Electric latch for tailgate on 2003 ford focus doesn't work

several things come to mind, how long since opened? if very long time might be latches rusted up, other is that connection inside has come loose. remove the inner liner of tailgate and look inside and try pulling the latch rods by hand and free up tailgate. fix rod if disconnected and /or clean latches with wd-40 and brush, spray clean and spray with lithium grease.

adjust the tail gate lock/ latch to tighten the gate up on the rubber seals

is the check engine light on ,any codes

I am not quite sure, but on the sides of the tailgate, where it locks, can't you push the mechanism back? I think you can. It either turns them from latch to open. You can try this. See if you can push it into lock mode.

you have to make sure the strikers are lined up to the latch. The latches get dirt in them and dont move easily. You may have to remove the latches and clean them and grease them up make sure the action is working. There is a spring on the latch if it is broken you will have to replace the latch. Make sure as you before you shut the tailgate the the latches on the tailgate are open and not latched closed. You can put a screw driver in the latch and pull the handle and that should release the latch in the position ready to accept the striker when you close it Next make sure the plastic clip retainers are not broken on the handle

the latch assy and the striker

Tailgate latch, handle and lock

• Open the tailgate.
• Remove the two bolts and detach the door stop.
• Lower the tailgate and remove the tailgate access cover.
• Disconnect the control rods.
• Detach the retaining nuts and remove the handle and lock cylinder assembly from the tailgate.

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Door trim panels

• Disconnect the cable(s) from the negative battery terminal(s).
• On manual window equipped models, pull the window crank cover aside, remove the screw and detach the handle.
• On the front door of power window equipped models Pry up on the retaining clip at the front edge of the armrest and lift the armrest switch control plate out and disconnect the electrical connections,then remove the retaining bolt from the opening.
• Use a small screwdriver to pry off the courtesy light cover for access to the trim panel retaining bolt.
• Carefully pry off the mirror trim panel from above the front edge of the door panel.
• Once all of the bolts are removed, remove the trim panel by gently pullingit up and out .Detach the courtesy light bulb housing from the panel.
• For access to the inner door components, remove the speaker (if it would interfere with watershield removal) and the screws from the trim piece at the lower trailing corner of the door, then carefully peel the watershield from the door.
• Remove the screws securing the latch.
• Working through the large access hole, position the latch as necessary to disconnect the electrical connector and disengage the outside door handle and outside lock cylinder to latch rods and the inside handle-to-Iatch cable.
• Detach the locking rods by unsnapping The remaining outside handle retaining nut can be reached through the access hole in the door frame and the upper striker the portionof the plastic clip engaging the connecting rod, then pulling the rod out of its locating hole.
• Position the latch as necessary to disengage the door lock actuator hook. Detach the cable cover and disconnect the cable from the latch. Remove the latch assembly from the door.

Mine just did the exact same thing. The latch may be moving freely because it is not hooked to the latching mechanism anymore. In my case, the handle had broken where the handle hooks to the rod that operates the mechanism. Go to the Ford dealer and buy a new handle. Here in S.C. it was $24. You can't get this at the parts houses. Start by removing the plastic "Ford" cover that is over the liscense plate lights. You then have to remove the aluminum rivets that hold the handle to the tailgate from the outside and remove the broken latch. Remove the pull handle loop on the interior side of the tailgate (2 screws), unsnap the inside plastic tailgate interior panel, and pull down the black plastic sheeting that is underneath the panel to make access to the mechanism inside of the tailgate. There is also a hard plastic cover that you will see that needs to be pulled loose to open another access hole. Install the new tailgate latch handle by sliding back into the mounting holes and attach with two 10-32 screws and nuts. The new handle will come with a new yellow rod attachment piece on the handle. You will see inside of the tailgate a small rod hanging down, most likeky it will have the same rod attachment piece as the one on the new handle. Note the position of the yellow piece on the rod, as you will connect the new piece in the same place. Once the rod is hooked up, relubricate the metal mechanism with a light machine oil, replace the black plastic cover, replace the black plastic sheeting, (secure with a small amount of duct tape), replace the tailgate interior panel, replace the pull handle loop, shut tailgate, replace "Ford" cover over lights, and you're done!

You may have to pull the latch, the latches inside the tailgate got loose or the tailgate is bent inward take a sluge hammer and hit it on the oppisite side to make flush!

if there are no broken wires inside the tailgate try lubing the latches with WD40 and open and close the tailgate several times. If the latches are properly closed on both sides the window will not work