NHTSA Complaint #10820804 — 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

DRIVER SIDE DOOR SEALS ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER DOOR AND ONTO LATCH WHICH CAUSING THE LATCHING MECHANISM TO FREEZE SHUT. THE FREEZING OF THE DOOR INHIBITS THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY OF CAR TRAVELS FROM A WET ENVIRONMENT TO BELOW FREEZING ENVIRONMENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO TIMES IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS WHERE TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE UPPER 30'S THEN FELL BELOW FREEZING. ONCE WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ALSO. WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY, ONE HAS TO ENTER THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE, IF THE DOOR UNLOCKS AND OPENS, TO ENTER AND EXIT THE CAR. ON ONCE OCCASION, I WAS ABLE TO FORCE OPEN THE DOOR BY PULLING THE INSIDE HANDLE AND SHOVING UP AGAINST IT. IT IS KNOWN AND SHARED ON THE VW FORUMS THAT IF YOU PULL THE HANDLE TOO HARD, IT WILL STRETCH A CABLE WHICH MAY RENDER THE DOOR UNABLE TO SHUT OR NOT PROPERLY LATCH. VW IS AWARE OF THIS AS THEY HAVE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB #TT-57-14-01 FOR IT HOWEVER, THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT CAN STOP THE DRIVER FROM EXITING THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY.