Upon starting the vehicle and putting foot on the brake to move into another gear the brake light illuminated. The brake appeared to lock the gear shift, and you could not get it to go into another gear. The shift will not come out of park. Consumer took the vehicle to dealer to be repaired.

- Saint Petersburg, FL, USA

The brake light switch on my 2001 VW Jetta was replaced by a VW dealer in July of 2004 as a result of a recall notice from VW of America. This same switch was replaced by a VW dealer on 2/28/05 as a result of a failure.

- Brick, NJ, USA

NHTSA campaign 04V096000; Volkswagen issued a brake light switch recall. This vehicle was not included in the recall, but the brake lights were not operating. The VIN was outside the remedy scope.

- Portland, OR, USA

Despite having a malfunction exactly as defined in NHTSA campaign 04vo96000 on the same model (01 Jetta) - Volkswagen insisted that my vehicle was not covered because my VIN was from a different plant. The dealer diagnosed the problem to be "a defective brake light switch that caused the epc light to stay on, and your brake lights to not work."

- Chicago, IL, USA

Consumer noticed that the brake lights were inoperative. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the brake light switch needed to be replaced.

- Chicago, IL, USA

Car get stuck in park. This is about the fifth time this has happened to my car. Normally you press on the brake and the safe switch will release so you can move your car from park. Today this happened twice, and I was about an hour late to work, because I had to wait for my car to decide when I could drive it. Last year I took the car in because the spoiler light did not work, they then told me that my brake light altogether did not work, so they decided to charge me $75. To fix that. Now the brake lights do not work again and $75 is not going to be paid this time. I had that part a little over a year.I've researched in other VW forums and many are having this problem. When the car was on warranty they claimed nothing was wrong, but now even though my car has a little over 35,000 miles on it, and it is a 2001 model it is having all of these problems.

- Converse, TX, USA

Regular usage of car resulted in having to repair and replace the spark plug cables on my car.

- Leonardtown, MD, USA

While driving brake lights malfunctioned. Consumer was informed of this by a passing motorist. There was a brake light switch recall 04V090000 issued, but this vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN.

- Batavia, NY, USA

I have now replaced by brake switch and brake light switch. I'm not sure if they are the same thing but I have replaced them both. The first one was the brake light switch. This was replaced because my lights would randomly turn on. Even when parked the lights would remain on. I got it to turn off by wedging something behind the brake so it would not go on. However, I paid $59 for it to get fixed. The other switch, the brake switch was replaced today. The charge was $137. This repair was due to the shifter being stuck in park. I have spent days with this problem and I feel my car should be under the recall. The service representative said that my car did not come up as a recall vehicle. If so many Jettas need repairs for this problem why is not my car included in this recall. I experience the same problems as others and I am not being treated fairly. If VW is to keep its good reputation they should reimburse everyone who has similar or exact problems. In both instances the brake switch and brake light switch were replaced. If these are the same item then people should be notified about these problems and they should not be liable to pay for service on their vehicles!

- Riverside, CA, USA

In January of 2003 while stopped at a red light my car was rear-ended. There was minor damage done to my bumper and that was replaced. In April 2004 my car was again rear-ended while stopped at a red light. In this incident the lady behind me was also stopped at the red light and she said her foot slipped off the brake and she hit me. We thought that perhaps she saw the turn lane light turn green and she went. Because the damage to my car this time was 4000 dollars. After the accident I found out that none of my brake lights worked, even though only one tail light had been busted. The repair shop replaced the tail light assembly and all worked properly. I believe that my brake lights failed to operate properly causing the accidents. I hadnT thought of this possibility until I received the recall notice in May 2004. I have lost time at work, minor injuries & my car will never be as it was prior to this. As of this time nothing has been done to the brake light switch as I am trying to find out how to determine if this is related to my 2 accidents.

- Auburn, WA, USA

My brake lights went on when the car was parked and stayed on - I had to have it taken to the dealer to fix the switch and was out a car for three days.

