2002 Volkswagen Passat Brakes Problems

THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKE LIGHT IS FLASHING RED. THE ABS MODULE SEEMS TO BE BAD. THE VEHICLE HAS THESE LIGHTS WHEN ITS MOVING AND STATIONARY

NHTSA ID

11112841

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE ABS BRAKES ARE FAULTY....THEY WORK RANDOMLY. FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCH THIS PARTICULAR MODULAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FACTORY RECALL.....

NHTSA ID

11055122

Incident

May 1, 2017

I GET AN AUDIO AND VISUAL ALERT ON MY DASH STATING TO 'STOP, BRAKE FAILURE' IT HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES WHILE DRIVING, TURNING, AND PARKED WITH THE CAR ON. THE CAR'S BRAKES HAVE NEVER FAILED TO BRAKE APPROPRIATELY. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO MY MECHANIC. THE OBD 2 SCAN SHOWS NO FAULTS AND MY MECHANIC SAYS THE BRAKES ARE FINE AND THESE CARS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE A FAULTY ELECTRONIC BOARD WHICH FALSELY ALERTS OF A BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11053751

Incident

Dec 2, 2017

Mileage

75,000 mi

ABS LIGHT IS ON

NHTSA ID

11019890

Incident

Aug 26, 2017

PERIODICALLY, WHEN DRIVING, THE "ABS", "BRAKE", AND THE "ANTI SLIP REGULATION" LIGHTS WILL FLASH WITH AN ALARM SOUND THAT LASTS AROUND THREE SECONDS AND THE LIGHTS GO OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING AND HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHILE STOPPED. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY THE CAR HANDLES, DRIVES, OR BRAKES DURING AND AFTER THIS OCCURS. ON ONE INSTANCE THE "ANTI SLIP REGULATION" LIGHT STAYED ON AND I HAD TO STOP AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN I STARTED IT AGAIN, THE LIGHT WAS EXTINGUISHED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 3-4 MONTHS AND ONLY HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE A WEEK.

NHTSA ID

10924446

Incident

Nov 2, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

BRAKE PEDAL WAS FROZEN - BRAKES INOPERATIVE. MECHANICAL INSPECTION REVEALED WATER IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER THAT HAD FROZEN, CAUSING LOSS IN BRAKE FUNCTION. EXAMINATION OF THE NHTSA WEBSITE REVEALED ACTION NUMBER PE07018 WHICH IS AN EXACT MATCH OF THE SYMPTOMS OF THE VEHICLE AFFECTED. THE PLENUM DRAINS WERE OBSTRUCTED WITH DEBRIS AND THERE WAS WATER IN THE PLENUM TRAY. *JS

NHTSA ID

10681796

Incident

Jan 7, 2015

Mileage

216,000 mi

THERE IS WATER IN THE BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER. WHEN IT IS COLD IT WILL FREEZE UP AN NO BRAKES. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR FOR THIS PROBLEM HAD CAR SIX YEARS.I CHECK THE PLEUM DRAIN AN ITS CLEAN. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. THE PART IS GNO 8EO 612 105 J SEE THIS HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=GCQ42RABHIK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10679906

Incident

Dec 24, 2014

Mileage

82,745 mi

ABS FAULT/FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653837

Incident

Nov 4, 2014

Mileage

97,000 mi

EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED, IT BEEPS 3 TIMES AND THEN MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASH ON MY DASH FOR MY ENTIRE CAR RIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643188

Incident

Jun 11, 2014

CAR BEEPS AND DISPLAYS THE ABS LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT. AT FIRST THEY APPEAR AND THEN DISAPPEAR. ON 6/12/2014 THE ABS IS ON EACH TIME I START THE VEHICLE PLUS THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE. ON TWO OCCURRENCES THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. THE FEAR IS THAT I HAVE LOST ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL, AND ALSO THAT THE E-BRAKE OR BRAKES WILL ENGAGE WHILE IN MOTION. MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF THIS HAVE OCCURRED IN VW PASSAT FORUMS AND MOST SUGGEST TAKING OUT THE ABS MODULE AND HAVING IT REFURBISHED DUE TO A HAIR SENSOR THAT GOES FAULTY ON THE PASSAT. MANY REQUESTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO HAVE THIS PART RECALLED AND FIXED, I AM ADDING MY REQUEST TO THE OTHER PARTIES INVOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10597963

