the bonnet of my ford mondeo 04 won;t open even though i have put the key in as instructed?

keith, October 2008

Spot on Bobbillar - just as you say WD40 leave 5 mins then push key in hard turn left only and prise up bonnet with fingers or flat chisel
Should then release to 1 st stage then turn key to right to fully release! Brilliant and no damage to lock etc

A Mac, January 2016

I got the lock out and I now find the lock works but the bonnet doesnt release. I tried to operate the catch with a long rod but nothing happens. I cant still get the bonnet up

Ronnie, January 2015

Bobbillbar your a genius my son!!! did the trick just been looking at horror stories of all that awkward locking mechanism desecration for the sake of a stupid ford key.but your solution worked like magic you desrve a bottle of finest india pale ale

johnny2shoes, December 2014

This is how i sorted mine, first push the key in quite firmly putting a bit more preasure than normally, then the key should turn the quarter turn to the left. get your fingers under and raise the bonnet to the first stage of opening. ONLY THEN TURN THE KEY TO THE RIGHT - HALF TURN TO FULLY RELEASE THE LATCH. Do not wiggle left and right in the key hole it only spreads the plastic more. remember if it won't go the first quarter turn to the left don't bother going to the right! after a bit of cleaning works like a charm every time.

Bobbillbar, January 2014

between the grille and the grey plastic(above the grille)
you put a knife to cut the glue all along and then you can remove the grille without any damage.
just re-glue the grille ,done-easy

al, November 2013

just had the same problem 2004 Mondeo Estate. After reading the above I decide on my own Version.
WD40 the hole.
Get a flat head screwdriver put it in the key hole and hit it with a big hammer. When you cant see the flat of the crewdriver wiggle it take it out then try your key. Wiggle it then it opens :-) 10 mins no holes drilled and it still works with the key.

Gaz Newthorpe, July 2013

I had the same problem with my 2001 Mondeo. Drilled out the locking mech and been using a screw driver to open the bonnet since. It HAD been working a treat, until recently when I think water has got in the latch again and has ceased up. Now I turn the screwdriver to the right OK, but cannot turn it left to release the bonnet itself.

Any ideas beyond WD40 and a hammer? Angle grinder or atmo bomb seem to come to mind at the moment...

Jamie, September 2012

the 2 anti tamper screws you can cut a groove in them and undo with a screwdriver, remove the barrel and the long plastic pipe will come with it, undo with a screwdriver in the catch, new grill needed, I've had 3 in 3 years and they all have gone wrong, all ford kits that cost £100, total rubbish, ford should be ashamed.

d hall, July 2012

Hi, for anyone having this problem, as below, make the hole behind the badge, drill the two anti-tamper bolts out, the lock barrel can then be removed, remove the plastic rod and then use a screwdriver to open from then on, thats what I did, also with the bits out you can see what the issue was and may be able to put it back together again. Also check out this website www.fordwiki.co.uk/index.php?title=Bonnet_Stuck_Fix

Carlos, July 2012

My bonnet is fast down due to i have tightened the bonnet nuts to stop it woppleing when driving shut it and now its stuck help would be appreciated.

martin, June 2012

if the lock has been drilled out and you now have to use a screwdriver to open it, is this an mot failure?

mickey g, May 2012

Same bonnet opening problem as mentioned.
Screwdriver will probably be action taken. Thanks

J, April 2012

Followed Marcus S's advice, drilling out bolts etc.
Then found fault was as described by Jon. with one slight difference, the metal cross section protruding from the rear of the lock had rounded at the end so wasn't locating fully into the plastic rod.
As per his description though, tied a small cable tie around the cross end on the plastic rod, this forced the metal part fully into the plastic and oh joy, all working properly.
Many thanks to the two gents mentioned above, you've saved me two or three big ones !!

Alan M, March 2012

I Agree with the prvious user I ahd the same problem and its sorted by only using WD40

Asif

Asif, March 2011

I had the same problem with my mondeo 2.0 tdci estate 2004.
having only owned the car 1 month i am extremely pleased other than this common fault.
i couldnt drill the two rivets out of mine so ended up removing grill by force which snapped top lugs off but grill intact, i then set about cutting the whole lock out of its plastic sleeve and making tidy the hole under ford badge. used 2 x cable ties on top of grill, greased up and its superb!! you would never know, plus so easy to open with a screw driver now, i would have done this anyway as dont fancy it going out on road !!!

paul, January 2011

I had this problem when the car (o4 plate) was 1 year old and it cost me £200 to repair - ford dealer had not come across the problem before ! Now it has happened again - really very angry at the car manufacturers. In my own industry if we have problems like this we get it sorted and assist customers in every way possible who report subsequent problems to us. There should be an ombudsman for this sort of car industry problem.

