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 2013 Ford Focus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 15-20 MPH with his daughter in the front passenger's side seat, the front passenger's side door opened inadvertently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and closed the door; however, the door failed to close securely. The contact stated that the door unintendedly opened for a second time. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V643000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) due to the vehicle having a Salvage Title. Additionally, the dealer failed to honor the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). However, the contact stated that the vehicle still had the original parts impacted by the recall. …
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the driver's side door failed to close and remained ajar because the door would not latch securely. The contact used a rope to keep the door closed while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the door lock assembly was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred three and half weeks later with the rear driver's side door latch. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 16V643000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) and 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 77,671.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving, the trunk would automatically open. The failure occurred on numerous occasions. The dealer was contacted several times to have the failure repaired however he was advised that the parts to repair the trunk was not available. The contact stated the most recent time that the failure occurred his trunk had opened, causing him to run over an object underneath the vehicle, which caused damage to the brakes and the axel. The contact stated he currently drives with a lock on the trunk to prevent it from opening automatically. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The mileage failure was 131,000.
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 a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.
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 88,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the trunk inadvertently opened. The contact stated that on several occasions the trunk failed to open as needed. The contact also stated that the vehicle occasionally stalled while stopped at a stop sign or red light. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the trunk was repaired however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not under warranty. The failure mileage was unknown.
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 had not experienced a failure.
Latch on hatchback doesn't latch, or unlatches, in cold temperatures. Has happened multiple times, and results in rapid cycling of the door locks on the rest of the vehicle as a result of the auto-unlocking configuration.
I was driving down the highway at about 60mph and the hood flew open shattering the window.the latch that was holding it down came loose and one side was not attached to anything. The top of the car was also dented. I had a windshield guy come to repair it and he said that this is the third Ford car that he has seen this happen to. Also I have two previous recalls on the car one for the passenger door latch and the other for the transmission control module. The hood coming up is a huge safety concern and could have caused a major accident. Also the hood is banged up so now that it will not close normal. And the hood joints cut the frame of the car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V643000 (latches/locks/linkages); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact also stated that the weather stripping on the front driver's side failed and was replaced every six months. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the stripping was replaced, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and referred the contact to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Related recalls
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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.
Remedy: 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.
Latches/locks/linkages › Hatchback/liftgate › Lock
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.
Remedy: 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.
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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.
Remedy: 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.
Latches/locks/linkages
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA investigations
Door Latch Failures
In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, and 2013-2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ.
Door Latch Failure
In January, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation based on consumers' allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2012-2013 Ford Focus vehicles (subject vehicles).ODI has received 464 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with over 200 claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in motion.One consumer…
Door Lock & Latch complaints in other Focus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are door lock & latch problems on the 2013 Ford Focus?
NHTSA has 53 complaints about the locks & latches of the 2013 Ford Focus, 3% of the model year's 2,112 complaints. The component named most often is doors › latch (24 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Ford Focus door lock & latch problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-331 (latch, Jun 8, 2020); NHTSA recall 16V-698 (lock, Sep 28, 2016); NHTSA recall 16V-643 (latch, Sep 6, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford Focus door lock & latch problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to locks & latches problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.