Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). The Factory Keyless Entry Code application within the diagnostic scan tool will not provide an applicable master code for the accessory wireless keypad. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is not available, the "Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide" can be referenced and provides direction on how
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Ford Focus body problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Ford Focus have filed 69 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 51,995 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
69
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Focus | 11 |
| 2010 Focus | 18 |
| 2011 Focus | 12 |
| 2012 Focus | 293 |
| 2013 Focus (this page) | 69 |
| 2014 Focus | 44 |
| 2015 Focus | 10 |
| 2016 Focus | 7 |
| 2017 Focus | 4 |
What stands out
Owners have filed 69 body complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 13 model years of Ford Focus in our records for body problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a different vehicle. Most modules on these affected vehicles are VIN/vehicle specific and hardware variations between modules do exist. Swapping a module from a vehicle or ordering a module using a different vehicle/VIN can cause ineffective repairs and additional vehicle down time. Make sure all appropriate Workshop Manual (WSM) procedures are followed when diagnosing the condition prior to all module replacements and only order modules using
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2013-2018 Escape, Focus and C-Max vehicles may exhibit a water stained headliner after the vehicle has experienced a water leak from areas such as the roof opening panel, fixed glass, roof rails and roof ditch mouldings. Follow the procedure below to remove the water stains from the headliner after the water leak has been repaired. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SOME 2013-2017 FOCUS 4-DOOR SEDANS HAVE A SINGLE DAMPENER ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, ADJACENT TO THE LIFTING COIL SPRING, TO SLOW THE OPERATION OF THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT DECK LID WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING. THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT DECK LID IS HELD OPEN ONLY BY THE COIL SPRINGS CONNECTED TO THE HINGES. THE DAMPENER IS NOT CHARGED WITH GAS TO SUPPORT THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT LID LIKE THE 5 DOOR HATCHBACK LIFT CYLINDERS. REFER TO THE UPDATED WORKSHOP MANUAL SECTION 501-03 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. IT IS NORMAL FOR THE DAMPENER TO COMPRESS EASILY WHEN REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE, UNLIKE THE HATCHBACK LIFT SUPPORT CYLINDERS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SOME 2013-2017 FOCUS/C-MAX VEHICLES EXHIBIT A FRAYED/CUT SHORT APPEARANCE AT THE FRONT EDGE OF THE HEADLINER NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE HEADLINER AND NO REPAIRS SHOULD BE ATTEMPTED. ON 5 DOOR FOCUS(HATCHBACK) THE EXPOSED EDGE AT THE REAR LIFT GATE AREA MAY BE DUE THE HEM LIP OUT OF POSITION (BENT) PULLING THE WEATHER STRIP OUT OF POSITION, EXPOSING THE EDGE. THE HEM LIP CAN EASILY BE REPOSITIONED AND WILL KEEP THE HEADLINER EDGE COVERED BY THE WEATHER-STRIP, WITHOUT HEADLINER REPLACEMENT.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Door latch failure dominates complaints in this cluster. Owners describe latches that lose tension, won't catch the striker, or fail to engage entirely, forcing doors open during driving—often without warning. Failures strike all four doors and the hatchback on the same vehicle, frequently recurring: a driver door fails, gets repaired out-of-pocket, then the passenger door fails months later. Owners resort to tying doors shut with rope, belts, or duct tape to drive the car home.
The trunk and hatchback open unexpectedly while driving, even at highway speeds, with no user action and sometimes without warning. One owner reports it happening almost every drive over two months.
Door failures occur across mileage ranges—some as early as 2,000 miles, others at 45,000–86,000 miles. Repair costs run $200–$700. Parts go on back-order, leaving owners stranded.
Ford issued recalls 16V-643 (door latches), 16C13 (hatchback software), and 16V-698000 (hatchback lift gate lock), but many vehicles fall outside the recall scope by VIN or the owner's state. Dealers deny coverage, citing geographic exclusions (recall limited to hotter states), and some claim no recall exists for the Focus despite identical problems on Fiesta, Fusion, and Lincoln MKZ models.
