Ford F-150 Door Latch Removal: What You Need to Know
Car manufacturers aim to produce safe and reliable vehicles. Still, some problems only become apparent after they have been sold. When this happens, they issue reminders.
Are there any door latch recalls on the Ford F-150?
Yes, there are some reminders related to door locks, including these reminders:
- Doors can be opened while driving
- The door can be unlocked in the event of a side collision
In this article, we will cover recalls related to the Ford F-150 door latch. We will also discuss other customer complaints regarding door latches and locks.
Doors can be opened while driving
NHTSA Callback ID: 17V652000
Ford has recalled more than 1.1 million vehicles for a problem with door latches and locks. This includes 2015-2017 Ford F-150 vehicles (as well as others such as the F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks). On these vehicles, the doors have a twisted or bent operating cable.
In some other cases, door latches can freeze if water gets into the area where the latch is located. In any of these situations, the problem can cause the doors to open while you are driving the vehicle.
The main concern here is that drivers or passengers of these vehicles may believe that the door locks are secure. However, even if they appear closed, the problem can cause the doors to open. This creates a risk of injury.
Ford alerted owners to the problem in October 2017. It then instructed dealers to inspect these vehicles for the location and condition of the door latch operation cable. They repaired them if necessary. Additionally, the dealership installed water seals on the door latches to minimize the risk of moisture buildup.
The door can be unlocked in the event of a side collision
NHTSA Callback ID: 17V33100
In this vehicle recall, Ford alerted owners to a problem with the door latch in cases where a side collision occurs. This affected the same vehicles: the 2015 to 2017 F-150 vehicles, as well as the other F-series vehicles.
Only those with black or body-color exterior door handles will be affected and may have a chrome exterior door handle cover accessory kit purchased for them.
In these vehicles, the accessory door handle covers can cause the door to unlock in the event of a side collision.
Due to this problem with the latches, the vehicle did not comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 2016 Edition, “Door Locks and Door Retaining Components.”
If these accessory components are in place and there is a side collision, the door may unlock and open. This can lead to an increased risk of accidents for the occupants.
To resolve this issue, Ford alerted owners to the problem. They then removed the accessory covers that were placed on these vehicles (this was a separate add-on feature only sold at Ford dealerships).
They also refunded the purchase price of these items.
Customer Complaints About Ford F-150 Door Locks
There have been a number of additional customer complaints about Ford F-150 doors not closing properly. A common concern, which is not mentioned in any of the recalls, is that the automatic locks on the interior doors do not open. Once they are in place, such as when the vehicle is moving, a failure occurs resulting in a malfunction.
The occupants in more than one incident had to exit the vehicle through a window. The dealer in this situation had to replace the side lock mounting system. This required a complete repair and replacement. It was not noted in any recalls.
How do you handle an open recall on a Ford F-150?
Door latches, locks, and links are included in some of the less common recalls. However, new reminders may arise at any time. That’s why it’s important to stay up to date with all recalls using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website.
For Ford F-150 vehicle owners, enter the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the truck on the NHTSA website. This will produce a list of all recalls related to that particular vehicle. It also lists pending recalls that need to be addressed by Ford.
To find out how, call Ford directly at 1-866-436-7332. They will tell you where and how to get service reminders.
For those considering purchasing a Ford F-150 or others interested in recalls related to this vehicle, including the door latch, simply enter the make, model, and year on the website. This will provide a list of applicable reminders.
Photos: Ford
