2003 Ford Focus Latches/locks/linkages Problems
Owners have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA about latches/locks/linkages problems on the 2003 Ford Focus, 8% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 66,666 miles. The words owners use most often: “key turn” (20% of reports).
- 82latches/locks/linkages complaints
- 66,666median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $510typical repair cost reported by owners
- 27%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Key turn: mentioned in 16 of 82 complaints (20%)
- Doors latch: mentioned in 8 of 82 complaints (10%)
- Rear door: mentioned in 8 of 82 complaints (10%)
- Ignition cylinder: mentioned in 6 of 82 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical latches/locks/linkages repair on the 2003 Ford Focus at $510, and half of them between $450 and $630.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2011), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do latches/locks/linkages problems happen?
Based on 67 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 82 complaints, 1 a fire.
Ford Focus latches/locks/linkages complaints by model year
| Model year | Latches/locks/linkages complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Focus | 1 | 0% | 32,800 |
| 2017 Focus | 1 | 0% | 26,000 |
| 2016 Focus | 2 | 0% | 125,000 |
| 2015 Focus | 8 | 1% | 60,000 |
| 2014 Focus | 47 | 2% | 43,000 |
| 2013 Focus | 53 | 3% | 77,671 |
| 2012 Focus | 134 | 4% | 67,500 |
| 2011 Focus | 17 | 15% | 48,445 |
| 2010 Focus | 31 | 11% | 40,000 |
| 2009 Focus | 18 | 8% | 42,150 |
| 2008 Focus | 25 | 10% | 51,488 |
| 2007 Focus | 30 | 8% | 65,424 |
| 2006 Focus | 14 | 7% | 84,574 |
| 2005 Focus | 50 | 11% | 71,000 |
| 2004 Focus | 28 | 7% | 75,000 |
| 2003 Focus | 82 | 8% | 66,666 |
| 2002 Focus | 45 | 5% | 70,000 |
| 2001 Focus | 66 | 4% | 75,000 |
| 2000 Focus | 201 | 5% | 72,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles with four or five doors and originally sold in or currently registered in connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia, a build-up of corrosion at the pawl pivot area of the rear door latch can cause a binding condition of the pawl that may affect proper engagement of the pawl into the catch. The occupant may experience difficulty opening or closing a rear door, and eventually the rear door may not latch properly.
Risk: If not latched properly, the door may open while the vehicle is in motion. If an occupant fell out of the vehicle, personal injuries could occur.
Fix: Dealers will have a lower rocker seal added to the door and have the rear door latches evaluated free of charge. A latch that passes the evaluation will be lubricated to prevent future corrosion. A latch that does not pass the evaluation will be replaced. In addition, a sticker will be affixed to the rear doors advising the owners to use the recommended lubricant. The recall began on march 9, 2005. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact stated that all of the doors failed to unlatch without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 05v030000 (latches/locks/linkages). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford focus. The contact stated that the rear doors failed to latch. The contact had to use a bungee cord to keep the doors closed; however, they would open every time a turn was made. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the…
(1st) it was passenger rear door latch wouldn't stay latched, door come open during driving, (2nd) a month later trunk wouldn't latch, then (3rd) 2 months later driver side rear door came open during driving, wouldn't latch. Daughter almost fell out and car almost hit door when it flew open. I had…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Ford Focuss have latches/locks/linkages problems?
No. NHTSA has 82 owner complaints about latches/locks/linkages for the 2003 Ford Focus (8% of the 977 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Ford Focus latches/locks/linkages?
Yes: 1 safety recall list latches/locks/linkages. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do latches/locks/linkages problems start?
The median reported mileage is 66,666 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix latches/locks/linkages problems on the 2003 Ford Focus?
Owners report a typical cost of $510 (half paid between $450 and $630), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about latches/locks/linkages problems on the 2003 Ford Focus?
The most frequent phrase is “key turn”, in 16 of 82 complaints, followed by “doors latch” (8).
Other 2003 Ford Focus problems
See all 2003 Ford Focus problems or latches/locks/linkages problems across all Focus years.