The power locks on my '96 Outback wagon originally operated all doors which was fine. Now, sometimes only the driver's door unlocks and not the rest. Other times all doors unlock as expected. It doesn't matter whether I'm unlocking from the remote or using the driver's door lock. This intermittent problem doesn't seem related to weather (hot/cold, dry/wet) or anything else I can think of (like full moon, whether I've had a good day or not, etc... ;-).

Anyone have this trouble or heard of it? I'll be putting the car in for inspection & routine service in a few weeks and will ask them to look into it.

 

i have a very similar problem i think. all of my doors except the drivers door unlock/lock when i hit the power lock button.

its a 2000 rs if it matters

 

Our problems are similar but different in that your driver door doesn't unlock & the others do, while mine is the opposite. Mine is also intermittent. If the shop figures it out I'll post the info here.

It will now be several weeks before I can get the car in for service (had a rude encounter with a falling tree branch last Thur. during a windstorm while driving about 40MPH - $4,500 worth of body & windshield damage and an estimated 3 weeks before I get the car back).

 

Your lock problem sounds familiar. Take a look at the door to body harness connectors that are in the borttom of the A pillars near the door hinges of both front doors. Start with the drivers side, they are very easy to get to. Look for green corrosion around the wires where they go into the connector on both sides and unplug connector to check inside also. Cut and repair with individual connectors as needed. Don't ask me how I know.
Good luck.

 

Thanks for the advice on cleaning the connections. I'll give it a try when the weather permits.

I just had the car in the shop for Inspection and asked them to take a look at the locks. They said replacement of the driver's lock would solve the problem (a $170 cost). I declined in hope of finding a simpler, less expensive solution. Now I might have one. Thanks again!