rain causes TCM failure

Greetings.
I just had my 03 4motion passat wagon towed to the dealer. It rained very hard in los angeles last week and I am told the TCM is in a puddle of water caused by plugged sunroof vents. They want 1200 plus labor!
How is it possible that an electronic component is placed where water will collect if a drain is plugged??

Has anyone else had this problem?

Please advise.

to update, I dumped the car. After 20 years as a loyal VW driver (12 total cars) I am out.
This one was only 4 years old!

The fact that vw would mount a sensitive electronic component at the lowest point in the foot well and then allow water into the cabin from the sunroof drains and other internal areas of the cabin.
It is beyond comprehension.
I went for the 08 volvo xc70 wagon, obviously a much more expensive car.

I loved the passat for its feel. It drove well.
I'm sorry but VW has finally lost me for good.

VW=pooh

We set out for a long drive to grandparents over Dec. 22 weekend. Lights flashing, signals going out, locks working or not, trunk not locking or closing, alarm horn honking occasionally. Middle of nowhere PA. Son says, "Dad, my feet are soaked, there's water back here". We don't have a sun roof, there is ANOTHER PLACE that the water comes in. Do you know where the Plenum is? Try googling. Nothing. Well that is something you have to keep clean of soot and leaves but Manual does not show where, and WHO KNEW anyway? NO OTHER car has ever had this problem.

So there are 2 places that can easily let water into the interior of a VW. Sunroof, and the Plenum (it is under the hood) if the drains under the hood get clogged, same thing, water collects in the underside of the car, rises to inside the footwells, and in meantime, what is under water? You found one, THE TRANSMISSION MODULE (can be very dangerous if it fails while you are on an LA Freeway). Pricey. but there are others. ALL THE ELECTRIC MODULES are under there (blinking lights, locks) SECURITY (honking alarm horn) SAFETY DEVICE MODULES (air bag deployment).

So we paid $1300 for repairs to get back home. It was towed to the dealer and was there 9 days.

I posted on another site. The majority of guys (my assumption, "guys") thought if you took it all apart and dried it out and replaced what had corroded, replaced the carpeting, all should be fine for years to come.

Well, I am not a mechanic or even amateur. I do not even want to take out the battery to check drains occasionally. It seems that checking the plenum might help but is no guarantee.

My mechanic of many years, looked at the car and said that there is virtually no way of completely drying the Modules out, the dealer certainly did not claim that, they wrote "tried" to dry the car out on the report. All 3 of the mechanics agreed, they have seen at least 4 VWs with recurring expensive problems, first one system, then the next, as the corrosion progresses in the modules. They claim the dealers know about the issue but VW does not acknowledge.

Who needs a faulty car backed by a disinterested manufacturer? It is too bad, this is my second Passat, the first we liked (only had 3 years). Anyway, this Passat is history, as fast as we can get rid of it.

Hey sorry you had such bad luck will VW Cars.
most have the great love Hate feel about are cars.

I do beleive it's who is not backing you as the customer. The one bad Dealer/sevice writers just trying to sell and VW tech's just looking for the next big service/brake job to bang it out and go to the next.

I check all my customers sun roof drains just for the problems that you have spoke of 5 minutes of prevention is large savings to you and keeps you as a loyal brand customer.
plus most of the time they tell me after They see the N/C to clean sun roof drains and lube door jams and latches. then they tell me I have noticed drips or door does make nosie when I open and close it. After they washed there cars or have gone thru high preasure car wash.

These little things it what make Customer happy and keep coming back.

Good luck with Your travels

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http://www.vortexautomotive.com

I am having the same problem. I just took my car to the dealership after my transmission was acting up. They told me it was because water had gotten into my floorboard through the sunroof drains and has fried my TCM. WHAT A POOR DESIGN OF A VEHICLE!!! My car is in warranty but this is evidently something that is not covered in warranty.

Did each of you who have had this problem simply pay for the damages, or did you find someone who found a way for warranty to cover it?

i hooked up my car inside out and now i got the same thing....where can i buy that part for cheaper

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Got the same issue; heavy rain, clogged sunroof, downhill park and drowned TCM $1500+ Crying or Very sad