2013 Ford Focus Latches/locks/linkages Problems
Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about latches/locks/linkages problems on the 2013 Ford Focus, 3% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 77,671 miles. The words owners use most often: “door latch” (28% of reports).
- 53latches/locks/linkages complaints
- 77,671median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- 30%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.
- Door latch: mentioned in 15 of 53 complaints (28%)
- Front driver: mentioned in 7 of 53 complaints (13%)
At what mileage do latches/locks/linkages problems happen?
Based on 31 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 53 complaints, 1 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 (4)
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:hatchback/liftgate:lock; structure:body:hatchback/liftgate
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Ford Focus hatchback vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 26, 2016 and equipped with a manual transmission. The hatchback of the affected vehicles may be unlatched with a single press of the interior latch release button. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
Risk: With only a single press needed, the driver may accidently unlatch the hatchback, increasing the risk of injury to any unsecured passengers in the back.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began February 10, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C13.
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.
Latches/locks/linkages
Problem: Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Focus and C-Max vehicles built from November 16, 2012, through November 21, 2012; and model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from November 14, 2012, through November 21, 2012. The left rear door child lock was built incorrectly. As a result, the child lock may not engage when the operator uses normal force to activate the child lock.
Risk: The operator may incorrectly believe the child lock is engaged. However, the door may be opened from the inside, increasing the risk of injury to an unrestrained child.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected rear door latches, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue…
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the trunk independently unlatched. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately…
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the doors failed to stay locked, and the trunk failed to unlock as needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Ford Focuss have latches/locks/linkages problems?
No. NHTSA has 53 owner complaints about latches/locks/linkages for the 2013 Ford Focus (3% of the 2,112 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 2013 Ford Focus latches/locks/linkages?
Yes: 4 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 77,671 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about latches/locks/linkages problems on the 2013 Ford Focus?
The most frequent phrase is “door latch”, in 15 of 53 complaints, followed by “front driver” (7).
Other 2013 Ford Focus problems
- Power Train problems (1,102)
- Engine problems (344)
- Electrical System problems (276)
- Steering problems (273)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (209)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (112)
- Structure problems (84)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (53)
See all 2013 Ford Focus problems or latches/locks/linkages problems across all Focus years.