10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
90,852 miles

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problem #27

Sep 092011

Passat 6-cyl

  • 85,751 miles
ABS brake pump Bosch 5.3 Volkswagen part 8E0 614 111 ah began leaking and caused brake pressure failure in both circuits causing pedal to go to the floor. This was not the common failure of the ABS control module electronics which merely causes a failure in anti-lock behavior. This is a total failure of the hydraulic system to all four wheels.

- Chester, VA, USA

problem #26

May 012011

Passat

  • 96,500 miles
ABS/asr/brake warning lights flashing and beeping. Message center says stop, brake fault. After having brakes replaced, I was told that the ABS control unit is defective meaning that I have no ABS function.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #25

Dec 052010

Passat

  • 140,000 miles
While stopped at a red light, the engine accelerated by itself (computer failure?). my husband, who was driving, had to use both feet, pressing down as hard as he could, to stop the car. Fortunately, no one was in front of us and we were far enough back that we did not accelerate into the intersection. The engine sound returned to normal after 15-30 seconds and we drove it home without further incident but we have stopped driving the car for safety reasons. In addition, the ABS computer module has also failed, though we have not had any incidents related to that failure as the brakes are otherwise fine.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #24

Apr 112008

Passat

  • 94,000 miles
My 2000 VW Passat 4 motion has 9K miles. Just recently the ABS brakes lights came on and the car puts on the brakes by itself. You are driving 65 mph and the car slams on the brakes. Feels like you have hit a big hole in the road, but only with the front wheels. Very scary.

- La Junta, CO, USA

problem #23

Jan 012010

Passat

  • 148,000 miles
I have been having dashboard warning lights coming on and off for the ABS braking system. When the lights are on the ABS system does not work.

- Lino Lakes, MN, USA

problem #22

Feb 272010

Passat

  • 171,000 miles
I stepped on the brakes and the right front brake line blew. The brake pedal went to the floor. I was making a U turn when it happened and I was able to stop using my emergency brake. I took it to my mechanic he said he had never seen anything like it. The rupture occurred in the rubber lining. He was thinking it was the steering of the front wheels all the time. The left side also showed signs of wear. Had to replace both lines. I felt it was to much of an urgent matter to not let people know.

- Hot Sulphur Springs, CO, USA

problem #21

Jan 102010

Passat 4-cyl

  • 139,000 miles
ABS module failure. Common problem with unit. VW wants 1200 to fix but they realize this is a major issue with all of the Bosch ABS units from the period.

- Uxbridge, MA, USA

problem #20

Jul 012009

Passat

  • 90,000 miles
The ABS braking module has prematurely failed on our 2000 VW Passat. Mine occurred 6 months ago. As a 9 year old car to have the primary braking safety mechanism to fail, is dangerous, scary and absolutely ridiculous. The car itself properly indicates how vital a failure this is by showing a gigantic stop brake fault filling the dashboard followed by 3 ear piercing beeps. It appears as this is one of the most common VW and Audi failures when we talked with the dealer and local VW repair shop as well as looking on the forums. If you google "stop brake fault VW" or any similar term (Audi, Passat), you will find hundreds of issues reported. There are multiple repair shops specifically setup to address this type of issue unfortunately. This should not be the case. Hopefully your research will also show this. We did have ours repaired for $1000 after 5 months of letting this go as it was difficult to pay for this. There are probably thousands of other owners who can't scrape up the money to pay for a repair like this. VW and Bosch should issue a recall and people who have already had this fixed should be reimbursed. Thanks for your time. Other customers have reported similar issues: www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php"T=173334 www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?T=280206 www.myvwlemon.com/ubb/forum2/html/000169.html a small sample of sites setup to fix this type of repair: www.modulemaster.com/en/index.php www.absfixer.com/ www.autoecu.com/ repair guides to show you how to fix this: www.audiworld.com/tech/elec116.shtml www.bba-reman.com/content.aspx"content=bosch_5.3_abs_removal.

- Sunnyvale, CA, USA

problem #19

Jun 112009

Passat

  • miles
ABS/brake light indicator has began flashing while driving vehicle. I have taken car to have this viewed for safety concern & mechanics could note no failure w/ the ABS. States this may be a malfunction & would need a new module. If the cause of these lights to continually stay on were due to any neglect of the car on my behalf I then would be more cooperative in remedying the situation, but as I have learned this is nothing to do w/anything I have caused rather than poor quality of this part. I have been advised not only could this lock my rear wheels in sudden stopping, but could happen when driving as well causing loss of control when steering the vehicle. Now I am required to fix a problem and an expensive one, that is not due to anything that I have caused, but rather the manufacturer. So at my expense I will have to fix their problem in order to maintain safety of my children and myself. This is not my problem and I do not feel as though I should have to repair this and would request something be done about this issue. As it is documented that I am not the only one troubled with this and yet there has not been anything done to help fix this problem. Does it take an actual accident or fatality to occur to have someone step in and get serious about getting this fixed? a bad ABS module in all of these vehicles is just not a coincidence.

