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

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.

ABS LIGHT IS ON

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

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.

MOTOR VEHICLE LIGHT: ABS BRAKE LIGHT ON. MECHANICS TELL ME THESE COMPUTER ARE ALWAYS DEFECTIVE. REPAIR COST 750.00. MILEAGE 235,000. LOTS OF COSTLY REPAIRS. LIGHT CANNOT BE RESET SO I HAVE TO PAY THE ABOVE AMOUNT TO FIX IT AND BE ABLE TO RESELL IT. THIS ABS HAS BARELY BEEN USED. COMPANY SHOULD FIX IT [XXX]/ [XXX]@AOL.COM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

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

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

ABS FAULT/FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT. *TR

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

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

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 AND SUBSEQUENT BRAKE FAILURES. UPDATED 02/19/14 UPDATED 03/13/14 UPDATED 05/12/14 UPDATED 06/25/14

ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

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

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

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

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

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

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.