The Lemon IndexA door that won’t open is usually a broken handle, cable or latch.
Get it checked. Fine to drive, but it can slow getting out after a crash. Get it fixed soon.
A broken inside or outside handle. Then: a stretched or broken latch cable; a failed door lock actuator.
Owners describe this in 10,886 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Dodge Grand Caravan.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Hyundai Tucson | 322 | 20% |
| 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan | 259 | 26% |
| 2011 Kia Sorento | 235 | 15% |
| 2004 Toyota Sienna | 166 | 8% |
| 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 123 | 6% |
| 2017 Hyundai Elantra | 122 | 15% |
| 2005 Toyota Sienna | 104 | 9% |
| 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan | 96 | 23% |
| 2004 Kia Optima | 87 | 39% |
| 2016 Chrysler Town & Country | 79 | 15% |
| 2007 BMW 3 Series | 78 | 8% |
| 2012 Ford Focus | 78 | 2% |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2004 Kia Optima · 39% 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan · 26% 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan · 25% 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan · 23% 2016 Hyundai Tucson · 20% 2010 Hyundai Sonata · 18% 2011 Kia Sorento · 15% 2017 Hyundai Elantra · 15%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of car door won't open
- A broken inside or outside handle
- A stretched or broken latch cable
- A failed door lock actuator
- A child lock left on (rear doors)
- A frozen or rusted latch
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive if a door won’t open?
Get it checked. Fine to drive, but it can slow getting out after a crash. Get it fixed soon.
Of the 10,886 complaints describing it, 2% mention a crash, 1% say the car was towed, 1% mention a fire and 3% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: structure (42%), latches/locks/linkages (30%), electrical system (26%), power train (2%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 65,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (1,848), Toyota (991), Chevrolet (977), Dodge (958), Hyundai (830).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (doors, locks & windows repairs): the middle half ran $400 to $800, typical $500, from 140 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Related symptoms
Power window not working Car battery keeps dying Headlights not working All dashboard warning lights on Speedometer not working Backup camera not working
Quick answers
What causes car door won't open?
A door that won’t open is usually a broken handle, cable or latch. Common causes: a broken inside or outside handle; a stretched or broken latch cable; a failed door lock actuator; a child lock left on (rear doors); a frozen or rusted latch.
Is it safe to drive if a door won’t open?
Get it checked. Fine to drive, but it can slow getting out after a crash. Get it fixed soon.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Dodge Grand Caravan, Toyota Sienna and Hyundai Tucson. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 140 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $400 to $800. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup