Problems · by component

2015 Volkswagen Passat service brakes problems

26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2015 Volkswagen Passat cite service brakes, 11% of all 244 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
26
11% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The three issues above seems to be related or affect the other and does not allow cruise control to operate. The air bag light remains on and associated component light up the dash. Surprisingly, my VIN does not show up for air bag repair. I wish I did not have to wait for possible recall announcement for my vehicle before I can get it repaired and instead to fix it now. Frustrating.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 5, 2023Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11558662
“Power brakes are not functional on startup when cold -- brake pedal is very stiff and takes a lot of pedal pressure to stop the car from moving while exiting driveway. Generally, braking improves within a minute or two of driving, but sudden stops in this condition are difficult and unsafe. The dealer service department diagnosed a leaking check valve in the vacuum system and the brake booster needs to be replaced - safety-related components such as brake boosters should not be failing at such an age.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2022Service brakes, Service brakes, hydraulicODI 11491877
“After a brake job with the replacement of brake fluid, the brake pedal is soft even after re-bleeding. Two methods were used, pressurized and new fluid fed through the reservoir tank and then manually with two people replacing the fluid in the reservoir. Working on resolution. First brake replacement at about 40,000 miles.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2021Service brakesODI 11427498
“NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 15V705000, MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: 23R1 PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD BY MANY MECHANICS THE BRAKE ISSUES OR SOFTNESS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING IS DUE TO A FAULTY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. CAR HAS 49K MILES. SPENT MORE THAN 1500.00 ON BRAKE NEW BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS, AS WELL BRAKE FLUID FLUSH AS RECOMMENDED, AND VEHICLE STILL HAS DIFFICULTY COMING TO A STOP. THERE ARE DAYS IS BRAKES OK AS COLDER DAYS, AND HOTTER DAYS IT JUST SINKS TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE MAKES SCRAPING NOISE WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE BRAKE WOULD STAY STUCK WHEN ON A HILL. WOULD HAVE TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2020Service brakesODI 11374849
“LOSS OF AIRBAGS, POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FUNCTIONS, ENGINE HESITATION. INDICATOR LIGHTS ON DASH FLASH OR STAY ON STEADY INCLUDE: COIL, STEERING WHEEL, AIR BAG, ABS, IMAGE OF CAR SKIDDING, BRAKES, AND TIRE INFLATION. THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK AND THE FUEL GAUGE JUST KEEPS SWEEPING. THE REV LIMITER DOES NOT WORK EITHER. THE AUTO START FEATURE IS NON FUNCTIONAL AND THE PUSH BUTTON TO STOP THE MOTOR FROM RUNNING MUST BE PRESSED TWICE INSTEAD OF ONCE. CAR HAD THIS DISCREPANCY ON 30 JAN 2019, 06 FEB 2019, AND NOW 27 FEB 2019. THE DEALERS KEEP WORKING ON A GROUNDING NUT BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS PERSISTING. PROBLEM HAS ALWAYS ACCURSED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE CAR, NOT WHILE DRIVING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 27, 2019Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11182696
“MY PREGNANT FIANCE, HER 3YR OLD SON AND I WERE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET APPROXIMATELY 35MPH. A VEHICLE CUT OFF THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME AND THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BEAKS, WHICH MADE ME SLAM ON MINE. I SLAMMED ON MY BREAKS AND IT DID NOT STOP MY VEHICLE, I TRIED TO USE MY EMERGENCY BREAK AND DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE SO I SWERVED OVER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID MY FIANCE'S PASSENGER SIDE FROM BEING HIT. I REAR ENDED THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. EVERYONE SEATBELTS LOCKED EXCEPT MY FIANCE'S. SHE HIT THE DASH, INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED IT DID NOT GET HIT HARD ENOUGH TO DEPLOY AIRBAGS. THERE HAS BEEN A COUPLE TIMES PREVIOUS TO THE ACCIDENT THAT I WOULD BE AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY BREAK PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN AND ALL THE SUDDEN I WOULD START TO SLOWLY ROLL, WITH THE BREAK PEDAL STILL ALL THE WAY DOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 21, 2018Unknown or other, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11130658

Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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