'13 NMS door lock issue

[RI_TDI]

Greetings all. Starting sometime in the last week, the driver's door has begun refusing to lock. When I press the lock button on the remote, The car makes all the right sounds and the red LED on the driver's door commences blinking but it your pull the handle the door will open. Also, I think that if the car is locked and the door is opened it should trigger the alarm, no?

But these cars have many features and I cannot dismiss the possibility that this problem is a failure of the seat-to-steering wheel interface. Your guidance is humbly requested.

 

[Booth44]

Are you pulling on the handle with the fob still in your pocket? If so, the KESSY system will sense the presence of the fob and automatically open the door for you.

 

[Honeydew]

The driver door lock on our car started cycling a lot at low speeds and blinking. We never checked whether the door actually locked. Mentioned it when we went if for the 23n5 a couple weeks ago and they identified a bad door lock, replaced under warranty.

 

[mishkaya]

Most likely the door latch on your car. There is a TSB out on the issue, and there is an updated part. Since you are now out of warranty, it will probably not be covered. The latch is about $140, and took me an hour to replace. I had the exact same issues as you do.
BTW, your car does not have an alarm system, unless you paid extra for that option...

 

[RI_TDI]

Not KESSY. Locked it, put the key in the house, and returned to test. No dice.

I'll look up that TSB. When you say it's the latch I assume the problem has to do with locking, not latching which thankfully works fine. Stay tuned.

 

[jck66]

Also, I'm not sure that the NMS actually has an alarm unless you have it added by VW or yourself.

 

[ChadS99SVT]

I'm having the same issue with mine. It has been intermittent but I can usually tell it's acting up when I stop at traffic lights and as I accelerate up to speed it trys locking all the doors.

It's been fine lately but there was a period of a week or two where it would not lock. It was pissing me off.

Please Post the TSB. Shouldn't VW pay for a part they know is defective?

 

[ben2mx]

I'm having the same issue with mine. It has been intermittent but I can usually tell it's acting up when I stop at traffic lights and as I accelerate up to speed it trys locking all the doors.

It's been fine lately but there was a period of a week or two where it would not lock. It was pissing me off.

Please Post the TSB. Shouldn't VW pay for a part they know is defective?

I have the same issue.

 

[RI_TDI]

Please Post the TSB. Shouldn't VW pay for a part they know is defective?

Yes, and no. It did last through the warranty period so we really have no recourse. I doubt this would get any attention in light of the emissions debacle. Maybe a a sympathetic dealer looking to support you loyalty.

There is a ton of bad precedent on paying for known defects that outlive the warranty. I had to replace the drive chain with gears and the entire balancer assembly in my B5.5. They no longer offered replacement parts for the original design for obvious reasons. The transmission was another $3,500 surprise. But I ran the car for over 220k, 100k+ on biodiesel and was generally satisfied. Like the NMS its fantastic for highway trips.

I have a service appointment tomorrow. No time to do this myself and do it right. Stay Tuned.

By the way, google "2013 Passat Technical Service Bulletin lock latch" and you'll see a number of related TSBs. None match this problem spot on and several apply to the Passat so your guess at the right one is as good as mine.

 

[ChadS99SVT]

Yeah i seem to remember the trunk latch being one. I had that repaired because it failed. I don't recall if I was inside warranty or not. I think I was just outside and VW paid for it.

Keep us posted on the fix and cost thanks.