2016 Yukon SLT - Locked Inside with Dead Battery

[RagtopZ28]

My wife got in her 2016 Yukon SLT last night, locked the doors and push the button to start the engine. Well she heard the starter click, then got the battery message on the center of the instruments and then everything turned off. At this point she could not get out of the car. The unlock button wasn’t working and the handle on the inside wasn’t disengaging the lock and opening the door. It took a few minutes but I guess the battery eventually put out enough juice and she was able to unlock it and get out.

Once she got out she was able to jump it off and drive it home. The entertainment center stayed off during this drive. I replaced the battery and everything returned to normal.

I read through the owners manual last night and didn’t see any information about unlocking the car from the inside if there’s not power. Is there any emergency way to unlock the car? The door lock indicator can’t be pulled up to unlock it. I’m just glad she didn’t have to break a window.

Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[tom3]

Don't panic. Get on the phone and call AAA, or a friend. Make sure she knows how to unlatch the hood. Jump the battery.

 

[RagtopZ28]

She was able to do all of that once the battery gathered enough strength to unlock the door.

If the battery hadn’t been able to unlock the doors, how would you get out if locked in the car and the battery is dead?

 

[mikez71]

That's terrible! You can't let yourself out of your own truck if battery dies? There must be a way...

Despite everyone having a phone, I'm about 50/50 if I bring mine or not.

I would forsure keep a glass breaker in there.

 

[tuckerrnr1]

Could you use a small jump pack plugged into a power point to back feed the system?

 

[Tonyv__]

My wife got in her 2016 Yukon SLT last night, locked the doors and push the button to start the engine. Well she heard the starter click, then got the battery message on the center of the instruments and then everything turned off. At this point she could not get out of the car. The unlock button wasn’t working and the handle on the inside wasn’t disengaging the lock and opening the door. It took a few minutes but I guess the battery eventually put out enough juice and she was able to unlock it and get out.

Once she got out she was able to jump it off and drive it home. The entertainment center stayed off during this drive. I replaced the battery and everything returned to normal.

I read through the owners manual last night and didn’t see any information about unlocking the car from the inside if there’s not power. Is there any emergency way to unlock the car? The door lock indicator can’t be pulled up to unlock it. I’m just glad she didn’t have to break a window.

Any ideas? Thanks.

This is a head scratcher.

Even the cargo release needs a tool if your latch malfunctions.

I’m going through multiple scenarios in my head where you would rarely end up in a locked GM truck without power but you can simply just get in one with no battery and push all the door locks down. They have to have some type of emergency exit you know other than just smashing a window which really isn’t that easy if you don’t have a special tool.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Yes, this would REALLY concern me, if my loved ones, who don't wrench, were to get into a situation like this. I'm speechless on this one.

I hope that the OP files a Customer Service Case with GM to get answers on this.

 

[15burban]

Wouldn't it still unlock if you pull on the interior door handle twice? Or is that electronically controlled also? The suburban is the wife's but that is one feature that I do really like. Riding shotgun and you have to get out to do something quick you don't have to hit the unlock button. Just pull on the handle twice and it unlocks itself. Sorry I don't know the term for this feature if there even is one.

 

[tom3]

Just tried our 2019, locked all doors, pulled the inside door handle and that door lock popped up, opened door. Felt like a mechanical connection rather than anything electrical.

 

[GMCChevy]

Is this a troll post or stupid wife?

 

[Doubeleive]

My wife got in her 2016 Yukon SLT last night, locked the doors and push the button to start the engine. Well she heard the starter click, then got the battery message on the center of the instruments and then everything turned off. At this point she could not get out of the car. The unlock button wasn’t working and the handle on the inside wasn’t disengaging the lock and opening the door. It took a few minutes but I guess the battery eventually put out enough juice and she was able to unlock it and get out.

Once she got out she was able to jump it off and drive it home. The entertainment center stayed off during this drive. I replaced the battery and everything returned to normal.

I read through the owners manual last night and didn’t see any information about unlocking the car from the inside if there’s not power. Is there any emergency way to unlock the car? The door lock indicator can’t be pulled up to unlock it. I’m just glad she didn’t have to break a window.

