Recall 13V085 affects 5,675 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid, Focus, and Escape vehicles for faulty child locks. Free repair at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 5,675 2013 C-Max Hybrid, Focus, and Escape vehicles under recall 13V085 because the left rear door child lock was built incorrectly. A driver can think the child lock is engaged when the rear door still opens from inside, increasing injury risk for an unrestrained child; the Ford dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The child lock on the left rear door of the 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid, Focus, and Escape is a small latch setting inside the rear door. When switched on, it keeps the rear door from being opened from the inside while still letting an adult open it from the outside. That is the point of the child lock: it gives the driver control over whether a rear passenger can open that door.
On affected vehicles, the left rear door child lock was built incorrectly. When the operator applies normal force to set the lock, the mechanism does not reliably move into the engaged position. The switch can appear to have been set, but the lock is not doing its job inside the latch. A rear passenger can then open the left rear door from inside the vehicle.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is the lock not engaging when it is set, so the practical check is whether the left rear door still opens from the inside after the child lock has been activated.
Who's affected?
Covers the C-Max Hybrid, Focus, and Escape, all tied to the same latch, lock, and linkage component.
| 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid | Latches/locks/linkages |
|---|---|
| 2013 Ford Focus | Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2013 Ford Escape | Latches/locks/linkages |
| Units affected | 5,675 |
A matching 2013 Ford model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
A rear door latch problem can make the child lock appear engaged when the door still opens from inside. An unrestrained child can open the door, increasing injury risk. Confirm the VIN and schedule dealer inspection soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid, Focus, or Escape is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer and ask whether the rear-door child-lock inspection is open for your VIN.
- Schedule the rear-door latch inspection and replacement that fixes the incorrectly built child lock if the dealer confirms your VIN is included.
- Bring the recall notice if Ford mailed one. If not, reference recall number 13V085 when you call.
- Keep children properly restrained and check the rear door before driving until the child-lock repair is complete.
- Call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 with questions about the recall.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician inspects the affected rear door latches and replaces any latch that fails the recall inspection. Ford's remedy notice says the recall began on March 27, 2013, and the inspection and any needed latch replacement are free of charge. This page data does not show an available remedy status, so confirm scheduling with a Ford dealer before bringing the vehicle in. The dealer repair will be free once available.
Timeline
| March 7, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 27, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V085?
Recall 13V085 covers 5,675 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid, Focus, and Escape vehicles with a left rear door child lock that was built incorrectly. The child lock does not always engage under normal activation force, and Ford dealers will inspect and replace affected rear door latches for free.
What should I do if my 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid, Focus, or Escape is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 13V085. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the rear door latch inspection. Reference recall number 13V085 when you call. The dealer will replace affected latches for free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Ford dealers will inspect the affected rear door latches and replace them as necessary free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that the driver believes the child lock is engaged when the rear door still opens from the inside. That increases the risk of injury to an unrestrained child. Until the repair is complete, confirm the child lock engagement and keep children properly restrained.
What if I bought my Ford used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2013 Ford is included, then call a franchised Ford dealer and reference recall number 13V085.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V085000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V085 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V085000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →