NHTSA Complaint #10509420 — 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

LEFT TURN SIGNAL, DRIVERS DOOR/ALL REMOTE WINDOW SWITCHES, TRUNK/FUEL DOOR RELEASE, DRIVERS DOOR LOCK KEY FOB LOCKING OF DRIVERS DOOR/DRIVERS DOOR INTERNAL LOCK ARE ALL INOPERATIVE. OCCASIONALLY, THE CABIN INTERIOR LIGHT REMAINS ON WITH A DRIVERS "DOOR OPEN" INDICATION ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVERS DOOR IS CLOSED AND SECURE (BUT UNABLE TO BE LOCKED FROM THE DRIVERS DOOR LOCK SWITCH IN THE PASSENGER CABIN). THE PRIMARY SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM IS THAT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DISPLAYS ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, BUT DOES NOT ACTIVATE ON THE REAR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT AND DRIVERS WINDOW (ALONG WITH ALL OTHER WINDOWS REMOTELY CONTROLLED ON DRIVERS DOOR) ARE INOPERATIVE IF NEEDED TO MAKE A HAND TURN SIGNAL OR EGRESS FROM THE VEHICLE IN AN ACCIDENT (OR SUBMERGED UNDER WATER FOR AN EGRESS). DEALER AND MANUFACTURE BOTH REFUSED TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE FAULTY PART. I HAVE PERFORMED EVERY MANUFACTURE REQUIRED SERVICE REQUIRED (ALL DOCUMENTED) SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY AND RELIABILITY. IT HAD VERY LOW MILEAGE ON MY PURCHASE IN EARLY 2007. PER VW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, GROUP 97: 09-01 (201-7600), FEBRUARY 26, 2009, STATES THAT THE DRIVERS DOOR WIRING HARNESS WAS MANUFACTURED 80 MM TOO SHORT. THIS RESULTS IN PUTTING STRAIN ON THE NUMEROUS WIRES IN THIS HARNESS NEAR THE DOOR BOOT AND CONNECTOR PLUG CAUSING WIRES TO BREAK AND/OR ELECTRICALLY SHORT. MY VEHICLE WAS AFFECTED BY THE VIN RANGE OF THIS MANUFACTURES SERVICE BULLETIN. THE NEW REPLACEMENT DRIVERS DOOR ELECTRICAL HARNESS ARE NOW 80 MM LONGER THAN THE ORIGINALLY MANUFACTURED (INSTALLED) FAULTY PART THAT THE MANUFACTURE IS UNWILLING TO REPLACE AT THEIR COST (PARTS OR LABOR). I WILL PAY FOR MY REPAIR PERSONALLY, BUT BELIEVE THAT THE SAFETY ASPECT OF THIS FAULTY PART COULD COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS IN ADDITION TO OTHER MOTORIST. *TR