NHTSA Complaint #10701665 — 2008 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM STOPS WORKING AND THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN A LOT OF VW FORUMS ONLINE. THEY CALL IT THE ACTUATOR AND WHEN IT STOPS WORKING THE CHILD LOCKS DO NOT WORK AND THE VEHICLE THEN HAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHICH RELATES TO "CHILD SAFETY SEATS THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SAFETY BELTS, BUCKLES, OR COMPONENTS THAT CREATE A RISK OF INJURY, NOT ONLY IN A VEHICLE CRASH BUT ALSO IN NON-OPERATIONAL SAFETY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE." A DOOR THAT CAN BE OPENED BY A CHILD WHEN IN MOVEMENT OR PARKED IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. THE DOOR CAN BE EASILY PUSHED OPEN FROM THE INSIDE WHEN THE LOCKS DON'T WORK. ALSO, THE ALARM ON THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ARM BECAUSE THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK SO IF SOMEONE WENT DOOR CHECKING IN A PARKING LOT, MY CAR WOULD BE BROKEN INTO - IF NOT STOLEN ALTOGETHER DUE TO THIS. IN DECEMBER I PAID $450+ TO HAVE THE REAR DOOR LOCK REPLACED AND NOW, 3 MONTHS LATER, THE FRONT TWO DOOR LOCKS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. ANOTHER HAZARD FOR SAFETY HAPPENS WHEN YOU CANNOT LOCK YOUR DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. IF SOMEONE WANTED TO CARJACK ME AT A STOP LIGHT - I AM UNABLE TO LOCK MY DOORS! I CALLED VW CARE AND THEY HAVE DECLINED TO EVEN HELP ME WITH THIS COST AND I AM SLO FILING A CLAIM WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN THE FORUMS ONLINE, SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR