Volkswagen 2018 Passat: Loose Brake Bolts Risk Crash
Volkswagen recalls 2018 Passat vehicles with loose brake caliper bracket bolts that could reduce braking or cause loss of control. Owners must have brakes inspected free of charge by dealers.
Use caution until it’s fixed
The loose brake bracket bolts can allow the caliper to move, reducing braking ability or causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
What happened, in plain English
Volkswagen is recalling 2018 Passat vehicles with brake caliper bracket bolts that may not be tight enough. This could reduce braking ability or cause loss of vehicle control, increasing crash risk. Owners should contact dealers for free brake inspections. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1225469-volkswagen-2018-passat-loose-brake-bolts-risk-crash.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1225469-volkswagen-2018-passat-loose-brake-bolts-risk-crash · Updated October 6, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #18V536000
Cite this page
“Volkswagen 2018 Passat: Loose Brake Bolts Risk Crash.” GovInfoNow, updated October 6, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1225469-volkswagen-2018-passat-loose-brake-bolts-risk-crash. Based on NHTSA recall #18V536000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=18V536000).
Why it’s dangerous
Loose brake caliper bracket bolts can move the brake caliper, reducing braking power. This may cause the vehicle to lose control, increasing crash risk during normal driving.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2018 Volkswagen Passat vehicles are affected. Drivers with loose brake caliper bracket bolts are at higher risk of reduced braking or loss of control.
How to tell if you have this one
Check for 2018 Volkswagen Passat vehicles. The recall began September 14, 2018, and applies to specific models with brake caliper bracket bolts that may not be tight enough.
- Brand
Volkswagen- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Contact Dealer for Inspection
Volkswagen dealers will inspect brake caliper bracket bolt tightness and replace/re-torque bolts if needed, free of charge.
Check Parking Brake Cable
Dealers will also inspect the parking brake cable for proper connection, free of charge.
What NHTSA says to do
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake caliper bracket bolt tightness, replacing and re-torque the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Additionally brake caliper fasteners, bleeder valve, and brake hose bolts will be checked and torqued to the correct specification, if necessary, free of charge. For Passat vehicles, dealers will also inspect the parking brake cable for proper connection, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46H6.
How this recall unfolded
Recall timeline
2 dated steps over 30 days.
- NHTSA received the defect report
- Recall began
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
Keep exploring
Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #18V536000 (August 15, 2018)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 6, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.