NHTSA Complaint #11566758 — 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

Like many other VW owners, one of the doors of my car would not close and the car was unsafe to operate. Some people reporting having been locked in the car (driver's side door will not open), requiring them to exit the passenger's side door. The problem relates to a design flaw in the door lock actuator. In the winter, if it rains for several days and then freezes, the physical workings of the actuator freeze. The fix in a plastic protective cover, however, it may cost up to $500 to repair this safety issue if the door failed in a locked state adn the door card has to be removed with the door closed. This issue started in the B4 platform and is still a problem in the B7 models. See this TSB [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)