2016 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Doors, latches or locks fail
- 159owner reports
- 20,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jun 5, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
226 of the 2,057 complaints on this car are about the structure. 159 of those describe door latch.
Tick what matches of 159 reports
Door latch on other F-150 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Door complaints sound minor until you read them. The most common is a "door ajar" warning with every door shut. Others describe a door that won't open from inside, one that won't latch at all, locks that cycle on their own, and occasionally a door that opened while the car was moving.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the latch (150 reports) and the handle (10 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the structure cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the doors opening while driving although they appear to be closed.
These accessory door handle covers may cause the doors to unlatch in a side impact collision.
All 14 recalls on the 2016 Ford F-150, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the structure on the F-150
Windshield trim molding item detachment. Closed feb 8, 2024, led to recall 24V-031.
None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 5,000 and 40,000 miles, from the 105 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 11 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Ford F-150 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
On your vehicle, moisture and water entering a power door lock actuator housing could cause the actuator motor to momentarily freeze in cold temperatures and may also cause actuator motor corrosion over time.
In some of the affected vehicles, moisture and water entering a power door lock actuator housing can cause the actuator motor to momentarily freeze in cold temperatures and may also cause actuator motor corrosion over time.
Customer Satisfaction Program 18N03 - Supplement #7 Certain 2015-2018 Model Year F-150 and 2017-2018 Model Year F-250-F-550 Vehicles - Door Latch Freezing Concerns
Certain 2015-2018 Model Year F-150 and 2017-2018 Model Year F-250-F-550 Vehicles - Door Latch Freezing Concerns
7 more on the 2016 Ford F-150 page.
What owners wrote
“Doors do not latch/stay latched when temperatures have dropped to freezing and below.”
Filed Nov 27, 2023
“On 4 occasions the tailgate has unlatched itself while the truck was being driven”
Filed Dec 8, 2022
“I was driving on the highway when my door came open. Now the door will not close.”
Filed Sep 20, 2022
“The rear power door locks freeze and won't latch in cold temperatures 15-20 degrees F, unable to keep the doors closed, cannot operate the truck safely. The power lock assembly fail to respond in freezing cold weather.”
Filed Feb 11, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 159 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 339 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 183 reports
- Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own 128 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 107 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 105 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 95 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 92 reports
- Rear window shatters or explodes 90 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 82 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 57 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 41 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 35 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 33 reports
- Windshield wipers stop working 33 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 32 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 30 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 29 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 27 reports
- Turbo failure or loss of boost 25 reports