2021 Driver side rear door will not open

[BRDVPRA]

My 21 screw sport had an in-operative left rear door lock, dealer found defective wire harness plug/connecter at the firewall, broken/bent pins... replaced wire harness.

I think this is the culprit and the cold is making it worse.

Sponsored

 

[Sapphire]

About a month ago, I ran into this too. It got cold (around 15°F), and the driver's door wouldn't open from the outside. I was able to climb through and use the inside release to open it. Today, it was -4°F, and I couldn't open the driver's door from the outside or inside. After I warmed the truck up, and tried the releases repeatedly (but gently so something doesn't snap), I was finally able to get the door to open.

Has anyone that has had a competent dealer look at this figured out what's going on? All the other doors on my truck work fine, and it has only shown up in the cold. That seems to be whatever goop they use in there to keep it free is freezing. I'll be asking the local dealer about it soon enough too.

 

[Cincy150]

About a month ago, I ran into this too. It got cold (around 15°F), and the driver's door wouldn't open from the outside. I was able to climb through and use the inside release to open it. Today, it was -4°F, and I couldn't open the driver's door from the outside or inside. After I warmed the truck up, and tried the releases repeatedly (but gently so something doesn't snap), I was finally able to get the door to open.

Has anyone that has had a competent dealer look at this figured out what's going on? All the other doors on my truck work fine, and it has only shown up in the cold. That seems to be whatever goop they use in there to keep it free is freezing. I'll be asking the local dealer about it soon enough too.

Mine's at the dealer now getting looked at. It was 5 degrees here this morning. I'm hoping they left it outside like I asked so they could see it firsthand. I'll post here when I hear something.

 

[Mont1414]

About a month ago, I ran into this too. It got cold (around 15°F), and the driver's door wouldn't open from the outside. I was able to climb through and use the inside release to open it. Today, it was -4°F, and I couldn't open the driver's door from the outside or inside. After I warmed the truck up, and tried the releases repeatedly (but gently so something doesn't snap), I was finally able to get the door to open.

Has anyone that has had a competent dealer look at this figured out what's going on? All the other doors on my truck work fine, and it has only shown up in the cold. That seems to be whatever goop they use in there to keep it free is freezing. I'll be asking the local dealer about it soon enough too.

My dealer replaced the actuator and driver door latch assembly because I was having this issue. You can read my posts on the previous pages.

 

[Sapphire]

My dealer replaced the actuator and driver door latch assembly because I was having this issue. You can read my posts on the previous pages.

Yeah, I saw that, but I'm skeptical. Do you think they did that because they just wanted to make the problem go away with a brute force approach, or the actuator and latch were really broken? It's special and rare in my experience they actually diagnose things vs. doing whatever they can to get you out of there by throwing solutions at it. If the lock and actuator were fine, but manufacturing variances mean the amount/type/location of goop freezes sometimes, they may not be actually fixing it (and I do hope that it for-real fixes it for you!)

 

[Mont1414]

Yeah, I saw that, but I'm skeptical. Do you think they did that because they just wanted to make the problem go away with a brute force approach, or the actuator and latch were really broken? It's special and rare in my experience they actually diagnose things vs. doing whatever they can to get you out of there by throwing solutions at it. If the lock and actuator were fine, but manufacturing variances mean the amount/type/location of goop freezes sometimes, they may not be actually fixing it (and I do hope that it for-real fixes it for you!)

Lol I’m not really sure, all I can say is the first time I brought it in (the door was functioning fine by the time my appointment date arrived) I was told they took the whole door apart and everything seemed to be working okay. The second time I brought it in while the issue was occurring and that is the diagnosis the gave me (actuator and door lock assembly) had to order the part from Vancouver. All I can say is that when I picked up the truck on Tuesday (-10 Celsius) door was working, drove it last night for 20 minutes ( -12) and it was working, drove it today (-13) and it was working. So far so good. out of the 4 times I’ve driven the truck in colder than -6 temps the issue occurred 4/4 times, the only time it fixed itself was when it occurred after a 5 minute ride and I decided to drive around with it for another 20 minutes with the heat on high, the door started to work again, Parked it in my driveway and checked it 15 minutes later and it was stuck again. This made me assume that it was a freezing/thawing issue

Update: I have taken it to a car wash today in -12 temps just for the purpose of spraying the door and seeing if it would freeze/ thaw, no issues so far.

