Problems · by component
2005 Ford Focus electrical system problems
113 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Ford Focus cite electrical system, 26% of all 441 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
113
26% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“FUSE CONTINUED TO BLOW OUT CAUSING ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF LIGHTS FROM FRONT TO BACK TO TURN OFF UNTIL NEW FUSE REPLACED OLD. WAS CONNECTED TO CONTINUED LIFTING OF HATCHBACK ON WAGON MODEL. ELECTRICAL HARNESS WAS ARCING AND INSULATION FLAKING OFF AND WOULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE HAD NOT THE HARNESS BEEN REPLACED. THIS HAD BEEN ON AND OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS STARTING WITH BLOWING OUT THE BULBS THEN THE FUSE STARTED BLOWING OUT IN JAN 2021. MIDAS REPLACED HARNESS THIS MARCH. CAR IS A 2005 FOCUS WAGON,”
“TODAY MY ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT WITH MY KIDS. I WAS LUCKILY NOT GOING MORE THAN 10MPH AND WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND STOP THE CAR WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE OR ANYTHING. EARLIER IN THE DAY I NOTICED IT TOOK A LITTLE MORE EFFORT TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL DOWN, BUT NOT BY MUCH AND AFTER THE CAR RESTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS, IT WASN'T AN ISSUE ANYMORE. I WASN'T EXPECTING IT TO BE AN ISSUE LATER ON. AS FAR AS ELECTRICAL ISSUES GO; MY HEADLIGHTS DO NOT LIKE TO STAY ON. I HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE WIRES WHERE THEY CONNECT TO THE HEADLIGHTS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO TURN ON, BUT THEY OFTEN DO NOT STAY ON, AND THEY FREQUENTLY WILL TURN OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST ONE SIDE, OR ALTERNATING SIDES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR OVER A YEAR AND EVERYTIME I HAVE WORK DONE TO FIX IT, IT ONLY FIXES IT TEMPORARILY AND IT'S BACK TO DOING THIS ALL OVER AGAIN.”
“THE BACKSEAT DOORS WILL NOT LATCH AND OR LOCK. THEY HAVE TO BE HELD TOGETHER WITH ZIP TIES. THE RANDOMLY OPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, AS I CANNOT USE MY CARE TO TRANSPORT MY CHILD. I KNOW OTHER VERSIONS OF THIS SAME VEHICLE HAVE HAD A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS, AND I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHY MY SPECIFIC MODEL WAS LEFT OUT WHEN I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS CAR IS NO LONGER DRIVEABLE.”
“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.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MASTER KEY FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HAD TO USE THE KEY FOB. ALSO, DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER BELOW 30 DEGREES, THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY HESITANT. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT FOR A MOMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD START AND NOT SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS UNKNOWN. SCHICKER FORD (3300 S KINGS HIGHWAY, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63139, (314) 664-4100) WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT THEN REPLACED A FUSE FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER 24 HOURS. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Showing 6 of 113 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.