# 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — PARKING BRAKE
> NHTSA complaint `704450` · 2009-01-16 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** VOLKSWAGEN
- **Model:** PASSAT
- **Year:** 2006
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** PARKING BRAKE
- **Miles at failure:** 54,700
- **Speed:** 60 mph
## Narrative
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. IMMEDIATELY I CONTACT THE LOCAL DEALER AND VW OF AMERICA AND INFORMED THEM ABOUT THE SITUATION AND OPEN UP A CASE #80411298. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER LOCATED IN NAPERVILLE IL AND AFTER 7 DAYS THE TECHNICIAN SAID: WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THEY CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AT THE HIGHWAY SPEED. AFTER DOING A RESEARCH ON VW FORUM CALLED VW VORTEX, WWW.VWVORTEX.COM, I FOUND OUT THE  SAME THING HAPPEN TO OTHER VW PASSAT OWNERS. THE REASON I'M WRITING YOU IS BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE AND I SHOULD SAY I WAS VERY LUCKY BECAUSE I DID NOT GET HIT BY A HEAVY TRUCK, I DID
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*