Any solution to avoid it ? Any tricks in your bag ?

Exterior door handles frozen, could not open doors.
-It is not about the key slot- I never lock the vehicle.
Pouring hot water finally allowed to enter, but the moisture remaining in crevices froze soon again and made it worse later.

Afraid of breaking the plastic handle if pulling hard.

 

Try spraying some WD40 in them before parking overnight. That will make it so water can't get inside and freeze, at least not as much. That's actually the originally intended purpose of WD40, do prevent water from getting places that people didn't want it. The WD stands for Water Displacing.

 

wd 40 the lock mech, and the door gasket

 

Agreed. Could be the gasket as much as the lock. You might be activating the mechanism but the large surface area of the seal is stuck.

 

Making mental notes to be sure and have a small can of WD-40 in the bag before heading out to Fairbanks, Alaska in the next week ...