How to FIX 2008-2011 Ford Focus Door handle 

The urge to not even attempt this repair and just enter through the back door forever is very real....thank you soo much for the video

So many people with the same issues, seems like a recall needs to happen.

I have a 2008 same issue. Great video by the way very useful. One tip I would add would be to take the window out very simple. Lower window almost all the way down but leave slightly up. 1. Remove the long skinny inner molding that the panel sits on 2.remove 4 speaker screws can pretty much do by hand. 3.Loosen 10mm window screws at the bottom of window regulator. Might have to raise window a bit to line up with speaker. Small white squares. No need to take them out just loosen. 4. Slide window up and angle it as it comes out. This makes much easier to work with handle.

Ed, I felt your pain. Much appreciated. I could not of done this without your help. It was your honesty about how much of a pain it was that kept me going. Had you been one of those squeaky clean got it done in 5 min youtubers, I would have given up and spent a fortune at the shop. Again, thank you!

I told my wife I was going to fix the handle with the help of a RU-vid video and she freaked. Thanks to this amazing video I got it all fixed up and saved a lot of money by not bringing it to the dealership! Great informative video!

2008 Ford Focus sedan SES Same exact thing happened to me. Three hours of my life and fifty bucks. That's what it took learning from you. You saved me a load of $$. You have a subscriber for life thank you for this!

Thanks for the help here! I just finished this job. For what it's worth, you do not need to loosen the pain in the ass screw behind the window to complete this job (the right screw). It holds a tab and that tab can stay attached to remove. Same for installing the new fixture--screw it in prior to installation.

I did this today and learned that there is no need to take out the window or work to get out the screw behind the window. Once you get the screw from the left and remove the outside handle and key lock cover, go ahead and unscrew the latch (3 screws on the side of the door). Now when you put your hand in, slide the handle bracket to the right (towards the front of the car) and it comes right out. Notice on the outside of the door the channel next to the white plastic piece. Take it all out like a spider and replace the bracket. Once you have it all together, make sure you screw the screw on the white piece all the way in before re-installing. When you are ready, the white piece go in first and slide it to the left (towards the back of the car), then adjust the lock, screw the latch back on and go back to screw the screw on the left of the bracket (the one by the cylinder). Finish assembling back the door panel and that is it.

Just did this repair, thanks, great video. One suggestion. Move the rail that the power window uses. Once this is moved over the screw is simple to get to. To move the rail, it is just 2 bolts, and you have to loosen the clamp that hold window in place.

This video is exactly what I needed. I have to admit that after watching, I'm sitting here wondering if I should just take it to the dealer. Looks like a major PIA.

Excellent video. Answered all my questions. I couldn't have done this fix without your video. One addition. I wasn't able to budge that screw behind the glass in those tight quarters. So I removed 3 more bolts to the vertical bar and hardware that attaches to the glass near the center of the door panel. That allowed me to move the hardware enough to be able to get a straight screwdriver into that screw to remove it. I wasn't hard to remove that hardware or put back together. It was also easier to remove/replace the door handle with that moved. The window works just fine and it's good to have the door handle working again. Thanks again. Great job!

Thank you so much! Very clear, well articulated and helpful. I think it already has been mentioned several times but I ended up taking the glass out which was very easy. I also took the latch and the handle reinforcement out as a complete assembly with all the rods attached. It was much easier to then remove the rods and replace with the new reinforcement and install back in as a complete assembly. Again with the glass out. Thanks again!

Just saved me 220 dollars. Repair cost by autoshop was $220 for a single handle. Fixed it myself for 30 bucks total all thanks to this video. Your the best dude.

Thank you so much for this video!!!! It was ON POINT. We ended up temporarily removing the window for the replacement. All in all it took about 4 hours and it was CLUTCH. Wow I feel so accomplished. Thank you for this teaching video!! You rock!

Dude you are a lifesaver!!! This video helped like crazy. I removed my window and it made it a lot easier. And just take your time on it and don’t break more stuff than you need to. Other than that, this is not too hard to do!

This was a great help, a few things I tried from combining multiple other videos that really helped. I removed the windo which only took a few minutes, then those bolts were very accessible. I also removed the door latch and it all came out as an assembly, then you don’t have to deal with the linkage issue up inside the door.

