helmuthahn3
VW Taos Door Lock System Failure Causes Alarm Issues
Summary of the thread
A 2021 VW Taos is experiencing a door locking problem where the doors won't lock or unlock using the key fob or interior switches, and the car alarm behaves erratically. The issue is suspected to be due to a faulty door contact signal or electrical issue, possibly involving the central control module or wiring harness. Similar experiences with other VW models suggest that a bad connection in the main wiring harness could disrupt the entire locking mechanism. It is recommended to have the dealer inspect the wiring harness connections to the central locking module before considering more expensive repairs.
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4 comment(s)
helmuthahn3 (community.author)
Thanks for sharing your experience. My Taos just had its latest service at 40000km with no issues reported. The problem occurs with all doors consistently, and the power windows still work normally. I checked the obvious things like fuses and battery voltage. No correlation with weather conditions so far. The automatic locks started acting up suddenly last week. Its strange that the electrical issue affects both the key fob and interior switches simultaneously. Makes me think its likely a central control module problem rather than individual door sensors. Getting nervous about the potential repair costs, but ill have the dealer check the wiring harness connections first before replacing any major components.
emanuelwilson1
Thanks for those additional details about your Taos issues. After reading your description, this sounds even more similar to what I experienced with my Tiguan. The fact that all doors are affected simultaneously, while other electrical functions work fine, strongly points to a central wiring or module issue rather than individual door sensors. In my case, the simultaneous failure of both key fob and interior switches also made me think it was a major control module problem, but it turned out to be much simpler. The vehicle doors in these models use a complex network of sensors and contact signals that all feed into the central locking system. A single bad connection in the main wiring harness can disrupt the entire door locking mechanism, even when each individual door sensor is working properly. My repair was relatively inexpensive because the issue was found in the wiring rather than needing a full module replacement. Since your symptoms match mine so closely, I suggest having them thoroughly check the wiring harness connections to the central locking module before replacing costlier components. When the dealer checks yours, make sure they inspect the main connection points where the door sensor wiring meets the central module. This is often a trouble spot in these models and could save you significant repair costs compared to a full module replacement.
helmuthahn3 (community.author)
Thank you all for the helpful feedback. Your experiences have given me more confidence about the repair direction. Based on the symptoms and your similar cases, Ill specifically ask the dealer to inspect the wiring harness connections between the door sensors and central module first. Understanding that the problem likely stems from a wiring issue rather than a complete module failure is reassuring. The fact that power windows still work while both the key fob and interior switches are affected seems to match the wiring connection theory. Also good to know that when you experienced similar issues, the repair costs were reasonable due to finding wiring problems rather than needing major component replacements. Ill schedule the dealer visit this week and have them focus on checking the contact signals and door sensor connections before considering more expensive repairs. Will report back with what they find regarding the wiring harness inspection and final fix. The comprehensive breakdown of possible causes has really helped me understand what to expect during the diagnostic process. Hoping for a similarly straightforward and cost-effective resolution.
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VW
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TAOS
emanuelwilson1
I had a similar automatic locks problem with my 2019 VW Tiguan last year. Having some experience with car electrical systems, I initially thought it might be a simple door sensor issue. The symptoms were nearly identical, the door locks stopped responding to both the key fob and interior switches. The car alarm would also trigger out of nowhere, which was quite frustrating. After attempting basic troubleshooting like checking fuses and battery voltage, I took it to my regular workshop. Their diagnostic revealed a faulty wire connection in the door harness that was interrupting the signal from the door sensor to the central locking system. The repair involved fixing the connection and recalibrating the door sensor system. The total repair cost was 95€, which included diagnosis and fixing the cable connection. Since then, the vehicle doors and alarm system have worked flawlessly. Can you provide some additional details about your Taos: Does this happen with all doors or just specific ones? Are there any other electrical issues like window controls or mirror adjustments? Have you noticed if the problem gets worse in wet weather? This information would help determine if youre dealing with a similar electrical issue or potentially a different door sensor problem.