Could my Passat auto just new pads wanted

[Pass]

I set off on a 70 mile round trip this morning and no sooner had I hit the first stretch of the M27 on came the ESP warning light , a few miles further on the ABS accompanied it. Not to be outdone the tyre pressure light joined in and on my return journey the automatic hand brake warning also came on. What did concern me however was the horrible sound of the front pads (or should I say lack of them) started to grind on the discs which occurred a few miles before reaching home . So do you think maybe its just the pads that need replacing or would that be wishful thinking?