Locked in my MG4 & unable to escape - Serious Safety Issue

[Wilma]

I had a test drive yesterday in MG4 SE. The salesman drove initially and when we stopped to change driver, he said the car was showing a key error. At this point all the doors were locked and the alarm sounder started. We couldn’t open the doors and he was unable to get the car to recognise the key moving it around the cabin also he was unable to move the car.
At this point he rang the showroom and got his colleague to bring out the spare key as we’d only gone a short distance.
Has anyone had a similar issue as he claimed he thought this problem had affected a small number of cars.
One thought I did have does the car have an unlock button anywhere?
I‘m new to electric cars and my 12 yr old car doesn’t have the same tech.
Thanks

 

[EricGao]

The key's battery died

 

[Gem10]

There is info in the manual which may help in these situations.

 

[the briggie]

My ev has a manual key hidden inside the fob in case the door will not open electronically. Does the MG4 have the same fallback option?

Alan

 

[Gem10]

My ev has a manual key hidden inside the fob in case the door will not open electronically. Does the MG4 have the same fallback option?

Alan

It does have a mechanical key to open the door from the outside.

 

[the briggie]

 

[BugEyed]

One thought I did have does the car have an unlock button anywhere?

No. Unless you count the feature on iSmart if you have that bound to a phone in the car.

 

[Alb]

Not being able to open the doors sounds quite serious.

 

[Wilma]

Not being able to open the doors sounds quite serious.

yes that was my concern, particularly as most cars now auto lock above a certain speed.
my car has a lock/unlock button inside which could be used if the key battery was flat.

 

[BugEyed]

Not being able to open the doors sounds quite serious.

But is quite standard on new cars that deadlock the doors for safety. Hammer time?

 

[Wilma]

No. Unless you count the feature on iSmart if you have that bound to a phone in the car.

It was the salesman car but he didn’t think of that.

 

[BugEyed]

my car has a lock/unlock button inside which could be used if the key battery was flat.

Presumably it has a physical key for starting rather than an electronic one?

 

[Wilma]

Other than the issue with the key my wife really liked the car

 

[the briggie]

Not being able to open the doors sounds quite serious.

Yip manual emergency key if you are outside. You may not be able to start the car with it but at least you are inside...BUT stuck inside with no method to escape is a real issue!!! Perhaps the salesman didn't know the method to actually expedite escape? Back to the user manual for a
peruse!

My current ev recommends changing key fob battery every 6 months and the dash gives a low key battery warning

Alan

 

[Wilma]

Presumably it has a physical key for starting rather than an electronic one?

yes. It has remote but I don’t think I’ve ever changed the battery in 10 years

 

[the briggie]

Presumably it has a physical key for starting rather than an electronic one?

We provide two smart keys to you, and each one includes
a backup mechanical key. It can be used to mechanically
unlock the doors in an emergency, but it cannot be used
to start the vehicle.

 

[amdmad]

Yip manual emergency key if you are outside. You may not be able to start the car with it but at least you are inside...BUT stuck inside with no method to escape is a real issue!!! Perhaps the salesman didn't know the method to actually expedite escape? Back to the user manual for a
peruse!

My current ev recommends changing key fob battery every 6 months and the dash gives a low key battery warning

Alan

Would it not make more sense to have a rechargeable battery in the key fob,like in a smart watch??

 

[BugEyed]

We provide two smart keys to you, and each one includes
a backup mechanical key. It can be used to mechanically
unlock the doors in an emergency, but it cannot be used
to start the vehicle.

I was asking the OP regarding their "12 YO car". I recently drove a 2022 Peugeot 208 hire grotbox that had a similar button but it only worked with the physical key in the ignition.

 

[the briggie]

I wonder if the anti theft was set when the battery died? Also

Emergency Tailgate Opening
Tailgate emergency open switch is located in the inner side
of tailgate lock.
Fold down the rear seat to make sure the emergency open
keyhole plug on the tailgate trim plate can be touched.
Remove the plug, and rotate the emergency open knob
counterclockwise to open the tailgate from inside.

Alan

 

[Ian Key]

The key's battery died

I keep a spare battery in my current car so after opening the doors with the emergency key inside the key fob I can put a new battery in.