Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||||
| 0645 | 01/01/2006 | 0671 | 10019947 | Neutral tow capability - service kit requirements. *tt | 05/17/2006 |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||||
| 18477 | 03/01/2005 | 10014667 | Harsh transmission engagement and or dtc p0705. *eh | 05/05/2005 | |
| 18321 | 12/01/2004 | 10014596 | Harsh transmission engagement and or dtc p0705. *eh | 05/04/2005 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) | |||||
| 042107 | 12/13/2004 | 042414 | 10014086 | General (pcm) power train control module programming procedures. *tt | 04/28/2005 |
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 18463 | 03/01/2005 | 10014656 | Vent leak. *eh | 05/05/2005 | |
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 05256 | 01/01/2005 | 10018945 | Mtx-75 premature clutch failure. *tt | 01/25/2006 | |
| 18311 | 11/01/2004 | 10013430 | Clutch returnability issues - service tip. *tt | 04/18/2005 | |
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | |||||
| 0581 | 06/07/2005 | 10017922 | Difficult or unable to shift into 5th gear. *tt | 12/07/2005 | |
| 04215 | 11/01/2004 | 10013367 | Difficulty changing gears - unable to engage gears. *tt | 04/15/2005 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||
| 02/01/2013 | 94000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 10/22/2010 | 205000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2005 for focus zxw station wagon. the contact stated that when the key was in the ignition and the shift over ride button was depressed, the key would become locked in the ignition. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the vehicle was operating as designed. the contact glued the shift over ride button in place and changed the ignition, which resolved the failure. the contact also stated the metal frame of the driver's seat became cracked. the contact had to prop the seat up so that he could drive the vehicle. in addition, the contact stated that the central control timer failed, causing the electrical system to perform erratically. the manufacturer was contacted and a complaint was filed. the vehicle was not further repaired. the failure mileage was 205,000. | |||
| 09/20/2012 | 68000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 09/20/2012 | 68000 | ||
| 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. pmb | |||
| 09/20/2012 | 68000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2005 ford focus wagon. the contact was traveling 65 mph when the brakes were depressed and when the acclertor was depressed the vehicle failed to acclerate propelry. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the dealer confirmed solenid in the transmission needed to be replaced. the manfacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was repaired. the failure and current mileages were 68,000. rds | |||
| 09/06/2011 | 153000 | ||
| 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. pmb | |||
| 11/06/2007 | 43000 | ||
| 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. kmj | |||
| 11/06/2011 | 80000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2005 ford focus. the contact stated that the key became locked in the ignition and would not allow her to start the vehicle. the manufacturer was contacted and they advised her to take the vehicle to the dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileages were approximately 80,000. kmj | |||
| 11/06/2007 | 43000 | ||
| 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. js | |||
| 11/06/2011 | 80000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2005 ford focus. the contact stated that the key became locked in the ignition and would not allow her to start the vehicle. the manufacturer was contacted and they advised her to take the vehicle to the dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileages were approximately 80,000. kmj | |||
| 11/06/2011 | 80000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2005 ford focus. the contact stated that when placing her key in the ignition, it locked and would not allow her to start the vehicle. the vehicle was towed home. the manufacturer was contacted and they advised her to take it to a dealer. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were approximately 80,000. tb | |||
| 09/21/2010 | 43000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 09/21/2010 | 43000 | ||
| 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. kmj | |||
| 09/21/2010 | 43000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2005 ford focus. the contact stated the transmission does not shift into second or third gear. the vehicle was taken to a mechanic who inspected the failure and stated the shift solenoid and transmission needed to be replace. the dealer was notified who informed her to bring the vehicle in and they will run a diagnostic test at the owners expense. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 43,000. mw | |||
| 01/15/2009 | 66000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 09/02/2010 | 62000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 09/15/2005 | 19000 | 8 | 04/10/2005 |
| 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 | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 07/10/2011 | 38000 | ||
| 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. sm. | |||
