[AckyT]

It seems that the interior front door handles (at least in the UK model and circumstances the OP had) have the same functionality as the rears in that there is a locking mode that disconnects the mechanical connection between the handle and the latch, preventing the interior handle from opening the door. This raises the question of what the point is in having that on the front doors. For the rear, there is a need to stop children opening the door, but I can't think of any case where there is a need to prevent the front handles from operating. Am I missing something here?

Think it’s all about anti-theft system and deadlocking.

 

[yticolev]

For the rear, there is a need to stop children opening the door, but I can't think of any case where there is a need to prevent the front handles from operating. Am I missing something here?

Well, older children with known bad judgement in the front passenger seat. As well as older adults with dementia. None of that applies to driver's side door of course.

I will say I've been a passenger in the front seat of a couple random cars in the last couple of weeks, and could not open the door until the driver fiddled with lock settings on his side.

 

[Arob]

I have been following a thread on another forum about a UK Niro owner who locked his wife in the car accidentally. Despite the tendency to be inclined to rewarding him for doing so (JK), apparently in EU and UK, there is a concept of deadlocking to prevent theft, and insurance companies seem to be pushing the idea. The way it supposedly works is clicking lock twice on the Fob, which disables internal door latches. Unsure why deadlocking would happen in the course of operating the car as occupants would obviously need to exit in certain situations.

So, perhaps a failing 12V triggers a deadlock situation? But why? If the 12V is dead, car won't start and thieves will be thwarted regardless of how they gained access to the car.

 

[Hitstirrer]

.......thieves will be thwarted .........

One of my favourite words right there. I had a famous comedian relative in the 1950's who used 'thwarted' a lot in his sketches. It has that certain comedic ring to it.

On the lock-in theme I have just butchered the handle from a small plastic brush to create a 'prong' that neatly fits into the slot in the boot lid to open it if you are ever locked in the car. Then taped it to the inside of the boot lid near to the slot to create a handy implement for use there in dire need. The ultimate belt-n-braces fitment.

 

[Arob]

One of my favourite words right there. I had a famous comedian relative in the 1950's who used 'thwarted' a lot in his sketches. It has that certain comedic ring to it.

On the lock-in theme I have just butchered the handle from a small plastic brush to create a 'prong' that neatly fits into the slot in the boot lid to open it if you are ever locked in the car. Then taped it to the inside of the boot lid near to the slot to create a handy implement for use there in dire need. The ultimate belt-n-braces fitment.

Haha, but all y'all say it funny, sounds like Thwatt. LOL.

Love British humor, seems odd and a bit dry to Americans, but who doesn't love Monte Python, etc... Ni! Ah, merely a flesh wound!

 

[JerryP]

but who doesn't love Monte Python, etc... Ni! Ah, merely a flesh wound!

My text message "ring tone:"

 

[Liam VT]

Don’t know, but if you had the right adapter, could you plug the jump pack into the cigarette lighter socket?

I’d be pleased if Hyundai figures this out and comes up with a fix. I like my 2023 Ionic but wish there were fewer electronics, more manual dials and controls and we weren’t ever talking about being locked in our electrically deficient vehicles. Keep it simple stupid. Said the analog man in a digital world.

 

[Coastal]

I’d be pleased if Hyundai figures this out and comes up with a fix. I like my 2023 Ionic but wish there were fewer electronics, more manual dials and controls and we weren’t ever talking about being locked in our electrically deficient vehicles. Keep it simple stupid. Said the analog man in a digital world.

If you read back through the thread it is not an issue in US and Australian (and probably other regions) cars. It seems to be a UK (and maybe EU?) issue.

 

[MilleniumFalcon]

I see posts here mentioning the safety of having a glass break hammer.

Please note that the Ioniq 5 has laminated glass, also the (front only?) side windows. The glass won't break. You will have to go to the rear window, or possibly the rear side windows. These are normal, hardened glass. They will break.

 

[Hitstirrer]

I see posts here mentioning the safety of having a glass break hammer.

Please note that the Ioniq 5 has laminated glass, also the (front only?) side windows. The glass won't break. You will have to go to the rear window, or possibly the rear side windows. These are normal, hardened glass. They will break.

Thanks.

I asked ChatGPT about breaking a laminated window. They said this -

Quote -

"Yes, a laminated window can be broken with a spike hammer, but it will likely take more force compared to regular tempered glass. Laminated glass consists of two layers of glass with a layer of plastic (usually polyvinyl butyral, or PVB) sandwiched in between. This makes the glass much tougher and resistant to shattering upon impact, as the plastic layer holds the glass together, preventing it from breaking into sharp shards.

That said, while laminated glass is more resistant to breaking, it’s not unbreakable. A spike hammer, which is designed to concentrate force on a specific point, could eventually penetrate or crack the glass, though it might take several strong strikes. The advantage of laminated glass is that even if it breaks, the fragments tend to stay attached to the plastic interlayer, reducing the risk of injury compared to standard tempered glass."

