Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the rear passenger side door latch fractured. The contact stated that the rear passenger side door was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 05V030000 (latches, locks, linkages). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Focus. While driving at any speed over a bump in the road, the hatch door indicator light display illuminated. The rear hatch latch opened on its own. The failure recurred numerous times. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V246000 (latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch). The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 10,846.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Focus. While the vehicle was stationary, the rear passenger door latch and both front door latches fractured. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 110,000. Updated 11/08/16
The passenger rear door power lock failed due to a problem inside the lock itself. When the lock failed you are unable to unlock the door by the power switch or manually. Our 4 year old daughter had to crawl out of her car seat and exit the street side of the vehicle. You cannot open the door until you get the lock fixed. This created an unsafe condition for passengers riding in the car. This vehicle has had problems with engine fires which makes the situation more dangerous. We took the car to the dealer, and the lock module was replaced at a cost of around $400.00. 10/19/2008, the front passenger power lock module has failed making the front passenger seat unusable. It is being repaired today and I will save the old part. This car has been in one small accident(less than $500) damage to the rear bumper. No door damage has occurred to cause this type of failure. …
I have owned this vehicle for five years and at about 180,000 miles I noticed that my rear driver door would not latch. Both rear doors stick and have been difficult to open. However, at about 180,000 miles the door latch stopped working completely. I had to wrap the seat belt around the door to keep it from opening while driving. After doing some research online I found that there is a recall on the 2002 Ford Focus door latches. I scheduled an appointment with my local Ford dealership but when they ran my VIN# they informed me that my car was not part of the recall. Even though I was experiencing the same issue that LED to the recall they told me that I would have to pay to have the car repaired. They referred me to the Ford customer service line and after spending 45 minutes on the phone I was told to keep me receipts in case they issue a recall in the future. …
I drove my car (a 2002 Ford Focus) to a restaurant on dec. 28th, 2009 at 7:15 pm. When I got back into my car, the key would not turn in the ignition. I turned the wheel to release it from the "locked" wheel position, but the key still would not turn. I waited in my car for several minutes, then attempted to turn the key once more in the ignition with the same results. I was forced to call a friend and wait in my car with no heat. The temperature was approximately 27 degrees fahrenheit as I waited for nearly half an hour to be picked up, then dropped off at home by a coworker. He will have to pick me up for work tomorrow as all repair facilities are closed for the evening. …
While driving I lost all power to the car. It completely shut down and I could not start it. It has been towed to dealership to be fixed twice. I do not feel safe driving this car with my kids in it. I don't think the problem is fixed and I'm waiting for this to happen again. Now I need to take it back to the dealership again because there is a bad vibration in the front end. I had it there previously for this also, and they said it needed the tires rotated and balanced. Even though it is still under warranty, they charged me $36.00....the vibration is worse now so obviously that wasn't the problem. Oh I forgot to mention that the trunk won't latch properly and the windshield wipers won't go the whole way down when you turn them off. This car is not safe to drive. The dealership acts like they haven't had any complaints with this car!
I have a 2002 and a 2003 Ford Focus the automatic door locks don`t work property the locks will shut and open on there own as of now I can`t open the driver side door the locks have shut in an inbetween position.I have to crawl over the console to get out the passenger door.it will not let me open the door form the outside either the locks are like in an inbetween position.this has been going on for both of my Focus for a long time I have called Ford and they say they don`t have a problem with this. My mechanic friend says they get alot of calls about Ford Focus lock problem,my brother has a Focus and has had the same problem.
Ford Focus: back door will not always latch. My son almost fell out of the car, thankfully he was strapped into his car seat. I shut the door and was driving away when the door flew open. Focus is white,only 1 1/2 old and has rust spots all over the car. The trunk of the car has the most rust.the radio dial has melted feels like you are playing with bubble gum. Have also had problems keeping the car on the road in rain and snow. I take the turnpike to work and feel that I am going to slide into another car if I go faster then 25 miles an hour in the rain or snow.
I purchased my 2002 Ford Focus in January of 2005. I love my car, have found out about of things that could go wrong later. Right now I am having trouble with my front wheels. I have put six used tires on the front since I purchased the Focus. In November I had two brand new tires put on plus in May I have had a wheel alignment done. The car still shakes very bad. Found out I need my wheel hub bearing replace, plus I found out there May be a recall on the rear bearing which I have not received anything. I should not have to pay for these things to be done.
Related recalls
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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…
Remedy: 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.
Door Lock & Latch complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are door lock & latch problems on the 2002 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 45 complaints about the locks & latches of the 2002 Ford Focus, 5% of the model year's 939 complaints. The component named most often is doors › latch (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Ford Focus door lock & latch problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-030 (latch, Feb 1, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Focus door lock & latch problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.