2005 Ford FOCUS: complaints, problems and recalls

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-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091520 at NHTSA ↗

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. *TC

Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10092345 at NHTSA ↗

TRANSMISSION SLIPS & ERRATIC SHIFTS. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10095564 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED VEHICLE VIBRATED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM PERTAINED TO WHEEL ALIGNMENT. EVOQ FILED BY ABIGIL LIVINGSTON [phone removed]. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 7,588 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099382 at NHTSA ↗

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. PROBLEM CONCERNED ANNOYING LOW SPEED TRANSMISSION AT 40-50 MPH. FORD REFUSES TO SEND A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10099835 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE WAS IN A COLLISION. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE DRIVER HIT A DEER. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER WERE UNAVAILABLE. OWNER SAYS THAT WHEN USING THE SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT SEATS THE BELT WILL NOT RETRACT AUTOMATICALLY. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THERE MAY BE TWO OR THREE MONTHS BEFORE PARTS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105067 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE BRAKING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT/REAR BRAKES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107025 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE ACCELERATED WHEN I WAS AT A STOP. THE ENGINE BEGAN RACING. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, AND THEN ON AGAIN AND IT STILL RACED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. AT NO TIME WAS MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE ENGINE WAS RACINGBY ITSELF. I MADE A COPY OF THE NHTSA THAT HAVE BEEN OCCURING WITH THE FORDS BUT THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. MY SON HAS A FORD ESCAPE AND HE JUST RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE NHTSA ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE HAS TO BE RELACED. I HAVE A FORD FOCUS. SINCERELY, MIKE PAGLIA. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10107633 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-02-01 (February 1, 2005)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH FOUR OR FIVE DOORS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A BUILD-UP OF CORROSION AT THE PAWL PIVOT AREA OF THE REAR DOOR LATCH CAN CAUSE A BINDING CONDITION OF THE PAWL THAT MAY AFFECT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PAWL INTO THE CATCH. THE OCCUPANT MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING OR CLOSING A REAR DOOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE REAR DOOR MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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 THE REAR DOORS ADVISING THE OWNERS TO USE THE RECOMMENDED LUBRICANT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.