The exterior door handles are controlled electronically to open the door (interior opener is mechanical). The switch in these door handles fail quite often. The failure of the switch prevents the door from opening from the outside. This is a safety issue! If you have the car running and close the door you will not be able to open the door unless you have the key fob and use the emergency key on the driver's door. If your key fob was in the car, then your pretty much screwed and have to work the handle and hope you get a switch contact that will unlatch the door (hoping you don't have a toddler or pet inside)!

If you were unconscious, Emergency Responders would have to break a window to get in.