VW Virtus Keyless Entry Failure: Door Handle Dead

Had a similar problem with my 2021 VW Jetta. The door actuator started acting up, making the keyless entry completely unresponsive. After some troubleshooting, the workshop found the issue was related to faulty wiring near the door mechanism. There was a damaged connection between the electric door sensor and the main control unit. The mechanic traced it to a cable that had worn out due to repeated door movement. The repair involved replacing the affected wiring harness and checking all door actuator connections. Total cost came to 95€ including diagnostic work. Since the fix, the keyless system has worked flawlessly. Before suggesting specific solutions, could you share: Have you noticed any other electrical issues? Does this happen on all doors or just one specific door? Can you still unlock the car using the physical key? Are there any other warning lights on the dashboard? This information would help determine if your car door issue is similar to what I experienced or if it might be a different sensor issue altogether.

Thanks for sharing the experience. My Virtus just had its first service last week at 15817km, and the issue started right after. The problem only affects the driver side door switch, while other doors work perfectly fine. No other electrical problems or warning lights are visible. The physical key works normally, suggesting the issue might be isolated to the keyless system components. I suspect there could be a wiring fault from the recent service work, especially since this door handle was working flawlessly before. The door actuator makes a slight clicking sound when attempting to use keyless entry, but nothing happens after that. I will mention these symptoms when taking it back to have the door sensor checked under warranty.

Thanks for the additional details, that timing with the service definitely raises some flags. My Jetta had a very similar symptoms pattern before I got it fixed, especially that clicking sound from the door actuator that you mentioned. Given that it started right after servicing and only affects one door switch, I would strongly suspect either disconnected wiring or a pinched cable from the service work. When my electric door system was repaired, the technician found that seemingly minor disturbances to the door wiring could cause these exact issues with the keyless entry. The clicking sound you describe matches what I experienced, it means the door handle electronics are detecting your key fob but failing to complete the unlock sequence. In my case, the wiring fault was preventing proper communication between the door sensor and the main unit. Since yours is under warranty and the issue emerged post-service, they should thoroughly check the door handle wiring connections. Make sure they specifically test the sensor connections around where they may have been working during the service. Would you mind updating once they check it? It would be helpful to know if your wiring fault turns out similar to what I encountered with my Jetta.

Thanks for the helpful responses. I just got back from the dealer and wanted to close out this thread with what they found. The technicians confirmed it was indeed a wiring issue caused during the recent service. While accessing the cabin filter, they had accidentally damaged a wire in the door mechanism harness. This created a poor connection between the door sensor and the main control module. They replaced the damaged section of the wiring harness under warranty and recalibrated the door electronics. The keyless entry system is now working perfectly again. The clicking sound from the door actuator is gone and the door handle responds instantly when approaching with the key fob. For anyone encountering similar door sensor issues after service work, definitely have them check the wiring connections. What seemed like a complex problem turned out to be a simple wiring fault that was quickly resolved once properly diagnosed. Total repair time was about 2 hours and since it was related to their previous service work, everything was covered under warranty. Really relieved it wasnt a more serious issue with the door handle components themselves.