2014 Volkswagen Passat: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Dec 19, 2022 · Body · MD

Door latch failed to lock driver door. Door can't lock and will fly open when your operating. Acted up on a cold day where it wouldn't open then got stuck in the open position and wouldn't lock afterwards.

Filed Sep 14, 2020 · Electrical · 15,000 miles · NJ

Back up camera, radio do not work on a regular basis. Happened a couple of times in the first year but thought it was just a weird blip. Blue tooth disables my ability to make or receive a call while in the car. Radio cuts off or never comes on while driving or stationary. Telephone voice command is stuck in foreign language and even dealer couldn't get it to change back to english commands. Drivers door lock sticks and won't open from outside and sometimes inside. Need to get out on passenger side. Sometimes getting in I have to go to passenger side and can open from inside. Days can pass and things work ok and then out of no where, they don't work?? Maybe electrical or software issue??

Filed Dec 3, 2019 · Body, Electrical · 45,100 miles · PA

The problem below was first experienced when the car was stationary on a city street. The driver door fails to open after being exposed to cold temperatures of about 32f or less. The exterior handle behaves as usual, but does not disengage the latch located in the door jam. During these episodes, the interior handle has a unnatural amount of resistance, so much so that the operator will cease pulling on the handle in fear of damaging the components. Sometimes the door will regain it's normal operation after pressing the lock and unlock button multiple times on the interior drivers side panel. Locking and unlocking the car from the passenger's panel will not yield the same results. When it's executed from the passenger panel, the drivers door lock does not audibly engage and disengage. Please note, even after managing to open the door at the beginning of a trip, does not mean it will open when you arrive at your destination. I've experience this multiple times when departing my place of residence (did not leave until the door was 'fixed') and then arriving at work. This issue is well known in the more recent models of volkswagen passats as search engines yield a multitude of results. It was first noticed in the early months of 2019, did not persist over the summer, and began again in november of 2019.

Filed Nov 13, 2019 · Body · 44,000 miles · OR

The driver door latch. When in freezing temperatures, the door latch will not open/close. When unlocking/locking the car, you can hear the door latch mechanism trying to unlock/lock but will not. All other doors are working appropriately. I've had to climb though the passenger side to attempt to open the driver door with excessive force. If I am able to open the door from the passenger side, it will then not securely close and lock. However, there have been multiple instances where I cannot get the door open-thus rendering me without transportation/use of my car. There was one instance last winter season, on a freezing morning, where I had to open my car door through the passenger side. I was able to close and lock my door, so I drove to work. However, when rounding a corner when turning, my driver door swung open. Thankfully, myself and no one else was harmed. I then had to hold my door closed while driving the remaining 1/4 mile to work. The latch issue only happens in freezing temperatures to the drivers side door. If it warms later the same day, it will then work appropriately. During the instance where my door opened-while driving to work there was no door open alarm signaling in the car, nor continuous noise of the latch mechanism trying to lock. I have taken my car in 11/11/19 to address this issue and other maintenance,, where the service technician admitted to this being a common complaint of this issue/scenario and that vw has come out with an updated part. This is a known safety issue by their facility.

Filed Jan 22, 2019 · 89,900 miles · NJ

Drivers side door wont unlatch. Due to a bad design, the drivers side door will not open when that temperature is below freezing. Vw has acknowledged this as a problem, but will not recall. This is a safety issue since the driver cannot exit the vehicle in an emergency. I called them but their stand is that the car is out of warranty so too bad. The condition only exists when the temperature is below freezing. The problem is well know based on social media posts. I think vw should take some responsibility for the design flaw.

Filed Jun 29, 2018 · Body, Seat belts · 46,000 miles · WI

Wolfsburg edition. In feb 2018 at 40,000 miles the passenger seatbelt failed and needed to be replaced. The rear door latch also failed and needed to be replaced at the same time. Now at june 29, 2018 at 46,000 miles the driver side seatbelt has failed and will need to be replaced. The airbag recall was completed at 40,000 miles also. Safety equipment should be designed to last and these seatbelts have already failed throughout the car.

Filed Nov 21, 2016 · 42,500 miles · MN

When outside temperature reaches below 30 degrees f the driver side lock freezes making it impossible to open this door. Only means of entry and egress is through the passenger side door. Investigation of this issue, LED to countless websites and forums that address this same concern with driver side door lock freezing on volkswagen products. Could lead to a potential safety issue existing the vehicle.

Filed Jul 13, 2016 · 40,000 miles · OH

In cold weather, the driver door would not open from outside or inside. All other doors worked properly. At initial service request, problem would not duplicate once car was warm. Service manager said he'd seen this problem previously. After phone calls, emails, and diagnostic service appointment ,vw did replace the door latch assembly at no charge. Retail replacement was quoted at $500. Concern is of utmost importance because potential existed that I could not exit my car in an emergency.

Filed Mar 3, 2016 · 60,000 miles · NY

Driver's door latch froze/broke on 2/18/2015. Cold morning in central nys. Could not unlock or open driver's door from outside or inside latches. Called my vw dealer and had car towed to them for repairs. I use my car for business and do substantial work in metro areas so I can not crawl in / out on passenger side at parking garages. My car has been at the local vw dealer since feb 18 as parts are back ordered. Today I was told the part won't be available until 3/14. If the door lock/latch parts are in such demand to be back-ordered for a month, this tells me the that the problem is prolific. I'm considered outside of warranty as well and have been quoted $500.00 for repair. I guess that's bye-bye to my vw loyalty credit I was hoping to use for routine maintenance items like oil changes. In addition, I had to rent a car at a rate of $300/week so this little gem has gotten quite costly.

Filed Mar 15, 2014 · Electrical · 12,000 miles · NY

Whenever outside temperature reaches below 20 degrees f the driver side lock freezes making it impossible to open this door. This is a safety hazard, as the only means of entry and egress is through the passenger side door. In the event of a crash, submerging in water, fire, or other type incident, there is significant risk, should the driver need to exit the vehicle. I have called volkswagen customer care on three separate occasions (case numbers are documented, calls recorded), only to be reassured that they have not had any other calls regarding this. The solution (help) that they offer is to have me bring the vehicle to my dealership when the lock is froze, so the dealer can see the lock when it is in this condition. In essence, they are asking me to drive a vehicle they manufactured with a significant safety concern to my dealership when it is the most unsafe to drive. Should I or anyone else have a need to exit the vehicle when the driver side lock is frozen, there is no way to do this. This poses an imminent health threat, and could result in loss of life or limb. As I started investigating this issue, I have found countless websites and forums that address this same concern with driver side door lock freezing on volkswagen products, to the extent that it really makes me wonder why our government is not entrenched in this issue. I would appreciate a response to this concern that I raise. If you have not heard about this issue prior to my writing, please consider this as official notification that I have a significant safety concern that warrants government investigation. Furthermore, this issue presents a clear and present danger, and immanent risk to consumer health and safety, and now you have notification. I appreciate your time, and look forward to your response. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).