This problem has been occurring randomly over the past couple of years, more often when it's cold. I haven't had it fixed because the required fix is to replace the entire door latch which is ridiculous and very costly. I spray contact cleaner up in the door latch and just keep slamming the door until the door ajar light goes out.
Dealer wants $400 to replace sensor. I suspect it has already caused me to replace a battery prematurely and is causing the alarm to go off for no apparent reason. Seeing all the other complaints I think Ford should fix this problem on a recall. It is obviously an engineering defect that affects multiple models.
It initially started and you could open door and close door and it turned off and now there is no turning it off and doors will not lock because of it.
Door ajar alarm started going off about a month ago. I open the door and shut it again and it typically goes off. Something is not working properly and I'm looking for a fix or a recall since its a pretty common problem.
This is one of those annoying and expensive issues that should be covered by Ford. They have had so many recalls on door latches over the past few years, including my 2012 Edge that had the same issue, they need to find a solution instead of waiting to see what happens!
I have been a loyal Ford owner for many years but this is making me question my loyalty!
- sgtannie,
Apache Junction, US
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One day I shut my car door, turn the key and the door ajar light is on. At first you think - oh, must not have closed the door hard enough and then after several days, I started being more mindful to make sure I had closed door. Next thing you know - I had to close it harder, getting to a point that I couldn't slam it hard enough to make the light go off. My initial thought was that this issue was due to the weather stripping seals around the door/door frame shredding... which had me a little angry since I have never had that happen on a 3 - 4 yr old car. We talked to the local Ford dealer when they were working on a recall and they re-positioned the weather stripping seals. That did not help and we ended up taking it back in to get fixed a month or so later.
This is when they discovered it was actually the door latch and had to replace it - at $385 in cost for parts/labor. The Service Advisor at the Ford dealer said the weather stripping seals probably were shredding because of the slamming... so at some point I have to replace those as well.
Ford has had multiple recalls on other years of Explorers for the door latch problem.
The door ajar warning light remains on even though all doors are firmly closed.
This has been happening for a long time. Also, causing interior light to come on randomly when car is parked and locked. This problem now causes a complete battery drain. Quote from dealership for door latch repair $450.00.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
This problem has been occurring randomly over the past couple of years, more often when it's cold. I haven't had it fixed because the required fix is to replace the entire door latch which is ridiculous and very costly. I spray contact cleaner up in the door latch and just keep slamming the door until the door ajar light goes out.
- William H., North Wales, PA, US