Keyfob problem, locked out - fob inside

[Cally]

Picked up friend at airport. Was at the 6 minute pick up.
Fob and spare were in the car. (don't ask why both). I got out of the car, shut the door, opened the boot and put friend's case in the car..
Closed the boot and was then was locked out of the car.
RAC roadside assist couldn't get in with their usual methods as the car had locked down. Lockdown meant it couldn't be towed. I was a security risk and the heat was on from airport security.
MG Roadside assist organised a locksmith. They covered $140 but I paid a further $400. It took 4 hours.
The battery is not dead. Fob is working as usual now.
Anyone had this issue?

 

[ReintjeWA]

I've never heard any mention of this before on the forum (which doesn't mean it hasn't been addressed before of course). Also sounds like something not many will be willing to duplicate to test. Did the dealership get involved, because I would definitely say that's not supposed to happen.

 

[T1 Terry]

I'd say that is a warranty issue and they should refund any extra you had to pay ..... the vehicle should not lock with even 1 fob inside, I know our MG4 and the salvage MG4 won't ..... you actually have to lock the vehicle from outside with a window down on a rear door to be able to lock the car and still be able t get inside with the fob to sleep securely inside for the night ......

T1 Terry

 

[Rolfe]

I dispute that last part, having slept securely in my car for 16 nights this year simply by operating the central locking from inside the car.

But that's not relevant to the OP's problem.

 

[T1 Terry]

I dispute that last part, having slept securely in my car for 16 nights this year simply by operating the central locking from inside the car.

But that's not relevant to the OP's problem.

Well, there ya go, I've never actually tried to lock myself in the car, I was actually using the Prius Gen2 method in the case I mentioned, to keep the car running with the air con on for the dog, I have to leave the window down, press the door lock on the arm rest and then a quick stab on the window up switch and get my arm out ...... that method might be possible to lock the vehicle with a fob inside ..... I've had enough drama with driving the car away without a fob at all, only to be informed by the car, once I opened the door, it couldn't contact the fob and it wasn't going anywhere without it ......

$400 out of pocket, I think I'd smash a window instead .... but having said that, I actually paid $400 to one of these vehicle unlocking crooks once when I very cleverly went through the ritual of locking the Prius gen2 with the keys on the drivers side floor ..... but I'll blame a number of cans of JD and Coke of that piece of mindless stupidity ...

T1 Terry

 

[ReintjeWA]

@Cally specifically where inside the car were the fobs? I imagine the car did the thing where it lets you open the boot while everything else stays locked, then automatically locks the boot upon closing. But it seems wrong for the car to do that if a) any fob is inside the car and b) the car wasn’t locked in the first place.

 

[Martinonline]

A similar problem was reported by @flawia in June this year, in the thread titled 'Locked out'. The car locked itself after she left her key in the car and she had put something in the boot.This should not happen. Her dealer fixed the issue.

 

[ReintjeWA]

Good one @Martinonline I do remember that thread now you’ve mentioned it.

F

Thread 'Locked out'

Jun 24, 2025

I managed to get locked out of my car last night. I unlocked the car to put some bags in it, and as I run out of space on the front seat, I have put some more bags in the boot. As it happens, my handbag with the car key, house key and the phone was in the boot. As soon as I closed the boot, the car locked itself....
Luckily I was at my friends house so could put my little one to bed and use friends phone to call for help but if it has happened anywhere else, I would be in trouble. Really annoyed with this, I understand it is my mistake (and a costly one, almost £300 spent with the...

• flawia
• key locked locked out locksmith mg4
• Replies: 85
• Forum: MG4 EV Forum

 

[Mouss]

I already locked my Lux (Trophy) when I was inside with the key by using the app.
Try later when I was outside, it works too.

In fact, if you have iSMART working, you can log with your credentials from your phone (or an other one) to just unlock the car even if the key(s) is/are inside.

 

[Rolfe]

Well, there ya go, I've never actually tried to lock myself in the car, I was actually using the Prius Gen2 method in the case I mentioned, to keep the car running with the air con on for the dog, I have to leave the window down, press the door lock on the arm rest and then a quick stab on the window up switch and get my arm out ...... that method might be possible to lock the vehicle with a fob inside ..... I've had enough drama with driving the car away without a fob at all, only to be informed by the car, once I opened the door, it couldn't contact the fob and it wasn't going anywhere without it ......

$400 out of pocket, I think I'd smash a window instead .... but having said that, I actually paid $400 to one of these vehicle unlocking crooks once when I very cleverly went through the ritual of locking the Prius gen2 with the keys on the drivers side floor ..... but I'll blame a number of cans of JD and Coke of that piece of mindless stupidity ...

T1 Terry

For all your "sleeping in the car" questions.

V

Thread 'Sleeping in MG4 [merged thread]'

Jul 5, 2023

Hi!

I have yet to find any Information is it possible to put car in utility or camping mode?

I am thinking of buying MG4 long range and want to use car for sleeping in it also so, is there a mode like this in this car?

• Valkosipuli
• camp camping diagonal hack mg4 mg4 ev mode sleep v2l
• Replies: 570
• Forum: MG4 EV Forum

It took some time to work it all out, but Bjorn Nyland actually has a video where he explains it. Locking the car from the inside keeps the car (and the HVAC) on all night. Stupidly, I began by using the button on the inside of the driver's door, which is difficult to reach, until someone pointed out that the feature is available from the quick menu on the infotainment screen.

 

[Cally]

I've never heard any mention of this before on the forum (which doesn't mean it hasn't been addressed before of course). Also sounds like something not many will be willing to duplicate to test. Did the dealership get involved, because I would definitely say that's not supposed to happen.

Thanks for asking. I have written to MG but have not received a reply. I will go in to the dealership this week but they don't deal only with Mrs so I am sure they will only fob me off. Pardon the pun.

 

[Cally]

Thanks for asking. I have written to MG but have not received a reply. I will go in to the dealership this week but they don't deal only with Mrs so I am sure they will only fob me off. Pardon the pun.

And I might add that in the comfort of my own driveway I did repeat it multiple times and was not locked out.

 

[T1 Terry]

And I might add that in the comfort of my own driveway I did repeat it multiple times and was not locked out.

Well, turns out, the MG set up isn't fool proof, and I was just the fool to prove it.
When I managed to lock myself out of the MG4 by locking the car from the drivers side inside switch, then putting the window up, with the fob still inside the wife eventually returned home and went and sat in the, now nice and cool, MG4, opening the door with her fob. When she returned to the motorhome, an hr or so later, she said she couldn't find my fob, but the doors wouldn't lock using the fob lock button ..... confirming to me the fob was still in there.

Went out myself, had another look under seats and down between seat and .... a fairly though search for a bloke ..... and in my defence, it had already had a girl look, tried the fob and indeed, the car locked ...... must have been a door not properly shut was my conclusion as to why it wouldn't lock for the wife, confirming that the fob was not in the MG

After maybe 2 hrs of searching everywhere else I could think of, gave up, until the wife did the puppy dog eyes thing, and asked me to get her back pillow out of the MG.
Fob unlocked the door, picked up the pillow ..... and there was the fob ..... still sitting on the seat .....

So, it seems you can lock the car, using the fob, even though there is a fob inside, if it has sufficient signal blocking material covering it ....

T1 Terry