Where is the child safety lock on the Ford Focus?

[DianaLee]

The child safety lock on the Ford Focus is located on the rear doors. Open the door and you will see a keyhole on the inner side, which can be unlocked directly with the car key. Taking the 2021 Ford Focus as an example, it is a compact car with body dimensions of 4647mm in length, 1810mm in width, and 1468mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2705mm. The fuel tank capacity is 53 liters, and the curb weight is 1245kg. The 2021 Ford Focus features a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear suspension. It is equipped with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 122PS, a maximum power of 90kW, and a maximum torque of 153Nm, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission.

[OMolly]

As a long-time Focus owner, I can clearly tell you that the child safety lock is located on the inner edge of the rear door, where there's a small toggle switch. You need to operate it manually—just flip the switch downward on whichever door you want to lock. I always make it a habit to check this spot before driving, especially when taking kids out. Once locked, the door can't be opened from the inside, so no worries about kids fiddling with the handle. However, adults will have to open the door from the outside, which is a bit inconvenient but safety comes first. After locking, I always ask family members to try opening the door from inside to ensure it's properly secured before driving.

[CourtneyMarie]

Once my child could sit alone in the back seat, I started paying attention to the child safety locks. The design on the Focus is quite noticeable - there's a small black plastic toggle in the gap where the rear door connects to the side panel. You just need to flip it up or down with your finger to lock it. When locked, the door can still be opened from the outside using the exterior handle, but the interior handle becomes stiff and won't turn. I specifically looked this up and learned this design prevents children from accidentally opening doors while the car is moving. However, I once forgot to disengage the safety lock, and my friend in the back seat couldn't open the door to get out, which confused them for quite a while. Just remember to lock and unlock it as needed in daily use.

[OmarLee]

The Focus actually has two safety locks, both well-hidden and requiring you to bend down for a closer look: they're located near the door latch on the inner edge of the rear doors, one on each side. The switch resembles a coin-sized plastic knob or toggle, with slight variations depending on the model year. Rotate it 90 degrees or flip it to the 'lock' position to engage. When locked, the inner door handle becomes inactive, but the exterior handle still works normally. I usually only lock the side where my child sits. The key is to develop the habit of checking that tiny indicator is in the correct position before every drive.

[StGenesis]

After driving several Focus models, I noticed the child lock is consistently located at the inner side of the rear door where it meets the B-pillar. The operation is quite intuitive: open the rear door and look towards the edge – you'll find a black protrusion marked with a child and lock symbol. Simply use your fingertip to slide it to the position with the locked icon. Remember, once engaged, the door can only be opened from the outside handle; front passengers cannot unlock the rear doors. I once forgot I'd activated it, and my colleague thought the car was broken when they couldn't open the door. That's why I always keep the manual in the trunk – just in case I need to troubleshoot.