2005 Ford Focus Body & structure Problems

My rear passenger door latch is corroded. It is difficult to open, it sometimes fails to open. I have children under the age of 3 in the backseats of my car. I do not want the latch to fail and the door to open while in motion. It is available for inspection upon service. Problems started to appear within the last year and has persisted to the point of being very difficult to open. No warnings or messages prior, since it is a body issue. Has not been inspected by any professionals.

NHTSA ID

11754855

Incident

Jun 5, 2025

THE FRONT DOOR HANDLES QUIT WORKING AND THERE'S NO WAY TO GET DOOR OPEN???? FRONT DOOR HANDLES QUIT WORKING. CANT GET IN MY CAR

NHTSA ID

11258470

Incident

Sep 26, 2019

Mileage

211,000 mi

THE WIRING BETWEEN THE HATCH DOOR AND THE BODY IS DETERIORATED WITH A BROKEN WIRE FOR THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT AND THE INSULATION CRACKED AND MISSING ON MANY OF THE OTHER WIRES. THIS IS A REAL HAZARD AS SHORTS COULD OCCUR AFFECTING ALL THE REAR LIGHTS THAT ARE CONTROLLED WITH THESE WIRES. LUCKILY I READ ON A YOUTUBE REPORT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I DETECTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED IN MY GARAGE WHILE INVESTIGATING THE LIGHTING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11165585

Incident

Dec 31, 2018

ON THE 27TH OF NOV. 2017 WHILE PUTTING MY CAR INTO THE GARAGE THERE WAS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CRASHING INTO THE WALL PUSHING THE SHELVING INTO THE SPARE BEDROOM. I PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND EXITED THE GARAGE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, STILL TRYING TO BRAKE. HIT A TREE AT THE CURB PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE INSTEAD OF NEUTRAL THEN HEADED BACK TOWARD THE HOUSE WHILE STILL TRYING TO BRAKE, WAS ABLE TO SWERVE MISSING THE HOUSE, TURNED OFF THE KEY AND WOUND UP IN MY NEIGHBORS BACKYARD.

NHTSA ID

11053738

Incident

Nov 27, 2017

Mileage

45,000 mi

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. *BF UPDATED 8/3/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11041049

Incident

Oct 13, 2017

Mileage

146,629 mi

2 DOOR HATCHBACK BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR HANDLES DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. THE HANDLE IS LOOSE LIKE IT ISN'T CATCHING ON ANYTHING. I HAVE TO LEAVE MY WINDOW ROLLED DOWN AND OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE INSIDE HANDLE. SOMETIMES THE INSIDE HANDLE HAS ISSUES. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE INSIDE HANDLE STOPS WORKING AND I NEED TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY? I TOOK IT THE DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FRO REPAIR. DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID

10956417

Incident

Feb 15, 2017

Mileage

199,900 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY. I'VE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL PEOPLE AT FORD AND ALTHOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, THEY WILL NOT COVER THE EXPENSE OF A NEW DOOR LATCH FOR OLDER MODEL FOCUS. THE LATCH ON MY FOCUS HAS BEEN WORKING IMPROPERLY FOR THE PAST YEAR NOW.

NHTSA ID

10898535

Incident

Aug 28, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MIDDLE BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING DUE TO THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE HATCHBACK. ALSO, THE LOCK ON THE HATCHBACK DID NOT WORK PROPERLY AND THE HARNESS LEADING TO THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE FAILURE WITHIN THE HATCHBACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HARNESS FOR BOTH THE BATTERY AND HATCHBACK NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE MIDDLE BRAKE LIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000.

NHTSA ID

10896000

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

Mileage

187,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH NO INDICATION AS TO WHICH DOOR WAS AFFECTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ALL DOORS WERE PROPERLY CLOSED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10851025

Incident

Mar 3, 2015

DOOR LOCK ON REAR, PASSENGER DOOR WON'T LOCK

NHTSA ID

10837603

Incident

Feb 2, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE PULLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER DOORS FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS SLIGHTLY DETACHED. THE ELECTRICAL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIE RODS AND WHEEL WELL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE RACK AND PINION TIGHTENED. THE TIE ROD AND WHEEL WELL WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

