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CarComplaints.com Notes: Well, it's not a 2002, so it's got that going for it.

8.1

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$300
Average Mileage:
125,400 miles
Total Complaints:
15 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (11 reports)
  2. sprayed lubricant in door latch (3 reports)
  3. repair door locks (1 reports)
2000 Ford Explorer accessories - exterior problems

accessories - exterior problem

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2000 Ford Explorer Owner Comments

problem #15

Jan 062016

Explorer LXT 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 167,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

click to see larger images

doors not locking/unlocking from exterior properly

one by one my doors stop working, the driver and passager door handle broke on the outside, the passenger door everything came out, the 2 back doors stayed locked I Finally got one to unlock, that is the only way in get into my truck. my driver's door I leave it open so I don't have to go in by the backseat. I am going to be locked inside my truck and the only way out is the window, but the driver's window can't go down. This should have been recalled by ford, it is a safety hazard. the Ford company recalled other years but not the 2000's.

- Ramona G., Porterville, CA, US

problem #14

Nov 012012

Explorer XLS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

It started with 1 door not unlocking/locking and now all my doors are not working properly. Some handles are flapping. The door handle on the inside is not opening the door either for one door. My husband has spent over $300 dollars and a lot of time trying to fix it. I have 1 door that is a manual only lock and unlock rear door. But now that is starting to fail. I'm the original owner and did not have an issue until this last year. All the doors have an issue.

- Elaine S., Phoenix, AZ, US

problem #13

May 152012

Explorer XLT 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

NONE OF THE DOORS WILL OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE AT ALLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!

HAVE TO ENTER THROUGH HATCH BACK WINDOW!!!!!!!!!

- carlae, commerce city, CO, US

problem #12

Jul 312010

Explorer V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 123,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My door would hesitate to open with a key at first, but after a few tries finally it would. Then the door wouldn't open with a key, but I could still use my keyless entry. A few months later, nothing would open my door, I have to climb over the passenger's seat and open my door from the inside.

While this problem is frustrating, my Explorer has not given me any problems since I bought it 7 years ago. All in all it has been a great car. The dealership said that it could be up to $500 per door to fix, they want $60 just for me to bring it in and show them the problem (ridiculously expensive). The passenger door is starting to hesitate to unlock, and the back driver's side door sticks as well. I am happy to announce that this helped convince me and pushed me to purchase a new car...another Explorer, only 2010. My 2000 has been a great car overall, all cars have their issues.

- Synda K., Centennial, CO, US

problem #11

Jan 122010

Explorer 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 97,000 miles

I can't leave my SUV anywhere due to the lock not working

- carrie50, Savannah, GA, US

problem #10

Mar 272010

Explorer XLT 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

Drivers side Door will not unlock with keyless entry. Inserting the Key into the lock does not help either; door refuses to unlock.. I opened the door and tried adjusting the linkage; but that works off and on. Now I have just read about lubing; and will try this.

- jmessi, Annandale, VA, US

problem #9

Jul 222009

Explorer Eddie Bauer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After reading all the posts I feel lucky that I have a 6 year old boy who loves hopping in the hatch to run across the seats and open my driver door from the inside. Usually kids don't get to stomp all over leather car seats. I can see this fix is going to cost me but it was worth reading all the other posts since I got hysterical at the stories and the absurdity of this problem. Who knew an Explorer would be able to humiliate so many. Wait. Don't answer that.

- Leanne P., Seattle, WA, US

problem #8

Apr 012008

Explorer XLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,000 miles

I started having a problem with my 2000 Explorer rear door not opening with the remote. I had to use my key. Then the rear passenger door started having the same problem, then the front passenger door, then the left rear door and finally the drivers door. This moves around and so far I have been lucky in that at least one door would open. My car key stopped working in both the drivers door and passenger door but at least it still works in the back door.

They act like there is just not enough power to push the latches up all the way. I tried spraying a ton of lubricant into all of the latches but that did not work. I thought that perhaps the battery was weak so I replaced the battery. This did not change a thing. At this point, I do not know what to do. There is no way in hell that I am going to pay $350 per door to have Ford fix this problem.

The last time I took my vehicle to Ford it was to repair a problem with my air bag light staying on. They told me that I needed to replace the air bag cable system and that was $980 plus labor. I later found out the real problem when I was cleaning my car and found a piece of electricians tape under the drivers seat. I pulled the long piece of tape out and the wires they were wrapped around were bare and had been shorting out on the seat rails. This tape was applied by Ford when I had the car in for a cable replacement on a Ford recall. I re taped the line, the light went out and I have never had this problem again. I saved the $1000 plus that they wanted to charge me.

At 76,000 miles I had both the front and rear timing chain tensioners go out, the timing belts wiped out all of the chain guides, one of the many timing belts jumping a tooth, bent two valves and burnt the rest. Ford quoted me over $4000 and they were not sure if it needed a valve job or not. I had all of the belts, tensioners, guides and a full valve job done for $3,200 and now have 117,000 miles on it. This was such a common problem that my mechanic had to search the entire USA for parts. Dealerships and aftermarket suppliers were all out of parts.

