2005 Ford Focus body problems

STRUCTURE:BODY

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 complaint #11754855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

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 complaint #11258470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

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 complaint #11165585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

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

NHTSA complaint #11041049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

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 complaint #10956417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

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 complaint #10898535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

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 complaint #10851025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

DOOR LOCK ON REAR, PASSENGER DOOR WON'T LOCK

NHTSA complaint #10837603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

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 complaint #10824061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

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 complaint #10808553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

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 complaint #10735532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

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 complaint #10734725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

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 complaint #10706659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

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.

NHTSA complaint #10703145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

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

NHTSA complaint #10653514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

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 complaint #10628326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10622323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

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

NHTSA complaint #10610130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

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.

NHTSA complaint #10609906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

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!!!

NHTSA complaint #10558618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

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 complaint #10534815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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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 complaint #10509966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

MY FORD FOCUS HAD A PROBLEM ONE YEAR AGO WHERE A SMALL PLASTIC PIECE SNAPPED INSIDE THE DOOR WHICH MADE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR INACCESSIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. A YEAR LATER, TODAY, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. SINCE THIS IS A 2 DOOR HATCHBACK MODEL, AND THE BACK HATCH KEY LOCK IS NOT WORKING, THERE IS NO WAY TO ENTER MY VEHICLE. THE PIECE THAT HAS BROKEN IS A SMALL WEDGE SHAPED PLASTIC COMPONENT, WHICH SEEMS POORLY MADE, AND NOW REQUIRES ME TO SPEND OVER 300.00 DOLLARS, AND I MUST WAIT 3 DAYS BEFORE THE CAR CAN EVEN BE INSPECTED. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE, BECAUSE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A PERSON WERE TO HAVE THEIR CHILD IN A CAR SEAT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY STEPPED OUT, AND REALIZED THEY COULD NOT ENTER. ALSO, WHAT IF SOMEONE WERE TO CONSIDER THEIR VEHICLE RELIABLE, RESPOND TO AN EMERGENCY, AND THEN REALIZE THAT THEY CANNOT ASSIST BECAUSE THEY NO LONGER HAVE ENTRY TO THEIR VEHICLE. BESIDES THE INCONVENIENCE THIS CAUSES, IT COULD INDIRECTLY OR DIRECTLY CAUSE HARM TO A PERSON. MANUFACTURERS NEED TO BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS COULD BE AN OBVIOUS TACTIC TO PROMOTE EXTRA BUSINESS AND PROFIT OF FORD SPONSORED COMPANIES.

NHTSA complaint #10503160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE REAR DOOR CANNOT LOCK EITHER ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY.

NHTSA complaint #10486121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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BOTH REAR DOORS ARE STUCK CLOSED AND CANNOT BE OPENED. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER TO SEE IF THIS REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY FOR DOOR LATCHES. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED. FORD QUOTED ME A PRICE OF OVER $700 TO REPLACE THE HARDWARE INSIDE OF THE DOOR THAT HAD "OXIDIZED". THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR STOPPED OPENING A FEW YEARS AGO BUT THIS WAS NOT A MAJOR CONCERN AS I RARELY HAVE PASSENGERS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ABOUT A WEEK AGO THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED FOR THE DOOR LATCHES, YET IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER FORD FOCUSES THAT ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BASED ON VIN#. THIS COULD BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE DOOR WERE TO OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR IF PASSENGERS WERE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION (FOR EXAMPLE, AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE FRONT DOORS WERE DAMAGED, THERE WOULD BE NO EXIT FROM VEHICLE IF BOTH REAR DOORS ARE STUCK). I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2005 AND THE BACK DOORS WERE RARELY USED.

NHTSA complaint #10454929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE PASSENGER BACK DOOR LOCK DOES NOT LOCK. THE ELECTRIC KEY BEEPS WHEN THE DOORS ARE LOCKED AND CONTINUES TO BEEP TELLING ME IT'S LOCKED BUT I GO TO IT AND IT OPENS ANYWAY. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE I HAD BEEN TRUSTING THE ELECTRIC KEY TO TELL ME IT WAS LOCKED. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED IT WAS WHEN ON 3/7/12 I HAD TO USE THE MANUAL KEY AND I WENT AROUND TO CHECK EACH DOOR. I THEN SAW THAT I COULDN'T LOCK IT MANUALLY. LATER OF COURSE I CHECKED IT WITH THE ELECTRICAL KEY AND FOUND OUT IT WASN'T LOCKING THOUGH IT WOULD BEEP TO TELL ME IT WAS.

NHTSA complaint #10452635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

2005 FORD FOCUS ZX3, HATCHBACK. THE HATCH BACK BOUNCES OPEN ALL THE TIME WHEN I TRY TO CLOSE IT, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE IS BROKEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE TO GET IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND RELEASE THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. IF I FORGET TO USE THE UNLOCK WHEN I GET OUT OF THE CAR, I HAVE TO CLIMB IN THROUGH THE HATCHBACK AND OPEN THE BACK DOOR, THEN OPEN IT AND REACH UP AND UNLOCK THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, TO OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THERE IS ONLY ONE UNLOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, WHICH OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT HELP AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #10446755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.