Problems with 2000 Volkswagen Passat SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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. *tr

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.

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.

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. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

Failure of anti-lock brake system control module on 2000 1.8 t volkswagen passat with 90k miles. the failure is a problem with the abs control module. requires replacement. intermittent failure at first, that increases over time. brakes will not function as anti-lock brakes. brakes will still function, but may lock up in the event of hard braking, increasing stopping time and potentially causing unnecessary collisions. to correct this failure, the abs control unit must be replaced. part number (volkswagen) 8e0998375g. cost to replace this unit is high at dealer the cost for replacement is quoted at $1100. *tr

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: http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173334 http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=280206 http://www.myvwlemon.com/ubb/forum2/html/000169.html a small sample of sites setup to fix this type of repair: http://www.modulemaster.com/en/index.php http://www.absfixer.com/ http://www.autoecu.com/ repair guides to show you how to fix this: http://www.audiworld.com/tech/elec116.shtml http://www.bba-reman.com/content.aspx?content=bosch_5.3_abs_removal. *tr

2000 passat abs control module has failed *tr

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. *tr

Abs light come on while driving with a flashing brake light.....brakes are very touchy. *tr

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. *tr

Abs brake failure. defective abs electrical module. standard braking system still functional. *tr

2000 passat 4 motion bosch 5.3 abs module has failed. 82,000 mi. *tr

Defective abs module in 2000 volkswagen passat. abs and brake/stop lights flash but brakes work. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

Abs module failure. code is 18057 p1649 data bus powertrain: missing message from abs ecu. i own a 2000 volkswagen passat, with 59,100 miles on it. the abs light comes on everyday periodically. the part has a high price. i believe the part should be replaced at no charge because it is a safety problem that should not occur. due to this failure, i do not trust my brakes in case of an emergency. *tr

I have a 2000 vw passat. the abs light comes on, the brake warning light flashes, and "stop"/"brake malfunction"/"service manual" cycles on the dash display. sometimes this occurs while driving, sometimes as soon as i start the car. sometimes they go right back off...but most of the time they stay on for about ten minutes, and then go off and then the asr light comes on and stays on until i turn off the car. if the car is off for a few hours, the lights will usually not come back on until i drive again for a few miles. it appears after doing some searching that this is a common problem with the abs control module and is a known issue that volkswagen is doing nothing about except replace the part for around $1300-$1500. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

Premature abs electronics failure, disabling the abs system. vehicle is a 2000 volkswagen passat station wagon. *tr

Abs module bosch 5.3 for 2000 vw passat - due to a defective disconnected small wire in the module causes non-communication to vw vagcom computer to abs system, thus rendering the abs brakes ineffective and deemed dangerous causing brake locking. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volkswagen passat. while driving approximately 15 mph, all of the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. prior to the abs warning indicator illuminating, the contact heard a beeping noise. the warning indicators remained lit until the engine was turned off. the contact stated that the vehicle was operating properly at the time. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing. the technician stated that the failure was related to the abs control module. the vehicle was repaired. the contact was concerned of the safety risk involved. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 75,000 and current mileage was 85,000. updated 11-19-08 *bf the abs module failed. updated 11/20/08.*jb

Abs control module failure.*tr

Abs /brake light started coming on at about 80,000 miles. first the problem was intermittent, but now it is constant. the abs pump seems to function properly. the problem is with the electronic component known as the ebcm. i realize the government doesn't consider this a safety issue, otherwise vw would have been pressured to issue a recall. however, the state of nj will not allow you to pass inspection with the lights on because they consider it a safety issue, even though in reality it's just like driving in the pre-abs days. so, the consumer is forced to pay $1500-$2000 to get this problem fixed. of course vw and bosch, who made the faulty component, get off the hook and in fact profit this extremely common failure. who is looking out for the consumer? please help! *tr

Lit abs warning light and flashing brake light. on a 2000 gls passat as a result of a faulty abs module. *tr

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. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volkswagen passat. while driving 50 mph, the check engine and oil lights illuminated. when the contact depressed the brake pedal, it felt as if the rear tires were locking. he took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that there was computer chip failure with the abs and the entire computer needed to be replaced. the powertrain was unknown. the current mileage was 83,000 and failure mileage was 82,978.

Abs light on and brake light flashing. big letters saying to stop! *tr

2000 vw passat ebtcm (abs module) failure @ 80k miles. *tr

Many audi and vw models manufactured starting in the later '90s and continuing to present, use the bosch 5.3 abs controller, which is prone to catastrophic failure, ostensibly due to defective design. this module controls multiple brake-related functions including the abs which is important for winter driving, but the most critical function of this module is probably the electronic brake force distribution, or ebd. these vehicles are designed such that if the ebd is inoperative, the proportion of hydraulic force applied to the rear brakes during emergency braking is as great as it is during moderate braking effort when there is minimal transfer of vehicle weight to the front wheels. the ebd is supposed to adjust the front/rear braking distribution dynamically according to the measure of the deceleration, so that the rear wheels will not lock up during emergency braking. if this module should fail during emergency braking on dry pavement, the rear wheels could lock up and cause an accident which could easily include fatalities. this is an expensive repair for owners, costing roughly $2000, and many owners have probably put off the repair indefinitely. evidence which can be found through a simple web search, suggests that the problem is widespread, and that if it has not already led to serious accidents, it is only a question of time. this problem is genuine, and vw/audi should be compelled to take immediate corrective action. *tr

Abs warning light flashes and beeps intermittently. dealership diagnostics show abs module needs replacement. dealer quotes $1400 for repair. *jb

