There are 34 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2005 Ford Focusin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE FRONT DOOR HANDLES QUIT WORKING AND THERE'S NO WAY TO GET DOOR OPEN???? FRONT DOOR HANDLES QUIT WORKING. CANT GET IN MY CAR
ON THE 27TH OF NOV. 2017 WHILE PUTTING MY CAR INTO THE GARAGE THERE WAS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CRASHING INTO THE WALL PUSHING THE SHELVING INTO THE SPARE BEDROOM. I PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND EXITED THE GARAGE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, STILL TRYING TO BRAKE. HIT A TREE AT THE CURB PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE INSTEAD OF NEUTRAL THEN HEADED BACK TOWARD THE HOUSE WHILE STILL TRYING TO BRAKE, WAS ABLE TO SWERVE MISSING THE HOUSE, TURNED OFF THE KEY AND WOUND UP IN MY NEIGHBORS BACKYARD.
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
2 DOOR HATCHBACK BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR HANDLES DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. THE HANDLE IS LOOSE LIKE IT ISN'T CATCHING ON ANYTHING. I HAVE TO LEAVE MY WINDOW ROLLED DOWN AND OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE INSIDE HANDLE. SOMETIMES THE INSIDE HANDLE HAS ISSUES. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE INSIDE HANDLE STOPS WORKING AND I NEED TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY? I TOOK IT THE DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FRO REPAIR. DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH THIS CAR.
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY. I'VE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL PEOPLE AT FORD AND ALTHOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, THEY WILL NOT COVER THE EXPENSE OF A NEW DOOR LATCH FOR OLDER MODEL FOCUS. THE LATCH ON MY FOCUS HAS BEEN WORKING IMPROPERLY FOR THE PAST YEAR NOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES FAILED TO OPEN THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT COULD OPEN THE VEHICLE FROM THE INSIDE, BUT NOT THE OUTSIDE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CLAMPS AND HANDLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,086.
THE PAINT ON MY 2005 FORD FOCUS IS PEELING OFF IN SHEETS FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THIS IS TO YOUNG OF A CAR FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO. *TR
DOOR LOCK ON REAR, PASSENGER DOOR WON'T LOCK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOORS OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS DOOR, PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR DOOR EXTERIOR HANDLES WERE FRACTURED. THE FRACTURED DOOR HANDLES COULD ONLY OPEN THE DOORS USING THE HANDLES ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
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 AND IT COST $400. IT SEEMS LIKE FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS. *TR
THE FORD FOCUS FROM 2007/2001 HAS HAD LOTS OF DOOR LATCHES BRAKING AND THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, IN MY CASE FROM THE OUTSIDE. I KNOW FORD DEALERS SEEN A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS. THIS SHOULD BE A FIX AT FORDS EXPENSE. WERE CAN I GET THE PART OTHER THAN THE DEALER? THANK-YOU *TR
2005 FORD FOCUS ZX3 TAILGATE WILL NOT LATCH CAUSING DOOR TO FLY OPEN WHEN I HIT A BUMP. *TR
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.
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
THE REAR DOOR CANNOT LOCK EITHER ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY. *TR
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
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
BOTH REAR DOORS WONT STAY SHUT AND THE DRIVER DOOR WONT OPEN. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 34 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026