Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jan 18, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
1%
of 748 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Volkswagen Passat submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming brake
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Brakes
Filed Jan 18, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop immediately. The brake pedal was depressed several times before the vehicle came to a complete stop. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,000.
NHTSA ID
11566262
Incident
Sep 1, 2023
Mileage
125,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 2, 2021
AS I WAS TURNING INTO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX I FELT MY BRAKES BEGIN TO LOCK UP. I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT AND THE INSIDE OF THE CAB BEGAN TO SMOKE. MY CAR GAVE ME NO WARNING AND I COULD NOT LOCATE THE ISSUES OF THE SMOKE. I CALLED MY MECHANIC AND GOT THE VEHICLE TOWED OVER THERE. WHILE THE CAR WAS GETTING TOWED, OIL BEGAN TO FALL FROM BELOW THE ENGINE. MECHANIC REPORTED THE VACUUM PUMP WENT BAD. THAT IT ALSO LOCKED UP AND WAS LEAKING HEAVILY. HE ALSO STATED THIS WAS THE WORSE HE HAS EVER SEEN AS WELL AS TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT. I WILL INCLUDE PHOTOS WITH THIS REPORT.
NHTSA ID
11398616
Incident
Feb 23, 2021
Mileage
54,600 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 1, 2021
THE VEHICLE LOST ALL BRAKING PERFORMANCE WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY AFTER COMMUTE HOME. THE PEDAL BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO PUSH AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW NORMALLY. THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP FAILED TO PRODUCE VACUUM AND ALSO PRODUCED A MASSIVE OIL LEAK. 2.75L OF OIL WAS GONE AFTER SECONDS. IT WAS PARKED AND TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY.
NHTSA ID
11398580
Incident
Feb 25, 2021
Mileage
56,550 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 20, 2018
THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS (FRONT AND REAR) ON MY 2013 VW PASSAT 3.6 SEL ARE RUSTING, AND MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I COME TO A STOP. VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT VERIFIED THAT I HAVE PLENTY OF PADS AND ROTORS ON MY BRAKES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, AND FURTHER CONFIRMS A LACK OF BUILD QUALITY FOR PADS AND ROTORS THAT COST $1,100 TO REPLACE. IT'S QUITE OBVIOUS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND EXECUTIVE TEAM AT VOLKSWAGEN AREN'T INTERESTED IN QUALITY OR SAFETY. THEY ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN SACRIFICING QUALITY AND SAFETY TO SAVE A DOLLAR.
NHTSA ID
11162789
Incident
Dec 14, 2018
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Oct 17, 2016
Crash reported2 injuries reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE PROCEEDING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND SCRAP METAL PASSED THROUGH THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO THE HAND AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN RIB. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000. ....UPDATED 01/11/2017*CT CONSUMER STATED AIRBAG RECALL REPLACEMENT COULD NOT BE COMPLETED-PART NOT AVAILABLE- DEALER INSTALLED "CLOCK SPRING" AS TEMPORARY FIX UNTIL NEW AIRBAG AVAILABLE- RECALL SPRING OF 2016- PART NEVER MADE AVAILABLE. VW ENGINEERS WOULD EXAMINE THE CAR AT THE SALVAGE SITE, ENGINEERS DETERMINED CONSUMER FOOT WAS ON THE GAS, NOT BRAKE PEDAL AND THERE WERE NO TEARS IN THE AIRBAG AND THEREFORE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MECHANICAL FAILURES OR PERSONAL INJURIES. CONSUMER STATED FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOT GAS PEDAL. UPDATED 66/22/18*JB
NHTSA ID
10916621
Incident
Sep 24, 2016
Mileage
27,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 6, 2015
THE REAR BREAK CALIPER EXPLODED WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD WITH TWO SMALL KIDS IN THE BACK SEAT. THE BRAKES BECAME UNUSABLE, AS THE FLUID WAS SPILLING OUT AND WE COASTED TO A STOP.
NHTSA ID
10788957
Incident
Oct 30, 2015
Mileage
52,000 mi
BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Jul 7, 2014
OUR 2013 VW PASSAT'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SUDDENTLY WENT DEAD WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON A BUSY ROAD. WE PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE CAR STARTED UP AGAIN. AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT TWO MILES, THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT OFF AND AGAIN WE PULLED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE WE CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE CAR CURRENTLY IS AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE CENTER BEING REPAIRED. APPARENTLY, OTHER VW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES. NHTSA, PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU. *JS
NHTSA ID
10608540
Incident
Jul 6, 2014
Mileage
20,500 mi
BrakesEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Feb 3, 2014
MY FIRST WEEK WITH THIS CAR AND THE BRAKES START TO MAKE THE NASTIEST SOUND. IT WAS AS IF IT HAD NO BRAKE PADS. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR I SUSPECTED THE BRAKES FROM THE START. I HAD TO TAKE IT IN AND THEY CHECKED THEIR SITE AND IT REPORTED THAT ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR THE CARS CAME WITH A DEFECT IN THE BRAKES. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THEM WITH NEW ONES. 2 MONTHS LATER IT STARTS UP AGAIN. THE BAD THING IS THAT VW NEVER ADMITS TO THEIR FAULTY CARS. THEY SET ME UP WITH HIGH PAYMENTS AND WONT HELP ME WITH ANY OF MY CONCERNS. THE CAR IS NICE NO DOUBT ABOUT IT BUT WHY WOULD I WANT TO STAY WITH A FAULTY CAR AND HIGH PAYMENTS? MAKES NO SENSE! *TR
NHTSA ID
10562779
Incident
Apr 1, 2013
Mileage
12 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own