[dejudicibus]

Tonight I parked my Toyota RAV4 2.5 PHEV E-CVT More Dynamic AWD-i and sat in the car, turned off, while my partner went to the vet to bring a cat. When she returned, about twenty minutes later, she was unable to open the back trunk even though I restarted the car. Even pressing the opening button on the door armrest and even opening from the remote key, she could not open either the trunk or the rear doors. Same thing for the button to open the trunk located at the bottom left of the steering wheel. I had to turn off the car, get out, lock it and open it again to activate the tailgates. How come?

 

[somni4l]

What are your door lock settings? I have mine set to lock all doors when going above 25km/h and unlock when shift to P.
Maybe the doors got locked somehow when you were waiting in the car?

 

[rj.parker]

Generally the interior liftgate switch is low on the left side of the dash. It requires a push and hold while in Park and Unlocked. Push and hold for the key fob as well. From the outside without a fob the doors must be unlocked.

If it has the foot operated function the car must be off for that to work.

There are multiple scenarios best explored in the manual. There are maybe ten pages on the subject depending on your configuration.

For example

 

[dejudicibus]

Generally the interior liftgate switch is low on the left side of the dash. It requires a push and hold while in Park. Push and hold for the key fob as well. From the outside without a fob the doors must be unlocked.
If it has the foot operated function the car must be off for that to work.
There are multiple scenarios best explored in the manual. There are maybe ten pages on the subject depending on your configuration.
For example

So, let me see if I understand. First of all the power switch must be OFF. If I remember well, the power switch has three positions: OFF, ACC (in Italian, I do not know in English) and ON. I wonder if it would work in the middle position too. Second, I have not to press the buttons (on key or close to dash) but to keep it pushed for several seconds. Is that correct?

 

[dejudicibus]

Maybe the doors got locked somehow when you were waiting in the car?

It's possible. My new RAV4 has so many buttons it looks like a military jet! Pressing one by accident without realizing it is really easy. I've even inadvertently pressed the buttons on the remote key while putting it in my pocket.

Among other things, I was used, with my old car, that it locked automatically if I walked away with the keys in my pocket. It seems strange to me that there is not something similar with the RAV4. Now I always have to lock the car by hand when I leave.

 

[rj.parker]

So, let me see if I understand. First of all the power switch must be OFF. If I remember well, the power switch has three positions: OFF, ACC (in Italian, I do not know in English) and ON. I wonder if it would work in the middle position too. Second, I have not to press the buttons (on key or close to dash) but to keep it pushed for several seconds. Is that correct?

The best way to learn it is to try it. Kind of like riding a bike or performing surgery.

Your car can be running in Park but must be unlocked for the dash button to work. Then it is push and hold until the power liftgate operates. A quick press won't do it and it won't work if the car is locked. When the liftgate is moving, a quick press of the dash button will stop it. Another push and hold will reverse the movement.

If the car is off, the keyfob push and hold will work from outside even if locked. The manual liftback switch will work if the car is locked and the person has the keyfob.

If your car has a foot operated liftgate the car has to be off for that feature to work.

There are separate configurations for auto lock unlock. I use the auto lock unlock based on going into and out of Park. So anytime its in Park it will be unlocked.

Again some of this varies by your setup. Try it.

 

[AlexRav4xse]

I've noticed that if I get in the car and all the doors are not unlocked then I can't open the rear trunk if I try pressing the button on the dash. To remedy this I unlock the doors and its able to open right away. Maybe this could of been the issue.

 

[dejudicibus]

I've noticed that if I get in the car and all the doors are not unlocked then I can't open the rear trunk if I try pressing the button on the dash. To remedy this I unlock the doors and its able to open right away. Maybe this could of been the issue.

Thank you!

 

[JFox562]

I don't believe this is a Prime only issue. I encountered this same situation in my gas only Limited. I was waiting for my brother to return with a shopping cart full of groceries. I was prepared to open the rear hatch as he approached. I pressed the dash button the same way I've done it before and nothing. Needless to say, my brother was not amused. As I was trying to figure out what was going on, I open the drivers door to get out which unlocked the that door. All of a sudden I thought, maybe it was because all of the doors were locked so I hit the unlock button on the door. I then pressed the rear hatch door button again and the hatch opened.

Bottom line, if you're sitting in a locked RAV4, the rear hatch button will not work unless you unlock all of the doors first.

 

[db821766]

Yes that is true. Even if the drivers door is unlocked if all the doors are not unlocked it will not open.

 

[SDGTR]

Yes that is true. Even if the drivers door is unlocked if all the doors are not unlocked it will not open.

This is how all of my cars with automatic locks have worked. The driver's door lock is separate from all the other locks. One press on the key fob unlocks the driver's door only. The second press unlocks everything else including the trunk/hatch.

 

[JFox562]

Right, but the fact that the rear hatch button inside the car is also disabled, that was the confusing part at the time.

I guess it's that way so someone can't stick a wire past the door seal and push the button. It would take a bit of magic for that to happen, but I guess security is security no matter how unlikely.