Any ideas? Thanks.

one of these things happened
1. it's impossible
2. the door latch cable is defective, in which case it should be replaced
3. go try it yourself, lock the door while inside, then pull the inside door handle twice
4 she was in the back seat and the child lock was engaged.
5. the door lock knob/rod can be pulled up from the inside although it is not easy to do

 

[RagtopZ28]

Not a troll post. I’m going to lock all the doors and disconnect the battery and see what happens. The central question remains, if you are inside the vehicle and it loses power can the doors be unlocked?

 

[Doubeleive]

Not a troll post. I’m going to lock all the doors and disconnect the battery and see what happens. The central question remains, if you are inside the vehicle and it loses power can the doors be unlocked?

YES, PULL THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE TWICE OR PULL THE KNOB UP

 

[GMCChevy]

Not a troll post. I’m going to lock all the doors and disconnect the battery and see what happens. The central question remains, if you are inside the vehicle and it loses power can the doors be unlocked?

Doubelieve is right. I tried my 2017 and it's completely mechanical. As you pull the inside door handle the lock knob comes up at the exact same speed. Pull the handle a second time and it opens. All 4 doors work that way. Unless something in the mechanism breaks there is no way to lock yourself in.

However you can't pull the knob up because it's the short style that goes down flush with the door panel when it's locked.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

Coming from an 08 Tahoe, what is up with the door locks not being accessible to unlock with your hand?!

That's insane, that's exactly the type of car locks that kidnappers use in the films I grew up with. Glad everything worked out. I would get your wife a window breaker to keep in there in, imagine if the car was on fire or something.

 

[Doubeleive]

on the wifes 16 it is pretty short, hard to lift up if it all, on my 18 silverado it has enough sticking up to pull it

 

[GMCChevy]

on the wifes 16 it is pretty short, hard to lift up if it all, on my 18 silverado it has enough sticking up to pull it
View attachment 470860View attachment 470861

I think mine are sunk more then that.
You can probably unscrew them a bit to raise them and still be on the rod enough to not pull right off. Or replace them with longer ones if someone is so worried.

 

[KP_in_GA]

Doubelieve is right. I tried my 2017 and it's completely mechanical. As you pull the inside door handle the lock knob comes up at the exact same speed. Pull the handle a second time and it opens. All 4 doors work that way. Unless something in the mechanism breaks there is no way to lock yourself in.

However you can't pull the knob up because it's the short style that goes down flush with the door panel when it's locked.

I agree it is mechanical. My Yukon is equipped with a remote battery disconnect for flat towing behind an RV. My normal procedure is to lock the doors and set everything up for towing and then disconnect the battery while inside. I then pulled the handle twice and exit and lock the door again with a physical key.

 

[Salvatore Fazzina]

My wife got in her 2016 Yukon SLT last night, locked the doors and push the button to start the engine. Well she heard the starter click, then got the battery message on the center of the instruments and then everything turned off. At this point she could not get out of the car. The unlock button wasn’t working and the handle on the inside wasn’t disengaging the lock and opening the door. It took a few minutes but I guess the battery eventually put out enough juice and she was able to unlock it and get out.

Once she got out she was able to jump it off and drive it home. The entertainment center stayed off during this drive. I replaced the battery and everything returned to normal.

I read through the owners manual last night and didn’t see any information about unlocking the car from the inside if there’s not power. Is there any emergency way to unlock the car? The door lock indicator can’t be pulled up to unlock it. I’m just glad she didn’t have to break a window.

Any ideas? Thanks.

Strange - My 2017 Suburban unlocks manually and mechanically when I pul the handle 2x times

 

[Jetskier77]

Wouldn't it still unlock if you pull on the interior door handle twice? Or is that electronically controlled also? The suburban is the wife's but that is one feature that I do really like. Riding shotgun and you have to get out to do something quick you don't have to hit the unlock button. Just pull on the handle twice and it unlocks itself. Sorry I don't know the term for this feature if there even is one.

Yes, it would unlock manually if you pull on the handle a second time. But sadly, I think we are dealing with a few people who would have difficulty finding their way out of a paper bag...