I have always been a Ford supporter and I have owned more than a few over the years. This is my last Ford. They have recalls if it affects 100,000 cars but they do not address it when it is only 10,000 to 20,000 for piddly little problems like not being able to get in or out of your car. And you wonder why the American Auto industry is in such trouble? Bail them out? There should be a bail out fund for the car owners that have problems the manufacturers refuse to address.

- Gary T., Beaverton, OR, US

problem #7

Nov 052008

Explorer XLT 4.0L Sohc

  • Automatic transmission
  • 122,600 miles

Emailed Ford.JustAnswer.com for help. Suggestion was to spray door latch where switch is located to unstick the switch. Worked for 1 day and problem returned. Using keyfob to unlock doors results in all doors unlocking properly except the drivers door. Pressing keyfob repeatedly approximately 10 times will finally trigger the unlock feature to work. Next step will be to remove the drivers door switches and replace. Unfortunately, none of the Ford Explorer repair guides I have (Haynes #36024) list how to do this procedure.

- davidfoster, Carlisle, KY, US

problem #6

Nov 262006

Explorer XLT 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 275,000 miles

I have had two Explorer's 96/2000. Have had a similar issue with the other, and also the new one (2000). I see that some of you have talked about fixing for #350 which is ridiculous. I simply sprayed some lubricant such as PB blaster or other such penetrating lubricants into the door jam and this seems to work for a while. I think, with my vehicles, that this is caused over age. Sometimes it opens, sometimes it doesn't. Normally now I have to use the key combined with the keyless. I will spray some more as I haven't done so in a year and let it go at that. The vehicle has 275000 miles so I figure if that's the worst problem I have it'll be fine.

- pdiddy963, Richmond, VA, US

problem #5

Aug 122008

Explorer XLT 4.0L Sohc

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,900 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Problem has gotten progressively worse. Have to open rear door and reach inside to open drivers door using inside door handle.

- davidfoster, Carlisle, KY, US

problem #4

Mar 012008

Explorer XLT 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 106,000 miles

My driver and passenger door locks lock and unlock pretty much whenever they feel like it. Sometimes I can't even get the locks open with a key, and am forced to open the back door and reach through to the front seat and open the door from the inside.

PLEASE report the problem to Ford at 1-800-392-3673 and the National Highway Safety folks at 1-888-327-4236. The more they hear about it, the more likely Ford will have to add this problem to the recall list, as it poses a definite safety hazard.

- Megan L., Green Bay, WI, US

problem #3

Feb 292008

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,000 miles

My driver's side door is not opening every time. I have to go thru the passenger side door to open the door and get in the Explorer fairly often. What is worse is that about 6 months ago the back seat door on the driver's side quit opening from the inside. After a couple of weeks, it quit opening from the outside as well. So, we have no way to open that door. The hatchback door on the back of the Explorer also doesn't open from time to time. It has not completely stopped working, but you never know if you will be able to open it. I will never, ever, buy another union made piece of crap again.

- J S., Derby, KS, US

problem #2

Nov 202007

Explorer XLT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,448 miles

Get in the car and head to work, park, pull handle to get out and no problems. Go back to the car to get something out, hit remote unlock on key fob and pull the driver's door handle -- nothing happens. I figure I got the seat belt caught in the door and it's jammed so I open from the inside with success but surprised to find nothing jammed in the door plus I notice the driver's door looks locked even though it's open. Sure enough the driver's door doesn't unlock with remote, keypad nor key. At least I can reach across and get it open by pulling the inside handle. The really annoying part is I Googled the problem and it's very common! Even more annoying is the cost to fix it -- some folks report $350!!! Since it looks like I'll be layed off right before Christmas do I really want to spend that much to get it fixed? I have to take it in for the latest recall so I wonder if they'll through in the handle repair for free too? RIGHT . . . that'll happen.

- Laurel J., Overland Park, KS, US

problem #1

Sep 252007

(reported on)

Explorer Limited AWD 5.0L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

My vehicle is a 2000 Explorer Limited 5L V8 AWD 130,000 miles. Driver's door will not unlock by any method except manual lever on inside of driver door.

Door cannot be opened via wireless key remote, inside unlock buttons, pulling up on lock knob at driver side window, key in outside keyhole or keyless entry pad on outside of drivers door. Having to reach in from back seat and pull manual lever on inside of driver door is a pretty lame feature for a vehicle of this caliber.

Update from Jun 8, 2009: I fixed my drivers door problem. If yours act the same as mine the solution was simple.

Mine acted like it wanted to unlock, but the button would not pop-up on the drivers door. The unlock button on the door would click like it wanted to pop-up, but could not. Could not unlock/open door by any method except the inside handle.

Solution: Remove inside door panel (easy, couple of screws at the door handle and then carefully pry/pull if off at the clip points)

After looking it over, seeing how things related to each other in side the door, pondering how I would be able to get my hands in side the door to replace the solenoid that seem to control the action electronically…

I lubed the linkage at the key lock location from inside the door with some WD-40. Lock started working immediately.

Put door back together and has worked great for a week now.

Bob

- Bob R., Burke, VA, US

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