Thanks for the video. You helped me out a lot. Now I have to decide if I want to fix it myself or pay a mechanic $125. The part is $35. My piece broke exactly like yours did. It is a good idea for all Focus owners to lubricate the door hinge and rods at the top and bottom. Mine was sticking to where the rod wouldn't open the hinge, even when pulled on directly. PB Nutbuster cleared it right up. That mechanism isn't strong, attracts rust and I'm suspecting the extra force needed to push down the rod eventually breaks the piece you replaced. When I fix this I'm going to pull the passenger side apart and lubricate it before the same thing happens.

My car did the same thing my front door started first now my back door won't open both inside and out I've watched both of your videos now my husband can get both my doors fixed we own a 2008 Ford focus

Just used this to replace mine for exact same problem. Thanks for posting!!

OMG - thank you for your detailed video.. gonna try myself now. glad i watched!!

I had this part break a little over a week ago and with this video I was able to handle the replacement myself!

Thanks a lot! My granddaughter and I followed your two videos and fixed her 2008 Fusion. That screw that gave you so much trouble doesn't have to come out! It only holds the plastic slider in place. You can adjust it before putting the piece in! Also there is a second rod that NO ONE talks about! We had to attach the bottom first then the top just before seating the new inside handle piece.

Great video. Thanks.TIP....If you unscrew the 3 bolts by the latching mechanism, it makes taking the door handle off and puting it back on a lot easier....locking needle pliers with a T20 bit is a must also.

My handle completely broke off a few weeks ago and I have automatic lock on. The whole handle came off… I stopped somewhere and left my car running so all my doors were locked except the drivers door and I shut the door without rolling the window down and locked myself out, luckily a pair of needle nose pliers in the door grabbed the switch and opened it. I just ordered a new handle and I’m going to use your video to get it fixed. No more making sure the windows down to open the darn door 😂

Just finished this job. Thanks for the video! I recommend removing the window glass. I found another video showing how. Lossen two 10mm bolts and it slides right out. Very easy. Also, as someone else mentioned - you don't have to remove the front screw, but if you take the window out it's easy to get at anyway. The part he had to break with the tin snips, it can be popped out of the rest of the assembly using a flat head screwdriver. I removed mine from the new one and then after I had the metal rod inserted into it and the lock assembly in place I snapped it back in place. That wasn't the easiest maneuver. Ended up pushing it in with a socket wrench head and extension as I couldn't get enough force with my fingers. Took me 3 hours, but would have been quicker had I not been missing one of the Torx bits I needed.

I just wanted to say thanks for sharing this video. My sons door handle just broke and this video was very helpful in replacing the defective part.

Big shout out to this video. A buddy and I got my door handle working on my car again!

Thanks a bunch for making this video! Made this job on my Focus way quicker than it would've been without this as a reference.

Thank you so much for this video, I was able to replace the broken part with little problems.

Just finished doing this on my 2010. Thank you for the video. TIP: It is SO much easier to remove and reinstall the assembly if you just unplug the cable and 3 bolts holding the door latch on. Then you can just remove the whole thing (door handle assembly and latch) as one piece and then on the driveway or bench unhook the linkages and reassemble it.

@RepairED appreciate your effort to show us how fix this trouble, I know that is very difficult make an video and work at same time with only one hand... realliy thank you.

Great video, much appreciated your detail and the difficulties you will run into when doing this repair

I tackled this by myself because of your video and it was a success! ( after a big pain in the ass LOL ) but at least you prepared me for that. Thank you very much sir

Thank you, this helped me so much.

Great video. My 2011 Focus door handle is doing the same thing

Thank you Ed! I couldn't have figured this out without your help. And yes, it made me also want to curse or kill somebody but I didn't. XD We ended up taking the window out and moving the window rail down, but it was still very difficult.

I've been sitting on the new part for 5 months. I have replaced way to many door components over the years and absolutely dread fixing it. With that being said I'm to old to be reaching in from the back door to open the front door anymore. I may just remove the glass to make it easier, great video.

Fantastic video! It worked for me and it was very helpful. Thank you.

Thank you so much. I broke the window adjustment before I found this video but ever time I was stuck I fast forwarded and found it in the video. It's fixed but that crappy screw on the handle is still loose. Forget that one.

