VW Caddy Brake Light Switch Issues & Solutions

Had the exact same issue on my 2012 VW Golf with the 1.4 TSI engine. With some basic car maintenance experience, I initially thought it was a complex electrical issue in the brake system. The brake light failure warning showed up out of nowhere and there were stored error codes. After checking online forums, I suspected the brake switch was acting up, just like you mentioned. Turned out to be much simpler than expected. The brake pedal switch just needed to be properly seated. It had partially come loose from its mounting point. No switch replacement needed. Just had to push it back into position until it clicked firmly. After that, cleared the error codes and the warning never came back. Before attempting any repairs, could you share: Are you hearing any clicking sound when pressing the brake pedal? Does the brake light warning appear when the pedal is in a specific position? Which error codes are stored in the system? This could help determine if you are facing the same simple fix or if there might be a different electrical issue causing the problems.

Latest service was done at 92000km. Thanks for sharing your experience. Checked this morning, there is indeed a faint click when pressing the brake pedal. The tail light warning appears mostly when the pedal is partially pressed. Error codes stored are P0504 and P0571, both related to the brake switch circuit. The workshop quoted 180€ for a complete brake switch replacement including labor. Seems high for what might be just a loose connection. Think I will try reseating the switch first as you suggested before committing to the full replacement. Just to confirm, is the brake switch located right above the pedal assembly? Want to make sure I am looking at the right component before attempting any fixes.

Thanks for the additional details. Yes, with those error codes and symptoms, it definitely sounds identical to what I experienced on my Golf. The brake light switch is exactly where you described, right above the brake pedal assembly. The clicking sound and intermittent warnings when partially pressing the pedal strongly suggest a loose switch, just like in my case. Since you are getting the same error codes related to the brake switch circuit that I had (P0504 and P0571), trying to reseat the switch is a smart first step before spending 180€ on a complete replacement. The vehicle safety system is likely detecting inconsistent signals from the loose switch. When I reseated mine, I could clearly feel it snap back into position. After that, the brake pedal had a more positive feel and the brake light warnings disappeared completely. Just ensure you have the ignition off when working on the switch. If reseating does not resolve the issue, then a switch replacement might be needed. But given the matching symptoms and error codes, I suspect you will have the same straightforward fix I did. Let us know how it goes after you try reseating the switch. This could save others with similar brake system issues both time and money.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Checked this morning, there is indeed a faint click when pressing the brake pedal. The tail light warning appears mostly when the pedal is partially pressed. Error codes stored are P0504 and P0571, both related to the brake switch circuit. The workshop quoted 180€ for a complete brake switch replacement including labor. Seems high for what might be just a loose connection. Think I will try reseating the switch first as you suggested before committing to the full replacement. Just to confirm, is the brake switch located right above the pedal assembly? Want to make sure I am looking at the right component before attempting any fixes.