Yes, I agree that most vacuum assisted brakes are hard until the engine starts. However, I thought the 1.4t had an electric vacuum pump to provide vacuum when the engine did not (I am guessing due to the turbo boost. The recall was to replace a micro switch that turned on the pump when vacuum was required. Before the recall repair on my car, when I turned the ignition to run (car not started), and stepped on the brake pedal, I could hear the electric pump run, and feel the pedal soften and drop. (So I guess my micro switch was working) This is the first car I have had that did this, but also the first car with an electric vacuum pump. After the recall repair, when the ignition is in the run position, the pump does not run, and the pedal remains hard. When the car is started, the pedal drops, but that could be from intake manifold vacuum, and not the electric pump. I will bring the car back to the dealer, but I wondered if anyone knew if the recall included rewiring the pump to make it work differently. I cannot see why the would be the case.