Recalls

CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - POWER ASSIST - VACUUM - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
99V131001VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCfrom 10/01/1997 to 02/28/1999V (Vehicle)8812110/09/1999ODIVOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC05/21/199901/21/2000
Defect SummaryVehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. a control valve in the vacuum hose connecting the brake booster to the intake manifold may not open or close fully at temperatures below -4 f under certain driving conditions.
Consequence SummaryThis condition could cause insufficient vacuum to be provided to the brake booster.
Corrective SummaryDealers will install a vacuum by-pass system into vehicles operated in these states which is designed to provide sufficient vacuum for full brake assist under all weather conditions.
NotesOwner notification began october 9, 1999.owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact vw at 1-800-822-8987 or audi at 1-800-822-2834.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

Bulletins

BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK - CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TT-45-06-5411/16/201210051242Volkswagen: update to information. providing correct coding values for abs control modules on certain vehicles without can-bus. models 1998-2002 passat. *pe02/25/2013
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK - CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
051707/14/2005052110016037Anti-lock brake system (abs) control module warranty repair process. *tt08/19/2005

Investigations

NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
RQ99008VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC06/01/199911/14/2000POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM BY-PASS99V131001
 A control valve in the vacuum hose connecting the brake booster to the intake manifold can fail to open or close fully at low temperature resulting in insufficient vacuum for proper operation of the brake booster

Consumer Complaints

Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
SERVICE BRAKES
11/23/2012860001
 Purchase vehicle on november 23,2012 after getting the mechanics approval that it is safe to drive (oil pressure light was on) supposedly the vehicle passed emissions,and drove 17 miles away from dealership apple auto in wallingford,ct when the car just shut down while driving. no power. the vehicle was towed back to dealership at my expense. *tr
11/23/201286000
 Purchase vehicle on november 23,2012 after getting the mechanics approval that it is safe to drive (oil pressure light was on) supposedly the vehicle passed emissions,and drove 17 miles away from dealership apple auto in wallingford,ct when the car just shut down while driving. no power. the vehicle was towed back to dealership at my expense.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK
03/11/200563400306/22/2000
 I own a 1999 vw passat with anti-lock brakes. many audi and vw models manufactured starting in the later '90s and continuing to present (including mine), use the bosch 5.3 abs controller, which is prone to catastrophic failure, ostensibly due to defective design. this module controls multiple brake-related functions including the abs which is important for winter driving, but the most critical function of this module is probably the electronic brake force distribution, or ebd. these vehicles are designed such that if the ebd is inoperative, the proportion of hydraulic force applied to the rear brakes during emergency braking is as great as it is during moderate braking effort when there is minimal transfer of vehicle weight to the front wheels. the ebd is supposed to adjust the front/rear braking distribution dynamically according to the measure of the deceleration, so that the rear wheels will not lock up during emergency braking. if this module should fail during emergency braking on dry pavement, the rear wheels could lock up and cause an accident which could easily include fatalities. this is an expensive repair for owners, costing roughly $2000, and many owners have probably put off the repair indefinitely. the vw company has provided absolutely no assistance in helping owners despite knowing of hundreds if not thousands of these types of failures as early as 30k miles. services that charge ~$300.00 to rebuild the failed abs module are unreliable and cause drivers to work on their cars with no mechanical sense because of their desperation. evidence which can be found through a simple web search, suggests that the problem is widespread, and that if it has not already led to serious accidents, it is only a question of time. this problem is genuine, and vw/audi should be compelled to take immediate corrective action.
10/28/2004179000105/15/2000
 Had new front tires put on the car and then new brake shoes, rotors, etc. on the back. abs light keeps flickering on as if the vehicle thinks it is skidding.*ak
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK - ABS WARNING LIGHT
02/02/20076800009/07/2004
 1999 passat wagon. abs module failure
01/20/20071600004/05/2004
 1999 passat 4 cyl. turbo abs module failure. diagnosed at dealer. $3200 to replace. will not pass state inspection in current condition.
08/18/200510500006/01/2001
 Abs unit failure on 199 vw passat 1.8 litre turbo wagon
10/11/200410548701/30/1999
 Abs light appeared intermittently, authorzied vw dealership charged me $100 diagnosis fee and said they couldn't duplicate my concern on 10/11/04, 12/03/04,and 03/05/05. on 12/03/04 they want me to pay $1365.83 + tax to replace abs hydraulic pump and control module assy, i declined repair
06/01/20058650011/02/1998
 The abs controller is experiencing an intermittent failure. the symptom is when i have driven several miles or when it is hot, the brake/abs warning light will come on. a mechanic says this is a common problem which will eventually become permanent failure of the abs controller. refer to nhtsa oid complaint # 10106162 and 10120717 for failure of same abs controller on 1999 audi a4. the part number of the abs controller in my 1999 passat is 8e0-614-111-b. i am investigating options for repair, either new part from dealer ($1500) or rebuild ($600). this is apparently a very common problem (many complaints on consumer web sites). the failure is reported to be failing solder joints on a circuit board in the controller though i cannot verify this personally. vw america will not admit any knowledge of this issue (they only discuss recall or warranty issues).
06/01/200579000104/30/2005
 There was nothing wrong with my '99 passat but suddenly the abs and brake lights started to come on. the dealer tells me that they need to change the abs control module which will cost $3500. i searched the internet and found out that this is a very common problem with these passat models.
03/11/200563400306/22/2000
 I own a 1999 vw passat with anti-lock brakes. many audi and vw models manufactured starting in the later '90s and continuing to present (including mine), use the bosch 5.3 abs controller, which is prone to catastrophic failure, ostensibly due to defective design. this module controls multiple brake-related functions including the abs which is important for winter driving, but the most critical function of this module is probably the electronic brake force distribution, or ebd. these vehicles are designed such that if the ebd is inoperative, the proportion of hydraulic force applied to the rear brakes during emergency braking is as great as it is during moderate braking effort when there is minimal transfer of vehicle weight to the front wheels. the ebd is supposed to adjust the front/rear braking distribution dynamically according to the measure of the deceleration, so that the rear wheels will not lock up during emergency braking. if this module should fail during emergency braking on dry pavement, the rear wheels could lock up and cause an accident which could easily include fatalities. this is an expensive repair for owners, costing roughly $2000, and many owners have probably put off the repair indefinitely. the vw company has provided absolutely no assistance in helping owners despite knowing of hundreds if not thousands of these types of failures as early as 30k miles. services that charge ~$300.00 to rebuild the failed abs module are unreliable and cause drivers to work on their cars with no mechanical sense because of their desperation. evidence which can be found through a simple web search, suggests that the problem is widespread, and that if it has not already led to serious accidents, it is only a question of time. this problem is genuine, and vw/audi should be compelled to take immediate corrective action.
04/16/200575000404/18/2000
 Abs warning light coming on. brake light coming on. pressure light coming on and chimes occur.*ak
08/24/2004717003004/01/2001
 For the last month or so, the abs/brake warning light has displayed. at first,t was on for a few seconds and then it would some on and stay on for minutes. it now displays whenever the car is running. it is my understanding that this is a common module failure in late model vw cars and related audis. it will cost me $1500 plus labor to replace this warning system. until it is fixed, i have no abs brakes working. i am very worried that this is a safety issue and that vw should have a recall or pay for these failures. they deny any responsibility other than their standard warranty. in the details area, i wrote that there have been 30 failures because the abs brakes are not working every day i drive the car.*ak
06/09/200449000108/01/1998
 In mid may, while driving down the highway in my 1999 passat gls (only 49k miles), the abs light came one, the brake light started flashing, and it started to beep. this problem then went away after several seconds. this problem then started to reccur with greater frequency, from one or two times a week, to now several times a day. during my recent 50k mile service, the dealer (sunnyvale vw) determined that this problem is due to a failed abs contol module. the cost to replace it is over $1700. as i cannot afford such a rediculous amount of money, i am now driving a car with a serious safety defect. researching this issue further i discovered that this problem affect 1998 - 2000 vw passats, as well as 1997 - 2000 audi a4 and s4 autos. searching this site for past complaints of this issue i found 50 complaints. more troubling, however, is that when i searched discussion forums of web sites dedicated to the b5 platform vw passat and audi a4 i found over 1500 (one thousand five hundred) posts about this issue. the consensus is that this issue is due to a defective abs control module manufatured by bosch. the defect is due to either poor engineering or manufacturing. i've already complained about this issue to volkswagen of america, and they refuse to resolve the issue by replacing the defective abs control module in my car. i will be sending a letter to the ceo of volkswagen of america to complain about this issue and demand that this important safety defect be remedied. my hope is that my complaint, in combination with the dozens of other formal complaints to the nhtsa, as well as the hundreds of posts about this issue will result in vw issuing a recall to replace these defective abs modules.*ak
06/01/2004690001
 At about 68,000 miles the abs light and brake light came on, in my 1999 vw passat 1.8t. they have remained on, except for brief occassion. the warning signal goes off as well. lynch imports, daytona beach, was unable to access information through diagnoistic testing. i have no abs and they anticipate a high cost to even find the problem, ($78 per hour to manually go through systems) let alone repair it. i understand now that this is a common problem with volkswagen. *ak
08/15/20031
 (1.) no events indicating approaching failure. (2.) abs control module failed therefore i was unable to start my vehicle with the key, i had to pop start it. (3.) replaced control module.*ak
04/12/2004110/01/1998
 The abs and brake light flash intermittently. according to metropolitan volkswagen in jersey city, nj the brakes work, but a sensor in the abs control module has failed, the quoted cost is $1500 for the module + labor to install it! apparently this is a common problem in 1998 and 1999 vw passat.*ak
05/05/2003960001
 Usb control module sensor malfunctions, causing the abs and brake light to flash intermittently. according to my service center, the brakes still work fine, but a sensor in the control module has a problem, the cost to fix is over $1500 including labor, though there is no actual problem with the brakes, they function perfectly. this is a common problem in 1998 and 1999 volkswagen passats-you can read about some of the occurences here-http://www.clubb5.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=60526
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK - CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
01/24/200660000105/26/2003
 In my 1999 volkswagen passat there is a control module known as the abs control module. i belong to a nationwide passat group known as www.passatworld.com/forums and this is a major issue. it seems in early model passats (1998-2001) the abs control module gets extremely hot over time since it is placed directly next to the engine block. this causes the unit to malfunction. when this unit malfunctions it causes the abs breaking system to fail. also, it flashes multiple check engine lights on the dashboard that are extremely distracting. volkswagen of america does not have this under warranty, or recall. dealerships across the country are charging 1,200$ to replace this unit that takes 20 minutes to change out. the hard part is trying to re-build the module. i believe this is a huge safety factor that should be addressed. on our website we have a list of people who's abs control module has failed, along with the date and mileage on their vehicle when it happened. if you would like this information please contact me.*ak
01/01/200409/01/2003
 Abs computer unit failed. went out intermittently at first, then stopped functioning altogether. abs no longer works. odb-ii communication failure, prohibits smog check has not been fixed yet.
