NHTSA complaint: 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES UPON ENTERING A REDUCED SPEED ZONE. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT RESISTANCE AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER INDICATIONS TO SUGGEST A PROBLEM. DRIVER PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO PREVENT HITTING TRAFFIC AHEAD AND SPUN 180 DEGREES ACROSS TRAFFIC SLAMMING INTO A CURB. WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES AT THE CRASH SITE AND THE PEDAL OFFERED NO RESISTANCE FOR HIM. POWERING THE CAR ON AND OFF; BRAKE PRESSURE RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VW DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS HAULED TO CANNOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE BRAKES CHECKOUT NORMAL. DEALER HAS GIVEN LITTLE SENSE OF SECURITY TO MAKE DRIVER WANT TO GET IN THE CAR AGAIN. SAID THEY COULD REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER, BUT IT CHECKS OUT FINE. ONE MECHANIC SAID HE HEARD OF A CASE WITH TIRES CONFUSING THE ABS WITH DIFFERENT WEAR. FRONT TIRES ARE >95% AND THE REARS ARE 75%. NOBODY WOULD DOCUMENT THIS THEORY HOWEVER AND REPAIR WILL NOW LEAVE CAR WITH 3 BASICALLY NEW TIRES WITH ONE REAR AT 75%. *JB UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation