A vehicle door assembly for a motor vehicle including a door frame, a trim panel secured removably to the door frame, and a carrier plate positioned between the door frame and the door trim panel. The vehicle door assembly further includes a door component fastened to both the door frame and to the carrier plate. Preferably, the door frame structurally carries at least 50 percent of the weight of the door component. An assembly including the carrier plate, the door component, and the door trim panel may be delivered as a unit to an assembly line of the motor vehicle for mounting to the door frame.