2012 VW Jetta TDI, Manual Transmission. Vehicle is about 2 months old. I parked in my driveway at home on a moderate hill. I set the parking brake as normal. Several hours later, I looked out front door and noticed my vehicle in street! It's a miracle that it didn't cross the street and crash into the neighbor's house or car. When we retrieved it, the car was locked and the parking brake lever was up (in the set position). Very strange. Has anyone else had a similar experience? It just happened tonight, so I have not had time to contact the dealer.
Update from Mar 1, 2013: Follow-up to the Jetta parking brake failure: at its next service check, I brought this issue to the attention of the service department. They had not heard of this problem and no defects or faults were discovered. They suggested that if it should happen again I should not change anything in the vehicle, and have it towed to the dealership for inspection.
It has not happened again, however we now always leave the car "in gear" when parked on a slope in order to prevent a recurrence.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2012 VW Jetta TDI, Manual Transmission. Vehicle is about 2 months old. I parked in my driveway at home on a moderate hill. I set the parking brake as normal. Several hours later, I looked out front door and noticed my vehicle in street! It's a miracle that it didn't cross the street and crash into the neighbor's house or car. When we retrieved it, the car was locked and the parking brake lever was up (in the set position). Very strange. Has anyone else had a similar experience? It just happened tonight, so I have not had time to contact the dealer.
Update from Mar 1, 2013: Follow-up to the Jetta parking brake failure: at its next service check, I brought this issue to the attention of the service department. They had not heard of this problem and no defects or faults were discovered. They suggested that if it should happen again I should not change anything in the vehicle, and have it towed to the dealership for inspection.
It has not happened again, however we now always leave the car "in gear" when parked on a slope in order to prevent a recurrence.
- Doug P., Pensacola, FL, US