I just finished replacing mine and your video was very helpful but I have some recommendations to make it MUCH MUCH easier. After removing the interior door panel and pulling back the plastic cover plug the window controller back in and lower the window until the bolts that hold the window are aligned with holes in the door (about 1/2 way down). With the window out, the two screws shown in the video are much easier to get out because they line up with holes in the door. Remove the two screws that hold the handle on and then remove the three screws that hold the lash into the side of the door and bring the whole assembly outside of the door. Now it will be much easier to separate the old handle from the latch andto pop the lock out. The two big recommendations here are take out the window and take out the entire latch assembly and handle out of the door.

Thanks man , you helped me and my buddy today!

Thank you. My fix is a little different, but I needed the help figuring out how things came apart. I went and bought a tool to get at the screw that holds the lock surround. just over 5 bucks. Don't know if my fix will work yet, epoxy needs time to set up over night.

Thank you this happened to me today, you were very helpful, now I will try it lol🙏

Great video thanks Removing the door latch will drop the latch and inner part of the handle off Making it easier . Hope the comment helps someone. I needed the door panel part of the video thanks again

I just had to replace mine as well (I used a Dorman model 926-324), and I found that using small T20 allen wrench made accessing the hard to reach screw much easier. If you lay with your back on the ground and look directly up you can see what you are doing and access that area "fairly" easily. But removing the window and latch assembly may make it much easier. I did not remove them because I could not find any information on how to get them off and back on. I struggled quite a bit with getting the two rods into the loops while also having the replacement part fit into the plastic bracket. I did not remove the plastic bracket because I did not see how I could ever re-attach it. The important steps that made it possible for me to do this was making sure that the rod that connects to the key lock is in the proper position, and lubricating the rod ends and plastic loops.

This video helped me tremendously on my car today. I don't have power windows so I didn't have a couple of the steps, but had to do a different step, but same otherwise

Thanks for your video. Husband couldn't figure out how to do this until he asked me to find instructions online. Fran

I just did this same exact job on a 2009 Ford Focus. I found it much easier to remove the window from the door in order to get the second screw out of the bracket. The window is only held in by 2 10mm bolts. All in all this job took me a total of an hour and 4 minutes.

Very helpful, but I found it easier to just remove the window glass. There are two bolts that you loosen and then the window pulls right out. Then you can access that second screw pretty easily with a swivel bit holder. And like others have noted: just loosen it a bit and slide the assembly out!

I won't lie i was stoked about finding a video on how to do this because this is exactly my problem but now i think I'll just take it into a shop and have someone else do it.

Video was helpful but I found that there are two ways to easily remove that inner panel. 1. You could slide that panel to the right to remove. Just make sure the key hole is slightly moved out of its place in the door to allow sliding that inner panel. Looking on the outside of the door, there is a little piece of yellow/white plastic holding that inner panel to the door. Just slide it out of its hole and the inner panel will be free. 2. My replacement panel came with that little yellow/white plastic, so it would be easier to break off the head of the old one in the door to free that inner handle panel. These two options will make the job way easier.

Thank you for this upload. It was educational. I will use this video to help me replace my door handle, but I have a question. Do you know the item number for this kit? Also, what can you do if the key lock is damaged? I also need to replace the key fob.

Great video bud thanks!

Pretty good video. Wished you had had two people so I could’ve seen where your hands were when you were getting screws in and out. It still helped with other stuff though.

Thanks for the video. Daughter has a 2009 Focus with this issue. You inspired me when you said "I'm about ready to kill someone" cuz that's how I was feeling at times. Glad we have people like you that can provide support to people who still don't mind getting dirty hands.

Thanks for this video I have a 2008 black Ford Focus just like the one in the video and my door handle broke I got the part I'm going to use your video to take it apart and put it back together cool man thanks again

Thanks for posting this....it really helped, ford handles are cheap

Just fixed, thanks for the walk through!

If you're interested in how easy it is to diy, just skip ahead to 10:03😂 Thanks for the video, your pain to make it easier for us.

Thank you , this was sooooo goood!! the only problem is you never show how to hook up that rod that you clipped off with the snippers

Thank you for filming this. I'm taking my shit to the shop. Screw that!

thank you for this excellent video, and I share your frustration

Hey so the video helped but the only thing is that it doesn't unlock/open when using the fob. If i open from the inside and don't mess with my fob it will open good. Help please?

Great video. Very funny. You have a good sense of humor over this mess. It helped a lot.

Great share man. Thank you for being.

This video was so much help! Only suggestion I'd make is that it's easier to remove the window for that on screw... IMO

Thanks man. you help me alot...

