I have experienced a concerning issue twice while driving. On both occasions, I was traveling at approximately 72 mph with all doors closed and locked when the vehicle indicated that the passenger door was ajar. Although the door did not fully open, it appears that the latch may not have remained securely engaged. My concern is that if I have a passenger in the vehicle and this occurs again, it could create a serious safety risk. I would like to know what may be causing this issue and what can be done to correct it. Could this be related to a defective door latch, sensor, or another component?
Ford Mustang door locks problems
72 of the 8,915 owner complaints about the Ford Mustang describe doors won't lock, open or latch, most of them for the 2015 model year.
- owner complaints
- 72
- worst model year
- 2015
- typical repair cost reported
- $2,000
- typical mileage
- 50,200
By model year
Often reported together
Water leak 4Headlights 4Backup camera 4Wipers 2Key fob 2Stalling 1Loss of power 1Fuel pump 1
What owners say
The contact owned a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds, the driver's side door independently opened. The failure caused severe wind noise to enter the vehicle, and the door ajar warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, where technicians confirmed that the door latch mechanism had failed and stated that the mechanism was subjected to unintended opening. The vehicle was repaired out of pocket. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) as the cause of the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall.
While driving my recently purchased 2017 Ford Mustang Convertible from Florida to North Carolina, the passenger-side door repeatedly unlocked and partially opened while the vehicle was traveling at interstate speeds. This occurred approximately 12 times during the trip. The door appeared to latch normally when closed, but would unexpectedly unlock and pop open while the vehicle was in motion. This created a significant safety concern due to the risk of occupant injury, driver distraction, and potential loss of vehicle control. I am aware that Ford has issued recalls related to door latch failures on certain Mustang models; however, my vehicle's VIN is not included in the recall population. Based on my research, numerous owners of Ford Mustang Convertibles from model years around 2017 have reported experiencing similar door latch and door-opening issues. Given the frequency of the occurrences and the obvious safety implications of a vehicle door opening while traveling at highway speeds, I believe this issue warrants further investigation.
My passenger door latch pops open nearly every time I drive on the highway. The latches were previously the subject of Safety Recall 16S30. I had my vehicle inspected by a Ford Dealership. No repairs or work was deemed necessary at that time. In the years since, my door now comes unlatched. Infrequently at first and now with very alarming frequency. Safety Recall 20S30 was issued specifically to address these inspections and recalls being completed ineffectually. Somehow my VIN has been left off of this recall even though it was on the 2016 one. The dealership is trying to charge me nearly $2000 to fix a known safety issue. This seems unreasonable, unfair, and extremely dangerous.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the passenger’s and driver’s side door latches unlocked while driving approximately 70 - 75 MPH, and the doors became slightly opened. The contact grabbed the interior handle and closed the door. The contact had received information related to the door lock failures. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be repaired under recall because an undisclosed campaign had expired in November 2025. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure by the dealer and confirmed that the recall campaign had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Mustang. The contact recently purchased the vehicle. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V331000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who refused to inspect the door latch codes. The contact was informed that it appeared that the recall repair was started; however, it was not completed. The dealer stated that since the remedy was not completed, it could not be finished. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact to request the dealer to inspect and verify if the remedy had been completed. The dealer refused and stated that the software did not allow the dealer to inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was 78,955.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving approximately 85 MPH, the passenger’s side door ajar warning light illuminated, and the contact heard an audible chime. The contact stopped the vehicle and pushed on the door from inside the vehicle, and the door opened without using the door handle. The contact stated that failure had occurred three times. The contact became aware that the failure occurred after driving over a bump or pothole in the road. The contact stated that the power door locks were functioning with the key fob and while using the interior door lock button. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, and the contact was informed that there was no recall or TSB related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.
My door pops open while driving. You can hear it and the dash lights up that the door is ajar. Have to pull over and open and close the door. This has happened multiple times during various speeds and road conditions. Ford has recalled the door latches on the years prior but this year is not included. It has been occurring for over a year about 3 times a month.
While driving 45mph, my passenger door suddenly opened, and I received a notification on my car's dashboard warning me that the door had opened. When it was safe to pull over, I was able to shut the door but this has been the second time this has occurred, the first being about 2 months earlier while I was driving on the free way going 65mph. This is very dangerous since if my door opened while I was driving, my belongings could fall out of my car while driving, my passenger would be put at risk, and my door could potentially hit another car next to me. Ultimately, my passenger door's lock failed and it is available for inspection upon request. The door failing to stay locked while driving put me and my passenger at risk. The vehicle has not been inspected since I looked online and many others with my car have this issue, but Ford requires hundreds of dollars just to inspect which I can not afford right now. There was a warning sign on my car's dashboard that my passenger door opened while I was driving.
I am unable to unlock my driver's side door from the outside. I feel this is a safety concern, considering I am a single woman living in the city. The door will not open with the handle or the key fob. I have to walk around to the passenger side and reach through the vehicle to open the door. When trying to research the issue, I have seen several forums where others are having the same issue. My 2017 ford mustang has had several electrical issues that has not made it to the recall list. Such as the heating and cooling system, the back up camera, and the connectivity of the USB port and sync. I am need of assistance in getting the issue with my door fixed. I know that it isn't a safety issue such as a risk while driving, although, it is a safety issue for my safety well being.
Related recalls
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 20V331000 · Recall details
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Mustang vehicles. The return spring for the driver side interior door handle may come loose, allowing the driver's door to unlatch in a side impact crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
- Risk
- If the door unlatches in a crash it can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver-side interior door handle and repair the return spring, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2017. Owners may contact Ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for the recall is 17C04.
Recall number 17V168000 · Recall details
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching 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.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
Recall number 16V643000 · Recall details
Questions about the Ford Mustang door locks
Which Ford Mustang years have doors won't lock, open or latch problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2015 (18 complaints), 2016 (12 complaints) and 2017 (11 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix doors won't lock, open or latch on the Ford Mustang?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $2,000 (median of 6 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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