I have a 1999V Volvo S80 but I believe that the same problem can affect V70s. The nearside rear passenger door handle has failed and unfortunately the childproof lock was engaged, meaning that I cannot open the car from the inside. The outside door handle simply does not engage with the lock in the usual way - it acts as if the locks were operative. This happened after the door had only partially closed and I closed it by pushing on the door itself. The doors were all unlocked at that time.

I have been told that the only solution is to remove the door skin to access the lock - this will mean a new door skin at £250, as well as labour and presumably a respray!

Has any other Volvo owner had this unfortunate experience - surely there should be some clever technical fix without all this dismantling?

I would be really grateful for any advice on this one.

Perplexing! I looked at my 1998 V70 for reference. The door does not need to be destroyed.
The child lock is a very tiny switch which is in the up position for the lock to be engaged. If you have a hard bit of plastic, about 6 inches long, it is possible to slide it in the crack from the outside and attempt to push down the plastic pin. Experiment on the good side.

The speaker in the door can be removed and I found no screws in the bottom portion of the door panel, so the panel can be popped off and lifted up. The bottom fasteners will probably break off, but that is a normal occurance anyway.

A new door panel from a salvage yard is cheaper than a new door.

Klaus
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Please answer, we need to know if the advice is good or bad. The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are 2 turbos :)

Many thanks Klaus, I will investigate that, although on my S80 the way you turn the childlock on and off is via a keyhole device set into the rear of the door using a screwdriver blade or similar.

Certainly, going into the door from the inside seems a better bet but my independent Volvo specialist garage guy may well tell me otherwise!

Thanks again.