Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 27 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 27, in the owner's own words
THE CAR CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC HE SAID WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I TOOK IT FOR ASECOND OPINION THIS MECHANIC SAID WAS A MODULE FOR THE FUEL PUMP. HE ALSO A CAR SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I DID AM INTERNET SEARCH AND IT WAS TOO MANY CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. MY CAR CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY.
ENGINE AND FUEL CAP LIGHT CAME ON DASH. AFTER REPLACING CAP WITH A FORD GAS CAP AND CLEARING THE CODE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON THE NEXT DAY. ALL ATTEMPTS TO CLEAR THE CODE WITH ANOTHER GAS CAP AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP RESULTED IN THE SAME RESULTS.
TAKATA RECALL FUEL LINE TOO CLOSE TO EXHAUT IT CAUSES VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING WAIT 15 -20 MINUTES AND IT WILL START AND YOU CAN GO UNTIL IT DOES IT AGAIN IT IS FINE IN WINTER BUT WARM WEATHER IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME HAVE TRIED TO HAVE FIXED BUT STILL DOES IT
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
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). *TR
THE GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK. MY DAUGHTERS JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR AS THERE FIRST CAR. IT IS NOT SAFE!!!! I AM VERY UPSET THAT THE THROTTLE SYSTEM OF THIS CAR IS NOT RECALLED BY THE MFG, WHEN I SEE THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING INTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL LINE TO THE ENGINE HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WOULD SMELL GASOLINE FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE O-RINGS TO THE FUEL LINE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPAIRED THE DAMAGED FUEL LINE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE FUEL LEAK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,816.
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. *TR
DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS THE GAS THROTTLE STICKS (APP. 45-HIGHER). THE SPEED CONTROL ALSO GOT STUCK BEFORE. THE CAR ALSO HAS PROBLEMS STARTING. IN MORNINGS AND EVENINGS, REGARDLESS OF WEATHER THE CAR DOESN'T ALWAYS START. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN FUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL WOULD REGURGITATE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND ON THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR REPAIRS OF INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,918. UPDATED 08-07-12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND CAUSED A PUDDLE ON THE GROUND. UPDATED 08/08/2012 *JS
2005 FORD FOCUS WILL NOT START WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COLD OR WILL START BUT FOR NO APPARENT RESIN JUST STOPS RUNNING NO FUEL PRESSURE AND FUEL PUMP DOES NOT RUN WHEN THE PROBLEM ARISES WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS WORM THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS FINE DOES NOT DISPLAY ANY ENGINE FAULT COEDS. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS SEEMS TO BE A FORD PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T WON'T TO EXCEPT. *TR
GAS PEDAL STICKS IN COLD WEATHER WHEN FIRST PUTTING CAR IN GEAR AND STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL. IF YOU PUMP THE GAS PEDAL A FEW TIMES AFTER STARTING THE CAR, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME YOU DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THE ABOVE PROCEDURE IS NOT TAKEN. *TR
FUEL GAUGE STICKS. THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATES THAT THE TANK IS HALF FULL AND THEN WILL DROP IMMEDIATELY TO EMPTY AND THE EMERGENCY FUEL LOW INDICATOR TURNS ON. *TR
DECELERATION PEDAL. MY FORD FOCUS 05 GAS PEDAL JUST JAMMED WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER I SOFTY BRAKE, SO THE SPEED OF THE CAR GRADUALLY SLOW DOWN UNTIL I PRESS REALLY HARD SO IT BECOME NORMAL AGAIN. IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR IN THE WINTER. IN THE SUMMER, IT RUNS SMOOTHLY AS NORMAL. *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME WITH MY THREE BOYS WHEN OUR 2005 FORD FOCUS STARTED JERKING AND SPUTTERING, LOST POWER, AND DIED ON SOME RAILROAD TRACKS. MY HUSBAND AND I HAD IT TOWED TO GOODYEAR WHERE THEY SAID THE FUEL PUMP FUSE BLEW. THEY REPLACED THE FUSE AND SENT US ON OUR WAY. NOT EVEN A HALF HOUR LATER THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN. WE HAD IT TOWED BACK TO GOODYEAR WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER. NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN. WE LET THE CAR SIT FOR A FEW DAYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. MY HUSBAND DECIDED TO REPLACE THE FUSE HIMSELF AND DRIVE IT TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD DO. WELL, THE CAR LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY OVER ANOTHER SET OF RAILROAD TRACKS. WE CALLED GOODYEAR TO BRING IT BACK, AND THEY REFUSED; SO WE HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC. THIS MECHANIC HAS AGAIN REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND TOLD US THE SYSTEM WAS FILTHY! THE FUEL PUMP JERKED DRAMATICALLY WHEN HE'D START IT, WHICH IS WHY HE REPLACED IT AGAIN. THE COMPUTER IS STILL SAYING THE MODULE IS BAD; SO HE ORDERED A NEW ONE FROM FORD, WHO AT FIRST CLAIMED THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. THEY WOULDN'T EVEN TELL HIM WHERE IT WAS LOCATED; SO WHEN HE RECEIVES THE PART, HE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT. WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO COST NOW. WITH GOODYEAR IT ALREADY COST US $600, WHICH THEY REFUSE TO REIMBURSE. I'VE CALLED FORD, AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP SAYING THERE'S NO RECALL ON THIS MODEL. I'VE LOOKED THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM UP, AND THE FUEL PUMP AND SYSTEM HAS BEEN RECALLED ON ALL FORD FOCUSES FROM 2000-2004. MY CAR WAS BUILT IN 2004! SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP US! IF WE DIDN'T OWE MONEY ON IT, WE'D JUNK IT. THANK GOD WE WERE NOT ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED! AND THANK GOD MY KIDS ARE BIG ENOUGH TO HELP US PUSH IT OFF THE RAILROAD TRACKS! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL WHILE BEING DRIVEN 5 MPH OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT ONE OF THE CLAMPS FOR THE FUEL LINE DETACHED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.