08/18/200510500006/01/2001
 Abs unit failure on 199 vw passat 1.8 litre turbo wagon
08/20/2005124000109/12/1998
 1) abs/brake light warning came on while driving 20 to 30 mph 2) abs failure 3) replace the abs module
06/01/20058650011/02/1998
 The abs controller is experiencing an intermittent failure. the symptom is when i have driven several miles or when it is hot, the brake/abs warning light will come on. a mechanic says this is a common problem which will eventually become permanent failure of the abs controller. refer to nhtsa oid complaint # 10106162 and 10120717 for failure of same abs controller on 1999 audi a4. the part number of the abs controller in my 1999 passat is 8e0-614-111-b. i am investigating options for repair, either new part from dealer ($1500) or rebuild ($600). this is apparently a very common problem (many complaints on consumer web sites). the failure is reported to be failing solder joints on a circuit board in the controller though i cannot verify this personally. vw america will not admit any knowledge of this issue (they only discuss recall or warranty issues).
04/03/2003130000102/15/2000
 Abs brake light came on dash board, causing my abs system to not function and i had it checked out, it turned out to be a busted abs module.
05/20/2005651231
 Abs control module failure serial 8eo 614 111p 1999 passat wagon, 1.8t 4cyl. abs and brake lights flashing. quoted $3150 from vw to repair
05/15/200575000110/30/1999
 I own a 1999 vw passat (1.8). at approx 75k miles, the abs control module has failed. i have reviewed the vw forum on edmunds.com and find that there are many, many owners with the same problem. this is a recall issue - we deserve to have the part fixed no matter what mileage we have on the car.
05/11/20058066508/28/2004
 Abs module failed at 80,000 miles and was replaced. front and rear upper control arms had to be replaced at same time. currently, rear window is falling into door (83,000 miles). this is a pre-owned automobile.
01/03/200580000112/05/1998
 Abs control module failure - module failed at roughly 80,000 miles. manny, many, many silimar complaints regarding this issue.
11/28/20045000005/01/1999
 At 50k miles the abs brake light came on and the dealer diagnosed it as premature failure of the control module which cost me $ 1500 in repairs.
03/11/200563400306/22/2000
 I own a 1999 vw passat with anti-lock brakes. many audi and vw models manufactured starting in the later '90s and continuing to present (including mine), use the bosch 5.3 abs controller, which is prone to catastrophic failure, ostensibly due to defective design. this module controls multiple brake-related functions including the abs which is important for winter driving, but the most critical function of this module is probably the electronic brake force distribution, or ebd. these vehicles are designed such that if the ebd is inoperative, the proportion of hydraulic force applied to the rear brakes during emergency braking is as great as it is during moderate braking effort when there is minimal transfer of vehicle weight to the front wheels. the ebd is supposed to adjust the front/rear braking distribution dynamically according to the measure of the deceleration, so that the rear wheels will not lock up during emergency braking. if this module should fail during emergency braking on dry pavement, the rear wheels could lock up and cause an accident which could easily include fatalities. this is an expensive repair for owners, costing roughly $2000, and many owners have probably put off the repair indefinitely. the vw company has provided absolutely no assistance in helping owners despite knowing of hundreds if not thousands of these types of failures as early as 30k miles. services that charge ~$300.00 to rebuild the failed abs module are unreliable and cause drivers to work on their cars with no mechanical sense because of their desperation. evidence which can be found through a simple web search, suggests that the problem is widespread, and that if it has not already led to serious accidents, it is only a question of time. this problem is genuine, and vw/audi should be compelled to take immediate corrective action.
05/09/200597000103/15/2002
 The abs module on my 1999 volkswagen passat failed. this is not an uncommon occurrence as i've found on vw chat boards, conversation with other vw owners, and comments from vw repair shops. not only does this vehicle part have a propensity to fail, it is more costly than most vehicle parts. the dollar figure to replace this part places it out of reach for most people, resulting in many vehicles operating with a faulty abs system rather than spend the money to fix the item. while more aftermarket vehicle parts can be remanufactured, this particular piece is not currently being offered as a remanufactured item. this is most likely because of; 1) the propensity for the item to fail and 2) the cost of the item to replace. basically, many feel that the manufacturer and likely the vehicle dealer make a great deal of profit from this necessary item. due to the importance of this safety feature, that being a working abs system, i believe that this item should be reviewed for mandatory recall and replacement by the manufacturer.
04/15/2005926002002/15/1999
 Abs and brake light intermittently come on and stayed on flashing. dealer stated they have seen many of these failures and must replace the abs control unit at a cost of $900.00. checking with other owners on www.passatworld.com/forums, this is apparently a very common problem and can occur at any mileage. in my case, my car has 92k on it, and is a 1999 my. but others with newer my cars and much lower mileage are also reporting the same issue.*ak
10/06/2004122750106/15/1998
 My abs light on my 1999 vw passat 1.8t comes on intermittently and stays on. when it does, the brake light also flashes. i can park my car overnight. when i restart it, it is off. after driving a short ways, it will come on again. when light is flashing, the anti lock brakes do not work. when braking hard during this, car will stall and you have to restart the car. very dangerous while driving. dealers are stumped, said they would need to replace the abs module -$1400. *ak
05/19/20036000003/15/2002
 I bought my 1999 passat in march 2002, and had the problem occurred at the date listed below, my mileage was only 60k and my abs brake light came on, i went to the dealer to have it fixed they said it would cost about $2000. i have read and spoken to many people having the same problems. is there any way this can be recalled or can anyone help us who doesn't have money to pay for that amount. it is a safety issue and if you would like to contact or speak to people who had these problems. one of the website is www.tech.bentleypublishers.com and it is under vw passat abs light problem. please help us.*ak
06/06/200458000103/03/1999
 The abs modual on my 1999 volkswagen passat(58000 miles)has malfunctioned. this is clearly a safty problem.volkswagen of america says they cant help with the $2000 repair.far too many are in this position.there must be a re-call regarding this possible life threatening matter.*ak
10/16/200395000104/02/2003
 Some months ago abs warning light would come on infrequently. about once every two weeks. then the light would come on more frequently. now the abs light has been on constantly for the past several months. oddly, the light was off on two consecutively evenings and the abs worked when the light was off. however, since then the light has been on constantly. have been to two dealers who suggested replacing abs control module for $1400.00. this seems to be a very common failure in volkswagons and audis. date given below is approximate.*ak
06/16/200460050106/16/2004
 My 1999 vw passat was purchased on 6/16/04. it was a used vehicle with 59,000 miles on it. 6 hours after drivingoff the lot the abs light flased and the brake light started blinking. the dealer i purchased it from took it to get checked and found the abs control module had gone out. this part alone costs over $1200.00 to repair. there are many vw sites out where i have found hundreds of complaints that the abs module had gone out. this part is not covered under warrenty. i beieve this problem should be investigated due to the fact that should this go out while driving it can cause a serious accident.*ak
06/09/200449000108/01/1998
 In mid may, while driving down the highway in my 1999 passat gls (only 49k miles), the abs light came one, the brake light started flashing, and it started to beep. this problem then went away after several seconds. this problem then started to reccur with greater frequency, from one or two times a week, to now several times a day. during my recent 50k mile service, the dealer (sunnyvale vw) determined that this problem is due to a failed abs contol module. the cost to replace it is over $1700. as i cannot afford such a rediculous amount of money, i am now driving a car with a serious safety defect. researching this issue further i discovered that this problem affect 1998 - 2000 vw passats, as well as 1997 - 2000 audi a4 and s4 autos. searching this site for past complaints of this issue i found 50 complaints. more troubling, however, is that when i searched discussion forums of web sites dedicated to the b5 platform vw passat and audi a4 i found over 1500 (one thousand five hundred) posts about this issue. the consensus is that this issue is due to a defective abs control module manufatured by bosch. the defect is due to either poor engineering or manufacturing. i've already complained about this issue to volkswagen of america, and they refuse to resolve the issue by replacing the defective abs control module in my car. i will be sending a letter to the ceo of volkswagen of america to complain about this issue and demand that this important safety defect be remedied. my hope is that my complaint, in combination with the dozens of other formal complaints to the nhtsa, as well as the hundreds of posts about this issue will result in vw issuing a recall to replace these defective abs modules.*ak
03/01/20041
 The abs control module on my car seems to have failed. apparently this is a common problem with both vw and audi. right now the brakes work but abs does not...so the wheels can lock up. once in a while, the abs light turns of and abs starts working, but for the most part it does not work. this has been going on for the last three months or so. again, this seems to be a common failure with vw and audi.*ak
01/02/2004920001
 My abs module failed on my 1999 vw passat. *cb
08/07/2003110/19/1999
 My abs control module is not working which causes my anti lock brakes not to work. i am aware of this issue happening on variuos other vw passats and i wanted to make nhtsa aware of the situation.
10/13/2003541881
 Abs control module failure. my abs control module failed causing the light to come on along with an audible alarm. i have communicated with many individuals with the same problem. the local dealerships recommended replacing not only the abs control module but the instrument cluster as well. the control module costs approximately $1200 installed and the instrument cluster was about $500 installed. when approached about the many people having the same problem the dealerships as well as the vw service center claimed they knew nothing of the problem. there are some people who are being reimbursed by the vw/audi service center for their repairs as if there is a silent recall but i was not given this option. i was forced to replace the module myself which solved the problem. at no time did anyone attempt to stand behind their product. this is a very expensive component that has a very inexpensive sub-component that is failing. the customer is left holding the bag. *la
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
03/27/201084000
 Abs module failed on 1999 volkswagen passat. abs no longer functions.
01/18/2009670001
 Abs, brake light and oil light indicators on - apparently a common problem with passats. faulty abs module according to dealership, $900 part. vehicle has 67,000 miles and dealership serviced. this should not be happening and a recall should be made. *tr
03/11/2009650001
 Abs brake module defect. *tr
01/31/20091070001
 At random intervals while driving, the abs light, brake light, oil light, and asr light flash with accompanying warning beeps and the tachometer goes to zero. these warning eventually go away on their own. the instrument cluster has been replaced but the problem is still intermittently present. *tr
03/01/20081000001
 Unexpected abs amber light fault and flashing red brake light. dealership does not seem to know how to correctly diagnose this and will cost a large sum of money to try and repair. *tr
07/15/2004850001
 1999 volkswagen passat gls 1.8t. failure of abs control module. dealer demanded $2,500.00 to repair what is apparently a faulty design. there have been multiple reports of abs module failures on these vehicles. *tr
09/17/20081060001
 Abs light indicator 1999 vw passat v6 engine. *tr
07/20/20081
 Abs module has failed. *tr
01/10/20081200001
 Abs control unit failure on my 1999 vw passat. *tr
01/05/20081
 I drive a 1999 volkswagen passat 1.8t and when driving at highway speed the abs light would turn on. a couple months later the brake light began appearing with it and making a beeping sound. i took it to a volkswagen specialist and got they replace the abs module. since then the abs light has not come on. *tr
08/20/20081390001
 1. abs and brake light lights up dash, while blaring a loud beep. abs becomes inoperative, which results in longer stops. 2. each time car is started 3. car has not been repaired. *tr
06/20/20081750001
 The abs control module, in my 1999 volkswagen passat has malfunctioned which is major issue. i have seen/heard of a lot of early model passats (1998-2001) having problems with the abs control module. it is placed directly next to the engine block, which gets extremely hot over time. the heat causes this malfunction which could have been avoided by volkswagen. when this unit malfunctions it causes the abs breaking system to fail. also, it flashes multiple check engine lights on the dashboard that are extremely distracting. volkswagen of american does not have this under warranty or recall. dealerships across the country are charging $1,200 to replace this unit that takes 20 minutes to change out. the hard part is trying to rebuild the module. i believe this a huge safety factor that should be seriously looked into by the office of defects investigations. nothing has been done to resolve this yet. i plan on sending in the part for repair and than placing it back into the vehicle once it is fixed. *tr
12/23/2007960001
 Abs and brake light comes on with 4 beeps. sometimes the problem goes away and sometimes it just stay there during the entire drive. abs seems to have stopped working. *tr
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
04/13/2011
 Cars abs module has failed, and cant afford the estimated price of 1500$ to get it repaired.
