1999 Volkswagen Passat review from North America
"I loved the car when it was running normally, but it is not reliable enough to continue to repair"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Design Flaw under battery compartment caused water leak in vehicle and submerged Chassis Control Module.
Fan Clutch failed, fan exploded sending plastic shards through radiator.
Timing belt failed.
3 of 4 control arms failed on drivers side of vehicle.
Oil Sludge issue (known issue) ruined oil pump even with regular oil changes and synthetic oil.
Car has had an intermittent starting problem that hasn't been able to be diagnosed.
General comments?
The car looks nice, and drives very nicely when it's running.
Very expensive to fix.
Design flaws plague the vehicle and make it a chore to maintain.
Recommended reviews
| Like German pastry - good to look at but no substance |
|
| Costs a lot, but it's worth every penny you spend |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model year | 1999 |
| Year of manufacture | 1999 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 turbo Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 0 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 10 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 4 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 0 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 83000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 105000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Mustang |
| Date of Entry | 2nd January, 2009 |