Ford Door Latch Problems Result in Recall of Fiesta, Fusion, Lincoln MKZ Vehicles
Close to 400,000 Ford Fiesta, Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles are being recalled due to faulty door latches, which may allow the door to open unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion, posing a serious risk for drivers and passengers.
The Ford door latch recall was announced by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on April 23, following at least two consumer complaints that indicated the door bounced back from the vehicle when the occupant attempted to close it.
In one of the reports, the driver’s door unexpectedly swung open while attempting to park, causing the door to strike an adjacent vehicle. To date, two customers have reported allegations of soreness from the unlatching doors bouncing back when they attempted to shut them.
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Learn MoreThe Ford door latch problems appear to be related to a pawl spring tab, which allows the latch to catch and properly secure the vehicles door. Ford indicates that this component has the potential to break, which may result in a condition where the door will not latch at all or only partially, allowing for the door to swing open while driving.
The recall includes certain model year 2013 through 2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured from July 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013, and certain 2012 through 2014 Ford Fiesta vehicles manufactured from February 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013.
Ford announced that there are approximately 390,000 vehicles impacted by the recall. The auto maker has estimated around 336,873 vehicles to have been sold in the U.S. and federalized territories as well as 30,198 in Canada and another 22,514 in Mexico.
In addition to the recall announcement, the NHTSA has also issued an alert for consumers with recalled vehicles to always wear your seatbelt and to make sure all passengers are secured by a safety belt to prevent possible ejection hazards. The agency is advising customers to not drive the recalled vehicles if the door will not latch properly, and in the event the door opens while the vehicle is in operation to pull over immediately and have the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership.
Ford’s recall is anticipated to begin on June 1, 2015 and will notify customers of the defect and instructions on how to schedule a repair appointment at their nearest dealer to have all four door latches replaced for free with an improved part. Owners with further questions may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332 and reference the recall number 15S16.
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2 Comments
ScottFebruary 8, 2021 at 6:15 am
My front door did it and my passenger who is deafs service dog was half way out the car as my passenger held on to her ceritfied service dogs back leg for dear life as the honored animal known for protecting my friend in public was subject to petrified terror as she yelped in agony as her leg was being near torn from her socket to save her from falling into the interstate at 70mph! My friend almos[Show More]My front door did it and my passenger who is deafs service dog was half way out the car as my passenger held on to her ceritfied service dogs back leg for dear life as the honored animal known for protecting my friend in public was subject to petrified terror as she yelped in agony as her leg was being near torn from her socket to save her from falling into the interstate at 70mph! My friend almost had to let go and the dog was almost killed instantly. Not only that as I stopped as fast as I could we near crashed into the ditch at high speeds and lost control. As we finally started to quickly slow safely avoiding the ditch, it forced the front door with great force to swing back towards shut and trys to SLAM back shut into my best friend and her dog that she was still trying to get into the car safe. It not only caused my deaf friend to be traumatized but it causes her to get hit very hard with the door slamming back towards shut and also crushing her dog inbetween the door. Which just bounced the door right back open again. By this moment we finally came to a stop with the door wide open. My friend latched in her seatbelt and her certified service animal hurt but due to the strength of a woman who refused to let her little animal get thrown into 70mph interstate her dog only suffered from a sprained leg, trauma, shock, and was unresponsive to our trying to comfort her. Her heart was beating so fast we were scared she was going to have a heart attack. Not to mention my friend and I also we're ready to have a heart attack! Then after I pay 169 out of pocket to fix it. Since ford still had no recall yet but they did on the focus of coarse. My back door with child locks on randomly does it one month later! Swings open on the highway going 55mph. No children inside! How sick. I called and apparently there was a recall all of the sudden now. So I go to the dealer ship. By apt. They get me there from Mississippi to Florida and tell me they don't do door latches on Saturdays. But they scheduled the appointment. So they said they would see what they could do and I had to wait of course that's my only car. They didn't offer me another car so I could leave mine. So I wait there for 5 hours and when I tell them I got to go because I'm hungry. They say they were going to get it ready but they didn't do anything with it because the whole 5 hours they were just trying to get forward to approved getting the locks changed. They also told me that my water pump was going out and that I need to check my coolant. My coolant was full whenever I got there. There was no problem with any coolant leak. So I took it back home that day because they couldn't fix it after 5 hours of waiting. So they had me come there for nothing and wait all day for nothing. So I had to drive away all the way back to Mississippi with the door not latched. No offer of a vehicle for me to drive while they fixed it. So to this day it's been weeks now upon weeks and they still have not done anything to help me. I have argued with them on Facebook that this needs to be done and I don't want to do it in Pensacola because they lie and say things are wrong that are not wrong. Because I took it to another dealership Pep Boys and they tested my water pump. And Ford World dealership and Pensacola lied. There was nothing wrong with my water pump. Somehow a hose got loose and needed a new o-ring. They were trying to overcharge me. I also heard them making fun of another customer who they were about to charge a diagnostic fee for something they knew what was wrong because they thought it was funny. They were making fun of the customer in front of me. And then they wanted to try to do that shit to me with the water pump. I want a class action lawsuit filed and I want to be part of it. I want them sued. I have my back door and my front door seat belts wrapped around the door handle holding the back door shut right now. This is got to end today. And if my friend doesn't get compensation she said that she's going to sue me If I don't sue ford. So I hope that there is a lawyer that can help us.
alannaJune 30, 2015 at 11:35 pm
2011 fiesta my back rear door flung open on me going down the interstate 70 miles an hour with my grandson seated beside the door this happened on a Sunday there were no dealerships open every since that following Monday I have been in contact with ford ,with NHTSA and two different Ford dealership at this point Ive been ignored by everyone,was misled, multiple times that they were trying to loca[Show More]2011 fiesta my back rear door flung open on me going down the interstate 70 miles an hour with my grandson seated beside the door this happened on a Sunday there were no dealerships open every since that following Monday I have been in contact with ford ,with NHTSA and two different Ford dealership at this point Ive been ignored by everyone,was misled, multiple times that they were trying to locate me a loaner vehicle the latest one was I could either walk ,DRIVE my car with the door wide open or contact a lawyer the other Ford dealership today told me that the recall department at Ford said that they did not see where this was an issue and they refused to provide me with a loaner vehicle until my car can be fixed the date of them producing the repair parts for my door is not until March of 2016 now am I supposed to make a car payment on a car that is undriveable because the door will not shut,its "unsafe"not only to me or anyone that would actually get in my vehicle but anyone else going down the road around my vehicle because the door is open.I am not able to lock my car , I cannot turn my alarm on with the door being open and it is draining down my battery because the dome light is on,I do not own more than one vehicle this is my only means of transportation its undriveable I cannot afford the car payment and a rental car at the same time and Ford refuses to give me a loaner vehicle until they can fix it and with the projected date of March of 2016 that leaves me 9 months without a vehicle because Ford refuses to fix my car in a timely manner and I was told if I didn't like it I could walk drive the car with the door swinging open or to call a lawyer,and to think that I purchase this vehicle because of its safety ratings .I feel like the most victimized Ford customer ever I have been talked to rudely I have been dismissed I have been ignored I've made many phone calls that have never been returned,what recourse is there for a customer of a company this car is in a recall the car has failed and they have no way to fix it nor do they plan to provide me with an alternate product while my car is irreparable