Ford Focus Complaints (2005)

441 consumer complaints on file.

#10275526July 1, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE LEFT REAR DOOR ON MY 2005 FORD FOCUS DOES NOT LOCK. EVEN WHEN I LOCK THE CAR WITH THE REMOTE AND THE ALARM IS ARMED, THE RIGHT REAR DOOR WILL OPEN. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE SEARCHED ON THE WEB AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE '05 FOCUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275261June 29, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE KEYS WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE CAR IS NOT REGISTERING THAT IT IS IN PARK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274595June 22, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. WHENEVER SHE DRIVES HER VEHICLE, SHE HAS TO LOCK IT WITH ANOTHER KEY SINCE THE IGNITION KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED. THE FORD MANUFACTURER INFORMED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT SHE HAS NOT DONE SO AT THIS TIME. THE MANUFACTURER FURTHER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273014June 6, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION AFTER CAR WAS PARKED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272747June 3, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE LATCH AND DOOR HANDLE WERE FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 23,090.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269660May 21, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY KEYS ARE STUCK IN THE IGNITION OF MY 2005 FORD FOCUS. THIS JUST HAPPENED TODAY AND THEY ARE STILL IN THERE. I WILL HAVE TO LOCK MY CAR WITH THE KEYS IN IT AND PRAY NO ONE STEALS IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE AND WAS STUCK FOR 2-3 DAYS. THE KEYS OFTEN ACT LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO STICK, THEN, THANKFULLY THEY COME OUT. THIS IS SUCH A NUISANCE AND A RISK. I ASKED MY DEALERSHIP WOULD THE PROBLEM BE FIXED IF I HAD IT REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD THAT IT MIGHT STILL HAPPEN AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS. NOT SO GOOD NEWS SINCE, I AM SURE THIS WOULD NOT BE CHEAP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269322May 19, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REVIEW THE DESIGN WITH BRAKE VENDORS TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION WHICH COULD BE INCORPORATED INTO REPLACEMENT PADS. IF SLIGHTLY SHORTER PADS ARE THE ANSWER, THEY SHOULD INCLUDE ANTI-RATTLE MEASURES. ALSO, A SQUEALER SPRING SHOULD BE ADDED TO CONTACT THE BRAKE DISK WHEN THE PAD IS ALMOST GONE TO GIVE AN AUDIBLE WARNING TO THE DRIVER. THESE WORK WELL ON CHRYSLERS (I DON'T KNOW WHO MAKES THEM). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267724May 4, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A USED 2005 FORD FOCUS WITH EXACTLY 30,000 MILES ON IT, AROUND 40,000 I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP, FURTHER RESEARCH REVEALED MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THIS SAME THING BEFORE THEY EVEN REACH 60,000. SEEMS TO ME IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. EVEN AFTER BEING LOOKED AT I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY LOTS OF MONEY TO GET IT REPAIRED DUE TO THE WARRANTY ONLY BEING AT THE 40,000 MARK. WHICH THE DEALER NEVER TOLD ME THAT THE WARRANTY THEY OFFERED WAS VOID IF ORIGINAL FACTORY WARRANTY WAS STILL IN EFFECT. IN WHICH I ENDED UP ON THE SHORT END OF THE STICK BECAUSE THEIR WARRANTY THEY GIVE FOR THE USED CARS OUTLASTS WHAT I HAD REMAINING ON THE FACTORY WARRANTY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. SEVERE SLIPPING WHEN TRANSMISSION GOES TO SHIFT INTO THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267726May 4, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION INTERMITTENTLY. NOTHING I DO RELEASES IT. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO LEAVE IT IN MY CAR FOR DAYS BEFORE I COME OUT ONE OF THE MORNINGS AND IT JUST DECIDES TO LET ME HAVE MY KEY BACK. ON AND OFF EVER SINCE I HAVE GOTTEN THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267727May 4, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR FAILS TO START UNTIL I CRANK IT 3 OR 4 TIMES. SOMETIMES IT BEGINS TO START THEN SPUTTERS AND DIES. IT HAS BEEN AN EVERYDAY THING FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS NOW. IT HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY TIME I GO TO START MY CAR WITH A FEW TIMES IT STARTING RIGHT AWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267175April 28, 2009
