Brakes first replaced at 10000 mi, rotors were warped. At 17000 miles (2 weeks after NYS inspection) rear brakes were completely worn to metal. The following year during state inspection, brakes needed to be replaced again at 24000 mile. At 29000 miles, front brakes needed replacing, and rears had about 3000 miles left on them. VW adviser told me this was "normal". Rotors were replaced each time pads were changed.
I have just replaced my rear brakes for the second time. They were first replaced at 16,145 miles. Prior to that, I complained to the service dept. that I continually had an excessive amount of brake dust on my wheels. They told me that this was normal. I have mentioned the brake dust problem every time I bring the car to the dealer and I get the same reply that there is nothing wrong. Now with only 29,231 miles on the car I again had to have the rear brakes replaced. I had been experiencing constant squealing every time I applied the brakes. The technician claimed my brakes were dangerously low and as a safety measure I absolutely needed them replaced immediately. When I mentioned the prior replacement and how little mileage had been covered since then, she asked the technician to check to see if there were any complications with my emergency brake that could be contributing to the premature wear. They could find nothing. On all of my previous cars and SUVs I never experienced this type of wear on the brakes. I do not ride my brakes and I feel that there has to be some mechanical problem with the car that is contributing to the brake wear.
My biggest complaint at this moment is that this site offers no option to declare that the cost for premature brake replacement was not covered at all by warranty. I have had to pay to have my brakes and rotors replaced twice for a 2003 Passat with under 35,000 miles.
We bought our Passat and had to replace the rear brakes @ 22,000, then 48,000, and again @ 66,000! We have asked if we're doing something wrong, or if there is a known problem with the Passat's rear brakes. This is crazy! We have a 12 year old Jetta we've only replaced the brakes on it once! The only answer the dealer gave us was, "You must live in a really hilly area." Yes, but so do the rest of the residents of the city and they're not having this issue. What the heck is going on VW?!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Brakes first replaced at 10000 mi, rotors were warped. At 17000 miles (2 weeks after NYS inspection) rear brakes were completely worn to metal. The following year during state inspection, brakes needed to be replaced again at 24000 mile. At 29000 miles, front brakes needed replacing, and rears had about 3000 miles left on them. VW adviser told me this was "normal". Rotors were replaced each time pads were changed.
- warrenny, East Northport, NY, US