Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Ford Focus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words
In a rear end accident the airbags never deployed. The seat belt also didn't catch me and my chest hit the steering wheel. I pressed hard on the breaks but it didn't feel like it was slowing down. I now have a fractured sternum and cannot drive or work. I have filed insurance claims and been to the hospital. No one was in the car with me. There were no warning lights/signs before.
I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT, ON FARM TO MARKET ROAD 1960 (STATE HIGHWAY FM 1960) WHILE IN MOTION AND I PRESSED THE BRAKE. THE MOTOR REVVED UP AND WOULD NOT STOP. IT SEEMED LIKE THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK. I ASKED MY DAUGHTER TO REACH DOWN AND PULL THE GAS PEDAL UP. THIS DID NOT WORK THOUGH. THE LIGHT BY THE GRACE OF GOD TURNED GREEN. I CONTINUED DRIVING FORWARD WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE FLOOR. I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND THE MOTOR ACCELERATED FASTER. I IMMEDIATELY STOMPED ON THE BRAKE AGAIN. I WAS ACCELERATING AT A FASTER SPEED. I QUICKLY LOOKED FOR A SAFE PLACE TO STOP SO I TURNED LEFT INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD AND GOT OUT OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. I THREW THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, IT REVVED UP OUT OF CONTROL AS IF IT WANTED TO EXPLODE. I THREW IT IN PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I TOWED MY CAR TO MY HOME. THE ISSUE IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. I WILL SEND MY CAR TO A MECHANIC ASAP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DEALERS (SUBURBAN FORD, LOCATED AT 37000 HIGHWAY 26 SANDY, OR 97055, 503-688-5511 AND GRESHAM FORD LOCATED AT 1099 E POWELL BLVD GRESHAM, OR 97080, 888-644-3418) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED DUE TO NO FAILURE CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,500... .UPDATED 10/04/17 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OCCURS AT ANY SPEED. UPDATED 10/17/2017*JS
WAS DRIVING AN 05 FORD FOCUS ZXW IN LIGHT RAIN AT ABOUT 40 MPH GOING UPHILL ON A MAJOR ROADWAY (55MPH SPEED LIMIT). VEHICLE IN FRONT BY ABOUT 40 FT STOPPED AND I HIT THE BRAKES. UPON HITTING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO START A GRADUAL SLIDE AND NEVER ALLOWED ITSELF TO REGAIN TRACTION.
THREE TIMES SINCE THE CAR'S PURCHASE IN LATE 2005 I HAVE EXPERIENCED A 'BRAKE FADE, SOFT PEDAL" ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN 3 TIMES TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP CROWN FORD IN REDDING, CA FOR THE PROBLEM AND WAS DISMISSED BY THE DEALER AS THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM! SINCE THEN THE WARRANTY HAS ENDED ON THE VEHICLE BUT THE ISSUE REMAINS AND OCCURS A FEW TIMES EACH YEAR! EVERY TIME IS A SCARY SITUATION, I AM SURE ONE DAY THE VEHICLE WILL JUST NOT STOP!!! YOU PRESS THE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL FADES TO THE FLOOR, YOU HAVE TO LET UP ON THE PEDAL AND THEN PRESS IT A COUPLE TIMES TO PUMP UP PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE! WE HAD WAITED FOR A RECALL FROM FORD AND NOTHING! LAST NIGHT 12.27/2016 I SAW ON THE NEWS THAT A PROBE HAS BEEN OPENED FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT ON NEWER MODEL YEARS OF FORD AND MERCURY BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE FOCUS! FORD MOTOR CORP NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON THIS AND OPEN A FULL RECALL TO REPAIR THE ISSUE BEFORE MORE TRAGEDIES OCCUR!!! THE TIMES WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURS IS ALWAYS ON BUSY STREETS, AT SIGNALS OR STOP SIGNS.
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.
