Ford Focus Latches/locks/linkages Problems
Owners have filed 853 complaints with NHTSA about latches/locks/linkages problems on the Ford Focus across 19 model years. The 2000 model year has the most (201). The words owners use most often: “side door” (23% of reports).
- 853latches/locks/linkages complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 12mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 5related recalls
- $530typical 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.
- Side door: mentioned in 199 of 853 complaints (23%)
- Rear passenger: mentioned in 94 of 853 complaints (11%)
- Latch failed: mentioned in 43 of 853 complaints (5%)
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 Ford Focus at $530, and half of them between $370 and $790.
Based on 43 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2021), 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 594 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 853 complaints, 12 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 5 an injury.
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 (5)
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Model years: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
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
Model years: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
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
Model years: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
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
Model years: 2013
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.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Model years: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
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.
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 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 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…
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, all four doors opened, prompting the driver to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where he became aware of the failure to securely lock the doors. The door-ajar warning light was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Focuss have latches/locks/linkages problems?
No. NHTSA has 853 owner complaints about latches/locks/linkages for the Ford Focus. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Focus latches/locks/linkages?
Yes: 5 safety recalls list latches/locks/linkages. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix latches/locks/linkages problems on the Ford Focus?
Owners report a typical cost of $530 (half paid between $370 and $790), from 43 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about latches/locks/linkages problems on the Ford Focus?
The most frequent phrase is “side door”, in 199 of 853 complaints, followed by “rear passenger” (94).
Other Ford Focus problems
- Power Train problems (6,803)
- Electrical System problems (4,342)
- Engine problems (2,318)
- Steering problems (2,099)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (1,440)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (1,281)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (1,158)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (1,076)
See all Ford Focus problems.