Component

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:ELECTRONIC LOCK/LATCH ACTUATOR

52 NHTSA complaints about latches/locks/linkages:electronic lock/latch actuator issues across 13 makes and 27 models.

The latches/locks/linkages:electronic lock/latch actuator is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 52 filings from 13 manufacturers and 27 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.

Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the DODGE GRAND CARAVAN with 13 filings, followed by FORD F-150 and HONDA CR-V. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.

Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.

52
Complaints
27
Models Affected
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 13
2 FORD F-150 8
3 HONDA CR-V 5
4 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2
5 FORD EDGE 2
6 TOYOTA TACOMA 1
7 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 1
8 TOYOTA CAMRY 1
9 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 1
10 SUBARU FORESTER 1
11 NISSAN PATHFINDER 1
12 NISSAN MAXIMA 1
13 NISSAN FRONTIER 1
14 NISSAN ALTIMA 1
15 KIA SPORTAGE 1
16 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE L 1
17 HYUNDAI VELOSTER 1
18 HYUNDAI TUCSON 1
19 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 1
20 HONDA ODYSSEY 1
21 FORD FOCUS 1
22 FORD F-250 1
23 FORD ESCAPE 1
24 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 1
25 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 1
26 CHEVROLET IMPALA 1
27 BMW 528I 1

Recent Complaints

2016 TOYOTA TACOMA

The rear passenger door lock actuator on my 2016 Toyota Tacoma failed prematurely, causing the door to no longer lock or unlock properly. The failure required replacement of the entire actuator assemb

2019 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the driver's side sliding door made an abnormal clicking and buzzing sound while closing. Additionally, the passenger's side slidin

2017 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while attempting to open the front driver’s side door, the power door lock actuator failed. Neither a dealer nor an independent mechanic w

2008 HONDA CR-V

The contact owns a 2008 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front passenger's door failed to latch as intended. In addition, the front passenger's door had independen

2015 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the door locks were independently locking and unlocking, and the hazard lights were flashing intermittently. The contact state

2018 NISSAN MAXIMA

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the power door functions on the front driver’s door failed to operate on two separate occasions. Due to the failure, the contact had to

2019 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

3 of the 4 door lock actuators do not work properly. Some don't lock and some don't unlock. The only door that currently works is the driver's door. If I don't realize that a door did not lock some

2014 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the actuator for the driver’s side rear sliding door failed to operate as intended, and the contact was forced to secure the door

2023 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE L

The contact owns a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The contact stated that while his wife was exiting the vehicle, the four doors independently locked, leaving a child locked inside the vehicle. No warnin

2017 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

The contact owns a 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, his children attempted to exit the vehicle through the passenger's side and driver's side sliding doo

2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

My vehicle: 2003 4Runner SR5 2WD VIN: [XXX] Issue: Front driver's side door will not open. Electronic locks are operating, but the door release is not functioning. Safety Concern: What if I was in

2014 BMW 528I

Dear BMW Customer Service, I am writing to report a serious issue with my 2014 BMW xDrive 528i regarding the malfunction of the door locking system. Component/System Failure: Both the front and rear

2019 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the driver's side sliding door failed to open. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determi

2021 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

Door stopped opening from handle from outside after unlocking with remote only opens from inside door handle

2017 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the doors failed to close properly. The contact stated that the doors remained ajar while attempting to close the doors. The door ajar warni

2019 NISSAN ALTIMA

The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to open the door with the key fob however, the door failed to open. The contact had to phy

2019 HYUNDAI VELOSTER

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that on several occasions while the vehicle was parked in extremely cold weather, the driver’s side door failed to open or close as neede

2019 NISSAN PATHFINDER

See attached document for complaint.

2020 SUBARU FORESTER

The automatic rear liftgate opens all the way, then closes automatically on your head/back. This has been happening with my car for over a year. When it started, it was occasional, but now it happens

2020 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked on several occasions, the front passenger’s side door failed to open as intended. The vehicle was taken to a deale

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve latches/locks/linkages:electronic lock/latch actuator issues?
The NHTSA has received 52 complaints about latches/locks/linkages:electronic lock/latch actuator problems across 27 vehicle models from 13 manufacturers.
How dangerous are latches/locks/linkages:electronic lock/latch actuator defects?
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:ELECTRONIC LOCK/LATCH ACTUATOR issues have been linked to 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most latches/locks/linkages:electronic lock/latch actuator problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for latches/locks/linkages:electronic lock/latch actuator issues is the DODGE GRAND CARAVAN with 13 complaints.
Where does PlainCars get its safety data?
All vehicle safety data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database, which collects reports from vehicle owners about safety-related defects.

Data Sources

Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.

Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.

Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.

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