2006 Volkswagen Passat Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 49about this part
- Share
- 9%of 576 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 53,350miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 49 complaints about the brakes of the 2006 Volkswagen Passat, 9% of the 576 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 53,350 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11286344, filed 2019-12, 110,330 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10691397, filed 2015-03, 130,537 miles“I have a vw Passat 3.6 and am always having an issue with the parking brake. Currently I am unable to get the parking brake to release and don't know why. This has been going on for several months and the only place I go to get it serviced is Volkswagen. On about 5 different occasions the brakes would not engage nor disengage.”
NHTSA complaint #10474127, filed 2012-09, 52,000 miles“Parking brake will not release. Has been serviced three times for this issue. Had to have car towed first time. The other two times I waited a while and tried again and the brake did release. Had to have the entire brake replaced. Also, parking brake engaged by itself once. Fortunately it happened when I was turning the car off and not while I was driving.”
NHTSA complaint #10254749, filed 2009-01, 6,000 miles“Driving down snow and ice covered mountain pass in colorado when I suddenly experienced heavy resistance of brake pedal and loss of braking. Brake light also came on. Fortunately, I made it home safely. Subsequently brought car to dealer and found out that the vacuum line for the brake had cracked causing loss of vacuum pressure and decreased braking.”
NHTSA complaint #10250551, filed 2008-12, 54,900 milesRelated recalls
- 06V472000Dec 12, 2006Certain 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.Covers: Volkswagen Passat 2006–2007
Related service bulletins
- 10181413Oct 2, 2020Mandatory fastener.
- 10180603Sep 25, 2020Antilock brake function test direction.
- 10180101Sep 4, 2020Antilock brake function test direction.
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 | 23% |
| 2021 | 5 | 25% |
| 2020 | 2 | 11% |
| 2019 | 3 | 25% |
| 2018 | 13 | 28% |
| 2017 | 17 | 15% |
| 2016 | 17 | 16% |
| 2015 | 28 | 12% |
| 2014 | 8 | 1% |
| 2013 | 8 | 1% |
| 2012 | 12 | 2% |
| 2010 | 5 | 3% |
| 2009 | 4 | 3% |
| 2008 | 6 | 4% |
| 2007 | 16 | 6% |
| 2006 | 49 | 9% |
| 2005 | 5 | 3% |
| 2004 | 15 | 5% |
| 2003 | 42 | 7% |
| 2002 | 72 | 11% |
| 2001 | 63 | 15% |
| 2000 | 207 | 41% |
| 1999 | 233 | 35% |
| 1998 | 90 | 27% |
| 1996 | 1 | 3% |
| 1995 | 14 | 15% |
| 1994 | 4 | 16% |
| 1993 | 7 | 10% |
| 1992 | 3 | 8% |
| 1991 | 3 | 13% |
| 1990 | 3 | 9% |
Other parts of the 2006 Volkswagen Passat
148 complaintsSteering
112 complaintsElectrical system
79 complaintsEngine cooling
66 complaintsEngine
64 complaintsFuel system
64 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
47 complaintsVehicle speed control
32 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
21 complaintsOther or unknown
13 complaintsExterior lighting
12 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 Volkswagen Passat
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology