FLEET managers are being advised of a potential brake fault in more than 43,000 Volkswagen Passats. The manufacturer is recommending the cars are inspected by dealers.

Volkswagen stressed this is not a full blown recall, but it was issuing an ‘advised inspection’ to 43,357 UK models.

Volkswagen said some 2.0 200bhp TFSI Passat drivers may experience a difference in the amount of pressure they need to apply to the brake pedal. This is due to ‘a power brake vacuum line that may fracture and become disconnected at low ambient temperatures’.

Volkswagen made it clear that ‘no brake failure will occur’.

Also 2005, 2006 and 2007 model year Passats may experience wiper blade failure in heavy rain due to ‘excessive moisture entering the wiper motor’.

The carmaker will contact all Passat drivers by post advising them to take a service. A spokesperson said: ‘It will take between half and hour to an hour to check and fix any problems that occur. Just enough time to sit down, have a coffee and read the paper.’

There are 340,000 models affected worldwide.