Send this into Lexus. What are the purpose of those holes? Are those supposed to be drain holes? Are they for ventilation to allow moisture to air out for example when a wet window is lowered into the cavity? The car so so insulated that moisture gets locked inside and causes the corrosion? Is there a drain hole for the door itself? Maybe they will now have a TSB now that you have identified a water intrusion area. I know moisture also gets into the trunk lid as you can see corrosion on the trunk lid bolts and the rear camera gets fogged. You can replicate it by running your windshield wiper washers and the water streams off the windshiled over the roof and down the back rear mirror and into the trunk lid gutters and between the trunk lid an trunk lid liner.

 

Is the solution as easy as putting a piece of waterproof tape over that hole?

 

Temping isn't it. That would probably mean water pooling around the handle due to surface tension, clearance between the handle and housing is tight.

 

It would be nice to know what purpose of the holes are. If it is for drainage then perhaps a tube to drain to the door drain plugs if there is a door drain plug?

 

Drain hose would be better than it is now, but the drain would probably clog on some cars.

 

If water accumulates inside the door handles then freezes, the handles won't extend, and you will be locked out of the vehicle.
It is normal for water to drain from the doors after rain or washing the car, what is problem that needs to be corrected? Is water leaking past the interior panel into the car?

 

I agree that drain tubes could get clogged, especially if there’s no easy way to clean them out. The hole on the hinge side isn’t accessible like the lock-cylinder side I posted earlier. Once the door panel is off, you could maybe work out some type of gutter system to at least keep water off the internal door-handle mechanism.

Completely blocking the two holes would cause water to pool inside the handle since it sits at about a a 25-degree angle with the car on flat ground. If the water pools enough, like when the car is parked on a sideways incline, could water start getting into the hinge mechanisms and cause problems? It might be possible that water is already getting into that area anyway.

With all that said, nobody really knows if water is truly the cause of the issue. From this and other forums, my understanding is that the part numbers for these handles have changed a couple of times over the years.

 

Wtf does that? Spray the door handle with it extended.
I’m pretty sure the door handle actuator issue is not caused by realistic water intrusion.

 

They're trying to show where and how water flows through the handle to help identify the problem. That video, along with many comments about people having the same issue has gotten Lexus corporate to cover owners repairs out of warranty.

 

I get the idea. But I get you if your keep the handle pulled out and spray water directly at it, water will get into the door.
I guess my point is, in the real world and usage, water will not be rushing in like that.