2006 Volkswagen Passat Brakes Problems

I PURCHASED THIS CAR 2 YEARS AGO AND HAVE HAVE THE PARKING BRAKE FAIL AND BREAK THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WAS SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE AND THE CAR CAME OUT OF GEAR IN MY DRIVEWAY AND BEGAN ROLLING. MY 65 YO MOM HAD TO STOP IT AND PUSH IT UP AS SHE WAS HOME ALONE. IT TURNED ON ANOTHER TIME WHILE I WAS CROSSING AN INTERSECTION AND I WAS ALMOST T-BONED. I HAD IT REPLACED AFTER THIS INCIDENT. IN MAY 2020 THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AND I NEEDED TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. THE BRAKE WAS STUCK ON AND THE COMPUTER CONTROL UNIT BROKE. I PAID $2500 TO HAVE THE UNIT REPLACED. IN DEC 2020 (ONLY 7 MONTHS LATER) THE EXACT THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE AND NEEDED TO TOW IT TO MY MECHANIC. THE CALIPER AND COMPUTER BROKE AGAIN. THE COST IS SIMILAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU LOOK AT ANY VW FORUMS YOU WILL SEE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MANY PEOPLE HAVING THEIR BRAKE STUCK AND UNABLE TO ENGAGE/DISENGAGE THE UNIT. I REACHED OUT TO VW AND HAD NO RESOLUTION. I REQUEST THE PARKING BRAKE BE RECALLED AND EVERYONE WHO HAD WORK DONE ON IT, INCLUDING MYSELF, RECEIVED A FULL REFUND.

WHEN STOPPED AND START GOING AND GET TO ABOUT 30 MPH AND SHIFTS INTO THIRD GEAR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGES AND I CAN BARELY MOVE. I HAVE TO TURN MY VW PASSAT OFF, WAIT A COUPLE MINUTES AND TURN IT BACK ON FORM THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO DISLODGE. EXAMPLE: I'M IN VEGAS AT A STOP LIGHT IT TURNS GREEN SO IM GOING UP A ON RAMP TO GET ON FREEWAY AND AS SOON AS I ACCELERATE AND CAR SHIFTS INTO 3RD GEAR A YELLOW P WITH A CIRCLE AROUND IT COMES ON MY DASH AND WHEN I PUSH ON THE GAS ( I HAD MANY CARS BEHIND ME) MY CAR REVVED UP BUT WOULD NOT GO BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE CAME ON. AND IT CONTINUES TO DO IT TO ME. IF I CAN GET PAST THIRD GEAR IT'S FINE AND 1ST AND 2ND GEAR ARE OK. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR AND CALLED ON RECALLS THERE WEREN'T ANY. THIS ALMOST MADE ME HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON MY WAY HOME THE SAME DAY. BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO OVER A PASS TO GET HOME IT DID IT TO ME 4 TIMES AND THE LAST TIME CP8LD OF KILLED ME. IVE BEEN READING THE PROBLEM OTHERS ARE HAVING WITH VEHICLE AND THEY ARE THE SAME AS MINE. BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE ON 2006 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT. PLEASE HELP US WHO CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. AND I CANT SELL IT BECAUSE I CANT LET SOMONE ELSE GET HURT. THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION AND I LOVE MY CAR. BUT NOW I'M SCARED TO DRIVE NOW. I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT AND CAN'T RISK SELLING IT AND NOW HAVE NOTHING TO GET TO WORK. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU

MY CAR WAS DRIVING AND BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE. THEN I TRIED TO STOP AS I CAME TO A RED LIGHT N BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED. I COULDN'T STOP N WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE RED LIGHT AND I BETWEEN 2 CAR B4 FINALLY COMING TO A STOP A HALF MILE LATER. I DROVE THE CAR ON BACKSTREETS AND THE BRAKES WILL WORK WHEN I START GOING BUT AFTER A FEW STOPS THEY START GETTING SOFT UNTIL THEY JUST TOTALLY FAIL. THEIR IS PLENTY OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE SYSTEM.

HELLO- PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT DISENGAGE, MAKING CAR UNDRIVEABLE. PARKING BRAKE ALSO TURNS ON ON ITS OWN WHEN THE CAR IS ON (STATIONARY ON MINE, IN MOTION ON OTHERS CARS) AND ALSO WHEN CAR IS OFF. MY CAR WAS ALSO PARKED AND THE BRAKE UNRELEASED AND THE CAR WENT BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. MY 65 MOTHER WAS HOME ALONE AND RAN OUT AND STOPPED AND HELD THE CAR (AND PUSHED IT BACK UP DRIVEWAY) HERSELF. FORUMS HAVE STATED THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THE PARKING BRAKE TURNS ON WHEN DRIVING WHICH HAS RESULTED IN CRASHES/ ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES.

THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE (EBRAKE) SYSTEM. THE PARKING BRAKE IS SET/RELEASED BY PRESSING A BUTTON ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH BOARD. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AT HOME, I PRESSED THE EBRAKE AND THE EBRAKE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND I WAS UNABLE TO SET IT. SO I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY FOR A FEW MINUTES WHICH APPARENTLY RESET THE SYSTEM AND IT WORKED PROPERLY AGAIN. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER MY WIFE HAD THE VEHICLE IN TOWN. SHE GOT IN TO LEAVE THE MARKET AND TRIED TO RELEASE THE EBRAKE BUT IT BEGAN TO FLASH AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE IT. SHE CALLED ME BECAUSE SHE WAS STUCK THERE AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I TOLD HER TO TRY AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND THEN RECONNECT IT. SHE WAS NEAR A GAS STATION SO SHE BORROWED A WRENCH AND DID WHAT I TOLD HER TO DO. AGAIN THE VEHICLE RESET ITSELF AND MY WIFE WAS THEN ABLE TO RELEASE THE BRAKE AND COME HOME. NOW I AVOID USING THE EBRAKE FOR FEAR OF THAT HAPPENING AGAIN, BUT NOW I FEEL THAT I'M OUT A PARKING BRAKE AND I'M NOT SURE IF I'LL HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT WHILE DRIVING IT. I SAW COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR MODEL HAVING THE EBRAKE ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE STEERING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT! PLEASE CONSIDER THIS AS A VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE, WORTHY OF RE-CALL STATUS. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON THE MAINE TURNPIKE AT 55-60 MPH DUE TO SOME BLACK ICE IN AREAS. TEMP WAS 35, CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR, VISIBILITY GOOD. AFTER PASSING EXIT 75, WITHOUT WARNING MY VW PASSAT ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ENGAGING, CAUSING MY BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, SWERVING SIDE TO SIDE FOR APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS. DURING THIS TIME, THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AS WELL AS A PARKING BRAKE FAULT MESSAGE ON THE DASH WAS DISPLAYED. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, REFERRED TO MY MANUAL, WHICH WAS NO HELP. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, LOOKED AROUND IT AND THEN CALLED A FEW PEOPLE TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM. NO ONE HAD EVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE AND I SAW NO OBVIOUS SIGN OF ERROR. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE BUTTON ON THE DASH. I BELIEVE ITS ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION AND A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN VEHICLES NEAR MINE, WE WOULD OF COLLIDED. I HAD MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIEND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND WE WERE ALL VERY SCARED DURING THIS ENTIRE INCIDENT. AFTER 10 MIN OF SHUT OFF, I RESTARTED, THE DASH STILL DISPLAY PARKING BRAKE FAULT. I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE BRAKING BRAKE. BUT THE "FAULT" ERROR ON DASH WOULD NOT GO AWAY. I THEN OPERATED THE VEHICLE AT 30-35 MPH WITH HAZARDS ON TO EXIT GRAY. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE FOR OVER 30 MINUTES. WHEN I TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON THE "FAULT" LIGHT HAD GONE OFF AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING OK. BUT I WAS UNSURE IF I SHOULD VENTURE FURTHER AND TOOK ROUTE 100 BACK TO MY HOME IN LEW. THE NEXT DAY I DID NOT USE THE VEHICLE AND CALLED VW ON MON AFTER NOTING NUMEROUS VW FORUMS WITH COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. CASE #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE FAULT -- IT IS NOW THE 3RD TIME MY ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS FAILED (UNABLE TO DISENGAGE/RELEASE). THE SECOND TIME WAS LAST JUNE OF 2012 THE DEALER REPLACED THE MODULE, CALIPER, HOUSING, WIRING TO THE TUNE OF $1800. YESTERDAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHERE THE ELECTRONIC SWITCH WAS FLASHING AND WOULD NOT RELEASE AND ALSO THE RED BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR IN DISPLAY WAS ALSO FLASHING HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED AND WONDERING WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. IT APPEARS THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN WITH THIS ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE DESIGN. THERE IS SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH THIS DESIGN. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS WITH THE MANUFACTURER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR BUT AT THE SAME TIME HAVE A CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY. *TR

