1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS review from North America
"Drives great, unreliable and horribly expensive to maintain"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
A/C vent broken 12,000 miles (warranty)
Clutch blew at 55,000 miles ($1,400)
Sunroof failed at 60,000 ($1,100)
Leaks in vacuum hoses at 60,000 ($200)
Faulty Master Cylinder
Faulty Oxygen Sensor
Faulty Thermostat
etc.
Etc.
General comments?
Looked great, very clean design inside and out.
Handled very well, especially in lower gears.
Gages easy to read.
Poor visibility from rear view mirror.
Extremely poor reliability, especially after 50,000 miles.
Atrocious dealer service.
Recommended Reviews:
  | What will go wrong today? |
| Great on fuel, but not terribly comfortable with lots of repairs, just like a North American car |
All 1998 Volkswagen Passat reviews
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2000 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 turbo Manual |
| Performance marks | 9/10 |
| Reliability marks | 2/10 |
| Comfort marks | 8/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 1/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 75000 miles |
| Previous car | Toyota Tercel |
| Date of Entry | 21st October, 2002 |