VW Sharan Brake Issues: Faulty Pressure Sensor Alert

I had similar issues with a 2003 VW Touran TDI. As someone with moderate experience working on VWs, the symptoms you describe are very familiar. The soft brake pedal and reduced braking power turned out to be from incorrectly bled hydraulic brakes. The workshop found air bubbles in the brake lines, which compromised the ABS system performance and triggered those error codes. The fix involved a complete brake system bleed using professional equipment to ensure all air was removed from the lines. Total cost was 90€ and took about 2 hours. The vehicle safety inspection afterward confirmed proper brake pressure and cleared all error codes. Before jumping to replace the pressure sensor, would recommend having a proper diagnosis done. Could you share: Current mileage on your Sharan, When was the last brake fluid change, Exact error codes from the diagnostic scan, Any other brake related work done recently This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced or if the pressure sensor really needs attention. Remember that proper brake maintenance is crucial for vehicle safety. If the workshop confirms the sensor needs replacement, its worth fixing right away rather than risking brake failure.

Thanks for the helpful input. My Sharan has 24319km and just had its annual service last month. Regarding the error codes, I rechecked and got P0503 and P0571. The brake fluid was changed during the recent service, but the issues persisted. The cost estimate from the workshop for replacement parts, including a new brake booster and pressure sensor, seems quite high at 650€. Based on your experience with a similar brake system issue, would you say a complete system bleed might be worth trying first? The soft pedal feel matches your description exactly. Since the brake performance keeps declining, I need to address this quickly. Just want to make sure Im not replacing expensive parts unnecessarily if the root cause could be trapped air in the system.

Thanks for those additional details. Since I dealt with nearly identical symptoms on my Touran, I can offer some relevant insights. The error codes you mentioned actually strengthen my suspicion about air in the hydraulic brake system. Even with fresh brake fluid, trapped air pockets can develop if the bleeding process wasnt done thoroughly enough during your service. Before spending 650€ on replacement parts, I would definitely recommend trying a professional brake system bleed first. The diagnostic tools used in a proper bleed can often reveal if the brake booster or pressure sensor are actually failing. When my brake pedal had that exact same soft feel, the complete system bleed restored normal brake performance and cleared the error codes. Key points to consider: Professional brake bleeding typically costs 80-120€, The procedure takes about 2 hours using proper equipment, If the bleed doesnt fix it, you can still proceed with parts replacement, The error codes you listed can be triggered by air in the ABS system Given your recent brake fluid change, trapped air is a likely culprit. Many regular service centers dont have the specialized tools needed for a complete ABS system bleed. An ABS-capable brake bleeding machine can make a huge difference.

The brake performance issues you described do sound quite similar to what I experienced. The annual service was recent, but its worth noting that error codes P0503 and P0571 often appear with air-related brake system problems. A professional brake system bleed at 90€ would definitely be more economical than spending 650€ on parts right away. The soft brake pedal response and declining performance match the symptoms I had before the bleeding fixed everything. Since my vehicle was back to normal after just the system bleed, I will schedule this service first before considering the more expensive brake booster and sensor replacement. The declining brake performance needs attention soon, but starting with the less expensive option makes sense. Will book an appointment with a shop that has proper ABS bleeding equipment and update once I know if this solves the issue. At least this way I can rule out trapped air as the cause before spending money on major parts. Thanks again for sharing your experience. Its helped me make a more informed decision about how to proceed with the repairs.