WITH LESS THEN A 1/4 TANK OF FUEL THE CAR WILL STALL WHEN CHANGING LANES, MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS. THE FUEL PUMP IS MAKING GRINDING NOISES. *TR
VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN MOTION ON AVERAGE 5 TIMES MONTHLY. THE CAR SPENT A TOTAL OF 1 MONTH IN THE SHOP AT A FORD DEALER AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND FORD CORPORATE COULD NOT DETERMINE A CAUSE. *TR
2005 FORD FOCUS WITH FUEL FILTER FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS COMING OFF OF THE FILTER. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THE FUEL FILTER. THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR RECONNECTING THE HOSE, BUT NOT THE FILTER. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WHEEL RIMS RUSTING. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL FILTER ERUPTED AND CAUSED FUEL TO SPRAY OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ANOTHER DEALER REPLACED THE CLIPS THAT KEPT THE FILTER ATTACHED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,320. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GAS FROM THE VEHICLE AND UPON INSPECTION FOUND THAT GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. THE CONSUMER STATED TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HER THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT SEATED CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE PREVIOUS DEALER WHO INFORMED HER THAT THEY HAD INSTALLED THE FUEL FILTER CORRECTLY THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN FAULTY CLIPS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER SHE WOULD BE RECEIVING A CHECK FOR REIMBURSEMENT BUT TO NO AVAIL. UPDATED 10/11/07 *TR
WE HAVE A 2005 FORD FOCUS WAGON WITH APPROXIMATELY 37,000 MILES. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH DUE TO AN IDLING PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER CANNOT REMEDY. THE THROTTLE SOMETIMES STICKS AND THE CAR ACCELERATES UNCONTROLLABLY ON ITS OWN. AT OTHER TIMES THE CAR DIES AT IDLE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE IN SEVERAL INTERNET CHAT ROOMS INDICATES THAT OUR CAR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS SITUATION. APPARENTLY, FORD CONTINUES TO DENY THERE'S A PROBLEM, BUT IGNORING IT ONLY PUTS LIVES IN DANGER. *NM
INTERMITTENT STALLING ISSUES WITH MY 2005 FORD FOCUS WAGON. IT WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING BOTH GOING OVER 50 MPH AND IDLING IN TRAFFIC. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION AND IS GOING BACK IN 2 DAYS. *NM
MY CAR KEPT STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND AT STOP SIGNS AND WHERE EVER IT FELT LIKE. THIS STARTED AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES. THEN JUST BEFORE IT GOT TO 36,000 MILES IT WOULD STALL WHEN EVER IT BECAME HOT. AS I WAS GOING UP AND DOWN THE MOUNTAIN PASSES IN WASHINGTON, OREGON AND CALIFORNIA IT WOULD JUST STOP RUNNING EVERY MILE. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS I HAD CARS BEHIND ME AND TRUCKERS ON ALL SIDES AND THE CAR WOULD JUST QUIT AT 65 MPH OR WHAT EVER SPEED I WAS AT. I HAD MAD TRUCKERS AND MAD CARS AND TRUCKS, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. WHEN I LIMPED HOME (780 MILES) I GOT THE CAR IN TO BE CHECKED AND FOUND THAT IT WAS THE FUEL RAIL SENSOR. I CALLED FORD AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR A FAULTY PART OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. THEN LAST WEEK I SAW ON THE NEWS THAT TOYOTA AND ANOTHER COMPANY HAD RECALLED THEIR VEHICLES FOR THE SAME EXACT PART. I CALLED FORD TODAY AGAIN AND THEY ARE STILL REFUSING TO ADMIT THAT THIS IS DANGEROUS ON THEIR CARS. IT SEEMS TO BE OK TO RECALL OTHER VEHICLES, BUT FORD THINKS THEIR '!@#$% DOESN'T STINK AS WE SAY ON THE FARM. I WANT THIOS RECTIFIED. IF OTHER MANUFACTURERS THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM. I THINK FORD SHOULD BUCK UP AND ADMIT THAT THEIR VEHICLES COULD POSSIBLY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD IF THIS IS THE WAY THEY TREAT CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE FORD CARS. GAYLE SORENSEN *TR
WHEN FUELING GAS TANK, PUMP KEEPS SHUTTING OFF. FIRST REPORTED 6-30-05 TODAY TOOK INTO MAITA FORD, AUIBURN AND RECEIVED INFORMATION OF A REPORT: OASIS SSM 18938 WITH NO NEW INFORMATION TO FIX PROBLEM.. WHY? *NM
I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND IT GETS THE WORSE GAS MILEAGE I HAVE EVER SEEN. I NEVER GET BETTER THAN 25 MPG HIGHWAY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH THE FORD DEALER TELLING HOW GREAT IT WAS ON GAS. THAT I WOULD AVERAGE 32 MPG. I COMPLAINED TO MY DEALER WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID I WAS AVERAGING 31.7 MPG ACCORDING TO THERE COMPUTER. THAT IS NOT TRUE! THEN THEY SAID IT NEEDS A BREAK IN TIME OF 5000 MILES. I HAVE 15000 MILES ON THE CAR AND I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY EVERY DAY. MANY OTHER FOCUS OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED BUT FORD IGNORES US. *NM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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