Ford Motor Company was hit with a class action lawsuit alleging the door latch systems in certain Ford and Lincoln models are defective leading to door sensor failure and ultimately costly repairs.
Lead plaintiff Roger Kinnunen alleges in his class action lawsuit that the door latches in various Ford and Lincoln vehicles contain a material design and manufacturing defect.
This alleged defect begins with the contamination of electrical contacts on the door sensor, “inevitably” causes the door sensors in the affected vehicles to fail. Once the door sensors fail, the door latches and lock systems fail to function as intended, Kinnunen says.
Specifically, the class action claims the defective door latches cause the “Door Ajar” light to turn on and “[i]f the door sensor communicates that a passenger door is not adequately closed, then the vehicle’s interior dome light will continuously illuminate, the door chime will sound, [and] the alarm system will not function properly.”
“Additionally, the vehicle doors will not lock, while both parked and driven, and the child safety lock feature on the rear passenger doors will not function as intended,” the plaintiff says. “Furthermore, if this condition continues when the vehicle is turned off, it can completely drain the vehicle’s battery and leave the vehicle operator stranded.”
According to the class action complaint, the “Door Ajar” warning light in the plaintiff’s 2011 Ford Edge started turning on intermittently in 2012. Kinnunen says he had it repaired at the dealership, but it started turning on again in 2015 and again in 2016 after being repaired. The plaintiff alleges that for the 2016 repair, he had to pay $206.91 out of pocket.
The plaintiff further claims that Ford actively concealed the defect and that the defect causes affected vehicles to be worth less at resale. Additionally, Ford allegedly has failed to properly repair defective door latches and has refused to cover the costs of the repair, the plaintiff says.
“For customers with vehicles within the warranty periods at issue,” contends the plaintiff in the complaint. “Ford has done nothing more than to temporarily repair the Door Latch Defect, or replace it with other similarly defective and inherently failure-prone door latch assemblies.”
According to the class action lawsuit, “Ford has refused to take any action to correct the root cause of this concealed defect when it manifests in vehicles both in and outside the warranty period. Since the Door Latch Defect typically manifests within and shortly outside of the warranty period for the Class Vehicles – and given Defendant’s knowledge of this concealed, safety related design defect – Ford’s attempt to limit the applicable warranties with respect to the Door Latch Defect is unconscionable.”
Kinnunen points out that numerous complaints have reported the alleged defect to Ford, as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but Ford has failed to issue any sort of recall or offer a replacement.
The plaintiff seeks to represent a nationwide Class of consumers who purchased or leased one of the following vehicles: 2011-2014 Ford Edge, 2013 Ford Flex, 2013 Lincoln MKT, and 2011-2015 Lincoln MKX. Kinnunen also seeks to represent a Michigan subclass.
The plaintiff claims Ford violated Michigan consumer protection laws, breached express warranties, and committed fraud and violated its obligation for good faith and fair dealing. The plaintiff is seeking damages, including punitive damages, an order enjoining Ford, restitution and attorneys’ fees.
Kinnunen is represented by E. Powell Miller, Sharon S. Almonrode, and Dennis A. Lienhardt of The Miller Law Firm; Joseph G. Sauder, Matthew D. Schelkopf, Joseph B. Kenney, Richard D. McCune and David C. Wright of McCune Wright Arevalo LLP.
The Ford Defective Door Latch Class Action Lawsuit is Roger Kinnunen v. Ford Motor Company, Case No. 2:17-cv-11053-AC-EAS, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
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68 thoughts onFord Class Action Says Defective Door Latch Leads to Costly Repairs
I have a 2016 Ford Flex that’s experiencing the same issue. How do we sign up for this class action suit?