MY SISTER OWNS A FORD FOCUS 2005, SHE HAD A MINOR ACCIDENT DURING A TRIP TO WORK. THE CAR SLIDE DOWN A HILL AT LESS THEN 25 MPH IN WED ROAD. THE CAR STOP BY CRASHIN IN TO A ROCK IN THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAVING HER LIFE FROM A CLIFT. RECENTLY WE UPGRADE THE SUSPENSION, TIRES AND BREAKS TO PREVENT IT TO HAPPEN. WE TOOK THE CAR FOR A ROUND TRIP IN IT WE HAVE A SECOND ACCIDENT. THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN A LITTEL HILL AT 45 MPH IN A ZONE OF 50 MPH, AT A HALF OF KM I CHANGE THE GEAR BECAUSE THE ROAD WAS WET TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR BUT SUDDENLY IT START SLIDING OVER THE WED ROAD. CONSIDERING THE TIME AND, THE MANEUVERS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE CAR I START PUMPING THE BREAKS AND TRIED TO PULL THE CAR OUT OF THE ROAD BUT OT DIDNT CHANGE ITS DIRECCTION. AT LESS THEN 8 METERS THE CAR GOT A LITTEL OF TRACTION BUT IT WAS TO LATE TO EVADE THIS ACCIDENT. DURING THE COLITION THE AIR BAGS DIDNT DEPLOY LEAVING MY BODY HIT THE WHEEL. IT WAS A MIRACLE WE ARE ALIVE AND I DONT WHANT TO IMAGINE DRIVING THIS CAR DURING A SNOW ROAD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO COME TO A STOP. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND WOULD REV. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
WE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED, AFTER WE GOT IT WE NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE WAS BROKE, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WORRY ME. WE HAVE SMALL CHILDREN TO THINK ABOUT SO THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT HAS A GOOD BATTERY, BUT IT'S ALWAYS DYING AFTER BEING DRIVEN. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY HAVE YET TO FIX IT. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT THIS, BUT I'M DESPERATE TO TRY ANYTHING AND ANYONE FOR HELP. *TR
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAD TO PLACE FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT HEAD LAMPS AND HIGH BEAMS . I BROUGHT THIS CAR OFF OF ENTERPRIZE DEALER IN NEVADA. OVER THE YEARS I BEGAN HAVEN LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. SO MUCH NEEDED TO BE DONE ON THIS CAR AND I SPENT LOTS OF MONEY TOO. NOT KNOWING UNTIL NOW THIS CAR HAS SOME RECALL ISSUES. PASSENGER REAR DOOR REPLACE AND BROKEN AGAIN. THE REAR BRAKE ARE RUSTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACE,DRUMS PADS EXT.. NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN I TURN THE CAR. *TR
SINCE WE RECEIVED THE CAR, WE HAVE NOTICED INCONSISTENT ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION - BOTH IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT WAS A SIMPLE SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE GENTLY TO START COMING TO A FULL STOP BEHIND A FEW CARS. AS MY CAR TRIED TO SLOW DOWN, I NOTICED IT WAS FIGHTING TO SLOW DOWN. I PRESSED ON THE BREAK HARDER, BUT IT WASN'T GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR, THEN BACK ON THE BREAK, NO CHANGE. NOT KNOWING WHAT ELSE TO DO, I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE DID NOT STOP REVVING UP SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER WAITING A MINUTE, I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND OPERATED FINE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. *TR
1. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WAS A WHISTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE AREA OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHILE STOPPED WITH PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL CONTINUED TO DEPRESS. THE CAR STILL WAS ABLE TO STOP. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ABS CONTROL MODULE, PART NUMBER 5S4Z-2M110-B MODULATOR 165686. I HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
I JUST HAD MY ROTORS AND BRAKES REPLACED, BUT THEY CANNOT FIND OUT WHY THEY ARE WEARING OUT SO SOON. WE ARE TALKING 3<MONTHS. THEY SAID THERE IS NO ISSUE, BUT I NOW HAVE PROOF THERE IS. WE HAVE ANOTHER FOCUS THAT I TOOK TO THE STREET I LIVE ON. I GOT UP TO 30MPH AND COASTED TO A CERTAIN PLACE NEAR THE END OF THE STREET. THE FOCUS WITH NO ISSUE WAS STILL GOING 23MPH AT THAT LOCATION. I DID THE SAME THING WITH THE ONE I JUST HAD THE ROTARS AND BRAKES REPLACED ON. ON THAT ONE I WAS ONLY GOING 5MPH. AS SOON AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES DRIVING IT BACK I KNEW THERE WAS AN ISSUE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUSH THE BRAKES DOWN NEAR AS FAR AS I COULD ON THE GOOD FOCUS. WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY, THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH HELPED SOME, BUT DID NOT COMPELETELY FIX THE ISSUE. THE WARRENTY COMPANY ALSO REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE ROTATION OF THE ROTERS AND BRAKES EVEN THOUGH THE FORD DEALERSHIP MECHANICS TOLD THEM IT WAS DUE TO THE MASTER CYLINDER BEING THE PROBLEM, SO I HAD TO PAY FOR THAT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS ZX4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKING FROM UNKNOWN SPEEDS IN RAINY WEATHER, THE BRAKES LOCKED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A FENCE AND THEN COLLIDE WITH THE CURB. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE REAR BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED SIX TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ELEVEN TIMES WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT PROVIDED ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,463 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212.
