What 3,789 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Focus Bev

THE DOOR LATCH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR FAILED. THE DOOR NOW DOES NOT LATCH AT ALL AND WILL SWING OPEN WHILE DRIVING I'VE HAD TO TIE THE DOOR DOWN TO PREVENT IT FROM SWINGING OPEN WHILE DRIVING. NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO THE DOOR.

NHTSA ODI 10854401

IN JULY OF 2015, THE LEFT REAR DOOR LATCH, THAT IS APPARENTLY PLASTIC, FAILED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE DOOR TO LATCH AND REMAIN CLOSED. DURING THAT OCCURANCE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I PAID FOR AND REPLACED THE PART ON MY OWN. NOW, IN MARCH OF 2016, THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR LATCH FAILED. AT THAT TIME, MY 7 YR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER HAD ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND CLOSED THE DOOR. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO THE FREEWAY, THE DOOR SUDDENLY OPENED. MY GRANDDAUGHTER ALWAYS WEARS HER SEATBELT, WHICH THANKFULLY HELPED US TO AVOID A VERY SERIOUS TRAGEDY. WE HAVE A CASE NUMBER WITH FORD CONCERNING THIS DEFECT, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THEM YET. THE CASE NUMBER IS CAS-9127854.

NHTSA ODI 10853171

DRIVERS DOOR CAME FLYING OPEN WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. DOOR WILL CLOSE BUT WILL NOT LATCH. THIS WAS VERY SCARY AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY ISSUES WITH IT TILL NOW. CAR HAS LESS THEN 50K MILES AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BY FORD TO USE SUCH SUBSTANDARD PARTS AND ON SUCH A SAFETY SENSITIVE AREA OF THE CAR. NEW LATCH IS ANYWHERE FROM 180-250 AND AROUND 400 LABOR TO CHANGE.PART NUMBER CM5Z54219A65HIS WHAT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI 10851910

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE DOOR BY PUTTING A CORD ON THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE AND TIE THE CORD TO THE SEAT'S HEADREST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ODI 10852035

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT LATCH CLOSED. VEHICLE WAS OFF AND STATIONARY IN GARAGE. NO AMOUNT OF LOCKING OR UNLOCKING CAR WITH BOTH KEY TRANSMITTER OR BUTTON IN VEHICLE WOULD LATCH DOOR SECURELY. DOOR HAD TO BE TIED SHUT IN ORDER TO TOW CAR TO FORD DEALER FOR SERVICE.

NHTSA ODI 10851320

THE DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN MY WIFE CLOSED THE DOOR AS SHE LEFT THE SUPERMARKET. IT LOOKS LIKE A SMALL TAB BROKE OFF THE CLOSING MECHANISM. MY WIFE HAD TO HOLD THE DOOR CLOSED TO DRIVE HOME, AND I USED A BUNGE CORD TO KEEP IT FROM OPENING AS I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THIS MORNING. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE DOOR WOULD TRY TO OPEN ON CURVES AND WHEN STOPPING, AND ONE HAND MUST STAY ON THE DOOR. I UNDERSTAND THE 2012 AND 2013 FUSION AND ESCAPE HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND I FOUND NUMEROUS POSTS ON THE INTERNET RECITING EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO UNDERSTAND FROM THE INTERNET THAT THE NHTSA OPENED AN INVESTIGATION OF THE FOCUS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM IN JANUARY OF 2016. MY 2012 FORD FOCUS TITANTIUM HAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000 MILES. BY THE WAY, I ALSO HAVE A 2013 FORD FUSION TITANTIUM THAT I HAVE READ WAS RECALLED IN 2015 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH I HAVE RECEIVED OTHER 2015 RECALL NOTICES FOR THE FUSION, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ONE RELATED TO THE DOOR PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10850791

WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURN ON PUBLIC ROAD, MY DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR SWUNG OPEN AND IS NOW INOPERABLE DUE TO IT'S INABILITY TO LATCH. DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY (FORD PART NUMBER 219A64) FAILURE AT LESS THAN 50,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 10850850

WE WERE DRIVING HOME FROM A FAMILY VACATION AND STOPPED TO GET ICE CREAM. WHEN WE GOT BACK IN THE CAR, THE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK WAS MESSED UP AND THE DOOR WOULDN'T STAY CLOSED. WE WERE A LONG WAYS FROM HOME SO HAD TO TIE THE BACK DOORS TOGETHER TO KEEP THE DOOR FROM FLYING OPEN. THE DOOR LATCH ATTACHMENT HAS BEEN RECALLED ON SEVERAL OTHER FORD VEHICLES BUT NOT ON THE FORD FUSION. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING ON-LINE, THERE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FORD FUSION TO RECALL THE PART FOR IT TOO.

NHTSA ODI 10850039

THE DOOR LATCHES ARE FAILING WITHOUT WARNING. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE AFTER STOPPING THE LATCHES HAVE FAILED AND THE DOORS WILL NOT STAY CLOSED. IN AUGUST 2015, THE DRIVER'S REAR DOOR LATCH FAILED UPON OPENING THE DOOR TO PUT MY PURSE IN THE BACKSEAT, IT WOULD NOT CLOSE AFTER THAT. I HAD TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE HOLDING THE DOOR CLOSED. THIS PROVED TO BE DANGEROUS AS I DRIVE A MANUAL CAR. NOW THE DRIVER'S DOOR LATCH FAILED UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT CAN STRAND DRIVERS WITHOUT NOTICE. THE DOOR HAS TO BE TIED SHUT SO IT CAN BE DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO HAD TO ORDER THE PART. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE RECALLED THE DOOR LATCHES ON OTHER MODEL YEARS OF FOCUS, FIESTA, AND FUSION.

NHTSA ODI 10846366

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR SWUNG OPEN INDEPENDENTLY AND FAILED TO CLOSE PROPERLY. THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ODI 10845843

VEHICLE WITH 42000 MILES, THE REAR DRIVE SIDE PASSENGER DOOR LATCH FAILS TO SECURE THE DOOR. THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM DOES LOCK / FASTEN / ENGAGE IN THE CONVENTIONAL MANNER THAT DOORS DO WHEN THE DOOR IS "SHUT". AT PRESENT THE DOOR IS REQUIRED TO BE TIED / SECURED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT THE DOOR FROM SWINGING OPEN, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING.

NHTSA ODI 10839377

THREE OF MY 4 DOOR LATCHES STOPPED FUNCTIONING COMPLETELY. THEY DID NOT WORK WHETHER THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, DRIVING, OR TURNING. WE HAD TO TIE THE DOOR HANDLES TO EACH OTHER FROM THE INSIDE TO KEEP THEM FROM FLYING OPEN WHILE DRIVING. WHEN YOU PUSHED THEM SHUT FROM THE OUTSIDE, THEY WOULD BOUNCE BACK OPEN. THIS ALSO CAUSED CONSTANT WARNING LIGHTS/SOUNDS FROM THE DASH. FORD STATED THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT OURS WERE NOT COVERED BECAUSE MY 4 DOOR LATCHES WERE PACKAGED AS A 4 PACK WHEREAS THE SERIAL NUMBERS FOR THE RECALLED LATCHES WERE SOLD IN INDIVIDUAL PACKAGING. SO THEREFORE, I WAS NOT COVERED DUE TO A LOOP HOLE. THE DOORS NOT SHUTTING PROPERLY (EVER) CAUSED WATER TO LEAK IN AND CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE WINDOW MOTOR SHORTING OUT. I REACHED OUT TO CORPORATE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE I HAD TO.

NHTSA ODI 10837894

DOORS FLY OPEN WHEN DRIVING, THIS CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD LESS THAN 60,000 MILES AND IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS 3 OF MY FOUR DOORS HAVE FLOWN OPEN WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. TWICE NOW WHEN MY TEEN DRIVER WAS BY HERSELF ROUNDING A CORNER FROM A STOP SIGN AND ONCE JUST GOING STRAIGHT ( DRIVERS DOOR) AT 40 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 10837444

AS PART OF MY JOB, I DRIVE SENIOR CITIZENS TO THE STORE, ETC., IN MY CAR. ON FRIDAY, FEB. 12, 2016, I DROVE AN ELDERLY COUPLE; THE WIFE SAT IN THE BACK SEAT BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I ASSISTED HER OUT OF THE CAR AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO SHUT HER DOOR, WHICH WOULD NOT LATCH SHUT AND STILL WON'T. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE CAR HAD BEEN MOVING WHEN THAT HAPPENED. TO GET HOME WITHOUT THE DOOR FLYING OPEN, I STRAPPED IT SHUT USING SEAT BELTS. THE DEALER CAN GET ME IN TOMORROW (TUESDAY). I GOOGLED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND MANY STORIES ABOUT OTHER FORD CARS BEING RECALLED BECAUSE OF THIS SAME ISSUE, JUST NOT MINE, THE 2012 FORD FOCUS, AND PEOPLE ASKING WHY THE FOCUS HASN'T BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I AM QUITE UPSET OVER THE POTENTIAL DANGER MY RIDERS HAVE BEEN IN, AND THAT I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT, AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY FORD IS IGNORING THE FOCUS WHILE RECALLING THE REST OF THEM IF THESE LATCHES POSE A SAFETY RISK. IN THE MEANTIME, HOW CAN I DO MY JOB IF I KNOW MY RIDERS ARE AT RISK?

