Ford recalls 389,585 cars for doors that fly open

Chris Woodyard | USA TODAY

Ford is recalling 389,585 late-model Ford Fiestas, Fusions and Lincoln MKZ sedans because of faulty latches that can allow the doors to fly open while the car is being driven.

Ford says the problem was limited to certain models built at its plant in Mexico. It says a part called the pawl spring tab can break, which results in doors that can't be latched. The unlatching problem can occur while the car is being driven.

There have been 207 complaints about faulty latches on Ford Fiesta subcompacts alone to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, including 65 in which the doors flew open as the car was driven, according to documents on the government regulator's website. NHTSA opened an investigation last September into the issue.

In addition, the report says Ford acknowledges having received 451 reports on its own and 1,079 warranty claims related to the issue.

One Fiesta owner wrote the government to say the passenger door flung open during a left turn.

"I could not close it so I drove with the seat belt tied to the door for four miles to the nearest Ford dealer," the owner wrote. But Ford would only replace the single, defective latch. Days later, the problem reoccurred when a rear door flew open. Again, Ford fixed only the broken latch.

"This is a very, very, very hazardous issue which could become deadly to bicyclists or pedestrians," the complaining owner wrote.

Ford says it is aware of two injuries that occurred when doors rebounded back into customers as they tried to shut it. In another case, a door flew open as a car pulled into a parking lot, striking another vehicle, according to Ford

Cars under recall include the 2012 to 2014 Fiesta vehicles built at Cuautitlán Assembly Plant in Mexico between Feb. 1, 2012, and May 31, 2013; certain 2013 to 2014 Ford Fusion vehicles built at Hermosillo Assembly Plant from July 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013, and certain 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ vehicles also built in Hermosillo from July 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013.

Of the 390,000 vehicles under recall, 336,873 are believed to be in the U.S., 30,198 in Canada and 22,514 in Mexico.

Dealers will replace all four door latches at no cost to the customer.