2005 Ford Focus Transmission Problems

Your car has unpredictable acceleration problems—when you press the gas pedal, it may not respond at all, rev the engine without moving, or suddenly lurch forward without warning. This happens whether you're starting from a stop or driving on the highway, and the car sometimes accelerates on its own. You may also notice the car lurching sideways while driving at speeds of 60 mph or faster, making it unsafe to drive.

Your car shudders or jerks abnormally when you try to move from a stopped position. Multiple repair attempts at different Ford dealerships have not resolved the issue, including a transmission repair for a defective ring. The shuddering keeps coming back even after the transmission work was done.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD TOO MUCH OUTPUT AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ABLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN COLORADO WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN ARIZONA WHERE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/02/17*LJ UPDATED 7/18/18*JB

FIRST ISSUE: ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN STOPPING THE CAR, PARKING, AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE KEY, THE KEY HAS BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND CANNOT REMOVE IT--- SOMETIMES FOR A FEW DAYS, OTHER TIMES FOR A FEW WEEKS, AT WHICH TIME IT SIMPLY COMES OUT WHEN ATTEMPT IS MADE. SECOND ISSUE: GEARS OCCASIONALLY SLIP UPON ACCELERATING, RESULTING IN FINALLY SLAMMING INTO GEAR.

KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. UPON RESEARCH IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE FORD FOCUS. REMEDIES SUGGEST TO MOVE THE PIECE ON THE SHIFT UPWARD, HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT WORKING FOR MY VEHICLE.

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AT AROUND 80,000 MILES TO THE POINT WHERE 2ND AND 3RD GEAR WERE NEARLY NON EXISTENT. WHEN OD LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AUTOZONE TOLD ME THAT SOLENOIDS/TRANSMISSION WERE SHOT. AFTER REPLACING THE SOLENOIDS AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF WITH AN IDENTICAL TRANSMISSION FROM AN IDENTICAL VEHICLE, IT IS APPARENT THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE INDEED FAULTY. IT IS STILL SLIPPING AND SLAMMING INTO GEAR. OVERDRIVE RARELY FUNCTIONS PROPERLY AND TENDS TO SHUT ITSELF OFF.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL AND UPSHIFTED/DOWNSHIFTED AT RANDOM. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE RPMS TO ALSO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

BOUGHT THE CAR FOR MY MOTHER IT HAD 91,000 MILES ON IT AND RAN FINE. IT NOW HAS 106,000 MILES ON IT AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED WITH A BROKEN INTERMEDIATE BAND, LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM AND FOUND LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AND AGAIN. IT WILL SHOW UP AS A SHIFT SOLENOID "D" PROBLEM BUT IF YOU FIX IT, IT WILL NOT HELP. THE BAND IS BROKEN AND MUST BE REPLACED. CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY FROM 2 - 4 GEAR.

CAR SURGES WHEN BRAKING USUALLY UNDER 5 TO 10 MPH. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WANT TO GEAR DOWN. ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING FAST. PROBLEM NOT CONSTANT. TALKED TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE. WHEN IT HAPPENS YOU HAVE STAND ON BRAKE OR PUT IN NEUTRAL TO STOP FORWARD SURGE. *TR

WHEN BRAKING COMING UP TO STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN USUALLY UNDER 15 MPH TRANSMISSION DOES NOT GEAR DOWN AND SEEMS TO SURGE. HAPPENS RANDOMLY. YOU HAVE TO ALMOST STAND ON BRAKES AND SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. SURGE MAY LAST APPROX 5 SECONDS. VARIES DEPENDING ON SPEED YOUR BRAKING FROM. IN THE BEGINNING TALKED TO FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. HAD A FORD ESCORT FOR MY SON IN MID 80'S AND HE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM. VEHICLE NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 72000 MILES AND SEEMS TO GETTING WORSE. I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEMS FOR YEARS AND NOT ACKNOWLEDGED. I WOULD BE VERY SURPRISED IF MANY OTHERS HAVE NOT HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. *JS

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!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,600.... UPDATED 08/19/13 *BF THE SHIFTER WAS REPLACED ON JULY 30, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TR