SUSPENSION
I PURCHASED MY USED VEHICLE IN 06/08 AND IMMEDIATELY THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE TIRES. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY AGREED TO REPLACE "ONE BAD TIRE". IN ORDER TO KEEP ALL THE TIRES IN GOOD AND EQUAL CONDITION I PURCHASED THREE MORE. OVER THE PAST 10 MONTHS IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES FOR "ALIGNMENT ISSUES" AND TO A PRIVATE ALIGNMENT SHOP FOR THE SAME ISSUE. EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ONLINE HAS INDICATED THAT THERE IS A "KNOWN ISSUE" WITH THE FORD FOCUS THAT ALLOWS A "GENEROUS" SPREAD FOR ALIGNMENT SPECS. AS LONG AS IT CAN BE ALIGNED WITHIN FORD'S SPECS IT IS CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE, HOWEVER THE TIRES CONTINUE TO WEAR UNEVENLY CAUSING VIBRATION AND INCORRECT TREAD WEAR. I WAS TOLD BY FORD TODAY THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE "NUMBER IS" BUT THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO DO NOTHING UNTIL THAT "MAGIC NUMBER" IS REACHED. EVIDENTLY THEY HAVE ALSO ISSUED A "SILENT RECALL" THAT ALLOWS ONLY THOSE VEHICLES THAT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED TO THEIR "GENEROUS" SPECS TO BE REPAIRED. THIS IS NOT ONLY A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO TIRE WEAR BUT AFFECTS TRACKING IN SNOW AND WATER WHICH ALSO HEIGHTENS RISK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263708March 31, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE 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. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 65,000. UPDATED 4/23/09 *CN UPDATED 04/27/09.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10263171March 26, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KEY STUCK IN IGNITION STARTED CAR DROVE HOME. PARKED CAR. TURNED IT OFF. KEY STUCK. DISCONNECTED BATTERY. KEY CAME OUT. RECONNECTED BATTERY. REINSERTED KEY. KEY WOULDN'T TURN. CAR WOULDN'T START. LEFT OVERNIGHT. TRIED AGAIN. LEFT ALONE FOR A FEW MORE HOURS. RE INSERTED KEY. DEPRESSED BRAKE...MOVED CAR OUT OF PARK AND BACK INTO PARK. KEY THEN WORKED FINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259946February 25, 2009
AIR BAGS
I LOST CONTROL ON AN ICY ROAD AND HIT A COLVERT WHICH SENT THE CAR IN THE AIR AND SLAMMED BACK DOWN. THE CAR FINALLY HIT A BANK AND STOPPED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL POPPED OPEN BUT THE AIRBAG NEVER ACTUALLY DEPLOYED. FORTUNATELY, OTHER THAN PRETTY BAD NECK AND BACK PAIN I WALKED AWAY OK. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10259306February 19, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT RELEASE. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A DAMAGED KEY BUT WHEN IT HAPPENED ON A 2ND KEY THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED LOCK, AND AFTER A REPEAT OCCURRENCE RE-KEYED THE LOCK AND RE-CUT THE KEYS. NOW KEY IS STUCK AND WILL NOT RELEASE. MARYLAND LAW REQUIRES KEYS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257994February 8, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 FORD FOCUS STATION WAGON- LOSS OF TAIL LIGHTS, HIGH MOUNT STOP LIGHT, DASH LIGHTS, RUNNING LIGHTS DUE TO SHORT IN LIFTGATE WIRING. THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE LIFTGATE FATIGUES AT THE BEND AREA. WIRES BREAK, RESULTING IN A OPEN OR SHORT WHICH BLOWS FUSE. THE BLOWN FUSE RESULTS IN NO HIGH MOUNT STOP LIGHT, RUNNING LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS. IN ADDITION THE HEATED REAR DEFROST AND WINDSHIELD WIPER ALSO FAIL. THE HARNESS MUST BE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE WAS PART OF A RECALL IN 2000- NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V411000. MY CAR IS A 2005. THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED IN PRODUCTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257892February 4, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
