How to open a car door that is stuck shut

Question

If a car door suddenly will not close, it may be due to a stuck car door latch. Sometimes a latch may become stuck if someone accidentally knocked it into a locked position while the door was open. On many newer cars, simply pulling the interior or exterior door handle may reset the latch, but in cases where that is not enough, this guide will describe how to manually reset the latch.

Índice Show

Determine Which Doors Have the Problem
Try to Open the Door from the Inside
Common Reasons for Door Latch Failure
Repairs for a Stuck or Broken Door Latch
What you’ll need to open a jammed car lock:
There are two methods we can use:
How do you force a car door open?

On the car door that will not close, examine the door latch located near the handle on the side of the door.
The car door latch will be locked in a closed position.

Position a screwdriver between the legs of the locked door latch.
You may use any size screwdriver that will fit between the latch.

Needle nose pliers
screwdriver
WD-40
Flathead screwdriver
Car key

There are two methods we can use:

1. Unjamming the car lock mechanism

Remove the interior door panel with the help of a screwdriver. Locate the screws that keep them in place and carefully remove them.
Locate the door lock mechanism; it should be located right below the door lock itself; look for a metal plate attached to a rod that goes up and down.
Grip the rod that is attached to the metal plate with your pliers and move it up and down to unjam the lock. Push it up to lock the door and pull it downwards to unlock it. Do this multiple times until the locking mechanism feels smooth.
If it’s hard to move the rod up and down, use WD-40 on the mechanism to loosen it.
Test the door lock with your keys, and re-screw the interior panel back on the door.

2. Lubricating a Jammed Lock

Use the tip of the flathead screwdriver to uncover the keyhole of the car door lock. Use the flathead screwdriver to push the moveable metal piece inside all the way.
Spray WD-40 directly into the keyhole while holding the can as close to the keyhole as possible.
Put the car keys into the lock and jiggle it until the lock loosens up.
Repeat the process until the lock works.

Pro Tip: Always cover your car with a tarp while stationary and use these tips to maintain your car, and park it in a clean spot.

How do you force a car door open?

Try a Rod or Wire Clothes Hanger Proceed slowly and be gentle to avoid damaging the vehicle. Slide the rod or straightened clothes hanger into the opening you've created. Use the rod or clothes hanger to slide or depress the car's door-lock flipper or button, and open the car door.

open car door stuck shut