What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Multiple driver aid funcations in-op. Driver door locks will not lock or unlock, driver door lock and unlock switch will not operate any locks, passenger door mirror will not move, seat memory will not save, rear view mirror will not auto dim and there is no manual option to adjust the mirror resulting in impacted night visablity, rear view camera does not display on screen but will beep when close to an object. Not codes or dash warnings displayed to stored. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Impacted visibly while driving. Unable to adust passenger mirror to see blink spot or along passenger side of vehicle. Unable to lock or unlock driver door, if locked its not allowing me to enter the vehicle and have to enter via passenger door. Auto dim impacts visablity with driving at night. Rear back up camera in-op is damgerous in numerous aspects. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Problem is constant. Not taking to a dealer due to ridiculous prices and diag fees. I'm a tech and tried to diagnose issues with no answers. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Not yet. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Unknown. Purchased private party with issues (05/01/2026). Looked at 3 other ford flexs from this generation that all had the same issues when looking to purchase a vehicle and no one had a solution for it.
Ford Flex door locks problems
122 of the 1,955 owner complaints about the Ford Flex describe doors won't lock, open or latch, most of them for the 2013 model year.
- owner complaints
- 122
- worst model year
- 2013
- typical repair cost reported
- $500
- typical mileage
- 62,155
By model year
Often reported together
Battery drain 14Backup camera 2Won't start 1Wipers 1Warning lights 1Slipping 1Fire or smoke 1Knocking 1
What owners say
I Repaired 1 door ajar DSF under warranty Had to pay for 2 doors PSF & PSR due to out of warranty Now there’s a recall but I’m over 250,000 miles ,so Ford refuses to to cover the door handle sensor recall
Water ingress into rear side door latch - froze - door opened while car was in motion
The issue is that the pawl spring tab in the side door latch broke. The door does not close. if closed manually by manipulating the latch to close it, the door may open while driving. There was a recall for this exact issue a few years ago but I feel it needs to be opened back up and more models added to it, like the 2016 Flex. Here is the article from a few years ago: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear passenger’s side door unlocked. In addition, the contact stated that the failure occurred sometimes when the vehicle was parked, and the alarm activated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a faulty door latch. The contact was informed that the door latch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was persistent. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed that the repair could not be covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Repeated problems with door latch system in 2013 Ford Flex. Door is interpreted as being ajar, despite being closed. Two warning lights/messages to this effect persist, interior lights will not turn off (which drains the battery), doors will not automatically lock while driving in this condition and as I understand it, if an accident occurred, the airbags would NOT deploy due to the doors not being 'locked'. This is a serious safety issue and causes continual drain on the battery if left in this condition. The only way to sometimes get it to recognize the door being shut is to repeatedly close the door, often having to slam the door shut; this can take up to 15 attempts. Driver's door has been cycled & subsequently replaced six months later. We are taking it in now for a likely 2nd replacement on this door alone. The rear right passenger door & front passenger door have each been replaced as well. The first two repairs/replacement on the driver's door were under warranty, the remaining 2 replacements (and upcoming additional replacement) have been and will be at our own cost. This same door latch system has been recalled on three different occasions on other Ford models, yet not on the Flex. There should be a recall on this 2013 Ford Flex and we should get refunds for our out-of-pocket costs for this repeated and known problem.
The passenger door latch cracked and door would not close. This is exactly as described in a recall of other Ford vehicles from the same model year, however, the Flex was not included.
The 2013 Flex has an issue with door ajar switch within the door latch mechanism failing. This results in the car incorrectly identifying the door as “ajar” when it is closed. The result is that the automatic door locking does not activate when the car is in motion. This means that the door remains unlocked unless manually locked by the passenger. This can pose a safety hazard as the door could come open in an accident or be opened while in motion by a passenger. This problem has been well described on the web with multiple work around including disabling the mechanism or wiring a different switch in. It also described as typically happening around 69,000 miles. In conclusion Ford has created a faulty door ajar sensor that negatively affects the safety of the occupants in the vehicles and has resulted in numerous work arounds that could further negatively impact the safety of the occupants. Thank you for your time.
The front drivers door latch. When the door is shut their is an alarm stating that the door is ajar. Per Ford their is a Customer Satisfaction Program 19N09 for it. I bought this vechicle Monday June 20, 2022. Per Ford they notified me of this issue as well but they will not fix it as it is past the 84,000 miles/7 years as well as the 120,000 miles and July 31, 2020. This vechile per the records has been services at Thoroughbred Ford in Kansas City, MO since the day it was bought and yet it has not been fixed? And now they are not willing to fix it.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side door latch had fractured. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the spring in the door fractured and damaged the striker within the door mechanism. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and suggested that the vehicle be taken to the dealer for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 133,000.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Ford Flex door locks
Which Ford Flex years have doors won't lock, open or latch problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2013 (96 complaints), 2014 (10 complaints) and 2016 (7 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix doors won't lock, open or latch on the Ford Flex?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $500 (median of 14 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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