Door Locks, Handles & Actuators

Car Door Lock Parts for Sale

This collection holds the car door lock parts we sell: power door lock actuators, tailgate and liftgate lock actuators, door latch assemblies, exterior door handles and lock cylinder sets with matching keys. Every part shown above is available to order online. Each product page lists the vehicle, years, door position and OE number, so you can match the part to the one that has failed.

Door lock problems are some of the most annoying faults on a car. A door that will not lock with the remote, a handle that snaps off in your hand on a cold morning, a tailgate that will not open, or a key that turns but does nothing. In most cases one of the parts on this page is the cause, and many of them are a straightforward swap once the door panel is off.

Below you will find each part with its specs, how door locks work, how to work out which part has failed, how to order the right one, what replacement involves and answers to common questions.

Car Door Lock Parts in This Collection

Door Lock Actuators and Latches

Tailgate, Liftgate and Sliding Door Actuators

Exterior Door Handles

Lock Cylinder and Ignition Switch Sets

You may also find what you need on Chevrolet parts, GMC parts, Ford parts, Toyota parts, Audi parts and Chrysler parts.

How Car Door Locks Work

Inside each door is a latch, the mechanism that grabs the striker on the door frame and holds the door shut. The latch is opened by rods or cables from the outside handle, the inside handle and the key cylinder.

On cars with central locking, a small electric motor called the door lock actuator moves the lock lever inside the latch. When you press the remote or the lock switch, the body control module sends a pulse to every actuator at once. On many modern cars, including the Audi, Nissan and late Ford parts above, the actuator and latch are built as one sealed unit. On older trucks, like the 1999-2005 Ford F-150 and 1998-2004 Tacoma, the actuator is a separate part linked to the latch by a rod.

The exterior handle pulls a rod or cable to release the latch. The lock cylinder is the part your key goes into. It turns a lever that locks or unlocks the latch mechanically, which is your backup if the battery is flat. If you want to read about how central locking developed, see the central locking article on Wikipedia.

Which Part Has Failed?

  • One door will not lock or unlock with the remote or switch, others work: the actuator on that door is the most likely fault. You may hear a weak buzz or nothing at all.
  • The lock goes up and down on its own or clicks repeatedly: a failing actuator or a fault in its internal switch.
  • No doors lock: check the fuse, the remote battery and the lock switch before blaming the actuators.
  • The handle moves but the door will not open: the rod or clip between handle and latch has come off, or the latch has failed.
  • The handle is loose, cracked or snapped: replace the handle. Old plastic handles on GM trucks and SUVs often crack in the cold.
  • The door will not stay shut, or rattles: worn latch or loose striker.
  • The key will not turn, or turns freely without doing anything: a worn or broken lock cylinder.
  • Tailgate or liftgate will not open electrically: the tailgate actuator, its connector or its wiring.

How to Order the Right Car Door Lock Parts

  1. Door position. Front or rear, left or right. Actuators and latches are almost always side-specific. Our titles show this, using the left-hand drive convention of left equals driver. If your car is right-hand drive, go by left and right.
  2. Year and body style. Crew cab, regular cab and extended cab trucks use different rear door parts.
  3. Power or manual locks. Some trims have manual locks with no actuator.
  4. OE number. Match numbers such as 20783846, F81Z25218A43AA, 69040-04010, 8K0839016 and FL3Z9943170C to the label on your old part.
  5. Connector. Count the pins on your old part and compare with the photos.
  6. Handle finish and keyhole. Door handles come in black, chrome or paint-to-match, and the driver's front handle often has a keyhole while others do not.
  7. Keys. Lock cylinder sets come with new keys, and all cylinders in the set use the same key. A new ignition cylinder usually means your old key will no longer work, and on cars with immobilisers the new key may need its chip programmed or the old chip transferred.

Replacing Door Lock Parts

  1. Lower the window and disconnect the battery if your car has door airbags.
  2. Remove the door panel by taking out the hidden screws and popping the clips with a trim tool.
  3. Disconnect the switch connectors and the inner handle cable.
  4. Peel back the vapour barrier carefully.
  5. Disconnect the rods or cables from the latch or actuator. Take photos first so you can put them back the same way.
  6. For an integrated latch and actuator, remove the screws on the door edge (often Torx) and work the unit out. For a separate actuator, remove its screws or rivets and unhook the rod.
  7. For an exterior handle, the nuts are usually reached through an access hole in the inner door skin.
  8. Fit the new part, connect rods and wiring, and test every function before refitting the panel: lock, unlock, outside handle, inside handle, key and child lock.
  9. Refit the barrier and panel.

Tailgate actuators on the F-150 are reached by removing the inner tailgate panel. The Grand Caravan rear actuator sits inside the liftgate trim.

Keeping Door Locks Working

Spray a little dry lubricant or silicone into latches and lock cylinders once or twice a year. Avoid heavy grease, which collects dirt. In freezing weather, do not force a frozen handle, because that is how plastic handles break. Use a lock de-icer or warm the area first. Keep door drain holes clear so water does not pool around the latch and actuator.

Related Categories

Ordering, Delivery and Returns

All of these car door lock parts can be ordered here. Delivery options and times for your country are shown at checkout and on our shipping page. Compare the new part with the old one before fitting. If something does not match the listing, our returns page and warranty page explain what to do.

Car Door Lock Parts FAQ

How do I know if my door lock actuator is bad?

If one door will not lock or unlock electrically while the others do, and the fuse is fine, the actuator in that door is the usual cause. A buzzing or grinding sound from the door is another sign.

Can I replace a door lock actuator myself?

Yes, with basic tools. Removing the door panel is the longest part of the job.

Is the latch the same as the actuator?

On many modern cars they are one unit. On older vehicles they are separate parts joined by a rod.

Will new lock cylinders use my old key?

No. Cylinder sets come with their own matched keys. If your car has an immobiliser, the key chip may need programming.

Do exterior door handles come painted?

Most of the handles we sell are textured black. Painted vehicles may need the handle painted to match.

Why does my door lock click but not lock?

The actuator motor is running but its internal gear is worn or broken, or the rod has come off. Replacing the actuator usually fixes it.

Do you deliver car door lock parts to my country?

Delivery options for your address appear at checkout. See our shipping page for details.

Tailgate and Liftgate Lock Problems

Tailgates and liftgates have their own lock actuators and latches, separate from the doors. On pickups with a power-locking tailgate, like the Ford F-150 and Super Duty, a failed actuator means the tailgate stays locked or unlocked regardless of the key fob. On SUVs and minivans, a failed liftgate actuator can leave the hatch impossible to open from outside. Our Ford power tailgate lock actuator, the liftgate lock actuator 4589581AE for Grand Caravan, Town and Country, Grand Cherokee and Durango, and the Mercedes ML, GL and R-Class tailgate lock actuator are common fixes. Many liftgates have a small emergency release on the inside trim, which lets you open the hatch from inside the cargo area while you wait for the part.

Matching Keys: Lock Cylinders and Ignition Sets

If your key is lost, or the lock cylinders are worn and hard to turn, a matched lock cylinder set replaces the door lock cylinders and the ignition switch with a set that all use the same new key. Our Hyundai Elantra door lock and ignition cylinder set and GM door lock cylinder and ignition switch set work this way. Note that many vehicles also have an immobiliser chip in the key. A new cylinder set may come with keys that turn the locks, but the vehicle may still need the immobiliser programmed to recognise the new key before it will start. Check the product page and your vehicle's requirements before buying.

Exterior vs Interior Door Handles

Exterior door handles take the weather, the sun and constant use. Plastic handles fade, crack and break at the pivot or where the rod clip attaches. Interior handles break less often, but the plastic levers and their rods can snap. When you replace an exterior handle, check the paint finish: textured black handles can go straight on, while paint-to-match handles need painting before fitting. Some handles, like our GM front exterior door handle pair and the Toyota Sienna door handle set, come in pairs or sets so you can replace several at once and keep them matching.

Door Latches and Child Safety Locks

The latch is the mechanism that actually holds the door closed against the striker on the body. A worn or failing latch can stop the door from closing, let it open while driving, or prevent it from opening at all. Rear door latches usually include the child safety lock lever on the door edge. When you replace a rear latch, check that the child lock works before refitting the panel. Our Nissan Versa front right door latch is an example of a latch with the actuator built in.

