Ford F-150 Latches/locks/linkages Problems
Owners have filed 356 complaints with NHTSA about latches/locks/linkages problems on the Ford F-150 across 28 model years. The 2018 model year has the most (57). The words owners use most often: “side door” (22% of reports).
- 356latches/locks/linkages complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 16mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- 36%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Side door: mentioned in 79 of 356 complaints (22%)
- Front driver: mentioned in 32 of 356 complaints (9%)
- Doors failed: mentioned in 23 of 356 complaints (6%)
- Rear passenger: mentioned in 18 of 356 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do latches/locks/linkages problems happen?
Based on 225 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 356 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 16 an injury.
Ford F-150 latches/locks/linkages complaints by model year
| Model year | Latches/locks/linkages complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 F-150 | 2 | 1% | 2,000 |
| 2023 F-150 | 1 | 0% | 10,000 |
| 2022 F-150 | 5 | 1% | 32,000 |
| 2021 F-150 | 8 | 1% | 29,000 |
| 2020 F-150 | 11 | 1% | 30,000 |
| 2019 F-150 | 10 | 1% | 54,000 |
| 2018 F-150 | 57 | 2% | 42,000 |
| 2017 F-150 | 43 | 3% | 18,000 |
| 2016 F-150 | 52 | 3% | 50,200 |
| 2015 F-150 | 39 | 2% | 44,750 |
| 2014 F-150 | 9 | 1% | 73,258 |
| 2013 F-150 | 10 | 0% | 122,500 |
| 2012 F-150 | 7 | 0% | 115,000 |
| 2011 F-150 | 1 | 0% | 45,000 |
| 2010 F-150 | 7 | 1% | 95,000 |
| 2009 F-150 | 5 | 2% | 42,682 |
| 2008 F-150 | 3 | 1% | 51,000 |
| 2007 F-150 | 2 | 0% | 60,543 |
| 2005 F-150 | 7 | 1% | 39,000 |
| 2004 F-150 | 23 | 1% | 46,188 |
| 2003 F-150 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2002 F-150 | 8 | 1% | 60,000 |
| 2001 F-150 | 11 | 1% | 130,750 |
| 2000 F-150 | 7 | 1% | 6,500 |
| 1999 F-150 | 9 | 1% | 40,000 |
| 1998 F-150 | 2 | 0% | 78,250 |
| 1997 F-150 | 14 | 1% | 98,000 |
| 1995 F-150 | 2 | 0% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch
Model years: 2018
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles with manual and power release tailgates. The tailgate latches may unlatch unexpectedly while driving.
Risk: Unexpected tailgate opening may allow unrestrained cargo to fall out of the truck bed and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left-hand and right-hand tailgate latches, free of charge. An interim notification letter was mailed January 31, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S53.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Model years: 2015, 2016, 2017
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the doors opening while driving although they appear to be closed.
Risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S33.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch; structure:body:door
Model years: 2015, 2016, 2017
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles originally produced with black or body colored exterior door handles that may have been subsequently equipped with a chrome exterior door handle cover accessory kit purchased from a Ford dealer. These accessory door handle covers may cause the doors to unlatch in a side impact collision. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
Risk: If the doors unlatch and open in a side impact collision, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the accessory covers and refund the purchase price. The recall began July 13, 2017. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 17C09.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Door simply will not open and power lock isnât working either
See attached document for complaint
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact was unable to unlock the door while using the remote unlock feature. The lights to indicate that the vehicle was unlocked flashed, but the contact was unable to open the door. Additionally, the…
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the tailgate unexpectedly opened while driving and while the vehicle was parked. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V983000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not…
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 56 MPH, the hood was bouncing and the hood became unsecured and flew open, covering the windshield, and the windshield was cracked. The contact was able to safely maneuver the vehicle onto the shoulder of the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford F-150s have latches/locks/linkages problems?
No. NHTSA has 356 owner complaints about latches/locks/linkages for the Ford F-150. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford F-150 latches/locks/linkages?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list latches/locks/linkages. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about latches/locks/linkages problems on the Ford F-150?
The most frequent phrase is “side door”, in 79 of 356 complaints, followed by “front driver” (32).
Other Ford F-150 problems
- Power Train problems (8,971)
- Engine problems (4,524)
- Electrical System problems (3,642)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (2,690)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (2,502)
- Steering problems (2,253)
- Service Brakes problems (2,080)
- Visibility problems (2,074)
See all Ford F-150 problems.