Automatic Emergency Braking problems of the 2016 Volkswagen Passat

The vehicle has been alerting error codes 16352 for failing to communicate with abs module causing warning lights for abs, brake and the esc systems to illuminate. The brake system related vehicle stabilizing functions (abs/esc) is not be available, increasing the risk of a loss of vehicle control and could lead to a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Please reference safety recall code: 45f2.

While driving on a residential street the vw front assist suddenly engaged the brakes. There was no car in front or any cars driving in the area. The car came to a complete stop. The only explanation may be that it had been recently raining in seattle and it was also late in the day so the sun was low in the sky. There was also a metal plate on the street that appeared to be reflective with the rain. We have had incidents like this in the past while driving over the university bridge as well which is a metal grated draw bridge in seattle. We are extremely concerned that the brakes will engage and we will be rear ended. I had the dealership inspect the front assist feature on Thursday April 17th, 2025 and they have no indication of any fault with the system. The radar sensor that the feature relies upon was properly aligned and in working order. This system makes our car less safe to drive than if it was permanently disabled. Rain followed by sunshine is common in seattle creating situations where the front assist will be triggered incorrectly putting us and other motorists at risk.

My sensors cause the car to break in the middle of traffic. Almost causing accidents for the people behind me. This has happened 3x in the last month.

The automatic emergency braking has applied three times while driving this vehicle. Once on a freeway onramp curve in traffic with following car, twice driving on different paved city streets. All three times were daylight and no other vehicle or obstruction in front of my car. This to me is asking for a trailing vehicle to rear end collide, or maybe even worse yet what would happen if this were to happen on rain slick or snow covered road? I did take it to an authorized vw dealer after the second brake application and of course they could not replicate the brake issue. I did not have it checked the first time since I falsely assumed I had done something I had not thought about. Now, after the third time, I am sure that it is the car and not something I have done. I have not been back to vw shop yet after this third time. My wife is scared to drive the car now and I am concerned about myself. I do not think the vw dealer went any further than a test drive and maybe a computer check after the second braking I encountered. There have been no warning lights or messages on my car dash before or after all three times. The dash light warning to "brake!" did light up as the brakes were applying on their own. As a small aside comment, I was a professional highway truck driver with over a million miles driving and achieved a 28 year safe driving record. That has let me make this statement with a lot of "boots on the ground" certainty.