10/10/2011
 I was driving down the road and stepped on my brakes. i noticed my car was not stopping and the brake was very low to the floor. i got so scared. thank god i was going in a very very slow speed. my brake light came flashing on and beeping like crazy. this car seems to be a lemon lately. i already have issues when i start my car. at times it just doesnt start so i have to keep the key in the ignition and wait about 35 seconds and finally the car turns over. also i have gray smoke that comes out of my tail pipe upon driving at times. also my sun roof, the material got caught and its all ripped. and....my oil disapears on me. i can put two new quarts of oil in my car with in two weeks its gone bone dry with no oil leaks. very very weird. can someone help me out. are there any recalls for any of this. i already bought rotors, brake pads for the back brakes and buying calipers this week. now this happens where i have no brakes. i am so depressed about this. please help me! i could of gotten into a bad accident because my entire brake system failed on me today. go volkswagen....unreal. :(
09/28/2011149002
 When we bought it the abs light was on and brake light blinks, when baking up to the left it clicks
03/23/20091200001
 I have a 1999 vw passat. i had my brake pad replaced in march 2009, since that time my abs brake light came on and need to be replaced. in checking report for recall notice. i see were nhtsa.dot.gov.has a report date august 2009, concerning a problem with long-term effect of abs in passenger cars and ltvs. it will cost me $200. and something dollars according to my mechanic. *tr
06/15/20091400001
 Abs module failure, random driving style/conditions. *tr
03/10/2009115115
 Tl*the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen passat. the contact noticed that the floor on the driver's side in the rear of the vehicle contained approximately an inch to 1.5 inches of water. she noticed the issue approximately four times within one month, especially in rainy conditions. the dealer stated that the failure may be caused by the sunroof, although the sunroof was never wet at the time of inspection. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, but they could not provide a definite diagnosis. the manufacturer stated that there were no recalls relevant to the issue. the contact also noticed that the abs indicator would illuminate intermittently. she was unsure if this failure was related to the water issue. the current mileage was 115,320 and failure mileage was approximately 115,115.
02/02/20091
 Abs control module: this complaint pertains to my 1999 vw passat turbo. i have been experiencing the same issue thousands of others have. the abs and brake lights come on every time i drive the car. it is my understanding that this is a defect in the car and a serious safety issue as the abs system is not functioning properly. *tr
03/01/2009120001
 I was driving like every other day, when the abs light on my 1999 volkswagen passat. i took it to my mechanic thinking my brakes are worn out. the mechanic told me the brakes and rotors are perfect and that the abs control module is not working. i search the internet for a reasonable price to find that many other people are having the same problem. *tr
01/31/20091500001
 While driving the car, had to apply brakes for emergency stop, left front flexible brake hose suddenly ruptured causing complete brake failure. the vehicle has been stopped using emergency hand brakes. under inspection, right front flexible brake hose also shows signs of advanced deterioration. the vehicle has never been in a crash, hoses were original parts. car is 1999 volkswagen passat 18.t automatic with 150,000 miles on the clock. *tr
12/01/20081
 My abs brake light is on as well as the brake light. i've taken it to the dealer and to a automotive repair shop to have it looked at. the dealer says that the abs module is bad and will cost around $900.00 to fix. the brake lines and levels are okay and the pads and rotors are good as well. it seems that the bosch 5.3 abs model for my year and make has recently been reported as faulty. the electronics in the 98-01 model abs modules should be lasting longer or at least the duration of the car. the problem is that virtually all of the bosch 5.3 and 5.3i abs modules in the passat have a serious internal defect (bad manufacturing process) that will surface after 1-6 years of service. if the brakes and abs are actually fine, then volkswagen should be replacing these faulty abs modules with upgrades. the consequence is that your brakes maybe fine but you cannot legally drive because of a failed state inspection. $900.00 is the way to fix it says the dealer. i've had my brakes serviced on the regular by and been told that they're fine, but now the abs light is saying otherwise. *tr
09/05/20081
 Anti-lock brake system control module failure. lights flash on dash, no abs available. *tr
11/01/20081200001
 Abs failure. abs unit stopped working, mechanic says this is a common failure in this car. new unit costs $900 just for the part. *tr
10/20/2008854231
 The abs module on my 1999 passat has broken and the car is constantly warning me of the abs and brake lights on the dash are lighting up. *tr
09/18/20061
 My 1999 vw passat 1.8t began exhibiting a flashing/beeping red light to indicate a failure in the abs system. upon further research with other owners of this vehicle, it has come to my attention that this failure is fairly common on 1998-2001 passats, but no action has ever been taken by the manufacturer. i had the abs module rebuilt and did the removal and installation work myself; the result was $220 out of pocket. however, many people who have sought dealership service work for this same problem have spent well in excess of $1,000. given the apparent failure rate of this module and the fact that it is a core safety feature of the car, it is my opinion that it should be considered for recall (including compensation for those who have already made the repair). thank you. *tr
05/16/20081501
 This complaint is for my abs module in my 1999 vw passat wagon. it went out for no apparent reason, with lights indicating such. it is constantly broken now. it will cost 1,200 for the dealer to replace the broken module, with out it i am without abs. *tr
09/03/20081
 1999 vw passat,abs light on/brake light flashing for a couple of weeks, very annoying and scary, read on internet discussion forums , possibly very expensive to fix, do not have 1500 dollars to fix and it possibly may not resolve the problem..we need answers ... *tr
08/18/2008670001
 Abs module failure at ~67000 miles. abs light on with flashing brake light and 3 short peeps. water intrusion from under battery drains due to design flaws. *tr
08/28/20071200001
 Abs light stated to blink... can't talk to abs in car with computer... abs module is out :( *tr
06/20/20081390001
 The anti-lock braking system module on my 1999 volkswagen passat has failed leaving me with no functioning abs system. the failure occurred under normal driving conditions. the failure occurs every time the car is driven, the lights on the dashboard appear telling me the system has failed, the only consequence so far is a failed abs system, as of right now no corrective action has been taken because a brand new module is ~$800 dollars, and to have the module rebuilt requires removing it from the car and mailing it to a module rebuilding company(www.modulemasters.com) and costs $200+ and at this time i can't afford either of the costs easily. the car and brakes function fine, but there is no safety of the abs system incase of emergency an emergency stop of a 4000lb car. *tr
06/18/20081055561
 I got in my car one morning and started the abs lights and brake lights come on the instrument panel and has pretty much been on since and i have noticed without abs my car doesn't stop near as fast as it used to the dealer said it was the abs computer failed and the manufacture would have to send me anew one but that it was really pricy to fix and a group that i am with also drive the same cars a large number of them and there's has failed just like mine did. *tr
06/01/20081430001
 Abs module failed in my 1999 vw passat. *tr
02/14/2008850001
 Abs module failure. happens everytime i start my car. replacement of abs module. *tr
02/15/2007540001
 Abs brain failure, 1999 vw passat 1.8t. driving on highway when dash lights lit noting abs failure occurred. car had 54,000 miles at time of failure. had to send out unit for repairs, led to driving for 2 weeks without abs brakes, and cost $200 for rebuild (new at dealer would have been >$1000).
11/19/20071388001
 Driving along on a clear day, open road, no bad weather. the abs/brake light on my car came on with a warning beep. intermittently the tachometer and oil pressure light would fail to work additional creating warning beeps . having the vehicle checked by a garage, the abs electronic module had failed requiring replacement. *tr
06/01/20081120001
 Sudden loss of abs function due to abs module failure. *tr
02/06/2007113000202/18/1999
 Tl*- 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. *ak
10/30/20061200004811/03/1998
 Dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds, the abs, oil, and brake lights illuminated and then flashed. there was a beeping noise as a warning signal prior to the illumination of the abs, oil and brake lights. the tachometer also failed. this problem was intermittent and worsen over a two week period. the vehicle was taken to a independent repair shop who indicated there were no codes after the diagnostic testing. they recommended the vehicle be taken to the an authorized dealer. while looking through the owner manual, the contact observed a warning statement that the illumination of the abs and brake lights could result in the locking up of the rear brakes under hard braking. while driving 65 mph on a highway the rear brakes locked causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. there was no hard braking when this occurred.
08/14/20062
 At about 80,000 miles abs & brake lights began flashing. took in for service as indicated in owner's manual. service tech advised it was abs instrument cluster -- expensive repair. was told brakes were ok and i should have no problem with them operating properly. i waived repair based on this information. it is now a month later and the lights are on continuously. took car in for state inspection. now told car will not pass inspection due to possible problem with brakes! huh? i've been driving car for over a month thinking there was no danger. service techs will now not confirm problem is with abs instrument cluster. must do additional diagnostic at $80/hr. was informed they could pass car inspection if they could get lights to go off long enough for them to perform inspection (wink wink). is this a safety hazard or not??? i now have 15 days to get repair done in order to pass inspection. i'm no tech but this seems to be a faulty part that everyone is aware of but not willing to do anything about. add to that, there is no clear direction on whether this is a danger or not. i'm guessing since cars won't pass inspection, it is. *nm
08/01/20059500020012/30/1999
 The abs warning light and brake warning light flash. *nm
09/08/200580400110/25/2002
 No abnormal events leading up to failure, just a normal commute on residential road at about 30 mph. the failure was indicated by three loud electronic beeps and the appearance of the abs light (steady) and brakes light (blinking) on the instrumental cluster. consequence of failure is loss of abs operation. no repair effected as yet, diagnosis shows failure of electronic abs module. *nm
01/04/20045
 Submission of complaint re vw of america feel he has been over charged for numerous & extensive repair bills for his 1999 vw passat. the consumer stated he is still experiencing problems with the front suspension. the front stabilizer was repaired and the lower control arm was repaired, however the problem recurred. the rear brake pads were worn. the front doors creaked when opened. *jb the cruise control was intermittent. the consumer requested assistance of all the matters. *sc *jb
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK
08/01/20061030001
 My 1999 volkswagen passat (v6, glx model) has a faulty abs control module. at around 103,000 miles, the anti-lock brake system stopped working on my car and began flashing a brake warning light in the instrument panel. i have spoken with numerous other vw passat owners who tell me this same incident has happened to them. it seems to be a trend among 1998-2001 passats, and since the abs system no longer works, is an obvious safety hazard. *tr
04/30/200847000101/06/2006
 Tl*the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen passat. when the vehicle was purchased, there was plastic covering the reflector board. after a few months, the contact noticed that the abs lights illuminated on the instrument panel. through online research, the contact discovered several complaints on the same year, make, and model vehicle. an independent mechanic performed a diagnostic on the vehicle, but could not locate the specific cause of the failure. he was informed that if he depressed the brake pedal too hard, it could lock his wheel and result in a crash or he could lose control of the vehicle. the failure mileage was 47,000. updated 09/16/08. *lj updated 09/18/08. *jb
09/25/200775000111/30/1998
 Driving at 60 mph the driver applied the brakes upon entering a reduced speed zone. the pedal went to the floor without resistance and the brakes failed to engage. no warning lights or other indications to suggest a problem. driver pulled the emergency brake to prevent hitting traffic ahead and spun 180 degrees across traffic slamming into a curb. witness to the accident tried to apply the brakes several times at the crash site and the pedal offered no resistance for him. powering the car on and off; brake pressure returned to normal. the vw dealer where the car was hauled to cannot duplicate the failure and the brakes checkout normal. dealer has given little sense of security to make driver want to get in the car again. said they could replace the master cylinder, but it checks out fine. one mechanic said he heard of a case with tires confusing the abs with different wear. front tires are >95% and the rears are 75%. nobody would document this theory however and repair will now leave car with 3 basically new tires with one rear at 75%. *jb updated 12/12/07 *bf
06/11/2007111475103/01/1999
 Abs/brake light flashing; beeps initially when ignition is turned on. after having service center replace oil pressure sending unit, diagnosis determined to be failure of abs control module. not aware of this occurring in any other makes, and learn from complaints within and from forums and other internet sites that this is a common problem in 1999 vw passat. oil light, now, also comes on when brake pedal is applied, but goes off when pedal is released. oil pressure & pump okay, as is oil level, but source of oil light/brake pedal issue cannot be determined. *tr
03/21/200762150110/01/2004
 Abs module failure. abs light comes on with brake light flashing and 3 beeps intermittently. after turning the car off for awhile it may not come on for several miles the next time. braking heavily causes the rear wheels to lock up and skid. also what i think is particularly dangerous is when braking heavily with the abs light off causes the car to skid and at the same time the check engine light comes on as well as the abs light and brake light and stalls. if on a highway at high speed this could be deadly. the repair will be the replacement of the electronic module. add me to the list of many who have this problem and want to get a recall instituted on this module. *ak
03/20/2007156000512/31/2000
 Beep sound abs and brake lights came on intermittently for a few seconds, and then went off.*ak
03/04/200668000108/25/1999
 1999 vw passat. abs light was always on. brake light always flashing in dash, 3 beeps every few minutes. no definitive answer from 2 dealers. i will not accept trial by error diagnosis at my expense. i strongly urge vw to attend to this overwhelmingly common problem. my love of driving this car is gone.*ak
05/05/2006800001009/15/2000
 I am one of an already large and constantly growing number of persons with volkswagen's and audi's who have abs (automatic braking systems) that have stopped working after only a mere 60-70,000 miles. i have taken my car in to the dealer several times to resolve this issue and each time they (deal) say it's something else. with many people complaining now and more to join in as the days go by, one can only imagine the large quantity of other people who have this snafu. our experience has been that vw/audi appears to refuse to acknowledge the problem. lately, several persons have said that the problem is generally being caused by the electrical unit in the abs module. yet at this point, vw and audi are having users replace the entire unit. this cost is prohibitive for many of us ($2000 upward in my case). in the meantime, many of us are having to drive with faulty abs systems, with resultant safety problems: for me, the abs problem causes the brakes to go on at inappropriate times. the brakes on my car grab and activate unexpectedly during the first several minutes of driving after my car has sat overnight. others have experienced this too. i fear that this may cause an accident. this problem on my car seems to be growing worse. the more obvious safety hazard is that all of these cars lack the abs during crucial times of driving on icy or wet pavement. again, this problem is aggravated when the abs goes on and off intermittently, without the driver's knowledge (since in many cases, the dash warning lights remain on throughout). at this point, i'm fearful whenever i drive my car. *jb
08/02/200613400010010/15/1998
 Abs warning light plus oil and brake lights flash, tachometer goes to zero. *nm
04/07/2006998451
 Abs light started to light intermittently for about two days and is now on constantly. braking characteristics have noticeably changed and randomly pulse at times. this is a well documented failure in vw passats at around 75k miles. *jb
02/04/200697000100
 Multiple warning lights on and/or blinking including abs, brake light, and oil light. *jb
12/30/2005149000109/09/1999
 I had a flashing abs light in my gauge cluster that wouldn't stop. went to dealer to check fault code for light. told that my abs control unit is bad and needs replacing....shouldn't drive car without replacing unit. cost for unit and r & r $1.000. *nm
04/19/200580000109/06/1999
 Abs failure. *nm
10/24/200594000310/14/2003
 Dt: the contact took vehicle to dealer for recall repairs. upon inspection the technician noticed the steering assembly came loose. the vehicle was being repaired at the dealership. they replaced both lower control arms and both tie rods. also, the dealership also found there was an oil leak and the abs was defective. *ak the technician discovered the steering rack assembly was loose to the point it could have fallen of from the frame. updated 11/29/05. *jb
06/05/200560000108/27/2003
 I own a 99 vw passat which has a failed abs system. upon researching this abs and brake light indicator problem, i have learned that this is a common malfunction with vw and audi owners. apparently, vw offered a recall for this problem but did not include pre-2001 vehicles. a definite indicator of their unwillingness to maintain the safety of their vehicles. when this system fails, the indicator lights up, however, this does not happen during 100% of my drive time. it happens intermittently and will likely cause a dangerous accident, since when lit i have no abs. please be aware that i am not alone in my complaint and hold vw liable for their faulty craftsmanship with this abs system. the costs of repair are exorbitant and should not be required by the consumer. this is a universal problem with their vehicles! *nm
09/10/200555000107/06/1999
 Dt: 1999 volkswagen passat - in re: the anti lock brake system. a warning light had come on along with a beeping sound. the consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealer and they suggested that this was a common problem with the passat. the consumer researched this matter and realized that there were other similar complaints, then called the manufacturer. thee manufacturer stated that there was no recall on this problem and had not fixed it as of yet. the consumer had not experienced any other problems except with the warning light and the beeping sound. *ak (12/08/05) the antilock brake system failed daily. *sc
08/16/20051
 The abs brake control unit of my 1999 passat has failed. dealer quotes cost in excess of $1000. to replace a part that costs less than $100 to manufacture. i found a car forum where many, many people talk of this bosh part as failing in their passats and audis. *ak
11/01/20041
 I have owned my volkswagen passat for the last 5 years. about 6 months ago abs warning lights came on. i checked to see if the abs still were working, and it was not. the warning lights went on and off for the next month or so, but is now on whenever i turn the car on. i contacted the dealer, and they immediatly knew what i was calling about. it seemd as though this was a common problem. the price to get it fixed through the dealer was $1600 or more. volkswagen knows of the problem ,but says that nothing will be done. currently i can't afford to pay $1600 to have the abs fixed on my car that had 60,000 miles on it when this started.*ak
04/01/2005550001
 I own a 1999 volkswagen passat with 55000 miles on it. the abs light came on while driving and the brake light is flashing. on going to the dealer, i am told that i need to replace the abs unit and the instrument panel which will cost $1900. *ak this appears to be a common problem. according to the dealer, he has had several people complain about the same issue. vw should issue a recall for this part and not have customers pay for its defective parts.
10/18/200454000107/02/2003
 Abs module failure. was sudden/no warning. electronic portion needs replacement. re: san antonio tx dealer. failure occured w/less than 55k miles on vehicle. was told this is a common problem w/this vehicle.*ak
02/17/200578410110/15/1998
 1. abs & brake warning lights appear - no obvious events leading up to failure. 2. i drive carefully to the dealer shop during a snow storm - careful not to apply the brakes too strongly. no accident occured - but danger of accident definitely increased. 3. dealer determines the problem is the abs pump. due to safety issue, i have an appointment to have abs replaced at my cost of at least $1200 . *ak
03/01/200599000101/13/2004
 My 1999 vw passat, has a abs control unit failure. the part # is 8e0 614 111b. after doing some research i notice that this is a big problem with vw. if this is such a common problem why have they not been recalled. i also notice that the newer models are now installed with a newer part, is this because vw was aware of the problem? *ak
01/18/200455105/01/2003
 Abs brake light- i took my car to a volkswagen dealership to see why this light is on and they informed me that it could be a module, and it is not covered by warrenty, and it would cost about $1300.00 to replace. so i did some research and in my research i learned that this is an ongoing problem. i did a search on google and found at least 200 complaints with the same problem and it is a safety concern. my brakes dont work in damp weather.. they become very hard to push.. and my brakes are new i had them replaces about 3 months ago and the light was on back then.. that is why i had them replaced, in hopes that was the problem.. but if you do a search on google you will find that there are hundreds of stories and safety concerns. i also contacted corporate volkswagen and they told me that my car was out of warrenty and that there is nothing that they can do, that i would have to pay for it myself.*ak
12/20/200441000312/06/2000
 I a 1999 vw passat gls 1.8t. i have experienced an intermittent abs warning light issue since mid december 2004. when it first came on i promptly took the car to my regular/local vw dealership (power volkswagon, torrance, ca) who reported that they could not find a problem, and said they reset the system. within a few days the abs light was on again and i returned it to the dealership and this time they kept it for a few days to try to determine the problem and reported that they had identified the problem as a wiring problem and recommended replacing the abs wiring to the sensors (cost under $500). after getting the vehicle back the light was again on intermittently (not as much as before) and this time they said the only other solution is to replace the abs control module (quoted $1,500 parts and $300 labor). given the fact that i had just spent $500 on abs wiring that they said was the problem i wasn't about to spend $2,000 with them. i started my own research to find that this is a common problem with 1998-2000 abs control modules on vw/audi vehicles (see http://tech.bentleypublishers.com/thread.jspa?threadid=2447). i also talked with independent/german mechanics who seemed well aware of the problem (even though my vw dealership seemed to feel it was a mystery). as parent whose children are regularly in the vehicle i have tried to determine what level of safety risk (if any) this poses. when my wife initially called our vw dealership they said it was a critical problem and that we should bring the vehicle in immediately. then when they couldn't find a problem, it seemed to be downgraded to needs fixed but not critical. the vw owner's manual suggests that it is critical as the light on may result in unexpected braking and one of the independent mechanics i spoke with suggested he personally knew of a case where the vehicle's abs engaged at a high speed resulting in an accident. i encourage nhtsa to engage vw in resolving this issue.
