2012 Ford Focus Latches/locks/linkages Problems
Owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA about latches/locks/linkages problems on the 2012 Ford Focus, 4% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 67,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “side door” (56% of reports).
- 134latches/locks/linkages complaints
- 67,500median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 29%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.
- Side door: mentioned in 75 of 134 complaints (56%)
- Rear driver: mentioned in 28 of 134 complaints (21%)
- Failed latch: mentioned in 22 of 134 complaints (16%)
- Opened independently: mentioned in 12 of 134 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do latches/locks/linkages problems happen?
Based on 98 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 134 complaints, 2 mention a crash.
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 (2)
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages); however, the part to do the recall repair was denied. The contact stated that upon further inspection, the front driverâs side door failed to remain closed. The…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the rear driverâs side door failed to open as intended. The contact used force to attempt to open the door and failed. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that when the vehicle was purchased, she was informed that the…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the front driver's side door failed to latch securely while closed. The contact stated that the door occasionally unintendedly opened while driving. The contact stated that the failure required him to drive with an arm out the window…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2012 Ford Focuss have latches/locks/linkages problems?
No. NHTSA has 134 owner complaints about latches/locks/linkages for the 2012 Ford Focus (4% of the 3,769 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 2012 Ford Focus latches/locks/linkages?
Yes: 2 safety recalls 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 67,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about latches/locks/linkages problems on the 2012 Ford Focus?
The most frequent phrase is “side door”, in 75 of 134 complaints, followed by “rear driver” (28).
Other 2012 Ford Focus problems
- Power Train problems (1,446)
- Steering problems (927)
- Engine problems (475)
- Electrical System problems (352)
- Structure problems (332)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (284)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (166)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (56)
See all 2012 Ford Focus problems or latches/locks/linkages problems across all Focus years.