Problems · by component

2004 Ford Focus latches/locks/linkages problems

28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Ford Focus cite latches/locks/linkages, 7% of all 387 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
28
7% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the latches/locks/linkages

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURES LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06E056000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). SHE STATED THAT DUE TO POOR DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS WOULD NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR WAS FULLY ATTACHED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND BOTH REAR DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 19, 2019Latches/locks/linkages, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11233491
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK PANEL DID NOT LATCH INTERMITTENTLY AND THE TRUNK PANEL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS FOR THE TRUNK PANEL TO LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCHES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE NEARLY THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 101,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2016Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10892602
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS FAILED TO CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE OUTSIDE DOOR LATCHES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V030000 (LOCKS/LATCHES) BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 12/18/13*CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2013Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10545133
“THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR WILL NOT LATCH, AND I'M UNABLE TO CLOSE THE DOOR. A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS ISSUED IN JANUARY, 2005 FOR THE FORD FOCUS MODEL FOR THE PERIOD 2000-2005. MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 FORD FOCUS HOWEVER, THE VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PROBLEM I'M EXPERIENCING IS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE NHTSA REPORT ID # 05V030000. I BELIEVE THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE RECALL AND RESPECTFULLY ASK YOUR ASSISTANCE. *KB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 21, 2011Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10413907
“PARKED CAR AS ALWAYS. CAME OUT TO START CAR TO LEAVE AND KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THEY TOW FORD FOCUS MODELS WITH BAD IGNITIONS QUITE OFTEN. A WOMAN IN A FOCUS WAGON PULLED UP IN THE LOT WHERE I WAS STRANDED BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. I ASKED HER TO NOT PARK THERE SINCE A TOW TRUCK WAS COMING; I ALSO TOLD HER WHY. SHE SAID SHE HAD SEVERAL TIMES WHERE HER KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN HER FOCUS. MINE HAD DONE THAT A FEW TIMES OVER THE PAST 3 MONTHS, IT APPEARS BASED ON THE INTERNET SEARCHES, AND JUST MY CONVERSATIONS IN ONE DAY THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE. MINE IS A 2004 MODEL FOCUS. SO IT GOES BEYOND THE THINKING THAT IT IS ONLY 2000 TO 2003 MODELS. THIS PAST WEEKEND I COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE HENRY M. JACKSON WILDERNESS AREA IN WA. STATE, POSSIBLY WITH NO CELL PHONE SERVICE AVAILABLE EITHER. LUCKILY THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN I WAS IN CIVILIZATION. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE THIS PAST WEEKEND, IN BLACK BEAR & GRIZZLY BEAR COUNTRY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 14, 2010Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10355650
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS LOCKED SECURELY; AND OPENED ABRUPTLY WITH SLIGHT PRESSURE APPLIED AGAINST THE DOOR. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DRIVER DOOR EXHIBITED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V030000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES: DOORS: LATCH). THE REMEDY REPAIR FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 8, 2010Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10354547

Showing 6 of 28 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Latches

Free remedy

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 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A BUILD-UP OF CORROSION AT THE PAWL PIVOT AREA OF THE REAR DOOR LATCH CAN CAUSE A BINDING CONDITION OF THE PAWL THAT MAY AFFECT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PAWL INTO THE CATCH. THE OCCUPANT MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING OR CLOSING A REAR DOOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE REAR DOOR MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY.

Latches/locks/linkagesReported Feb 1, 2005NHTSA 05V030000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.