Car Basics
All warning lights

Door Ajar Warning

Stop drivingTypically Red on the dash

A door, the hood, or the trunk is not fully latched.

What it means

One of the vehicle's latches is reporting open. Most clusters show which door. A door that is 'closed but not latched' can fly open in a turn, and an unlatched hood can slam up at speed.

Can you keep driving?

Stop in a safe place and re-latch the offending door, hood, or trunk before continuing. If the light stays on with everything visibly shut, a latch switch may be faulty — drive carefully and have it checked.

What to do now

  1. 1

    Pull over and firmly re-close each door, then the hood and trunk.

  2. 2

    Check for obstructions in the latch area.

  3. 3

    If the light persists, note which door the display indicates and have the switch inspected.

Likely causes

  • Door, hood, or trunk not fully closed
  • Obstruction or ice in the latch
  • Faulty door-ajar switch

Typical fix cost

$0 to re-latch; $50–$200 for a latch or switch

Ranges reflect mainstream US parts-and-labor pricing; your vehicle and region will vary.

Related warning lights

Identify a different symbol