Tag Archives: door malfunction

Volkswagen ID.4 Door Handle Malfunction

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Door handle water intrusion Recent developments in automotive safety have brought to light a significant issue with the 2021-2023 Volkswagen ID.4 models. These vehicles have been identified as having door handles that fall short of the required standards for water ingress protection. This defect poses a serious safety risk, as it can lead to malfunctions in the door lock system, causing doors to open unexpectedly.

The Central Safety Concern

The main safety hazard is the risk of doors opening spontaneously under high lateral forces, particularly at speeds below 9 mph (15 km/h). This can be dangerous for both the vehicle’s occupants and those outside, including pedestrians and nearby objects. The problem stems from water entering the printed circuit board within the door handle, leading to miscommunications with the door control unit.

Signs of the Malfunction

Drivers and passengers in the affected Volkswagen ID.4 models may notice an unusual clicking sound, similar to that of doors locking or unlocking, which can indicate the onset of this issue.

Timeline of the Volkswagen ID.4 Door Handle Issue

  • June 2021: The first signs of this issue in the Volkswagen ID.4 were reported in the U.S., with two cases of door openings. Investigations pointed to wiring harness damage as a cause of water ingress.
  • April 2022: Additional reports confirmed the presence of water in the circuit board.
  • April-November 2022: Volkswagen conducted in-depth analyses using malfunctioning parts, signal debugging, and accelerated aging tests.
  • November 2022: Tests on field vehicles identified the issue at speeds below 15 km/h.
  • January-February 2023: In collaboration with suppliers, Volkswagen analyzed and tested deconstructed field parts.
  • February 2023: Environmental tests commenced on serial parts to better understand the ingress of water.
  • February 28, 2023: The NHTSA called for a meeting with VWGoA to discuss the ID.4 door handle issue.
  • March 2023: Continued investigations by VWGoA and NHTSA, with no definitive root cause identified initially.
  • March 28, 2023: Completion of climate chamber tests led to the identification of the root cause.
  • April 2023: Volkswagen’s Product Safety Committee started identifying affected ID.4 vehicles.

Recall Decision and Implications

By April 26, 2023, Volkswagen’s Product Safety Committee had decided to recall the affected 2021-2023 ID.4 models, following 28 reported instances of door openings. This recall is a vital step in rectifying a crucial safety defect, highlighting the need for stringent quality control and proactive measures in the automotive industry.

Range Rover Doors Could Unexpectedly Open

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Jaguar Land Rover North America have identified a concern related to safety affecting certain 2013-2016 Land Rover Range Rover and 2014-2016 Land Rover Range Rover Sport models. These vehicles were previously repaired under NHTSA recall 19V-392, where drivers were given no indication of an unlatched door condition.

In this recall, customers say they continue to experience unlatched doors with no indication despite having the problem previously repaired. In one instance, there were reports of the door opening while the vehicles was still in motion.

Those receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealers to have the system tested and repaired. The recall is expected to begin August 28, 2020. Land Rover’s number for this recall is N476 and the NHTSA campaign number is.20V-387.

2015-2016 Nissan Altima Rear Doors Could Unexpectedly Open

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Nissan will be asking owners of certain 2015-2016 Altima vehicles to return to their dealerships to correct a problem affecting the rear door locks. According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, Nissan was notified of an incident involving a rear door that unexpectedly opening while the vehicle was in motion. Further investigation found that during the rear door trim panel installation process, the latch lock cable may have been routed incorrectly. Under certain conditions, the cable may interfere with the window regulator causing the rear passenger door to unlatch and open when the window is lowered.

Nissan will notify owners and dealers will correct the rear door latch/lock cable routing. Owners wanting more information about the problem are asked to contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. The NHTSA campaign number for this recall is 17V-040.

2011-2016 Toyota Sienna Sliding Door May Unexpectedly Open

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A safety defect will have certain 2011-2016 Toyota Sienna owners returning to their dealership for repairs. The subject vehicles are equipped with power sliding doors which rely on certain inputs to open or close the door. There is a possibility that, under certain conditions which impede the opening of the door, such as when the door becomes frozen with ice, the sliding door motor could stall when the door is operated. If the motor stalls, high current in the door motor circuit could be generated, operating the fuse for the door motor. If the fuse is operated with the sliding door latch mechanism in an unlatched position, the door could open while driving.

Owners will be mailed an interim notice for this defect because a remedy is still under development. Owners wanting more information about the problem are asked to contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s number for this recall is G04 and the NHTSA campaign number is 16V-858.

2011 Audi A4 California Lemon Law Buyback

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A previous client who lives in Los Angeles contacted us a couple of months ago. We helped him 6 years ago with a buyback under the California lemon law because his Chrysler was a lemon. When he started having problems with his 2011 Audi A4, he knew what to do immediately…Call the Law Offices of Delsack and Associates. Continue reading →

Honda Door Latch Problem

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Honda is recalling certain 2012 Honda CR-V and 2013 Acura ILX vehicles for a problem that could lead to the doors not fully latching. If the manual or power door lock is activated at the same time the interior front door handle is being operated, the cable connecting the interior door handle to the door latch mechanism could become loose and move out of position. The door may not fully latch and could open while driving. Honda will replace the front door latch assemblies and the interior front door handles. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

Honda Odyssey Defective Liftgates

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Honda is recalling certain 2008-2009 Odyssey minivans, equipped with power liftgate systems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began an investigation into the problem last September after receiving seven complaints alleging unexpected closing of the vehicle’s liftgate. The results found that a manufacturing flaw in the doors gas filled struts, allows the pressurized gas to leak, reducing the strut performance. Honda will be notifying owners and dealers of the problem and will replace both struts free of charge. For more information on the defect, contact Honda customer service center at 1-800-999-1009.