR
BOTH REAR DOORS WONT STAY SHUT AND THE DRIVER DOOR WONT OPEN. *TR