Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
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).
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 and has persisted to the point of being very difficult to open. No warnings or messages prior, since it is a body issue. Has not been inspected by any professionals.
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.
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. …
Tl* 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.
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.
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.
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. Updated 8/3/18
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. 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.
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.
Body complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2005 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 43 complaints about the body & structure of the 2005 Ford Focus, 10% of the model year's 441 complaints. The component named most often is body (24 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Ford Focus body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure 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 body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to body & structure 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.