NHTSA Complaint #11170875 — 2019 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED WATER LEAKS THROUGH THE REAR DOOR HANDLES WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. WHENEVER IT RAINED, WATER GOT INTO THE DOOR LOCK LATCH MECHANISMS AND WATER WAS POOLING BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER DOOR SEALS. WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPENED, WATER POURED OUT. I EXPLAINED THIS ISSUE TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND DEMONSTRATED THE PROBLEM BUT THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY TALKED TO VOLKSWAGEN AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL WATER DRAINAGE. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS : 1) THE FRONT DOORS DON'T HAVE THIS ISSUE 2) THIS ISSUE IN THE LEFT REAR DOOR IS NOT AS BAD AS THE RIGHT REAR DOOR ( A GOOD AMOUNT OF WATER POOLS IN THE SILL IN THE RIGHT REAR DOOR AND I CAN SEE WATER IN THE LOCK LATCH MECHANISM ) 3) THIS ISSUE DIDN'T EXIST WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR 4) WATER IS POOLING INSIDE OF THE OUTER PLASTIC DOOR SEAL THAT IS ON THE DOOR SO IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT MAY END UP PASSING THE INNER PLASTIC SEAL THAT IS ON THE FRAME ( THERE ARE DRAINAGE HOLES ON THE OUTER BOTTOM PART OF THE DOOR, WHICH IS FOR NORMAL WATER DRAINAGE. I AM NOT REFERRING TO THESE ) 5) THIS CAN LEAD TO RUST IN THE LOCK MECHANISM AND CAN ALSO BE A SAFETY HAZARD IN COLD WEATHER WHERE THE DOOR LOCKS MAY FREEZE SHUT 6) I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS TYPE OF ISSUE IN ANY OF THE OTHER VEHICLES I'VE OWNED SO, I DON'T AGREE WITH THE DEALER'S AND MANUFACTURER'S ASSESSMENTS THAT THIS IS NORMAL. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE.