NHTSA Complaint #10855332 — 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

I'VE FOUND THAT THE DOORS ON MY 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT [TDI] HAVE ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL ISSUES WHEN THEY ARE EXPOSED TO RAIN WATER OR EXTREME HUMIDITY. DURING THESE EXPOSURES THEY WILL NOT STAY LOCKED [THEY WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK]. TWO SPECIFIC PERIODS OF TIME REALLY STAND OUT WHERE THE DOORS HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY TROUBLESOME. THE FIRST WAS AFTER A RAIN STORM WHILE VISITING FAMILY IN MT. I WENT TO MY CAR AND FOUND THAT I COULD NOT CLOSE MY PASSENGER DOOR AFTER I OPENED IT. IT WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME. I LITERALLY HAD TO WRAP MY SEATBELT AROUND THE DOOR HANDLE TO KEEP THE DOOR FROM FLYING OPEN AS I TOOK IT IN FOR EVALUATION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. WITHIN ONE WEEK IT HAPPENED AGAIN DURING ANOTHER RAIN SHOWER, THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING AND MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT! THANKFULLY WE WERE DRIVING SLOW, IN TOWN, AND NO HARM CAME TO ANYONE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD THEM REPLACE THE MECHANICAL PART OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM THIS SEEMED TO SOLVE THE 'STAYING CLOSED' ISSUE. THE SECOND PERIOD OF TIME I WAS IN FL IN LATE AUGUST. I WAS THERE FOR THREE WEEKS AND THE ENTIRE TIME THE HUMIDITY WAS SUCH THAT EVERYTHING WAS SOAKING WET. ONCE AGAIN I HAD ISSUES WITH MY DOORS. THIS TIME IT WAS MORE ELECTRICAL THAN MECHANICAL. MY KEY FOB STOPPED ALLOWING ME TO LOCK/UNLOCK MY DOORS AND THE LOCKS SEEMED TO BE POSSESSED. I HAD TO PULL THE COVER OFF MY 'TOUCH' LOCK TO USE THE KEY TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOORS. I ALSO EXPERIENCED MILE AFTER MILE OF MY DOORS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WHILE DRIVING. THIS LASTED THE ENTIRE TIME I WAS THERE. WHEN I CAME BACK TO A DRYER CLIMATE THE PROBLEM STOPPED. OF THE TWO SERIES OF ISSUES I EXPERIENCED THE ONE THAT PUT MY CHILD'S LIFE IN DANGER IS THE MOST CONCERNING. THE REPAIRS COST ME NEARLY $1K AND THE PEACE-OF-MIND I LOST IS IMMEASURABLE.