10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 2,929 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Electronic Brake keeps activating on its own. Passenger airbag warning light goes off when no one is in the seat.
- Cherry Hill, NJ, USA
I was driving on the freeway on 10/13/2023, it was raining and I was startled by an alarm and a flashing warning on my dash stating brake booster failure, the abs light went on and I was concerned because I recently had by brakes done at the Volkswagen dealership in Brooklyn Center Minnesota on 10/4/2023. I was afraid of not being able to brake and I pulled over and put my car in park and I received a park assist failure warning on my dash as well as the park assist light turned on by the shifter. I shut my car off and called Volkswagen in Brooklyn Center. I was assured that my brakes wouldn-??t stop working and the service tech was unaware why the red light near my shifter for the park assist would turn on by itself. The dealership was about to close and I was told that I could maybe be squeezed in on that following Monday and eventually was scheduled. I restarted my car and received another error for the electronic stabilization control. I called back the dealership and was able to catch the tech before he left and I was concerned about driving it. I was told, you are basically driving a 1985 Volkswagen, be aware you don-??t have the safety features. My car was reviewed on 10/24/2023, I was provided with a rental car and was told the problem was the abs electronic braking module that this is known to go out at my mileage. I do see that others have had this issue and there was a recall, but I was told my VIN number was not included. Prior to this I did report driving in a mall parking lot and I had an alarm go off for a collision warning and my car suddenly braked on it-??s own and no vehicle was around me. I have also been in slow traffic and periodically had the collision warning go off and the vehicle was a good distance in front of me. I was told that that can happen with the sensors. I-??ve also been driving in the winter and I-??ve gotten the warning look that it-??s safe to move alarm alot when I-??m stopped in traffic, I-??m guessing that it-??s due to ice near the sensor.
- Centerville , MN, USA
At random times, at random speeds, my instrument lights will illuminate with a beep and display the brake light. Sometimes just the brake icon, sometimes the brake and ABS, and sometimes both along with the engine light. At the same time my vehicle will violently brake on its own. When I depress the brake pedal to gain control the pedal is "jerky", rigid, and difficult to push in. Sometimes this lasts for a moment, sometimes longer. This is very dangerous and seems to occur more frequently. A 'Brake Booster Faulty' message appears on the dash.then dissappears
- Middletown, PA, USA
Start/stop error lightafter already replaced by dealership Brake booster faulty EPC light comes on-off randomly
- Big Spring, TX, USA
The vehicle will make a loud alarm and the dash will display "Brakes Booster Faulty". The vehicle then will brake itself regardless of where you are and brake pedal will not work properly. This could cause you to get rear-ended as the vehicle will simply stop!
- Powder Springs , GA, USA
The forward collision warning randomly went off while crossing a bridge. Nothing was around. The car abruptly stopped itself and was unresponsive to the gas pedal and steering until it was fully stopped. No problems were detected at the dealer. We are afraid to drive our children in this car due to the risk of being rear-ended on a highway with a child in a rear-facing car seat. If this ever happens in a tunnel, it would undoubtedly cause a mass casualty incident.
- Lambertville, NJ, USA
I have had the same issue with this car since I-??ve bought it when. The issue is that often my dash beeps and says faulty break booster and then my breaks lock up and become spongy and the vehicle has issues breaking. Very scary and very dangerous. Then the -??break-?? warning indicator light illuminates and the vehicle eventually resets itself and goes back to normal functioning. My vehicle has been at the dealer at least four times during the warranty period for this exact same problem. It has also been there for a recall for rattling noises, air hissing out of gas tank when gas cap is unscrewed, and air conditioner going out. My car is currently in shop again for FAULTY BREAK BOOSTER. Others are having this same problem all over the internet. I want VW to honor me a manufacture buyback which I have already initiated the process for as my car meets the Louisiana Lemon Law Criteria-??s. I want VW to fix these problems on this model for future consumers as well. I have submitted all of my supporting documents to VWGOA
- Marrero , LA, USA
When starting the vehicle, the warning system will flash and display several errors, mainly "parking brake failure" and the light on the parking brake control will flash.Parking brake will disengage after several attempts and warning will go away. Problem started about 1 month ago and is becoming more persistant.
