NHTSA Complaint #11459766 — 2021 TOYOTA RAV4

On our car, as well as many other new cars, unless the rear doors are unlocked, you cannot open them from the inside (or outside for that matter). It is not the child safety lock. There is no emergency egress. There is no cylinder for a key. Toyota says it's a normal function. My concern is: In an accident, and possible subsequent fire, if the electrical system is disabled (shorted battery, etc.) nobody will be able to open the rear doors from the inside nor the outside. Anybody in the rear seat will be trapped unless they can get out the window, or through the narrow opening between the seats. Even if the electrical system isn't disabled, if the passengers in the front seat are unconscious or unable to unlock the doors, the passengers in the back seat will be trapped unless they can reach the unlock button. We tested my friend's Honda today and it functions the same way. Please consider looking into this as it is a very dangerous design flaw. Thank you.