10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
18,793 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.

2004 Volkswagen Passat brakes problems

brakes problem

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2004 Volkswagen Passat Owner Comments

problem #3

Apr 122007

Passat 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,000 miles

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

The ABS has been faulty for six months from time of purchase a S brand new. The ABS lit up and will stay lit until service department reset it. The brake lit up and got stuck without pressing on brake pedal. Dashboard lights malfunctioned, and did not come on through this failure. Vehicle sat parked in the service department of dealership for 15 months without anyone investigating the problem. Switch has been replaced 5 times within 1.5 years. The ABS failed and caused an accident.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #2

Nov 062006

Passat 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,880 miles
1. when car in front of the Passat slowed, the driver applied the brakes and the ABS light and asr lights came on but the brakes did not work. The Passat was not going quickly and had safe stopping distance so the car had plenty of time to stop. The Passat did not stop, hitting the car ahead of it. 2. the brakes failed, causing the Passat to rear-end the car in front of it. The driver of the other car sustained whiplash injuries and 600 usd to his car. He is in treatment with the cost of treatment undetermined at this time. The Passat sustained 3000 usd in damage. The driver of the Passat was not injured, was ticketed, lost half a day's wages in court, and does not trust his vehicle. 3. the car was taken to the VW dealership, where it was determined that a brake light switch was determined to be electrically faulty. Malfunctions were stored in the ABS control module. The brake light switch gave an implausible signal, sporadic. The brake light switch was diagnosed and replaced. The fault memory of the ABS control module was erased and reset. The driver of the Passat contacted VW asking about the fault(s) and expressing his doubt in the safety and reliability of the vehicle. The driver of the Passat felt VW's defective parts caused the accident and VW should cover the cost. VW's answer is that the defective parts could not have caused the accident. Tonight's paper has issued information about a recall of this part however, it does not include information about Passats in this recall. Passats have this problem, too. We did not know about your organization or we would have contacted you months ago.

- Kent, WA, USA

problem #1

Jul 282004

Passat 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,500 miles
Reported when slowing down to 5-10mph care hesitated and then jerked as if someone hit from behind, also when braking to stop, car lurches forward. VW dealership replaced brakes and rotors and did software update after 3 times in shop. Now car hesitates when either slowing down or from stop then kicks in all of a sudden, will be calling regional technician to report, still feel slight jerk at slow speeds. All happens when engine hot or cold.

- Morgantown, WV, USA

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