- Bristow , VA, USA
While driving on the highway, a warning flashed on the dashboard- FAULTY BRAKE BOOSTER. The pressure of the brake pedal was significantly diminished and was accompanied by a clicking sound. The red brake warning light illuminated. After 5 minutes, proper brake functioning was restored. Within a period of 20 minutes, the above sequence of events was repeated 3 times. After stopping and parking, the warning light went out. Upon start up later in the day, the same Faulty Brake Booster warning sounded and the brakes again were spongy and choppy. The following day, when driving to the VW dealership, the same message flashed on the dash multiple times and brake functioning was impaired.
- Chicago , IL, USA
Suddenly Warning lights illuminate- Brake Booster Faulty, Start Error, ABS. Brakes then feel spongy, jerky hard to slow down and stop safely. Vehicle then needs to be towed to dealership for repair - vacum sensor C10A301 replaced. This has happened three times 4/22/21, 8/5/21 and 6/7/23. Dealership claims to need the part for refund from VW for warranty repair. This is a dangerous situation and needs to be remedied, especially as this is a family car.
- Pacifica, CA, USA
At random time, during slower speeds, many vehicle would -??jerk-?? mad produce a Brake Booster Faulty warning and the brake light would illuminate on the console. The brakes would then become -??spongy-?? and difficult to operate. The light would stay in, or turn off after a while and driving would resume as normal. Difficult to replicate but scary how random it is.
- Y, PA, USA
ABS and Brake warning light come on dash making the break pedal click, causing the car to break abruptly or lock. Usually happens while at a complete stope or if driving below 30 to 20 miles an hour.
- Las Vegas, NV, USA
Vehicle emergency break activates, unable to release, or when teleased after multiple attempts the light continues flashing on the break button and warning alert on the dasboard. The first time it happened i arrived to destination and parked, when parked as i am waiting it activated when the door was opened. It has not been inspeacted yet, it fist started about 1 week ago. Its unpredictable when it will happen.
- Santa Maria, CA, USA
I was driving on the highway around 60 mph. Without warning, my car's brakes fully engaged. There was no car or object ahead of me. A warning light that had the words "Brake Booster" was displayed but I couldn't make out what else it said as I was trying to regain control of the vehicle. Thankfully, there was no one behind me otherwise this could very well have resulted in a high-speed accident. The car went from 60 mph to around 20 mph. I pulled off the side of the road as quickly as possible.
- Austin, TX, USA
Warning light indicated BRAKE BOOSTER FAULTY, brake light came on and brakes felt different pressing down.
- Suffolk, VA, USA
My vehicle has completely just shut down atleast five times since owing it. I have a special needs son who is in the vehicle with me all the time. The vehicle engine will shut down with no warning and not restart. Traffic behind me not aware that my vehicle has shut down after the light has turned green. It has shut down at various times in the middle of traffic. I-€™m fearful for myself and child that an accident is just a matter of time. I read complaints from others who state they have experienced the same problem. I-€™m concerned for the SAFETY of others and me and my son. No warning is given before it just dies. I don-€™t feel safe in this vehicle. This vehicle needs to be FIXED immediately. My vehicle has approximately 38,000 miles on it currently. This occurred either when I have stopped completely at a light, or when trying to start up the vehicle. Respectfully, VAP
- Mathewd, AL, USA
My vehicle Beeps loudly and says -€œBRAKE BOOSTER FAULTY-€. My brakes become spongy or hard to engage and I usually have to start the car over again. This has become a frequent issue and I-€™m afraid to drive my vehicle now. I-€™ve tried to catch a video but I can never get my phone out in time.. I am shocked that this is a common issue and it has yet to be recalled.
- Spartanburg , SC, USA
While driving, the instrument cluster will light up with red warnings about the braking system not available, I remember seeing "brake booster" in the warning, and need to pull over immediately. At that point, it feels that I have lost the brake booster and I need to step on the brakes very hard to stop. It is scary, as it occurred while driving in the city, with speeds from 30-35 mph and cars behind. It has happened 3 times over 9 months. It is not easy to reproduce as I don't know what causes it. Whe it happens again, if its safe I will try to take a picture as well. Similar people have had the same issues: https://www.vwvortex.com/threads/brake-booster-faulty-alert-while-driving.9175137/
- Harwood Heights, IL, USA
While driving( multiple scenarios ranging from 10 mph, 70 mph, 30 mph and even while car was parked) alarm would go off and message displaying -€œbrake booster faulty-€ while also illuminating the -€œbrake-€ light on dashboard. Brake pedal then becomes stiff and/or spongy, while not working properly. Once car is turned off and back on, -€œABS-€ light is also illuminated. Could not brake my car today with 2 children in backseat. Very dangerous.
- New Caney , TX, USA
- Greeley, CO, USA