10/01/2004730006004/19/1999
 In approx. october, 2004, abs warning light started to come on intermittently. problem is not repeatable, but happens at random times and for random durations. abs appears to be inoperative when the light is on. after several minutes, abs light stops flashing and the car functions normally. *nm
06/20/1999804/15/1999
 Shortly after bought car, had many makeup problems: trim panel falling off, 3 our 4 windows have been fixed numerous times. cannot have trim fixed unless do whole car, which is too expensive and i didnt pay all that money for a car to have dish out more money for something that should not happen. i have paid to have all the windows fixed except this last time, i just will not do it. no accidents, nothing for these problems to be occuring. also, the tie rods have been replaced numerous times. lastly, steering/suspension has been a problem. all these problems took place four months after purchase and since then has been a problem. *ak
11/15/2004742501
 The abs warning light came on approximately one month ago, at first intermittently. the car was immediately taken to a mechanic, but problem could not be diagnosed. since then, the light comes on and a audible warning sounds at every start-up. the car has been returned to the mechanic, who will perform another diagnostic. all four rotors and pads were replaced in the last four months. the mechanic has a nearly identical car with an identical problem and has diagnosed a faulty abs module, a $950 part plus labor charges. searches on the internet show anecdotal evidence that hundreds, if not thousands, of owners of similar models are experiencing this same problem. other owners describe dangerous brake failures, including lock-up.*ak
12/21/200464000110/01/1999
 During an emergancy braking procedure the abs system did not work. i attempted to stop from highway speeds, the tires locked up, and the abs/ brake light came on and then went out seconds later. but the front tire locked up when i needed the abs to work. the light now comes on and off at will. the brake pads front and rear have been changed, and the brake fluid changed to fix the problem with no luck. the light tends to come on once the engine is warm but i no longer trust the abs to work even if the light is off. *ak
12/13/20049600012/01/1998
 Anti-lock brake system (abs) warning light blinked intermittently over many weeks. i was first told that the abs was working okay, but the problem was just with the indicator light. a direct test of the brakes on a slippery road proved that the abs was not working at all. a second visits to vw dealer's service department over resulted in diagnosis of faulty abs control module, replaced at a total cost of over $1500. *nm
12/01/20046800010010/25/1998
 The abs brake light on my 1999 vw passat keeps coming on. vw says i need. *ak
11/01/20048000010012/01/1998
 My 1998 passat's abs light is intermittently coming on and off. my mechanic has verified that there is nothing wrong with the abs pump itself, there is just a problem with the sensor. the web is full of the same complaint re: vw passats spanning many years. there is obviously a problem with the abs sensors on these cars. they need to do a recall. *jb
10/15/2004112/20/2002
 Abs & brake light continue to flash. it started as one brief incident and now happens everytime i am in my car. i have been told that this will run somewhere in the ballpark of $1500. this is obviously a poorly manufactured device and should be replaced by volkswagen. we are all hazards on the road. *jb
10/03/20031240001
 Abs control module failed in 1999 passat v6. abs warning light came on, along with flashing brake light and intermittent beeping sound. repair estimate $1500-2000. i contacted vw of america to complain after reading about numerous other complaints about the bosch part. vw of america told me they could/would not help with repair.*ak
08/11/200490000103/03/2001
 Abs light coming on once in a while. now stays on permanently and beeps. concerned about safety of brakes. cost to repair $1600. this car has been in the shop numerous times for electrical problems since i purchased it. i will never buy another vw. *jb
03/20/2004116000108/17/2001
 Abs light turned on. *ak
03/05/200446154111/20/1998
 Abs brake failure. *jb
11/21/2003105000103/24/1999
 The abs module on my 1999 vw passat has gone bad. i have read other posts about such failures. it went out when my car had about 105 k miles. though that is a lot of miles, i don't see why a lot of high way driving would cause the abs module to fail. it's also a very costly fix. 1200 for the part and then another 200 for labor. that's 1500. my car is less than 5 years old.*ak
10/16/200398365111/18/1998
 Abs unit failed from defect. i feel that this is a known defect in a manufactured part and vw america refuses to replace defective unit. *la
01/13/20031
 While driving at 25mph, the vehicle experienced total brake loss. causing a fire to the front and rear wheel. dealer has been notified and will cost $2,8000 to replace the abs. please provide further information.*jb
04/09/2002110/01/2099
 While attempting to dis-engage cruise control while approaching toll booth, by tapping brake, vehicle suffered total brake failure. pulled emergency brake, which worked as advertised, causing vehicle to enter 360 degree spin and cross 6 lanes of toll booth traffic ending up on right shoulder of highway. no contact with any other vehicle or object. shut down engine and re-started and brake pressure returned to normal. mehcanic at independent shop cannot duplicate failure and system tests ok.*ak
04/11/20001
 Vehicle stalls intermittently at speeds of 25-65 mph. vehicle taken to dealer 10-15 times, cannot find a cause. *ak the mirror switch is inoperative due to window switch failure. the driver seat warmer was inoperative. engine has a burning smell due to oil leak. vehicle made noise in front end on left turns due to a stabilizer bar clamp being loose. front brakes make noise. steering makes noise and locked while driving. steering column sliding cover cracked. *yh
10/10/199904/01/1999
 Gas gauge sending unit has been replaced once. malfunctioning again. shows full tank when more than half empty. brakes have never worked adequately. dealer has inspected and says they are normal. after inspection, worked better for a brief period. *ak
06/28/1999106/01/1999
 Brakes sticking to drums and no brake light warning of pending stop. problem never addressed by vw, the dealership or corporate. the problem caused an accident and prematurely caused wear on all brake components. i have had to replace the brakes twice in 40,000 miles. the most recent at 12,000 miles usage. vw says there is nothing wrong and it is not covered by warranty. *ak
12/15/1999
 Ongoing problem with brakes squealing when applying brakes. vehicle been in dealer shop on four occasions. repairs were made on the disc brake system, and problem stilloccurring. please feel free to provide any further details. *ak
08/31/19993
 Oil line broke while driving. also, abs/master cylinder malfunctioned, causing the entire abs system to be replaced.vehicle was not braking properly when brakes were applied. in addition, had pads replaced twice/needed a new booster installed, and sun roof was replaced because it leaked and made a squealing noise.*ak
01/01/1999
 We were notified of a recall regarding the brakes on our vehicle. the dealership told us they completed have the work on the brakes but did not have the parts to complete the recall. we have contacted the service department to complete the job on numerous occassions. we have been told the parts are coming from germany. as of 1/18/00 we were told the company is holding back the parts. as an accident reconstructionists and a safety professional, i find this explanation unacceptable and volkswagen is not compling with recall notice issued by your agency. *ak
01/01/1999
 While driving 10-20 mph and applying the brakes the pedal is hard and there aren't any brakes. *ak
11/19/1998
 While making a stop vehicle would idle intermittently. occasionally, just at the point of coming to a stop, it will lunge forward while brakes are being applied. happens in both hot and cold weather. *ak
08/01/1999304/01/1999
 Front brakes started squealing but now are rubbing,grinding,groaning and braking rough. i am being told that these are normal brake sounds and that they cannot find anything wrong. although on the last visit to the dealer i was told they did something different to the rotors this time. after at least 6 visits, i have the same problem and am being told to seek a scond opinion. *ak
07/01/1998
 No summary listed for this vehicle. *ak
05/05/1999104/01/1999
 The drivers side seat has excessive movement in the fore-aft direction and in the vertical. it is most noticeable when braking. it feels very unsecure. i have taken it to the dealer. they claim this level of play is normal.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK - ABS WARNING LIGHT
06/05/2007480001
 This complaint pertains to my 1999 vw passat 1.8 turbo. i have been experiencing the same issue thousands of others have. the abs and brake lights come on every time i drive the car. it is my understanding that this is a defect in the car and a serious safety issue as the abs system is not functioning properly. *tr
01/06/2008750001
 Normal usage on the car. at ~75k miles, the emergency brake light, abs light, and traction control light blink and the dashboard beeps any time the car drops below 15 miles per hour. abs module is faulty, due to defective design. well documented issue on passats of this era. *tr
10/05/2007108000109/10/2006
 I drive a 1999 vw passat sedan turbo. out of no where one day my abs and brake lights started flashing, they are always on now everytime i drive and do not go off. i am worried something may be wrong with my brake system but do not have any more money to put into my car at the moment since i have put thousands in since it was purchased. *tr
10/10/20071
 My abs light on my 1999 passat 1.8t comes on intermittently and stays on. when it does, the brake light also flashes. i can park my car overnight. when i restart it, it is off. after driving a short ways, it will come on again. *tr
06/01/2007115000104/04/2004
 Abs module has failed. this is a very expensive repair ($1400 for the part (!) plus labor) for a safety-related feature. in checking around the internet i am finding out that this is apparently a very common problem with this vehicle (vw passat, late 1990s models). *tr
09/10/2007102000107/15/2002
 Abs module failure nothing lead upto the beeping and flashing of the abs light (solid lit) and brake light (flashing). occured after routine driving, simply pulling into work parking lot as usual, after short trip to eating. after some searching and browsing online leads me to believe the abs module has failed as on many other volkswagen/audi models. repair has not been done. remanufacturing of module is around $200 and oem dealer replacement is said to be well over $1,000 dollars. *tr
06/11/2007111475103/01/1999
 Abs/brake light flashing; beeps initially when ignition is turned on. after having service center replace oil pressure sending unit, diagnosis determined to be failure of abs control module. not aware of this occurring in any other makes, and learn from complaints within and from forums and other internet sites that this is a common problem in 1999 vw passat. oil light, now, also comes on when brake pedal is applied, but goes off when pedal is released. oil pressure & pump okay, as is oil level, but source of oil light/brake pedal issue cannot be determined. *tr
07/06/20071
 My 1999 passat 1.8l has abs and brake lights flashing intermittently with the chime coming on occasionally. there appears to be no degradation of braking but not sure if abs is working or not. the condition seems to correct itself, but then restarts again within 10 minutes. *tr
08/08/200783000103/07/2005
 1999 vw passat 1.8 abs light stays on.
08/07/20071
 I have a flashing brake light that i understand could be a result of the abs module failure. research shows that abs failure is very common and expensive to fix. *tr
06/05/20071400005002/02/2003
 Abs and brake light go on and off with no rhyme. dealer has quoted me $1500 to replace. it seems that it should be a recall with so many having the same problem. i will send to have it rebuilt then quickly sell car and not purchase vw again. *tr
05/01/200684000111/01/1998
 Abs warning light on - abs not working. *jb
12/15/2006105/18/2001
 Solid abs light/flashing brake light. *jb
03/29/20061080001
 Dt*: the contact stated the abs, brake and oil lamps intermittently illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined the abs module needs replaced although the repair was not made.
04/03/2003130000102/15/2000
 Abs brake light came on dash board, causing my abs system to not function and i had it checked out, it turned out to be a busted abs module.
