Ford Fiesta Latches/locks/linkages Problems
Owners have filed 185 complaints with NHTSA about latches/locks/linkages problems on the Ford Fiesta across 8 model years. The 2012 model year has the most (57). The words owners use most often: “door latch” (50% of reports).
- 185latches/locks/linkages complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 5related recalls
- 25%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.
- Door latch: mentioned in 92 of 185 complaints (50%)
- Rear passenger: mentioned in 61 of 185 complaints (33%)
- Included latches: mentioned in 19 of 185 complaints (10%)
At what mileage do latches/locks/linkages problems happen?
Based on 148 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 185 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 2 an injury.
Ford Fiesta latches/locks/linkages complaints by model year
| Model year | Latches/locks/linkages complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Fiesta | 1 | 3% | 97,260 |
| 2016 Fiesta | 2 | 1% | 63,000 |
| 2015 Fiesta | 6 | 2% | 60,000 |
| 2014 Fiesta | 30 | 6% | 49,884 |
| 2013 Fiesta | 47 | 7% | 52,000 |
| 2012 Fiesta | 57 | 9% | 45,173 |
| 2011 Fiesta | 41 | 6% | 65,000 |
| 2001 Fiesta | 1 | 100% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (5)
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Model years: 2015
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Fiesta, 2016 Fusion, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A component inside the door latches may break, which can make it difficult to latch or possibly allow the doors to open while driving.
Risk: Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the door latch date codes and if necessary, replace all four side door latches, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S15. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-177.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Model years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Model years: 2014, 2015
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Fiesta, 2014-2016 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford or Lincoln dealers will replace the side door latches, free of charge. The recall began September 21, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S15.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Model years: 2014
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Fiesta, 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches, free of charge. The recall began May 1, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S16.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Model years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on April 23, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured July 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013, and 2012-2014 Fiesta vehicles manufactured February 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013. On April 30, 2015, Ford expanded the recall to cover an additional 119,567 vehicles, including certain model year 2011 Ford Fiestas manufactured from November 11, 2009, to May 31, 2013 and certain model year 2013 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured from February 1, 2012, to June 30, 2012. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches with an improved part, free of charge. Interim notifications were mailed to owners on June 5, 2015. The recall began on December 18, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S16.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle and closing the front driverâs side door, the door failed to latch properly. While driving 70 MPH, the front driverâs side door opened. The contact secured the door with a bungee cord and continued driving…
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact received the recall notification letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (latches, locks, and linkages). The contact stated that the passenger-side door opened while driving at 30-35 MPH. While her daughter was driving, the passenger side rear…
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the driver's door unintendedly opened. The contact immediately pulled over to attempt to close the door; however, the door failed to close. The contact used a rope to keep the door closed with the…
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front passenger's door latch failed to latch as needed, and the front passenger's door failed to close securely. The contact used duct tape to prevent the door from opening unexpectedly. The contact…
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passengerâs side door independently opened. The door ajar warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Fiestas have latches/locks/linkages problems?
No. NHTSA has 185 owner complaints about latches/locks/linkages for the Ford Fiesta. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Fiesta latches/locks/linkages?
Yes: 5 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 Fiesta?
The most frequent phrase is “door latch”, in 92 of 185 complaints, followed by “rear passenger” (61).
Other Ford Fiesta problems
- Power Train problems (1,498)
- Engine problems (507)
- Structure problems (409)
- Electrical System problems (338)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (197)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (135)
- Air Bags problems (102)
See all Ford Fiesta problems.