When did auto manufacturers stop placing door locks on the passenger side? I had trouble getting the driver'side door lock to open due some light freezing rain. When I lived in Wisconsin I had an older vehicle and I could often unlock the passenger door if the wind was blowing in the other direction.

I recently found out that the "emergency" physical key for my 2018 Tiguan did not work. This was when the battery in my keyfob died. Fortunately, I was close enough to a Best Buy to buy the right button cell, but it could have been a serious inconvenience. They key fob has a physical key stored in it, but it would not work to open the door. Nor is there a place to use it to start the engine, or unlock the push-to-start button (a working key has to be inside the car to drive it).

It seems that the auto manufacturers are more concerned with "keeping up with technology" than they are with real world needs.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
When did auto manufacturers stop placing door locks on the passenger side? I had trouble getting the driver'side door lock to open due some light freezing rain. When I lived in Wisconsin I had an older vehicle and I could often unlock the passenger door if the wind was blowing in the other direction.

Manufacturers started going away from passenger side key locks many decades ago. You likely had an older vehicle that was spec'd out pretty nicely when new if you had a vehicle with a passenger key lock.

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Originally posted by architect:
I recently found out that the "emergency" physical key for my 2018 Tiguan did not work. This was when the battery in my keyfob died. Fortunately, I was close enough to a Best Buy to buy the right button cell, but it could have been a serious inconvenience. They key fob has a physical key stored in it, but it would not work to open the door. Nor is there a place to use it to start the engine, or unlock the push-to-start button (a working key has to be inside the car to drive it).

It seems that the auto manufacturers are more concerned with "keeping up with technology" than they are with real world needs.

Most push-to-start cars I've seen, have some sort of failsafe for this.
Usually it's something like "push the start button with the key fob"
Or on older Nissans & Mercedes, the start button was removable & you could insert the key to bypass.

The other problem, in the OP's case, is that the tiny 'emergency' keys offer very little leverage to be able to turn them.

Some cars have a hidden keyhole.

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Manufacturers started going away from passenger side key locks many decades ago. You likely had an older vehicle that was spec'd out pretty nicely when new if you had a vehicle with a passenger key lock.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Guess I am old. I drove a used VW 1968 model for twenty years. I could not afford a new car until I reached 40.

Try the new EV doors, the EQEV is interesting, the handles retract when closed, you can go up if it's unlocked and press a specific area and it will swing out then you open it.

Interior door handles are manual which is good, unlike the Tesla electric door buttons, which they say are being outlawed in China, then here based on some people getting trapped in burning cars.

Our's have a manual key hidden in the fob for emergency such as the 12v battery dies and you can't operate anything, ie can't get in the car.

AFAIK, most emergency keys stored in the fob will only open the door, not start the car.

My 2002 Ford Explorer only had a drivers lock did not even have one for the liftgate.
How did I find this out? On the side of I75 alternator went out.
So I called a buddy to come get me, pulled the alternator while he was on the way. So of course I disconnected the battery and closed the hood.
Went to get new alternator and returned. Of course the remote did not work with the battery disconnected.
Stuck the key in and turned and it just spun and spun.
Tow truck came and popped it. Replaced the alternator on the side of the interstate.
Got home pulled the door panel and found the clip holding the lock cylinder to the locking shaft was gone.

With everything being way more electronic now compared to that 2003 Explorer maybe I will hide one of these in the grille of each vehicle so I can always get a little juice to the battery

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Originally posted by Black92LX:


With everything being way more electronic now compared to that 2003 Explorer maybe I will hide one of these in the grille of each vehicle so I can always get a little juice to the battery

I did that on my truck. I added an auxiliary battery/isolator, and put one of those pigtails on the auxiliary. I have no way of knowing the condition of it, but Battery Tender makes a nifty digital meter that will plug into the pigtail. And I also have a small solar panel with a pigtail, so I can at least trickle-charge the auxiliary. And of course, it can be used with some jump packs.

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Originally posted by 83v45magna:
Some cars have a hidden keyhole.

83v45magna — Thanks for posting that video - I learned something new today! I checked my wife’s ‘23 Acadia Denali, and it indeed has the secret keyhole as seen on the Cadillac in the video. Hopefully I’ll never need it, but it’s good to know it’s there!

My ‘22 Sierra 2500HD has the traditional exposed key way, but only on the driver’s door.

I already knew about the fob-in-the-console feature. Both vehicles have that feature, as they both have push button starting. I’ve never had to use it, as I replace the fob batteries regularly as soon as I notice they don’t have the range they normally have. When we travel we both generally take our fobs for that vehicle, so we have a backup. It’s a necessity anyway in her Acadia because the fob used to unlock the car determines the driver’s settings for seat and mirrors, so when we switch drivers on road trips we get the right settings.