02/01/200511000010010/03/1998
 I have a 1999 volkswagen passat gls - i am driving at random speed. chime comes on blasting. abs light comes on and stay on. brake light flashes (same brake light as when e-brake is engaged) chime keeps going. all goes away after about 20 seconds of driving. *jb
10/08/200382377109/20/2001
 The abs / brake light keeps coming on my dashboard. i took it to service to rod east volkswagen (vw) and after charging me $75 they said there's nothing wrong with your car. the light is on everyday. *la
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK - CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
04/15/20091
 Out of the blue, my car starts dinging and i look down to see the abs light on, along with a flashing brake light. i did a search and the first thing i see is that you should check the sensors at each tire. this makes me think about the fact that just before my problem occurred, i had just had my tie rod ends replaced. was wondering if maybe the sensors had been damaged/broken when those things were replaced, but who knows. doubtful that the mechanic that did that work would own up to that anyways. upon more research, everyone is pointing to the abs control module and quoting anywhere from $100-600 for rebuilt modules to $1500-3500 for brand new ones. my husband wants me to drop the money on something that's not guaranteed to work. there are so many complaints, thought i'd add to this with my own complaint. i'm calling volkswagen monday to see what they're going to say. *tr
02/01/2008150001
 The abs control module is dead on mt 1999 vw passat. this renders the abs useless. this is a known problem with the passats. i just hope they have a recall because it is big dollar repair. *tr
07/01/20071050001
 Abs module is faulty, resulting in no abs braking system. *tr
05/01/200680566111/21/1999
 Vw passat 1999 - failing abs module (abs,oil,brake lights on). internet research showed hundreds of similar complaints. vw should at least fix this for original owners. my light has been on for over a year. i was quoted $1400 to repair yet it is a bad solder joint on the abs circuit board. vw needs to replace the module. so mush for vw safety. *tr
09/10/2007102000107/15/2002
 Abs module failure nothing lead upto the beeping and flashing of the abs light (solid lit) and brake light (flashing). occured after routine driving, simply pulling into work parking lot as usual, after short trip to eating. after some searching and browsing online leads me to believe the abs module has failed as on many other volkswagen/audi models. repair has not been done. remanufacturing of module is around $200 and oem dealer replacement is said to be well over $1,000 dollars. *tr
06/11/2007111475103/01/1999
 Abs/brake light flashing; beeps initially when ignition is turned on. after having service center replace oil pressure sending unit, diagnosis determined to be failure of abs control module. not aware of this occurring in any other makes, and learn from complaints within and from forums and other internet sites that this is a common problem in 1999 vw passat. oil light, now, also comes on when brake pedal is applied, but goes off when pedal is released. oil pressure & pump okay, as is oil level, but source of oil light/brake pedal issue cannot be determined. *tr
09/08/2007113935107/08/1998
 While driving on the freeway, my 1999 vw passat's abs light lit up and the brake light flashing in the instrument cluster follow by 3 loud beeps. i later bring it to an auto mechanic shop and was told that my abs module does not work any more. the mechanic further stated that this is a normal occurrence with vw abs system. *tr
07/16/2007151
 Abs lights on, oil light, brake light on. diagnosed as failure of abs control module. *ak
06/04/2007130000105/10/1998
 Car abs brake module quite working causing tires to lock up and lose control of vehicle. *tr
03/20/200796288101/31/2007
 This regards a 1999 volkswagen passat 1.8t wagon @ 97,500 miles. beginning 03/20/2007 the abs and brake warning chime and light on the dashboard suddenly came on and then off again. the vehicle was inspected by two separate mechanics. the abs and brakes are working properly, but the abs control module is faulty causing the warning chime and lights to intermittently come on and off. the warning chime and lights come on and off again at least once daily, some days repeatedly and at random. the cost to replace the abs module is $900. research on the internet proves that this is quite a problem with passat and comparable audi vehicles, many with much less mileage. i have placed a call with volkswagen of america, but they refuse to acknowledge that a problem exists with the module. the cost is quite excessive for a problem that continuously causes concern for the driver and is a pure annoyance. can anything be done to remedy this situation? *tr
06/20/200662601101/30/2005
 Abs indication light was on consistently. searched online and found a large number of complaint existed regarding the abs control unit but not yet have the vm/audi recall action activated. brought to the dealer for diagnosis and noted found no communication between abs and instrument cluster, abs control unit has failed. was charged for over $1000 to replace the abs control unit. this should be a manufacture defect and it is not reasonable for the consumers to bear the cost of replacing the abs module. *nm
05/05/200674000109/17/2004
 1999 vw passat 1.8 turbo. abs light came up on 74000 mile for no reason. light was coming and going. now it is always on. reading codes says: no communication between control module and computer. diagnose was: bad control module. module cost $700 us dollars, and dealer is asking for $700 to replace( for me it will take 15-20 min). still, this is too much for bad designed and in a wrong spot placed module. *jb
12/13/20061190001
 The anti-lock braking system failed on my vehicle. the abs and brake lights came on to warn me so i took it into the dealership. i was told that the abs control module had failed and would cost me $1500 to repair. there are hundreds of posts online about this exact problem with passats - in particular abs bosch 5.3 ,5.4, 5.7 control modules. *jb
10/24/2006745881
 Abs control unit failure. *jb
11/06/200667539208/27/1999
 About a month ago the abs and brake lights started intermittently flashing. i took the car to the dealer and i was informed that the abs module had failed. i was told that it's not safe to drive with a failed abs module as it communicates with other systems in the car. the dealer charged $912.08 for the repair. a month later the same problem started happening again. this time i was told that the abs hydraulic system, and the dealer is asking $2372 for the part itself. i searched for more information on the internet and there are thousands of vw passat owners who are plagued by abs-related failures. driving with no abs is not safe in a car that is designed to work with the abs system. *jb
07/20/200680000103/31/1999
 In august of this year, 2006, my 1999 volkswagen passat gls, which was purchased new by my family, begin exhibiting some troubling behavior. the behavior consists of the tachometer ceasing to function as both the brake and oil dashboard lights flash with accompanying warning tones and the abs dashboard light comes on solid and remains on. when the abs dashboard light is on, my car's abs does not function. at first the problem was intermittent, but eventually became more frequent and has now reach a state of persistency. i have been working on volkswagens vehicles since i was a child and, given my immediately family has owned over ten volkswagens in the past 20 years alone, the rest of my family has as well; including a secondary relative who owns a volkswagen repair business in amesbury, ma. given the above described problem is common and well documented, the diagnosis of a faulty bosch 5.3 abs controller was straight forward. the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has logged over 50 complaints alone with many hundreds more being affected. all instances are consistent with my own. review of the individual testimonies as logged by the nhtsa makes it clear that this problem is caused by the premature failure of a key component of one of the most crucial automotive safety systems. the prohibitive cost of repairing this item and the refusal to acknowledge the problem component as defective and electively recalling it amounts to negligence and reckless endangerment on the part of volkswagen. the defective component represents a danger to the driver of the affected automobile and everyone sharing the road with the affected automobile. the problem expressed herein is widespread and clearly documented as a problem and a hazard that is not typically experienced by other automobile owners with similarly functioning antilock braking systems. this unit should be recalled to ensure the safety of hundreds if not thousands of drivers. *nm
09/16/2006945679999
 Abs light and brake light flashing continuously. dealer claims abs module($1600). after researching, found hundreds of vw passat owners with same problem vw does not want to assist or perform recall. *nm
09/03/200672389107/22/1999
 My abs light has been flashing for months .....i am told by dealership that it is an abs sensor....brakes not really affected....however i hit the brakes at 10mph while taking a slight turn...brakes failed, then locked; hit curband brushed tree.vw needs to address this.....brakes checked and looked fine...no explanation for the behavior of the brakes. *nm
06/28/2006101/19/2003
 Abs, oil, brake warning lights intermittently come on and off over last few months with alarm sounds beeping intermittently also. tachometer drops to 0 when this starts and stays on 0 as long as warning lights on. other times no lights or anything when i start it up and drive for quite a time, then they start again. took it to rusty wallis vw in garland, tx. they said abs module not communicating was my problem===quoting $2687 to replace, and if i didn't replace it, chance was wheels would lock up if i had to brake hard. they did ask me to fill out a questionnaire on this abs problem, like constant light or intermittent, etc. i thought that was curious. i have seen so many complaints on this very same thing on internet, automotive discussion boards. i also have gathered vw is saying there is nothing they can do. this is a vw problem (also gather it's an audi problem). it's a safety problem, and it's an expensive problem. i don't have almost $3,000 in my pocket for something that should be owned up to by vw. it's a safety problem with vw's and this abs module going bad appears to be a very common problem with vw. i'll never buy another one. thank you for your consideration. *jb
08/02/2006825005003/15/2005
 Abs light comes on and brake light blinks. abs electronic module failure - discovered problem at passatworld.com. *jb
08/10/200666000105/01/2004
 Dt*: the contact stated the abs light illuminated and the vehicle was taken to the dealership for inspection. the dealership determined the abs module needed to be replaced.