AT THE MORNING OF 3/30/2012 WHILE WAS DRIVING TO WORK BRAKES FEEL FUNNY( SOMETIMES LIKE HARD, SOMETIMES SOFT) STARTED THAT MORNING. WHILE I WAS BARKING MY CAR BRAKES FAILED, HARDLY STOPPED AND CRASHED TO ELECTRIC POL. BROKE FRONT GRILL AND EMBLEM PUT A DENT ON CHROME PIECE ON THE FRONT.I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER. FOUND BRAKE BOOSTER NEPRENE HOSE HAD MULTIPLE CRACKS.. THAT REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE FREE BUT THEY CHARGE ME SOME$200.00. I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAIN VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. GOOD THINK DID NOT HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY 70 MPH. *TR

I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. EVERY TIME I HAD IT CHECKED, IT CODED SOMETHING DIFFERENT (PO455, PO171, PO441) WITH THESE RESULTS: FUEL CAP LIGHT CAME ON, HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM , AND LEAN BANK 02 CENSOR BEFORE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IT BECAME HARD TO CRANK, AND ONCE SHOOK WHEN IT DID CRANK. THE STEERING WHEEL MODULE AND COMFORT CONTROL MODULE WERE REPLACED IN 2008 UNDER WARRANTY AFTER I TOOK VOLKSWAGEN TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP IN ATLANTA (THERE ISN'T ONE CLOSE TO WHERE I LIVE) AND THEY COMPLETED THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS: CODE PO444, THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM PURGE CONTROL VALVE CIRCUIT; CODE PO193, FUEL MEASURING SYSTEM 2 ABNK 1; AND P2187 SYSTEM TOO LEAN AT IDLE. TOTAL= $884.84 ($619.95 LABOR; $204.31 PARTS; $43.25 WASTE DISPOSAL CHARGE; AND $17.33 TAX). AT NO CHARGE, THEY CHECKED THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WHICH I HAD TO REPLACE @ TWICE A YEAR AND INSPECTED HIGH PRESSURE PUMP, GFF GUIDED FUNCTIONS AND A COURTESY VISUAL SERVICE INSPECTION. *TR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM 2006 VW PASSAT 3.6L VR6 MODEL. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED IN LATE 2010 AT FIRST A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT A SET OF LIGHTS, THE RPM ARE NORMALLY AROUND 650-700 RPM, WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS THE RPM GO TO 1250-1300 WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, THIS MAKES SO THE DRIVER HAS TO APPLY MUCH MORE FOOT STRENGTH TO HOLD THE CAR. RAISING THE RISKS OF A CAR CRASH. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, IF I DRIVE A DAY IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN, THEN I DRIVE THE NEXT DAY AT THE SECOND SET OF LIGHTS IT HAPPENS. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THIS AT VW IN NH BUT THEY DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND CLAIMED THE CAR "IS NOT REALLY AN AUTOMATIC, BUT A MANUAL" AND CHANGED GEAR BOOT CONNECTORS OR SOME SOMETHING, AND THE SAME WEEK THE PROBLEM RESUMED. I FEEL I CANNOT GO TO VW TO REPAIR THIS AS THIS WILL GIVE ME EXCUSES, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS, I FEEL THIS IS DETRIMENTAL TO MY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. THANK YOU. *TR

PARKING BRAKE (BUTTON PUSH) RANDOMLY ENGAGES WITHOUT THE BUTTON PUSHED. SOMETIMES I ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE WHEN I PARK THE CAR, BUT WHEN I COME BACK TO THE CAR AND TRY TO DISENGAGE IT, IT WILL NOT DISENGAGE. *TR

ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING THE BRAKES TO AUTOMATICALLY COME ON. LED TO RAPID DECELERATION WHILE DRIVING. ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HEAT SHIELDS ON THE TURBO FAILED, CAUSING THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE CONTACT'S FACTORY WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 47,000.

EMERGENCY BRAKE AT TIMES DOES NOT DISENGAGE OR ENGAGE. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF WAIT A WHILE AND SOMETIMES IT DOES AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT ENGAGE/RENGAGE. GIVES ME A PARKING BRAKE FAULT MESSAGE. *TR

I HAVE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR: 1. EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE CONTINUES TO GIVE ME PARKING BRAKE FAULT MESSAGE & PERIODICALLY WILL NOT ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE. 2. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING BRAKING MY CAR IS SLIPPING AND TAKES LONGER TO BRAKE. I SEE THIS PROBLEM IS ALREADY A RECALL ON OTHER VW PASSATS BUT NOT ON MY MODEL PASSAT BUT THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO MY MODEL AS WELL. BRAKE VACUUM PROBLEM. I WILL BE MAKING AN APPOINTED TO GET THIS LOOKED AT WITH DEALER BUT WANTED YOU TO HAVE A RECORD OF THIS AND INVESTIGATE THESE ISSUES. *TR

