In wet weather, my ABS module goes haywire. When taken to a repair shop, they state that my brakes are fine and that the control module seems to be defective. This use to only happen once in a great while, be it is starting to become more frequently.
2002 Volkswagen Passat brakes complaints
Page 3 of 4: complaints 41 to 70 of 72, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The ABS warning light would flash and brake warning would light up. The car was still drivable. This started just around 101,000 miles. I looked up this type of warning light to see if any one else had experienced this, an online forums suggested that the ABS electronic control module failed. I used vagcom, an obdii device, to see if the ABS module could be the cause to the problem. The ABS module failed. I sent in the module to be "rebuilt".
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. In 2007, the contact stated that water would drain into the motor during heavy rains, and cause the brakes to fail. The dealer discovered that water was entering the brake line, but never informed the contact of a recall. Instead, the dealer repaired the brake system and stated that it was a courtesy from volkswagen. After the repair, the failure recurred and the brakes failed while driving 30 MPH. The contact noticed thick, white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. She had to strike the wheel against the curb in order to stop the vehicle. The following day, she took the vehicle to the dealer and they made repairs again. The failure mileage was 21,000.
The ABS light flashes along with the brake light. Also words appear on the dash that say "stop" "brake fault" "service manual". When I checked the manual it says that there is a fault or problem with the ABS system.
When I started my 2002 passat station wagon yesterday, there was no power assist function on the brakes. This was experienced two days in a row, and braking was extremely difficult. Braking distance was greatly increased over what it had previously been. This phenomenon happened when I first started driving the vehicle after it was parked a while. Pumping the brakes seemed to improve the effectiveness of the braking, but never enough to give me confidence that I could stop when I needed to. I have taken the car to the dealer, and they have said the master cylinder needs replacing. I participated in the air plenum recall and had the air plenum replaced on 9/7/07. I am sending in the present complaint after reading the federal safety agency action # pe07018. The problems with the brakes in complaint #pe07018 sound very much like my problem, and I thought you should be aware of my situation. I also live in wisconsin where we are currently having a cold wet winter.
1) both failures occurred in wet conditions --- once in pouring rain after the car had been driven for a while, and once during the first drive on a cold morning (just below freezing) after an inch or two of snow. 2) in both cases, the brake pedal moved only a little (an inch or two perhaps?) and then became very hard, not moving any further with additional pushing, and providing very little braking power (perhaps 5% of normal braking?). Fortunately both incidents occurred at relatively low speed, and the hand brake was not affected. In both cases, the brakes worked normally again by the time we had organized ourselves to take the car in for service --- both times, this was days later (though we had not driven the car); in the second incident, we left the car on the street overnight before putting it in our driveway the next morning, and the brakes were still not working at that time. 3) in the first incident (occuring in august '07?), we took the vehicle in for service at a service station, learned of a vw recall involving water leaking that could affect the brakes and leak water into the passenger compartment (which was also happening during heavy rain), and then took the car to the dealership (piazza acura/vw of ardmore, pa) for service --- they repaired the leak problem and cleaned the interior, but I am not sure whether they did anything about the brakes (we may not have mentioned this specifically to them, since it was mentioned in the recall). The car seemed fine afterward. After the second incident (on 12/6/07), we are once again having the car checked out at our regular service station (we have been impressed by their diagnostic skills in the past). So far they have not identified any brake problem, and we plan to take the car to the dealership next if our regular station mechanics cannot find a problem that would explain the brake failure.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. The rear brake pads wear out every 15,000 miles, which is about four times faster than a normal vehicle. This is unexpected on a vehicle with such low mileage and could cause brake failure. In february of 2006, at 25,359 miles, the dealer informed the contact of this possibility. He notified the manufacturer and they denied any knowledge of the failure. The current mileage was 39,722 and failure mileage was 25,359.
The ABS control module failed on my car causing the ABS system and the asr (anti-slip regulation) traction control systems to no longer function. This happened without warning with no signs leading up to the failure. This has also caused other strange electrical issues where my keyless entry will no longer work. Also, the error lights continue to flash on the instrument panel and the radio remains turned on (unless I manually turn it off) even after the car has been turned off and the key has been removed from the ignition. This caused a dead battery after 4 days of flashing (radio was off). It has also caused an error between the communication paths from my transmission control module (TCM) and my engine's ecu and instrument panel as evidenced by the error codes produced. The last issue that has been caused by the ABS failure is that the car continues to run for several seconds after the ignition has been turned off and the key has been removed. It will then sputter out and turn off. From my research, this appears to be a common problem on these cars: http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173334
Tl*- the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passsat wagon gls with a failure mileage of 41,926 . The contact stated that when she tried to start the vehicle it would not start. She noticed white smoke coming from the tail pipe, and some fluid squirting from the brake hose. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer, and the contact was informed that there was water in the engine. Also, the dealer determined that the brake booster had condensation build up which was getting into the intake manifold. The manufacturer stated it was an environmental issue due to the climate in which she lived. The current mileage was 42,400.
