07 VW Passat stuck parking brake

[RogerHayward]

Hi all - on arriving home this evening the parking break refused to disengage manually (seat belt on, foot break on, pressing button) or by raising clutch in normal way. P button then started flashing and warning message on dash declared Parking break fault check owners manual - however there appears to be no advice on resetting it in the manual. Awaiting RAC but any advice appreciated. PS there is no auto hold option on this model.

[carreauchompeur]

Sounds like the break is broke.

[MG CHRIS]

Why is this in the readders cars section? Either a fault with the motor or a wiring fault more likely a stuck motor which are mounted on the rear callipers not cheap.

[VX5195]

Hi there

I work for a VW Specialist and this is a very common issue. The caliper has stuck on and will require renewal with a new caliper.

[B'stard Child]

You need one of these

[davepoth]

If the dashboard said it was a "parking break failure" I think we should send an angry letter to VW. Tsk.

[Pkh72]

B'stard Child said:

You need one of these

Have a break, have a Kitcat

[Bitzer]

VX5195 said:

Hi there

I work for a VW Specialist and this is a very common issue. The caliper has stuck on and will require renewal with a new caliper.

My mate's 2007 150k Passat has recently had this exact fault. As you say, it was a stuck calliper and needed a new one.

[pimpin gimp]

Same system as my old A6 I believe, that was fixed with a new bit of wiring. Make sure they check connections before making you stump up for the calliper replacement.

My issue was with sealing around one of the connections, it was cut out and replaced. Very common fault on the A6 and it may be the same problem with your passat.

[nickdrinkwater]

Had this problem and turned out to be a faulty switch. Try a new switch, I think I ordered one off ebay for a few quid

[MJK 24]

nickdrinkwater said:

Had this problem and turned out to be a faulty switch. Try a new switch, I think I ordered one off ebay for a few quid

The switch is also a very common fault. A friend put his into a VW Dealer to be diagnosed and repaired. The bill was under £90 including VAT so it can't be a huge job.

[catfood12]

Same here, handbrake stuck on, dodgy caliper, replaced under warranty.

Rare, great advice from the stealer to unstick it, was to stand very hard on the footbrake, with engine running (I guess for additional servo assist) and try to disengage handbrake. It worked ! This after a few hours of trying unsuccessfully to disengage the thing previously.

Good luck ! What was wrong with a cable handbrake anyway ?!

[Bitzer]

RogerHayward said:

Hi all - on arriving home this evening the parking break refused to disengage manually (seat belt on, foot break on, pressing button) or by raising clutch in normal way. P button then started flashing and warning message on dash declared Parking break fault check owners manual - however there appears to be no advice on resetting it in the manual. Awaiting RAC but any advice appreciated. PS there is no auto hold option on this model.

Where are you based? I can recommend a very good Indy in Birmingham who looks after my mate's Passat.

[evobaz]

This sounds like a very common problem. I had this recently. last week the rear passenger side caliper seized and VW removed £509 from my wallet for the repair. 4 days later the driver side caliper has started acting up too by the looks of it.

After doing some digging and talking to a few VW technicians it sounds as though this is a VERY common problem. The calipers are made by TRW and can be bought from them or from other companies. They charge significantly less than VW.

davepoth said:

If the dashboard said it was a "parking break failure" I think we should send an angry letter to VW. Tsk.

Has anyone written to VW about this issue?

Apperently there has been a recall in the US for the Passat EPB (Electronic Parking Brake)

[vanordinaire]

Bitzer said:

VX5195 said:

Hi there

I work for a VW Specialist and this is a very common issue. The caliper has stuck on and will require renewal with a new caliper.

My mate's 2007 150k Passat has recently had this exact fault. As you say, it was a stuck calliper and needed a new one.

Your caliper is probably OK, most of the problems are usually caused by a split to the casing of the electric motor causing road gunk to clog up the gear mechanism.In spite of what VAG say, the electric motor is changeable without renewing the caliper (two allen bolts). I don't think VAG sell the motors separately from the calipers but you can find them on e-bay and I've also repaired a couple by cracking open the casing, cleaning up and greasing the gear mechanism, and epoxy resining it all back together.

[adambransbury]

Thanks for this thread, just replaced the parking brake switch on a 07 passat and solved the failiure warning message etc

[AlytheCat]

catfood12 said:

Same here, handbrake stuck on, dodgy caliper, replaced under warranty.

Rare, great advice from the stealer to unstick it, was to stand very hard on the footbrake, with engine running (I guess for additional servo assist) and try to disengage handbrake. It worked ! This after a few hours of trying unsuccessfully to disengage the thing previously.

Good luck ! What was wrong with a cable handbrake anyway ?!

YOU SUPERSTAR!
The previous owner had warned me On two occasions they has paid £1000 and £250 to get it fixed.
I asked an RAC man and he said you just need to look after the car properly; so I removed the tape from the switch - which I didn’t like the look of, and enjoyed the satisfying noise each time the brake went on and off
Until, after a year and a half 😧 it stuck!
I felt pretty stupid.
But that just fixed it!!
YOU SUPERSTAR!
🙏🏼