Faulty VW Passat electronic handbrake

The_Poor_Lad

A couple of months ago I was run over by my own (empty) car when the electronic handbrake released itself. Injury and discomfort followed.

Please can anyone with a similar experience advise what course of action they took and what results were obtained? Failing that, if anyone can advise what action can be taken and what route to take, I'd be grateful.

My insurers aren't interested as they maintain that no third party was involved.

Thanks in anticipation.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Yes. Next time, leave it in gear.

merlie

mate o mine had probs with his electronic park brake that would not release ... it was a lease car and he couldnt wait to see the back of it .... the local VW garage were next to hopeless at trying to fixit.

good luck

verityboo

The best course of action would be to consult the handbook to see what VW advise when parking the car. As stated above, they normally say to put the handbrake on and then put in Park or in gear. It can't roll then.

Gloomendoom

Your gripe is with Volkswagen. If you want compensation (I assume you do) then you will need to prove negligence on their part.

You could try contacting one of those ambulance chasing outfits that advertise on the radio and TV, although they may not be interested if it isn't a clear cut case. Failing that, just go and see a solicitor that specialises in injury claims.

If you just want advice on how to stop it happening again, I'd suggest selling the car and buying one with a mechanical handbrake. We have several Land Rover Discovery pool cars at work and I'm never convinced that the handbrake is actually on. That said, we've never had one fail.

motorguy

The_Poor_Lad wrote: »

A couple of months ago I was run over by my own (empty) car when the electronic handbrake released itself. Injury and discomfort followed.

Please can anyone with a similar experience advise what course of action they took and what results were obtained? Failing that, if anyone can advise what action can be taken and what route to take, I'd be grateful.

My insurers aren't interested as they maintain that no third party was involved.

Thanks in anticipation.

Yes, i put the car into gear as per the handbook as well as the parking brake and it didnt happen again?

Yes, i subsequently dont let the car run over me.

Kilty_2

I'd just like to point out that the electronic handbrake on my Renault works flawlessly, unlike VW's clearly inferior design (..... :rotfl:)

Although I'm sure it says both in the handbook and on the windscreen to always engage first gear when parking and to ensure the warning light is constant on the dash before leaving the vehicle.

davidjwest

My partner's car, a Renault Scenic has an electronic handbrake that was faulty and cost £550 to repair. Never going to get a car with one of these gimicks again.