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

Mileage

135,000 mi

ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE BRAKE LIGHT KEEP FLASHING ON AND OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10597545

Incident

May 14, 2014

Mileage

124,000 mi

DECEMBER 30, 2011, THE ENGINE EMISSIONS LIGHT CAME ON. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND, ESPECIALLY IN QUICK RESPONSE SITUATIONS, I.E. TRAFFIC LIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR TO PEP BOYS FOR A DIAGNOSTIC ON BRAKES/EMISSION. THEY SAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. COST $100. FEBRUARY 10, 2012, THE ENGINE EMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND ESPECIALLY IN QUICK RESPONSE SITUATIONS, I.E. TRAFFIC LIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS AND CHANGED THE BRAKE FLUID. I STILL EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE PROBLEM DURING COLD WEATHER (BELOW 15 DEGREES AND WIND CHILL). VW SUGGESTED BRINGING THE CAR IN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS THE SAME AS THE TEMPERATURE THAT I EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS MARCH AND THERE WERE NO FURTHER COLD DAYS. I BEGAN TO THINK THE CAR WAS A WARM WEATHER VEHICLE. COST $776. DECEMBER 14, 2012, THE VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. COST $377. DECEMBER 26, 2013, THE ENGINE EMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND, ESPECIALLY IN QUICK RESPONSE SITUATIONS, I.E. TRAFFIC LIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED HOSE AND VALVE TO CORRECT A VACUUM LEAK (VALVE STUCK). THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE FLUID. COST $376. JANUARY 8, 2014, THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND. I HAD TO USE THE HAND BRAKE TO STOP. I CALLED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOP. THE TOW DRIVER STATED IT WAS A BOOSTER PROBLEM. THE VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOP REPLACED BRAKE BOOSTER AND BRAKE FLUID. COST $848. IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKE PROBLEMS, THE BELLY PAN (BELLY SHIELD, SKID PLATE, LOWER ENGINE COVER) CAME OFF TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS ON APRIL 21, 2012 AND APRIL 12, 2014. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND POP THE PAN BACK UP. I TOOK THE CAR TO VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOPS TO HAVE IT REATTACHED. NO COST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10583913

Incident

Dec 30, 2011

Mileage

47,397 mi

ON A VERY COLD DAY (BELOW FREEZING) IN JANUARY 2013 WHILE DRIVING DOWN MY LONG DRIVEWAY WITH A 4% GRADE, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE CAR AND THE CAR ENTERED THE ROAD. THE ROAD HAS A SPEED LIMIT OF 50 MPH AND FORTUNATELY NO CAR WAS ON THE HIGHWAY OR I COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED. ON SUBSEQUENT WARMER DAYS THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE VW DEALER IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, FLOW VW, WHERE THEY FOUND WATER IN THE BOOSTER PUMP AND "REMOVED COWL DRAINS AND VACUUM WATER OF THE BOOSTER." THIS PROBLEM IS CITED IN A VW SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE THE NHTSA WEBSITE - P 9-66C8. THE INVOICE DID NOT MENTION INSTALLING AN IMPROVED POLLEN FILTER SEAL AS IS DESCRIBED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN. THE DEALER DID NOT CHARGE ME FOR THIS REPAIR WHEN I COMPLAINED THAT IT WAS DUE A DESIGN FLAW. THIS RESOLVED THE PROBLEM UNTIL THIS YEAR WHEN ON ANOTHER COLD DAY BELOW FREEZING THE BRAKES AGAIN FAILED TO STOP THE CAR WHEN DRIVING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY. ON SUBSEQUENT WARM DAYS THE BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY. I TESTED THEM AGAIN ON A VERY COLD DAY AND THEY AGAIN FAILED. I TOOK CAR BACK TO THE SAME VW DEALER ON A WARM DAY AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS WATER IN THE BOOSTER PUMP AND I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE BOOSTER PUMP AT A COST OF ABOUT $800. WHEN I COMPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW AS EVIDENCED BY REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON WEBSITES INCLUDING NHTSA?S WEBSITE THEY EVENTUALLY OFFERED TO LOWER THE PRICE TO $500. I BELIEVE THIS IS STILL TOO MUCH TO PAY FOR WHAT IS CLEARLY A VERY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWS WATER TO GET INTO THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THAT THE DEALER HAD FAILED TO REALLY CORRECT LAST YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563843

Incident

Jan 21, 2013

Mileage

123,124 mi

IN AUGUST OF 2013, WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING. AFTER EXAMINING THE CAR, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PLENUM THAT HOLDS THE BATTERY AND BRAKE BOOSTER WAS NEARLY FILLED WITH RAIN WATER. IT WAS NECESSARY FOR ME TO REMOVE ONE OF THE DUCK-BILLED DRAIN PLUGS IN THE PLENUM AS ALL WERE CLOGGED WITH DEBRIS, PREVENTING WATER FROM DRAINING OUT. THE FLOODED PLENUM APPEARS TO HAVE RESULTED IN WATER BEING DRAWN THROUGH THE VACUUM LINES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. THIS, IN TURN, CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER TO BE DRAWN INTO THE CRANKCASE. WATER WAS ALSO DRAWN INTO THE CYLINDERS RESULTING IN MISFIRING. AFTER REMOVING AT LEAST ONE DRAIN PLUG IN THE PLENUM FOR PROPER DRAINAGE, AND DOUBLE FLUSHING THE CONTAMINATED OIL IN THE CRANKCASE, I EXPERIENCED NO FURTHER BRAKING PROBLEMS UNTIL FREEZING WEATHER IN NOVEMBER 2013. IN NOVEMBER, WHILE BRAKING NEAR THE BOTTOM OF A HILL, I AGAIN EXPERIENCED A HARD PEDAL WITH NO DEPRESSION AND ALMOST NO BRAKING ABILITY, RESULTING IN THE CAR GOING INTO THE INTERSECTION BEFORE FULLY STOPPING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. TWO WEEKS LATER, THERE WAS AGAIN THE SYMPTOM OF A HARD PEDAL? WITH NO DEPRESSION AND NEAR LOSS OF ALL BRAKING. THE CAR WAS AGAIN RETURNED TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THIS TIME, THE VACUUM BOOSTER, THE VACUUM PIPES, AND THEIR RELATED ITEMS WERE REPLACED. AS NOTED IN THE DEALERSHIP INVOICE, EVIDENCE OF WATER WAS FOUND IN THE REPLACED VACUUM BOOSTER. THE DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE PLENUM HAD A SIGNIFICANT HIGH-WATER POLLEN LINE, INDICATING FLOODING OF THE PLENUM. IT WAS BELIEVED BY THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT STAFF THAT THE BRAKE FAILURES IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2013 WERE LIKELY THE RESULT OF RESIDUAL WATER FREEZING IN THE VACUUM BOOSTER, CAUSING THE BOOSTER TO BE INOPERATIVE. ALSO, THE IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 01/30/14 THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSUFFICIENT FIX DURING THE 2008 CAMPAIGN DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT ALLOWED FOR CONTINUED FLOODING OF THE PLENUM COMPARTMENT A