Laserhelm, November 2010

Ok maybe a bit esoteric but i had the same problem with the bonnet catch sticking on my 05 mondeo. I managed to free up the mechanism by using compressed airbrush cleaner, the pressure worked where penetrating oil and wd40 had failed.

Jimbo, August 2010

I'm having this problem at the moment. I've undone the twist clips on top of the grill and pulled the grill 2'' forward, but cannot get my bent wire to un latch the bonnet lid. Any tips?

Mike G, April 2010

Bonnet wouldnt release at all, turned ford badge to 9o'clock then drilled 4 pilot holes on the grey plastic around the key hole, and cut round with stanley knife. Drilled out the studs, took 40 minutes then opend bonnet with a screwdriver, cleaned away the crap, oiled and WD40'd. Now works a treat with a screwdriver and saved 300 big ones. Woop for the screwdriver.

Mick Q, March 2010

Same problem with mine, took it to local Ford dealer. They drilled out the lock. Cost new lock £40 labour rate for 1 hour £85. No breaking of grill.Job done.

newport mondy, January 2010

Bonnet worked on first turn but not second. Had to push bonnet down after first clicked repeatedly then do second turn. It JUST managed to release the bonnet, on the very edge of feeling like the key was going to snap! I then cleaned the latch and lock and WD40'd it. Worked really well after the "de-gunk". Perhaps Ford need to include the cleaning of the mech in its maintenance tips.

Jase, December 2009

Hi yet another one with this fault lost my key due to this aswell!! i drilled two holes in plastic where the key would normally go which is still hidden by ford badge and followed 'Marcus S august 09' instructions worked a treat!

john j, October 2009

Same problem on 04 Focus C-max - Ford should recall for this problem!

Ian Campbell, October 2009

Ok firstly you do not need to break the grill or drill out the lock.
With a small inspection mirror, a torch and a bent bit of wire you can slip under the bonnet and release the catch with no damage.
Problem
The barrel slips into a plastic rod, which in turn slips into the bonnet catch. Now what happens is the rod slips to far into the bonnet catch and that means the barrel end slightly dislocates from the turning pin.
Solution
remove the bonnet lock and put a small cable tie around the cross end on the plastic rod. Put the lock back together and hey presto, the cable tie stops the rod sliding in to far....Fixed

Jon, October 2009

We have a 51 plate mondeo that has exactly the same Ford design fault.

Kath and Jay, August 2009

If you've tried the obvious - key twisting, bonnet sitting, cursing - then cut through the plastic by the key hole so you can see through to the two screws holding the lock mechanism in place. These may need drilling out if not been replaced by conventional screw heads. Then work the lock out by the bottom of the grill; then remove the plastic sleeve from inside the mechanism. You can then use a long screw driver to release the lock as with the key (first left, then to the right). You may want to reduce future hassle and leave it at this, but remember to carry a suitable screwdriver in the car. Or you can rinse out the existing lock and oil well then vaseline or use a water proof grease and replace using conventional screws. Hey presto, saving a couple of hundred snots from your friendly thieving Ford franchise. A staightforward and simple job requiring only a drill and a spot of ingenuity. Allow 45 minutes to complete removal, and another 45 to rinse, oil and grease and replace the lock. If you don't like the cut away section underneath the Ford badge, a nifty £10 should see a replacement from the local scrappy.

Marcus S, August 2009

I also have same problem, contacted Evans Halshaw who at first said they had never heard of this, then later admitted that they had and that the grill would have to be smashed, new key coded new lock couple of hundred quid.
Going to E-mail Ford Motor Co Uk this is clearly a design fault, not holding out much hope though

John G, May 2009

I have the same thing. Inchcape Ford fixed it late last year, and now its happened again. Engineer said grease the locking mechanism with Vaseline as this keeps out the grime on the roads, so I did. Now 4 months later, all the Vaseline has taken on dirt and worked its way inside, and the problem is back again! Wonderful! :( I agree - Ford should replace this all under "warranty" as it is a design fault. Even Inchcape agreed, but cannot help.

Conan McG, April 2009

04 ford mondeo bonnet drill out the lock then use screwdriver it works.

dimples, December 2008

well i have exactly the same problem and to go on from what marie previously mentioned i too have wrote to watchdog seeking advice. surely if its a manufacturing fault then all repairs should be carried out by ford free of charge.
maybe we need to set up some kind of petition then forward it to watchdog.

gary, November 2008

hi

i also have an 04 ford mondeo with the same problem
2 seperate ford dealers have quoted £££ to smash the bonet grill and then replace it and the lock.

there are many complaints on various sites regarding this problem with mondeo and focus.

i have sent message to watchdog bbc to investigate this

if others do likewise we may force ford into taking action.

marie, November 2008

try pushing down on bonnet while turing the key at the same time.if this works lubracate lock with WD40.if not might need a new locking mechanisim they do tend to freeze up through lack of use

FELLA, October 2008