Weather stripping on the front driver's door fails repeatedly, requiring replacement every six months even after dealer service.
Same Ford Focus body reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Door latch failure (all four doors and hatchback)
Latches fail to engage or hold doors closed. Doors open during driving, especially during turns. Owners report the latch mechanism loses tension, won't catch the striker, or the latch spring fails, rendering the door immobile until held shut with rope, belts, seat belts, or duct tape. Multiple occurrences common on same vehicle.
When: Varies widely; some at low mileage (2,000 miles reported), others at 45,000–86,000 miles; several failures occur months to years apart on the same vehicle.
Symptoms owners cite: Door will not close or latch; Door pops open during turning or normal driving; No warning light before door opens; Door ajar warning light illuminates on dashboard; Latch has no tension and will not hold striker; Door cannot be locked when latch is broken; Repeated failures on same vehicle (driver door, then passenger door, then rear doors)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report costs of $197–$700+ for latch replacement; one owner paid $200 for parts and $200 for labor; another was quoted $600; parts frequently on back-order; some dealers quote labor at $100–$110.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA recall 16V-643 (16S30) issued for door latch replacement (May 2017 area); recall 16C13 issued for hatchback tailgate software update; many owners excluded from recall by VIN or geographic location (recall limited to certain states with 'higher ambient temperatures and solar loading'); some owners report dealers said repair was not covered because recall not listed or parts unavailable; one owner reports dealer claim that recall never applied to 2013 Focus models despite similar issues on Fiesta, Fusion, and Lincoln MKZ.
Trunk/hatchback opens independently while driving
Trunk or hatchback lift gate opens without user action while vehicle is in motion. Recurs at varying speeds and road conditions. One owner reports it happening almost every drive. Trunk ajar warning light illuminates but may not prevent opening.
When: Reported at 55–78,000 miles and approximately 60,000 miles; recurring over months; one instance reported after 2 months of recurrence at 86,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Trunk opens independently during driving; Trunk ajar warning indicator illuminates; Opens at various speeds (20, 25, 50, 55, 65 mph); Recurring problem without warning; Hatchback pops open and will not remain closed; No user action causes opening
Codes mentioned: Transmission friction element stock failure code (cleared by dealer; code erased before diagnosis possible)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports dealer diagnosis of trunk latch requiring repair; one vehicle repaired at dealership; most owners report either no repair attempted or parts not available.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 16C13 issued for hatchback tailgate software update to body control module; one owner reports dealer stated software was 'already up to date' despite recall notice; recall 16V-698000 for hatchback lift gate lock issued; manufacturers have stated vehicle safe to drive despite failures.
Hood pops open unexpectedly
Hood has opened multiple times on a one-month-old vehicle. Dealer attributed opening to operator foot activating latch, indicating a design defect in latch sensitivity.
When: Reported on one-month-old vehicle (very early in ownership).
Symptoms owners cite: Hood popped open four times in one month; No operator action clearly causing opening; Foot may inadvertently activate hood latch (design flaw)
Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed; dealer inspected and found nothing wrong.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued; dealer acknowledged the problem as a design flaw and provided loaner vehicle; dealer stated they would contact manufacturer to resolve.
Weather stripping failure and front door seal leak
Weather stripping on front driver's side door fails repeatedly, requiring replacement every six months; issue recurs even after dealer replacement.
When: Failure reported at approximately 2,000 miles; repeated failures throughout ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Weather stripping deteriorates and fails; Leaks likely from door seal failure
Repairs/costs cited: Replaced by dealer multiple times; repeated failures indicate design or material defect.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware; referred owner back to dealer for each recurrence; no permanent fix provided.
Synthesized from 69 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2013 Ford Focus?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2013 Ford Focus?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 69 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 52 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 44,235 and 69,000 miles, with the median around 51,995. A quarter of owners report trouble before 44,235; a quarter make it past 69,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Ford/Focus.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.