Abs module failed at approx 80k miles. repaired by dealer. *tr

My car has been recalled 3 times, to which i adhered. two months after my extended warranty expired, with 45,000, the abs sensor module failed. i don't believe it's failed as the dash board lights infrequently return to normal state; with no indication of problem, only to return to abs, brake failure, stop, service manual, lights flashing. vw of america offered $300 towards a $1024.00 repair only to retract offer when i voiced i could not buy another vw nor recommend to anyone. *tr

I have a 2000 vw passat wagon awd v6 which has a faulty abs module, causing the abs light to come on along with a blinking and beeping brake light. i get a stop! brake fault; service manual message which many, many others are also getting. vw should absolutely issue a recall for this as many vw dealers are seeing this exact issue (which happens to be very expensive to fix and diagnose). *jb

While driving my 2000 vw passat 1.8t, a brake fault was identified on the display screen and the abs light came on. i brought the car to a dealership who said their computer couldn't communicate with the control module and it would take hours to troubleshoot the reason. they suggested a brake flush and i agreed. i almost ended up in an accident on my way home when i needed to stop quickly and my brakes needed to be fully pressed to the floor before the car began to decelerate. i have had nothing but difficulties having this issue addressed. to my surprise, this is a widespread issue. more to my surprise is the fact that there has been no recall; i am disappointed in vw and agencies protecting our safety on the road. *tr

Vw passat v6 wagon 2000 65k miles abs brake fault warning lights (abs, brake and warning illuminated; stop message) appeared while driving at high speed on freeway. intermittent for fist day, remained illuminated day 2 -3. dealer service indicated the abs communication module failed; when lights are on abs will not activate. abs module replaced at a cost of $1189. *jb

I have had my 2000 vw passat for a little over two years and it has been a money pit! i have had so many problems since a month or so after i bought my car. i bought the car from a private party, test drove the car, had it checked out by a mechanic, and i have put thousands of dollars into the car. i bought the car just before my senior year in high school thinking i made a wonderful choice, and i had to replace a new right side boot just after a month of owning the car. the check engine light/abs/airbag kept coming on and beeping at me, and i had to buy a whole new brain to the car over $1500. i had to replace the timing belt way before the mile warranty, oil leaks which ruined some wires, new shocks/shock absorbers, now the window will go part way down, but will no longer go up... and my headlights are fogged up which i have noticed on all other 2000 passats...! many things have gone wrong with this car. i am so frustrated with the car. i do not recommend a vw to anyone! i am going into the second year of college and have spent most of my savings on this piece of junk. i think after fixing a part of the car that it should run without any problems. since i have put so much money into this car i cannot afford to get a reliable car. there is something seriously wrong with vw and the recalls! as far as i am concerned the whole car should be recalled!!!! *tr

Abs system failure. a warning is dispayed on the instrument panel that there is a brake fault and the abs system warning light is also illuminated. this occurs intermittently but with greater frequency when the ambient temperature is above 60 deg f. below 60f the warning only appears after the vehicle warms up. above 75f the warning displays as the vehicle is started from cold. between 60f & 75f the occurrence is more random. the abs system works before the warning is displayed but does not work after the warning is displayed. once displayed the warning remains for the remainder of the journey and until the vehicle cools down. estimates to replace the abs unit are approx $1500 plus fitting. *tr

2000 vw passat. abs module went out causing loss of anti-lock brake system and reduced safety of car. replacement will be $1200-$1500. mechanic explained that this wa scommon to volkswagen cars between 50-100k miles.*ak

Abs light and brake fault light comes on and will not go off. *tr

Car is a 2000 volkswagen w passat,v6 all wheel drive with 68000 miles on it. abs control unit failed. repair cost was $1000. web and forum searching showed this to be a very common problem with both volkswagen and audi. see tp://tech.bentleypublishers.com/thread.jspa? *threadid=6316&start=0&tstart=0 for numerious examples. *ak

I own a 2000 passat v6 glx wagon. it has 94,000 miles. there are defects in the abs and brake light warning system. i have taken the car to certified import mechanics, who stated there was absolutely nothing wrong with the brakes or brake functions. i have been investigating this problem online and have found that thousands of people were having the same problem. how are we as consumers supposed to know when to take the warning light seriously? in my online investigation i have found a number of people that have been taken advantage of by volkswagen. they were charged thousand of dollars to fix this problem, and volkswagen never fixed the problem the warning lights still popped up randomly. consumers pay for a feature such as abs brakes for the safety of our children and our own safety, but this volkswagen situation was disconcerting. *ak

Anti-lock braking system abs, electronic controller module started with the brake and abs lights on or flashing from time to time, then, all the time, and the oil light came on. also, warning - stop sign came on, and the tachometer dropped to zero. never happened all the time, but it did get much more frequent , probably about 80% of the time these things were happening. *ak

While attempting to make an emergency stop in my 2000 vw passat, there was a 1 to 2 second delay in braking power. the roads were wet and the brake rotors were wet due to lack of shields to prevent water from making the brake rotors wet. the 1-2 second delay (from the time i applied the brake) caused my vehicle to not stop in the typical stopping distance and caused my vehicle to impact another vehicle. vw passats from 2003-newer seem to all have these brake rotor shields "splash shields", but not the older 1998-2002 passats. a call to the volkswagen customer care hotline (800-822-7661) did not address this serious safety defect to my satisfaction. the agent kept saying "there's no current open campaign for your vehicle". i know of numerous vw passat owners who have experienced this serious issue. *nm

2000 vw passat with ~72000 miles. abs control module has failed. vw says it will costs ~$1400 to repair. internet research indicates this is a common problem which many vw owners are experiencing. long past time to investigate whether a recall is warranted. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated the abs brake light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who replaced the abs module.