Comments: 1-15, 16-17
2,500 miles: heater core leaking, coolant blowing into the car.
4,000 miles: faulty ignition coil, safety light on, had to be towed in for service.
12,000 miles: One of the 4 cylinders stopped working. Car not drivable, needed to be towed in for service.
12,500 miles: breaks worn down.
We bought this car for its good looks, great leg room, and all its safety features. We felt good about spending a small fortune because we would be driving our new baby in this car. We are very disappointed with its unreliability and the fact Volkswagen refuses to take any responsibility, beyond the warranty repairs.
Owning this car makes me feel very used by a large corporation that promotes safety, and yet has left me stranded on the side of the road, with my baby, for hours at a time.
When the car is working, it feels good to drive. However, at this point, I am always anticipating the next break down.
Agree...
We own a 2002 Passat Wagon, and 4 times the car has been in for the same problem (Ignition Coils). The first 2 times they could not find the problem,, even when the car was running on 3 cylinders! The third time, they replaced one of the coils, and the last time they replaced all of the coils. And every time it occured, the computer was telling them that the coils had failed.
When the car runs, it runs very well. But when you dish out $35K you would think that it would not come with some many other issues.
Regards...Ronald Ross.
Well our 2002 Passat is in for its FIFTH ignition coil. Three of the four went out in the first year. Last month, one of those replaced went again. After that happened, VW US called and asked how satisfied we were with the repairs. We requested that all the coils be replaced (we lose the car 3-5 days every time this happens), they refused. They said that although they knew there was something wrong with the coils and they think they have repaired the problem, they are choosing to fix the problem as they occur. And they couldn't or wouldn't understand how we weren't satisfied with that. It seems we are not alone with this problem. Sue.
My 2001 Passat 4 is an absolute pleasure to drive. Nothing so far has gone wrong with it, except... Two of the ignition coils suddenly failed. It has taken five weeks (!!!) to get replacements for these. The intelligent thing to do would be,of course, to replace all four coils with the redesigned model. But my VW dealer says the situation is so bad that they allocate them only to replace the broken ones;it is not the dealer's fault. How can I then drive the car with any confidence?
I agree with other people's comments that the VW of America Consumer People in Auburn Hills are useless.I have written about this (in German) to the top management of VW in Wolfsburg. No answer so far.
I have had my 2002 Passat Wagon since May,02 and have had absolutely no problems for 12,000 miles - much better than my '99 Jeep. The ride is smooth and very quiet, the gas mileage is very good - 24 MPG in the city, and the 1.8T engine is unbelievably fast and powerful. Am I ever glad I did not spend the money for a V6! I love my VW.
I just hate the automatic door locks!
I would return my Passat if I could! I purchased my 2002 Passat this past June (2002) and I already regret it. With less than 7,000 miles on it, it has already been into the dealership for a faulty ignition coil! I had to wait for two weeks because of a backorder for the coils. When I spoke to VW Customer service, the representative refused to acknowledge that they had a problem. (Although you wonder why the parts are on backorder.) In addition, they refuse to replace the other coils even though everyone I have spoken to that had a coil replaced, had gone back again for more coil replacements. I drive home late at night from work, and I purchased a new car to feel safe. These days I do not feel safe in a Passat, and I have lost faith in VWs reputation. (FYI: While waiting to pick up my car yesterday from the VW repair shop, I started to speak to the woman in back of me, guess what: She was in for her second coil replacement!!!)
We have had the same frustrating problems with our 2002 Passat wagon. We really loved this car until mid-December 2002, when our first coil blew. After waiting two weeks for a replacement part (as everyone knows, they are on backorder), we got part of the story (VW should issue a recall-until they do, the dealer cannot replace good (is there such a thing?) coils. I spoke with VW 'customer care' (oxymoron if ever there was one) and was basically given a pat on the head and told to move along. 18 miles later, another coil went, and I went through the same thing. This has forever changed my view of VW (I currently own an 89 GTI, 2000 Jetta and the wagon) and I will probably never buy another one. We are looking into replacing the 2002, 8 month old wagon that has 7,900 miles on it because it is no longer something we feel comfortable driving with an 8 week old and a 3 year old. I feel so let down by VW that I don;t think they will ever get me back.
Apparently I made it further than most (24,000 miles) before the flashing engine light came on in my 2002 Passat. Diagnosis: coils. After replacing the coils the engine light came back on. I took the car back and they performed a "reset," but the light soon came back on again. This time they determined it needed a new catalytic converter. The wrong one was delivered however delaying the repair another week. To top it off my car was hit in their parking lot. I have been in four loaner/rental cars in the past month and regret buying a VW.
I have a 2002 Passat and have just started experiencing - my car running on 3 cylinders. So I guess I am about to begin the 4 ignition coil replacement process. My question is why has there not been a recall, or why VW not addressed this problem responsibly? The Boston Globe has just published 2 articles that everyone should read, concerning this problem. If this problem continues to develop, I do not see why the consumer could not file a class action suit.
We purchased our 2002 Passat in November, 2001. Within 2 months the headlights failed. The dealer told us it was because the car has lights are on all day. We remained optimistic. Since then, another single headlight has gone, the radio failed intermittently, the air-conditioning broke (after a month of use), and the MIL light flashed for no reason and had to be reset. This all happened before the first coil failed in August of 2002. Since then, 2 more coils have failed (Nov. and Dec.). The radio failed again this week. What a terrible car.
Lets bring an International dimension to this... In the UK Passats are being left littered by the roadside as their coils fail too, including mine!! I was told by the man who towed mine away that 'we're doing 5 of these a day at the moment'.
No one can say when new ones will be fitted as the demand is so great that apparently they can't make or fit them fast enough. I've been told I may need to wait up to 4 months to get mine fixed.
What a disaster!!
Yipes. I just found that I have coil problems with my 2001 Passat. I really enjoy the car, but the confidence issue with the coils and the delay in fixing the problem has me depressed. I'm wondering if there are any third party suppliers.
My 2002 Passat has had all coils replaced twice... but not all 4 at the same time... only as they failed. I ranted to the customer satisfaction expert and was advised that I should take the car in for a complete diagnositc... at my expense... I paid for 4 coils I want to ride around with 4 coils, nothing less. This thing has been in the shop 5 times in 6 months...I don't know about you guys, but this is a lemon to me!
How's this for planned obsolesence, the car does not have just one coil, but FOUR??! What do they need 4 coils for?
Miklos73@bigpond.com.
4 cylinders = 4 coils. Most engines work this way now. The old distributer has gone the way of the do-do.
I have had my Passat 1.9TDI 130BHP SE saloon since January 2001 and have enjoyed 95,000 trouble free miles. It just runs and runs. The interior space, equipment levels, comfort, performance and economy are all excellent. I will seriously consider the Passat Highline 1.9TDI 130BHP as its replacement.