Emergency Trunk Release: An Overview

Conversations surrounding emergency trunk releases and why they’re necessary can easily become quite grim. However, as with most safety features and precautions, ignorance here is not bliss. If you ever find yourself trapped in the trunk of your car, it’s important to know how to get out.

Where Is the Emergency Trunk Release Located?

The emergency trunk release is typically located near your trunk latch, meaning it’s close to the lip of your trunk’s lid. Many modern emergency trunk releases are made to be glow-in-the-dark and easy to find. It’s smart to check your own trunk to see if it has one and make sure you know where it is.

That being said, the location and appearance of your emergency trunk release will also depend on the make and model of your car. It’s good to find out exactly where to find your emergency release ahead of any emergencies, just so you have an idea where it is. Check your car’s operation manual for exact instructions if needed.

If you’re trapped in a vehicle that doesn’t belong to you and that you’re not familiar with, look and feel around the inside of the trunk. Test any levers, latches, or buttons you find, and one should pop the trunk open.

How Do You Use an Emergency Trunk Release?

Using an emergency trunk release is simple. If your emergency release is a tab or a lever, then it needs to either be pushed, pulled, or twisted to unlock your trunk lid. If it’s a button, then it’ll do the same thing when pressed. Your trunk lid will then lift up and open.

How Do Emergency Trunk Releases Work?

Emergency trunk releases function much like the normal release on the outside of your car and by your driver’s seat. They trigger the latch mechanism inside the trunk lid to unlock, allowing you to open the trunk and get out.

What Cars Have Emergency Trunk Releases?

Ever since late 2001, all passenger cars sold in the US are legally required to have an emergency trunk release. As a result, all modern cars sold in the US from the year 2002 and later are equipped with this function by default.

If you have an older car from before the law came into effect though, it may not have this feature. Thankfully, there are emergency trunk release kits for sale that can be installed in older cars. The problem is that most people won’t invest the time or the money in this kind of upgrade.

When Would You Need To Use an Emergency Trunk Release?

There are many unfortunate cases when you or a loved one might need to use an emergency trunk release. Reasons for being trapped in a car’s trunk range from freak accidents to being a victim of crime.

Kidnapping victims, whether they’re children or adults, are often thrown into a car trunk. Children who use the car trunk as a hiding spot or play area are also at risk. While you should warn your children not to use the car trunk like that, accidents are inevitable, and it’s best to teach them how to get out if the worst should happen.

Sometimes, a person can exit the trunk by folding the rear seat back forward and climbing out that way. If you can’t do this and you find yourself locked in the trunk of a car, you probably won’t be able to kick a tail light out, though you may have heard some people claim this to be true.

Sometimes, a person can exit the trunk by folding the rear seat back forward and climbing out that way. If you can’t do this and you find yourself locked in the trunk of a car, you probably won’t be able to kick a tail light out, though you may have heard some people claim this to be true.

–Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician

Emergency Trunk Release History

Petitions for a law mandating the installation of emergency trunk releases date as far back as the 1980’s. William Proehl made the request to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but was denied thanks to the lack of data.

The movement picked up speed in 1997, after a woman by the name of Janette Fennell and her husband were kidnapped and placed in the trunk of their car. They were able to escape, but the incident inspired Janette to begin the Trunk Releases Urgently Needed Coalition (TRUNC). TRUNC advocated for the same law William Proehl had proposed to NHTSA.

While Fennell reached out to the public using interviews and other media, the tragic deaths of 11 children in 1998 also pushed NHTSA to take a second look at the proposed law. The children died of heat stroke after getting trapped inside the trunks of different cars, and the danger was becoming more obvious to them and the public.

The law was eventually passed in late 2002. Car manufacturers were told that moving forward, all vehicles sold in the US would need to have an emergency trunk release installed. Ford was far ahead of the curb, having released cars with an emergency trunk release feature as early as the 1990s. Other companies soon followed after the release of the law.

While it has a sad history connected to it, the emergency trunk release has since saved many lives. This little mechanism can help keep you and your family safe. Teaching yourself and your loved ones how to use one is best for your own good and peace of mind.

What Else Can You Find in a Car Trunk?

The trunk of the vehicle serves as a lockable storage container often located at the back end of the vehicle body. Most drivers use the trunk to keep bulky items from taking up cabin space. You’ll find a myriad of things inside a vehicle trunk, most of which you likely placed inside. If you ever get stuck in your vehicle’s trunk, there are a few items that you might have thrown in there that can help you find the emergency trunk release.

For instance, if you’re the outdoorsy or adventurous type, maybe you stored a flashlight or handheld alarm in the back. Emergency road kits sometimes come with flashlights as well, and these kits are often stored in the trunk. Other maintenance items you might have in your trunk like a tire wrench or other metal tools might help you make enough noise to get someone’s attention.

If you’re worried you’ll ever find yourself stuck on the inside of your car’s trunk, keep helpful items in there at all times, including emergency supplies and handy tools. Also familiarize yourself with the emergency trunk release switch early on for your own peace of mind.

How to Get a Quality Replacement Trunk Latch

Remember that the emergency trunk release connects to your trunk latch, and if your trunk latch is stuck or damaged in any way, it can easily interfere with the emergency release. This can lead to very dangerous situations, so it’s best to have a faulty trunk latch repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Thankfully, CarParts.com has you covered.

The CarParts.com catalog includes a host of quality replacement parts at different price points to suit any budget. If you’re looking for a trunk latch that’s guaranteed to fit your vehicle, use our vehicle selector to see only those that fit. Our easy-to-navigate website is designed to make placing your order quick, easy, and safe. Use our convenient and secure checkout to order your new parts from the comforts of home. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to our helpful and friendly customer support team.

Place your order for a replacement trunk latch on CarParts.com today!