Keyless Entry and Remote Fob Issues

If every door fails to lock or unlock from the remote at the same time, the cause is rarely the actuators. Check the key fob battery first, then whether the doors respond to the switch inside the car. If the inside switch works but the fob does not, the fob or its receiver is the problem. If only one door misbehaves with both the fob and the switch, the actuator in that door is the likely cause. This simple test saves buying parts you do not need.

Lubrication and Winter Care

Spray a little dry lubricant or a lock lubricant into the key cylinders and onto the latch mechanism once or twice a year. In freezing climates, water inside a lock can freeze and stop the key turning. A lock de-icer helps, but do not pour hot water on a frozen lock, because it refreezes and can crack the glass if you splash the window. Wipe and grease the striker plates on the door pillars, and check the door seals, because a torn seal lets water into the latch area.

Security Considerations

A door that does not lock reliably is a security risk. If one door is not locking, treat it as urgent. Many insurers expect a vehicle to be properly locked, and some will not pay a claim if a door was left unlocked because of a known fault. Replacing a failed actuator or latch is usually straightforward, and most parts in this collection are listed by exact position, so you can order the right one quickly. For window problems in the same door, see our window regulators and motors.

Door Lock Actuators: A Closer Look

A door lock actuator is a small electric motor with a gear train that moves a rod or cable inside the door to lock and unlock the latch. On many modern vehicles the actuator is built into the latch itself, so the whole latch assembly is replaced as one part, while on older vehicles the actuator is a separate unit bolted inside the door and connected to the latch by a rod. When an actuator starts to fail, it often buzzes or clicks without moving the lock, works only sometimes, or moves the lock slowly, especially in cold weather. Plastic gears inside the actuator wear or strip with age, and moisture inside the door can corrode the motor.

Sets like our Ford door lock actuator set of 4 make sense when several doors are already showing symptoms, because actuators of the same age tend to fail one after another. For single doors, parts like the Toyota and Lexus front left actuator 69040-33221, the Audi rear right actuator 8K0839016 and the GM front left actuator 20783846 are listed by exact position.

Finding the Fault Step by Step

  1. Press the lock and unlock buttons on the key fob, then on the door switches. Note which doors respond.
  2. Listen at the faulty door while pressing the button. A buzz or click without movement points to the actuator.
  3. Silence at one door, while others work, suggests a wiring break, often in the rubber boot between the door and the body where wires flex.
  4. Silence at every door suggests a fuse, a relay, the body control module or the fob.
  5. If the lock moves but the door will not open, the problem is the handle, the rods or the latch, not the actuator.

Wiring in the Door Jamb

Every time you open and close a door, the wires that run between the door and the body flex inside a rubber boot. After many years, those wires can crack, causing the lock, window or mirror on that door to work only at certain door positions. If a lock works when the door is open but not when it is closed, or the other way round, check the wiring in the boot before buying an actuator.

More Questions About Door Lock Parts

Can I replace a door lock actuator myself?

Yes, with patience. You will need to remove the door panel and often the window glass or its guide on some models. Allow a couple of hours for your first door.

Do I need to program a new actuator?

Usually not. Most actuators work as soon as they are connected. Lock cylinder and key sets may need immobiliser programming for the new key.

Why does my door lock work only in warm weather?

Grease inside a worn actuator thickens in the cold, and a weak motor cannot overcome it. Replacement is the long-term fix.

Ordering Checklist for Door Lock Parts

  • Confirm the exact door: front or rear, left or right.
  • Note whether your vehicle has keyless entry, power locks or manual locks.
  • Check the finish of handles: textured black, chrome or paint to match.
  • Count the pins on the actuator connector and compare with the listing.
  • Match the OE number on your old part when you can.

If the part you remove looks different from the one you ordered, stop and contact us before fitting it. Keeping the new part clean and unfitted makes any exchange simple. See our returns page for details.

Door Lock Parts and Vehicle Security Systems

Many vehicles link the door locks to the factory alarm and immobiliser. If a door lock actuator or latch fails, the alarm may not arm, or it may go off unexpectedly because the car thinks a door is open. After replacing a latch or actuator, lock the car and check that the alarm arms normally and that the door ajar warning goes off when the door is closed. If the warning stays on, the door switch inside the latch may not be making contact, so check that the new latch is fully connected and the door is closing all the way. These simple checks confirm the repair is complete.