POWER BRAKE ASSIST FAILURE IN LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (WI WINTERS). OCCURS WHENEVER TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE 30'S OR LOWER. VACUUM HOSE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. APPARENTLY CONDENSATION IS BUILDING INSIDE THE HOSE (REPORTED BY DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT.) *TR

DRIVING DOWN SNOW AND ICE COVERED MOUNTAIN PASS IN COLORADO WHEN I SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED HEAVY RESISTANCE OF BRAKE PEDAL AND LOSS OF BRAKING. BRAKE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. FORTUNATELY, I MADE IT HOME SAFELY. SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE VACUUM LINE FOR THE BRAKE HAD CRACKED CAUSING LOSS OF VACUUM PRESSURE AND DECREASED BRAKING. *TR

ABS BRAKES HAVE BEEN PUMPING WITHOUT INCLEMENT WEATHER. IT PUMPS RANDOMLY AT ANY SPEED AND ANY WEATHER. NOTHING HAS BEEN RESOLVED FROM THE DEALER. THE BRAKES ALSO MAKE EXCESSIVE NOISE, GRINDING OR METAL TO METAL TYPE OF SOUNDS OR CONTACT. IN ADDITION, MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL OR MALFUNCTIONS WITHIN THE YEAR I HAVE OWNED THE CAR- ONLY 9491 MILES. A. AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED ON UNTIL I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER. B. THE DRIVER SUN VISOR SHORTED AND WAS INOPERATIVE. C. IGNITION WAS WEAK AND WOULD NOT START AFTER SEVERAL TIMES. CAR WOULD DIE. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER, NO RESOLVE. THE COMPUTER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. FINALLY AS I AM DRIVING THE OTHER DAY, A MALFUNCITON LIGHT APPEARS AND THE CAR DIES. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. D. AFTER 5,000 MILES CHECK UP, THE SERVICE LIGHT APPEARED AND STAYED ON UNTIL I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER TO TURN OFF. E. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR IS IN THE DEALER. THEY FOUND THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAULTY AND WILL BE REPLACING IT. *TR

I OWN A 2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T. TWO DAYS AGO, AS MY WIFE WAS PARKING WITH THE BABY IN THE BACK SEAT, THE BRAKES SUDDENLY FAILED COMPLETELY AND SHE SMACKED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER AND IT INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN THOSE CARS AND MY WIFE AND BABY ARE OKAY. SHE THEN FILED A POLICE REPORT AND HAD THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PICK IT UP AND TAKE IT TO THE SERVICE CENTER. NOW I KNOW ABOUT THE LATE 2006 RECALL AND WE HAD THAT FIXED BUT GEEZ, IT'S A GOOD THING SHE WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY! AS OF YESTERDAY, VW MECHANICS COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND COULD NOT FIND A MECHANICAL OR COMPUTER ERROR. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THEY ROAD TESTED IT AND IT WAS FINE. HOWEVER, MY CAR MODEL WAS RECALLED BY VW IN 12/06 AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED A POWER BRAKE ISSUE. OF COURSE YESTERDAY THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS ALSO RECALLED JUST YESTERDAY FOR A SOFTWARE UPDATE. MEANS NOTHING I GUESS...AND THEY'VE ROAD TESTED IT AGAIN. BY THE WAY, HAD MY WIFE FLOORED THE GAS, WITH THE 2.0T ENGINE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FAR WORSE. WITNESSES SAW HER SCREAMING AND LOOKING DOWN BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. VW CONSUMER AFFAIRS, IS ALSO INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE AND THE DEALERS SERVICE LEVELS. NOW TODAY, SOMETHING SURPRISING HAPPENED. MY LOJACK EARLY WARNING SYSTEM CALLED AN EMAILED ME BECAUSE AS IT TURNS OUT THEY WERE ROAD TESTING IT. FUNNY, THEY SAID THEY ROAD TESTED IT YESTERDAY AS WELL BUT I HAD NO EARLY WARNING FROM LOJACK. SOUNDS LIKE I CAUGHT THE SERVICE CENTER IN A LIE. *JB

HIGH IDLE DURING HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. IDLE IS RAISED TO 1000-1050RPMS DURING TEMPERATURES ABOVE 90F. THIS CAUSES LOADING OF THE TRANSMISSION AND ADDITIONAL BRAKE PRESSURE IS NEEDED TO KEEP THE CAR AT A STOP. THIS CAN OCCUR SUDDENLY AND RANDOMLY PRESENTING A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE ALMOST RAN INTO SEVERAL CARS AT VARIOUS TIMES WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR IN TRAFFIC. IT HAS HAPPENED COUNTLESS TIMES DURING THE HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. *TR