A lock unit for a vehicle, comprising - a carrier, - a locking element pivotable on the carrier between a locking position and a release position, - an arresting element pivotable on the carrier between an arresting position and an unlocking position, which in its arresting position arrests the locking element present in the locking position against an adjustment into the release position and in its unlocking position permits an adjustment of the locking element from the locking position into its release position, and - an actuating element adjustable on the carrier within an adjustment range for pivoting the arresting element from the arresting position in the direction of the unlocking position, wherein the actuating element is coupled to the arresting element via a coupling mechanism, via which an adjusting movement of the actuating element can be converted into a pivotal movement of the arresting element in the direction of its unlocking position merely in a sub-section of the adjustment range of the actuating element, characterized in that the coupling mechanism comprises at least one slotted link guide for converting an adjusting movement of the actuating element into a pivotal movement of the arresting element, wherein the at least one slotted link guide comprises a guide link immovable with respect to the carrier, relative to which the actuating element can be adjusted, or the coupling mechanism comprises at least one spring element applying a pretensioning force, against whose pretensioning force the actuating element can be adjusted once within its adjustment range for bridging an idle path, wherein the actuating element is pretensioned by the at least one spring element with respect to an adjustable actuator coupling member (8.1) of the coupling mechanism, wherein during an adjustment of the actuating element in the one sub-section of the adjustment range, in which the adjustment of the actuating element results in a pivotal movement of the arresting element, the actuator coupling member (8.1) can be adjusted together with the actuating element in that an adjusting force applied on the actuating element can be transmitted to the actuator coupling member (8.1) via the at least one spring element, and in the other sub-section, in which the idle path is to be bridged, the actuating element can be adjusted relative to the actuator coupling member (8.1) against the pretensioning force applied by the at least one spring element. - a carrier, - a locking element pivotable on the carrier between a locking position and a release position, - an arresting element pivotable on the carrier between an arresting position and an unlocking position, which in its arresting position arrests the locking element present in the locking position against an adjustment into the release position and in its unlocking position permits an adjustment of the locking element from the locking position into its release position, and - an actuating element adjustable on the carrier within an adjustment range for pivoting the arresting element from the arresting position in the direction of the unlocking position, wherein the actuating element is coupled to the arresting element via a coupling mechanism, via which an adjusting movement of the actuating element can be converted into a pivotal movement of the arresting element in the direction of its unlocking position merely in a sub-section of the adjustment range of the actuating element, characterized in that the coupling mechanism comprises at least one slotted link guide for converting an adjusting movement of the actuating element into a pivotal movement of the arresting element, wherein the at least one slotted link guide comprises a guide link immovable with respect to the carrier, relative to which the actuating element can be adjusted, or the coupling mechanism comprises at least one spring element applying a pretensioning force, against whose pretensioning force the actuating element can be adjusted once within its adjustment range for bridging an idle path, wherein the actuating element is pretensioned by the at least one spring element with respect to an adjustable actuator coupling member (8.1) of the coupling mechanism, wherein during an adjustment of the actuating element in the one sub-section of the adjustment range, in which the adjustment of the actuating element results in a pivotal movement of the arresting element, the actuator coupling member (8.1) can be adjusted together with the actuating element in that an adjusting force applied on the actuating element can be transmitted to the actuator coupling member (8.1) via the at least one spring element, and in the other sub-section, in which the idle path is to be bridged, the actuating element can be adjusted relative to the actuator coupling member (8.1) against the pretensioning force applied by the at least one spring element.