NHTSA ID

10824061

Incident

Mar 1, 2015

Mileage

9,000 mi

THE FORD ZXW WAGON'S LIFTGATE WIRING HARNESS HAD FRAYED INSIDE THE RUBBER HOUSING AT THE JUNCTION WHERE THE GATE PIVOTS BETWEEN THE CAR BODY AND LIFTGATE. THE WIRES SHORTED WHICH CAUSED THE ELECTRIC GATE RELEASE TO OPEN AT 70MPH, WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A FREEWAY. THE LIFTGATE ROSE UP, OPENING THE BACK OF THE CARGO AREA TO TRAFFIC. LUCKILY FREEWAY SPEED WINDS KEPT IT FROM COMPLETELY OPENING, BUT WHEN SLOWED TO 30MPH IT WENT STRAIGHT UP. I'M LUCKY I HAD NO CHILDREN OR ANIMALS IN THE BACK CARGO AREA. AND THE FELLOW DRIVERS ON THE ROAD WERE LUCKY NOTHING SHIFTED AND FELL OUT. THE LIFTGATE REFUSED TO LATCH AFTER THIS POINT, MAKING DRIVING THE CAR SAFELY IMPOSSIBLE. IN RESEARCHING THE CAUSE AND REPAIR, I NOTICED SEVERAL FORUMS WHERE AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM WITH FORD'S DESIGN WAS POSTED. THE REPLACEMENT BILL AT A FORD DEALERSHIP WAS AROUND $1,200, NOT INCLUDING MY TIME LOST TO RESEARCH, REPAIR, OR FINDING ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION FOR MY BUSINESS PURPOSES. THIS IS DANGEROUS, POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING, AND UNFORTUNATELY, NOT FIXED. THE MECHANICS AT FORD SAID THE REPLACEMENT PART IS THE SAME AS WHAT WAS ORIGINAL. THIS WILL LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10808553

Incident

Mar 26, 2015

Mileage

117,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS, THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,000.

NHTSA ID

10735532

Incident

Jul 7, 2013

Mileage

193,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES FAILED TO OPEN THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT COULD OPEN THE VEHICLE FROM THE INSIDE, BUT NOT THE OUTSIDE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CLAMPS AND HANDLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,086.

NHTSA ID

10734725

Incident

May 1, 2015

Mileage

100,086 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOORS OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID

10706659

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

Mileage

125,000 mi

THE PAINT ON MY 2005 FORD FOCUS IS PEELING OFF IN SHEETS FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THIS IS TO YOUNG OF A CAR FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10703145

Incident

Mar 2, 2015

Mileage

154,444 mi

2005 FORD FOCUS ZX3 TAILGATE WILL NOT LATCH CAUSING DOOR TO FLY OPEN WHEN I HIT A BUMP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653514

Incident

Oct 15, 2013

Mileage

43,000 mi

ON THE DATE OF MY ACCIDENT, I WAS HEADED FOR WORK, I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65 M.P.H WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES. I COULDN'T AVOID THE SITUATION, I RAN INTO THE BACK OF HER.. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652696

Incident

Oct 31, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS DOOR, PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR DOOR EXTERIOR HANDLES WERE FRACTURED. THE FRACTURED DOOR HANDLES COULD ONLY OPEN THE DOORS USING THE HANDLES ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

NHTSA ID

10628326

Incident

Aug 19, 2014

Mileage

119,000 mi

MY FOCUSES REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULDN'T LOCK AND NEITHER OF THE REAR DOORS COULD LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IF SOMEONE (SMALL CHILD) PULLED THE HANDLE THEY COULD FALL OUT. I ALSO TRIED LOCKING THE CHILD LOCK BUT THEN THE DOOR WOULDN'T CLOSE. I HAD TO GET THIS FIXED AT A LOCAL AUTO SHOP AND IT COST $400. IT SEEMS LIKE FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10622323

Incident

Aug 11, 2014

Mileage

73,000 mi

THE FORD FOCUS FROM 2007/2001 HAS HAD LOTS OF DOOR LATCHES BRAKING AND THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, IN MY CASE FROM THE OUTSIDE. I KNOW FORD DEALERS SEEN A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS. THIS SHOULD BE A FIX AT FORDS EXPENSE. WERE CAN I GET THE PART OTHER THAN THE DEALER? THANK-YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10610130

Incident

Jul 13, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

BODY PAINT STARTED TO PEEL OFF OF MY FRONT DRIVERS DOOR, IT HAS CONTINUED TO PEEL ON ALL THE DOORS AND CURRENTLY IS NOW PEELING OFF OF THE TRUNK LID. I'M TOLD THAT THIS IS APPARENTLY A ROCK BLISTER EFFECT BUT I'VE OWNED MANY A VEHICLE AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN TO ANY VEHICLE OF MINE BEFORE. THIS IS A FORD PROBLEM NOT AN OWNER PROBLEM. OF NOTE, I'VE OWNED FORD VEHICLES SINCE 2000 AND CURRENTLY OWN 2 FORD VEHICLES. NONE OF MY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE EVER SHOWN ANY INDICATION OF THIS HORRIBLE PEELING. AS WELL, MY REAR DOORS ARE ALWAYS BECOMING STUCK. ONCE AGAIN, I'VE BEEN TOLD TO OIL THE COMPONENTS. THIS HAS BEEN DONE OVER AND OVER WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609906

Incident

May 16, 2008

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!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10558618

Incident

Dec 9, 2013

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOOR WAS VERY HARD TO OPEN DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ID

10534815

Incident

Jun 11, 2008

Mileage

28,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED BECAUSE THE LATCHES WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10509966

Incident

Apr 29, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi