How common are structure and body complaints on the 2013 Ford Focus?

NHTSA records 136 Structure & Body complaints for the 2013 Focus, which is 6% of the 2,111 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for the 2013 Ford Focus related to structure and body issues?

Yes. Four recalls tied to Structure & Body cover door latch inspection and replacement (campaigns 13V085000 and 16V643000), body control module software for hatchback door latches (16V698000), and a separate latch date code inspection (20V331000).

At what mileage do structure and body problems typically show up?

The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints on the 2013 Focus is 53,805.5 miles.

Do structure and body problems on the 2013 Focus cause crashes?

NHTSA data ties 6 crashes and 1 fire to Structure & Body complaints on the 2013 Focus, with 2 injuries reported in that area.

Is the 2013 Ford Focus better or worse than other years for these issues?

The 2013 Focus's 6% share is lower than 2010 (18%), 2011 (27%), and 2012 (12%), but higher than 2015 through 2018, which each sit at 2% or below.

2013 Ford Focus Structure & Body Problems

NHTSA lists 136 Structure & Body complaints for the 2013 Ford Focus, 6% of its 2,111 total complaints for the year. Four related recalls cover door latches, rear door latches, and body control module software. Median mileage at failure is 53,805.5 miles, and the area is linked to 6 crashes and 1 fire.

Structure & Body complaints: 136; 6% of 2,111
Crashes reported: 6
Fires reported: 1
Injuries reported: 2
Median mileage: 53,806 mi
Related recalls: 4

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

Door latches fail to hold the door shut, letting doors swing open or requiring owners to tie them closed.
Hoods pop open unexpectedly while driving, in some cases at highway speed, shattering the windshield or denting the roof.
Rear door latches on hatchback models have been tied to a body control module software issue addressed by recall.
Head restraints are non-adjustable and push the driver's head forward or block rearview mirror visibility when reversing.
A rattling, crunching, or grinding noise comes from the front passenger side during reverse or left turns.
One vehicle caught fire while parked and stationary, unrelated to a collision.

When 2013 Ford Focus body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 20, 2012, latest Aug 31, 2026.

136 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2016 Q3 (31).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2013 Ford Focus

NHTSA 20V331000Jun 8, 2020Structure & Body2,147,323 vehicles
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. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
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. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
NHTSA 16V698000Sep 28, 2016Structure & Body64,038 vehicles
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
Risk: With only a single press needed, the driver may accidently unlatch the hatchback, increasing the risk of injury to any unsecured passengers in the back.
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. Ford's number for this recall is 16C13.
NHTSA 16V643000Sep 6, 2016Structure & Body2,046,297 vehicles
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. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
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. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
NHTSA 13V085000Mar 7, 2013Structure & Body5,675 vehicles
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. As a result, the child lock may not engage when the operator uses normal force to activate the child lock.
Risk: The operator may incorrectly believe the child lock is engaged. However, the door may be opened from the inside, increasing the risk of injury to an unrestrained child.
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. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.

Structure & Body complaints by Focus model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

201053 (18%)
201131 (27%)
2012458 (12%)
2013136 (6%)
2014104 (4%)
201525 (2%)
201620 (2%)
201710 (1%)
201810 (1%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are structure and body complaints on the 2013 Ford Focus?: NHTSA records 136 Structure & Body complaints for the 2013 Focus, which is 6% of the 2,111 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Ford Focus related to structure and body issues?: Yes. Four recalls tied to Structure & Body cover door latch inspection and replacement (campaigns 13V085000 and 16V643000), body control module software for hatchback door latches (16V698000), and a separate latch date code inspection (20V331000).
At what mileage do structure and body problems typically show up?: The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints on the 2013 Focus is 53,805.5 miles.
Do structure and body problems on the 2013 Focus cause crashes?: NHTSA data ties 6 crashes and 1 fire to Structure & Body complaints on the 2013 Focus, with 2 injuries reported in that area.
Is the 2013 Ford Focus better or worse than other years for these issues?: The 2013 Focus's 6% share is lower than 2010 (18%), 2011 (27%), and 2012 (12%), but higher than 2015 through 2018, which each sit at 2% or below.