Tl*- the contact stated that while in the driveway the brake pedal would not depress and the 2002 volkswagen passat would not stop. Fortunately, my driveway goes uphill and the vehicle stopped. Towed the vehicle to the dealership, who determined the tree debris clogged a tray and the rain water overflowed into the brake booster and freezed. And this freezing caused the failure. The debris was cleared, and the master vacuum and other components were replaced at cost of $780.
Tl* - the contact stated that the design of the brake system allowed water to enter into the booster and freezes. This caused the brake pedal to lock and the contact was unable to depress the pedal in the morning. Also, while driving, the brake pedal stayed down after apply,locking up all four wheels blocking traffic. The cable on the tow truck broke when trying to drag my car onto the bed. The brake pedal was eventualy came back up after a hard push and I was able to drive the vehicle slowly to the volkswagen dealer using the parking brake. The dealer could not duplicate the problem. The contact stated that the failure occurred again. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer and a mechanic knew what caused the failure. The master cylinder and the brake vacuum booster were replaced. The failure mileage was 54,000. The current mileage was 56,000.*ak updated 03/30/07.
2002 vw passat with total brake failure customer is requesting compensation for repair work to car and house**nar**cc it was discovered the brake booster assembly, which was supposed to be vacuum-sealed had 1 quart of water in it. The mechanic stated that due to the cold night, the assembly froze up, and when the consumers wife started to pull the vehicle into the garage to warm it up, the brake system failed.
I was driving car on a cold morning and coming to a stop on a hill and the brake pedal would not go down. I literally had to stand on the pedal to get car to stop. This had happened to my wife two previous times and the dealer could not find a problem as no codes indicated anything wrong. I was able to get the vehicle to the dealer and had service writer get in car and experience what I was experiencing. It was determined after diagnosis that there was water in the brake booster system and the brake booster needed to be replaced. Apparently water had entered in cowl area which had been clogged with debris.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the ABS brake system failed. The brake pedal could not be depressed. When it finally released, the brakes self-applied and released without warning and repeated several times. The contact had to stop the vehicle using the hand brake, because the brake pedal did not function properly. The vehicle was taken to the service dealer by a private wrecker service. The service dealer replaced the brake booster. They also gave him the old booster and a bag containing cherry tree debris deposited on and around the old booster. The repair cost was about $900. The manufacturer was notified.
I owned a 2002 vw passat v6 for 2 years. Three times within that time during rainstorms, the engine died and all the electrical equipment, including the power brakes , failed. I have just found out that the air intake for the engine is either near a wheel well or behind a headlight, as is apparently common for sporty cars. The water gets sucked into the engine. Vw charged me $9000 after the second event, blaming it on pine needles in drainage wells. Five days later, I went through a small puddle and it happened again. I sold the car. I think this warrants investigation as a major safety hazard.
Faulty ABS light, faulty brake light sensor annoying beeping, 2002 vw passat.
Bought the car new and have had to deal with defective tires, defective ignition coils causing two major breakdowns at highway speeds with children in the car. The last two ignition coils were recalled. The car will not run if it is wet from heavy rain and has to be completely dried before the breaks work properly. Oil pump was replaced 14 months ago, another major breakdown on highway with children. It has broken down yet again...the dealership says it needs another oil pump because of sludge, about $2000, not under warranty because it is past the 12 month, 12,000mile mark. Two other private mechanics told me, replacing the oil pump would only disguise, temporarily the real issue....the engine is junk. It now sits in my driveway because it is not under warranty because I am missing some oil change receipts. Also the blinkers don't work, the rear door won't open, auto locks work intermittently and headlights have been replaced twice and are out again. This was the first new car I ever bought. I bought the car after a divorce because I wanted a dependable car to commute to work and transport my children safely. The car has 85,00 mi.
Dt*: the contact stated while in the driveway, the brake pedal would not depress and the vehicle would not stop. The vehicle was put in neutral and the parking brake was applied. The contact waited for the thermostat on the vehicle to go above freezing then took the vehicle to the dealership. The dealership determined the drain holes in the battery compartment had filled with road debris. This caused water to get trapped in the compartment and freeze. The master vacuum for the brakes is located in this compartment, and this freezing caused the failure. The debris was cleared out and the master vacuum and other components were replaced.
Failure at 8100 miles on 2003 vw passat glx v6. Failure reported by computer: brake fault, stop, read service manual. Dealer reports this is an ABS module failure. Www.passatworld.com forums report this as a common failure among passats. Please hold vw's feet to the fire on this problem.
After heavy rain, power brake system failed completely in 2002 vw passat. This was attributed to clogged cowl drain. Water was diverted into engine cylinders and power braking system thus leading to failure. Although no accident occurred I believe that this represents significant potential safety risk and that this risk is due to a design flaw in the vehicle. This incident LED to $1600.00 in damage to the vehicle.
I have a 2002 volkswagen passat. Since september, I've been having problems with the ABS light coming on and staying on. Twice, I've also had "brake fault" warnings to stop the vehicle. It's been in for service four times since october 3 to fix the problem. The cv joint was replaced yesterday, which was supposed to fix the problem. First thing this morning, the ABS light is on again. I have a fifth service appointment with bachman volkswagen on monday. I've been reading about quite a few ABS problems on various online forums, so I don't seem to be alone with this particular problem.
