My 2009 Jetta tdi was being driven up a slight incline. After the brakes were applied to stop on the incline, the engine just stalled. It was very odd. We just restarted the ignition and drove off. Did not think it was a problem and thought it might have been our fault until we saw reports of similar occurrences in the same car model/year.

- Pacifica, CA, USA

My rear brakes started making a horrible noise when I applied the brakes about one month ago around 5/1/2010. From this point on, the car's braking distance increased by about 50% with absolutely no warning to me. I bought this car brand new in January of 2009 and it only has 16,000 miles on it. My car has been serviced on schedule for 500 mile courtesy inspection, 5000 mile service, 10000 mile service and 15000 mile service. I took my car in for va state inspection on 6/4/2010. The mechanic told me that my rear brake pads were completely worn through and that they were braking with metal on metal contact. The mechanic stated that the front brakes were basically in "new" condition. He also stated that the left rear brake was in worse shape than the right rear brake. This car only has 16668 mile on it. It has been serviced as instructed in the owners manual and it has never been raced or used in any way out of the normal. The VW dealership confirmed what the mechanic at the inspection station told me. He said that the rear brakes were gone and that there was no brake pad left at all and the car was stopping with metal on metal contact. He said that the pads and rotors would need to be replaced. I told him that I used to work on my old car and that this was not normal. He stated he has had a number of vws come in with the same problem. He also stated that there is no sensor in the rear brake pad, that the pads will not begin to squeal when they are worn down or provide any indication whatsoever that they have failed other than the sound they make once the metal of the caliper is hitting the metal of the pads. I did some initial research on the internet and this seems to be a pretty serious problem for VW. Every mechanic I have talked to about my car has said that vws are designed for the rear brakes to do most of the work. VW needs to put some type of wear sensors in the rear brakes to let consumers know when they need to replace their brakes before they fail.

- Washington, DC, USA

I got a brand new car last year a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. However I have to go to the dealer service because I have experience 3 brake issue incidents due to not being able to stop. According to the dealer the first time they found that the brakes had a lot of pressure and that's why I was not able to stop. The second time it was because the car didn't have enough brake fluid. The third time it was because the brake fluid level was low. I also hit someone I have his statement as a witness because the person got mad at me asking why I didn't stop? I also have another witness who was with me at the second incident and somehow the dealership keep telling me that the car is in perfect conditions. I need your help.

- Daly City , CA, USA

I purchased a 2009 Jetta tdi. This is my 3rd Jetta tdi, 2004, 2006, and now a 2009. At 3,500 miles the brakes on the 2009 tdi began making a high pitch whistling noise at slow rolling stops. After a couple of stops it would stop and then reappear after the car had been parked for a couple of hours. I called the dealer, and was told that it was normal and should eventually stop. At 7000 miles it still whistles. I took it to the dealer for inspection and was told that rust was forming on the rotors and the whistling sound was the brakes scraping the rust off. I was told that my brakes were fine. I asked if this was a problem I would have to live with, whistling brakes for the life of the car" how embarrassing to own a new car and the brakes whistle when you pull up to a stop sign. I called VW America and was told that they couldn't tell me anything. They depended upon the dealers to provide them with issues/concerns. Neither of my previous 2004 or 2006 Jetta tdi's brakes whistled. So VW is this normal" if so, then I have purchase my last whistling Jetta.

- Gulf Breeze, FL, USA

2009 VW Jetta sportwagen tdi intermittent hot rear brake discs. Effects mpg by minus 10% plus. Something is causing rear brakes to get hot(rear brake bias). Front brakes are always cool. Could cause an accident in ice and snow possible fire. Sometimes unable to back up!!! like brakes are locked up! it has a mind of its own!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VW of America is not interested ! nor can the dealer solve the problem. " the vehicle meets specifications" this has been written up in VW forums and blogs. We are not the only ones with this problem. How often do you find someone that checks the temp. Of rear and front brake discs? I did because in January of 2009 the rear brakes were so hot that it smelled up my garage. Could have caused a fire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Port Ludlow , WA, USA

Significant rear brake wear on 2009 VW Jetta. My rr brake wore down to metal. Rl brake was at 60% remaining, and front brakes were almost perfect. VW calls this type of wear "normal." Anybody who has ever driven a car or worked on brakes knows that is a laughable assertion. There is nothing normal about one set of pads completely failing while all others are well within specs. Not only is this annoying, it is dangerous. The car is obviously applying brake pressure to one wheel more than the other three. When this wheels brakes fail, how is the car expected to stop? I have researched this online and found many other VW owners experience the same problem with the same response from VW, which is to blame it on the consumer's driving. In some instances, the brakes worn to metal as early as 14,000 miles, and often fail again in as little as 7 months after replacing.

- Tyler, TX, USA

2009 Volkswagen tdi Jetta 10,000 miles. Brought car into dealer and pointed out that I believe something is wrong with esp system. Both back rotors are hot enough to burn you after driving short distances with very little breaking. Dealer determine driver side caliper was bad. They are replacing driver side caliber. Says it was dragging and causing esp system to pulse. Wife has the same problem on her 2009 tdi Jetta which has 12000 miles on it. Both cars have exhibited this problem have been occurring since new. It is causing premature brake pad and rotor wear to rear. Car is still in shop after a week waiting on parts.

- New Braunfels, TX, USA

This complaint is for a 2009 VW Jetta tdi. On a recent road trip I noticed a burning odor coming from my drivers side rear. I stopped my vehicle to inspect the wheels and sure enough only the drivers side rear wheel, and rotor was hot enough to instantly fry a egg. This wheel also had a burning smell coming from it (no smoke was observed). The next morning I went to a V.w. dealer located in allentown to have my brakes inspected. The dealer reported that "road tested the car and checked all brakes and they are all wearing evenly no problem found at this time." On my drive home while the drivers side was a little warmer then the other wheels, the burning problem did not reoccur.

- Long Beach, NY, USA

2009 VW Jetta tdi. At 20,000 miles and change my local dealer advised me I needed to replace the rear brakes. From what I have read this is common with Jetta's. the rear brakes are a safety issue. The local dealers service advisor advised me that this was normal for a Jetta.

- Davie, FL, USA

I drive a 2009 VW Jetta sedan 2.5 S, which only has 4,000 miles. Two days ago, while driving the car all of a sudden it stopped in the middle of a highway. It lost electric power and could not move further. I thought it was because lack of gas, but realized it was not the case because the tank was full. The car dashboard signaled that the battery had a problem -its indicator was turned on. And that was when I realized that there was no power and the battery wasn't working. So, after moving the car to the side of the highway, I waited and tried again after two minutes and, fortunately, the ignition started. The problem was "fixed, " at least for the time being. Also, a few minutes later the brakes stopped functioning. The pedal turned really hard and I couldn't push it all the way to the bottom. So the next day I took it to the dealership. They said they have found the brakes problem (a brake pump, or something like that, needed to be replaced). They still have to check the battery problem. My main concern is that if both problems comeback again me, and my family, may be in a very dangerous situation. It should be investigated. And I just want to point out again that this is a vehicle that I have driven for only six months.

- Bronx, NY, USA