Door Lock & Latch complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 0% | 33,000 miles |
| 2017 | 1 | 0% | 26,000 miles |
| 2016 | 2 | 0% | 125,000 miles |
| 2015 | 8 | 1% | 70,000 miles |
| 2014 | 47 | 2% | 43,000 miles |
| 2013 | 53 | 3% | 78,000 miles |
| 2012 | 134 | 4% | 68,000 miles |
| 2011 | 17 | 15% | 50,000 miles |
| 2010 | 31 | 11% | 40,000 miles |
| 2009 | 18 | 8% | 42,000 miles |
| 2008 | 25 | 10% | 53,000 miles |
| 2007 | 30 | 8% | 66,000 miles |
| 2006 | 14 | 7% | 85,000 miles |
| 2005 | 50 | 11% | 72,000 miles |
| 2004 | 28 | 7% | 75,000 miles |
| 2003 | 82 | 8% | 67,000 miles |
| 2002 | 45 | 5% | 70,000 miles |
| 2001 | 66 | 4% | 75,000 miles |
| 2000 | 201 | 5% | 72,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that after exiting the vehicle and locking the doors, the contact was unable to reopen the doors using the key fob. The contact used the key located inside the fob to open the doors. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but had become a recurring failure. The contact was concerned with breaking the emergency key in the locks and being unable to lock the doors. The contact had taken the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the locks needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH, the key fob was inadvertently touched and the rear lift gate erroneously opened. The contact indicated that the fob was not pressed twice as needed to open the hatch. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA campaign number 16V698000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages, Structure). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 15,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the driver's side door was not closing properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for an unknown recall repair. The dealer informed the contact that there were two other open unknown recalls on the vehicle related to the transmission control module failure and the fuel tank deformation. The contact stated that the recall repairs were completed however, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle would stall and shift gears independently while driving. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the parts for the repair were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the parts for the repair were not available and a case was opened. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 16V643000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) and 18V735000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started to shudder and lose power. The contact pulled to the side of the road. While driving 30-35 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated to 5 MPH. The contact was able to get the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that parts would not be available for another 6 months. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
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 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the doors of the vehicle would intermittently fail to lock when engaged with the key fob. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed that no issues were found. The contact stated that sometime later, she noticed that the key fob and the vehicle master power door lock window switch would no longer lock or unlock the doors of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that she would lock each door manually in order to secure the vehicle. The contact also stated that the doors would make an abnormal clicking sound and unlock while driving. The door lock indicator on the instrument cluster would not indicate that the doors were locked while driving. …
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 holding the door closed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V643000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and informed the contact that the part to repair the vehicle was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. …
Related recalls (5)
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.
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.
NHTSA investigations
Rear door latch failure
This investigation was opened on April 8, 2004, based on 17 reports that one or both rear door latches did not function properly.the complainants alleged that the doors were difficult to closeand that the door latches would not remain latched while the vehicles were being driven, resulting in a door coming open.several of the complainants reported that corrosion of the door latch mechanism caused binding of the…
Rear door latch failure
This investigation was opened on April 8, 2004 as pe04-033 and upgraded on August 18, 2004 to ea04-023.the complainants alleged that the rear door latches failed to keep the doors in a closed position, resulting in rear doors coming open while the vehicles were being driven.some complainants reported that at timesa rear door, or doors, could be difficult to close.others reported that corrosion of the door latch…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Focus years have door lock & latch problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (201), 2012 (134), 2003 (82), 2001 (66) and 2013 (53) model years. Door Lock & Latch complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Ford Focus door lock & latch problems?
Yes — 5 recalls, including 20V-331 (latch, Jun 8, 2020); 16V-698 (lock, Sep 28, 2016); 16V-643 (latch, Sep 6, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Focus door lock & latch problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles; 32% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the doors › latch (355 mentions), followed by the trunk lid › lock (51).
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.