Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
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).
The car cuts off in the middle of driving. I took it to a mechanic he said was the fuel pump. I took it for asecond opinion this mechanic said was a module for the fuel pump. He also a car same make and model with the exact same problem. I did am internet search and it was too many cars with this same problem. There should be a recall. My car cut off in the middle of the highway.
Engine and fuel cap light came on dash. After replacing cap with a Ford gas cap and clearing the code at a Ford dealership the light came back on the next day. All attempts to clear the code with another gas cap at the Ford dealership resulted in the same results.
Takata recall fuel line too close to exhaut it causes vehicle to stop running wait 15 -20 minutes and it will start and you can go until it does it again it is fine in winter but warm weather it does it all the time have tried to have fixed but still does it
My car kept stalling in the middle of the road and at stop signs and where ever it felt like. This started at about 20,000 miles. Then just before it got to 36,000 miles it would stall when ever it became hot. As I was going up and down the mountain passes in washington, oregon and california it would just stop running every mile. It was very dangerous as I had cars behind me and truckers on all sides and the car would just quit at 65 MPH or what ever speed I was at. I had mad truckers and mad cars and trucks, but I didn't know what the problem was. When I limped home (780 miles) I got the car in to be checked and found that it was the fuel rail sensor. I called Ford and they refused to cover it under warranty. I was forced to pay for a faulty part out of my own pocket. Then last week I saw on the news that Toyota and another company had recalled their vehicles for the same exact part. …
All I can say is this car has been a problem. The car started this hard starting issue a while ago when I contacted Ford they told me this was normal I had the car for a few years and all of a sudden this sound when starting will come from the trunk and take at least 5 cranks to start and this is normal. As of this week I was driving on I-95 on my way to work at approximately 60 MPH. When all of a sudden my car starting revving as if it was in neutral and I couldn't accelerate once off the highway the car worked fine. After work on my way home the same thing happen but while I was on the entrance ramp I was able to get up to 35mph and all of a sudden it was in neutral I was almost hit from behind. My car only has 94000 miles on it and it needs a transmission. I bought this car in 2008 with 49,000. And for the past two years this car has been nothing more than a problem. …
Tl contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. While driving 2 MPH, the contact noticed fuel leaking from the vehicle. The dealer stated that the fuel filter erupted and caused fuel to spray out. The vehicle was repaired. Another dealer replaced the clips that kept the filter attached. The current and failure mileages were 27,320. The consumer stated she smelled a strong odor of gas from the vehicle and upon inspection found that gasoline was leaking from underneath. The consumer stated took the vehicle to the dealer who informed her the fuel filter was not seated correctly. The consumer took the vehicle to the previous dealer who informed her that they had installed the fuel filter correctly that it must have been faulty clips. The consumer was informed by the dealer she would be receiving a check for reimbursement but to no avail. Updated 10/11/07
We have a 2005 Ford Focus wagon with approximately 37,000 miles. We have had the car back to the dealer three times in the last month due to an idling problem that the dealer cannot remedy. The throttle sometimes sticks and the car accelerates uncontrollably on its own. At other times the car dies at idle. This is an extremely dangerous situation and the anecdotal evidence in several internet chat rooms indicates that our car is not the only one experiencing this situation. Apparently, Ford continues to deny there's a problem, but ignoring it only puts lives in danger.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the fuel line was leaking into the exhaust manifold. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for repairs and the dealer replaced the fuel line to the engine however, the repair did not remedy the issue. The contact would smell gasoline fuel inside the vehicle on a regular basis. The dealer then replaced the o-rings to the fuel line but to no avail. The vehicle was also taken to an independent mechanic, who repaired the damaged fuel line and was able to stop the fuel leak. The failure mileage was 58,816.
I bought this car brand new and it gets the worse gas mileage I have ever seen. I never get better than 25 mpg highway. I bought this car with the Ford dealer telling how great it was on gas. That I would average 32 mpg. I complained to my dealer when I bought it and they said I was averaging 31.7 mpg according to there computer. That is not true! Then they said it needs a break in time of 5000 miles. I have 15000 miles on the car and I drive on the highway every day. Many other Focus owners have complained but Ford ignores us.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that when fueling the vehicle, fuel would regurgitate onto the side of the vehicle and on the contact. The manufacturer was notified who stated there were no recalls for the failure. The vehicle was not taken for repairs of inspection. The failure mileage was 97,918. Updated 08-07-12 the consumer stated the incident occurred more than once and caused a puddle on the ground. Updated 08/08/2012
Fuel System complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2005 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2005 Ford Focus, 6% of the model year's 441 complaints. The component named most often is delivery (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Ford Focus fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system 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 fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 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.