2005 Ford Focus Brakes Problems
19 owner-reported brakes complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (19)
WAS DRIVING AN 05 FORD FOCUS ZXW IN LIGHT RAIN AT ABOUT 40 MPH GOING UPHILL ON A MAJOR ROADWAY (55MPH SPEED LIMIT). VEHICLE IN FRONT BY ABOUT 40 FT STOPPED AND I HIT THE BRAKES. UPON HITTING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO START A GRADUAL SLIDE AND NEVER ALLOWED ITSELF TO REGAIN TRACTION.
THREE TIMES SINCE THE CAR'S PURCHASE IN LATE 2005 I HAVE EXPERIENCED A 'BRAKE FADE, SOFT PEDAL" ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN 3 TIMES TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP CROWN FORD IN REDDING, CA FOR THE PROBLEM AND WAS DISMISSED BY THE DEALER AS THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM! SINCE THEN THE WARRANTY HAS ENDED ON THE VEHICLE BUT THE ISSUE REMAINS AND OCCURS A FEW TIMES EACH YEAR! EVERY TIME IS A SCARY SITUATION, I AM SURE ONE DAY THE VEHICLE WILL JUST NOT STOP!!! YOU PRESS THE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL FADES TO THE FLOOR, YOU HAVE TO LET UP ON THE PEDAL AND THEN PRESS IT A COUPLE TIMES TO PUMP UP PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE! WE HAD WAITED FOR A RECALL FROM FORD AND NOTHING! LAST NIGHT 12.27/2016 I SAW ON THE NEWS THAT A PROBE HAS BEEN OPENED FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT ON NEWER MODEL YEARS OF FORD AND MERCURY BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE FOCUS! FORD MOTOR CORP NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON THIS AND OPEN A FULL RECALL TO REPAIR THE ISSUE BEFORE MORE TRAGEDIES OCCUR!!! THE TIMES WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURS IS ALWAYS ON BUSY STREETS, AT SIGNALS OR STOP SIGNS.
1. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WAS A WHISTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE AREA OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHILE STOPPED WITH PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL CONTINUED TO DEPRESS. THE CAR STILL WAS ABLE TO STOP. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ABS CONTROL MODULE, PART NUMBER 5S4Z-2M110-B MODULATOR 165686. I HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
I JUST HAD MY ROTORS AND BRAKES REPLACED, BUT THEY CANNOT FIND OUT WHY THEY ARE WEARING OUT SO SOON. WE ARE TALKING 3<MONTHS. THEY SAID THERE IS NO ISSUE, BUT I NOW HAVE PROOF THERE IS. WE HAVE ANOTHER FOCUS THAT I TOOK TO THE STREET I LIVE ON. I GOT UP TO 30MPH AND COASTED TO A CERTAIN PLACE NEAR THE END OF THE STREET. THE FOCUS WITH NO ISSUE WAS STILL GOING 23MPH AT THAT LOCATION. I DID THE SAME THING WITH THE ONE I JUST HAD THE ROTARS AND BRAKES REPLACED ON. ON THAT ONE I WAS ONLY GOING 5MPH. AS SOON AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES DRIVING IT BACK I KNEW THERE WAS AN ISSUE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUSH THE BRAKES DOWN NEAR AS FAR AS I COULD ON THE GOOD FOCUS. WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY, THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH HELPED SOME, BUT DID NOT COMPELETELY FIX THE ISSUE. THE WARRENTY COMPANY ALSO REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE ROTATION OF THE ROTERS AND BRAKES EVEN THOUGH THE FORD DEALERSHIP MECHANICS TOLD THEM IT WAS DUE TO THE MASTER CYLINDER BEING THE PROBLEM, SO I HAD TO PAY FOR THAT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS ZX4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKING FROM UNKNOWN SPEEDS IN RAINY WEATHER, THE BRAKES LOCKED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A FENCE AND THEN COLLIDE WITH THE CURB. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE REAR BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED SIX TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ELEVEN TIMES WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT PROVIDED ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,463 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212.
THE INNER BRAKE PADS ON THE FRONT AXLES ARE PRONE TO BINDING DUE TO RUST. THE CLEARANCES ARE VERY TIGHT. THIS CAUSES PREMATURE, UNEVEN BRAKE AND ROTOR WEAR ONCE THE PAD RUSTS UP AND STOPS FLOATING. MY PADS JUST FAILED AFTER 42K MILES; YET THE OUTER PADS WERE OVER 1/4" THICK. I PROPOSE A SEVERAL-PART REMEDY (FIRST 3 TO BE DONE BY SERVICING TECHNICIAN): 1. EXAMINE THE PADS MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THE USUAL ONCE A YEAR REQUIRED BY TYPICAL SAFETY INSPECTIONS; PULL THE WHEELS AND CHECK FOR MOVEMENT OF THE INBOARD PADS. THE PADS MAY HAVE TO BE RETRACTED WITH A C CLAMP SO THEY HAVE ROOM TO MOVE. 2. IF THE PADS ARE FROZEN, REMOVE BRAKE DISK AND PADS AND REMOVE RUST ON THE SLIDING SURFACE DOWN TO BARE METAL WITH A FLAT FILE, UNTIL PADS SLIDE FREELY. 3. LUBRICATE SURFACES WITH MOLYKOTE OR SIMILAR ANTI-SEIZE COMPOUND. 4. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REVIEW THE DESIGN WITH BRAKE VENDORS TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION WHICH COULD BE INCORPORATED INTO REPLACEMENT PADS. IF SLIGHTLY SHORTER PADS ARE THE ANSWER, THEY SHOULD INCLUDE ANTI-RATTLE MEASURES. ALSO, A SQUEALER SPRING SHOULD BE ADDED TO CONTACT THE BRAKE DISK WHEN THE PAD IS ALMOST GONE TO GIVE AN AUDIBLE WARNING TO THE DRIVER. THESE WORK WELL ON CHRYSLERS (I DON'T KNOW WHO MAKES THEM). *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START, BUT ONCE IT DID, IT STALLED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE ROTORS WERE REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED PERIODICALLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
