2017 Ford Mustang · symptom sheet

Doors, latches or locks fail

27owner reports
63,000median miles
0involved a crash

Newest report Jun 18, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026

56 of the 265 complaints on this car are about the structure. 27 of those describe door latch. Only infotainment is reported more often on this car.

Tick what matches of 27 reports

door ajar warning with the door shut

door will not close or latch

door opened while driving

locks act on their own

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the latch (21 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the structure covers the 2017 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

17V-168Mar 13, 2017

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Mustang vehicles. The return spring for the driver side interior door handle may come loose, allowing the driver's door to unlatch in a side impact crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."

Risk and remedy

Risk: If the door unlatches in a crash it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver-side interior door handle and repair the return spring, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2017. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 17C04.

NHTSA investigations into the structure on the Mustang

RQ19-005opened Dec 19, 2019

Latches/Locks/Linkages · model years 2015

Door latch failures. Closed feb 7, 2022, led to recall 20V-177.

NHTSA summary

In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, and 2013-2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ. Some VOQs reported the failure occurred after the latch had been remedied under a prior recall which involved fracture of the latch pawl spring tab due to thermally induced cyclic fatigue. Other VOQs alleged a similar failure in vehicles not previously recalled. A latch with a fractured pawl spring tab typically results in a ?door will not close? condition, however in certain somewhat rare circumstances, may result in the door coming open while driving. In response to ODI?s investigation, Ford has announced three field actions, as discussed below.On March 23, 2020, Ford submitted Safety Recall 20V-177 (Ford 20S15), a regional recall campaign to address door latch failures in vehicles not previously recalled under Safety Recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 and 17V-210. The recall affects vehicles currently or ever registered in certain high ambient temperature states (see 20V-177 for affected states). As a remedy, Ford will replace all four door latches free of charge.On August 24, 2020, Ford issued a non-safety regional field action (Ford 20R01) to address door latch failures on the same model/MY vehicles not covered under 20V-177 (i.e., not currently/ever registered in affected states). Ac

PE16-001opened Jan 16, 2016

Latches/Locks/Linkages · model years 2015

Door latch failure. Closed oct 29, 2016, led to recall 16V-643.

NHTSA summary

In January, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation based on consumers' allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2012-2013 Ford Focus vehicles (subject vehicles).ODI has received 464 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with over 200 claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in motion.One consumer alleged an injury that occurred while driving when a door inadvertently opened and then closed on a child's arm.Another alleged that a door that inadvertently opened struck a parked vehicle.In response to ODI's information request, Ford Motor Company (Ford) provided 500 unique reports related to the alleged problem on the subject vehicles.Ford reported no injury or accident claims.Ford also submitted 1,513 warranty claims related to door latch failures.Many customers indicated that the affected door could not be latched at all and some of them decided to restrain the door by other means in order to operate the vehicle.Some customers also reported door latch failures occurring on multiple doors and at different times.Additionally, Ford stated that MY 2014-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape, 2013-2015 Ford C-Max, 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect, 2015 Ford Mustang, and 2015 Lincoln MKC, all use the same door latch as the 2012-2013 Ford Focus.On September 6, 2016, Ford notified ODI that it would conduct a safety recall (16V-643) to remedy the door latches in the MY 2

None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 46,000 and 88,174 miles, from the 14 reports that gave a mileage.

620

721

522

523

224

125

126

What owners wrote

“Passenger door opens consistently when hitting bumps in the road. Door ajar warning comes on instantly and car beeps.”
Filed May 31, 2025

“Passenger door became partially unlatched while driving at highway speed over rough pavement. This is the second time this has occurred. Both times the dashboard warning light came on to let us know it was unlatched, but we are certain that it was completely closed when initially getting into vehicle. Online Q&A sites confirm multiple others with this experience and no recalls or TSB to this date.”
Filed Nov 13, 2023

“Passenger door came unlatched on the highway going approximately 70 mph once on 10/6/2023 and again the next day on 10/7/2023. First, the driver heard the door click and then hear wind and then the door ajar alert sounded on the dashboard.”
Filed Oct 7, 2023

“When driving on highway 60-80 mph after maybe 40-50 minutes the driver door unlatches, the door Ajar alert comes on. The passenger door has also opened, not at the same time. The problem is mostly the driver door. It is very traumatizing to be driving and feel the door unlatch at high speeds on highway. I have reported this multiple times please issue a safety recall to include this model as well.”
Filed Sep 17, 2021

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 27 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.