KEY STUCK IN IGNITION. THE COLUMN WAS NOT LOCKED. ON THE GEAR SHIFT THERE IS A PLASTIC SLEEVE. I PUT THE GEAR SHIFT IN PARK AND SLID MY HAND BELOW THE KNOB AND PULLED THE SLEEVE UP AND THE KEY COMES OUT. *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED IN THE FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY BE RELATED TO FRONT END BEARINGS OR AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

AFTER STARTING THE CAR WHEN IT HAS SET A FEW HOURS THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT IS FLASHES YELLOW, ODOMETER JUST SHOWS DASHES, AND SPEEDOMETER DOSENT WORK. CAR STILL OPERATES BUT SHIFTS GEARS HARD, WHEN IT REACHES THE SPEED FOR DOOR TO LOCK EVERYTHING STARTS WORKING. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE MGMT FUSE, AND HAVE HAD 3 ALTENATORS CHANGED OUT IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. ALSO I HAD A PROBLEM WITH KEY NOT COMING OUT OF IGNITION AND FOUND OUT THAT A PEICE OF THE SHIFTER HAD BROKE OFF AND SLID DOWN AND KEPT IT FROM GOING ALL THE WAY INTO PARK, AFTER REMOVING PART I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE KEY. ALSO ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON WAS TOLD BY AUTO ZONE IT WAS VACCUM SYSTEM TOOK IT TO FORD PLACE THEY SAID IT WAS MOTOR MOUNTS, THEY WERE REPLACED 20,000 MILES AGO AND IT STILL HASNT HELPED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO HESITATE AND SHIFT GEARS ERRATICALLY WITH A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH THE DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIANS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED INTERNAL DAMAGES AND WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE SHIFT SOLENOID AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO INFORMED HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN AND THEY WILL PERFORM A FULL DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT HER EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECOND AND THIRD GEARS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000. UPDATED 09/19/11 *BF UPDATED 2/23/12 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANCE TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE AND UNDER WAY WHEN RPMS RACED UP. IT SEEMED TO BE OUT OF GEAR. TRANSMISSION INDICATED IT WAS IN DRIVE. I THOUGHT THAT THE OD GEAR HAD MALFUNCTIONED. AFTER DISENGAGING THE OD THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE LOCKED IN 2ND GEAR (AS ENGINE RPM & SOUND INDICATED). AFTER TAKING IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP IT WAS DETERMINED THE SHIFT SOLENOIDS WERE OK & IT REQUIRED THE TRANSMISSION TO BE TORN APART FOR INSPECTION. MAZDA PROVIDES THE AUTOMATIC TO FORD. THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT FAIL AT THIS MILEAGE. ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP IT WAS THE 4TH LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE IN A WEEK REQUIRING A COMPLETE REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION.

STOPPING CAR AND PLACING CAR IN PARK SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT GO ALL THE WAY IN PARK AND THE KEYS WILL NOT RELEASE FROM IGNITION. WHEN THE CAR IS RESTARTED THE BUTTON FOR THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTER WILL SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITHOUT PRESSING DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR

O/D LIGHT CAME ON. AUTOMOTIVE SHOP RAN A TEST AND RETRIEVED CODE P0767. SHOP REPLACED THE SOLENOID AND CAR WOULD STILL NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR. SHOP WANTED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BUT I DECLINED AS THE CAR ONLY HAD 52,000 MILES. TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO 2ND OR 4TH GEAR. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A POSSIBLE BROKEN BAND OR FAILED BAND APPLY PISTON. THEY REMOVED THE PAN AND VERIFIED BROKEN BAND. THEY REPLACED THE 2-4 BAND AND INSTALLED NEW BAND APPLY PISTON AT A COST OF $931.22 PLUS THE COST OF A RENTAL CAR AT $101.16. NO CAR SHOULD HAVE A TRANSMISSION FAIL AT 50,000 MILES. I FEEL THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE PARTS USED IN THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT INSTALLING A NEW TRANSMISSION, I WAS CONCERNED THAT THEY WOULD INSTALL THE SAME TRANSMISSION THAT FAILED IN MY CAR. THE SHOP SAID NOT TO WORRY BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALL UPDATED PARTS! THE RESPONSE LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE PARTS IN MY TRANSMISSION WERE DEFECTIVE AND I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED THE COST OF MY REPAIRS. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SINCE THERE WAS NOT A RECALL THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. AGAIN, NO CAR SHOULD HAVE A TRANSMISSION FAIL AT 50,000 MILES. *TR

