Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
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.
Was driving an 05 Ford Focus zxw in light rain at about 40 MPH going uphill on a major roadway (55mph speed limit). Vehicle in front by about 40 ft stopped and I hit the brakes. Upon hitting the brakes the vehicle seemed to start a gradual slide and never allowed itself to regain traction.
Three times since the car's purchase in late 2005 I have experienced a 'brake fade, soft pedal" issue. The vehicle was taken 3 times to the local dealership crown Ford in redding, ca for the problem and was dismissed by the dealer as they could not reproduce the problem! Since then the warranty has ended on the vehicle but the issue remains and occurs a few times each year! Every time is a scary situation, I am sure one day the vehicle will just not stop!!! You press the pedal and the pedal fades to the floor, you have to let up on the pedal and then press it a couple times to pump up pressure to stop the vehicle! We had waited for a recall from Ford and nothing! Last night 12.27/2016 I saw on the news that a probe has been opened for this exact issue but on newer model years of Ford and Mercury but does not include Focus! …
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. …
I approached a red light, on farm to market road 1960 (state highway fm 1960) while in motion and I pressed the brake. The motor revved up and would not stop. It seemed like the gas pedal was stuck. I asked my daughter to reach down and pull the gas pedal up. This did not work though. The light by the grace of god turned green. I continued driving forward while holding the brake all the way down on the floor. I released the brake and the motor accelerated faster. I immediately stomped on the brake again. I was accelerating at a faster speed. I quickly looked for a safe place to stop so I turned left into a neighborhood and got out of heavy traffic. I threw the car in neutral, it revved up out of control as if it wanted to explode. I threw it in park and turned the engine off. I towed my car to my home. The issue is unknown at this time. I will send my car to a mechanic asap.
I have a 2005 Ford Focus zx5 with 19,000 miles on it that I purchases on 2-16-2006. I had not had any problems until 2-22-2006. My son was driving the car and his grandmother was in the car with him an he tried to stop at a stop light, when he hit the brakes the car did not slow down. He pumped the brakes 3-4 times and then jammed on them. When he jammed on them the car slip into the vehicle in front of him. When our car stopped the engine was racing. He turned the car off. We tried to start the car a couple of other times at the scene of the accident but the motor would still race until the police officer opened the hood. This caused front end damage to our Focus and damage to the vehicle he hit. The other vehicle also had a personal injury that was reported later. There has been not corrective action done to this point.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle accelerated without warning the brake pedal was applied, but failed to respond. The vehicle was taken to two dealers (suburban Ford, located at 37000 highway 26 sandy, or 97055, [phone] and gresham Ford located at 1099 e powell blvd gresham, or 97080, [phone]) where the vehicle was unable to be diagnosed due to no failure codes. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but did not assist. The failure mileage was 32,500... .updated 10/04/17 the consumer stated the failure occurs at any speed. Updated 10/17/2017
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus zx4. The contact stated while braking from unknown speeds in rainy weather, the brakes locked and she was unable to stop the vehicle. The contact was unable to maintain control of the vehicle and proceeded to crash into a fence and then collide with the curb. The contact was not injured. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure and current mileage was 54,000
The inner brake pads on the front axles are prone to binding due to rust. The clearances are very tight. This causes premature, uneven brake and rotor wear once the pad rusts up and stops floating. My pads just failed after 42K miles; yet the outer pads were over 1/4" thick. I propose a several-part remedy (first 3 to be done by servicing technician): 1. Examine the pads more frequently than the usual once a year required by typical safety inspections; pull the wheels and check for movement of the inboard pads. The pads May have to be retracted with a c clamp so they have room to move. 2. If the pads are frozen, remove brake disk and pads and remove rust on the sliding surface down to bare metal with a flat file, until pads slide freely. 3. Lubricate surfaces with molykote or similar anti-seize compound. 4. …
Brake complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2005 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the brakes of the 2005 Ford Focus, 7% of the model year's 441 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Ford Focus brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes 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 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 23,000 miles, and 52% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 10 injuries to brakes 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.