2000 Ford Explorer Latches, locks and linkages Problems
- Complaints
- 29about this part
- Share
- 3%of 952 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 92,100miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 29 complaints about the latches, locks and linkages of the 2000 Ford Explorer, 3% of the 952 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 92,100 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My driver's door keeps getting jammed. I have to sometimes crawl over the seat to get out of the truck. The lock are constantly getting stuck to the point I can't manually even pull them up anymore.”
NHTSA complaint #10255291, filed 2009-01, 130,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10254467, filed 2009-01, 80,000 miles“Rear doors on 2000 Ford Explorer (4-door, 4x4, xlt) fail to open. In january of 2005 the left rear door would not open, either from the inside nor from the outside. This has just happened to the right rear door (december 2005). I have brought it to a Ford dealership ( don jenkins Ford in fuquay varina, nc) for both fixes, and the service writer acknowledged the problem immediately saying that they have seen this/fixed this on numerous Ford explorers before. This indicates to me that this is a known and repeating problem to Ford. …”
NHTSA complaint #10145920, filed 2005-12, 86,350 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10319403, filed 2010-03“The contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that both rear interior child locks failed in the locked position. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The dealer stated this was a normal occurrence. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 30,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10714044, filed 2015-05, 30,000 milesLatches, locks and linkages: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 2% |
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 1 | 5% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2022 | 2 | 1% |
| 2021 | 1 | 0% |
| 2020 | 7 | 1% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0% |
| 2018 | 2 | 0% |
| 2017 | 5 | 0% |
| 2016 | 5 | 0% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0% |
| 2014 | 3 | 0% |
| 2013 | 16 | 1% |
| 2011 | 1 | 0% |
| 2007 | 1 | 0% |
| 2005 | 10 | 2% |
| 2004 | 23 | 2% |
| 2003 | 17 | 2% |
| 2002 | 50 | 2% |
| 2001 | 2 | 1% |
| 2000 | 29 | 3% |
| 1999 | 33 | 2% |
| 1998 | 65 | 3% |
| 1997 | 32 | 2% |
| 1996 | 34 | 2% |
| 1995 | 11 | 1% |
| 1994 | 23 | 2% |
| 1993 | 13 | 1% |
| 1992 | 4 | 1% |
| 1991 | 12 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2000 Ford Explorer
217 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
133 complaintsVehicle speed control
113 complaintsEngine cooling
90 complaintsElectrical system
78 complaintsBrakes
64 complaintsAir bags
62 complaintsSuspension
62 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
46 complaintsSteering
40 complaintsSeats
39 complaintsBody and structure
29 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2000 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology