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I’ve written a lot lately about some recalls going on with the Ford F-150 and the Ford Ranger. Most of these issues are minor in nature. However, what has gone mostly unreported (until now) is a class action settlement by Ford over owners who complained of frozen door locks. The complaints, which were plentiful, pertained to certain models of the entire F-Series line, not just F-150, from the 2017 model year.
Watch which cars are involved in the Ford F150 frozen door lock lawsuit settlement and click to subscribe to Torque News Youtube for daily automotive news reports.
Ford F-150 Truck Lock Defect Class Action Lawsuit
Ford F-Series pickup truck owners have complained on many forums and Reddit over issues with their door locks freezing up in wintery weather. As those complaints mounted, a class-action lawsuit was pursued.
The complaints state that cold temperatures can cause the door lock to freeze up or even unlatch at times. Ford did eventually issue a technical safety bulletin (not a recall) describing the issue for a limited amount of F-Series pickups.
As a result of the technical safety bulletin a lawyer was able to prove Ford’s culpability and push that Ford knew of the issue and ignored the problem and failed to disclose the issue to owners. The lawsuit was initially dismissed by a judge, but after being amended the lawsuit was able to proceed. Ford reached a settlement regarding this class-action lawsuit.
Who Is Entitled to What Over the Ford F-150 Frozen Door Class Action Lawsuit?
The vehicles involved in the lawsuit settlement include: 2015-2019 Ford F-150, 2017-2019 Ford F-250, 2018-2019 Ford F-350, 2017-2019 Ford F-450 and 2017-2019 Ford F-550.
The settlement states that only vehicles built at the Dearborn Assembly Plant before February 26, 2019 or at Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant before March 4, 2019 were impacted. However, other vehicles built at the Kentucky Assembly Plant before March 5, 2019 or at the Ohio Assembly Plant before March 11, 2019 were added to the final settlement.
These Ford truck owners who had actual expenses as a result of this frozen door lock issue are entitled to compensation, according to the settlement. These owners must have proof of repair. As such, these owners may be reimbursed by Ford for up to $400. Additionally, Ford truck owners are entitled to free repairs on their door latches, for those affected trucks. Repairs must be made by a Ford dealer before October 31, 2028. All affected owners may also receive $10 from Ford if they aren’t satisfied at all with the door latch performance of the affected trucks.
According to the settlement named in the official lawsuit, Kommer v. Ford Motor Company, Case No. 1:17-cv-00296, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.:
"Dissatisfaction with Door Latch Performance includes a Settlement Class Member experiencing at least one instance of door latch failure on their Class Vehicle such that the door does not open, does not close, or opens while driving, or having a concern that their Class Vehicle may in the future experience such door latch failure."
To obtain payment, the Ford customer must file a "timely, adequately documented claim" within 210 days after the date of entry of the preliminary approval order from the judge. Claims will need to be accurate because the settlement administrator has the right to reject any claim without the required information and documentation.
So, have you had issues with your door locks freezing on your F-Series? Leave me a comment below and let me know if your truck is eligible for some compensation. Be sure to check out my homage to the 13th Generation F-150, which all of these frozen door lock trucks are part of, in my Friday the 13th article.
I will publish more about the Ford F-150 frozen door lock class-action settlement. See you in the next story where I am discussing who is eligible for the Ford F-150 class-action settlement 400 dollars.
Jimmy Dinsmore has been an automotive journalist for more than a decade and been a writer since high school. His Driver’s Side column features new car reviews and runs in several newspapers throughout the country. In addition to being a nationally syndicated automotive columnist, Jimmy is also author of the book “Mustang by Design” and “Ford Trucks: A Unique Look at the Technical History of America’s Most Popular Truck”. Follow Jimmy on Facebook, and Twitter and Twitter.
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Comments
2015 F150. Late 2020, alarm
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2015 F150. Late 2020, alarm started sounding for no reason. Then ‘door open’ message would pop up while driving. Been at dealer 3 times, no fix. Now they say the back door latches need replacing at my expense because those latches ....... extended cab not full crew......are not covered by the recall.
