Electric vehicle door lock with increased operating reliability

A vehicle door lock comprising: a locking mechanism; an opening actuator for unlocking the locking mechanism; an actuating member for unlocking the locking mechanism; a switching actuator that can be in a normal position or an emergency position, such that in the normal position the switching actuator renders the actuating member inoperable and in the emergency position renders the actuating member operable; and a control unit for controlling the switching actuator; characterised in that the control unit is configured to set the switching actuator from the emergency position into the emergency position and back following a specified cycle.