VW Touareg Door Sensor Failure Repair Cost Alert

Previously had a similar electric door malfunction on my 2014 VW Tiguan. The keyless entry system failed due to a faulty door handle sensor and damaged wiring harness in the locking system. The issue started exactly like yours, complete keyless failure followed by warning lights. Diagnosis revealed corroded connections between the door handle sensor and main control unit. The repair involved: Complete removal of door panel, Replacement of door handle sensor unit, Rewiring of the door mechanism harness, Recalibration of the central locking system This turned out to be a serious repair requiring specialized diagnostic equipment. The job took around 4 hours at the shop. The door mechanism needed to be fully disassembled to access the damaged components. Main cause was moisture infiltration that damaged the sensor connections over time. Would strongly recommend having this checked by a VW specialist who has experience with these specific electric door systems, as incorrect repair can lead to more extensive damage to the control modules. The repair completely resolved the issue without any recurring problems in the following 2 years.

Thanks for sharing your Tiguan door sensor experience. Really helpful to hear it was moisture causing the sensor issue. Sounds very similar to my Touareg problem with the door actuator and keyless system failing. Quick follow up, do you remember roughly what the final repair bill came to? Also curious if you had any other door electronics issues pop up since getting it fixed? The dealer quoted me a shocking amount so trying to get a sense of what others paid.

Had my Tiguan back to the shop last week and they sorted the door handle electronics fault completely. The issue ended up being much simpler than initially feared, just a loose cable connection in the door mechanism that was causing the sensor issue. Total repair cost was 95€, which included diagnostic testing of the locking system and fixing the faulty connection. Much better than the initial quotes I was getting. The door switch and keyless entry have been working flawlessly since the repair. No other door-related problems have appeared in the following months. Looking back, I was probably too worried about needing a complete sensor replacement when it was just a basic connection problem in the door mechanism. Sometimes these electric door issues turn out to be relatively straightforward fixes when you find the right mechanic.

Thanks for the advice. Finally got the car back from the mechanic yesterday. The door handle sensor was indeed shot, but the wiring fault turned out to be minor. The shop found corroded terminals in the door mechanism that were causing the keyless entry to fail. Total bill came to 280€ including parts and labor. Much better than the 800€ the dealer quoted. The electric door functions are all working perfectly now. Mechanic showed me the old corroded sensor, definitely needed replacement. Shop also applied some extra weather sealing around the door handle to prevent future moisture issues. Really glad I asked here first and learned what to look for. Good to know these door switch problems are fairly common and not always as expensive as dealers make out. For anyone searching later, took about 3 hours total for them to sort it. Would definitely recommend getting a second opinion if quoted high prices for electric door repairs.