10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
18,899 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Volkswagen Passat brakes problems

brakes problem

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2018 Volkswagen Passat Owner Comments

problem #11

Aug 142022

Passat

  • 25,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH or at various speeds, there was a delay while depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle was also pulling to the left and the right while depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, the contact stated that the suspension was loose while driving over bumps in the roadway causing the vehicle to bounce. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the front wheel bearings needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

- White Plains, NY, USA

problem #10

Nov 172021

Passat

  • miles
I was driving down the road and the wheel locked up and I lost control of the car. I thought it was just a flat tire. I noticed the tire was flat and brake caliber was lying on the inside of the rim. There was extensive damage to the vehicle, tire, rim, suspension components and brake components. There was no warning and it just happened suddenly. My family and other drivers safety were at risk. The dealership said it was due to impact but their estimate didn't mention or included any of the brake components. The brake caliber bracket is broken and the holes were the caliber bolts attached are elongated. The brake caliber and bracket are protected inside the rim and brakes just don't fall off. It is a VW certified car. I put 4,000 miles since I purchased and the accident happened on November 17, 2021. I have all the components and pictures.

- Aston, PA, USA

problem #9

Mar 092021

Passat

  • 34,853 miles
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.

- Crystal City, MO, USA

problem #8

Jan 232021

Passat

  • 40,235 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am at the burger king drive thru Jan 23, 2021, there are a few cars ahead of me. I sit at driver thru with foot on the brake about 3 to 5 minutes, when the car in front of me moves closer to pick up his food, I let off of the brake and drift forward as I get closer to car in front of me, I press the brake and the pedal goes all the way to the floor. I press harder and my car bangs directly into the back of a 2015 camara that has been garaged kept and has only 3,000 miles on it. I give the driver my phone number. Very minor damage to his car and only damage my license plate area. I pulled my car into the parking lot, turned off ignition, I then started pumping my brakes and eventually the brakes felt much stiffer after about 15 pumps of the brake pedal. One week prior to this, I took my car to the VW dealership for oil change and specifically asked for them to check my brakes and tires. I was told when I picked up my car that tires should be replace in about 5,000 more miles, but my brakes were fine. My car just passed 40,000 miles on the odometer 2 days after the oil change. Yesterday Jan 25,2021, I took the car to VW dealership explaining what had happened, today is Jan 26 they kept the car over night waiting to hear back from specialist from VW. Meanwhile I searched internet for info. That is when I reached this site. Also my forward collision should have come before I made contact with the car I hit at burger king. I seriously don't want anything to do with this vehicle anymore. I don't trust it. I also injured my leg pressing so hard on the brake pedal.

- Halethorpe, MD, USA

problem #7

Aug 212020

Passat

  • 46,000 miles
While going through a curve, if attempt to slow down, my brakes seem to make some type of scraping sound and I can feel the scrape or vibration of the problem through the pedal.

- Canton, GA, USA

problem #6

Jan 012020

Passat 4-cyl

  • 4,000 miles
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.

- Bear, DE, USA

problem #5

Jan 132020

Passat

  • 57,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Birdsboro, PA, USA

problem #4

Jul 222019

Passat

  • miles
Front brakes makes whistling noise when activated. Slippage occurs in rainy conditions. The front brake discs are not visually smooth.

- Margate, FL, USA

problem #3

Nov 302018

Passat

  • 800 miles
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.

- Grosse Point Park, MI, USA

problem #2

Jul 302018

Passat

  • miles
My vehicle attempts to straighten itself out as I'm going through a curve and I actually have to put more effort than necessary to keep steering wheel appropriately turned to go through the curve entirely. Also while going through a curve, if attempt to slow down, my brakes seem to make some type of scraping sound and I can feel the scrape or vibration of the problem through the pedal. Both these issues can and have occurred while traveling at a low speed such as 30 mph or at higher speed, such as 50-60 mph. I have had a few close calls with other vehicles on the road die to these issues. I will specify a date because it asks for a date but it's been happening since I first purchased the vehicle.

- Mcallen, TX, USA

problem #1

Jun 082018

Passat

  • miles
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.

- Roswell, GA, USA

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