2011 S-40 Missing Passenger Door Lock Releases

covehome · Post by **covehome** » 08 Aug 2011, 16:41

We purchased a 2011 S-40 new from our local dealer. Our son drove to college and we never spent much time in vehicle until this summer. On a recent drive, I pulled into a quick mart and told my wife to lock the doors until I returned. Guess what, there are no passenger door locking/unlocking switches. Just a punch out plate where one should be. We also found there are no switches in the rear passenger seats. Now how does a mfg known for safety design this into the mix. How would a passenger exit the vehicle that has a vehicle fire, water accident or crime. Is this logical to anyone on this forum? We called the dealer from our trip and he said let me go on the lot and look at one. He called back and said the 2011 he looked at had a door lock/release switch on the passenger side. Now the car is at the dealership and the dealer is telling us they never had door lock switches. My wife said how do I get out of the car in a wreck. The dealer said have the driver unlock your door. She said, what if he is DEAD! No comment. What is the best way to contact our local district office? We tried to Google and keep getting Sweden corporate. Thanks for letting me rant. We have owned 4 Volvos. The first, a 1987 740 Turbo that was just trashed in the April Alabama F5 Tornado. We still can't get rid of it! Does anyone have the same concern?

Post by **jimmy57** » 08 Aug 2011, 23:22

The wreck scenario is remedied by the crash response auto unlock.
The point of view of small children opening doors and falling from moving vehicles is likely what swayed the decision to deny the switch. Did you try to pull the inside handle twice?
On S40/V50/C30 the inside door handles have to pulled a second time to open from inside when locked from what I remember of the 2007 V50 I had for a time. I think the New body S80, XC70, V70, S60, and XC60 I believe also work that wya when door is locked.

covehome · Post by **covehome** » 09 Aug 2011, 09:25

Lets trust the auto unlock feature in a wreck scenerio. It would be nice to trust the auto unlock feature but like other Volvo computer programming issues, it is not one I want to test and have the dealer comment "could not duplicate customers complaint". I have enough trouble getting them to get the air to work. Its always another software upgrade that never resolves the issue. There is usually a mechanical way to disarm the child unlocking of back doors (usually on the inside of the back door well on most vehicles.) and it appears a more universally accepted method vs. relying on electronic technology to do it all. Regarding the person trying to break into the vehicle, does the S-40 automatically lock when someone approaches the vehicle it does not recognize? Sounds like an engineering upgrade for the S-40 in the 2012 vehicles. Seems like the best solution is a door unlock/lock switch.

covehome · Post by **covehome** » 09 Aug 2011, 15:05

Just received a call from a VP with Volvo. They are confused as well. They believe there us a switch at passenger side door that allows passenger to lock vehicle if driver is out of the car. To unlock, passenger must pull handle up twice. Anyway, if anyone can share some additional input on this thread, please let me know.