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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,974 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Ford Focus drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2005 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #25

Mar 152015

Focus

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle shuddered abnormally while attempting to move from a stopped position. The vehicle was taken to bell Ford located at 2401 w bell rd, phoenix, AZ 85023, where some unknow repairs were performed however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to babbitt Ford located at 11 N verde St, flagstaff, AZ 86001, and was repaired however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was returned to babbitt Ford where it was diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was a defective ring in the transmission which need to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Flagstaff, AZ, USA

problem #24

Jul 042019

Focus

  • 54,000 miles
This car has delayed reaction or no reaction at all to pressing the gas pedal. It doesn't go, it'll move a little bit, but mostly just fevs really high then all of a sudden it'll kick in and bolt forward, while driving on highway or from a complete stop, doesn't matter. The car lunges a lot, forward and sideways while driving at 60 mph or faster. Accelerates sometimes on its own. This car is very scary to drive and has no business being on a freeway...ever!

- Vacaville, CA, USA

problem #23

Jul 152014

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 116,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the engine had too much output and the transmission was not able to function properly and failed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer in Colorado where the transmission was rebuilt, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer in Arizona where the entire transmission was replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 11/02/17 updated 7/18/18

- Cambridge, MA, USA

problem #22

Jun 012017

Focus

  • 0 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

First issue: On several occasions, when stopping the car, parking, and attempting to remove the key, the key has become stuck in the ignition and cannot remove it--- sometimes for a few days, other times for a few weeks, at which time it simply comes out when attempt is made. Second issue: Gears occasionally slip upon accelerating, resulting in finally slamming into gear.

- Huntington, VT, USA

problem #21

Jun 172017

Focus

  • 129,000 miles
Key gets stuck in the ignition. Upon research it is obvious that this is an issue with the Ford Focus. Remedies suggest to move the piece on the shift upward, however, this is not working for my vehicle.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #20

May 062017

Focus

  • miles
Transmission started slipping at around 80,000 miles to the point where 2nd and 3rd gear were nearly non existent. When od light started blinking autozone told me that solenoids/transmission were shot. After replacing the solenoids as well as the transmission itself with an identical transmission from an identical vehicle, it is apparent that these transmissions are indeed faulty. It is still slipping and slamming into gear. Overdrive rarely functions properly and tends to shut itself off.

- Gillett, PA, USA

problem #19

Apr 052017

Focus

  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. While driving various speeds, the transmission shifted from drive into neutral and upshifted/downshifted at random. The failure caused the rpms to also malfunction. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- Greenville, SC, USA

problem #18

Dec 012015

Focus

  • miles
Bought the car for my mother it had 91,000 miles on it and ran fine. It now has 106,000 miles on it and the automatic transmission has failed with a broken intermediate band, looked up the problem and found lots of complaints about the same problem again and again. It will show up as a shift solenoid "D" problem but if you fix it, it will not help. The band is broken and must be replaced. Car would not shift smoothly from 2 - 4 gear.

- Mooresville, NC, USA

problem #17

Jun 062005

Focus 4-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
Car surges when braking usually under 5 to 10 mph. Transmission does not want to gear down. Especially when braking fast. Problem not constant. Talked to dealer several times, they said they could not recreate. When it happens you have stand on brake or put in neutral to stop forward surge.

- Mokena, IL, USA

problem #16

Jun 062011

Focus 4-cyl

  • 77,000 miles
So idk every [xxx] year! for the last few years! it goes good then she starts acting funny boom battery light comes on. I use the voltmeter and everything's fine full charge same with the alternator. A week or so passed then the starter went out replaced 7/3/13!! wtf! fried put a new one in. Now my[xxx] clutch feels different don't know what it's not slipping but it's really smooth.2 days go by and boom acts like the battery is dead..nope take key out get voltmeter it's at 12.5 so I try again seems ok doesn't turn over. Again turn key all lights on seems ok nothing.... ok 1 more turn key struggles like starter then lights flicker dash wacks out boom dead nothing!!!!! get out still 12.5volts. I don't know try 1 more time I pumped the clutch ad it hesitated to turn over and boom it works!!!! get home. Turn it off all is well acts like nothing is wrong! 4 to 6 days again this time it did it 2 him just different.here's the kicker!!!!! it's fine fully charged all lights ok all volts ok he pulls out ( ha ha pulls out!) then she idles irregularly like a loop higher loop get it home and keeps looping. So I remember this from like 5 yrs ago it was something with the maf or ecg I believe so I look for answers.... now he goes out 4 hrs later nothing dead won't turn over won't do nothing!!!!! I hate this car!!!!! I swear I will find the [xxx] problem to this [xxx]!!!!! I can't believe this [xxx] car! she was so good now she's a lil [xxx]! I know it's something stupid as [xxx] and watch just like last year in August the [xxx[ clutch is going to go out again! I loved this car but from reading constantly I've decided this is a serious Ford issue!!!! I have spent thousands on this! if I didn't have lifetime warranties on the alternator etc I could only imagine the cost!! through all this horror I've also had to replace O2 sensors maf sensor all engine mounts 3 times!!! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #15

