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 $150 to $500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. 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
What you are looking at
No photograph available
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 NZ-new 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
$150 to $500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
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 has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
- 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 NZ-new or imported car made it back to a dealer.
How much does it cost to fix on a Ford Escape?
$150 to $500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. 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