NHTSA Complaint #11164303 — 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO LOCK AND/OR UNLOCK WITH KEY FOB OR LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTONS IN THE CABIN (BEGAN APPROX 6/20/2018 AT APPROX 43,000 MILES). MUST USE THE KEY IN EXTERIOR KEY HOLE TO MANUALLY LOCK OR UNLOCK, BUT WHILE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY AS THERE IS NO MANUAL LOCK SWITCH ONLY POWER LOCK SWITCH. EVERY TIME ANY DOOR IS UNLOCKED AND THE DRIVER GOES FROM 0MPH PAST ABOUT 10MPH THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY TRIES TO LOCK BUT FAILS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FORM CARJACKING, AS THERE IS NO WAY TO MANUALLY LOCK THE DOORS FROM INSIDE THE CABIN. AT APPROX 46,400 MILES (11/8/2018) THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES. IT WILL INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO LOCK WITH KEY FOB OR LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTONS IN THE CABIN, AND THE CAR WILL ATTEMPT TO AUTOLOCK THE DOOR AFTER 10MPH. THE ONLY WAY TO LOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY IS TO OPEN TO DOOR AND USE THE EMERGENCY LOCK SWITCH INSIDE THE DOOR JAM. THIS TOO IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THERE IS NO WAY TO LOCK MANUALLY FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AN OBD SCAN SHOWS BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCK FAILURES. SOMETIMES THE LOCKS WILL GO WEEKS OF TIME FULLY FUNCTIONAL, BUT ONE OR THE OTHER WILL EVENTUALLY START FAILING AGAIN. THIS IS LIKELY DUE TO A BAD LOCK ACTUATOR, EITHER A DEAD SPOT IN THE ACTUATOR'S MOTOR OR POOR SOLDERING OR CONNECTION DUE TO POOR DESIGN/MANUFACTURING. SOMETIMES THE DRIVER CAN HEAR THE ACTUATOR STRUGGLING SOUNDING LIKE A SQUEAL FROM THE ACTUATOR'S LOCATION.