I had this problem when I had my gauge cluster disconnected once. I think it's some sort of safety thing. As soon as my gauge cluster was all back together it worked fine
this same thing happen to me recently when i changed the door lock actuator.. i didnt do it right and the door wouldnt open..luckily i hadnt put the panel back on so i could access inside... my problem was that the actuator(white ,kinda rectangle shaped ,about size of a medium soap bar) has a little arm on the upper right side of the casing that got jammed between a rod in there.. i took it back off and then replaced it correctly...maybe you could check out yours b4 u start drilling and such because there is no coming back once you start drilling and fukin the mechanism up...
the actuator has about 5 tiny screws that you have to pull before you can maneuver it out...the first 2 are for the cover that goes over it(antitheft device).the first time u take it out its hard but then its its easier second time around
while ur in there u can lock and un lock and push n pull the levers and inner workings of the latch assembly to try open the door...
good luck....what your up against is a giant pain in the ***..
OP, if the door still doesn't open
did you try to using the key and turning it while trying to open the door at the same time? I have heard someone getting the door open with the key that way.