Passat Brakes - Beware

[bg158a]

I have the same problem. 51 plate passat TDI. The garage have replaced the Vacuum pump and Vacuum hose but with no success. I told them originally that the problem was due to water being sucked into the servo but they would not beleive me and claimed they had tested the Vac pump and it was not creating a vacuum. Car is back in the garage now for the servo which is rusty inside and I presume when they get it off they will find watetr in it. This has now cost me £800.

I have lodged a complaint with VW UK by phone on 0800 711811. They take your details and give you a case ID number. They were not very helpfull explaining as I obviously didn't know that my car is 6 years old. Somehow they suggested that it is to be expected for the brakes to fail on a car actually 5 years and 1month old.

I have also been given an address to put my complaint in writing to.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars
Selecta Post 12
Sheffield
S97 3ZU.

I will be putting my complaint in writting to them and if I get no responce I will forward it on to Watchdog and the motoring press.

I cant beleive that these drains are not included on the service schedule at the very least as them blocking can cause such massive damage to brakes, electrics, engine and car interior.

I would encourage anybody else that has had a failure or large cost as a result of these drains blocking to log it with VW and increase the pressure for a proper product recall.

[bg158a]

A quick question, have other people that have experienced this problem with TDI passats noticed a slight vibration / hesitation when cruising anything between 30 and 80mph. it has only just started in the last week, just want to know as I have had a new vac pump for 2 weeks conected to the same pressumably water filled servo. If the Vac pump sucked water does anybody know where it would end up does it vent to atmosphere or go into the engine.

Cheers Ben.

[gribbo]

To all who have suffered this fate, please write a letter of complaint to VW/Audi, the more complaints they get the better the chance of something being done. I have written to VW UK today expecting positive action. Peoples lives are being put at risk, and its not just the drivers, but other road users and pedestrians. I will update the reponse as and when they reply.

[Dave1]

VW have just phoned me regarding a recall on my 2002 tdi to sort out the plenum drain. They tried to say it isn't a safety issue - I suggested that if this is the case why had my servo locked on last year when full of water and cost me 600 quid to replace....currently awaiting a call back from the warranty manager, but at least they are now trying to sort this problem out.

[snapdragon]

I have just received a letter from the Ministry of Truth, Justice and VOSA with respect to the letter I sent them asking them to envoke a safety recall. Their letter says that they aren't taking the matter any further as VW already have a service procedure to check the drains aren't blocked. I think this is unacceptable, as many people don't use the dealership or do it themselves. There should be a database made available of these safety related issues which don't merit a recall. I will be replying to this effect.

[Crasher]

That reminds me of the reply I had from VOSA about leaking rear brake hoses on the Golf 4.

[mac v6 sport]

forgive me if this is a silly question but is the water coming from the engine to the servo or from water build in the well of the battery through the servo that way

[snapdragon]

forgive me if this is a silly question but is the water coming from the engine to the servo or from water build in the well of the battery through the servo that way

The vacuum pump which assists the brakes via the servo is mounted on the engine, so this sucks the water out of the servo. The water gets into the servo via a porous seam and the fact that it has a vacuum on the inside means water gets inside. The seam is probably porous due to rust, or just the way it is crimped, as a nominal leakage probably doesn't effect operation.

[dirtyderv]

Just spotted this thread. Its disgusting the way a huge multi-national comany can get away with endangering peoples lives, but if we do 5mph over the speed limit in the middle of the night we can get a £60 fine and points!

Is this an issue with only Passats and A4s or is it across the entire VW range? I have an 02 Bora TDI just wondering if this problem could effect it to?

Alan

[Crasher]

It affects Passat 97-2005, A4 95-2008, A6 98-2005, A8 94-2003 and Superb 1.

The Golf 4/Bora has it's own fun brake problem, leaking rear hose to caliper washers and faulty brake fluid level warning caps so that when all the brake fluid id gone the first you know about it is...

Anyway, it isn’t just VAG that has problems like this that they try to cover up, it happens to all manufactures from all countries.