Not an identical experience but close enough that it may be relevent. Occasionally mine (also a 2 litre diesel from 2007) would simultaneously show a brake warning light, lose cruise control, lose air con, lose radio presets, and go into limp mode. A few minutes rest restored normal operation. The cause was recognised by a local VAG specialist, who ignored all the false error codes, as a defective battery.
Have you had any other strange electrical faults? Was the engine slow to crank over when starting last winter? How old is your battery?