- Cleveland , TN, USA

problem #18

Oct 082008

Passat

  • miles
Defective ABS module in 2000 Volkswagen Passat. ABS and brake/stop lights flash but brakes work.

- Folsom, CA, USA

problem #17

Apr 042009

Passat

  • 63,000 miles
ABS light come on while driving with a flashing brake light.....brakes are very touchy.

- Hamilton, MI, USA

problem #16

Feb 232009

Passat

  • 128,000 miles
2000 VW Passat developed failure of ABS control modulator. Car has had a single owner and all recommended factory maintenance at authorized dealers. To correct the failure the whole part needed to be replaced at a cost of $1000.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #15

Dec 272008

Passat

  • 145,000 miles
ABS brake failure. Defective ABS electrical module. Standard braking system still functional.

- Poulsbo, WA, USA

problem #14

Dec 182008

Passat

  • 82,000 miles
2000 Passat 4 motion Bosch 5.3 ABS module has failed. 82,000 mi.

- Perkasie, PA, USA

problem #13

Aug 152008

Passat

  • 175,876 miles
2000 VW Passat 1.8T, manual 5-speed ABS module showing constant failure indication, along with stop, service manual warnings. I'm filing this to add to the numbers, voicing safety issues that should be addressed by VW free-of-charge like so many others believe VW should do. Not many have an extra $1500 laying around to replace a part that should not fail to begin with, or should have a lifetime warranty regardless of ownership.

- Oshkosh, WI, USA

problem #12

Oct 012008

Passat

  • 110,000 miles
My 2000 VW Passat 1.8T began exhibiting a flashing/beeping red light to indicate a failure in the ABS system. The light activates every time I drive the car, but does not turn on until the brakes are warm. The ABS system is not functional in this state, which means the car is drivable, but significantly less safe under panic stop or reduced traction conditions. Upon further research with other owners of this vehicle, it is obvious that this failure is common on 1998-2001 Passats (and Audi A4S) with the Bosch 5.3 ABS module. However, no action has ever been taken by the manufacturer. I may opt to have the ABS module rebuilt by a third party, and do the removal and installation work myself; the result would be at least $200 out of pocket. Outrageously, many people who have sought vwoa dealership service work for this same problem have spent well over $1,000. The apparent failure rate of this module, and the fact that it degrades the operation of the most fundamental safety feature of a car (the brakes), make it my opinion that it should be subject to recall. Recall action should include compensation for owners who have undertaken repairs, and replacement of the faulty module. Thank you.

- Fort Collins, CO, USA

problem #11

Sep 302008

Passat

  • 68,000 miles
The ABS control module has failed on my vehicle three times since it was purchased new in 2000. Each time it fails, my brakes experience a mass of malfunctions which include random lock-ups, brake shudder, etc.

- Saint Charles, IL, USA

problem #10

Sep 202008

Passat

  • 103,000 miles
ABS / brake light warning on dashboard. It happens occasionally, but it getting more common. It is not a constant warning. It does not happen on every drive of the vehicle. Have read that it is common on this era of vehicles.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #9

Sep 102008

Passat

  • 90,000 miles
I have a '00 VW Passat, and belong to passatworld.com I bought this car brand new in 2000, and now the car just has 90K on the odometer. My ABS control module just went bad, as many many VW and Audi owners have experienced. I think this is way too soon for this to happen, have kept the car in excellent shape, have followed all recommended maintenance schedules, etc. For such a potentially life-saving piece of equipment (ABS and traction control, which the module controls, ) you'd think VW would use a longer lasting part that is not prone to early failure.

- San Gabriel, CA, USA

problem #8

Jul 282008

Passat

  • 96,000 miles
I have a 2000 Volkswagen Passat. My ABS module has failed and I no longer have my ABS or anti-slip regulation (traction control). There are no indications leading up to this failure. Upon starting my car, warning lights flash, three beeps are heard, and a "brake fault" message is displayed on my instrument panel. The failure is due to a faulty design from the manufacturer that Volkswagen of America is fully aware of and refuses to recall. To get the part replaced by the dealer costs over $1000 and is replaced by the same badly designed part that will eventually fail again. I am unable to afford to buy the new part from the dealer at this time.

- Grand Forks, ND, USA

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