NHTSA Complaint #11307211 — 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GTI

ON 3 OCCASIONS THE MANUAL PARKING BRAKE HAS RELEASE FULLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED UPHILL ON A SIDE STREET WITH A STEEP INCLINE. TWICE THIS WAS AFTER I HAD GOTTEN OUT OF THE CAR, AND ONCE WHILE IN THE CAR IT HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE HILL-HOLDER BRAKE RELEASED. EACH TIME, THE CAR WAS IN GEAR AND DID NOT ROLL MORE THAN A FEW INCHES; AND AN ADULT PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT AND WITNESSED IT AND REAPPLIED THE BRAKE. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED TIGHTLY, AND FULLY RELEASED WITH A BIG NOISE 2-20 SECONDS LATER. THE FROM THE SOUND MADE, IT SEEMS THAT THE RATCHETING PAWL ON THE HANDBRAKE SLIPPED OUT AND DID NOT CATCH ON THE NEXT TOOTH. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE AND HAS NOT MADE ADJUSTMENTS. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE WAS A FEW WEEKS AFTER MY MOST RECENT SERVICE.