TRAVELING ON THE DC CAPITAL BELTWAY, TRAFFIC SLOWED DUE TO A CAR PULLED OVER. I ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND HAD A HARD PEDAL WITH NO BRAKING ACTION AT ALL. I POPPED THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS UNABLE TO GET ANY BRAKING ACTION. I SWERVED TO MISS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND CLIPPED THE REAR OF THE CAR TO MY RIGHT. I FIRMLY HAD…
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TRAVELING ON THE DC CAPITAL BELTWAY, TRAFFIC SLOWED DUE TO A CAR PULLED OVER. I ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND HAD A HARD PEDAL WITH NO BRAKING ACTION AT ALL. I POPPED THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS UNABLE TO GET ANY BRAKING ACTION. I SWERVED TO MISS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND CLIPPED THE REAR OF THE CAR TO MY RIGHT. I FIRMLY HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME AND NEVER FELT ANY SENSATION OF ANY BRAKING FORCE. I WENT ON SOME NEW BEETLE FORUMS AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND WAS ABLE TO FIND SEVERAL STRINGS DESCRIBING EXACTLY WHAT HAPPEN. IT APPEARS THAT WHEN A SPLIT OCCURS IN THE VACUUM HOSE TO THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER, IF THE BRAKE IS ENGAGED IN NORMAL SERVICE, THERE IS NO ISSUE HOWEVER IF YOU JAB THE BRAKES SUCH AS IN A PANIC STOP ONE GETS A HARD PEDAL AND NO STOPPING POWER. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION DUE TO THE BRAKES FAILING AT THE MOST EXACT TIME WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED WITH NO PREWARNING. *TR
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 JETTA, NEW BEETLE, NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, MODEL YEAR 2009 JETTA SPORTWAGEN AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 RABBIT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES. THE JETTA, JETTA SPORTWAGEN, AND RABBIT VEHICLES MAY HAVE A SMALL PLASTIC TAB LOCATED ON THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR THAT MAY CHAFE AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE. THE NEW BEETLE AND THE NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A FASTENING CLAMP ON A HYDRAULIC HOSE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM THAT MAY BE LOCATED IN AN IMPROPER POSITION WHICH COULD CAUSE CHAFING AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF CHAFING OCCURS, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A FUEL LEAK TO DEVELOP. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE UNDERHOOD FUEL LINE. ADDITIONALLY, DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE MODEL, DEALERS WILL EITHER REMOVE THE PLASTIC TAB FROM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR, OR INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE FASTENING CLAMP AND ADJUST THE RELATED FASTENING CLAMP INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
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No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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