- the contact stated that while driving the 1999 Volkswagen pasaat with 113000 failure mileage at 60 mph the vehicle began to accelerate on its own. The vehicle accelerated up to 75 miles. The contact rode the brakes for approximately 5 miles, then noticed a safe place to pull over. The contact was jamming on the brakes to get the vehicle to stop. The vehicle came to a complete stop, and the contact turned the vehicle off. The vehicle was restarted twice, but the vehicle was still revving high. The contact was told to pull up on the brake pedal, and that was the remedy to get the vehicle to idle properly. The vehicle was taken to the shop, and they could not duplicate the problem. The contact was afraid to drive the vehicle.

- Arlngton, VA, USA

While driving 45 mph vehicle accelerated without warning. No impact reported.

- Springboro, OH, USA

1999 VW Passat ON12/15/04 and 12/16/04 suddenly increased speed on its own without driver pressing the gas pedal. On 12/15 while driving wb on I-80 in penna around the 278/279 mile marker with the vehicle in cruise control the car itself increased to nearly 90 mph without any driver intervention, I pushed brake to get cruise to release which didn't do anything, I turned off cruise control on turn signal arm with no speed increase stoppage, I reached down to be sure the floor mat wasn't stuck and causing gas pedal to be pushed and it wasn't. I finally why standing with both feet on the brakes got the vehicle to slow enough to safely pull over and I turned it off. I then turned the vehicle on twice and the RPM's pegged immediately to 5000-6000 RPM's and I tunrned the car off at once. On a third try the car turned on in it's normal mode and idled okay. I then drove the remaining approx 15 miles to work on the pa turnpike and pa rte 115. I drove the car home the evening of 12/15 without any problems but, did not engage the cruise control. On the morning of 12/16 while on way to work at approx the 114 mile mark of the pa turnpike nb the car did the same as it had done the pevious morning and started taking off on it's own again, however, this day just like the return trip home the night of 12/15 I did not have the cruise control engaged. On 12/16 I got the car on the shoulder safely and while braking and getting the car to around 35-40 mph I turned it off and came to a stop. On the first resart the car again pegged RPM's up to around 5000-6000 and I turned it off immediately. With the second restart of the car it ran normal and I completed the remaining 4-5 miles to work.

- Bangor, PA, USA

For 2 years now, on cold days (temps in the teens) there have been occasions (about 5) where the accelerator sticks in the accelerating position. Adjusting the pedal position has no effect on slowing the car down. In fact, there were times when the only way to stop the car was to shut the engine off. This actually causes loss of power brakes and steering and makes it more difficult to maintain control. After waiting on the side of the road for about 5 to 10 minutes, you can start the car and everything is back to normal. This is a very dangerous and perhaps a life threatening condition. The car has a 2.8 liter V6 with an automatic transmission. I have a friend who had an Audi A6 quatro (1999) with the same 2.8 V6 and had the same issue. After spending several hundred dollars trying to get it resolved with no luck, he sold the car. This doesn't solve the problem, but it may keep his family alive.

- West Suffield, CT, USA

The position of the brake and gas pedals makes it possible for me to nudge the gas pedal while braking. This has never been a problem for me on other cars in close to fifty years of driving. I, M reporting this on the chance that you might find a pattern of like occurances.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

While under full throttle, accelerator pedal did not "spring" back after releasing pressure and vehicle continued to accelerate at full throttle until I reached down and pulled accelerator pedal back. First time happened when accelerating from stop light; second time, when merging onto freeway. Both times I was able to free pedal and resume normal driving. Both times I applied the brakes, and this did not help matters, as vehicle continued to accelerate at full throttle. Carpet was not the culprit as it was firmly secured, using factory installed "snaps." Dealer had car all day Monday and was in contact with VW of America. Unable to find anything wrong; everything "normal." VW claimed to never have heard of this problem before. Still awaiting additional action from VW. I am gravely concerned as dealer told me to drive until problem happens again. This is not an option!! if my wife was driving she would not be able to reach down and release pedal as I did. Only option would be to turn off igition and then she would lose power steering and brakes.

- Redondo Beach, CA, USA