2012 Ford Focus Latches, locks and linkages Problems
- Complaints
- 134about this part
- Share
- 4%of 3,770 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 67,500miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 134 complaints about the latches, locks and linkages of the 2012 Ford Focus, 4% of the 3,770 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 67,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Drivers door latch failed to latch closed. Parts were unavailable in inventory. We were told that the part was not under factory warranty and no safety recall issued. Three weeks later rear door on drivers side failed. Door will not latch closed. Car is at dealer awaiting repairs. We were given the same information, the parts are not under factory warranty.”
NHTSA complaint #10628099, filed 2014-08, 38,000 miles“My wife got in the car in our driveway and the drivers side door wouldn't latch closed. I tried to remove the latch assembly and gave up hours later. After I put the door panel back together I checked the right front door to make sure I had the trim panel on correctly. When I tried to close that door it wouldn't latch either. When I put the VIN in on your web site the only response I got was: foreign server responded with an error.”
NHTSA complaint #10936639, filed 2016-12, 92,844 miles“I turned onto a residential street that has a steep grade. As I accelerated uphill, the trunk opened without any input from myself (driver and sole occupant of the vehicle). The doors and trunk were locked at the time of occurrence. There were a few items in the trunk when the incident took place, none of which exited the trunk.”
NHTSA complaint #10457613, filed 2012-05, 3,475 miles“I own a company with a fleet of vehicles, two of which are a 2012 Ford Focus. Both Ford vehicles have had multiple door latches fail. I will submit a separate entry for the other vehicle to provide the VIN# and details. The vehicle referenced in this document with the VIN# above has now experienced two separate incidents in which a door latch has failed between june and july of 2014. Each incident was a different door latch failing. …”
NHTSA complaint #10621386, filed 2014-08, 37,939 miles“I own a company with a fleet of vehicles, two of which are a 2012 Ford Focus. Both Ford vehicles have had multiple door latches fail. I will submit a separate entry for the other vehicle to provide the VIN# and details. The vehicle referenced in this document with the VIN# above has now experienced three separate incidents in which a door latch has failed between may and august of 2014. Each incident was a different door latch failing. …”
NHTSA complaint #10621384, filed 2014-08, 29,823 milesRelated recalls
- 20V331000Jun 8, 2020Ford 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…Covers: Ford Focus 2012–2015, Fiesta 2011–2014, Escape 2013–2015 +6 more
- 16V643000Sep 6, 2016Ford 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…Covers: Ford Focus 2012–2015, Escape 2013–2015, C-MAX 2013–2015 +3 more
Related service bulletins
- 10056234Apr 23, 2014Ford: the front door (left or right) fails to operate due to an intermittent ia smart unlock function. Model 2012-2014 focus, c-max, escape.
Latches, locks and linkages: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 0% |
| 2017 | 1 | 0% |
| 2016 | 2 | 0% |
| 2015 | 8 | 1% |
| 2014 | 47 | 2% |
| 2013 | 53 | 3% |
| 2012 | 134 | 4% |
| 2011 | 17 | 15% |
| 2010 | 31 | 11% |
| 2009 | 18 | 8% |
| 2008 | 25 | 10% |
| 2007 | 30 | 8% |
| 2006 | 14 | 7% |
| 2005 | 50 | 11% |
| 2004 | 28 | 7% |
| 2003 | 82 | 8% |
| 2002 | 45 | 5% |
| 2001 | 66 | 4% |
| 2000 | 201 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2012 Ford Focus
1,447 complaintsSteering
927 complaintsEngine
475 complaintsOther or unknown
363 complaintsElectrical system
352 complaintsFuel system
340 complaintsBody and structure
332 complaintsVehicle speed control
166 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
70 complaintsBrakes
61 complaintsAir bags
55 complaintsElectronic stability control
48 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Ford Focus
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology