Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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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 2015 Volkswagen Passat submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 28 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.
The 25 most recent of 28, in the owner's own words
The three issues above seems to be related or affect the other and does not allow cruise control to operate. The air bag light remains on and associated component light up the dash. Surprisingly, my VIN does not show up for air bag repair. I wish I did not have to wait for possible recall announcement for my vehicle before I can get it repaired and instead to fix it now. Frustrating.
Power brakes are not functional on startup when cold -- brake pedal is very stiff and takes a lot of pedal pressure to stop the car from moving while exiting driveway. Generally, braking improves within a minute or two of driving, but sudden stops in this condition are difficult and unsafe. The dealer service department diagnosed a leaking check valve in the vacuum system and the brake booster needs to be replaced - safety-related components such as brake boosters should not be failing at such an age.
ABS module failure at 56,000 miles. Warning lights illuminated on dashboard are ABS, brakes, stability control, tire pressure and airbags. Local VW dealer inspected and confirmed failure of ABS module.
After a brake job with the replacement of brake fluid, the brake pedal is soft even after re-bleeding. Two methods were used, pressurized and new fluid fed through the reservoir tank and then manually with two people replacing the fluid in the reservoir. Working on resolution. First brake replacement at about 40,000 miles.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 15V705000, MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: 23R1 PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD BY MANY MECHANICS THE BRAKE ISSUES OR SOFTNESS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING IS DUE TO A FAULTY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. CAR HAS 49K MILES. SPENT MORE THAN 1500.00 ON BRAKE NEW BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS, AS WELL BRAKE FLUID FLUSH AS RECOMMENDED, AND VEHICLE STILL HAS DIFFICULTY COMING TO A STOP. THERE ARE DAYS IS BRAKES OK AS COLDER DAYS, AND HOTTER DAYS IT JUST SINKS TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE MAKES SCRAPING NOISE WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE BRAKE WOULD STAY STUCK WHEN ON A HILL. WOULD HAVE TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IT.
LOSS OF AIRBAGS, POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FUNCTIONS, ENGINE HESITATION. INDICATOR LIGHTS ON DASH FLASH OR STAY ON STEADY INCLUDE: COIL, STEERING WHEEL, AIR BAG, ABS, IMAGE OF CAR SKIDDING, BRAKES, AND TIRE INFLATION. THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK AND THE FUEL GAUGE JUST KEEPS SWEEPING. THE REV LIMITER DOES NOT WORK EITHER. THE AUTO START FEATURE IS NON FUNCTIONAL AND THE PUSH BUTTON TO STOP THE MOTOR FROM RUNNING MUST BE PRESSED TWICE INSTEAD OF ONCE. CAR HAD THIS DISCREPANCY ON 30 JAN 2019, 06 FEB 2019, AND NOW 27 FEB 2019. THE DEALERS KEEP WORKING ON A GROUNDING NUT BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS PERSISTING. PROBLEM HAS ALWAYS ACCURSED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE CAR, NOT WHILE DRIVING.
MY PREGNANT FIANCE, HER 3YR OLD SON AND I WERE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET APPROXIMATELY 35MPH. A VEHICLE CUT OFF THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME AND THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BEAKS, WHICH MADE ME SLAM ON MINE. I SLAMMED ON MY BREAKS AND IT DID NOT STOP MY VEHICLE, I TRIED TO USE MY EMERGENCY BREAK AND DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE SO I SWERVED OVER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID MY FIANCE'S PASSENGER SIDE FROM BEING HIT. I REAR ENDED THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. EVERYONE SEATBELTS LOCKED EXCEPT MY FIANCE'S. SHE HIT THE DASH, INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED IT DID NOT GET HIT HARD ENOUGH TO DEPLOY AIRBAGS. THERE HAS BEEN A COUPLE TIMES PREVIOUS TO THE ACCIDENT THAT I WOULD BE AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY BREAK PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN AND ALL THE SUDDEN I WOULD START TO SLOWLY ROLL, WITH THE BREAK PEDAL STILL ALL THE WAY DOWN.
THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS LOCKED ON (IN PLACE) WHILE THE HANDLE IS DOWN IN THE CAR CAUSING THE CAR TO DRIVE UNBEKNOWN TO THE DRIVER THAT THE BRAKE IS STILL ON THUS CAUSING EXCESS DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE, CALIPER AND ROTOR. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH VW PASSATTS AND JETTAS AND THAT THE PARTS ARE SCARCE BECAUSE OF THAT. THE AMOUNT TO REPAIR WAS GREATER THAN $600. IF I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE VW DEALERSHIP THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME DOUBLE THAT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V705000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. VOLKSWAGEN OF SAN BERNADINO, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT NEED TO BE REPAIRED PER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT ISSUED RECALLS. IF THE RECALL REPAIR DID NOT NEED TO BE PERFORMED, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CLOSE THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME, BUT THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE FIRST CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE SCENE. THE PAUL CLARK VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION AND WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED A SECOND TIME AFTER THE FAILURE RECURRED, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,175. *JS
ANTILOCK BRAKES CAUSED ABRUPT BREAKING, COMING TO A FORCEFUL STOP AND CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THIS HAPPENED AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS CREATING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE FAMILY. LAST EXPERIENCED ON FEB 3, 2017
IT WAS TWICE WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOICE WHEN I TURN THE ENGINE ON AND AND PLACING THE CAR ON REVERCE THE NOICE LAST FOR MORE THAN 10 SEC IT HAPPEN ONCE AND THEN THE SECOND TIME WAS 2 DAYS AFTER I TOOK IT TO INSPECTION AND THEY TOLD ME EVERYTING LOOK FINE. AND 11/20/2016 I STARTED HEARING A NOICE COMMING FROM THE FRON DRIVER SIDE WHEEL EVERYTIME I WOULD TURN OR WHEN I WOULD STEP ON THE BREAK AND THIS HAPPEN EVRYTIME IM DRIVING
I BOUGHT A 2015 PASSAT WOLFSBURG EDITION IN FEBRUARY OF 2015. WITHIN THE FIRST 200 MILES VEHICLE WAS SHIMMYING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE BRAKES UNDER THE WARRANTY SAYING ITS WEAR AND TEAR. I CALLED VWA THEY ADVISED DEALER AND THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED. NOT EVEN TWO WEEKS AFTER BRAKES START SQUEALING. I RETURN TO DEALERSHIP AND GET TOLD ITS NOTHING. BRAKES CONTINUED TO SQUEAL UNTIL I HAD THEM REPLACED SOMEWHERE ELSE AT 26350 MILES. HOWEVER WHILE BRAKES WERE SQUEALING AND EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED..VEHICLE BAS DEVELOPED A CHIRP ON BOTH HUBS WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED AND OR ACCELERATED FROM A STAND STILL. VEHICLE HAS 27000 MILES ON IT. THERE'S NO REASON IT SHOULD BE HAVING THESE ISSUES. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AT VALLEY AUTO WORLD IN FAYETTEVILLE NC. ALSO MY FRONT SUSPENSION IS MAKING NOISE WHEN HITTING CERTAIN BUMPS. STEERING STILL HAS SHIMMY WHEN DRIVING. I NEED MY REPAIRED AND 100% SAFETY GUARANTEED OR I WILL SEEK FEDERAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE. *TR
PREVIOUSLY CAR WAS RECALLED IN MARCH DUE TO CAMSHAFT & WAS TOLD IT WAS GOOD; HENCE THE FOLLOWING: I WAS TRAVELING ON LOOP 303 AT 65 MPH, THEN ON BELL ROAD AT 45 MPH, THEN TURNED INTO MY COMMUNITY OF SUN CITY GRAND AT 25 MPH WHEN BRAKES FAILED APPROX 3 STREETS FROM MY HOME
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKES TO WORK EFFECTIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
WHILE BRAKING ON A HILL THE PASSAT MADE A CLUNKING SOUND AND A WRENCH SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKES BECOME SOFT AND DO NOT RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS BEFORE. IN ADDITION, WHEN REVERSING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL BECOME NON RESPONSIVE WHILE THE CALIPERS HOLD THE CAR IN PLACE. I AM UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR UNTIL I PLACE IT BACK IN PARK AND TRY AGAIN.
FACTORY RECALL BUT ORIGINAL NOTIFICATION FROM DEC-2015 HAD NO RESOLVE OR DATE FOR RESOLVE. HOWEVER, WHEN I CONTACTED THE VW FACTORY THEY ADVISED ME I COULD GO AHEAD AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO RESOLVE AT MY OWN EXPENSE????? VW CLAIMS SOMETHING CALLED THE SINTERED CAM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SHEAR OFF FROM THE CAMSHAFT. IT SURE SOUNDS MECHANICAL TO ME BUT VW CLAIMS TO HELP CORRECT THE THIS DEFECT THEY WILL UPDATE OUR ON BOARD COMPUTER SOFTWARE???? HUH....... WE DO NOT TRUST VW AND WONDER IF THERE IS ANOTHER MOTIVE FOR WANTING TO ACCESS OUR ON BOARD COMPUTER????? KINDA LIKE THE DIESEL VEHICLES HAVING TWEEKED SOFTWARE TO DECEIVE SMOG CHECKS???? HELP.....
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO REPOND. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT LOBE SHEARED OFF AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND FUMES OF SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GASKET AND THE VACUUM PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V705000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,700.
2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT ERRATIC SHIFTING AND BRAKES EITHER TOO SOFT AND WON'T STOP QUICKLY OR THEY LOCK UP AND I CAN'T MOVE THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEMS ARE MOSTLY IN TOWN DRIVING, BUT ONCE OCCURRED IN HIGHWAY DRIVING GOING UP A HILL WHILE PASSING. IN THAT INCIDENT THE TACHOMETER WENT FROM 2 TO 5 AS THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE REVVED UP AS IF I WERE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT. AFTER THE CAMSHAFT WAS REPLACED, PER THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE PERFORMED EVEN MORE POORLY THAN BEFORE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. OVER THE NEXT WEEK, THE LURCHED AT TWO DIFFERENT STOPS SIGNS; THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO 5,000 RPM'S WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING PRESSED; THE BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO REVERSE; AND SEVERAL TIMES, IT TOOK AN EXTRA AMOUNT OF TIME AND DISTANCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V705000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE SENT TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT IT TOOK A GREATER AMOUNT OF TIME TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V705000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE PERTAINING TO A FAULTY CAMSHAFT THAT'S LOBE COULD SHEAR OFF AND DISABLE THE POWER BRAKING SYSTEM. RECALL 23R1 NHTSA15V705. "..COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING". THEY ALSO STATE THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH '16 NOW MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER REFUSE TO DRIVE IN THE CARE KNOWING THAT THE BRAKES COULD LOSE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. I THINK THIS IS RIDICULOUS TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE DEFECTIVE CARS KNOWING A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS CRASH COULD OCCUR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V705000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
IN DECEMBER OF 2015,2 MONTHS AFTER BUYING CAR,WHILE DRIVING MY EPC LIGHT CAME ON MY CAR HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER,SHUDDERED,AND STALLED. I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN I PULLED OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND COULD NOT INCREASE SPEED.FAST ENOUGH. I CALLED THE VW DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY SAID THE CAR HAS TO COME IN TO BE CHECKED. AFTER 2 HOURS OF DIAGNOSTICS,AND THEY ACTUALLY CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA RE THE PROBLEM. THEY DECIDED THAT IT WAS A CONNECTIVITY ISSUE AND THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE WIRING HARNESS,THE CAR HAS TO BE TOWED IN AS DRIVING COULD BE DANGEROUS. ALSO A RECALL NHTSA# 15V705 JUST CAME IN THE MAIL ABOUT RECALL 23R1. THERE ARE A POTENTIAL 3 OTHER RECALLS ON THE VW 2015 PASSAT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES AND ENGINE FAILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V705000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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