Just went out for a drive to
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Just went out for a drive to UPS and rounded the corner and my door flung open. This happened just before I went to Florida this past December. It was cold then here in NJ. Now I am back in the cooler weather and faced with the same problem again. I did a web search and it looks like a common problem with F-150's. It is a shame this is only a service bulletin and not a recall with all the comments I read on this website. Someone could get seriously injured with a door flying open like this.
The rear doors on my F150
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The rear doors on my F150 sometimes freeze during the winter and will not unlock with the remote. The real problem is that my driver side door will unlock but won't latch during really cold weather. Sometimes it pops open with the car moving. I think the problem is that the window seals are letting in water. I have been hearing water sloshing for a long time but couldn't figure what it was until yesterday. My passenger side rear door was full of water. I don't mean a little. More like a couple of gallons. I pulled all the grommets from the drain holes. I'm calling ford on Monday.
I took truck to dealer for a
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I took truck to dealer for a few warranty issues and noted that I had the drivers door handle not work - frozen in Feb. with it 5 below out (upstate NY). Dealer said the only way Ford would do anything about it the problem would need to be duplicated. Recieved a letter Monday Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 20M04 and no where on the letter does it state "duplicate". Took truck to dealer yesterday for service and tech noted "hand works" on work order. Called Ford 800-392-3673 Customer Relations and talking with the rep she said "dealer must be able to duplicate the concern". Very Frustrating!!!
2019 F150 Lariat Kansas City build 12/2018
*"handle works"
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In reply to I took truck to dealer for a by David (not verified)
*"handle works"
Kansas City build *12/2019
Agree I had the same BS from
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In reply to I took truck to dealer for a by David (not verified)
Agree I had the same BS from my dealer. Great way to lose customers Ford.
My 2017 froze up about 4
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My 2017 froze up about 4 times last winter. Got the recall notice this summer and took it in last week to have fixed. The dealer said it worked fine for them!!!! No shit....it was 58 degrees. They said before tearing into it they have to see the problem. I said how the heck would that be possible as by the time I drive it in the truck will be heated and the door working again!!! LOL Called the number on the recall paper and they said the same thing. Wow I have owned fords a long time and never dreamed they would pull crap like this.
2018 f-150 - Here we go again
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2018 f-150 - Here we go again.. Now that we are freezing here in Utah, we had some rain in the day yesterday, it mostly dried off in the afternoon and then it froze overnight. Now all my locks are frozen today. I open the door and it wont latch closed. Warmed up the truck, they finally closed, but now they wont unlock. Got it to unlock by forcing it with the key, and we are back to square 1 with an open door that wont close. Uggh. I love this truck, but dang Ford!! The Ford dealers here already suck here so I'm dreading taking it in.
This problem is so
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This problem is so frustrating and Ford's response to it even worse. I scheduled the work to be done at a Ford Dealership and was told that they could only work on it if the doors were frozen at the time of the work. That is beyond ridiculous. I've had it happen numerous times every winter. I spray penetrating oil in the latches but it doesn't seem to help. Just gotta start it up and let it warm for 20 minutes to unthaw the latches. They get stuck in an open position so you cannot close the door. How can this not be considered a safety issue and a full scale recall be initiated instead of a class action suit which rarely helps out the customer? This is a full day in the shop fix so $400 is not going to cover it.
Suck it Ford.
We have taken the F150 2018
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We have taken the F150 2018 to dealer for the recall fix. Seem to be ok but then again we have had a mild winter so far in Upstate NY. This morning (1/3) it was frozen again and dealer says there is nothing they can do. This is ridiculous. What exactly do they do for the recall? If you replace door handle will that fix it? Hard to believe that an expensive truck is so cheaply made and this issue has gone on for years? Any ideas on how to fix it? I feel like the Lemon Law should apply here and this is a major safety issue.
