Problems · by component

2001 Volkswagen Jetta service brakes, hydraulic problems

69 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta cite service brakes, hydraulic, 10% of all 677 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
69
10% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes, hydraulic

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 13 MPH THE ABS LIGHT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CONTROL MODULE FOR THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V031000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTI LOCK) WAS RELATED; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 02/14/11 *BF UPDATED 02/22/11”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 21, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10378120
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A USED CAR AND, WITHIN THE SAME WEEK, IT BEGAN TO STALL. THE DEALER COULD FIND NO FAILURES. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AND THEY GAVE HER A LIST OF ALL THE FAILURES. THE LIST INCLUDED THE TRANSMISSION, RATTLING IN THE ENGINE, AND THE BRAKE SENSORS. THERE ARE FOUR DIFFERENT TIRES ON THE VEHICLE AND EACH ARE THE INCORRECT SIZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR ALL THESE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2009Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10253576
“ABS/ASR LIGHTS CAME ON. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT I NEED A NEW ABS MODULE AND PUMP. AFTER READING ONLINE, I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. CAR ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES ON IT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 10, 2008Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10233763
“2001 JETTA. IN TRAFFIC, A CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY TWO CARS BEFORE ME.... I STOPPED IN RESPONSE AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR - BRAKES FAILING , ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM FAILING - AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2008Service brakes, hydraulicCrash reportedODI 10231292
“WE HAVE A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI THAT WE BOUGHT IN DAYTONA BEACH, FL. THE CAR HAS 39,000 MILES ON IT. WE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. WE WERE ON RT92 WHEN THE CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER; THIS IS IN A 50MPH SPEED ZONE. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND AS SOON AS TRAFFIC WOULD LET HIM HE GOT OVER IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE AND ALL THE TIME THE CAR IS GOING SLOWER AND SLOWER. HE DECIDED TO CHECK THE BRAKES AND FOUND THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN, PUTTING HIS FOOT UNDER THE PEDAL HE GOT IT BACK UP AND THEN THE CAR STARTED MOVING FASTER. THIS CAR HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES ALL ON ITS OWN. THEN WE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE A NOISE SOUNDING LIKE AIR BRAKES. WE DROVE THE CAR HOME (20 MILES) THAT DAY AND PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 13, 2008Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10230948
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V031000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK). HE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 21, 2008Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10228525

Showing 6 of 69 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Service brakes

Free remedy

ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, SHORT CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS).

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Jan 31, 2002NHTSA 02V031000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.