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 also have a 2013 fird flex door ajar issue. For the last two years being awakened in the middle of the night by the car alarm! Sometimes I sleep with my keys in the bed just incase it goes off. I also have a sunroof that has completely damaged my interior after any rain. 2013 is not a car I’d suggest to anyone! It may look great on the outside but comes with many flaws. I also replaced my stereo Amp 3 months after purchasing the vehicle from a Ford dealership. Catalytic converter issues as well the engine light comes on and off..
I have a 2013 Ford Edge and I’m so tired of constantly having all my lights on day or night and my battery draining. THIS IS SUCH BULLSHIT AND ALL I WANT IS IT FIXED RIGHT How can I (WE) put up a fight to get this repair taken care of?? I’ll back any court case against FORD with written testimony or whatever is needed.
Can we get some advice or guidance on further action? Local Ford dealers just want money to “diagnose” and I can’t find an actual recall to have in hand for the issue.
Yes, my 2013 Ford Flex always says my drivers side rear door is ajar even when it’s closed, now my car alarm goes off anytime it wants to because of that issue. I stay in an apartment complex so imagine my car alarm going off 2am or even 5am out the blue. I’m on disability & feel like Ford should have done a recall just like a recall should have been done about the water pump being in the engine. I love my Flex but don’t like all these unnecessary high costs to fix simple things because of how Ford built the vehicles. My car only had 13,000 miles on it when I bought it. I guarantee my next vehicle will NOT be a Ford. Ford doesn’t car about the customer for sure. This was my second Ford vehicle & the 2001 Ford Windstar had less issues, I ditched it for the Flex because I am just not a mini-van Momma (no offense to those that are) I wanted something sportier & the Flex was perfect minus the costs to fix issues that should be recalls!!!!
I forgot to mention how can I be a part of this class action? Ford definitely is aware of all these issues, no coincidence that so many Ford owners are experiencing the same issues, from wipers that stay on, door latch issues to high water pump replacement costs because the water pump is inside the engine……. Ford must be held accountable for them, not the car owners. I could have bought something else with the amount of something going on every time I look around.
Our 2010 Ford F-150 has had this issue for a few years and has cost us hundreds of dollars for repair only to inevitably start all over again! Now our electrical system in general is acting out of whack! Can’t use power windows at times nor heated seats cuz they won’t turn off. This truck has been immaculately maintained and there is no reason for this… I would like to be contacted regarding this by the people doing the Michigan suit.
I have a 2018 Flex Limited doing the same thing, its ridiculous. My kids sit in the back where the sensor is malfunctioning, and its dangerous.
I’m having the same issue but on my driver door. I hate to open my door and have been getting in and out through my passenger door so I don’t have to open the door.
I have a 2013 Ford Flex experiencing the same issue. How can this be taken care of, if you’re out of warranty & there is zero guarantee that if you fix it, it won’t happen again.
My 2014 Ford Edge is doing the same thing. I have also replaced my battery because it kept going dead; now I know why. Very frustrated that Ford would not recall this defect to be fixed without cost to the consumer!
2013 Ford Edge SEL doing the same thing just got it last year.
My 2014 Ford Crown Victoria, recently began having car door latch problems starting at the 50,000 mile mark in 2020 with the back door on the driver side which has to be firmly pushed closed with the hope that it will stay closed. Then, in Dec. 2020 and Jan. 2021 right front door latch on the passenger side began to be difficult to close also from time to time. The electrical wiring locking and unlocking the doors still seems to work as the locking/unlocking sound is still made. I’m beginning to be afraid to drive anywhere for fear one or more doors will fly open.