2001 Volkswagen Passat Brakes Problems

My fuses keep blowing, this is leading to replacing the Brake switch which I believe was recalled. If it was replaced,it's not working.

NHTSA ID

11745122

Incident

Jun 18, 2026

ABS LIGHT ON AND BREAK LIGHT FLASHING

NHTSA ID

11120015

Incident

Jul 18, 2018

Mileage

125,000 mi

ABS CONTROL MODULE FAULT

NHTSA ID

10908805

Incident

Sep 22, 2016

Mileage

172,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 AT APPROX. 78 MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SAYS STOP! BRAKE FAILURE! SEE VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE. IN MY RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE, I'VE FOUND THIS HAPPENS ON ALMOST ALL 1998-2001 VW PASSATS AND AUDI A-4S. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10611366

Incident

Jun 20, 2014

Mileage

104,435 mi

ABS MODULE IS OUT, CAN'T GET EMISSIONS PASSED UNLESS I PAY OVER 600 DOLLARS. ALSO I DON'T HAVE ABS, CAN'T SEE IF MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MEANS ANYTHING BECAUSE I'M TOLD IT ALL GETS RE ROUTED THOROUGH THE ABS MODULE AND CAN'T GET PAST THAT PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10548346

Incident

Oct 11, 2013

Mileage

152,000 mi

SENDING THIS E-MAIL TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE ABS MODULE ON MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT THEY ARE NO REASON WHY IT SHOULD BE OUT , I BELIEVE ITS A DEFECTIVE PART, SHOULD LAST LONGER OTHER PEOPLE I TALK WITH SAY THEY HAVE BEEN THRU THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE VOLKSWAGEN NEED TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ABS MODULE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10504325

Incident

Mar 3, 2013

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE FAILURE WHICH CAUSES PERMANENT LOSS OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10470614

Incident

Jul 10, 2012

Mileage

126,000 mi

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE CONTROL MODULE FAILED CAUSING "STOP", AND OTHER LIGHTS TO COME ON AND STAY ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10462944

Incident

Dec 27, 2011

Mileage

130,000 mi

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING DEALER SAYS IT IS AN ABS CONTROL MODULE A 650 PART DOLLAR ENDING IN A 1000 DOLLAR ALL TOGETHER REPAIR CAR HAS 108,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10397081

Incident

Jan 13, 2011

ABS LIGHT CAME ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10373779

Incident

Dec 20, 2010

Mileage

118,200 mi

AFTER 130000 MILES, 2001 VW PASSAT ABS/BRAKE LIGHT LIGHTS UP AT RANDOM AND BEEPS 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING, NO BREAK DEPRESSION NECESSARY FOR THIS LIGHT TO GO OFF. MECHANIC DIAGNOSES AS ABS CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTION. THIS OCCURS MULTIPLE TIMES DURING OPERATION. PART TO COST $635.00 AND LABOR AND REPROGRAM OF NEW PART TOTALING $900.00. DIAGNOSIS OF THE ISSUE 100.00. ALL TOGETHER, $1000.00. PART HAS NOT YET BEEN REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336855

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND A TECHNICIAN ADVISED HIM THAT THE ABS WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE REPAIR WOULD COST A MINIMUM OF $1,000.00. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.

NHTSA ID

10290918

Incident

Jul 18, 2009

Mileage

95,000 mi

I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE INTO FIRESTONE FOR A ROUNTINE TUNE-UP AND TO REPLACE MY AXLE. BECAUSE OF FIRESTONES MIS-DIAGNOSIS OF THE TUNE-UP, THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE ENGINE COIL. MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO AUDI OF BROOKLINE FOR A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY FOUND THIS.....A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION - E.C.M..THE ENGINE COIL WAS ONLY A SYMPTOM OF THE BIGGER PROBLEM IN THE FAULTY E.C.M. MISFIRING. PRIOR TO BRINGING MY VEHICLE INTO FIRESTONE, IT WAS OPERABLE. BECAUSE OF THEIR TAMPERING WITH THE IGNITION COILS; MY VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DESTROYED. REGARDING THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT, THE CURRENT AND PASSED CONDITION OF MY VEHICLE, WHICH IS NORMALLY A HEALTHY, SAFE, VEHICLE, IS AS FOLLOWS: "FUEL DELIVERY INSPECTION AT PRESENT TIME, IGNITION SYSTEM CHECK, AND POWER PROVIDED TO COILS TECH FOUND NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (E.C.M.) AND A.B.S. CONTROL MODULE BECAUSE A.B.S. CONTROL MODULE WAS DISCONNECTED. RECONNECT AND ACCESS A.B.S. SYSTEM AND FAULT DETECTED CUSTOMER AWARE OF THE A.B.S. PROBLEM AND WARNING HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. THAT IS TRUE, AND NOT THE REASON FOR THIS LETTER. CONTINUED: FOUND E.C.M. FAULT FOR #3 IGNITION COIL OPEN CIRCUIT. PIN CHECK WIRES ON #3 IGNITION COIL PLUG #3 POST FROM CONNECTOR TO E.C.M. FOUND HEIGHT RESISTANCE IN WIRE, REPLACED #3 CONNECTOR AND RE-TESTED OK. ALSO CLEAN AND REPLACE TERMINAL ON TOP OF VALVE COVER FOR PROPER GROUND. START ENGINE AND ROAD TEST VEHICLE, FOUND ENGINE MISFIRE ON #1, #2, #3, #4 IGNITION COILS". I HAVE TO REPLACE ALL 4 IGNITION COILS, CATAYLTIC CONVERTER, AND E.C.M. THIS IS THE SECOND IGNITION COIL REPLACED IN THE 1 YEAR I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE. THIS CAR HAS MORE MECHANICAL ERRORS THAN IMAGINABLE. THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIRS IS IN THE THOUSANDS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO MAINTENANCE THIS TEMPERMENATL VEHICLE. I WILL HAVE TO JUNK THE CAR. I REFUSE TO FIX THIS VEHICLE. PUSHING FOR A RECALL!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10285456

