NHTSA Complaint #10889103 — 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

WE WENT TO REPLACE A KEY AND REMOTE ON THIS CAR AND WHEN THEY WENT TO "PROGRAM" IT THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO AS BOTH THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ACTUATOR AND REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ACTUATOR WERE BOTH NON RESPONSIVE AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AS A CONSEQUENCE, WE LEARNED THAT THE CAR CANNOT ACTUALLY BE LOCKED USING THE REMOTE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES THIS GETS WORSE OVER TIME AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE LOCK GO BAD -- YOU CAN'T OPEN THE TRUNK, THE REAR DOOR, ETC. NOT BEING ABLE TO LOCK OR UNLOCK YOUR DOORS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND ONE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO FIX IN ORDER TO USE THE CAR. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE FIXED THEIR OWN CARS AND VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT WON'T PROVIDE THE PART AT A DECENT PRICE. THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR IS $233.20 FOR THE FRONT DOOR AND $238.70 FOR THE REAR DOOR. AND THE LABOR IS $150 FOR EACH (INVOLVES FULLY REMOVING BOTH DOOR PANELS ETC.). THE GRAND TOTAL THE DEALERSHIP IS ASKING FOR THE REPAIR IS $833. AND THIS IS ONLY FOR 2 DOORS THAT HAVE FAILED. WE ARE ASKING THAT THE NHTSA LOOK INTO HOW MANY OF THESE ARE FAILING IN CARS UNDER 10 YEARS OLD AND LOOKING INTO WHETHER VOLKSWAGEN IS INVOLVED IN A COVER UP OF THE FAULTINESS OF THE ORIGINAL PARTS. THEY WILL NOT TELL CONSUMERS HOW MANY OF THESE FAIL OR HOW MANY THEY REPLACE. PEOPLE WHO WORK ON THEIR OWN CARS ARE REPAIRING THE PARTS THEMSELVES AND THE BLOGS ARE SAYING THAT IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CONTACTS INSIDE THE ACTUATOR FAILING AND NEEDING TO BE RESOLDERED.