Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
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).
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.
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. The contact stated that the front passenger side door failed to lock electronically or manually. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the the front passenger side door latch assembly and cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 118,811.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the rear passenger side door failed to lock. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 05V030000 (latches/locks/linkages). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.
Both the front and back drivers side doors can be locked either electronically with the remote or manually by hand. The front drivers side door handle wont operate from the outside. It has been fixed twice already and now broken for a third time. This seems to be a widespread problems with the 02-08 Focus. A little googling will show just how often this happens.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 for Focus zxw station wagon. The contact stated that when the key was in the ignition and the shift over ride button was depressed, the key would become locked in the ignition. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the vehicle was operating as designed. The contact glued the shift over ride button in place and changed the ignition, which resolved the failure. The contact also stated the metal frame of the driver's seat became cracked. The contact had to prop the seat up so that he could drive the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted and a complaint was filed. The vehicle was not further repaired. The failure mileage was 205,000. Updated 02/20/13 the consumer stated the transmission was poorly designed. Updated 02/21/13 the consumer stated the experienced numerous problems with the transmission, after having the fluid flushed. …
I purchased a pre-owned 2005 Ford Focus about 1 1/2 ago. Recently, the driver's side passenger door would not lock automatically or manually. I searched the internet for information and discovered that there had been a recall on this problem. I called Ford and was told that my vehicle was not included in the recall because it was only the 2005 Ford Focus from a certain manufacturing location. The representative informed me that my 2005 Focus was not manufactured from that particular location. So I took it to my mechanic who stated that it was the door latch and would cost $271.44 to repair. I had no choice but to have it repaired. I've attached a copy of the recall and I'm very upset since it is the exact problem that I am having yet it's not included in the recall. …
The rear passenger door will not lock or unlock with the keyless entry nor the buttons in the car. Turning on or off the child lock feature does not affect it. I can manually 'force it' either way - barely - for now. This happened once before several years ago - where it was stuck completely unlocked, and you couldn't manually force it. It was like that for several months and then mysteriously fixed itself. I have looked up this particular problem online and have found that this make & model appears to have many cars with this issue yet Ford has not done a recall on it. This is a safety issue. Two scenarios are possible here that alarm me: either emergency personnel can not open the door because it's stuck in the locked position and cannot be moved or the door remains unlocked and unwanted persons get in or things in the car get stolen because the lock is stuck unlocked. …
My "engine light" has been "flashing" intermittently since the day I drove the car home brand new! This is a "misfire" code. It usually happens when under hard acceleration (like trying to pass a car)...you can just imagine the "safety concerns" involved , when 7 out of 10 times I to try to pass a car.....I get halfway by the vehicle...then my car "misfires"....loses all power....and I coast back into position "behind" the vehicle I tried to pass!..while I wait for the car to recover and start to run correctly again!....if I didn't lose my position!..which has happened!....my car has been "repaired" 4, going on 5 times for this same issue....each time I bring it to be fixed...it doesn't get fixed...or as I was told on my first complaint, and my second complaint (there's nothing wrong)....the light continues to flash.....my car has been sitting in my yard since January...after the last …
Related recalls
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.
Door Lock & Latch complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are door lock & latch problems on the 2005 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 50 complaints about the locks & latches of the 2005 Ford Focus, 11% of the model year's 441 complaints. The component named most often is doors › latch (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Ford Focus door lock & latch problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-030 (latch, Feb 1, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Ford Focus door lock & latch problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 72,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to locks & latches 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.