Bad brakes lights lead VW to recall 790,000 vehicles
Volkswagen has discovered that a previous recall of 362,000 vehicles (1999-2002 Jettas and 1998-2002 New Beetles) for a defective brake light switch actually affects a much larger range of vehicles. The German automaker is extending the recall to an additional 790,000 vehicles that include 1999-2006 Golf and GTI models, 2001-2005 Jettas, 2001-2007 New Beetles and the 2004 R32. The possibility exists that brake light switches in these vehicles may have been installed wrong, which could lead to their remaining on all the time or not working at all. In an extreme possibility, some vehicles with automatic transmissions might be immobilized if the brake light switch can't be activated so that the transmission can be shifted out of Park. When the new recall begins in April, VW dealers will install a new brake light switch free of charge for owners of the affected vehicles. If you think your vehicle is included in the recall or have any questions, you call VW at 1-800-822-8987.
Thanks for the tip, Judd!
[Source: USA Today]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
JC3 6:30PM (2/26/2007)
That's wacky.The car might be immobilized if the brake light is broken? No wonder they market their cars to people with idiosycroncies.
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Save_Gas 6:19PM (2/26/2007)
I have personally noticed alot of VWs on the road with burned out, constantly on or flickering taillights. My girlfriend and I used to drive around and joke how many VWs on the road have such conditions. In some cases I have even seen Touregs and A8s with flacky tailligts. I'm glad to see that VW is finally acknowledging this.
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iQuack 6:31PM (2/26/2007)
VW Beetle = cute, chick car, troublesome POS.
Time to spray RAID on this fad from 1998.
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Bob-omb 7:02PM (2/26/2007)
Me: Sis, don't buy the Beetle. They're electrical nightmares.
Sis: Bro, but isso cute. Why not?!
Me: Oh fine. You'll destroy whatever car you buy anyway.
Four electrical problems later, it was traded for a Mazda3. In memoriam, Dark Grey Beetle, 2002-2004.
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G 7:06PM (2/26/2007)
Almost every VW I have seen has not had working head or tail lights. German engineering is just amazing. It is so well marketed, but they can't do complex or simple things correctly.
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Barney 7:09PM (2/26/2007)
JC3: You'll find cars today equipped with safety features. Such one, is that no automatic can be put in drive/reverse (out of park) with the brake off. The brake switch is usualy used to signal the trigger switch. This idiosyncrasy has been around in most cars for a several years. It is also required in North America if not Europe. Odd isn't it?
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ruggels 7:20PM (2/26/2007)
I think what he's getting at is that VW's had a recall on this issue since the MKIV series at least, it would have been nice for the MKV's to be engineered in such a way that we don't have ANOTHER break switch recall.
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PK 7:25PM (2/26/2007)
VW is third from LAST in quality. I see Volkswagens with faulty tail-lamps very often...so much that me and my friends joke..."Hey, look..another crappy VW with electrical problems!"
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Anthony 7:28PM (2/26/2007)
Passats aren't affected?
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ruggels 7:30PM (2/26/2007)
no passat is a different platform
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ron 7:33PM (2/26/2007)
This appears to be the same problem that my '02 Merc Sable was recalled for just after we took delivery in the spring of '02. The dealer had to replace the brake light switch because sometimes it would not turn on the brake lights when you applied the brake. I wonder if VW and Ford used the same supplier for brake light switches?
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JC3 7:34PM (2/26/2007)
Barney.I think that (brake to switch from park to drive) originated from the Audi/60 mins. 'sudden acceleration' debacle.Ironically Audi is a VW group company.You'd think they'd have engineered-out all the bugs.
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ruggels 7:33PM (2/26/2007)
actually this recall is odd given it includes the 2006 GTI (and not 'rabbit) but not 2005.5 jetta or 2006 jetta... then again it is usatoday... the tabloid of newspapers :p
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JC3 7:39PM (2/26/2007)
I guess, "they didn't work out all BUGS." Sorry,I could'nt resist.
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ruggels 7:42PM (2/26/2007)
"You'd think they'd have engineered-out all the bugs."
Ugh, they did, did you read the article? it's an instillation problem, not a defect in engineering... so they need to have some strong words with their workers in their germany and mexico plants. mainly mexico as most of the cars mentioned came from there (that are in the US market currently)
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jj 8:00PM (2/26/2007)
Electronics problems? VW?
SAY IT AINT SO!
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jack_brack 8:30PM (2/26/2007)
Is that why VW's are getting slammed into all the time on those commercials? Non-functional lights :D
I keed, I keed, I ke....WHAMMMMMM!!!!!!!
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chewy 8:56PM (2/26/2007)
May I remind folks that Toyota recently recalled more vehicles for broken suspension that has lead to accidents? Sure recalls aren't great, but almost all companies have them, especially Toyota.
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Accordsforall 10:16PM (2/26/2007)
Hmmm
I got news for ya...
Id rather take anything Toyota makes.. with a million problems.. then some DAMN BUG with faulty break lights.
At least VW isnt on the edge of folding. When was the last time anyone actually wanted to buy a Veee DUB? Oh thats right.. stick a walmart quality guitar in the glued in jack into a VEEDUUBB and watch the lemmings cross the road..
VW is the same company that couldnt figure out how to stagger their product line.. so everything isnt old and new at the same time. But then again.. these are the same people who can sell a Passat for 30some g's and then try and turn around and sell a Phaeton for 50some.. and act like its really a Veee dub.
As for the snot who traded a Veedub for a Mazda.. I got news for ya.. ya went from worse to bad. Ford's stock is in the crapper. Im just amazed ya bought a vee dub and traded it for a Mazda.
But Im sure in a coupla more years the Mazda3 will give up the ghost and she will trade it for an suv. I mean.. for all of the off-roading she does.. *laughs hard*
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Karen 12:35AM (2/27/2007)
This is great. I got the recall letter Friday. TODAY, someone motions at me to roll down my window because my brake lights aren't working. I confirm this in my company parking garage. I drive home in stop-start traffic, making signals with my hand to indicate that I'm slowing down. It was cold and I was distracted and CRASHED MY CAR about an hour ago. Neat. Thanks, VW.
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