I NOTICED THAT WHEN I BOUGHT MY 2005 FOCUS THAT THE ROTORS ALREADY HAD GROOVES IN THEM. THE BRAKE PADS ALSO WORE OUT EXTREMELY QUICK. THE OTHER DAY I GOT HOME FROM WORK AND WENT TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND THE KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HAVE HAD TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OVER NIGHT. I AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN HOW MUCH OTHERS HAVE PAID AND I JUST DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. *TR
FRONT BRAKES WERE UNEVEN BADLY IN SHOP AT BARTOW FORD NUMBER OF TIMES NEVER FIX WORK ON IT TILL THE WARRANTY WAS UP NOW MY FAMILY IS STUCK WITH PAYMENTS ON A UNSAFE CAR. *TR
I OWN A 2004 AND 2005 FORD FOCUS. ONE IS AN SE AND ONE A ZX3. THE FRONT BRAKES ON THE 2004 WENT OUT AT 32,000 MILES AND THE 2005 WENT OUT AT 40000 MILES. BOTH VEHICLES ARE DRIVEN NICELY. ON BOTH THERE WAS A SLIGHT GRINDING FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN TOTAL PAD FAILURE IN THE RIGHT INSIDE PAD. FORD SAYS THE PADS I BOUGHT FROM THE DEALER ARE LIFETIME WARRANTY BUT THE SYSTEM WHEN NEW CARRIES NO WARRANTY. BY THE TIME PROBLEMS ARE NOTICED, IT'S TOO LATE AND BOTH THE PADS AND ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
WHILE DRIVING IN THE EARLY MORNING OR EVENNGS I NOTICE THAT THE ABS LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT GLOW ON. THEY COME ON AND GO OFF. LAST EVENING THE CAR WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE DOORS LOCKED AND WINDOWS UP. THE DOME LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF SEVERAL TIMES. I LOOKED INTO THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE OIL LIGHT AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WERE ON WHEN THE DOME LIGHT WAS OFF. ALSO, WHEN THE DOOR AJAR AND OIL LIGHT ARE ON, THE WIRELESS REMOTES DO NOT WORK. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE ABS AND BATTERY LIGHT 2 TIMES WITH NO RESOLVE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE TODAY WITH VIDEO OF THE DOME LIGHT, OIL LIGHT, AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT. *NM
THE VEHICLE HAS A CHRONIC FAILURE IN THE REAR BRAKES, THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE OCTOBER 2005. THE VEHICLE IS A 2005 FORD FOCUS WAGON. THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE, THE CAR SKIDS, AND THEY SQUEAL. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP OVER A HALF A DOZEN TIMES. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A GRINDING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT END. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO HEAR THE NOISE WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE, BUT REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS IN AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR IT. THE TRUNK LATCH DID OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 05/30/06. *AK
I HAVE A 2005 FORD FOCUS ZX5 WITH 19,000 MILES ON IT THAT I PURCHASES ON 2-16-2006. I HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL 2-22-2006. MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND HIS GRANDMOTHER WAS IN THE CAR WITH HIM AN HE TRIED TO STOP AT A STOP LIGHT, WHEN HE HIT THE BRAKES THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. HE PUMPED THE BRAKES 3-4 TIMES AND THEN JAMMED ON THEM. WHEN HE JAMMED ON THEM THE CAR SLIP INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. WHEN OUR CAR STOPPED THE ENGINE WAS RACING. HE TURNED THE CAR OFF. WE TRIED TO START THE CAR A COUPLE OF OTHER TIMES AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT BUT THE MOTOR WOULD STILL RACE UNTIL THE POLICE OFFICER OPENED THE HOOD. THIS CAUSED FRONT END DAMAGE TO OUR FOCUS AND DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HE HIT. THE OTHER VEHICLE ALSO HAD A PERSONAL INJURY THAT WAS REPORTED LATER. THERE HAS BEEN NOT CORRECTIVE ACTION DONE TO THIS POINT. *NM
I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION NEAR MY HOME. THE STREET WAS WET, AND WHEN I DETERMINED THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP, I APPLIED FULL BRAKING. MY VEHICLE DOES HAVE ABS, BUT MY WHEELS FULLY LOCKED. I REAR ENDED A 1994 FULL SIZE CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH. MY CHIEF COMPLAINT IS THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THAT THE ABS BRAKING WAS ESSENTIALLY NON-EFFECTIVE. THIS ACCIDENT WAS MY FAULT, HOWEVER, I DID EXPECT THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON MY VEHICLE TO WORK. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING INSPECTED FOR REPAIR. *JB
2005 FORD FOCUS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT AND THE TIRE TREAD ON THE FRONT TWO TIRES.*MR THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WHERE BAD. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER ALL FOCUS DISC BRAKES WEAR LIKE THAT, WITH GROOVES ON ROTORS AND PADS . CONSUMER'S SON WAS ON I-95 AND HAD TO STOP FAST AND TIRES GOT SOFT SPOTS AND FLATTEN OUT AND TREAD CAME APART. MANUFACTURER WOULDN'T WARRANTY THE 2 FRONT TIRES AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO BUY NEW ONES. *BF
I HAVE A BRAKE PROBLEM WITH MY 2005 FORD FOCUS THAT IS SIMILAR TO ALL FOCUS BUYERS AND IT BECOMING A SERIOUS PROBLEM PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BRAKE ISSUE.*AK
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