I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR HESITATING WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS REPEATEDLY HAPPENED. I HAVE A LITTLE OVER 90,300 MILES ON THE CAR. IT REALLY SCARES ME WHEN I'M GOING AT LEAST 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND PRESS THE GAS TO ACCELERATE AND THEN GET THE HESITATION OR PULLBACK AS IF IT IS GOING TO CUT OFF. I'M AFRAID IT IS GOING TO CUT OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING IT. IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING 35 MPH. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND I CUT THE CAR AND START IT BACK UP, THE CLOCK RESETS TO 12:00 AND THE RADIO COMES ON BLASTING. MY LIGHTS FLICKER WHEN IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. THIS HAS NOT HELPED ONE BIT AND I AM OUT $462. THEY HAVE QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $1500 IF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE REPLACEMENT DID NOT WORK. THEY TELL ME IT WILL PROBABLY BE THE PCM THAT NEEDS REPLACING. *TR

THE IGNITION KEY STICKS IN MY 2005 FORD FOCUS. IT CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALS THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT HAS TO DO WITH SHIFTER CABLE THAT COSTS $650. IS IT SAFE? I AM NOT CERTAIN. I AM NOT SURE WHETHER THE SHIFT IS LOCKING ADEQUATELY. WHY HASN'T FORD RECALLED THIS PROBLEM? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT GEARS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4000.

FORD FOCUS 2005, 20,000 MILES CAN NOT REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION DUE TO PROBLEM AFTER SHIFTING THE CAR INTO PARK. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AS WE HAVE DISCOVERED MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH FORD FOCUS FROM 200-2007 HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DANGEROUS ISSUE HERE IS THAT WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE CAR PARKED WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. EVEN THOUGH THE KEY CAN'T BE REMOVED IT CAN STILL START THE CAR AGAIN AND GO. THIS CAR IS LEFT OPEN FOR THIEVES TO STEAL. IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AND IT IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX BY DEALERS SINCE IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. WHY IF THERE ARE SO MANY SITES ON THE WEB WITH OWNERS LIKE MYSELF WITH THIS PROBLEM, NOT BEING ADDRESSED AS A RECALL BY FORD. *TR

I PURCHASED A USED 2005 FORD FOCUS WITH EXACTLY 30,000 MILES ON IT, AROUND 40,000 I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP, FURTHER RESEARCH REVEALED MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THIS SAME THING BEFORE THEY EVEN REACH 60,000. SEEMS TO ME IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. EVEN AFTER BEING LOOKED AT I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY LOTS OF MONEY TO GET IT REPAIRED DUE TO THE WARRANTY ONLY BEING AT THE 40,000 MARK. WHICH THE DEALER NEVER TOLD ME THAT THE WARRANTY THEY OFFERED WAS VOID IF ORIGINAL FACTORY WARRANTY WAS STILL IN EFFECT. IN WHICH I ENDED UP ON THE SHORT END OF THE STICK BECAUSE THEIR WARRANTY THEY GIVE FOR THE USED CARS OUTLASTS WHAT I HAD REMAINING ON THE FACTORY WARRANTY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. SEVERE SLIPPING WHEN TRANSMISSION GOES TO SHIFT INTO THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2005 FORD FOCUS ZX3 AT THE END OF 2004. AT 42,000 MILES THE CLUTCH WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL CARS SINCE FIRST GETTING MY LICENSE OVER 20 YEARS AGO, SO I KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I LOOKED UP INFO ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM (TSB# 05256 NHTSA ID# 10018945 DATED JAN. 1, 2005). NOW THAT THE CLUTCH (WHICH FORD KNEW ABOUT ) WENT BAD, FORD SAYS IT IS NOT A WARRANTY PART AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE, LEAVING ME TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF MY POCKET. I DON'T THINK CUSTOMERS SHOULD PAY FOR FORD'S BAD PARTS. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2005 FOCUS WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY DURING 7 - 16 MARCH 2007. WHILE DOING THE WORK THEY NICKED THE BRAKE LINE JUST ENOUGH TO CREATE A SLOW LEAK. THE LOCATION OF THE LEAK WAS NEAR THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. AFTER ONE DAY OF DRIVING, ALL THE FLUID LEAKED OUT AND THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT. THE DEALERSHIP ARRANGED TO PICK UP THE FOCUS WITH A TOW TRUCK. THEY REPAIRED THE BRAKES (19-23 MAR). ON 23 MAR, MY WIFE PICKED UP THE FOCUS. APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE SHE WAS TURNING LEFT. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT PUSHED HER LEFT ARM DOWN AND TO THE RIGHT, PULLING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, CAUSING HER TO HIT THE CURB. NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS NEARBY OR INVOLVED. SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE FOCUS INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITY, WHERE SHE WAS TREATED FOR CERVICAL INJURY. THE DEALERSHIP PICKED UP THE FOCUS WITH A TOW TRUCK. AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY PUT THE FOCUS UP ON A LIFT AND I INSPECTED THE UNDERCARRIAGE ALONG WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND MECHANIC. THE BRAKE ROTOR WAS COMPLETE SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BENT AT ABOUT A 20 DEGREE ANGLE FROM NORMAL. THE WHEEL WAS NOTICEABLY SCRATCHED AND THE TIRE WAS CUT. THE SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED THAT MY WIFE HIT THE CURB CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. MY WIFE IS ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSING HER TO HIT THE CURB.*AK