- Portland, OR, USA

In Nov 2003, our 2001 Jetta tdi would not shift out of park, causing myself and my sons numerous times to be stranded. The problem was intermittent. Al sanchez VW in gilroy, ca, diagnosed a shifter problem and replaced it. The problem persisted. I continued to discuss it with al sanchez VW, even leaving it with them for one week to drive. I was told the problem was intermittent and they could not duplicate the problem, there was nothing they could do. Several weeks ago, the problem again occurred. I phoned a tow company who noted the vehicle stuck in park and mentioned the brake involvement. After turning off the car and fussing with the brake/shifter, it engaged. The next morning, I phoned al sanchez and was told that it shifted fine. Later that day, I was told that it got a little sticky.they diagnosed the brake light switch. I have spoke to service advisors and the service manager. They maintain the position that the shifter needed replacing in Nov 2003, and now the brake light switch needs replacing. I am of the opinion that the problem was not corrected. Since the problem continued to persist, this does not seem to be an unreasonable assessment. On 2/21/04, I downloaded info from your sight. There were two recalls for my car. Today, 3/31/04, there are three, including an exterior lighting;brake lights'switch. I decided to check this site today only because during during one of my more recent conversations to NHTSA, I was informed that there were three results. I have not confirmed if my vehicle in one included in this recall. If my VIN is not on the recall list, this is too much of a coincidence to overlook. Also, the lack of cooperation of al sanchez VW and volkswagon advocates cannot be overlooked as well. Ideally, I would like the repair cost of the shifter refunded to me and the recall to cover my shifting problem.

- Tres Pinos, CA, USA

I noticed on the incident date that the brake lights were on when the car was turned off and parked. I tried to get the brake lights to go off by gently tapping on the brake pedal, but they would not. I was told by the dealership that it was probably the brake light switch. And that many of their Jetta customers were complaining about their brakes lights being on. I was also told that this item was not covered under waranty. This is not a wear and tear item. If this is a common occurence then Volkswagen should pick up the cost to repair this malfunction. There should be some kind of recall issued for this occurrence.

- Aldie, VA, USA

My 2001 VW Jetta's brake lights stay on and do not turn off. I had it repaired at the dealer who said the light switch was bad. I just found out that the 2001 VW beetle is being recalled for the same problem but not the Jetta. The parts are the same as per the parts department at haltermans VW in pa.

- East Stroudsburg, PA, USA

I purchase a 2001 Jetta new and in about 3 yrs I have had to replace the brake light switch twice for an average life expectance of 19 months. Talking with the dealer, I was invormed that the brake light switch base no available several months ago and is now starting to become available again. Currently my mechanic has found only 1 brake light switch on the East coast. He has call the local dealers in a 100 mile radius and they do not have any, contacted VW regional and they do not have any. Interested to know if others are having the same problem. To me 19 months between switches is a little excessive to replace.

- Omaha, NE, USA

Brake lamp switch doesn't function properly which causes brake lights to operate intermittently.

- Boston, MA, USA

Consumer states that the vehicle was at a complete stop when another vehicle hit it in the rear. Consumer felt this was due to brake light switch failing.

- Washington, DC, USA

I own a 2001 VW Jetta gls and the gear shift locked up. I could not move the car out of park into drive or reverse. Since the warranty is 24,000 miles, I currently have 30200 and this problem occurred. VW should be responsible for this mishap due to the faulty part. The level of service at the dealership was unacceptable in getting the problem fix.

- Nashville, TN, USA

The cruise/brake light switch malfunctioned which caused the check engine light to illuminate.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

I have had trouble with this Jetta from the first day I took ownership of the vehicle. The brake assembly has been replaced. The brake light switch has been replaced. Now I have just received a new transmission in my ten month old car. The car's transmission was reset three times before Volkswagen replaced the valve body. This procedure did not work and in turn endangered my life. I was trying to get on the highway when the car would not shift and was shuddering. I was almost hit by an oncoming 18 wheeled truck. I am scared every time I have to get back in this car. The transmission has been fixed, but not my trust.

- Narragansett, RI, USA