There are 6 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2013 Volkswagen Passatin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026