ON 2/24/07, I MADE A PURCHASE AT A DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT. I LEANED ACROSS THE CENTER CONSOLE TO PLACE THE ORDER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. WHILE DOING SO, I BUMPED THE GEAR SHIFT AND IT MOVED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE LOCK BUTTON ON THE SIDE OF THE GEAR SHIFT HANDLE. UPON ARRIVING HOME, I TESTED THE GEAR SHIFT HANDLE, AND FOUND I COULD MOVE IT FROM REVERSE TO NEUTRAL TO DRIVE, AND FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL, ALL WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE GEAR SHIFT RELEASE BUTTON. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT UNINTENDED SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS INCIDENT, AND I BELIEVE THE SHIFT RELEASE BUTTON IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THAT. ON THIS VEHICLE, THIS IS A PROBLEM. *JB

THERE WAS SHAKING IN THE FRONT OF MY CAR...I FINALLY WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY 2005 FORD FOCUS AND WHEN THEY CHECKED IT OUT, THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY....THEN IN NOV. 2005 I MOVED TO SYLVA, AND HAVE BEEN TO ANDY SHAW FORD 3 OR 4 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THEM TO CHECK THE SHAKING IN THE FRONT OF MY CAR, TWICE TO BE TOLD THAT MY TIRES WERE OUT OF BALANCE, AND THAT NOTHING ELSE WAS FOUND AT THE TIME...THE FIRST COUPLE TIMES I WENT THERE, I WAS TOLD THAT MY TIRES WERE OUT OF BALANCE, AND THEY CHARGED ME FOR BALANCING MY TIRES...WHICH THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM, NOR DID IT FIX THE PROBLEM...AROUND THE THIRD TIME I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN SYLVA, THEY DID A TEST DRIVE WITH ME IN THE CAR AND WAS TOLD BY TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DEALERSHIP THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR AND THAT IT RODE LIKE ANY OTHER FORD FOCUS...I PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES FOR MY CAR AT A LOCAL TIRE DEALER THIS PAST SATURDAY, AND TODAY I WENT TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND TOLD THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH MY CAR, AND THEY PUT MY CAR UP ON A LIFT, AND STARTED MY CAR AND GAVE IT THE GAS SO THAT MY TWO FRONT TIRES WOULD SPIN, AND THE DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE TIRE WAS NOT SPINNING RIGHT, BUT THE OTHER FRONT TIRE WAS SPINNING SMOOTHLY...THE FELLOW TOLD ME THAT IT COULD BE MY WHEEL, OR MY TIRE, AND I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD JUST PURCHASED NEW TIRES...THEN I WENT BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT MY NEW TIRES, AND ASK THEM WOULD THEY PUT THE DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE ON THE NEW WHEEL THAT I HAD IN MY CAR AND THEY DID AND I TEST DROVE THE CAR, AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED...I TALKED TO A FORD CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT HAS HIS OWN SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE THE TIE ROD, HE WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAD CAME TO HIS SHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SAME TYPE OF CAR, SAME YEAR, AND ALL... I HAVE BEEN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN SALISBURY, NC WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR, AS WELL HAVE MADE SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP HERE IN SYLVA TO BE TOLD THAT MY TIRES WERE OUT OF BALANCE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE SHIFT CABLES CONTINUED TO BREAK. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE AND ONCE PRIOR TO PURCHASE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CABLES TWICE, MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CABLES ONCE, AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW WHAT REPAIRS WERE MADE BEFORE PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL HARD TO GET INTO GEAR. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS BEFORE IT BREAKS. *AK