| 07/10/2011 | 38000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2005 ford focus. the contact stated that her 2nd and 3rd gears had failed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they advised her that the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired for the transmission. approximately 50,000 miles later the failure had occurred again with the transmission slipping. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 38,000. tb | |||
| 09/14/2010 | 67000 | ||
| Stopping car and placing car in park sometimes the car will not go all the way in park and the key's 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. | |||
| 06/22/2010 | 52000 | ||
| 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 becuase 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 | |||
| 02/24/2010 | 53000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 07/14/2009 | 20000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 04/02/2009 | 40000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 03/23/2007 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 11/01/2004 | 1 | 10/15/2004 | |
| 2005 ford focus automatic transmission complaints.*mr the transmission whined at low speeds (40-50 mph). ford refused to send a factory rep. *nm | |||
| 10/15/2004 | 25 | 10/15/2004 | |
| Complaint received via e-mail. problem concerned annoying low speed transmission at 40-50 mph. ford refuses to send a factory representative. *ak | |||
| 08/05/2004 | 06/03/2004 | ||
| Transmission slips & erratic shifts. *nm | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - COLUMN SHIFT | |||
| 09/09/2005 | 14 | 4 | 09/03/2005 |
| 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 | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - FLOOR SHIFT | |||
| 02/24/2007 | 26150 | 1 | 05/31/2005 |
| 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 | |||
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | |||
| 01/01/2005 | 9000 | 6 | 12/01/2004 |
| 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 | |||
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY - PEDAL/LINKAGE | |||
| 06/22/2007 | 6 | 01/13/2005 | |
| I purchased a 2005 ford focus in january 2005. approximately 14 months after the purchase the car started having major power train failure. this has resulted in the repair/replacement of the engine, the clutch 3 times, the transmission, and the shifting cables. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE | |||
| 02/07/2010 | 39171 | 1 | |
| 2005 ford focus passanger side a arm bolt holding the a arm to the wheel lossend and just one bolt fell out on the road causing the tire and the remainder of the front wheel assembly to jam under the fender pulling the axle out of the transmission stopping the car thankfull that the car was going slow and stopped and not on a freeway at a high rate of speed. this car has only 39171 miles and had been to the ford dealer frequent for a noise problem that they could not find the noise and never fixed the problem. this car has been in the family and has not been abused comments were made at the repair shop as to the amount of damage the lack of one bolt caused and that lucky as to the speed to which it came apart this event could have been alot worse. the speed was about 25 mph going thru a roundabout traffic signal north bound and continuing to the north making a right starting in the round about then a left in the roundabout and a right leaving the roundabout the wheel jamed under the fender stopping the car in its tracks just clearing the roundabout got out to inspect the reason the car stopped and the passanger wheel was turned right and under the fender the left wheel was facing correct straight ahead. *cn | |||
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | |||
| 07/25/2005 | 4000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 07/17/2005 | 1200 | 1 | |
| I was driving without any warning a pop sound and my clutch would not go into any gears. i had to force it into second gear all the way home. total of 3 failures approx. 1 month apart final result on my third trip for repairs ended with me unable to stop in time which caused me rear ending the back of a truck. i damaged the front of my car. after numerous attempts to repair my car both engine and body i still have no car. my car has 1,200 miles on it. 2005 ford focus bought brand new from dealership and unable to go anywhere in it. i don't have the old parts. the lady told me that she would check into it to see if the damages would be covered by them. considering the accident would not of happened in the first place if they would of fixed my car right the first time. either way she called me to let me know they weren't going to cover it. *tr | |||
| 05/21/2008 | 42000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 07/29/2005 | 245 | 2 | 07/07/2005 |
| 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 | |||
| 06/26/2005 | 15000 | 1 | 10/01/2004 |
| 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 | |||
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION - FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY | |||
| 06/22/2007 | 6 | 01/13/2005 | |
| I purchased a 2005 ford focus in january 2005. approximately 14 months after the purchase the car started having major power train failure. this has resulted in the repair/replacement of the engine, the clutch 3 times, the transmission, and the shifting cables. *ak | |||