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I did a quick search and didn’t see much about this so I am going to ask. Something I did not think was able to happen, happened!
Today my wife was driving and came back to the car from the store. She went to the passenger door, opened it, put her stuff inside which included her purse, and then closed the door. Her key was inside her purse, now inside the car. She then went to the trunk to look for something and then closed it too. Then by the time she got to the drivers door the car had re-locked all the doors.......with her purse and key (and phone) inside.
I called my local dealership service department and spoke with one of the pretty knowledgeable SA’s and he stated that the car did what it is supposed to do, re-lock the doors if the driver’s door is not opened.
So, does this sound correct? Why did the car not know that there was a key inside and not re-lock the doors?
Luckily I was only about 1/4 mile down the road and came back (I forgot about the app on my phone) to help unlock the door with my key.
Last edited by BACnMercedes; 02-14-2020 at 08:17 AM.
This sounds like the feature wasn't properly thought through and the engineers that implemented it assumed that whoever unlocks the car would first open the driver's door. It is indeed the case that if you unlock the vehicle, but don't open it within approximately 40 seconds it will lock itself automatically again. Sounds like a logic error that somebody should have thought off at Mercedes. The owner's manual doesn't specifically state that the driver's door has to be opened, but given your experience it's clear that unless you open the driver's door within 40 seconds, the car acts like it wasn't opened and locks again w/o also checking if the fob is inside. May wanna report this to MBUSA, so they can forward it to Germany and hopefully they'll provide a software update or always make sure you open the driver's door within 40 seconds.
You need to uncheck automatic door lock in vehicle settings then this won’t happen again. I always leave that unchecked. The reason the car do not read the key though was it was too far away from the center console. One reason I maintain the security package with Mercedes me is so if my cell phone and key did ever get locked in the car I could just call mb customer care and have them send a signal to unlock the car. Plus if the car ever got stolen they will track the car kinda like lo jack.
You need to uncheck automatic door lock in vehicle settings then this won’t happen again. I always leave that unchecked. The reason the car do not read the key though was it was too far away from the center console. One reason I maintain the security package with Mercedes me is so if my cell phone and key did ever get locked in the car I could just call mb customer care and have them send a signal to unlock the car. Plus if the car ever got stolen they will track the car kinda like lo jack.
That's not what the automatic locking feature controls. The automatic locking feature if turned on automatically locks the vehicle when the wheels are turning faster than walking pace. It's a security feature against carjacking to make sure as soon as you drive off, the doors lock automatically.
I stand corrected your right. Good thing I have that mb safe and secure package. They tell me in customer service they get calls all day long from people who have locked their keys in the car.
I thought locking your keys in the newer MB was impossible. My wife and I talked and thought what if someone puts their stuff in the car along with their child in a baby carrier. Then they walk around to the drivers door and then they see a friend that says hi while they are waiting to get in the car............the doors lock. That could make a parent panic real quickly.
Today is the first nice day we have had in awhile whiteout rain so I’m going to play around with it and make sure I can reproduce what she did while I clean the car. I’ll check my GLE too.
Last edited by BACnMercedes; 02-14-2020 at 08:27 AM.
I don't think my wagon ever locks itself. I park in the garage, leave it unlocked, and the next morning it is still unlocked. Or am I misunderstanding, and we are only talking about a situation where a key is already inside the car?
Well I tried on our ‘16 GLE and ‘19 E class and I cannot reproduce what happened. I even tried hitting the lock button on the trunk lid or lift gate and it would not even close or lock anything. The close button worked but it still did not re lock the doors. I walked up and pulled on the handle to open the passenger door, laid the key inside on the seat, closed the door back, and even opened the rear a few times, the car never re locked itself. If I had not seen it yesterday with my wife, I wouldn’t have believed it. I’m still wondering what happened so I’ll try again another day.
Unlocking your previously locked car without opening any doors or trunk , the car will re lock itself within 40 sec.
Opening any door or trunk will cancel the auto locking feature .
No problem like OP describe with my wagon.
Is it possible that the signal from the fob was blocked by the purse or something in it? Making the car not realize the fob was inside? I have always wondered about this as sometimes if my fob is next to my phone in the same pocket the car will not let me in or open the rear hatch with the foot/motion... like it does not think I have the Fob with me.
BACn - I can tell you that our 2015 GLK will do exactly as your wife found. My wife did the same thing -- unlocked car and put purse into back seat. Fumbled around a bit, then car locked itself with fob inside. Fortunately I was nearby with another car. Had to drive home for the second key to the GLK.
Have to train them to immediately open driver's door and re-close it. Then this won't happen.
02-13-2020, 10:24 PM