I have this issue. So what parts should i get before doing? I need the handle, torx bit. What else?

You are awesome.....this video was exactly what I needed. I am also thinking of selling my ford stock!

Thanks for the great video, I really appreciate that. I have got a similar problem. The driver door can not be locked or unlocked by the key fob. The other three doors can be locked or unlocked by the key fob. That is why I have to use the actual key to unlock the driver's door. But it can be opened (not locked, just open) door handle and can be opened inside the door handle. When it is raining it sucks because I have to stand in it and open it. I checked fuses, all the related fuses I found, working. Now I have dismantled the door panel, and can not put them back, because I can not put the metal piece between the actuator and the door handle. At 13:37 your left thumb is on it. Would you help, please?

To get easy access to the screw behind the window, just remove the window, theres 2 bolts that clamp the window to the window regulator, one bottom left and the other behind and to the right of the speaker. Once loose just pull the window up and out.

What tools did you use to take out the bolts in the door

This video was a lifesaver....But this damn handle was an absolute nightmare!!!!!That freaking screw!!!! I cussed so much....My neighbor came outside and was wondering what the heck I was doing all day...

Thank you. I have had to do this twice now on my daughters car. What a design failure. Added tip. When removing the inside door handle, just clip off the plastic tab. The new unit comes with a new tab

Great video , thanks for this. Highly suggest taking the window out, helped a lot with space

Thank you for the video! OMG this was crazy, what dummy on crack decided to put the screw behind the window and no room to turn it! I will make you test your Christianity for sure LOL...just wish you would have shown a couple of more parts,BUT you done an awesome AMAZING fantastic job with only one hand! 👊💯 much respect and thanks again!

Thanks ,can you say me when can buy it i,m from México and now have this problem?

Great, great video!

Very helpful video!!! but I did find that removing the window (very easy, just remove 2 10mm bolts) will make it WAY easier.

LMMFAO.....YOU R AWESOME! watching your aggrevation ,totally turned my self-inflicted "WTF" experience into a "Hell Yeah" . I may not burn the car down afterall!!!! TY SO MUCH!!

Helpful, thank you

What's the name of the part that needed replacing?

So, were you not able to reinstall the part to be able to unlock the door with a key? Otherwise I follwed your video and it works great! I did remove the glass though to help with that PITA screw. Thanks!

Super helpful. Anybody actually change the door handle yet? Any more pointers or videos to help?

Are there any parts needed to replace anything?

What is the name of the part you ordered? I need to order mine but don’t know what it’s called! Thank you in advance 💞

How similar is the repair for a rear door handle? I really an answer on this because i am not finding any info on rear door handle replacements out there. If anybody has please leave a link.

IS A GREAT BLESSING VIDEO GREAT JOB LOVELY BROTHER

Thank you worked well

Does anyone know what that piece is called specifically

The metal line for the door lock came off and idk how to hook it back on. Like it doesn’t hook into the plastic thing. I’m guessing a little piece came off. Dunno what it was

THANK YOU. And thank you to everyone that commented, because some comments helped too. Oh, on the part that was so tough to unscrew, you can knock the white plastic piece off instead (hammer and flathead as a chisel). You'll still have to screw it in once it's in place on the new part, but a smaller vice grip also helps.

Overall well done.

Thanks for the video, I owe you a beer!

does anybody have the link to purchase this exact kit?

life saver thanks

What is that thing called that you needed to replace

Good job on instructions mate... (photographer tip )...could of used a reflector panel like white styrofoam to light up the whole door area but in anycase thanx for taking the time... i just finished the job in 3hours on a 2008 focus same driver door handle issue... that damn little screw is tough but removing the window gives better access and takes A LOT of pain and swearing away lol🤣... other then that its the rod that attaches to the doir latch that is tricky...and ya you get to swear at it there too 😂...tip ....put rod on door latch first then put new handle in the plastic frame just enough to bring the rod to the little hole then flip the handle over it so it can slide in... then latch frame to handle and carry on with attaching it to the door... easier said then done but it will save you cuts and frustrations... bottom line it was my girlfriend's focus and i am so happy not to own a ford focus...and it made me love my C30 volvo even more ... thx again for very helpful video 😎🙌🤘🤙💖

Thx so much for u video help me to solve my prolem

what is the name of the part? I want to order it I have the same issue