2004 Volkswagen Passat GLS Wagon review from North America
"Nice car, but not worth the trouble"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
CV boot (driver side).
CV joint (passenger side).
Front left upper control arm.
On-board computer goes blank and/or resets once in a while.
Alternator is noisy, will need to be replaced soon.
Secondary air injection pump noisy when the engine is cold.
Rear wiper washer failed...
... and as a result the tailgate lock is not working properly, as well as the trunk light is not working.
The seat heaters are not working properly: barely warm on 4 and very hot on 5. 1-3 gives no heat at all.
Water in left taillight and right headlight assembly.
Hood lock needed to be replaced.
Driver's window switch.
General comments?
Handling is awesome for a family wagon.
Engine is very strong once the turbo kicks in. Effortless passing on back roads.
Very roomy trunk and the seats fold flat.
Fit and finish is above standard for the class, materials are very good.
Recommended reviews
| 2004 - Passat GLX 4Motion Wagon 2.8 Great car, but expensive to own and maintain |
|
| Solid, comfortable, but trouble-prone |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model year | 2004 |
| Year of manufacture | 2004 |
| First year of ownership | 2007 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 turbo Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 3 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 3 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 77000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 125000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Honda Accord |
| Date of Entry | 21st September, 2009 |