Consumer concerned that the 2002 vw passat are equipped w/defective rear brake pads. *ts the faulty brakes caused the vehicle to vibrate while braking. Since brakes are not warranty item the consumer was responsible for service fee associated with replacing them.
2002 volkswagen passat experiencing problems with passenger seat, door panels, glove compartment, radio equipment, buttons for the mirror equipment and the vehicle kept cutting off.*mr the consumer stated when the passenger seat went forward it would not stop, the heated seats burned the consumers children, however he did not state how many children. The vehicle could not be aligned. The door panels and arm rest were peeling. The headlights were always going out. The brakes squeaked. The battery, generator and ground wire were replaced due to vehicle stalling.
The brake booster on my 2002 volkswagen passat started acting up in freezing weather on numerous occasions. When this happened, I lost all power assist for the brakes and braking performance was severely degraded. On several occasions this also LED, for reasons unknown to me, to the front brakes locking up, immobilizing the vehicle. The problem was eventually fixed by the volkswagen dealer, who replaced the brake booster unit under warranty. I think there is a class problem with the brake booster system in at least 2002 passats and no effort has been made by volkswagen of america (voa) to communicate this to owners of these vehicles. I learned from the dealer that they had experienced many similar instances with the brake booster system on passats. If not a formal recall, at least some communication to owners from volkswagen should be forced as this is serious safety issue. I have talked to voa customer service by phone and their response was that they do not issue voluntary recalls. This is done, according to the voa rep, only when ordered by the government. If true, this seems a sad commentary. So I am working this issue through the federal safety agency asd my only recourse.
Vehicle serviced by findlay vw on sat 10/16/2004- 30,000 mile service. 3 days later the brake fault warning sounded. I thought perhaps because of the slick road conditions. On sat 10/23/2004 it sounded again. At this point, I did not drive my car until bringing to dealership on mon 10/25/2004. I reviewed manual and had surmised that possibly not enough brake fluid had been put in. I was informed that at only 30, 600 miles, car needed rear brakes and rotor-down to 2%. I was also informed that vw ships cars with minimal amount thickness rotor and any wear at all requires replacement. This is my 3rd consecutive vw, I never experienced this problem. 30,000+ miles should not warrent rear brakes / rotors, even in tough city conditions. I did not experience any squeaking or rubbing nor did brakes require added pressure to adequately slow or stop the vehicle. I don't believe this is necessary work or if true of rotor ship conditions is unfair. At this point, I will not purchase a 4th vw.
Ignition coils failed two times, resulting in loss of power and causing vehicle to shudder. Coils were supposedly replaced. On a separate occasion (following the coil repair) vehicle completely shut down on the interstate- going from 80 to 0 MPH in the matter of seconds. I had already been driving the vehicle for over an hour. I lost all power and was barely able to get the car to the shoulder. Problem was diagnosed as bad gas (not possibly the coil). In addition, my rear door quit closing, headlights have burnt out, filters have gone bad causing front of car to become flooded, vacuum hose defective, rear brakes went bad, and radio quit working. Parts were replaced either under the warranty or out of my pocket. Vw refuses to admit there is a problem with this car. I have approximately 40000 miles on it.
Recurrent brake failures. At 10,000 miles, brake life was measured at 12 mm front and 8 mm rear, but then at about 20,000 miles, dealer determined that vehicle needed brake pads all around and rear discs. At 40,000, rear brake pads were replaced. This time dealer found that the rear driver side calipher had stuck, causing the brake pad to wear down to metal on that one side. A large percentage of mileage on the vehicle is highway miles, and driver does not ride the brakes. Owner believes vw tried to hide an inherent brake design problem by replacing all 4 brake pads at 20,000 miles. Vehicle had to be towed to dealer one time due to brake fault & brake fluid warning lights.
Brake failure at 22,000 miles. My car was just under 2 years old with 22,000 miles when I was told that I needed new rear brakes. The car was redesigned with "soft" brake pads to reduce noise, so this is considered "normal wear". No it isn"t! Also, the rotors must be replaced when you put on new pads; they cannot be machined. This car is designed to have pads and rotors replaced every 22,000 miles! This is unacceptable service and disgraceful design.
I have a 2002 volkswagen passat wagon. The mileage at the time of the repair was 35,369 miles. In may, I was on a road trip with highway speeds and hill climbs and decents. It felt like the rear of the car would shake. It became progressively worse. When I took it into the dealership, they told me that my rear brakes needed to be replaced. It was because of the design of the parking brake and the rear brakes. In the winter, the parking brake cable is grabbing. Well, I never use the parking brake. Afew times I have had a valet parking service maybe they used it. So, I just had the rear brake pads and rotors replaced on my car.it was 461.26 cents. If brakes would go in this car, I felt it should be the front brakes not the rear. If there is a design flaw volkswagen should know about it and I am not happy with this bill with a fairly new car.brakes are an important safety feature to a vehicle. The warrenty is for 12 months or 12,000 miles.
Dealer will do major repairs on brakes, replace back and front brakes and rotors.
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