15 of the 142 complaints about the 1995 Volkswagen Passat are about the braking system — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 165,000 miles.
15
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
PARKING BRAKE
5SP VRG PASSAT. EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE WHEN APPLIED UNDER 40 DEGREES STICKS ON CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO DRAG DOWN THE ROAD FOR UP TO A MILE BEFORE THEY BREAK LOOSE AGAIN AND MOVE FREELY.
NHTSA complaint #10255042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
5SP VRG PASSAT. EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE WHEN APPLIED UNDER 40 DEGREES STICKS ON CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO DRAG DOWN THE ROAD FOR UP TO A MILE BEFORE THEY BREAK LOOSE AGAIN AND MOVE FREELY.
NHTSA complaint #10255042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
BACKUP LIGHTS DIDN'T TURN ON, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE ACCENT LIGHTS (LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATE THE GAUGES, WINDOW, A/C & HEATER CONTROLS AND LOCK BUTTONS ETC.) WOULD TURN ON. ALSO IF THE CAR IF THE KEYS WERE TURNED TO THE FIRST NOTCH (STEERING WHEEL UNLOCK) AND THE HEATER VENTS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION BUT NOT BLOWING (DUE TO NO POWER) WHEN YOU PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE AIR WOULD START BLOWING... I TRACED IT DOWN TO AN IGNORANT ELECTRICAL ENGINEER DESIGNING THE CAR. THE REVERSE LIGHTS WERE LOOMED ON TO THE TRUNK ARM, EVERYTIME THE TRUNK WAS CLOSED IT BENT THE WIRE CAUSING THE WIRE TO BREAK AND SHORT OUT OVER TIME, I FIXED THE WIRE AND REROUTED IT LOW AND BEHOLD THE REVERSE LIGHTS ARE APPARENTLY TIED INTO THE ACCENT LIGHTS AND THE A/C & HEATER CONTROLS CAUSING THOSE TO MALFUNCTION IF THE REVERSE WAS SHORTED, MY GUESS IS THEY MUST ALL SHARE A COMMON GROUND.
NHTSA complaint #10255029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS LIGHT FAILURE - CONTINUE LIGHT ON AND POSSBILE BRAKE FAILURE
NHTSA complaint #10111874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON MY 1995 PASSAT. THE DEALER DIAGNOSIS INDICATED I NEEDED A NEW ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT AT A COST OF $1,768.00. I CONSIDER THIS AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ITEM. I CONTACTED VWOFA CORPORATE AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10041588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS DASH WARNING LITE FIRST INDICATED IN APR 2000. OWNERS MANUAL CALLS FOR SERVICE AT AUTHORIZED VW SERVICE. INITIALLY NOTIFIED VW CONSUMER AFFAIRS AS LOCAL GERMAN CAR SHOP REPAIR ALERTED ME TO POSSIBLE RECALLS. VW CONSUMER AFFAIRS (800) 822-8987 INDICATED NO OPEN RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. GERMAN CAR EXPERT REPAIR, LASLO'S AUTO REPAIR-WOODBRIDGE, VA ATTEMPTED TO TROUBLE SHOOT VIA ONBOARD COMPUTER BUT NO DEFECT CODES WERE DISPLAYED. LASLO'S CLEANED ALL ABS WHEEL SENSORS AND DID FRONT BRAKE JOB TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. ABS LITE REMAINED ON. AGAIN CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA TO REPORT CONCERN, THEY REFERRED ME TO KAREN RADLEY VW, WOODBRIDGE, VA. RADLEY SERVICE ADVISOR HAD TECHNICIAN CHECK FOR ON-BOARD COMPUTER SYSTEM FAULT CODES RELATIVE TO THE ABS BUT NONE WERE FOUND. RADLEY TECH RESET COMPUTER BUT ABS WARNING LITE AGAIN ILLUMINATED ON DASH. FAST FORWARD TO DECEMBER 2000. AS ABS LITE HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED, I AGAIN REQUESTED VW OF AMERICA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE. STILL NO WORD ON OPEN SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS AFFECTING THE ABS SYSTEM. THROUGH THE CONTINUED EFFORTS OF THE KAREN RADLEY DEALERSHIP SERVICE REP, MR MATT BUCKLEY, VW REGIONAL SENIOR TECHNICAL SPECIALIST (OTS IN VW-SPEAK)CALLED IN FOR ASSISTANCE. I LEFT VEHICLE @ RADLEY FOR ONE DAY--4JAN01, HOWEVER, VW REGIONAL OTS WAS A "NO SHOW". I RESCHEDULED THRU MR BUCKLEY AT RADLEY FOR JAN 29, 2001. OTS CHECKED ALONG W/ RADLEY TECH BUT COULD FIND NO FAULT. EVENTUALLY, AFTER THREE MORE DAYS OF TROUBLE SHOOTING ALL POSSIBLE PROBLEMS, THE TECH NOTES THAT ONE OF THE ABS SYSTEM VALVE IN INOPERATIVE AND THE ABS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AS THAT MODULE WAS REPLACED THE ABS DASH BOARD LITE IN NOW OFF. MY CONCERN IS THE LACK OF ASSISTANCE FROM VW OF AMERICA, AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. IT SHOULD BE APPARENT THAT THE ABS SYSTEM, BEING A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE CAR'S OVERALL SAFETY SYSTEMS, SHOULD BE A HIGH PRIORITY MATTER. VW NEVER ONCE INITIATED CONTACT WITH ME, ALL COMMUNICATI.
NHTSA complaint #740615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHLE DRIVING DOWN A HILL BRAKES FAILED DUE TO AN UNCLEANED SENSOR. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING, AND IT WAS A FAILED/ SAFE SYSTEM, REGUALR BRAKES DID NOT KICK IN , TOTAL FAILURE OF ALL BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #876549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. NLM
NHTSA complaint #552644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN HAVING TO QUICKLY APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE, BRAKES TEND TO LOCK UP.
NHTSA complaint #718302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
CONTROL MODULE HAS INTERMITENT SHORTS - ABS SYSTEM CANNOT BE RELIED UPON TO WORK - MANUFACTURER STATES IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE - ABS SYSTEMS ARE PROVEN SAFETY DEVICES AND THIS SITUATION ENCOURAGES A "RUSSIAN ROULETE" SITUATION BECAUSE OF THE RANDOMNESS OF THE SHORT AND THE EXTREME EXPENSE TO FIX $1,500. DEALER STATED THAT THEY ARE SEEING PROBLEMS WITH THE UNIT ALOT - CAN VW BE ASKED TO REPORT THE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS THEY HAVE HAD WITH THIS PART/SYSTEM?
NHTSA complaint #708876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE PROPERLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, REPLACEMENT OF PADS AND ROTORS DID NOT RECTIFY PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #537429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED , THE BRAKES RESIST, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #821625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKES FAILED DUE TO A HOLE IN BRAKE LINE.
NHTSA complaint #518535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, SPEED CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE GOING NORMAL SPEED, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT..
NHTSA complaint #986113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SYSTEM FAILURE, TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE TRAVELLING AT 64 MPH. TT
NHTSA complaint #976305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.