Side door not opening

Steve9911 · Jul 5, 2026

Ok so I feel a bit stupid that this happened but it did so if this post helps anyone in the same situation in the future then great. Three weeks ago about half way through a trip in France I got up one morning to find I could not open the side door, I tried everything I could think of door lock switch, remote lock unlock I even started the van all to no avail. The only way to get out was to open the door window and open the door from the outside handle. I tried searching the forum but couldn’t find anything. So for the next week and a half I had to open the door using the window. On my return to the UK I called into VW van centre Derby and booked the van in for the Monday following Camper Jam.
Now on the Saturday of Camper Jam I happened to mention my predicament to Chris (sorry I didn’t get your surname) who came and had a look after a few mins of trying a few things Chris mentioned have you tried the child lock. WHAT CHILD LOCK SAYS ME ‍

and yes it was on, so somehow I had managed to depress this while locking the van before bed. So Chris of the California Ocean variety I want to thank you once again for saving my California from going into VW to what fate who knows?

Hawthorn37 · Jul 6, 2026

No you’re not the only one to fall for this. It happened on a tour of Scotland. Puzzling but I finally realised we’d accidentally set the child lock!!

Up10 · Jul 6, 2026

Steve9911 said:
Ok so I feel a bit stupid that this happened but it did so if this post helps anyone in the same situation in the future then great. Three weeks ago about half way through a trip in France I got up one morning to find I could not open the side door, I tried everything I could think of door lock switch, remote lock unlock I even started the van all to no avail. The only way to get out was to open the door window and open the door from the outside handle. I tried searching the forum but couldn’t find anything. So for the next week and a half I had to open the door using the window. On my return to the UK I called into VW van centre Derby and booked the van in for the Monday following Camper Jam.
Now on the Saturday of Camper Jam I happened to mention my predicament to Chris (sorry I didn’t get your surname) who came and had a look after a few mins of trying a few things Chris mentioned have you tried the child lock. WHAT CHILD LOCK SAYS ME ‍ and yes it was on, so somehow I had managed to depress this while locking the van before bed. So Chris of the California Ocean variety I want to thank you once again for saving my California from going into VW to what fate who knows?

Thank you for posting. It may well help somebody out of a future dilemma and I hope I remember this item when I am struggling with the doors!