Disconnected the battery to try to reboot the computer as a TPMS module was acting up. Got an emergency call and had to leave the garage right away, with the car door open and the hood up. When I got back, the door was closed, and the hood down, just enough to latch it. My wife said my young grandsons were coming thru and she did not want them touching the car so she shut the door and gently closed the hood. Got back to the garage, and not thinking much of it, go over to the car door to try to open it. Oh yea, no battery connection. No problem, I will just use the key in the rear fascia above the license plate. The key goes in a little hard, but finally all the way. As far as turning it, that won't happen, probably because the car is a 2010, and I have never attempted to try using that lock in all this time. Blast some penetrating oil in there, insert key and wiggle it for a while, finally opens the hatch.
Would have sucked if I was stuck out on the road, and not in the garage with a can of penetrating oil on the shelf.
Moral of the story: Try that lock once in a while and put a little oil in there on occasion.

 

I’m headed out to the garage now. Good idea. Thanks!

 

Since the rear facia tends to act as a vortex that sucks any dust, dirt etc that is picked up from the road, it's a good idea to place a piece of tape over the key hole to keep dirt out of it. That way, after the key hole is lubricated, it wil stay clean and operable if ever needed. It's simple to pull the tape away to access the key hole.