Sounds like we need a family training session on how to recline the seats to get into the back and use my modified spike toffee hammer to break a rear side window.

 

[MilleniumFalcon]

I would also test the famous manual rear unlock, it doesn't seem that simple to do.

This is a video with a test of such pointed hammer on laminated glass. It gives rise to concern. No English, took this from a Dutch channel. Hammer demo starts at 3:50 minutes, and you have to endure 2 commercials before that, sorry. They end with a sledge hammer, to no avail.

Gelaagd glas in auto’s breekt niet in noodsituaties - BNNVARA

<p>Steeds meer auto’s in ons land zijn uitgerust met gelaagde zijruiten voor extra veiligheid en comfort. Maar is dit glas niet té veilig, want wat gebeurt er als je met je auto te water komt?</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://www.bnnvara.nl/kassa/artikelen/gelaagd-glas-in-...

bnnvara.nl

 

[RSMellette]

Some of you obviously need to see this video.

 

[David J.]

Just checked our Australian 2WD "Dynamiq" spec. Front and rear side windows are laminated.
It seems Hyundai hadn't got the specs well sorted for Aus models in 2022. Our "Dynamiq" has the interior power outlet and HUD, but friends who bought a more expensive "Techniq" spec 2WD got the sunroof and memory seats with footrests, but no power outlet or HUD.

 

[AckyT]

Just checked our Australian 2WD "Dynamiq" spec. Front and rear side windows are laminated.
It seems Hyundai hadn't got the specs well sorted for Aus models in 2022. Our "Dynamiq" has the interior power outlet and HUD, but friends who bought a more expensive "Techniq" spec 2WD got the sunroof and memory seats with footrests, but no power outlet or HUD.

Not certain what you mean by power outlet and HUD. Can you clarify?

 

[David J.]

We have a 240v power point under the back seat and a heads up display (that's on the windscreen, not under the seat!)

 

[SoarDad]

I can assure you that my Ioniq 5 in the UK, would not open with the handle. I tried several times and there was no way out. Windows and everything electrical was dead. No horn either to bring attention to the situation. Certainly would be interesting to know why Hyundai have different specifications for door handle system in different countries, if that is indeed the case..

US 2023 Ionic 5 Limited AWD (purchased in April of '23)

Given this horrible story, I was shocked. Given all the concern about the 12V going dead, I picked up a jump starter, stashed it in the frunk, and felt perfectly covered. Never considered the possibility that the door would lock me in (and had no awareness to the emergency escaped through the hatchback).

So when this issue came up I had to try JerryP's test. Sure enough, with the 12V disconnected, the door opened easily from inside. So, at least in my car the door latch lever mechanically operates the door latch. I'm relieved, but I'm keeping my eyes on this forum to see what else I should be prepared for...

Happy driving/charging,
Gene W

 

[JerryP]

Given all the concern about the 12V going dead, I picked up a jump starter, stashed it in the frunk, and felt perfectly covered.

Every car should have one.

Never considered the possibility that the door would lock me in

Since you don't live in the UK, you don't need to consider the possibility.

 

[Ionhorse]

Every car should have one.


Since you don't live in the UK, you don't need to consider the possibility.

If this theory is true that the UK is different this way and if it was my car, I would make Hyundai take that death trap back and refund my purchase price. Door latches have to be easy to operate in any emergency situation.

But I cannot really believe that such a safery lapse is even possible under national safety regulations, It would be a very bad bargain indeed to let the occupants die in the case of a battery failure/fire, just to thwart potential car theft.

Tell me it ain’t so!

 

[Arob]

If this theory is true that the UK is different this way and if it was my car, I would make Hyundai take that death trap back and refund my purchase price. Door latches have to be easy to operate in any emergency situation.

But I cannot really believe that such a safery lapse is even possible under national safety regulations, It would be a very bad bargain indeed to let the occupants die in the case of a battery failure/fire, just to thwart potential car theft.

Tell me it ain’t so!

Read a thread on another forum that was related, apparently in UK, maybe EU, theft risk is high and OEMs have responded with a deadlock scenario where the door handle is immobilized with two pushes of the lock button on the remote.

Not sure how trustworthy the info is (from the other forum), and why a dead 12V would do such a thing, but it may explain why it doesn't seem to be a problem in North American and Australia?

 

[Coastal]

Read a thread on another forum that was related, apparently in UK, maybe EU, theft risk is high and OEMs have responded with a deadlock scenario where the door handle is immobilized with two pushes of the lock button on the remote.

Not sure how trustworthy the info is (from the other forum), and why a dead 12V would do such a thing, but it may explain why it doesn't seem to be a problem in North American and Australia?

One would hope that the failsafe would be if the 12V is dead the deadlocks would unlock. I guess that could be a vulnerability for theft risk, thieves disconnect the 12V - but they have to access the bonnet (its the UK), but given the alternative is someone locked in the car I too agree it is hard to believe that national safety standards would allow this to be legal!