07/28/200697630110/03/1998
 1 - i was driving my 1999 vw passat with 97,630 miles on july 28, 2006 when it seemed to lose power and the check engine light came on. i pulled over as soon as possible to check oil, fluids, damage, etc but could find nothing out of the ordinary. 2 - a day later, the exhaust started to make a continuously loud noise and the accelerator pedal now fluctuates up and down automatically without any action from me. it appears like a circuit board or electronic control module went bad. 3 - the abs / brake lights came on and started blinking at this time as well. 4 - my dealer said the modules go bad and it is not under any warranty, so the estimate was around $850 to fix. i called vw's national customer care and they did not have any warranty or recall notices that could help. *jb
06/11/2006103085105/29/1999
 Just before the expiration of my 100,000-mile, 6-year extended warranty at 99,938 miles (and 23 days before the end of 6 years) i took my 1999 1.8l turbo volkswagen passat (b5) to the dealership. i requested that they perform the 100,000-mile service and to thoroughly check the car for any repairs that may be required since it would soon be out-of-warranty. five weeks and 3000 miles later (and out of warranty) i was driving home from work when on two occasions my abs and brake warning lights turned on and three beeps sounded (the first instance occurred at 103,085 miles). both times the warning lights went off within seconds. upon researching this problem on the internet, it appears that this is related to a failed abs control module, apparently a known problem that should have a recall associated with it since it fails prematurely. according to the dealership, it will cost between $1800 and $2400 for them to repair the abs control module. this is the second large item failure within five weeks and 3000 miles of my warranty expiration (the first was a failed timing belt and tensioner). it appears to me that volkswagen has instituted planned obsolescence into their products! i am also very upset that both of these failures are well documented and should be known by both the dealership and volkswagen and could have been prevented with very little effort. *jb
06/10/200696000104/01/2006
 Abs light, abs intermitant failure, oil light failure, tachometer failure. *nm
06/17/2006121000107/04/1999
 The following is exact comments from vw tech written in dealership invoice. abs control unit is faulty abs light is on and the word brake is flashing when the control unit is plugged in. no tachometer reading and the oil pressure light flashes. 5052 will not communicate with the unit at all. dealer tech unplugged abs control unit and the tachometer signal came back and the oil pressure light stopped flashing. **5052 will not communicate** diagnostic tool will not detect fault with abs module!!! *nm
05/17/2006870001
 Abs, asr, and brake light started coming on intermittently. when abs and brake light is on the car's anti-lock brake system is not functioning and the owners manual suggests rear wheels may lock and that the vehicle should be driven slowly to a service station. i took the car to the dealership service department where they ensured me that a new wheel speed sensor and associated wiring would fix the problem. i was very disappointed with the service i received and because i'm a cometent engineer with electrical trouble shooting skills i actually found the problem to be a faulty abs control module. i'm currently awaiting the rebuilding of the component and will install it when it arrives. there are hundreds if not thousands of these complaints at various sites on the internet. one sight has over 28 pages of complaints about this issue. *nm
06/12/200674200105/14/1999
 I have a 1999 vw passat v6 gls. i have 74, 270 miles on the car. my abs and brake light came on about 1 1/2 weeks ago, then my check engine light came on, then my abs/ brake and oil pressure light came on and were flashing. i brought it to vw dealer today, and was told my abs module needed replacement for $975.00. i went online and found at vwvortex.com that quite a few people had similar problems with their passat in my year range. i don't feel that i should be charged for a defective part that is jeopardizing my safety. in addition, i received a recall in 11/04 for vehicle control arms. i brought my car to vw dealer on 12/17/04, and was told that my control arms did not need to be replaced. at that time i had 61, 923 miles on the car. today, i am told only 12,000 miles later that my control arms need to be replaced at my own expense because the recall is closed. i don't feel that i should be charged for this part either, the defective part should have been replaced in 12/04 before it could pose a hazard to my safety. *jb
06/04/200643000106/15/1999
 Abs and brake light flashes - was told abs unit needs to be replaced. when lights are on determined that abs and the proportioning system of the braking system is not operating and feel that this is a dangerous condition. dealer wants crazy amounts of money for repair which i cannot afford. i found out online that thousands of other people have the same exact problem as i do and we all strongly feel that this definitely deserves to be a recall by vw of america. they know that this is a major problem and won't do anything about it. *jb
02/18/2005102/27/2004
 Same as previous complaints: abs warning light flashes constantly w/ abs chime sounding constantly each time the car starts. i've been told that this is the abs module and that it has reportedly been problematic in a high percentage of these cars. in my opinion, vw needs to stand by there product in this case. *nm
03/02/200672000105/15/2004
 The abs brake system failed in our 1999 passat wagon with only 70k miles. it failed when my wife was driving and almost caused an accident. the cost of the repair was also extreme. *jb
01/25/2006100000108/08/2003
 The abs and the brake light is going on. dealer told me the problem is the abs control unit. the cost is >$1700. *jb
02/01/200260000102/01/1999
 Failure of abs module on 1999 volkswagen passat. my abs light started blinking at around 60,000 miles. the dealer diagnosed the problem as a failed abs module. the cost to fix the problem was estimated to be $1,500. for the part alone!!! the dealer said that they fail all the time and that many people do not fix them. i did not want to make a further investment in the car so i let it go. the car was subsequently inspected by the dealer in state inspection and passed. now, a couple of years later, i am told that they will not pass cars with abs lights. i am aware of websites (myvwlemon; bentley; and passatworld forum) that chronicle many issues with the abs module on passats. it seems to be common knowledge that the abs module manufactured by bosch is defective and a cottage industry has arisen of manufacturers of these parts. some even rebuild them as the defect is known. *nm
01/18/20061287509902/01/2003
 Under normal driving conditions the abs light comes on and the brake warning light flashes intermittently together with 3 beeps. some days are worse then others, but i would say the problem occurs about 60-80% of the time. when the light is on, the abs is not functioning and rear wheels tend to break out easily on icy roads. *jb
06/01/20051
 Abs warning light flashes constantly with chime sounding each time the car starts. probably been ongoing for the last 6-8 months. was told by independent repair shop the problem was just electrical, but now reading numerous other complaints i believe it to be the abs module failing in so many other cars. seems like volkswagen needs to take care of this issue.*ak
10/01/20052
 Many audi and vw models manufactured starting in the later '90s and continuing to present, use the bosch 5.3 abs controller, which is prone to catastrophic failure, ostensibly due to defective design. this module controls multiple brake-related functions including the abs which is important for winter driving, but the most critical function of this module is probably the electronic brake force distribution, or ebd. these vehicles are designed such that if the ebd is inoperative, the proportion of hydraulic force applied to the rear brakes during emergency braking is as great as it is during moderate braking effort when there is minimal transfer of vehicle weight to the front wheels. the ebd is supposed to adjust the front/rear braking distribution dynamically according to the measure of the deceleration, so that the rear wheels will not lock up during emergency braking. if this module should fail during emergency braking on dry pavement, the rear wheels could lock up and cause an accident which could easily include fatalities. this is an expensive repair for owners, costing roughly $2000, and many owners have probably put off the repair indefinitely. evidence which can be found through a simple web search, suggests that the problem is widespread, and that if it has not already led to serious accidents, it is only a question of time. this problem is genuine, and vw/audi should be compelled to take immediate corrective action. *jb
12/19/2005108/25/1998
 Vw passat 1999 - failing abs module (abs,oil,brake lights on). internet research showed hundreds of similar complaints. see http://tech.bentleypublishers.com/thread.jspa?threadid=2447&start=30&tstart=0 for additional details. *nm
08/01/2005101/01/1999
 Dt: the contact stated the abs light came on and the brake lights were flashing. he took the vehicle to the dealership ,who stated, the control module was not communicating with the computer, which was a sign that the abs control module failed and needed to be replaced. there have been no repairs made due to the extensive expense. *ak
12/01/20055200010004/26/1999
 At 52k miles, had intermittent episodes of abs light remaining lit and brake light flashing. over the course of a couple weeks, had >100 such incidents. also of note, vibration was felt upon braking at low speed. service mechanic at dealer reported faulty abs control module, which was replaced at exuberant cost. apparently, hundreds of such complaints have already been reported on this problem, and vwoa have taken no effort to recall such prevalently faulty parts. *nm
12/01/20051
 Abs control module failure. this failure has been reported by many owners, as reported on various online forums (vwvortex, etc). the failure is well known and frequent enough that there are businesses that sell rebuilt/remanufactured part. *nm
07/21/20051
 I own a 1999 vw passat and had to have my abs control module replaced in july of 2005 at a cost of $1,300. i have been in touch with many other volkswagen passat owners who have also had their abs control module go bad and have had to replace it. since this seems like a very common problem i feel that volkswagen of america should issue a recall on this part and financially reimburse those of us who have already paid out of pocket to replace the abs. it is a very costly expense and was surprising to me that it needed replacement at only 75,000 miles, in my car's case. thank you. *jb
11/26/200570700111/30/1998
 Abs control module failure on volkswagen passat 1999 1.8t gls. *nm
03/15/200550000112/07/2004
 Abs controller on my vw passat 1999 failed. *jb
10/30/200555000102/01/2002
 The vehicle is a 1999 volkswagen passat. abs and brake warning lights come on periodically with increasing frequency and no apparent cause. this is a common problem with passats and audi a4s. i found around 40 similar complaints on the nhtsa web site and the frequency of the problem is well documented elsewhere on the internet. the problem is reported to result in lack of abs and inactivation of the normal braking distribution mechanism. the lack of abs, while serious, only reduces braking to that of many other vehicles. the alleged effect on distribution of braking power is a potentially more serious problem, as it could result in poor performance of even the conventional braking system. *jb
10/24/2005105000999901/01/2000
 1999 volkswagen passat 1.8t abs module failure. appears many other consumers have same problem with this expense safety device failure. vw is ignoring the issue stating there is no history of failures or service bulletin 0517. dealer wants to charge me $1750 to repair.
10/11/200569475110/20/1998
 I own a 1999 vw passat 1.8t gls. at 69,000 miles, abs and brake dash lights go on and off, indicating failure of abs control module, and loss of abs function. *nm
09/07/20051297002504/04/2003
 1. normal driving conditions; city as well as highway driving. 2. random, intermittent warning lights appear on dashboard. lights are: abs - solid yellow. brake - flashing red. 3. nothing has be done to correct the failure as the dealer wants between $1,500 -$2,000 to fix the abs module. additional information: visited various volkswagon message forums. many volkswagon owners are experiencing this problem since early 2004. here is a link to one such site: http://tech.bentleypublishers.com/thread.jspa?threadid=6316&start=0&tstart=0. *jb
09/30/200492000108/01/2002
 I own a '99 vw passat gls and have also had the problem with the abs control module. i get a solid dashboard abs warning light and blinking dashboard brake warning light when i start the car. both lights stay on and the blinking light caused my car to fail inspection. i've done research on the internet and found hundreds of such complains about this problem, particularly because this is a $1500 - $4000 repair, according to the various dealer estimates i've read. this is a serious safety issue and well-documented manufacturer's defect. my vw service center acknowledged they know this is a problem and how much to charge for it (~$2400), but because of the expense i have not repaired it yet. please take action! both the abs system and ignition system use bosch parts, which have documented failures. this should be a nhtsa recall item!!! more info can be found not just at bentley, but also this site: http://www.mycarstats.com/console.asp. *jb
09/23/20046705010008/10/1998
 Failure of bosch abs 5.3 controller leading to warning tones and lights and loss of traction control and abs functions, a definite safety hazard. this is a widely reported problem as vw and audi cars get older due to a failure in the bosch hybrid module. since the cars are out of warranty, vw and audi are not covering repairs which cost $1400 or more. *nm
08/15/2005790001
 99 vw passat. abs brake lights flash intermittently. it seems the abs module needs replacement at 1500+ after some research it appears there are many people experiencing the same problem. *jb
08/03/200563500212/20/1998
 While i was driving, i hear three beeps, the abs light turns on and the emergency brake light blinks. now it happens everytime after about five minutes of driving. i researched this problem and it appears to be a common problem where the abs control module fails. i have already fixed this problem and it is recurring. *jb
04/10/2004175000105/10/2001
 There are no specific events leading to the failure besides regular use of the vehicle passat 1999. the abs warning light periodically has come on and lengthened in duration until it stayed on permanently. the braking is still normal, but the abs control unit is recommended to be replaced by the dealer. i have not replaced the abs control. also, the timing belt tensioner went out on my passat 1999. i was driving on a freeway when the car just cut out. i coasted it over to the side of the road where it would not turn over. this part was redesigned on later models because of its tendency to fail. i had to redo all of my rods. i still have the old part in my possession. *nm
12/20/200448000111/20/1999
 I am one a large and growing number of persons with volkswagen's and audi's who have abs (automatic braking systems) that have stopped working after the car has been driven only 40,000 - 50,000 miles. the extent of the problems can be discerned by a web discussion group devoted to people with this sole problem (bentley publishers at http://tech.bentleypublishers.com/thread.jspa?forumname=volkswagen.b.b5&threadid=6316 ). with this many people having found the website, one can only imagine the large quantity of other people who have this snafu. our experience has been that vw/audi appears to refuse to acknowledge the problem. lately, several persons have said that the problem is generally being caused by the electrical unit in the abs module. yet at this point, vw and audi are having users replace the entire unit. this cost is prohibitive for many of us ($2600 in my case). in the meantime, many of us are having to drive with faulty abs systems, with resultant safety problems: for me, the abs problem causes the brakes to go on at inappropriate times. the brakes on my car grab and activate unexpectedly during the first several minutes of driving after my car has sat overnight. others have experienced this too. i fear that this may cause an accident. this problem on my car seems to be growing worse. the more obvious safety hazard is that all of these cars lack the abs during crucial times of driving on icy or wet pavement. again, this problem is aggravated when the abs goes on and off intermittently, without the driver's knowledge (since in many cases, the dash warning lights remain on throughout). at this point, i'm fearful whenever i drive my car. *nm
05/05/200599000103/17/2004
 Complete failure of abs control module on a 99 vw passat wagon with 99,000 miles. car reverted back to regular braking system...no abs. *nm
03/01/200590000105/01/1999
 The abs, brake and oil light all come on (oil will flash) with sporadic irregularities in the tachometer. the tachometer will sometimes drop to zero. all this happens with 3 distinct beeps whenever i use the brakes. colder temperatures can lessen the occurrence of the problems. dealership service says that the abs module needs to be replaced at a cost of $3600. i have not yet approved the repair on the car. *nm
04/15/200471000101/10/2004
 The abs and asr (electronic stability control) computer had to be replaced in my car. the car only had 71,000 miles. it almost cost me when my life when the abs did not kick in and started sliding on a rainy day. it cost $1,400 at the dealer to fix this problem; the service technician said it was common. they only replaced the computer.
