Vehicle door lock, especially tailgate lock

A motor vehicle door lock for a tailgate, the motor vehicle door lock comprising:

• a locking mechanism having a rotary latch and a pawl,
• an unlocking/opening actuator for the locking mechanism,
• a locking actuator for the locking mechanism,
• a closing lever engageable between the locking actuator and the locking mechanism,
• at least one sensor configured to query a position of the rotary latch, wherein the at least one sensor is arranged at a distance from a locking mechanism plane and protected in a lock interior, and
• an actuating element configured to follow movement of the rotary latch, wherein the actuating element is configured to directly impact the at least one sensor,
• wherein the rotary latch, the closing lever, and the actuating element are coaxially mounted on on a common axis, wherein
• the at least one sensor is mounted to a first side of a mounting plate, the actuating element is arranged adjacent the first side of the mounting plate and extends along the first side of the mounting plate, and the locking mechanism is arranged adjacent a second side of the mounting plate opposite the first side and extends along the second side of the mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate covers a fish mouth associated with the locking mechanism to close the fish mouth relative to the at least one sensor and the actuating element arranged on the first side of the mounting plate, and wherein
• the closing lever extends along the second side of the mounting plate opposite the actuating element.