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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
67,781 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Ford Focus body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2005 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #23

Sep 262019

Focus

  • 211,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #22

Nov 272017

Focus

  • 45,000 miles
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.

- Smitville, NJ, USA

problem #21

Oct 132017

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 146,629 miles
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. Updated 8/3/18

- Suffolk, VA, USA

problem #20

Feb 152017

Focus

  • 199,900 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Richmond, MO, USA

problem #19

Aug 282015

Focus

  • miles
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.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #18

Feb 022015

Focus

  • miles
Door lock on rear, passenger door won't lock

- Littleton, CO, USA

problem #17

Mar 012015

Focus

  • 9,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle pulled without warning. The contact was unable to open the front passenger and driver doors from outside the vehicle. The rear passenger door failed to open. The rear driver side door handle was slightly detached. The electrical warning light was illuminated. A certified mechanic stated that the tie rods and wheel well needed to be replaced, and the rack and pinion tightened. The tie rod and wheel well were replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 9,000.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #16

Mar 262015

Focus

  • 117,000 miles
The Ford zxw wagon's liftgate wiring harness had frayed inside the rubber housing at the junction where the gate pivots between the car body and liftgate. The wires shorted which caused the electric gate release to open at 70mph, while driving straight on a freeway. The liftgate rose up, opening the back of the cargo area to traffic. Luckily freeway speed winds kept it from completely opening, but when slowed to 30mph it went straight up. I'm lucky I had no children or animals in the back cargo area. And the fellow drivers on the road were lucky nothing shifted and fell out. The liftgate refused to latch after this point, making driving the car safely impossible. In researching the cause and repair, I noticed several forums where an identical problem with Ford's design was posted. The replacement bill at a Ford dealership was around $1,200, not including my time lost to research, repair, or finding alternative means of transportation for my business purposes. This is dangerous, potentially life threatening, and unfortunately, not fixed. The mechanics at Ford said the replacement part is the same as what was original. This will likely happen again.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #15

Mar 022015

Focus 4-cyl

  • 154,444 miles
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.

- Eden Prairie, MN, USA

problem #14

Oct 152013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 43,000 miles
2005 Ford Focus ZX3 tailgate will not latch causing door to fly open when I hit a bump.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #13

Oct 312014

Focus

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On the date of my accident, I was headed for work, I was traveling about 65 M.P.H when the car in front of me slammed on her brakes. I couldn't avoid the situation, I ran into the back of her.. my airbags did not deploy.

- Denham Springs, LA, USA

problem #12

Aug 192014

Focus

  • 119,000 miles
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.

- Toledo , OH, USA

problem #11

Jul 132014

Focus 4-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
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 Ford expense. Were can I get the part other than the dealer? thank-you

- Port Huron, MI, USA

problem #10

May 162008

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
Body paint started to peel off of my front drivers door, it has continued to peel on all the doors and currently is now peeling off of the trunk lid. I'm told that this is apparently a rock blister effect but I've owned many a vehicle and I have never seen this happen to any vehicle of mine before. This is a Ford problem not an owner problem. Of note, I've owned Ford vehicles since 2000 and currently own 2 Ford vehicles. None of my other vehicles have ever shown any indication of this horrible peeling. As well, my rear doors are always becoming stuck. Once again, I've been told to oil the components. This has been done over and over with no improvement.

- Winnipeg, MH, USA

problem #9

Dec 092013

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
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!!!

- Wheelersburg, OH, USA

problem #8

Jun 112008

Focus

  • 28,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the rear door was very hard to open due to corrosion. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 28,000. The current mileage was 138,000.

- Port Huron, MI, USA

problem #7

Apr 292013

Focus

  • 120,000 miles
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.

- Maysville, KY, USA

problem #6

Nov 012012

Focus

  • 82,000 miles
The rear door cannot lock either electronically or manually.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #5

Jul 012011

Focus 4-cyl

  • miles
I owed a Ford Focus 2005. My car was parked when it was hit from behind. I noticed water going in my trunk after it was worked on. The body shop that worked on it took it back in to see what the problem was. They said there's alot of water coming from around the rubber ring on gas tank. The area where you open the gas door. I didn't have this problem until the car was hit. The body shop told me it was a whole another issue it wasn't on their part. When it rains the trunk is soaked especially when there's a heavy rain. Also my car doors freeze and I can't get in them in cold weather. The door locks were replaced when Ford had the recalled. The car was bought in Indiana. I lived in Washington state at this time. Also water was coming in around the light panel on the trunk. When I open it water would fall inside the trunk.that would the part that has a black panel below trunk key area. The body shop was able to fix it with silicon. Am wondering what damage is being done to the car. Damages I can't see. I can hear a popping sound from the rear end of the car.

- Kent , WA, USA

problem #4

Dec 092007

Focus 4-cyl

  • 26,000 miles
Both rear doors are stuck closed and cannot be opened. Brought vehicle to Ford dealer to see if this repair was covered under the warranty for door latches. I was told that this vehicle was not covered. Ford quoted me a price of over $700 to replace the hardware inside of the door that had "oxidized". the passenger side rear door stopped opening a few years ago but this was not a major concern as I rarely have passengers in the rear of the vehicle. About a week ago the driver's side rear door stopped functioning for no apparent reason. It is interesting that the problem with this vehicle is almost identical to the recall that was issued for the door latches, yet it seems that there are many other Ford focuses that are not covered under the warranty based on VIN#. this could become a safety issue if the door were to open while the vehicle is in motion or if passengers were unable to exit the vehicle in an emergency situation (for example, an accident in which the front doors were damaged, there would be no exit from vehicle if both rear doors are stuck). I purchased this vehicle new in 2005 and the back doors were rarely used.

- Vernon, CT, USA

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