Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
We were driving down highway and rear ended by another car on rain slicked high way. Lost control of car and car flipped up in the air and came down upside down and no air bags came out whatsoever.
My sister owns a Ford Focus 2005, she had a minor accident during a trip to work. The car slide down a hill at less then 25 MPH in wed road. The car stop by crashin in to a rock in the side of the road saving her life from a clift. Recently we upgrade the suspension, tires and breaks to prevent it to happen. We took the car for a round trip in it we have a second accident. This time I was driving the car in a littel hill at 45 MPH in a zone of 50 MPH, at a half of km I change the gear because the road was wet to slow down the car but suddenly it start sliding over the wed road. Considering the time and, the maneuvers to take control of the car I start pumping the breaks and tried to pull the car out of the road but ot didnt change its direcction. At less then 8 meters the car got a littel of traction but it was to late to evade this accident. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. While stopped at an intersection, the vehicle shut off and lost all power without warning. The contact heard a clicking noise from the steering rack. The contact called roadside assistance; however, the vehicle restarted after the tow truck driver shook the battery a couple of times. The contact drove home. The failure recurred a few days later and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was a recall for NHTSA campaign number: 05V030000 (latches/locks/linkages). The manufacturer stated that there was no recall for the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA to file a complaint. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 150,000. …
Tl contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. While driving over 40 MPH, the vehicle crashed head on into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained minor shoulder injuries. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs. After the repairs were performed, the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated on the instrument panel. The dealer repaired the vehicle again and the indicator was no longer illuminated. On a separate occasion, while driving less than 35 MPH, a vehicle pulled out in front of the contact and the two vehicles t-boned with each other. Again, the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the head, neck, and middle to upper back area. She also had pain in her chest. She was transported to the hospital for further assistance. The dealer stated that the air bags should have deployed at the time of the crash. …
I was involved in accident where I rear-ended an xterra SUV. I was traveling below the allowed speed limit of 35mph, due to water on the road from a previous rainfall. The front of my car went underneath the xterra. My airbag never deployed. Since that time and repair to my vehicle, I have taken the car to the rusty eck Ford dealership where they stated they reset my airbag light. The airbag light has come on again for no apparent reason and has not turned itself off. I am very concerned that if I should be in a very serious accident, my airbag will not deploy. Also, I believe their May be a defect in the airbag system.
I was involved in a rear end collision near my home. The street was wet, and when I determined that I was not going to be able to stop, I applied full braking. My vehicle does have ABS, but my wheels fully locked. I rear ended a 1994 full size car at approximately 25 to 30 MPH. My chief complaint is that the air bag did not deploy, and that the ABS braking was essentially non-effective. This accident was my fault, however, I did expect the safety equipment on my vehicle to work. The vehicle is currently being inspected for repair.
My daughter was involved in an accident in our 2005 Ford Focus she hit someone in the rear and then was hit in the rear by another car. When the impact happened the seatbelt failed to tighten up to prevent her from flying around in the car she hit her ribcage on the steering wheel and then was forced back by the impact of the second car hitting her from behind. Also there was $6,000 worth of damages done to the vehicle and the air bag never deployed and almost all the damage was to the front of the car.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30mph, the vehicle was involved in a crash and the front air bags did not deploy. The contact's vehicle hit another vehicle in the side. The front end of the contact's vehicle was destroyed in the accident. The contact suffered minor injuries along with whiplash. The police were at the scene and provided a written report. The insurance company inspected the vehicle and deemed it totaled. There was additional property damage to the other vehicle.
Airbag complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2005 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Ford Focus, 12% of the model year's 441 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Ford Focus airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2005 Ford Focus, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Ford Focus airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 26 crashes, 0 fires and 29 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.