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Ford Door Locks and Tailgate Latches May Release Unexpectedly
Bronco child safety locks and pickup tailgate releases recur in these Ford notices. Three notices concern Bronco rear doors opening from inside despite the child lock being on: the passenger-side rear door on certain four-door 2021-2022 vehicles, and the left-side rear door on certain 2023-2024 vehicles and certain 2024 vehicles. Pickup notices address unexpectedly unlatching tailgates on certain 2018 F-150 trucks and water entering wiring on certain 2017-2019 F-250, F-350 and F-450 trucks with electric tailgate releases. A separate 2018 Edge and Lincoln MKX notice concerns short door striker bolts that could allow doors to open during a crash.
Warning signs to watch for
- 2018 F-150 tailgate recall dated December 16, 2021: tailgate latches may unlatch unexpectedly while driving.
- 2017-2019 Super Duty tailgate recall dated December 4, 2019: the tailgate may open unintentionally.
- 2021-2022 four-door Bronco recall 22S44: the passenger-side rear door may open from inside with the child safety lock on.
- 2023-2024 four-door Bronco recall dated March 8, 2024, identified as 24S15: the left rear door may open from inside with the child safety lock on.
- 2024 Bronco recall dated May 9, 2025, identified as 24S15: the left rear door may open from inside with the child safety lock on.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
None of these six notices tells owners to stop driving or park outside. That applies to the 2018 Edge and Lincoln MKX door striker bolt recall and the 2018 F-150 tailgate latch recall. The 2017-2019 Super Duty electric tailgate release notice also gives neither instruction. The same is true of the Bronco child safety lock notices dated June 10, 2022, March 8, 2024, and May 9, 2025: they do not tell owners to stop driving or park outside.
What the free repair involves
Free remedies include striker bolt replacement for 18C06 and both tailgate latch replacements for the 2018 F-150 notice. The Super Duty notice specifies wiring modifications and a new release switch. Bronco 22S44 specifies inspection and replacement as necessary; the March 2024 and May 2025 notices specify child-lock inspection and rear-door latch replacement as necessary, also free.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 3 |
| medium | 3 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| May 9, 2025 | Ford Bronco Rear Door Child Lock May Fail | medium |
| Mar 8, 2024 | Ford Bronco Rear Door May Open Despite Child Lock | medium |
| Jun 10, 2022 | Ford Bronco Rear Child Safety Lock Can Fail | high |
| Dec 16, 2021 | Ford F-150 Tailgate May Open While Driving | high |
| Dec 4, 2019 | Ford Super Duty Tailgate May Open on Its Own | medium |
| Sep 11, 2018 | Ford Edge And Lincoln MKX Door Bolt Issue | high |
Common questions
Which rear door is affected by the Bronco child safety lock recalls?
Recall 22S44 concerns the passenger-side rear door on certain four-door 2021-2022 Broncos. The March 2024 notice concerns the left rear door on certain 2023-2024 four-door Broncos; the May 2025 notice names that door on certain 2024 Broncos.
Do the F-150 and Super Duty tailgate notices specify the same repair?
The 2018 F-150 notice specifies replacement of both tailgate latches. The 2017-2019 Super Duty notice specifies jumper pigtails to isolate the tailgate release control circuits and a new tailgate handle release switch. Both remedies are free of charge.
What is the door problem on the 2018 Edge?
Recall 18C06 concerns certain 2018 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles with door striker bolts shorter than intended. The notice says doors could open during a crash, increasing injury risk. Dealers replace the striker bolts free of charge.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.