VW Crafter Door Electronics Failure, Fix Guide

Had a similar door switch and sensor issue with my 2020 VW Transporter. As someone with basic DIY experience working on vans, I initially thought it was just the door handle itself. The workshop performed a full diagnostic scan which revealed a faulty cable connection between the door control module and the locking system. The connector had corroded over time, causing intermittent failures in the keyless access system. Total repair cost was 95€, mostly labor for accessing the wiring and replacing the damaged connector. The symptoms matched yours exactly, keyless entry completely dead but everything else working fine. The fix was pretty straightforward once they identified the actual problem point in the wiring. To help troubleshoot your specific case, could you share: Whether the issue started suddenly or developed gradually, If you notice any other electrical quirks with the doors, The exact error code stored in the system, Whether all doors are affected or just one These details would help determine if you are dealing with a similar connector issue or something else in the electric door system.

Just had my last service at 163000KM where they checked all electronics. The issue started gradually over 2 weeks. The driver side door handle began acting up first, then the keyless system failed completely. Getting a P0643 code from the scan tool. Only the front doors are affected, rear doors and sliding door work normally. My local shop initially suspected a sensor issue but given your experience with the wiring fault, I will have them check the door control module connections first. Makes sense that corrosion could cause these symptoms, especially since the electric door system was working fine before. Did your repair shop need to order any special connectors, or were they able to clean and repair the existing wiring?

Thanks for those details. After my connector issue was fixed, I had no further problems with the door electronics for over 50000km now. In my case, the workshop actually had to replace the entire wiring harness section between the door mechanism and control module, cleaning the existing connector wasnt enough since corrosion had spread into the wiring itself. The P0643 code you mentioned often points to a voltage reference issue, which matches the pattern of a wiring fault rather than just a sensor issue. Since your front doors are the only ones affected, that really narrows it down to either the main door control module or its associated wiring, very similar to what I experienced. The gradual failure pattern also matches a progressive wiring problem rather than a sudden door handle electronics failure. My repair took about 3 hours total. The shop ordered a standard wiring repair kit that included new connectors and section of door wiring. Cost breakdown was: Parts (wiring kit): 65€, Labor: 180€ Make sure they do a thorough check of all door mechanism connections while they are in there. In my case, they found slight corrosion starting on the passenger side as well, so they proactively replaced both front door wiring harnesses to prevent future issues.

Based on this helpful info about the wiring harness, I feel more confident about the repair path forward. The symptoms match exactly, gradual failure of the door actuator system starting with one door handle, then spreading to the complete keyless system. The P0643 code fits the pattern too. I will have my shop investigate the wiring between the door mechanism and control module first, rather than jumping straight to replacing sensors or the electric door handle assembly. Makes sense to check both front doors while they are working on it, given the potential for corrosion spreading through the system. Will schedule the repair next week and request they order the full wiring repair kit rather than attempting to clean the existing connectors. The 245€ total cost from your repair seems reasonable considering the amount of work involved accessing the door electronics. Thanks for sharing your experience, this will save time by pointing the diagnosis in the right direction from the start. I will update once the repair is complete to confirm if the wiring was indeed the root cause of my door sensor issues.