FORD may have to temporarily stand down up to 1800 workers if a dispute involving a car parts maker can't be resolved.

About 100 workers at the Campbellfield factory of car parts maker CMI were locked out last Friday after the landlord changed the locks in a dispute over rent payment, believed to be about $150,000.

It is feared the dispute could affect production at Ford's Geelong and Broadmeadows plants by the end of the week.

Ford spokeswoman Sinead Phipps told the Nine Network they would not be laying off anyone, but will work through with the union on ways of workers using leave and other down days until the situation's resolved.