ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Safety risk
THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HAZARD SWITCH AND FLASHER SYSTEM FUNCTION MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME BECAUSE OF DISTORTION AND MATERIAL TRANSFER OF THE CONTACTS OF CERTAIN HAZARD SWITCH RELAYS WHICH OCCURS DUE TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED ELECTRICAL CURRENT LOAD FROM HIGHER WATTAGE TURN SIGNAL BULBS.
Safety risk
THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Electrical system: ignition
31
8,098 mi
Wheels
14
10,000 mi
Air bags: side/window
12
35,000 mi
Air bags
9
67,000 mi
Wheels: rim
8
5,000 mi
Electrical system
5
7,512 mi
Power train: clutch assembly
4
19,200 mi
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs
4
27,000 mi
Unknown or other
4
7,777 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls
4
7,500 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery
3
—
Engine and engine cooling
3
25,800 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
3
39,700 mi
Power train: manual transmission
3
41,500 mi
Air bags: frontal
2
70,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator
2
—
Electrical system: ignition: module
2
10,644 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch
2
120 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood
2
2,639 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
2
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads
2
1,000 mi
Visibility: windshield
2
—
Electrical system: wiring
1
98,830 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan
1
39,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline
1
7,710 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner
1
39,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights
1
20,500 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
1
94,484 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
1
140,000 mi
Power train
1
—
Power train: automatic transmission
1
33,000 mi
Power train: clutch assembly: pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)
1
19,900 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly
1
45,779 mi
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler
1
35,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
1
56,000 mi
Tires
1
5,000 mi
Vehicle speed control
1
140,000 mi
Visibility
1
39,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages
1
55,000 mi
The 2001 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. The 2003 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.