2005 FORD FOCUS WAGON HAS A FAULTY LIFT GATE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LIFT GATE HAD SILENTLY FALLEN AND SHE WAS HIT IN THE FACE BY THE LIFT GATE. *NJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10256169January 24, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
WE PURCHASED OUR 2005 FORD FOCUS ZX4 SES BRAND NEW IN FEBRUARY 2005. SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR TIRES 5 TIMES, TWO OF THE 5 TIMES WE REPLACED THE WHOLE SET. THE ORIGINAL FACTORY TIRES ON THE REAR OF VEHICLE (YOKOHAMA 205/50/ZR16) WERE BALD AT 11,000 MILES. AT THAT TIME WE REPLACED THEM WITH 4 NEW YOKOHAMA TIRES. SIX MONTHS LATER, WE HAD TO BUY ANOTHER COMPLETE SET OF TIRES (MICHELIN/205/55/R16) BECAUSE THE TIRES IN THE REAR WERE CUPPING AND WEARING IN A DIAGONAL CROSS PATTERN. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FORD BOTH TIMES AND THEY DENIED THAT THERE WAS ANY FACTORY DEFECTS ON THE VEHICLE. FORD CLAIMED IT MUST BE AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE, WE PAID $79.99 FOR A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT, AND EVEN HAD THE FRONT END CHECKED, AS WELL AS SHOCKS AND STRUTS, AND FORD CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES 3 MORE TIMES, JUST LAST WEEK BUYING TWO NEW TIRES FOR THE REAR. WE REPLACED TIRES ON 7/13/2006 (16,463 MILES), THEN ON 7/6/2007 (25,926 MILES), THEN ON 1/16/2009 (43, 556 MILES). ALL OF THE TIRES PURCHASED HAD 80,000-85,000 MILE WARRANTIES ON THEM. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, AND CLEARLY OUR VEHICLE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE TO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. REFERENCE OIB-NHTSA, TSB #19064. FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX THE DEFECTS WITH THESE VEHICLES, AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMERS WHO PURCHASED THEM IN GOOD FAITH. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO INVEST $3,000 IN COSTS FOR TIRES IN 3.25 YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255209January 15, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
MY 2005 FORD FOCUS WHICH I BOUGHT NEW OFF THE DEALERSHIP NOW HAS 100000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, WHILE DRIVING, THE BACK END FISHTAILS BACK AND FORTH AS IF IT IS BEING HIT BY A STRONG WIND. AS SOON AS I TOLD A REPAIR SHOP THIS THEY IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD MANY OTHER FOCUS OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. THE REAR CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEED TO BE EVER CHANGED ON A VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT WHEN THEY ORDER A NEW ONE FROM FORD, THE NEW ONE SENT IS MUCH STRONGER AND BULKIER WHICH TELLS THEM THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. THE REPAIR BILL FOR THIS IS OVER $1200! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS YOU FEEL YOU ARE LOOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT ANY TIME. UPON HEARING THIS, I CONTACTED MY PARENTS WHO ALSO HAVE A FORD FOCUS AND THEY SAID THAT THOUGH THEY HAVE ONLY HALF THE NUMBER OF MILES ON THEIR VEHICLE IT IS ALSO A 2005 MODEL AND IT HAS STARTED TO DO THIS ALSO TO THEM BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK, IF IT WAS JUST BAD ROADS OR WHAT. VERY DANGEROUS AND FORD HAS NO RESPONSE TO MY QUESTIONS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253090December 29, 2008
SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WERE LOUD NOISES OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE SUSPENSION, REAR WHEEL BEARING; HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE AND ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 56,319. UPDATED 02/02/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/03/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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