Incident

Sep 3, 2009

Mileage

106,000 mi

FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IN MY 2001 VW PASSAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10262264

Incident

Mar 5, 2009

Mileage

144,000 mi

BRAKE ALARM LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME AND FLASHING ABS LIGHT AS WELL AS STOP. BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ARE FINE. DEALER SAYS IT NEEDS A REPLACEMENT ABS CONTROL MODULE - $1800. HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM AND MANY OWNERS OF VW'S AND AUDIS IN MY YEAR RANGE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259190

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

FAULTY BOSCH ABS MODULE IN 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN. THE WIRE GAUGE IS TOO SMALL, CAUSING OVERHEATING AND COMPONENT FAILURE. ABS MODULE UNIT REBUILT TO CORRECT STANDARDS. AFTER RESEARCHING, FOUND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL THOUSAND COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE. HOPING TO GET VW TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258600

Incident

Nov 1, 2008

Mileage

120,000 mi

ABS CONTROLLER FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257073

Incident

Jan 6, 2009

Mileage

99,000 mi

FAILED ABS MODULE AT 120,000 MILES. TYPICALLY A $1000+ REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10251738

Incident

Jan 20, 2008

THE ABS LIGHT AND A BRAKE LIGHT ARE ON ON MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FOR THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS. I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING AND LOOKS LIKE THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247930

Incident

Mar 7, 2008

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY 2001 VW PASSAT STOPPED WORKING. I CHECKED THE FUSES AND THE LIGHT BULBS; AND BOTH THE FUSES AND BULBS ARE GOOD. VW OF AMERICA RECALLED SEVERAL VW MODELS IN 2007 FOR BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE DUE TO A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. HOWEVER VW OF AMERICA DID NOT RECALL THE PASSAT. I WHEN ON LINE TO A VW BLOG; AND FOUND LOTS OF OTHER VW PASSAT OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR BRAKE LIGHTS. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT VW WILL NOT REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE ON THE PASSAT, BECAUSE THE PASSAT WAS NOT RECALLED. I WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO GET MY PASSAT REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246040

Incident

Oct 17, 2007

Mileage

44,600 mi

ABS MODULE FAULTY IN 2001 PASSAT STATION WAGON; BRAKE FAULT/ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON REPEATEDLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246011

Incident

Oct 18, 2008

Mileage

68,400 mi

ABS ALARM GOES ON WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. SAYS THAT THERE IS A BRAKE FAULT. BRAKES ARE APPARENTLY FINE, BUT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. WHEN THIS ALARM IS ON, THE ABS MAY NOT BE WORKING. MANY PEOPLE REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM IN VW'S AND AUDI'S. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245722

Incident

Sep 10, 2008

Mileage

59,500 mi

MY 2001 VW PASSAT ABS MODULE BECAME DEFECTIVE AFTER 1 YEAR OF OWNING CAR FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. NOT SURE IF ORIGINAL OWNER HAD DONE REPAIRS/REPLACEMENTS OF THE UNIT. NOW THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE CAR COMPUTER AND THE MODULE, THEREFORE NO ABS BRAKE IS ACTIVE. ABS LIGHT STAYS ON AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY. THERE ARE ALSO 3 BEEPS WHEN CAR HAS BEEN STARTED. I AM A VERY UNHAPPY CONSUMER OF VW DUE TO THEIR FAULTY VEHICLE EQUIPMENT AND HAS DETER ME FROM PURCHASING ANY VW IN THE FUTURE. I HAVE RECENTLY JUST HAD A REPAIR TO REPLACE MY MAF SENSOR, 2 IGNITION COILS, 4 SPARK PLUGS AGAIN AFTER PURCHASING BRAND NEW ONES JUST A MONTH PRIOR. IT WAS VERY COSTLY!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10245585

Incident

May 15, 2008

Mileage

115,000 mi

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AT NO WARNING AND UNEXPECTED. EACH TIME IGNITION TURNED ON IT BEEPS 3 TIMES AND THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT REMAIN ON. THIS SHOULD NOT BE FAILING THIS BAD. I JUST GOT THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 10 MONTHS WITH 106,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM THE 2ND OWNER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244071

Incident

Apr 10, 2008

Mileage

106,000 mi

NORMAL CAR OPERATION. ABS LIGHTS CAME ON - DIAGNOSED AS FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE. ABS BRAKES NO LONGER WORK! VW WANTS $1600 FOR REPAIRS. AFTER SOME RESEARCH DETERMINED IT IS A FAIRLY COMMON FAILURE ON MY CAR, 2001 PASSAT THAT VW HAS YET TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR ADDRESS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10239888

Incident

Aug 15, 2008