09' Aura XR front passenger door won't open.

[Auragirl09]

I have a 2009 Saturn Aura XR that I have had for over a year and never had any problems with it. The front passenger door opened just fine and about 20 minutes later my friend tried to get out of the car and the door wouldn't open. The locks work just fine. I tried opening it from the inside and the outside and still it wont open. Any ideas??

[Auragirl09]

Has anyone had this happen to them? It seems to be hard to find information about on the web.

[onefunkar]

ive never heard of this happening to anyone else.

[PCweber]

I had this happen one time on a Passat rear door. Part of the reason was that the child lock was enable so it could not be opened from the (which should not be an issue on your front door). The ourside handle linkage had failed. I ended up having to figure out a way to get the door panel off from inside with door shut. It has been about 10 years ago and kinda fuzzy but I had to ruin the door panel in doing so.

[jita1]

I had this problem before I had the shift cable problem. It all ties in together (like the doors locking when you shift into drive, for instance). At least one time, I heard the door locks click while on the highway. I was going to take it in but I didn't have the issue anymore until my shift cable needed replacing. There is a recall for the shift cable for your MY. I'm almost willing to bet that's what your problem is.

[99SL2_Modder]

Funny story. My dad had to back my car down the driveway during the snowstorm last year so we could shovel the driveway. The doors unlocked when he turned the car off, but the drivers door would not open at all. He had to climb over to the passenger side and get out that door instead.

It hasn't ever happened to me at all, but I have heard it happen. I haven't ever had a problem with it since I got it...except for cold weather startups.

[jita1]

Originally Posted by 99SL2_Modder

Funny story. My dad had to back my car down the driveway during the snowstorm last year so we could shovel the driveway. The doors unlocked when he turned the car off, but the drivers door would not open at all. He had to climb over to the passenger side and get out that door instead.

It hasn't ever happened to me at all, but I have heard it happen. I haven't ever had a problem with it since I got it...except for cold weather startups.

Yep, Once, I had to get out from the passenger side too

[MDxr80]

I just had this happen to my 2008 Aura XR. My drivers door first would not latch. After holding the door and driving to the nearest GM dealership, the door then shut. Now the door will not open, and I have to crawl over the shifter, to get out the passenger door.

[greenman]

Originally Posted by MDxr80

I just had this happen to my 2008 Aura XR. My drivers door first would not latch. After holding the door and driving to the nearest GM dealership, the door then shut. Now the door will not open, and I have to crawl over the shifter, to get out the passenger door.

My money is on the actuator/lock assy since that is the most mechanical & trouble-prone part of the door lock system. A proper Tech 2 diagnosis can confirm it.

[WhiteGhostII]

I had my driver side door not open, so I had to crawl out the passenger door, then after many locks and unlocks it worked again, until I drove down the street to stop by work for a minute, then I got out tried to close the door and it wouldn't latch. Took it across the street to the Chevy dealer, they tried to lubricate it, when the service tech said there were done I went to open and shut it, it bounced off the frame. They determined I would need a new door latch, $400 later, it works =/

[Low Saturn]

Originally Posted by WhiteGhostII

They determined I would need a new door latch, $400 later, it works =/

Hopefully that $400 was covered under warrenty. Especially since its a $70 part and taks a half hour to replace. And hopefully it was replaced with the updated unit.

[greenman]

Originally Posted by Low Saturn

Hopefully that $400 was covered under warranty. Especially since its a $70 part and takes a half hour to replace. And hopefully it was replaced with the updated unit.

Agreed. $400 is an outrage. Just replace two door lock actuators on my Ford with aftermarket versions for under $20/each including shipping. I haven't seen aftermarket versions for the Aura/Malibu/G6 yet; but they may exist.

[Low Saturn]

Originally Posted by greenman

I haven't seen aftermarket versions for the Aura/Malibu/G6 yet; but they may exist.

They dont.

Heck, the third generation Saturn SC2 uses a similar design latch/actuator design. The car stopped production in 2002 and GM discontinued the part sometime in 2006. And there no aftermarket alternative.

Also the latch has electrically more in it than just the lock/unlock motor. It senses if the door handle has been pulled or if the door latch is ajar. I was curious when I replaced mine why there were so many wires on the electrical connector. An acuator only has two. These have something like six.