general problems of the 2011 Lincoln Mkz Hybrid

Early this summer the front passenger door open/lock mechanism broke. The door can not be locked. It can be opened from inside but with more force than usual. A few months later the very same problem occurred wth the driver side, front, mechanism. This seems to be a design flaw and not a coincidence.

The passenger side door could not be opened from the inside. Only the outside door handle could open it successfully. The dealer has ordered parts for a repair. He indicated that there is no recall on this issue, although I recall a notification about door problems. Several years ago the left driver's side door had the same problem and required a dealer fix. This apparent defect in door design poses a potentially serious safety risk if an occupant needs to exit the vehicle in an emergency. It seems highly unlikely that both doors would malfunction (at different times) if there was not some inherent design defect. In both instances the inability to exit the vehicle via the usual inside door mechanism occurred when the vehicle was parked.

I own a Lincoln Mkz Hybrid (2011). I have what I consider a safety failure/hazard. The driver's side door lock/latch failed and I have been unable to open the door from the inside. I have to open the window and open the door by way of the outside handle. In an emergency, if the electrical system was inoperable, a driver would be trapped in the vehicle because the windows would not open and the seat could not move back, thus, potentially trapping a driver.