Toyota Corolla Door Won’t Open/Close/Lock/Unlock

The Toyota Corolla is the perfect car for someone looking for a reliable vehicle that goes from point A to B while being affordable and easy to maintain. They are generally well-built, but like with any car, some problems can arise, like the door not closing properly.

A common issue with Toyota Corolla doors not working as expected is related to a worn-out door latch mechanism. Continuous use can cause the latch to degrade, preventing the door from securely opening or closing. To address this, examine the latch assembly for any signs of wear or breakage, and consider a replacement if necessary.

In this article, we will be going over the various door-related issues that a Corolla can have regarding what causes these issues and what you can do to fix them. So, if you’d like to learn how to solve your car door woes, we encourage you to keep reading.

Toyota Corolla Door Won’t Open/Close

A car door that is failing to open or close is a big problem. After all, to even use the vehicle, you need to get inside it and stay safe; the door needs to remain shut. While the door to your car might be one of the simplest components, it is also one of the most important. Without further ado, let’s get into why a Corolla might end up having this issue.

Door Won’t Open

You should test if all the doors didn’t open or if it’s just one or two. This is an important distinction as it can help pin down the problem. If all the doors won’t unlock, then the issue is probably with the locking mechanism or remote lock feature. If you can’t get access to your car, then you may have to call a professional.

If you can open other doors, however, then the issue is with the latch itself. Either it got bent, worn down, or flat out broke; either way, it needs replacing. A latch replacement can cost you approximately $250, including both the part’s cost and the labor itself.

If the driver’s side doesn’t open, you can still find a way to climb into the driver’s seat and drive to the mechanic, it may be awkward, but at least you can make it there!

Door Won’t Close

Alternatively, if the door isn’t closing, no matter how hard you are slamming it (don’t slam it too hard), the most common cause is a stuck latch. This can be an even bigger issue than a car door not opening since this poses a safety concern. Even if the faulty door is on the driver’s side, you’ll be holding onto the door the entire time while driving, meaning that you won’t be able to easily get to core functions such as the turn signal.

Luckily, a stuck latch is a relatively simple fix on Corollas: you simply need to pull the handle while the door is open.

If you need to do this every single time you need to close the door, then it is up to you whether you want to take the car into the shop or not. But if the latch itself is broken, then you’ll need to look into a replacement.

Toyota Corolla Door Won’t Open From the Inside

If the door isn’t opening from the inside, check to see if the child safety log is engaged if the issue is with the rear door. It can be easy to overlook when this safety feature is engaged since it isn’t super obvious.

However, if this isn’t the cause, you can either bring it to the mechanic or fix it yourself. And if you want to get your hands a little dirty, you can potentially solve the issue in 9 steps.

Step 1: Always check if the child safety locks are engaged since they’ll prevent the rear doors from opening.

Step 2: Always check if the child safety locks are engaged since they’ll prevent the rear doors from opening.

Step 3: Always check if the child safety locks are engaged since they’ll prevent the rear doors from opening.

Step 4: Always check if the child safety locks are engaged since they’ll prevent the rear doors from opening.

Step 5: Always check if the child safety locks are engaged since they’ll prevent the rear doors from opening.

Step 6: Always check if the child safety locks are engaged since they’ll prevent the rear doors from opening.

Step 7: Always check if the child safety locks are engaged since they’ll prevent the rear doors from opening.

Step 8: Always check if the child safety locks are engaged since they’ll prevent the rear doors from opening.

Step 9: Always check if the child safety locks are engaged since they’ll prevent the rear doors from opening.

The method you will be taking these steps will depend on how new or old your Corolla is. If you are still having issues or your model is different enough to where some of these steps might be hard to follow, we recommend taking the car to the shop.

Toyota Corolla Door Won’t Lock/Unlock

A car door won’t unlock or lock; a common reason is due to a dead key fob battery or a faulty key fob in general. The battery itself is only a $4 – $8 purchase, but you will be paying for labor for a mechanic to replace it for you. If you can find a manual online for your specific Corolla, you should be able to replace it yourself, but be careful when putting everything back together as it can sometimes be tricky.

Copyright protected article by Know My Auto and was first published on Mar 16, 2021. .

As for the key fob itself, that’s a more expensive replacement of anywhere between $80 – $300, depending on where you go. Luckily, Toyota Corollas are known for their excellent repairability, and so even if you have a newer model, it shouldn’t be too expensive.

Toyota Corolla Key Won’t Lock/Unlock the Door

If your Corolla isn’t unlocking or locking when you turn the key, the mechanism may need some lubrication to get it going.

The trick is to take WD-40 and give the key a good spray. Once you insert the key, wiggle it around to get the locking mechanism lubricated and possibly remove any built-up debris.