YearToAvoid

2006 Volkswagen Passat Brakes Problems

NHTSA has 56 owner complaints about brake problems in the 2006 Volkswagen Passat, 10% of all 576 complaints for this model year. That is the highest brake complaint count among 18 Passat model years. These complaints report 3 crashes. Median mileage at failure: 53,350 miles.

Brakes complaints
56
10% of 576
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
53,350 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2006 Volkswagen Passat brake complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 6, 2006, latest Dec 30, 2020.

2006 Volkswagen Passat brakes complaints: complaints filed per month3Mar 2006Jan 2007Dec 2008Aug 2010Feb 2012Jun 2014Oct 2018
56 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2006 to Dec 2020; peak Nov 2006 (3).

Brakes recalls for the 2006 Volkswagen Passat

  1. NHTSA 06V472000Dec 12, 2006Brakes58,800 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum

    Certain 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.

    Risk: If this happens, the brake power assist can become inoperative, and the driver will experience increased effort to apply the brakes possibly increasing vehicle stopping distance. This could lead to a crash without warning.

    Remedy: Dealers will install the newly designed vacuum line. The recall began on january 12, 2007. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298.

Brakes complaints by Passat model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20055 (3%)
  2. 200656 (10%)
  3. 200716 (6%)
  4. 20088 (5%)
  5. 200911 (8%)
  6. 20106 (4%)
  7. 20110 (0%)
  8. 201216 (3%)
  9. 201318 (2%)
  10. 201414 (2%)
  11. 201532 (13%)
  12. 201621 (20%)
  13. 201718 (16%)
  14. 201813 (29%)
  15. 20193 (25%)
  16. 20202 (11%)
  17. 20215 (28%)
  18. 20223 (23%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Volkswagen Passat have brake problems?
NHTSA has 56 owner complaints about the brake in the 2006 Volkswagen Passat, 10% of all complaints for this model year, including 3 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 53,350 miles.
Which Volkswagen Passat year has the most brake complaints?
The 2006 Volkswagen Passat has the most brake complaints (56), compared with 56 for the 2006.
Is there a brake recall for the 2006 Volkswagen Passat?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2006 Volkswagen Passat concerns the brake: 06V472000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.