I HAVE A 2011 . LOVE THE VEHICLE BUT ALMOST READY TO SAY THE HELL WITH FORD AND GET SOMETHING DIFFERENT.FORD F150 CREW CAB WITH SAME ISSUE. I HAD IT REPAIRED TO ONLY HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN SAME DOOR SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS RIDICULOUS
2013 ford edge driver door latch issue. Also battery goes dead
Same I have a 2013 and they recalled the driver door but the driver side passenger door is still doing it which now is killing my battery i have to carry around a portable jumper everywhere I go, embarrassing at work lol, but very dangerous also as my daughters door was actually “ajar” once when we were on the freeway i heard whistling and her door was open omg heart attack i had to pull over on the freeway! Another problem with a dead battery I actually got locked in my edge; the battery I found out was dead when i tried to start it after i shut my driver door, i tried to open my door and it was locked, then i tried to pull up the lock manually but i couldn’t get my fingers around it to open it, try and open your lock manually people it’s impossible, so my scare is what if i’m in an accident and i can’t get out?? heaven forbid! :(
So how do I join this class action? I have a 2016 Flex and am having to pay over $500 to get this fixed.
I have a 2013 Ford Flex. The passenger door ajar light is on and I am unable to lock my doors. In addition, the lights stay on and if the doors do lock, the alarm goes off numerous times in the day and night (1:46 am as I write this). No battery issues yet, but definitely annoying.
You were able to solve the problem, I ask why it is the same as I happened and I wanted to know what your solution was.
My 2011 Lincoln MKZ is doing the same thing. I have replaced the passenger door lock actuator and my passenger door ajar light still luminates on the dash. No door chime noted when I open this door either. I am already out of $250.00 for the parts and labor and it is still not fix. Will investigate further
my ford is doing the same thing.. 2014 flex.. I;m pissed!
My 2014 Explorer just started this issue, car is at dealer, $375 to replace latch,
My 2012 edge- door latch drained 2 batteries.
Fuel sensor failed- car won’t start after fueling, car dies while driving
Cost $1048.52
On 6/29/19 WHILE COMING OFF OF AN EXIT MY RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER DOOR FLEW OPEN AND I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT FRIGHTENED ME AS ANOTHER CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO BRAKE AS WELL TO AVOID HITTING ME FROM THE BACK. I READ UP ON THIS CAR AND THERE IS INFORMATION STATING THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR LOCK/LATCHES WHERE YOU THINK YOUR DOOR IS LOCK AND IT IS NOT. NOW I TRY YO CLOSE IT, THE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK AT ALL. I DID NOT SEE A RECALL ON MY VIN BUT THERE IS INFORMATION ALL OVER THE INTERNET STATING THAT IS A KNOWN FACT TO HAPPEN ON THE 2013 AND I BELIEVE THE 2014 MODELS. I ALSO HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE SYNC WITH MY FORD DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. I AM UNABLE TO USE TOUCHSCREEN BECAUSE WHEN I DUE I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE POPS UP ON THE SCREEN SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT THE USB AND POWER SOURCE AND DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO DO ANYTHING ELSE. I LITERALLY HAVE TO TURN OFF AND RESTART MY SCREEN. I CONTACTED FORD ON 6/30/19 AND AND SPOKE WITH A REP WHO STATED THAT IF THE VIN NUMBER IS NOT LISTED WITH THEM THEN THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. THEY WOULDN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?I ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA ON THE SAME DAY AND WAS PROVIDED WITH A SAFETY ISSUE ID NUMBER. MY DOOR WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED SO I HAD TO GO TO AN AUTO SHOP AND PAID $267.00 AND CHANGE OUT OF POCKET FOR SOMETHING THAT I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH. I FEEL THAT WHEN A COMPANY HAS A CAR WITH KNOWN ISSUES THEY SHOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX IT. MY VIN NUMBER EVIDENTLY WASN’T LISTED FOR THE RECALL BECAUSE EVIDENTLY IT WAS NOT AN ISSUE FOR THE PREVIOUS OWNER, BUT THEN BECAME AN ISSUE FOR ME. I HAVE A RECEIPT TO PROVE THAT THE LATCH WAS REPAIRED AND PAID FOR AND I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN FORD BEING THIS BILLION-DOLLAR COMPANY WHO ALLOWS ITS CONSUMERS TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT CLEARLY WAS A DEFECT WHEN THE CAR WAS BUILT.