NHTSA ODI 10826156

2012 FORD FOCUS. REAR PASSENGER DOOR FLEW OPEN WHILE CHILD SAFETY LOCK WAS ENGAGED. DOOR WILL NO LONGER LATCH. WHILE INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2012 FORD FOCUS. IT IS ALSO A $600 FIX. THIS IS NOT A WARE AND TEAR PROBLEM. DOORS SHOULD NEVER FAIL RISKING PASSENGERS SAFETY. I HAVE USED A STRAP TO TIE THE DOOR SHUT TO KEEP IT FROM FLYING OPEN AND HITTING SOMETHING OR SLAMMING SHUT ON A PASSENGER WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 10826098

ONE DAY WHEN DAY OUR SON WAS A PASSENGER IN OUR DAUGHTER'S FOCUS AND THEY ARRIVED HOME, HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WHEN HE TRIED CLOSING THE DOOR, IT WOULDN'T CLOSE. I WENT TO CHECK IT OUT AND SURE ENOUGH IT WOULDN'T CLOSE (LATCH). AFTER A FEW TRIES WE DISCOVERED THAT IF WE SLAMMED THE DOOR AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, IT WOULD LATCH. WE DID THIS FOR A FEW WEEKS AND THEN ONE DAY IT JUST WOULDN'T LATCH NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU SLAMMED IT. WE DECIDED TO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO DRIVE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WE HAD TO TIE THE SEAT BELT AROUND THE DOOR HANDLE SO THAT THE DOOR WOULD STAY CLOSED. ONCE THIS HAPPENED WE CALLED AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH SAN TAN FORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10825106

AFTER OPENING THE DRIVER'S DOOR, IT WOULD NOT CLOSE. TOOK TO FORD AND THEY SAID THE DOOR LATCH WAS FAULTY AND NEED REPLACING AT PART COST OF OVER 450 DOLLARS. BOUGHT A NEW CAR INSTEAD.

NHTSA ODI 10823112

I UNLOCK THE CAR AND OPENED THE REAR DOOR AND TRIED TO CLOSE IT BACK AND IT WOULDN'T CATCH THE LATCH STOPPED WORKING. THE DOOR WOULDN'T STAY CLOSED EVEN WHEN I TRIED TO LOCK IT. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER THERE WAS NO RECALL ON IT. I HAVE ATTACHED AN INVOICE OF THE REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 10822722

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK SYSTEM FAILED. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK BECAME UNLOCKED AND CAUSED THE DOOR TO OPEN WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 10822270

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO HESITATE IN A JERKING MOTION AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER WAITING TEN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM WHERE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO EXHIBIT HESITATION AFTER THE REMEDY WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE REAR EXTERIOR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 04/08/16*LJ THE CONSUMER ON A REGULAR BASIS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, PASSENGER HAD A DIFFICULT TIME EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR LOCKS WERE DIFFICULT TO UNLOCK. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PRESS THE DOOR LOCK REPEATEDLY BEFORE THEY WOULD UNLOCK. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT TIMES AT INTERSECTIONS. UPDATED 04/14/16

NHTSA ODI 10822281

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED IN NOVEMBER 2015. THE CAR PARKED AND LOCKED IN THE DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF OUR HOME. WE NOTICED THAT THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT WAS ON. WE FOUND THAT WE COULD NO LONGER CLOSE OR LOCK THE DOOR. WE HAD TO USE BUNGIE CORDS TO CLOSE THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BY ATTACHING THE CORDS TO THE DOOR HANDLE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. SINCE THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY WE BROUGHT IT TO OUR MECHANIC TO REPAIR. WE NOTICED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER FOCUS OWNERS AND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR THE PURPOSES OF A RECALL AND WANT TO INCLUDE OUR EXPERIENCE. WE HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF THE INVOICE FROM OUR MECHANIC WHICH LISTS THE PART NUMBER. DO WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PART OR THE LATCHES ON THE REMAINING CAR DOORS? IT IS CONCERNING THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO PEOPLE WHILE DRIVING! I CONSIDER US FORTUNATE THAT THE CAR WAS PARKED WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI 10821917

I CAME OUT OF A STORE AND GOT INTO MY VEHICLE TO DRIVE OVER TO MY JOB IN THE SAME SHOPPING CENTER. AT THE TIME, MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCHED PROPERLY BUT UPON GETTING OUT OF MY VEHICLE AT WORK, 30 SECONDS LATER, MY DOOR LATCH MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT LATCH. IN ORDER TO LEAVE WORK THAT NIGHT, I HAD TO TIE THE DOOR SHUT WITH A ROPE. THANK GOD MY YOUNG SON WAS NOT WITH ME AND THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION AT THE TIME. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE MORE PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND GET SERIOUSLY INJURED. FORD HAS ALREADY HAD A RECALL ON SOME OTHER MODELS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE WE HAVE COME ACROSS YET ANOTHER MODEL WITH FAULTY DOOR LATCHES. I HAVE NOT HAD THE ISSUE FIXED YET DUE TO INSUFFICIENT FUNDS BUT WILL BE FIXING IT SOON. ONCE I DO GET IT FIXED I WILL STILL FEAR FOR MY SAFETY, MY SON'S SAFETY, AND THE SAFETY OF ANY OTHER 2012 FORD FOCUS OWNERS. I HOPE AND PRAY WE CAN RESOLVE THIS ISSUE QUICKLY BEFORE ANYONE ELSE GETS HURT.

NHTSA ODI 10821676

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND FAILED TO CLOSE. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE CORDS TO SECURE THE DOORS IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 10821689

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.

NHTSA ODI 10821674

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED AND THEN STALLED AS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER RECALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. UPDATED 04/13/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI 10821418