2016 Ford Explorer: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Feb 17, 2026 · Locks · 98,331 miles · WV

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, while attempting to open the driver’s side door with the door handle, the door failed to respond as needed. However, when the button was pushed to unlock the vehicle, the door responded as intended. The contact stated that the driver’s side window failed to operate as needed. Neither an independent mechanic nor a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,331.

Filed Mar 20, 2024 · Body · 120,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the passenger side of the vehicle. The contact stated the front passenger side door handle trim was then separated from the vehicle. The door handle trim was replaced by the owner. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Aug 31, 2023 · Locks · 141,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, the door locks failed to open. The contact stated that the rear driver’s and passenger’s side doors failed to unlock as needed. The contact used the key fob remote to attempt to unlock the doors, but the doors failed to unlock. Additionally, the contact stated that she attempted to manually unlock the doors, but the doors failed to unlock from the inside or the outside. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the door lock mechanism had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the front driver’s side door failed to unlock, and the lock was stuck in the locked position. The contact attempted to manually unlock the front driver’s side door, but the door failed to unlock. The contact stated that she was concerned that during an emergency, she would be stuck inside or outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it remained. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to contact the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.

Filed Jun 29, 2021 · Electrical · NJ

The electronic door clocks are continuously failing where the door cannot be opened in an emergent situation. On 6/24/20 the front driver door latch had to be replaced and on 03/21/21 the left rear door latch had to be replaced. Presently the right rear door latch is not operating and the vehicle has been scheduled for service on 7/9/21.. When these locks fail you are unable to open the doors unless you can reach the lock to pull up. In an emergency such as a crash or fire this failure can be fatal. It appears that there is a design flaw or defect with these locks. Review of internet blogs reveal this may be a common unreported problem that needs immediate attention. In the event there are emergent circumstances requiring the removal of a child or elderly this may be tragic.

Filed Jan 23, 2019 · Electrical · OH

Navigation and radio screen keeps going out or turning black rear passenger door lock won't lock or unlock.

Filed Apr 12, 2018 · CA

The rear doors will not open when the car comes to a stop and people want to exit the car; the child lock is not on. The driver has to physically push the unlock button to open all the car doors . The autonation dealership in tustin, ca continues to tell me this is correct! This is insanity and unsafe. So I've posed the scenario, if we're in a crash and the driver becomes unconscious and the vehicle is on fire, you mean the driver has to 'become' conscious in order to open all the doors for everyone to escape?? Yes, that is the answer. They have no other answers for me to either un-program something that it incorrectly programmed or even any admission or suggestions that this doesn't sound correct. We now feel very unsafe driving this vehicle. This has existed since purchasing the vehicle in 2015 but because of our currently situation have become aware of it. Driving a dementia patient and her caregiver has exacerbated this matter - the caregiver is the one experiencing the panic of not be able to get out while needing to help the dementia patient - previously, children riding in the back would not be aware of the danger of this matter or the urgency to get out or the fact that this safety issue is something absolutely overlooked by ford.

Filed Aug 31, 2017 · Seats · 50,000 miles · AR · 1 injury

Incident #1 7/11/2017 ford motor cas #12918168 service to repair the navigation unit parked @ my home on front slope drive hours later I started vehicle side mirrors on both sides began opening & closing uncontrollably my driver seat began moving unstoppably forward tried the seat control panel on the driver door & tried ignition off & on completely pinned my knees against the dash upper body against the steering wheel at some point the back of the seat fall backwards enough to allow me to crawl out dealership made numerous attempts to rectify but a mystery how seat reverted to factory settings returned w/ no repairs made disabled door control so that it would be safe to drive until a resolution with ford motor could be made on 7/13 discovered the seat was not in fact disabled on 7/14/2017 dealership came out to my home did adjustments to seat & declared it safe to drive. Incident #2 8/26/2017 ford motor cas#13006930 I parked my vehicle on my granddaughter's back slanted/sloped driveway. Turned ignition off & my car car jumped backwards (likened to a manuel transmission jumping out of gear). After getting out of my car & before my hand touched the door handle to the driverside back door my great grandson started screaming for me I opened the door to find him smashed between the back of driver seat & child seat. Dealership came & inspected the situation. My inibulizer medical bag found tightly wedged on the floor board prevented the seat from moving an additional 2-4" gm took my vehicle to the dealership leaving me with a vehicle to use until this issue is resolved. On 8/30/2017 ford motor regional service manager contacted me & deemed my vehicle as "operating as designed" said no errors were discovered upon inspection. Stated no further action to be done by ford motor.

Filed Apr 1, 2017 · Electrical · 4,100 miles · NY

When stationary the auto hatch feature opens by itself when walking by adjacent to the vehicle or pulling on the driver's door handle to unlock the car.