2002 Volkswagen Passat from North America - Comments

Within 1 month, the emergency brake button got stuck in the emergency brake. I was able to pry it out, and immediately drove it to the dealer where they replaced it.

Also early on, the rear trunk lock broke.

Also early on, I noticed a helicopter-like vibration when the sunroof, but no windows are open.

Also early on, I noticed a soap smell inside the car when using the wiper spray.

Five months later, both headlights blew out simultaneously when I turned them on.

Two months later, a slow leak flattened the left rear tire. I noticed that the four tires were Generals, but the spare was a Michelin -- the dealer says they should all be the same...

One month later, the first coil went. The engine light came on, and it needed to be towed to dealer.

One month later, the second coil went; another tow. Not enough parts for them to replace all the remaining coils.

One month later, the third coil went. I threatened them, they replaced the remaining two at once. But they had to keep the car for two weeks, and gave me a cheap subcompact car in the interim.

They said I should be happy that the rear windows haven't fallen into the door frames, because that happens on some models.

Two months later, another slow leak developed in a different tire.

Then it was great for four or five months.

Last week one of the bulbs in the right headlight went out.

Today I picked up the car, after the headlight replacement and an oil change, and on the way home the engine light came on again. I returned to the dealer. The catalytic converter has gone bad.

Very fun to drive -- great pickup, fast.

Reasonably comfortable and quiet.

Horrible nightmarish never-ending maintenance problems.

Most cars with just the sunroof open will make that vibration sound. Just crack one of the windows and this sound will go away.

Yes, the coil thing was a debacle and shame on VW for not clearing this up immediately for free. I agree with the earlier comment. It's not unusual to get air turbulence on an open sunroof. Also, of course you smell soap when the windshield sprayer is used. That's what the air outside the car smells like and it's being sucked in through ventilation. It's no big deal.

As for tires, this is not in my mind a VW problem. Sure, if they put cheap junk on the car to save $ and raise profits, that's an issue, but this does not seem to be a problem that many of us are experiencing. Perhaps this is just bad luck. Sometimes happens.

So taking out the coils and things that are likely just unfortunate, it's not such a bad story, and people generally seem to love their Passats otherwise. But we all agree on our message to VW: WHEN YOU SEE THAT YOU HAVE FAULTY COMPONENTS, FIX THEM IMMEDIATELY FREE OF CHARGE OR LOSE MILLIONS MORE IN UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS. I'd bet the people in charge of delaying the coil recall got promoted. I know because I work for a similar company, and as long as you golf with the right crowd, you only get promoted. Only the peons pay for mistakes.

I to have had the ordeal with the coils, first year towed in three times. In the past few months it was towed in because smoke came out of the dash, next morning radio was gone. In the winter I scrape the ice from inside the car not outside!

It leaks oil so I change the oil every 2000 and check often. I have 21 more months until this lease is up. I will never lease a volkswagen again. I am in the automotive business. I see all makes and models every car has its problems, but I have never had such a lemon to deal with on my own... Counting the minutes, days and weeks till this is back to volkswagen with a big red bow!

It is unfortunate that Volkswagen produced such a terrible car and did little to stand behind it. I have been through 6 headlights, 2 CV boots, 4 interior bulbs, an emergency brake button, 2 coils on 2 different occasions (after I was told that all four were replaced due to the recall) and brakes that barely last 20000 miles. Apparently many of the bugs have been worked out in the 2003+ models, but I can guarantee that Volkswagen has lost many North American consumers due to this horrid car.

I own a 2002 Passat 1.8T. I just bought it 5 months ago, I've put 20000km on it since then. It runs very well, comfortable, it tends to consume some gas, but given the h.p., its not so bad. For reliability, I would say that I had to change 1 CV boot; 1 head-light went out, but then mysteriously started working again; the surface of the door handles comes off, and becomes ugly; Other than that, I had no problems. So I would say that it's a great car, but we will see in a year.