11/01/2004105/14/2002
 The consumer the abs light has been coming on. the dealership said that the control module went bad. it was replaced, however the problem recurred . the anti-lock brake system does not work when the abs light comes on. service invoices are available if needed. *jb
04/13/2005145500107/06/1999
 While driving on the highway abs warning light came on, and red brake warning light began flashing, indicating abs module failure.*ak
04/13/2005580005008/01/1999
 I own a 1999 passat 1.8t gls. the abs and brake light started coming on together intermittently at around 58,000 miles. dealer service diagnosed problem as faulty abs unit, cost $1400 total installed. i have not had the unit replaced yet. there are literally thousands of these defective units on the road today, why hasn't nhtsa pressured vw to issue a safety recall? this is clearly a safety issue and crashes are imminent.*ak
01/03/200592000103/15/1999
 Failure of anti-lock brake module on 1999 vw passat 1.8t. no crash/damage/injury (yet). started 1/05, continues. common defect, certainly safety related. vw uninterested in correcting problem. *jb
01/23/2005109/08/1999
 I am one of many people that have had the abs control module fail in my 1998 volkswagen passat. the dealer says that he can fix the 'problem' for around $2,000. i have seen numerous other people post internet messages about their abs control modules failing on their vw passats. i can't believe that vw would allow such a thing without issuing a recall. *jb
10/03/2004900001
 Abs and brake light simultaneously came on followed by a beeping noise. this rendered the abs brake inoperative. abs control module pump needed to be replaced because its internal relay was clicking and buzzing. this was a common failure part on this vehicle.*ak
04/01/2004132000109/25/1998
 Abs module 8e0614111b failed on 1999 passat under normal driving conditions. warning lights are intermittent meaning the function of the abs system is intermittent.*ak
05/12/200484300012/02/2001
 Abs/brake light comes on intermittently, requiring replacement of abs module
04/04/199963000106/04/1999
 At around 60,000 abs light comes on vehicle, which makes abs useless when light is on, it works otherwise. when light is on brakes lock-up. abs module costs $1010 + labor 405 = $1415 to fix this. spoke with dealer, they said they have seen many of abs control modules gone bad passats. this could be a big safety problem since it affects braking.*ak
04/16/200463000105/10/1999
 Suddenly abs light comes on on the instrument panel. also at the same time, the brake light starts flahing.*ak
08/01/200287000107/10/2002
 Faulty abs control module made abs sytem inoperative. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
04/11/20001
 Vehicle stalls intermittently at speeds of 25-65 mph. vehicle taken to dealer 10-15 times, cannot find a cause. *ak the mirror switch is inoperative due to window switch failure. the driver seat warmer was inoperative. engine has a burning smell due to oil leak. vehicle made noise in front end on left turns due to a stabilizer bar clamp being loose. front brakes make noise. steering makes noise and locked while driving. steering column sliding cover cracked. *yh
03/28/20002
 The brakes squeak. nlm
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC
10/01/1998
 With all of the glowing reports from the consumer reports mag about the vw passat i had to write to gripe about about my dealings with vw of america.i took my 99 passat to the dealer about 2 months after 15000 mile schedule maintenance for a noise in the front wheels my dealer tells me that i need pads and rotors at 18,000 miles at a cost $400.00.my rotors are worn beyond turning with 15% pads left .apparently the pads are harder than the rotors?after a heated discussion about weather rotors were conciderd consumables or not i left in discust to call vw of america to explain my view that there is no way a two year old passat with 18000 normal miles sould need new rotors.five calls later and the total run-a-round a customer service rep tells me that there is nothing that vw of america is willing to do to help me.apparently they think it is normal to replace rotor every 15000 to 18000 miles at a cost of $400.00 sounds like a good deal to me, for the dealers!i wonder if i'm the only one that had this problem, every new vw i see has a lot of brake dust on the front wheels.hmm. thank for letting me vent. keep the consumers informed!! p.s.i still think i'm getting screwed!*ak
02/02/200101/01/1999
 I have been experiencing decreased brake performance (substantial) whenever the streets are salty and wet. i researched this on the internet and found my experience not uncommon among vw passat owners, and apparently the subject of an audi investigation which uses the same brake components. it does not affect performance when dry or simply wet, but does when 'salty' and wet. it takes several braking to restore any measurable function in the brakes when it occurs. it is scheduled to be seen by a vw dealer on 2/13 for evaluation of this problem.*ak
12/15/1999
 Ongoing problem with brakes squealing when applying brakes. vehicle been in dealer shop on four occasions. repairs were made on the disc brake system, and problem stilloccurring. please feel free to provide any further details. *ak
08/01/2000106/01/1999
 Rotors are prematurly warped and the front end vibrates while braking at speed over 45 miles an hour. the manufacturer refuses to replace them under warrenty and the dealer failed to test drive and inspect the rotors when they had the car in for the 12,000 mile check up in june 2000. also, i understand that the swedish distributor recalled the brakes for premature failure due to rust and road salt.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - CALIPER
05/15/200672121203/17/1999
 I own a 1999 vw passat glx with 72,000 miles. approximately one month ago, the abs light, the brake light, the oil pressure indicator, and the tachometer began to behave erratically. two weeks ago, the right front caliper stuck in the extended position, starting a wheel fire at the rotor. i replaced the caliper, rotor, and pads. a non-vw service center replaced the remaining rotors and pads, replaced the master cylinder, and flushed/bled the entire system. the problem with the lights and alarms persists. the lights and alarms are usually absent when the vehicle is completely cold, then usually appear after several minutes of driving. the lights and alarms can disappear while driving, then reappear during later driving. i have not contacted vw directly, because i'm concerned what the estimate might be to attempt repair. *jb
11/22/20012
 The consumer experienced total brake loss due to master cylinder failure. also the right front caliper was damaged causing a fire and the right front wheel to seize. *yh
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - PADS
08/31/19993
 Oil line broke while driving. also, abs/master cylinder malfunctioned, causing the entire abs system to be replaced.vehicle was not braking properly when brakes were applied. in addition, had pads replaced twice/needed a new booster installed, and sun roof was replaced because it leaked and made a squealing noise.*ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - ROTOR
03/27/2001
 Brakes were sqeaking. dealer found rotors needed to be replaced. *ak
1
 Steering pulls to the right and always has, mostly during braking, the rotors need to be replaced while the front brakes are at 20%, steering problems possibly due to the faulty rotors. *slc
08/01/1999304/01/1999
 Front brakes started squealing but now are rubbing,grinding,groaning and braking rough. i am being told that these are normal brake sounds and that they cannot find anything wrong. although on the last visit to the dealer i was told they did something different to the rotors this time. after at least 6 visits, i have the same problem and am being told to seek a scond opinion. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - MASTER CYLINDER
11/22/20012
 The consumer experienced total brake loss due to master cylinder failure. also the right front caliper was damaged causing a fire and the right front wheel to seize. *yh
08/31/19993
 Oil line broke while driving. also, abs/master cylinder malfunctioned, causing the entire abs system to be replaced.vehicle was not braking properly when brakes were applied. in addition, had pads replaced twice/needed a new booster installed, and sun roof was replaced because it leaked and made a squealing noise.*ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - POWER ASSIST
05/16/20031
 Water accumulated in the brake power booster. the consumer removed about 5 cups of water. the dealer was notified. *nlm
 Received recall 99v131001. contacted dealer on 15-nov-99 and still no parts available. issue has since been resolved. *ak *ml
1
 Brake booster vacuum and tie rod on recalls,but recalls repairs were not completed on appointment day because parts were not available. (99v-131 and 99v-248) yh
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - POWER ASSIST - HYDRAULIC
01/15/20020
 Consumer had to replace brakes every 6000 miles, and she thought this was a problem because for the same reason volkswagen issued recall 99v131001. but was told that this vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin. *ak
 Recall # 99v131000 vw/brake booster; dealer does not have parts to correct recall. owner received recall notice on october 6, 1999. owner has contacted two dealerships. owner has also contacted the manufacturer about 6 or 7 times, and received no satisfaction. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - POWER ASSIST - VACUUM
08/31/19993
 Oil line broke while driving. also, abs/master cylinder malfunctioned, causing the entire abs system to be replaced.vehicle was not braking properly when brakes were applied. in addition, had pads replaced twice/needed a new booster installed, and sun roof was replaced because it leaked and made a squealing noise.*ak
09/01/19992
 Recall repair can not be completed due to lack of parts. (99v-131) *mjs
09/01/19992
 Recall repairs denied due to lack of parts (99v-131 and 99v-248). *mjs
09/01/19991
 Consumer denied recall repair (99v-131) due to lack of parts. *mjs
1
 Recall component on national backorder and can not be replaced, owner is experiencing intermittent failure. (99v-131) *mjs
 Nhtsa recall no:99v131001 and manufacturer's recall no:uh concerning brake booster failure. no parts were available. called several times other dealers, and no one has the part. *ak
1
 Consumer unable to have recall repair 99v-131 completed due to parts not being in stock. *nlm
10/07/1999
 Recall 99v-131000 vw/ brake booster: received this manufacturer's recall. notified dealer and manufacturer, and was informed to disregard notice because it did not exist. asking nhtsa to look into this and explain if this mfr. recall exists on my vehicle, or provide additional information. *ak
05/16/1999105/01/1999
 51 hours after purchasing my new vw passat gls v6, the brake booster failed, causing violent shaking of the car, stiffening of the brake pedal impairing my braking ability and thick heavy smoke from under the hood. i was informed the next day by the deale
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - SWITCHES - BRAKE LIGHT
06/05/20071400005002/02/2003
 Abs and brake light go on and off with no rhyme. dealer has quoted me $1500 to replace. it seems that it should be a recall with so many having the same problem. i will send to have it rebuilt then quickly sell car and not purchase vw again. *tr
10/03/2004900001
 Abs and brake light simultaneously came on followed by a beeping noise. this rendered the abs brake inoperative. abs control module pump needed to be replaced because its internal relay was clicking and buzzing. this was a common failure part on this vehicle.*ak

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