NHTSA ID

10560909

Incident

Aug 14, 2013

Mileage

128,800 mi

ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10535313

Incident

Aug 12, 2013

Mileage

113 mi

CEL 17887 BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE. THIS CAUSES A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. HARD PEDAL AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME TO A STOP. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS THE BRAKE BOOSTER FILLS WITH FLUID AND/OR DEBRIS CAUSING LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE. THE BRAKE BOOSTER CAN NOT FUNCTION WITHOUT THIS PRESSURE CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AT A REPUTABLE DEALER AND THEY VACUUMED OUT APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 GALLONS OF DIRTY LOOKING WATER. THERE IS STILL MORE INSIDE THE PART HOWEVER IT IS FROZEN DUE TO SINGLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE. AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF ALL CLAMPS, HOSES AND OTHER PARTS THE MECHANIC ASSURED ME THERE ARE NO CRACKED HOSES, LOOSE OR BROKEN CLAMPS (NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE BOOSTER IS FILLING WITH FLUID OR HOW TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN). THE MECHANIC STATES THE FLUID/DEBRIS BUILD UP INSIDE OF THE BOOSTER. THE CEL HAS BEEN RESET AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED (YET). THIS IS MY 18 YEAR OLD SON'S CAR AND EVERY DAY HE DRIVES THE VEHICLE I FEAR THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN SINCE THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION FOR THE OCCURRENCE THE FIRST TIME. REPORTS I HAVE READ FROM OTHER OWNERS STATE THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL YEAR. WHY ISN'T VW BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS MALFUNCTION? *TR

NHTSA ID

10494812

Incident

Jan 23, 2013

Mileage

110,897 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE A WARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 277,000.

NHTSA ID

10473202

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

Mileage

230,000 mi

THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW. MY CAR BEEPS AT ME ABOUT 3-4 TIMES & THE ABS & BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE TURNING OFF. FROM EVERYTHING I HAVE READ ONLINE, ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS MODULE & THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE PASSAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10459763

Incident

May 25, 2012

Mileage

68,000 mi

TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED. THE ABS MODULE IS BAD. 02 SENSORS ARE BAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449964

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

ABS SYSTEM LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING. CAR SENT TO AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT ABS UNIT HAD FAILED. $3000 REPAIR BILL REQUIRED TO BRING CAR BACK TO SPECS, INCLUDING REPLACEMENTS OF UPPER LINKS (8E0407505A), AND ABS UNIT (8E0614111AQ). *TR

NHTSA ID

10448645

Incident

Feb 15, 2012

Mileage

220,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS EXTREMELY STIFF AND WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ID

10445019

Incident

Jan 14, 2012

Mileage

62,000 mi

WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING, THE BRAKES ON MY 2002 PASSAT WAGON DO NOT WORK. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD, AND WILL NOT DEPRESS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A MECHANIC WHO HAS WORKED ON MY CAR FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER IN MY BRAKE LINES. THIS WATER MAY HAVE ENTERED THE BRAKE LINES FROM THE BRAKE BOOSTER IN A MANNER DESCRIBED IN INCIDENT REPORT #PE07018. ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL SO FAR (WATER HAS BEEN DRAINED OUT OF SYSTEM, DRAINS HAVE BEEN CLEARED OF LEAVES AND OTHER DEBRIS, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING). DOES VW HAVE ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENS, I DO NOT HAVE FUNCTIONING BRAKES (A RATHER DANGEROUS SITUATION, TO SAY THE LEAST). *TR

NHTSA ID

10443622

Incident

Jan 6, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi

STARTED CAR 5 AM DURING WINTER MONTHS-CAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY DEPRESSED-BRAKES WERE UN USABLE. CAR WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE HOWEVER BRAKES COULD NOT BE USED AT ANY POINT. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS ISSUE AS ANY FREEZING TEMPERATURE WILL RENDER THE BRAKES UN USABLE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A CRASH. BROUGHT THE CAR TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT A P9 SERVICE WHICH SEALED POLLEN FILTERS TO PREVENT DEBRIS FROM ENTERING THE AREA SURROUNDING THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAD BEEN DONE, BUT DEBRIS STILL ENTERED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10440834

Incident

Dec 13, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE AS A RESULT OF A FROZEN BRAKE LINE. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR DURING COLD WEATHER TEMPERATURES. THERE WAS AN OPENED AND CLOSED DEFECT INVESTIGATION ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE07018 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: POWER ASSIST: VACUUM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE ENGINE STALLED AND EMITTED BLUE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AFTER A RAIN. ALSO THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ID

10370332

Incident

Dec 8, 2010

Mileage

113,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL AND HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10367886

Incident

Dec 1, 2008

Mileage

58,000 mi