2018 Volkswagen Passat Brakes Problems
9 owner-reported brakes complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Brakes Recalls (2)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and 2017-2018 Volkswagen Passat vehicles. The brake caliper bracket mounting bolts on these vehicles may not have been tightened sufficiently.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake caliper bracket bolt tightness, replacing and re-torque the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Additionally brake caliper fasteners, bleeder valve, and brake hose bolts will be checked and torqued to the correct specification, if necessary, free of charge. For Passat vehicles, dealers will also inspect the parking brake cable for proper connection, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46H6.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.
Fix: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.
Owner Complaints (9)
While driving, your car's wheel suddenly locked up, causing you to lose control. You discovered the tire was flat and the brake caliper had detached from inside the wheel rim, causing extensive damage to the tire, rim, suspension, and brake components with no warning beforehand. The dealership claimed the damage was from impact, but the brake caliper bracket was actually broken with elongated bolt holes where it should have been securely fastened. Repairing this will require replacement of the brake caliper, caliper bracket, brake pads, and potentially suspension components and wheel rim.
Parts you may need:
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Your car's ABS (anti-lock braking system) warning light is turning on, indicating a sensor problem. This could affect your vehicle's ability to prevent wheel lockup during hard braking and may also impact the forward collision avoidance safety system. The issue likely requires diagnosis and repair of the ABS sensor.
Parts you may need:
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I PURCHASED MY CAR AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE. WITHIN FOUR DAYS, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES GET EXCESSIVELY HOT DURING NORMAL STOPPING. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS & ROTORS, AND THE CONDITION STILL EXISTS.
ABS INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON WHEN BRAKES ARE BEING USED UNDER REGULAR PRESSURE. SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT A LIGHT OR SLOWING DOWN WHEN A CAR IS TURNING IN FRONT OF ME, THE ABS COMES ON AND THE CAR DOES NOT STOP AS IT SHOULD. I HAVE ALMOST HIT THE BACK OF A CAR IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE THE ABS CAME ON WHEN THE CAR NORMALLY WOULD HAVE JUST STOPPED AS USUAL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR ROUGHLY 6 MONTHS. *TR
UPON INSPECTING THE BRAKES FOR WEAR I FOUND THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, I CHOSE TO GO TO PEP BOYS FOR THE BRAKE PADS. THESE PADS CAME WITH A WEAR SENSOR INSTALLED, SO I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN TO VERIFY WITH THE PARTS DEPARTMENT MY VEHICLE INDEED NEEDED THE WEAR SENSOR THEY CONFIRMED UTILIZING MY VIN HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE WEAR SENSOR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT I SHOULD JUST CUT THE WEAR SENSOR CABLE AND INSTALL THE BRAKE PADS AS THIS WOULD BE WHAT THE TECHNICIANS WOULD DO AS WELL. I CALLED OTHER DEALERSHIPS TO CONFIRM THESE ACTIONS, WITH POSITIVE CONFIRMATION OTHER DEALERS WOULD FOLLOW THE SAME PROCESS. THIS DOES NOT SEEM SAFE TO CUT A SENSOR THAT IS MEANT TO NOTIFY THE DRIVER OF BRAKE PAD WEAR.
FRONT BRAKES MAKES WHISTLING NOISE WHEN ACTIVATED. SLIPPAGE OCCURS IN RAINY CONDITIONS. THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS ARE NOT VISUALLY SMOOTH.
2018 VW PASSAT SE TSI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL AND AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING AS SAFETY HAZARDS. *AS *TR *JS THE CONSUMER STATED SAFETY FEATURES SUCH AS ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKES, AND FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SHOULD BE STANDARD ON ALL VEHICLES. *JS *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE FAILURE, THE BRAKE FLUID WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO VYLETEL VOLKSWAGEN BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 40555 VAN DYKE AVE, STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48313, (586) 977-2800), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE ON JUNE 8, 2018, FROM HERITAGE VW. THE CAR ALREADY HAD A SAFETY RECALL FOR BRAKES WHICH WAS ISSUED ON MAY 25, 2018. THE DEALER FAILED TO INFORM ME ABOUT IT BEFORE PURCHASE. LATER AFTER MY PURCHASE ON JUNE 22 A DO NOT DRIVE WAS ISSUED ON THIS VEHICLE, THEY ASKED ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THEIR DEALERSHIP STATING THAT IT IS FINE TO DRIVE IT.