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START, BUT ONCE IT DID, IT STALLED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE ROTORS WERE REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED PERIODICALLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
I NOTICED THAT WHEN I BOUGHT MY 2005 FOCUS THAT THE ROTORS ALREADY HAD GROOVES IN THEM. THE BRAKE PADS ALSO WORE OUT EXTREMELY QUICK. THE OTHER DAY I GOT HOME FROM WORK AND WENT TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND THE KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HAVE HAD TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OVER NIGHT. I AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN HOW MUCH OTHERS HAVE PAID AND I JUST DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. *TR
FRONT BRAKES WERE UNEVEN BADLY IN SHOP AT BARTOW FORD NUMBER OF TIMES NEVER FIX WORK ON IT TILL THE WARRANTY WAS UP NOW MY FAMILY IS STUCK WITH PAYMENTS ON A UNSAFE CAR. *TR
I OWN A 2004 AND 2005 FORD FOCUS. ONE IS AN SE AND ONE A ZX3. THE FRONT BRAKES ON THE 2004 WENT OUT AT 32,000 MILES AND THE 2005 WENT OUT AT 40000 MILES. BOTH VEHICLES ARE DRIVEN NICELY. ON BOTH THERE WAS A SLIGHT GRINDING FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN TOTAL PAD FAILURE IN THE RIGHT INSIDE PAD. FORD SAYS THE PADS I BOUGHT FROM THE DEALER ARE LIFETIME WARRANTY BUT THE SYSTEM WHEN NEW CARRIES NO WARRANTY. BY THE TIME PROBLEMS ARE NOTICED, IT'S TOO LATE AND BOTH THE PADS AND ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
WHILE DRIVING IN THE EARLY MORNING OR EVENNGS I NOTICE THAT THE ABS LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT GLOW ON. THEY COME ON AND GO OFF. LAST EVENING THE CAR WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE DOORS LOCKED AND WINDOWS UP. THE DOME LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF SEVERAL TIMES. I LOOKED INTO THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE OIL LIGHT AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WERE ON WHEN THE DOME LIGHT WAS OFF. ALSO, WHEN THE DOOR AJAR AND OIL LIGHT ARE ON, THE WIRELESS REMOTES DO NOT WORK. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE ABS AND BATTERY LIGHT 2 TIMES WITH NO RESOLVE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE TODAY WITH VIDEO OF THE DOME LIGHT, OIL LIGHT, AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT. *NM
THE VEHICLE HAS A CHRONIC FAILURE IN THE REAR BRAKES, THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE OCTOBER 2005. THE VEHICLE IS A 2005 FORD FOCUS WAGON. THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE, THE CAR SKIDS, AND THEY SQUEAL. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP OVER A HALF A DOZEN TIMES. *JB
IN DECEMBER MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE FORD FOCUS AND THE STREETS WERE WET, A CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY AHEAD OF HER AND WHEN SHE WENT TO USE THE BRAKES. THEY FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. SHE RAN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. ON MAY 3, 2006 I WAS DRIVING THE SAME CAR ON WET ROADS AND THE EXACT SAME SCENARIO HAPPENED. I NEEDED TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP AND THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHICH PREVENTED ME FROM STEERING THE CAR TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT. I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A GRINDING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT END. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO HEAR THE NOISE WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE, BUT REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS IN AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR IT. THE TRUNK LATCH DID OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 05/30/06. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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