 

[MikeYQM]

How’s this @Ford Motor Company are you gonna reply to me too and ask for my vin too? Like that actually helps.

 

[Eric]

if you’re having cold weather issues with your doors I’m sorry to say that you are screwed. There’s all the sad information in another thread I made about this issue. I know first hand what you’re going through and I feel really really bad for you guys. Especially the ones that bought instead of lease. If you bought I would do everything you can to make the dealership swap out the parts for something else, not the same ones. I’ve read that that has worked for some folks. Apologies again for the shitty news

 

[True North]

How’s this @Ford Motor Company are you gonna reply to me too and ask for my vin too? Like that actually helps.

Minus 14F below zero here yesterday morning. I`ve had tail gate problems a number of times but not the doors. I`m knocking on wood that issue doesn`t happen. I don`t need another problem with this truck. If a door problem does arise, would you mind if I use your tie down method or do you have it patented already and sold to Ford? I would probably use a giant bungee instead so as not to infringe as much on your idea and make access a little easier. One thing is for sure, I ain`t crawling through no window. That would be the time the Sawzall came out and we`d have a 3 door truck.
GLTA

 

[Sapphire]

if you’re having cold weather issues with your doors I’m sorry to say that you are screwed. There’s all the sad information in another thread I made about this issue. I know first hand what you’re going through and I feel really really bad for you guys. Especially the ones that bought instead of lease. If you bought I would do everything you can to make the dealership swap out the parts for something else, not the same ones. I’ve read that that has worked for some folks. Apologies again for the shitty news

I hear what you're saying, and you're basically saying it's either bad engineering, or variances in how they manufacture and/or assemble the parts. That wouldn't surprise me, and maybe the fix @Mont1414 got for replacing until you win the parts lottery is the way to go. Not quite what I would expect being built "Ford Tough."

Maybe this is the motivation I need to move someplace warm.

 

[MikeYQM]

Minus 14F below zero here yesterday morning. I`ve had tail gate problems a number of times but not the doors. I`m knocking on wood that issue doesn`t happen. I don`t need another problem with this truck. If a door problem does arise, would you mind if I use your tie down method or do you have it patented already and sold to Ford? I would probably use a giant bungee instead so as not to infringe as much on your idea and make access a little easier. One thing is for sure, I ain`t crawling through no window. That would be the time the Sawzall came out and we`d have a 3 door truck.
GLTA

have at ‘er, that’s open source technology. Though I think Ford planned for it based on the location of the tie down loops under the rear seat.

 

[MannyTremor]

A quick temporary fix to this (Not sure how it works or if I’m just getting lucky as it’s reaching the lock mechanism somehow) is to spray WD-40 and/or deicer in the actual hole where the door lock knob is. Spray a decent amount in there and it should reach the lock mechanism and hold off better when it gets super cold. I’m guessing it’s water getting in there, then freezing , and then finally preventing the lock from working how it should.Also your Going to have to reapply if you get a week of cold weather though. However it still is better then nothing until I get around to finding a dealer that will fix it like in Monts case.

 

[True North]

have at ‘er, that’s open source technology. Though I think Ford planned for it based on the location of the tie down loops under the rear seat.

Thanks for the pass. I would have to agree the set up does look like todays Ford engineering through and through.

 

[Cincy150]

Dealer called me yesterday and stated they "replaced the door handle" after they were able to observe the issue, then, if "that doesn't work, they'll replace the actuator." I'm rather skeptical that it's a "handle" issue unless the rep simply wasn't technical enough in her explanation.

 

[MikeYQM]

Hey everyone, sign up and share please if you have a moment! Every F-150 has the potential to have this issue! Even if you live in Florida, we appreciate your support!

https://chng.it/n8psTfdMJ7

Sponsored