Jun 012005

Focus 4-cyl

  • 5,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When braking coming up to stop light or stop sign usually under 15 mph transmission does not gear down and seems to surge. Happens randomly. You have to almost stand on brakes and shift to neutral. Surge may last approx 5 seconds. Varies depending on speed your braking from. In the beginning talked to Ford dealer and was told they could not duplicate. Had a Ford escort for my son in mid 80's and he experienced a similar problem. Vehicle now has approximately 72000 miles and seems to getting worse. I believe it's been an ongoing problems for years and not acknowledged. I would be very surprised if many others have not had the same experience.

- Mokena, IL, USA

problem #14

Dec 092013

Focus

  • 60,000 miles
I purchased this car when it was only a year old and it has been a nightmare. First, all the door handles broke off making it impossible to get in and out of the car. Second, the accelerator stuck almost causing an accident and now the transmission went out while I was going through a busy intersection. Buyer beware, this car is not only junk but dangerous!!!

- Wheelersburg, OH, USA

problem #13

Jul 162013

Focus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,600 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the key became stuck in the ignition. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the gear shifter would need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 83,600.... updated 08/19/13 the shifter was replaced on July 30, 2013

- Duncanville, AL, USA

problem #12

Jun 122012

Focus

  • 115,000 miles
Beginning last year, there have been multiple occasions when I was decelerating and the entire front end of the car would begin to vibrate and the steering would become difficult to handle. Took the car to an independent repair shop, they could not duplicate the problem, asked me to make note of road conditions, etc. Tires replaced sometime in the past year. Alignment performed within past two months. Tires are wearing in diagonal pairs oddly. Blew fuse which operated the automatic safety locks, cruise control and the locking control on taking the car out of park. Called Ford dealership, was told to pop small piece of plastic off the shifter deck and stick a screw driver in to be able to shift out of park. Was also told this could be a big problem and to bring it in. After charging me $130 to "diagnose" the problem, they then charged me $10 to replace the fuse, could find no reason for it to have blown. Then told me my transmission fluid needed to be replaced. Too many dollars later, I left the dealership. Two weeks later, fuse blew again. Took to independent garage, $ 0.95 for the fuse and $30 to try and figure out why it was blowing out, unsuccessfully. The shimmy in the front end was getting worse and I was debating dealership or independent, decision was removed from my hands when the front of the car began swerving toward traffic in rush hour at 45mph on Monday night 6/24/13. Suddenly, there was a loud noise and I managed to wrench the steering wheel to the right and hit a curb instead of oncoming traffic. Friend behind me witnessed incident and said the car looked like it jumped sideways. Both right tires off rims, shredded, unknown further damage at this point as the shop hasn't had a chance to make an assessment. My insurance company is already considering totaling the car out. It has 128000 miles or so. I feel like I have sideways whiplash. No airbag depl.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #11

Jun 062013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle would not accelerate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The mechanic stated that the transmission would have to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- Beloit , WI, USA

problem #10

May 122013

Focus 4-cyl

  • 97,651 miles
Key stuck in ignition. The column was not locked. On the gear shift there is a plastic sleeve. I put the gear shift in park and slid my hand below the knob and pulled the sleeve up and the key comes out.

- Roswell, GA, USA

problem #9

Feb 012013

Focus

  • 94,000 miles
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. I will never own or recommend a Ford to anyone.

- Stony Point , NY, USA

problem #8

Sep 202012

Focus

  • 68,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus wagon. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, he depressed the accelerator pedal but the vehicle failed to accelerate properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the solenoid in the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and current mileage was 68,000.

- Kettering, OH, USA

problem #7

Sep 062011

Focus

  • 153,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph, a loud noise emitted from the front end of the vehicle. The contact was able to continue to drive. The failure occurred whenever the transmission shifted in the first, second or third gear. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated the failure could possibly be related to front end bearings or axle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 153,000.

- Central, SC, USA

problem #6

Mar 082012

Focus

  • 134,105 miles
After starting the car when it has set a few hours the overdrive off light is flashes yellow, odometer just shows dashes, and speedometer dosent work. Car still operates but shifts gears hard, when it reaches the speed for door to lock everything starts working. I have had multiple problems with the engine mgmt fuse, and have had 3 altenators changed out in the last 2 years. Also I had a problem with key not coming out of ignition and found out that a peice of the shifter had broke off and slid down and kept it from going all the way into park, after removing part I have had no problem with the key. Also engine light stays on was told by auto zone it was vaccum system took it to Ford place they said it was motor mounts, they were replaced 20,000 miles ago and it still hasnt helped.

- Temple, GA, USA

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