MajorCommonBody & Rust

Ford Escape: Door latch failure — doors won't close or can open while driving (global recall)

Door latch failure — doors won't close or can open while driving (global recall) is a common body & rust fault on the Ford Escape on the 2013–2019 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs ≈A$140 to ≈A$460 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 21 documented faults on the Ford Escape.

Vehicle: Ford Escape
Years: 2013–2019
System: Body & Rust

This page covers the Ford Escape as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Ford Escape faults21 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The pawl spring tab in the side-door latches of this era of Ford (Kuga/Escape, Focus, Fiesta) can crack in hot climates, leaving a door that will not latch shut or, worse, one that appears shut and springs open on the move. It was part of one of Ford's largest-ever global door-latch recalls. Recall latches should have been replaced free, but not every Australian-delivered or imported car made it back to a dealer.

What you would notice

A door that bounces back open when you shut it
'Door ajar' warning that stays on while driving
Having to slam a door repeatedly to latch it

How to check it

Where to look. Door latch mechanisms in each side door shut-face

Open and firmly shut every door, including the tailgate, several times each.
Watch the dash for a door-ajar light on the test drive.
Ask a Ford dealer to run the VIN for outstanding recalls before you buy.

What it costs to put right

≈A$140 to ≈A$460 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, converted to Australian dollars, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the door latch recall been completed on this car?”
“Have any doors ever failed to shut or popped open?”

Now check the Ford Escape you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car still has money owing on it, has been written off or reported stolen, what kms it showed in past sale ads, whether it has had accident repair claims and what it is worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate and its state for the A$17.90 Vehicle Check, or the full history from A$24.99.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Ford global door latch recalls 15S16/16S26/17S33
Ford Australia door latch recall notices (Kuga/Focus/Fiesta)
Ford Owners Club door latch threads

Ford Escape buyer questions

Is door latch failure — doors won't close or can open while driving (global recall) serious on a Ford Escape?

We rate it major and common on the Ford Escape. The pawl spring tab in the side-door latches of this era of Ford (Kuga/Escape, Focus, Fiesta) can crack in hot climates, leaving a door that will not latch shut or, worse, one that appears shut and springs open on the move. It was part of one of Ford's largest-ever global door-latch recalls. Recall latches should have been replaced free, but not every Australian-delivered or imported car made it back to a dealer.

How much does it cost to fix on a Ford Escape?

≈A$140 to ≈A$460 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Ford Escape years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2013–2019 Ford Escape. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Open and firmly shut every door, including the tailgate, several times each. Watch the dash for a door-ajar light on the test drive. Ask a Ford dealer to run the VIN for outstanding recalls before you buy. Look here: Door latch mechanisms in each side door shut-face