Most common 2005 Ford Focus problems
Share of the 441 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Focus complaints by model year
Best Focus years: 2011, 2006, 2009. Years to avoid: 2012, 2014, 2013, 2016, 2017. Compare all years →
2005 Ford Focus recalls (1)
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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…
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2005 Ford Focus:
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
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…
What 2005 Ford Focus owners say
Electrical system all 113 →
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. …
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. …
Air bags all 51 →
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.
Alone in my car, driving on a 4 lane city street, I had slowed, almost at a full stop, to wait for the car in front of me to turn into the parking lot on our right. Meantime, car behind me hit the back of my car. She was ticketed. Said had looked away for a moment. Said she was doing 35mph. My airbag did not deploy. I can provide police and hospital records.
Locks & latches all 50 →
Tl* the contact's daughter owns a 2005 Ford Focus. While driving at an unknown speed, the rear passenger door opened on its own. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The driver was able to park on the side of the road and closed the rear passenger door. The contact was also informed by his daughter that both rear doors failed to open. The contact associated the failures with NHTSA campaign number: 05V030000 (latches/locks/linkages). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was informed of the failures. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the rear passenger side door would not latch or stay secured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the door latch was faulty. The vehicle was repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 05v3000 (locks/latches). The contact stated that the vehicle experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 68,000.
2005 Ford Focus engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 32 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 29 / 25 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Ford Focus a good car?
Based on 441 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Focus rates better than average: 60% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Focus at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Ford Focus?
The electrical system — 113 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition. Next are the air bags (51) and locks & latches (50).
How many recalls does the 2005 Ford Focus have?
There is 1 recall for the 2005 Ford Focus, the most recent from February 1, 2005 (latch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Focus?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2006 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2014, 2013, 2016 and 2017. See the full Ford Focus years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Ford Focus problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 41% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.