2000 Ford Explorer: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Feb 1, 2021 · Body · 13,500 miles · CA

Rust and clear paint peeling. Door handles loose unable to open all 4 doors. I have to unlock from rear window to access vehicle. Unclear other than design of handles. Left front door handle completely broke off. Quote of $150 a door to repair. Will cost me $600. Very unsafe and problematic. Including a loss in value.

Filed Mar 30, 2017 · Body · 167,000 miles · CA

My doors will not open. I was told the door lock actuator was the problem and would cost over $600.00. The drivers door can not open from the outside because the handle broke, I have to leave my door open in order to get in, the front passager door and the back drivers side door will not open from the outside or the inside. The front passager door the handle on the inside broke as well as the handle on the outside, the lock stick fell out. The passager back door is the only way to get into my truck, the drivers door will open from the inside sometimes. This is a safty hazzard. I can be locked inside my truck with no way out and I am locked out of my truck when the back door stop working. This should have been recalled since so many ford doors are not opening.

Filed Oct 15, 2012 · Body · 79,000 miles · TX

4-door vehicle typically drive to work and home between 2002-2007. No one typically ever sat in the back, however, if any one did sit in the back the complained the doors were difficult to open. My thoughts were user error and those doors are rarely used. After my son was born in september 2007 I noticed the doors were difficult to open, at one point I thought I would break the door handle. My mom, my son, who is now 5, have an extremely difficult time opening the doors and my grandmother is not able to open the doors using the door handles.

Filed Jul 18, 2012 · Acceleration, Electrical · CA

The problem started with the drivers door it would not open , with the remote control , the actuator works but the door latch would not open after several weeks of having to open it with the keys I took the door panel open and spay some wd-40 and it started to open but as time when on the rear passenger doors have started to do the same , the child safety locks have got jam and now both doors are failing at one point the rear driver side door didn't open and I had to take it to a mechanic to get it to work but the problem still persists and now the front passenger door does not open it got stock and the handle to open the door has fallen off it has been such a frustrating problem and I went to find out how much it would cost for the parts and its going to cost about $87.00 per door not including the labor and it very frustrating I wish they do something about it also their was a recall for the cruise control I went to the dealer to get it fix , and they disconnected the cruise control I have call several times they say their is no openings and it has now been four years I have given up.

Filed Mar 13, 2010 · Locks · NJ

I have a 2000 ford explorer, 4-door. The right front door actuator mechanism has failed. The left front door locking mechanism has failed. Also, left rear passenger door can not be opened from inside and outside the vehicle. 1) can not open right front door from the outside with key-fob or with the key! I replaced a rivot that holds the locking actuator with a bolt (right side front door). 2)I can not open left front door from the outside with key-fob or with the key! . I replaced the interior door handle opening lever. This worked until the latching mechanism inside the door failed. I currently have to take the door apart and try to fix this because my wife and kids use this vehicle. 3) on the left rear door, the door can not be opened from the inside or outside. I currently have to take the door apart and try to fix this because my wife and kids use this vehicle. In the event of an accident on the right side, anyone in the left rear seat can not exit the vehicle from the left rear door. We leased this vehicle in 2000 then bought it in 2003. As of this writing, this vehicle has just over 80000 miles on the odometer. Ford refuses to correct the problems. Many message boards have reported the same problems with 2000 ford explorers. Unfortunately, I have to resort to using the remedies on various message boards to correct the problem. Thank you

Filed Mar 1, 2010 · Electrical, Locks · IL

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford explorer. The contact stated that her door locks have failed several times. The contact had the vehicle repaired by a local mechanic. The door locks continued to fail after the vehicle was repaired. The contact spoke with the manufacturer and was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure and current miles were not available. Updated 04/15/10. *lj the consumer stated the locks have failed one-by-one. The passenger rear and driver side rear door locks could not be repaired. The trunk lock also sticks. Updated 09/02/10

Filed Jan 10, 2009 · Locks · 80,000 miles · VA

My driver's side door lock gets stuck in the locked position randomly. This occurs both while driving and parked. It also effects the child safety locks. This has been happening for about a year now. It is driving me crazy. I have to crawl over the passenger seat and wiggle the handle while trying to pull up the lock manually. I will eventually break the handle. After a little research I found 100's if not 1,000's or more people on the internet that have the same experience. Many are calling for a recall. Just google " ford explorer driver's door won't unlock" or this link http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/1998/accessories-interior/drivers_door_wont_unlock.shtml this is a serious safety issue!

Filed Jun 5, 2008 · Locks · 160,000 miles · TX

Driver power locking door will not unlock from the outside.

Filed Sep 19, 2007 · Locks · VA

2000 ford explorer problems with door locking mechanism. Customer states that it began with the rear doors not unlocking, hatch door will now not unlock. Customer thinks doors will stop opening. *kb the consumer has tried oiling the mechanisms, but that still didn't work. *jb updated 10/03/07.

Filed Oct 23, 2006 · Body, Locks · 113,400 miles · OK

Dt*: the contact stated the rear driver side door handle had to be lifted up higher than normal to open the door from the inside. The door was inoperable from the outside. An independent repair shop determined the door handle needed to be replaced.

Filed Aug 17, 2006 · Locks · 97,200 miles · NC

Dt*: the contact stated on three separate occasions the door locks failed to open. The first was the passenger's side rear passenger door followed by the rear driver's side and now the front driver door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer each time and the latch assemblies were replaced. Updated 10/25/2006 - the technician told the consumer that this was a know problem with this model/year vehicle and that the problem is caused by a defect in the door latches. One of the pieces is made of a type of plastic which is not strong enough.

Filed May 22, 2006 · Locks · FL

Driver's door lock inoperative, rear door lock inoperative.