Abstract: A vehicle door system having a vehicle door, a stationary handle fixed to the vehicle door, a door switch, a power latching mechanism and a wiring harness with a sealing grommet is provided. The door switch is mounted to the stationary handle in a manner which permits the door switch to be actuated when the stationary handle is gripped to open the vehicle door. The wire harness extends from the door switch through an aperture in the vehicle door and couples the door switch to a control module. The sealing grommet substantially seals the aperture to inhibit the infiltration of water and dust into the vehicle door. Actuation of the door switch causes the generation of a door switch signal which is received by the control module. Upon receipt of the switch signal, the control module determines the latched condition of the power latching mechanism and controls its operation according to a predetermined control methodology.