2021 Exp Max - Rear passenger door won't latch.

[Jugg2Driver]

I'm assuming the issue I'm having is related to the sub-0 temps we've had recently. And based on other threads in some of the previous gen sections it sounds like that is the case, but none-the-less I figured I'd get some opinions.

Warmed up the car this morning, went to open the rear passenger door as one would. It was very cold last night (teens) and frost was all over the vehicle. I opened both passenger side doors and as expected they were slightly frozen but nothing beyond expectations. I closed both but noticed the rear door wasn't fully closed. Latch was open but wouldn't catch when I closed the door. I tried repeatedly slamming it but with no success. I manually flipped the latch but it did not stay flipped, just went back to the open position. As I said above, I assume this is due to the cold and the mechanism being frozen, but I'm curious if anyone has had similar issues and found it to be something else? Unfortunately, I didn't have time this morning to mess with it and to warm it up with a heat gun, but I'm hopeful that today's warmer temps will free it up.

Any insight or comments appreciated.

 

[tommyboy]

I had the same issue a few weeks ago, but it seems ok now. I really didn't do anything to remedy it besides keep closing the door.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

I'm assuming the issue I'm having is related to the sub-0 temps we've had recently. And based on other threads in some of the previous gen sections it sounds like that is the case, but none-the-less I figured I'd get some opinions.

Warmed up the car this morning, went to open the rear passenger door as one would. It was very cold last night (teens) and frost was all over the vehicle. I opened both passenger side doors and as expected they were slightly frozen but nothing beyond expectations. I closed both but noticed the rear door wasn't fully closed. Latch was open but wouldn't catch when I closed the door. I tried repeatedly slamming it but with no success. I manually flipped the latch but it did not stay flipped, just went back to the open position. As I said above, I assume this is due to the cold and the mechanism being frozen, but I'm curious if anyone has had similar issues and found it to be something else? Unfortunately, I didn't have time this morning to mess with it and to warm it up with a heat gun, but I'm hopeful that today's warmer temps will free it up.

Any insight or comments appreciated.

Very common in cold weather.

The latch on the door latch assembly is not opening / closing properly. Most are black nylon / plastic and look like a hook.

Spray the latch assembly with silicone lubricant, then follow up with white lithium grease (using your fingertip). Do not use WD-40.

You can work the latch hook with your fingers and it should operate properly. Look at an opposing door latch to see where the proper position for the latch is, before you close the door.

Slamming the door with the latch hook not in the correct position will break it, requiring the latch assembly to be replaced.

Ford had issued a TSB (not a recall) involving freezing door latches on the 4th generation Expedition, but I’m not sure if it applied to the 2021 models. It instructed the dealer to replace the latches with a new design, which would be covered under the new car warranty. It was not a free replacement campaign.

Here is one copy I found: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2022/MC-10209028-0001.pdf