Brakes Failed problems of the 2007 Volkswagen Passat

The contact owns a 2007 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the braking assist system light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. After diagnosis, they advised him that the brake vacuum line failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages was approximately 60,000.

Leaving my home on my way to work in the am my brakes failed the pedal went all the way down panic and pumping they returned before I reached the stop sign, the 2007 Passat wagon has no ebrake just a button for the parking brake, which I did not use. I drove the car for the next 2 weeks without it happening again, then at the same stop sign (the first one I reach when I leave my house in the am) it happened again, pedal to the floor, pump,panic & just before the intersection they work. The weather on both occasions was rainy, and about 38 degrees. I took the car to the dealer, they could find nothing wrong with the brakes, the mechanic said if I was desperate I could push and hold the parking brake button this would lock the cars brakes and put it into a skid. I am still driving it without any more failures but I fear another one will. The only reason I was lucky enough to not have a crash from the failures is because this is rural driving.

Electronic parking brake will not set or will not release. Problem is intermittent, but progressive, beginning with failure to set and culminating with failure to release, in one instance triggering master brake failure warning. Failure to set makes car illegal to drive and dangerous when parked as there is no back up system to set parking brake. Failure to release strands driver in possibly dangerous situations. Vw says in this instance only solution is to call for tow. Failures may at times be cleared by restarting engine, but progressively less successful. Car has been to dealer three times since problem arose. 3 days in June, 2 days in early July, and most recently 35 days and counting (since July 22). Dealer has replaced multiple modules multiple times, overlaid wiring, etc. Without solution. Despite a senior mechanic being placed on the job, no source of fault has been identified and by all appearance logical diagnostic work has ceased and haphazard parts replacement has begun, I. E. , "hope" is the only remaining corrective strategy. Dealer is sympathetic but of no benefit. Vw customer care contacted but promised follow up by them has not been made. As car can still be operated when electronic brake fails to set, this creates a possibly widespread public safety issue since car cannot be properly parked and must rely solely on transmission holding car.

My 2007 vw Passat has broken down 4 times in less than 3 years with rear brake failure. The mfg. Has never fixed this problem, and is unresponsive to my numerous requests, to repurchase or fix my vehicle. I believe this to be a very serious defect as it causes my rear brakes to be inoperable. This is the first production year for vw electric rear brakes, and I believe they have a serious design flaw.