2001 Ford Focus Door Lock & Latch Problems

Which parts fail

• Doors › Latch
  35
• Trunk lid › Lock
  4
• Tailgate › Latch
  1

Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  24%
• 25k–50k
  920%
• 50k–75k
  1124%
• 75k–100k
  613%
• 100k–150k
  1431%
• 150k+
  37%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the rear driver's door latch ceased to function. The failure occurred without warning. Kunes Ford was contacted (1234 e geneva st, delavan, wi) and referred the contact to NHTSA. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 199,000.

I own a 2001 Ford Focus. Problems started one month after purchase. Window wiper motor blew but was under warrenty. Then after warrenty expired everything started to go wrong. Trunk hood would not latch closed, then door latches started to stick , then had to climb into passenger seat to open drivers side door because it would not unlock and door handle plays games and opens door when it wants to. Fuel pump had a recall, thank god because I kept stalling on highway. Then while driving home from work the back passenger side door flew open on highway, almost caused accident. Then engine blew with only 123,000 miles on it. I have all oil change records to prove engine oil was changed every 3,000 miles give or take 20. Engine had to be replaced and that left me without a car for a week. Paid $1900 for an engine from a totaled Focus. …

My daughter was driving on the freeway when her car just died, while driving. It started up again immediately, but it has happened several times in the last month. I went online to view recalls, and it stated that 2001 Ford Focus had a recall on this issue. I also found 2 other items that are happening to this vehicle that were also recalls. I made an appointment with the dealer to have these recalls fixed, but when they pulled up the VIN number, they said that there were no recalls for this particular car. The other recall I found was the electrical system, and battery failure. I have already burned up one battery because of this issue. The recall states that the cabes overheat and May melt. This vehicle did this as well. The other recall is where the latch on the back door begins to not latch properly, causing the door to come open while driving. …

So many problems don't know where to start, OK lets talk about the doors. We bought the car new in 2001 and almost immediately started experiencing difficulties. The trunk wouldn't latch and the door light would be on or it would latch but wouldn't come open we complained to the dealer they would "adjust"it. However, the problem would be back in a day or two, and it was getting worse. The doors started to jam,and fly open while moving. Took it to the dealer and they told us to call Ford company complaint line and they said it was a mileage problem,and they explicitly said they would not help. We have called the dealer and the Ford motor co. Many times and they are no longer helping,even though the mechanic at the dealer said the doors had internal damage. …

The driver side front tire had blown out. The passenger side tire was found worn on the inside along with an exposed wire. (these two tires were not of the same manufacturer) other problem were as followed: the button on the cassette player had broken, the adjuster button for the side view mirror on the passenger side had popped off, while driving the over drive light flashed and the vehicle jumped in/out of over drive (transmission problem-per mechanic), the battery light came on, there were no fuses in the wires under the passenger seat, trunk lock popped off, A/C button light on the dash came on when the heat was on, the brakes squealed(since purchase), there was a blind spot on the passenger side mirror, and when the headlights were on, the driver was unable to see other vehicle's due to the seats being too high. Mr scc

I bought my Focus brand new in 2001. After about a year I noticed the two back doors were difficult to open and close. There was minimal use of the back doors until about one year ago. I began to use them frequently noticing the interior light remaining on while driving and the doors slightly open. On a couple occasions, a door would swing open while driving. I was able to open them when they were locked b/c they never were shut completely. I went to the dealership to have them look at them and they said if was $300 a door to have the latches replaced. I bungeed the doors shut and refuse to fork over the money to replace the latches. I have put so much money into this car since the warranty has been up and feel that Ford should recall this item so I can drive safely in their Focus.

My son & I got done eating I left the restaurant parking lot & thought I would stop by the next place when my rear passenger side door opened up out into traffic. Lucky no one was riding in the back. And no accident happen. After several attempts of playing with the lock I got it to close & haven't used that door since. I made several attempts in contacting Ford directly and all I got was a survey form which had nothing to do with my problem. Back in 2005 when they recalled my car for failure on door locks I had taken it to valley view Ford and had it serviced. Now three years later the problem exists and nobody wants to do anything about it. Maybe it takes someone to die and sue them. Very unhappy with Ford, I now will never buy another Ford again.

Driving down the highway our children rolled down the back power windows and they would not go back up - swerved into other lane trying to contain the situation because of the noise from the traffic has to exit the highway immediately to note that the windows would no longer go up - had to manually push them up to keep them up - although while driving they will go back down - which cause a jump in reflexes. To temporarily fix the problem we have applied duct tape. Also when it rains there is now water accumulating on the passenger floor board and spreads to the back seat floor board - has door seals checked and will replace although this is a real health concern because of rust and mold.

Tl contact owns a 2001 Ford Focus. She received a recall notice for the rear door handles which were repaired at the manufacturer's expense (see NHTSA campaign id 05V030000). The front passenger door came open due to a defective door handle while the contact was driving. The manufacturer was contacted and advised her to take the vehicle to the dealer where they would further investigate the defect. Repairs to the passenger door were scheduled with the dealer at the owner's expense. She also stated that the engine failed and was replaced per the extended warranty. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 97,000 and the current mileage was 124,000.

I parked my car on the side of the street and turned it off. When I came back to it about 20 minutes later I put the key in the ignition but it would not turn. The key would not turn forward or backward at all. I tried moving the steering wheel back and forth to try and get the key to move but then my steering wheel completely locked up as well. I was then unable to move anything on my car and it was stuck on the side of the road in a metered parking space. I had to call a tow truck which cost $69. I had it taken to the nearest Ford dealership and they replaced the ignition lock which cost me $530.73. This is the second time my ignition has been locked up.

Related recalls

Door Lock & Latch complaints in other Focus years