Driver's Door Not Unlocking
 

So the driver's door won't unlock all the time. The best way to describe it is that it's "tired". I hear the actuator or mechanism working, but the lock switch doesn't move or doesn't move all the way. This happens whether I use the fob or the unlock switch on the inside door panel. If I use the key or move the switch with my finger, the door unlocks.

Any ideas? I'm stumped.

Also, locking the door is never a problem. Only unlocking.

Take a look and see if the lube has gummed up. If so, clean and re-lube.

Edit: Also see if anything has come loose. Re-tighten as necessary.

Do I need to take the door panel off?

Probably, but I'm not sure. The FSM is your friend.

Bumping this thread because it's the most recent one I can find on this issue. I just started having the exact same problem, but I'm not the FSM type so I'm taking it to a shop in a couple of days. I'll post what I learn just in case anyone else has this problem in the future. :)

The mechanism is easy to replace but expensive if stealership. Brand new OEM parts aren't cheap so if you're ok with a used part from eBay you save more.

I bought my car used, and only took it to Nissan a couple of times: I always felt like I couldn't trust the one near me. I used a Meineke for a while, but after they pissed me off last summer I managed to stumble across a really great shop near my old office. I love that place/those guys. But a few months ago I changed jobs, and now I work close to home and that shop is 15 miles away. :( I'll still use them for "big" repairs and scheduled maintenance, but the last time I was there I asked if they could recommend a place near where I live/work for smaller stuff (and emergencies). One of the guys used to work at a shop near me and had good things to say, so I'm trying the new place tomorrow. I'll see what they say about parts, cost, etc.

Anyway, the problem is intermittent: after 3-4 consecutive fails, the door unlocked just fine this morning. So it's entirely possible they'll tell me they can't diagnose/fix it if they can't duplicate it. *sigh*

Yup. I'll have to wait until the lock break breaks, and try again.

I've got the same issue, started about a month ago on my 2010. Works most of the time, then every once in a while it doesn't. I just hold the unlock button down, wait for the windows to roll down, then reach in and unlock manually. Only fails when unlocking so far.

That's a way better idea than crawling across the interior from the passenger seat. *facepalm*

I feel like the problem could be tied to heat: I'm pretty sure it was hot outside when the unlock stopped working the first time, it was rainy and cool last week when the car was at the shop and working fine, then yesterday it was 80+ degrees and the door didn't unlock. This morning it was cooler, and the lock worked again. Have you noticed anything like that?

This is a wild guess but the windows may be involved. Try doing a window reset. Can't hurt, free, and easy.

It's rainy and cool again here, but the next time the problem reoccurs I'll keep the window reset WAG in mind. Thanks!