Ok so why can't I open the hatch door after turning car off, closing doors, but NOT locking them yet ?? Have to use the Remote Fob to open it. Is this normal ??

 

You should be able to open the hatch with the latch on the back if both doors are unlocked.

 

Do you have the doors set to lock when you roll out?

I have learned that when you stop you need to unlock the trunk. I notice this over the weekend as well and have not done any testing to figure it out.

 

Yes, it is locked. Just hit the unlock toggle and it will allow you to open the hatch without the fob.

 

Ok. Good responses. Here's the scenario:
....1) shut the car off, 2)put the windows up, 3) exit the car, shut the doors, do not lock them, try to open hatch manually, will not open, must use key Fob.

 

But, if you hit the unlock button, and try to open the hatch manually, does it open?

 

nope i just press the ruber and it opens

 

Open the hatch with the remote. With the hatch open push on the unlatching mechanism. You should hear a click. I think the latch is electronic but with the hatch open it still sends a signal to the latching mechanism. If you don't hear the click the unlatching mechanism makes I would say that the outside latch is not working. I would then bring it back dealer and have them look at it.

 

If you have the door lock automatically once you start driving, then you have to unlock the doors using the toggle for the trunk to be open. If not, you get out of the drivers side and this is the only door that is open.

 

I don't have my mini YET - however, my Toyota 4Runner is the same. Once I get in the car, and start the engine - all doors lock. When I get out, the doors unlock - but not the hatch. I either have to use the remote, or the door unlock switch. Also, if I unlock my 4Runner to get in via remote, I have to click the remote 2-3 times to open the hatch. It doesn't sound like the Mini is much different.

 

As described above, if your car is set to auto-lock upon drive-off (like mine is), try to get in the habit of hitting the "central unlock" switch on the dashboard console toggle bank before exiting. This will automatically unlock all doors, including the boot/hatch, plus keep you from having to do a "double-pull" to unlock the other doors. Once your brain is programmed to do it this way, it's much easier knowing that one single action unlocks everything and you get no surprises when you attempt to open the boot/hatch.

 

I've got my garage door remote velcroed in the cubby down by the central switch bank and have gotten into the habit of pressing the remote with one finger and hitting the central unlock with my thumb at the same time as I pull up to my house.

 

I noticed that when I get out of the car and close the driver's side door... it often shakes the car just enough that the hatch, even if unlocked, clicks locked again. Barely closed but locked. Car is usually parked on a bit of a slope because the driveway is angled, which probably makes the driver's side door slam a little harder than it would otherwise. If this happens I just use the fob to unlock the hatch.

 

Ditto same happens to me but I park on a flat surface.Not so much as shaking the car but the air pressure from the door closing pops the hatch and then locks it again.