Door Lock & Latch complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 2% | 5,000 miles |
| 2014 | 2 | 1% | 86,000 miles |
| 2013 | 1 | 0% | 225,000 miles |
| 2010 | 1 | 0% | 8,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 2% | 0 miles |
| 2006 | 1 | 0% | 50,000 miles |
| 2005 | 4 | 1% | 87,000 miles |
| 2004 | 7 | 2% | 85,000 miles |
| 2003 | 5 | 0% | 101,000 miles |
| 2002 | 1 | 0% | 110,000 miles |
| 2001 | 10 | 1% | 71,000 miles |
| 2000 | 10 | 1% | 74,000 miles |
| 1999 | 5 | 1% | 62,000 miles |
| 1998 | 7 | 1% | — |
| 1997 | 4 | 1% | — |
| 1996 | 12 | 1% | 130,000 miles |
| 1995 | 9 | 1% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
2005 Ford Taurus sedan - rear truck will release while vehicle is in motion. We bought the used vehicle in the summer of 2009, on at least six occasions, the rear truck lid opened while the vehicle was in motion. The vehicle is equipped with an internal release button, a remote release button and an internal safety release string. On each occasion neither button were activated. No clicking sound was heard on each occasion. The Ford dealership had not received any reports of this. Right front (passenger) strut system - on completion of an alignment of Ford Taurus, the right front (passenger) strut system was deemed broken. All other suspension systems were aligned within the recommended safety requirements, the right front strut system could only be aligned just outside of the maximum safety requirements, and no further adjustment can be made without replacement.
When it is cold out and you try to close the drivers door it will not latch. This has happened several times over the past month. The danger in this is that if you do not realize that the door did not latch when you closed it then it could open while you are driving it. I have 2 Ford Taurus's from this same year. My other one had the same problem and the latch ended up being replaced in that one. (that was about 2 yrs ago) when it started happening with this one, about a month prior to the date above) I started looking online and discovered this is a common problem with this model and year at temperatures below 20 degrees.
When it gets cold outside, the door latch becomes stuck and the door will not latch and close properly and the door flies open. The passenger door latch will do the same thing. So you have to drive holding the door shut until the door latch/sensor decides to unfreeze. This is a serious safety hazard because you May think the door is shut because the sensor light goes off and then you start to drive and the door flies open. If you look online, several model years from 1997 and up of the Taurus have experienced the same thing as well as the Mercury sable and a few other older Ford models. I just read online that they recalled 2010-2013 for door latch issues. Please make them extend the recall for older Ford Taurus before somebody dies or gets seriously injured.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in below freezing temperatures, the driver's side door would not close. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnosis of the failure or repairs. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no assistance. The contact stated that the failure would occur intermittently in extremely cold temperatures. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 100,000. Updated 02/08/11 updated 03/03/11
2003 Ford Taurus has problems with transmission, engine backfiring, hood latch is broken, and seat bracket fell off. The tires were continuously going flat. Six flats occurred while the consumer was on a trip, the transmission was slipping and would jerk in traffic, the engine would back fire intermittently and stalled on one occasion, the seat bracket was replaced by the dealer but failed again (the seat bracket was incorrectly installed from the start), the engine also displayed knocking and had taken about 9 visits before the problem was corrected, it was discovered that a valve was sticking out. The A/C did not cool, the consumer smelled coolant which leaked inside the vehicle. …
The hood latch begin to not close properly. The hood flew up while driving on the freeway smashing the windshield and costing over $2000 to repair even without the occurrence of a collision. The latch had to be replaced. It could have been a very bad accident if there had been more people on the road as the hood eliminated visibility.
Dt*: the contact stated while preparing to back the vehicle out of the driveway, the child unbuckled the seat belt and was able to unlock the door. The contact stated the door alarm did not sound. As the vehicle was backed out and to the left at 5 MPH, the 4 year old child was thrown out the rear right door. The child became pinned under the front right wheel of the vehicle, and sustained abrasions and swelling of the ankles, knees, and left thigh. The child was taken to the emergency room. A police report was taken. The manufacturer of the booster seat and vehicle were not notified.
2001 Ford Taurus door lock not latching during winter weather. Very serious and scary safety issue, very much so when their is ice and snow on the roads. Attending work and appointments is mandatory. Holding the door shut while driving is not acceptable. After minimal research online I have found thousands with the same problem. Ford needs to address this very serious issue. The news & media must be alerted and a recall should be issued.
Related recalls (1)
Latches/locks/linkages
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Ford Explorer, Taurus, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured November 29, 2012, through December 12, 2012. In the affected vehicles, with sufficient door openings and closings, the child safety locks may change from an activated position to a deactivated position…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the safety locks. If necessary, the locks will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on August 2, 2013. Ford's recall number is 13S07.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Taurus years have door lock & latch problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1996 (12), 2000 (10), 2001 (10), 1995 (9) and 1998 (7) model years. Door Lock & Latch complaints make up 1% of all complaints for the 1996.
Is there a recall for Ford Taurus door lock & latch problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 13V-270 (latches/locks/linkages, Jun 26, 2013). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Taurus door lock & latch problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles; 29% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the doors › latch (46 mentions), followed by the hood › latch (8).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.