2005 Ford Focus: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 599 complaints
599
Total Complaints
62,000mi
Median Mileage
Electrical System
Top Issue
60
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
28,000
25th Percentile
62,000
Median Mileage
100,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Electrical System
78
Vehicle Speed Control
40
Air Bags
39
Latches/Locks/Linkages
38
Power Train
25
Ignition
25
Body
23
Exterior Lighting
18
Unknown Or Other
18
Suspension
17
Severity Assessment
60
Crashes
11
Fires
63
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER WITH A DEFECTIVE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *MR THE BACK REST DID NOT LOCK, SO THE SEAT BELTS WERE INEFFECTIVE. *SC *JB"
"OWNER SAYS THAT THE SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY PUT IT ON THE LIFT TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY ROCKS OR STONES THAT MAY HAVE ACTIVATED THE AIR BAG SENSOR, BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB CONSUMER INJURED BY AIRBAG. *..."
"TRANSMISSION SLIPS & ERRATIC SHIFTS. *NM"
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Electrical System
78 complaints
25th: 60,000 mi
Median: 80,000 mi
75th: 121,000 mi
Vehicle Speed Control
40 complaints
25th: 47,626 mi
Median: 73,500 mi
75th: 128,000 mi
Air Bags
39 complaints
25th: 43,500 mi
Median: 72,000 mi
75th: 113,900 mi
Latches/Locks/Linkages
38 complaints
25th: 50,000 mi
Median: 72,000 mi
75th: 91,900 mi
Power Train
25 complaints
25th: 54,000 mi
Median: 77,000 mi
75th: 97,651 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 53
NY: 42
MI: 38
FL: 35
PA: 33
IL: 27
GA: 24
NC: 22
VA: 22
WA: 20
Who Files Complaints?
22%
Original Owners
78%
Second+ Owners
Ford Focus — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (5)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Equipment
Campaign 12E007000 | 24/02/2012
IF THE ASSEMBLY SEPARATES DURING INSTALLATION, IT COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE INSTALLER. IF THE ASSEMBLY SEPARATES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT COULD RESULT IN SECONDARY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL SET UP PROCEDURES TO INSPECT, REPAIR, AND/OR REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE OWNER. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-800-999-3903.
Latch
Campaign 05V030000 | 01/02/2005
IF NOT LATCHED PROPERLY, THE DOOR MAY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IF AN OCCUPANT FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE, PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
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. A LATCH THAT DOES NOT PASS THE EVALUATION WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A STICKER WILL BE AFFIXED TO
Headlights
Campaign 08E050000 | 11/08/2008
WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
Fuel System, Gasoline
Campaign 06E056000 | 13/06/2006
FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
Exterior Lighting
Campaign 06E026000 | 23/03/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Maintain Your Electrical System
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Clean battery terminals annually with baking soda and water
- Replace the battery every 3-5 years before it leaves you stranded
- Don't leave accessories running with the engine off
- Check for corroded ground connections if you have intermittent electrical issues
- Replace dim headlights promptly — they're a safety issue and a wiring symptom
Vehicle Rankings
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28