VehicleVerdict

2003 Volkswagen Passat brakes problems

The 2003 Volkswagen Passat has 46 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 6% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

46

Brakes complaints

6%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Passat brakes complaints by model year250 complaints1990: 3 complaints1991: 3 complaints1992: 5 complaints1993: 7 complaints1994: 4 complaints1995: 15 complaints1996: 13 complaints1997: 7 complaints1998: 103 complaints1999: 250 complaints2000: 219 complaints2001: 69 complaints2002: 77 complaints2003: 46 complaints2004: 16 complaints2005: 5 complaints2006: 51 complaints2007: 17 complaints2008: 6 complaints2009: 4 complaints2010: 5 complaints2012: 12 complaints2013: 8 complaints2014: 8 complaints2015: 29 complaints2016: 17 complaints2017: 17 complaints2018: 13 complaints2019: 3 complaints2020: 1 complaints2021: 5 complaints2022: 3 complaints
Passat brakes complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“I TOOK MY CAR TO VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHY MY BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON AND WHY MY BRAKES WOULD FLUTTER AT TIMES WHEN USING THEM. I GOT ESTIMATE THAT MY BRAKE RESERVOIR WAS BAD AND THE SENSOR THAT IT WOULD BE OKAY TO DRIVE TILL I GOT FIXED IN A WEEK. I FAXED MY WARRANTY PAPERS TO DEALERSHIP TO…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · March 15, 2014 · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 2003 Volkswagen Passat have?

NHTSA has 46 complaints about the 2003 Volkswagen Passat brakes — 6% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.