My passenger (second row) door on an '09 Pilot EX-L would not open from the inside using the handle (worked fine using the key fob and from the outside of the car), so my dealer diagnosed this as a master power door lock switch problem and replaced the unit ($280).

Hopped in the second row seat afterwards and the door still would not open from the inside. The service desk guy came out and flipped the child safety switch (inside door) and all of a sudden the door could be opened from the inside using the latch. He claimed the technician might have accidentally bumped the switch to 'on' while fixing and then checking the door.

My question: does the master power door lock switch in any way affect the ability of someone to open the door manually? I'm beginning to think I was charged $280 to flip a child safety door switch from 'on' to 'off'...

 

Update. Turned out the tech was mistaken - thought the problem was with the door not opening electronically. The dealer will put the old switch back in and reimburse the $280.

The real problem? A child safety locking switch had been accidentally turned 'on' for that door! It's located in a very hard to spot location (inside the door jamb area on the door itself).