How do you open the back doors on a Honda HRV?
If you know the basic sequence, opening the HR-V’s back doors is straightforward: unlock the doors, then pull the rear door handles from outside or use the interior door handles after unlocking. If the key fob battery is dead, use the mechanical key in the driver's door to unlock, then operate the rear doors as usual.
Understanding how the HR-V handles rear-door access can vary slightly by model year and trim, especially with or without keyless entry. This guide covers the common, practical methods used on contemporary HR-Vs, and notes where behavior may differ for older versions.
Opening the rear doors from outside
Keyless entry and external handles
Most current HR-V models with keyless entry let you unlock the doors with the key fob or via the door handle sensor. Once the doors are unlocked, the rear door handles will operate normally to open the doors from the outside.
- Approach the vehicle with the key fob in your pocket or bag. Use the fob’s unlock function or the door handle sensor on the rear door (if your trim supports it) to unlock all doors.
- Grasp the rear door handle and pull outward to release the latch and open the door.
- If the fob’s battery is dead and you can’t unlock the doors wirelessly, use the mechanical key in the driver’s door to unlock the vehicle; after that, the rear doors can be opened from outside as usual.
Concluding paragraph: After unlocking, verify the rear doors are fully latched when closed and be mindful of the rear door child lock if you need to control how passengers exit from inside.
Opening the rear doors from inside
Interior operation and safety locks
From inside the vehicle, you can open the rear doors after unlocking, or by disengaging the child locks if they are active. The interior door handles are used to release the latch, but you must first ensure the doors are not locked from the inside.
- Use the interior unlock switch on the door panel or the central unlock button on the dashboard to unlock the rear doors if they’re currently locked.
- Pull the rear door’s interior handle to release the latch and open the door. If the door doesn’t move, check the door’s edge-mounted child lock switch (if equipped) and ensure it is set to OFF/UNLOCK so the door can be opened from inside.
- If you need children to exit safely, ensure the child lock is OFF; if you must prevent rear passengers from opening the door from inside, set the switch to LOCK.
Concluding paragraph: After exiting, recheck that all doors are secured as needed. If you’re leaving the car unattended, verify the doors are properly locked or unlocked according to your preference.
Troubleshooting and tips
What to check if a door won’t open
Some common issues can prevent the rear doors from opening, from battery problems to lock mechanisms. Here are quick checks to run before seeking service.
- Dead key fob battery: Replace the battery in the fob. If the fob won’t unlock, use the mechanical key in the driver’s door to unlock the vehicle so the rear doors can be opened from outside.
- Power door lock or actuator issues: If central locking won’t respond, check fuses and battery voltage or have the lock actuator inspected by a dealer or qualified technician.
- Engaged child locks: If the rear doors won’t open from inside, verify and adjust the door-edge child lock switch to OFF/UNLOCK as needed.
Conclusion: If problems persist, refer to the owner’s manual for model-specific steps or contact a Honda dealer for assistance. The exact controls can vary by year and trim, but the methods above cover the majority of HR-V scenarios.
Summary
Opening the Honda HR-V’s rear doors revolves around unlocking the vehicle and then using the appropriate exterior or interior handles. A key fob or door-sensor may unlock the doors on models with keyless entry; otherwise, the mechanical key can be used in the driver’s door to unlock. Remember to check the rear door edge child locks if someone is unable to open from inside. For persistent issues, consult the manual or a dealer for model-specific guidance.
