Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Volkswagen Passat owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I own a 2006 vw Passat 2.0t. Two days ago, as my wife was parking with the baby in the back seat, the brakes suddenly failed completely and she smacked into the car in front of her and it into the car in front of it. Luckily no one was in those cars and my wife and baby are okay. She then filed a police report and had the roadside assistance pick it up and take it to the service center. Now I know about the late 2006 recall and we had that fixed but geez, it's a good thing she wasn't on the highway! As of yesterday, vw mechanics could not duplicate the problem and could not find a mechanical or computer error. The service representative said that they road tested it and it was fine. However, my car model was recalled by vw in 12/06 and supposedly fixed a power brake issue. Of course yesterday they told me that it was also recalled just yesterday for a software update. …
When stopped and start going and get to about 30 MPH and shifts into third gear the emergency brake system engages and I can barely move. I have to turn my vw Passat off, wait a couple minutes and turn it back on form the emergency brake to dislodge. Example: I'm in vegas at a stop light it turns green so im going up a on ramp to get on freeway and as soon as I accelerate and car shifts into 3rd gear a yellow p with a circle around it comes on my dash and when I push on the gas ( I had many cars behind me) my car revved up but would not go because the emergency parking brake came on. And it continues to do it to me. If I can get past third gear it's fine and 1st and 2nd gear are OK. I just purchased the car and called on recalls there weren't any. This almost made me have a serious accident on my way home the same day. …
I purchased this car 2 years ago and have have the parking brake fail and break three times. The first time was shortly after the purchase and the car came out of gear in my driveway and began rolling. My 65 yo mom had to stop it and push it up as she was home alone. It turned on another time while I was crossing an intersection and I was almost t-boned. I had it replaced after this incident. In May 2020 the parking brake would not disengage and I needed to have it towed to my mechanic. The brake was stuck on and the computer control unit broke. I paid $2500 to have the unit replaced. In dec 2020 (only 7 months later) the exact thing happened again. I was unable to disengage the parking brake and needed to tow it to my mechanic. The caliper and computer broke again. The cost is similar. This is a safety issue. …
Have replaced numerous parts ...the epx light keeps coming on which May reference to the oil pump bolt failing...crankshaft and cam shafts codes keep coming on even though they were replaced...transmission shifting slightly hard.. Overheating even though new parts were installed...air bag light stays on..brakes have been bleed over 10 times and are still too soft cause me to brake at a further distance to avoid a wreck....I am on a fixed income and cant afford a massage bill to fix it and vw is aware over these years of the issues and wont recall to repair any of the issues...I have all receipts for the parts replaced...
Hello- parking brake will not disengage, making car undriveable. Parking brake also turns on on its own when the car is on (stationary on mine, in motion on others cars) and also when car is off. My car was also parked and the brake unreleased and the car went backwards down the driveway. My 65 mother was home alone and ran out and stopped and held the car (and pushed it back up driveway) herself. Forums have stated this is a known issue and the parking brake turns on when driving which has resulted in crashes/ accidents and injuries.
At the morning of 3/30/2012 while was driving to work brakes feel funny( sometimes like hard, sometimes soft) started that morning. While I was barking my car brakes failed, hardly stopped and crashed to electric pol. Broke front grill and emblem put a dent on chrome piece on the front.I took the vehicle to dealer. Found brake booster neprene hose had multiple cracks.. That replacement should be free but they charge me some$200.00. I would like to complain Volkswagen of America. Good think did not happened on highway 70 MPH.
ABS system is failing. Anti-lock brakes do not work well, dashboard ABS signals are constantly on. Parking brake light constantly flashes. Just called vw USA customer service. There is a recall for this issue (NHTSA campaign number: 16v-913) but the recall covers model years 2009 and 2010. My car is a 2006, but has the exact same issues. Volkswagon would not offer any repairs or diagnostics since my vehicle was not listed on the recall. Perhaps the amount of vehicles affected is larger than the recall points out?
My car was driving and brakes were working fine. Then I tried to stop as I came to a red light n brakes totally failed. I couldn't stop n went right through the red light and I between 2 car b4 finally coming to a stop a half mile later. I drove the car on backstreets and the brakes will work when I start going but after a few stops they start getting soft until they just totally fail. Their is plenty of brake fluid in the system.
Has I was driven the car will came up with need services soon and will show brake light on and dead systems failed check parking brake and if you press the parking brake button on and off the car will nearly such gears or nearly move at all where if you shout it of the car and then wait for 5_10 min and turn it back on it will go like nothing wrong at all . Transmission has oil and I don't know what it is.
The vehicle I have the problem with is a 2006 vw Passat 3.6l 55,000 miles. The vehicle is equipped with an electronic parking brake. On dec 27 2008, I was driving on the highway aprox 60mph and the electronic parking brake was engaged instantly without warning and cause me to loose control of vehicle, spin 180 and I got hit by an SUV driving behind me on the same directional lane. After the incident I try to move the vehicle from the travel lane but the wheels were still locked. After trying to disengage the parking brake several times I dragged the vehicle of the side of the road and turn off the engine. After trying several times to disengage the parking I was able to do it and leave the scene driving on the shoulder until I exit the highway. The vehicle that hit me left and because I had minor damages and I decide not to report the incident to the authorities. …
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.0l engine with 147 kw May have a vacuum line that May fracture and become disconnected at low ambient temperatures.
Remedy: Dealers will install the newly designed vacuum line. The recall began on January 12, 2007. Owners May contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298.
Brake complaints in other Passat years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2006 Volkswagen Passat?
NHTSA has 49 complaints about the brakes of the 2006 Volkswagen Passat, 9% of the model year's 576 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Volkswagen Passat brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 06V-472 (vacuum, Dec 12, 2006). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Volkswagen Passat brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles, and 36% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.