Just took my 2017 f150 in to
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Just took my 2017 f150 in to dealer for the frozen door problem . They acted like he never heard of it. Waiting to hear when its fixed what they about warranty.The truck was built in Kentucky
My locks keep freezing and I
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My locks keep freezing and I am unable to correctly close the door. This is annoying and I need it fixed ASAP.
I think I am a little late to
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I think I am a little late to the party, but I am trying to get my locks fixed. I worked from home a lot last spring (like many people) so I didn't realize the problem until this winter. I want to take the steps to get it fixed and paid for.
2016 f150, Dearborn plant,
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2016 f150, Dearborn plant, been to dealer twice for this door freezing problem. Locks won’t unlock, and when I finally get in, door won’t stay closed
Still happening…purchased from Broadway Automotive, Green Bay, Wi.
I have a Canadian built 2016
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I have a Canadian built 2016 f150 fx4 and I have non stop issues with my door locks below 20°. I replaced my RF assembly 1 week ago. Already frozen again. I run a bodyshop so yea I can put in a new one and it only cost me 60$ for a latch assembly...bit even the brand new one is failing?? I'm over it. I'm ready to dump this truck in the lake.
As of this morning the door
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As of this morning the door latch on the drivers side froze for the first time. Is it too late to make a claim?
My truck 2018 F150 had frozen
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My truck 2018 F150 had frozen locks 5 times since 2019. This last incident has angered me to replace my truck. Has Ford replaced the locking mechanism on your truck and has any of you experienced this with Chevy, GMC, Toyota, Dodge or Nissan?
Hello, I bought a used
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Hello, I bought a used 2018Ford F150 in December and for the last couple weeks my driver’s door won’t latch shut. I took it in to my Ford dealership in Lafayette,Indiana for repair and it still isn’t latching shut all of the time. So now what can I do?
Hello, I bought a used
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Hello, I bought a used 2018Ford F150 in December and for the last couple weeks my driver’s door won’t latch shut. I took it in to my Ford dealership in Lafayette,Indiana for repair and it still isn’t latching shut all of the time. So now what can I do?
2017 Ford F-150 King Ranch
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2017 Ford F-150 King Ranch door will not shut when it’s cold! Help please
I've just experienced the
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I've just experienced the driver's door not latching on my 2017 F150 for the 4th or 5th year in a row the past 2 days with the temperature below 20 in the PNW. I've had the truck in to be "fixed" 3 times during that time frame. I'm not expecting anything to be fixed if I take it back a 4th time - probably just result in worn out clips and the panel rattling. I can get the door to shut if I manually push the lock down and shut it, but this is unbelievably annoying. It's embarrassing that the Ford engineers couldn't come up with a fix for this. I drive to work every day and forcing customers to pay for a rental each time the "fix" is installed, or deicer is just sprayed up in there is unacceptable. I feel like Ford can't see the forest for the trees, because I will not be buying a Ford as my next truck.
Somehow, I missed the class action lawsuit, so I am too late for the $400. Although, I would rather have a door that shuts reliably in the winter.
Yes, we are sitting in our
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Yes, we are sitting in our truck right now and my husband is trying to unlock the lock so that the door will shut the driver side it’s -20 outside and we’ve been fiddling with this for over a half an hour and still can’t get the door to shut Very frustrating there needs to be a recall.
Here it is Christmas Eve and
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Here it is Christmas Eve and my passenger side door is frozen open,it sounds like this is just the start of my issues with the frozen door crap
Door lock (passenger side)
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Door lock (passenger side) froze up yesterday and we had to hold door closed for the drive home. Stopped at a NAPA and they tried to free it for us without success. Parked it in heated garage and back to normal again. 2018 F150 Platinum Diesel. Originally a $72K+ truck
I live in Florida and in
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I live in Florida and in January 2023 we went to Tennessee for a vacation and the temperature got below freezing my passenger door froze shut then when it finally open it will not shut and stay closed.
Well this sucks because mine
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Well this sucks because mine and my husbands 2018 f150 just started this a couple of weeks ago and it’s now 2023.