Toyota Yaris Door Lock Failure - Diagnose Guide

Having problems with your Toyota Yaris power door locks? Are some doors locks working and others not? Are they all broken? Here is a handy guide to help diagnose and fix the problem.

Toyota Yaris Door Lock Failure - Diagnose Guide

Having trouble with your power door locks in your Toyota Yaris? Here is a handy guide to getting them fixed.

Find Yaris parts here.

The door locks on the Toyota Yaris are fairly straightforward. The door locks have a fuse, a battery in the key fob, and an actuator motor. Typically, one of these three things will be the problem and are a simple fix.

Prior to working on this project, make sure you determine if the door locks are failing to lock/unlock at all four doors or just one when turning the key or using the remote key fob and if you hear a buzzing sound. These are all keys to the puzzle. Once you have determined which failure you are having, see the section below that matches.


Four Doors/Multiple Doors Fail To Lock/Unlock

If all four doors fail to lock/unlock or if multiple doors fail to lock/unlock, the odds are that you have either a blown fuse or an electrical issue like a bad relay. Your first step should be to check your fuse box and owner’s manual to find the fuse related to the door locks.

If the fuse isn’t the problem, the best thing to do is to bring it in for service. Correctly diagnosing an electrical issue can be a nightmare and shouldn’t be taken on by those unfamiliar with how the system works.

One Door Doesn’t Lock/Unlock

If you have a single door that doesn’t lock or unlock, it is likely you have a bad actuator motor. The actuator motor powers the door locks and makes them open/close. For many owners, replacing the door actuator is actually a fairly easy process. Steps include:

  1. Order replacement parts online
  2. Remove the door panel by removing a screw in the armrest and in front of the door handle.
  3. While removing the door panel, unhook the electronic connection to the power door lock mechanism on the door panel.
  4. Peel back the shroud covering the interior components.
  5. Locate the door actuator and removing it.
  6. Replace the unit and replacing the door panel using the reverse instructions.

Remote Lock/Unlock Fails, But Button On Door Works

If your key fob isn’t unlocking the doors, odds are a new battery will do the trick. All you need to do is open the key fob by grasping the sides and pushing inwards. By pressing hard enough, the key fob front should pop off the back. Looking at the inside, you will see a battery. Replace the battery and you’re all set.

Power door locks that operate like they were intended are often taken for granted until something happens. When they are broken, it can be a major inconvenience. Fortunately, diagnosing and fixing the problem isn’t too bad.

Questions?