Will the car doors lock in case of spontaneous combustion?
2 Answers
Vehicle spontaneous combustion can cause the doors to lock. Functions of car doors: Car doors provide access for drivers and passengers while isolating external disturbances. They help mitigate side impacts and offer some protection to occupants. The design of car doors also contributes to the vehicle's aesthetics. Indicators of good car doors: The quality of car doors is primarily reflected in their crash protection performance, sealing capability, and ease of opening/closing. Car doors consist of the door body, door accessories, and interior trim panels. They can be categorized into forward-opening, rear-opening, and sliding types.
I often encounter similar questions regarding automotive safety. If a car catches fire, the doors may indeed become locked, primarily due to electrical system failure. For example, when flames spread, wires may melt or circuits burn out, causing the automatic door locks to jam and become unresponsive to the remote. However, this is not an absolute lockout—most vehicles have a mechanical unlock lever hidden beneath the interior trim, which can be used to manually open the door in critical moments. From a safety perspective, it is more effective to prioritize using a window breaker or a hard object to shatter the window for escape, as smoke and heat are more lethal than door locks. It is advisable to keep a portable window-breaking tool and a fire extinguisher in the car, avoid modifying the electrical circuits to prevent fire risks, and remain calm and act decisively in emergencies to significantly increase survival chances.