ONCE ON A 3 LANE EXPRESSWAY (7/29/05) AND ONCE ON A BUSY STREET (8/4/2005), THE STICK SHIFT DISCONNECTED ITSELF FROM THE TRANSMISSION LEAVING ME IN NEUTRAL THE FIRST TIME AND 1ST GEAR THE SECOND TIME. THE 2005 (245 MILES ON IT) FORD FOCUS LEFT ME IN A SITUATION WHERE I WAS A SITTING DUCK AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED THE FIRST TIME AND YELLED AT THE SECOND TIME. THE DEALER (FRONTIER FORD, SANTA CLARA, CA) RECONNECTED THE LINKAGE THE FIRST TIME IT WAS TOWED IN. IT FAILED AGAIN ON 8/4 AND WAS TOWED IN AGAIN. NOW THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE 8/4/2005 AWAITING PARTS. THE DEALER SAID MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE TO EXHIBIT THIS FAILURE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY HAZARD AND FORD IS DOING NOTHING TO FIX IT BUT TELL ME THAT THE CABLE ASSEMBLY IS ON ORDER. *NM

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2005 FORD FOCUS ZX4 IN DECEMBER OF 2005. UPON DELIVERY I NOTICED MY CAR HAD A HARD TIME STARTING AND THE WHOLE ENGINE WOULD SHAKE AND KNOCK. AFTER A MONTH I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. THE CONDITION CONTINUED AND I TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM BUT ASKED TO KEEP IT FOR AN OVERNIGHT START. I BROUGHT IT IN A FEW DAYS LATER SO THEY COULD KEEP IT OVER NIGHT AND THEY FOUND A BULLETIN BY FORD SAYING THEY KNOW THERE IS A HARD START PROBLEM BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. I THEN HAD TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT REPLACED BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T UNLATCH OCCASIONALLY. I THEN HAD TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CASING REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS DISCOLORED. THEN ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 62 MILES AN HOUR AND MY CLUTCH WENT OUT AND MY CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER CAR AND HAD TO WEIGHT IN 90 DEGREE WEATHER FOR 2 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK TO COME. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO FORD AND THEY SAID MY FLY WHEEL HAD CRUMBLED AND MY CLUTCH WAS BAD. IT TOOK THEM 9 DAYS TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH. A DAY LATER MY CAR WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT WITHOUT GRINDING AND I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THAT THIS TIME THEY HAD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT WAS RUINED AS WELL. TO THIS DAY MY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR 32 DAYS JUST FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. MY CAR IS ONLY 8 MONTHS OLD AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR OR DIAGNOSIS FOR A TOTAL OF 45 DAYS SO FAR. NEITHER WENDLE MOTORS OR FORD WILL REPLACE THE CAR SO I AM PERUSING A LEMON LAW CASE. *JB

DT: 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH. THE FIRST INDICATION WAS THAT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT RIGHT AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. THE CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 3RD GEAR. THE PART WAS ON BACK-ORDER, AND THERE WERE SO MANY ON ORDER THAT THERE WAS NO KNOWN DATE WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. *JB

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

2005 FORD FOCUS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS.*MR THE TRANSMISSION WHINED AT LOW SPEEDS (40-50 MPH). FORD REFUSED TO SEND A FACTORY REP. *NM

TRANSMISSION SLIPS & ERRATIC SHIFTS. *NM