2005 Ford Focus problems and complaints

Owners have filed 441 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Ford Focus. The most-reported areas: Electrical System (113), Air Bags (51), Latches/Locks/Linkages (50).

Key takeaways

  • 441 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 43 involve a crash, 9 a fire, 41 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System11326%
Air Bags5112%
Latches/Locks/Linkages5011%
Power Train4711%
Vehicle Speed Control4510%
Structure4310%
Service Brakes307%
Suspension276%
Fuel System215%
Exterior Lighting205%
Unknown Or Other184%
Steering184%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2005 Ford Focus 2-DR. HBNot ratedNot ratedNot ratedNot rated
2005 Ford Focus 4-DR.Not ratedNot ratedNot ratedNot rated

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Structure - filed 2026-08-04

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...

Air Bags,seat Belts,service Brakes - filed 2023-11-02

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...

Engine - filed 2022-09-04

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.

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More for the 2005 Ford Focus

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.